Quicksilver (The Baroque Cycle, Vol. 1)
by Neal Stephenson
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (23 September, 2003)
list price: $27.95 -- our price: $17.61
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

In Quicksilver, the first volume of the "Baroque Cycle," Neal Stephenson launches his most ambitious work to date. The novel, divided into three books, opens in 1713 with the ageless Enoch Root seeking Daniel Waterhouse on the campus of what passes for MIT in eighteenth-century Massachusetts. Daniel, Enoch's message conveys, is key to resolving an explosive scientific battle of preeminence between Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz over the development of calculus. As Daniel returns to London aboard the Minerva, readers are catapulted back half a century to recall his years at Cambridge with young Isaac. Daniel is a perfect historical witness. Privy to Robert Hooke's early drawings of microscope images and with associates among the English nobility, religious radicals, and the Royal Society, he also befriends Samuel Pepys, risks a cup of coffee, and enjoys a lecture on Belgian waffles and cleavage-—all before the year 1700.

In the second book, Stephenson introduces Jack Shaftoe and Eliza. "Half-Cocked" Jack (also know as the "King of the Vagabonds") recovers the English Eliza from a Turkish harem. Fleeing the siege of Vienna, the two journey across Europe driven by Eliza's lust for fame, fortune, and nobility. Gradually, their circle intertwines with that of Daniel in the third book of the novel.

The book courses with Stephenson's scholarship but is rarely bogged down in its historical detail. Stephenson is especially impressive in his ability to represent dialogue over the evolving worldview of seventeenth-century scientists and enliven the most abstruse explanation of theory. Though replete with science, the novel is as much about the complex struggles for political ascendancy and the workings of financial markets. Further, the novel's literary ambitions match its physical size. Stephenson narrates through epistolary chapters, fragments of plays and poems, journal entries, maps, drawings, genealogic tables, and copious contemporary epigrams. But, caught in this richness, the prose is occasionally neglected and wants editing. Further, anticipating a cycle, the book does not provide a satisfying conclusion to its 900 pages. These are minor quibbles, though. Stephenson has matched ambition to execution, and his faithful, durable readers will be both entertained and richly rewarded with a practicum in Baroque science, cypher, culture, and politics.--Patrick O'Kelley ... Read more

Reviews (242)

Say what?
I can't pick it up.I try and I try, but I cannot finish this book.I keep getting drawn away from it and have read three other titles while that one sits there taunting me.I just do not find it interesting at all.

Tedious
Like many other reviewers, I am big fan of Cryptonomicon and other books by Stephenson, but this bloated, tedious book was a real chore to read.

What went wrong?I had three main issues:

1)no discernible plot; while things indeed happen throughout the 900 page book (how could they not?), these happenings do not really drive any sort of storyline forward (at least for the first 800 pages or so).

2)I didn't care for any of the main characters--besides being generally unsympathetic, they are very much contrived.

3)Despite the massive historical knowledge reflected in the book, it felt very ahistorical, as Stephenson tends to toss in contemporary slang and attitudes at odd moments throughout the book, I guess in an attempt to be clever...

Some reviewers who rave about the book imply that if you don't enjoy this book you don't have the intellect, stamina, or some other attribute necessary to appreciate such a hefty tome.As someone who generally enjoys a good long book, I'm here to tell you that this attitude is completely off-base.

Frankly, I don't see what attraction this book has for anyone, but many people have apparently enjoyed the book very much.In any event please don't buy it just because you enjoy Stephenson's other books, very thick books, or history--you'll be sorely disappointed.

TMR

It's either your thing or it's not
There are some long reviews here and some strong opinions. I'm going to be brief and not nearly so pointed. I really enjoyed this book, but my enjoyment of it comes with an acceptance of some of the flaws others are pointing out. Certainly, don't read this novel if you want a quick plot. Don't read it if you're afraid of big words and have no interest in early human forays into science. On the other hand, do believe that Stephenson is a stunningly imaginative writer. The way he writes this historically-set, often archaic material is so witty and engaging that I like the writing in and of itself. Could you chop out a hundred pages here or there and not notice? Probably, but far too much of our culture nutures short attention spans. Stephenson unapologetically demands a reader to sign on for the long haul, to enjoy each page for itself, without thinking too much about how quickly (or not) they're accumulating. I think the Umberto Eco comparison is apt, but if so Stephenson is a decidely American version. The material is very international, but there's a natural ease and irreverent humor to the author's prose that reminds me of the likes of TC Boyle, strangely enough. Okay, I wasn't as brief as I might have been. But neither is this novel. ... Read more

Isbn: 0380977427
Subjects:  1. Adventure and adventurers    2. Eighteenth century    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Historical    5. Historical - General    6. Sagas    7. Scientists    8. Seventeenth century    9. Short Stories (single author)    10. Fiction / General   

Cryptonomicon
by Neal Stephenson
Average Customer Review:
Mass Market Paperback (05 November, 2002)
list price: $7.99 -- our price: $7.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Neal Stephenson enjoys cult status among science fiction fans and techie types thanks to Snow Crash, which so completely redefined conventional notions of the high-tech future that it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. But if his cyberpunk classic was big, Cryptonomicon is huge... gargantuan... massive, not just in size (a hefty 918 pages including appendices) but in scope and appeal. It's the hip, readable heir to Gravity's Rainbow and the Illuminatus trilogy. And it's only the first of a proposed series--for more information, read our interview with Stephenson.

Cryptonomicon zooms all over the world, careening conspiratorially back and forth between two time periods--World War II and the present. Our 1940s heroes are the brilliant mathematician Lawrence Waterhouse, cryptanalyst extraordinaire, and gung ho, morphine-addicted marine Bobby Shaftoe. They're part of Detachment 2702, an Allied group trying to break Axis communication codes while simultaneously preventing the enemy from figuring out that their codes have been broken. Their job boils down to layer upon layer of deception. Dr. Alan Turing is also a member of 2702, and he explains the unit's strange workings to Waterhouse. "When we want to sink a convoy, we send out an observation plane first.... Of course, to observe is not its real duty--we already know exactly where the convoy is. Its real duty is to be observed.... Then, when we come round and sink them, the Germans will not find it suspicious."

All of this secrecy resonates in the present-day story line, in which the grandchildren of the WWII heroes--inimitable programming geek Randy Waterhouse and the lovely and powerful Amy Shaftoe--team up to help create an offshore data haven in Southeast Asia and maybe uncover some gold once destined for Nazi coffers. To top off the paranoiac tone of the book, the mysterious Enoch Root, key member of Detachment 2702 and the Societas Eruditorum, pops up with an unbreakable encryption scheme left over from WWII to befuddle the 1990s protagonists with conspiratorial ties.

Cryptonomicon is vintage Stephenson from start to finish: short on plot, but long on detail so precise it's exhausting. Every page has a math problem, a quotable in-joke, an amazing idea, or a bit of sharp prose. Cryptonomicon is also packed with truly weird characters, funky tech, and crypto--all the crypto you'll ever need, in fact, not to mention all the computer jargon of the moment. A word to the wise: if you read this book in one sitting, you may die of information overload (and starvation). --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (726)

If you're gonna read this book,
Then you need to ask yourself a something. Do you I have a short attention span? If you do, please stick to watching sitcoms and leave the reading to us vertebrates. The Cryptonomicons time line is non-linear, with each successive chapter taking place at a different location and following a different character. So, if your gonna read this, know that there are many names, places and dates that are going to be crucial to you getting the most out of this book- If you can't be bothered to remember what happened last week on "Will & Grace" don't bother with this book. For god's sake, don't write a review if you read the first couple of pages and decide, "This sucks, it makes me look like a dork when I carry it around and it's heavy too".

With that said, I can honestly say that, apart from about 20 pages of mathematics that I could not fully understand, this was one of the most idea fill and interesting books I've laid my hands on in some time. Stephenson may be a genius of DaVinci proportion, if not that, then at least a teacher of Feynman's caliber.

An exhaustingly amazing novel
I read a lot, a whole lot. I first read this monster from the library the month it came out, decided (after I had recovered from the experience) that it was probably the best thing I'd read in the whole of the `90s, went out and bought a hardback for myself, and set it in a place of honor on my shelves. Nearly six years on, I find that aging has only improved it. I've been working my way slowly through his recent trilogy, but Cryptonomicon is still better. His characters exist in a t least five dimensions and will stick with you from a long, long time. There's Lawrence Waterhouse, math prodigy and buddy of Alan Turing, who becomes one of the key codebreakers of World War II. There's Marine raider Bobby Shaftoe, a survivor of everything the war can throw at him -- except heroism. There's Randy Waterhouse, Lawrence's equally nerdy grandson, master Unix hacker, and generally nice guy. There's America Shaftoe, partly-Filipino granddaughter of Bobby, master deep diver, and all-round tough cookie -- which doesn't keep Randy and Amy from falling in love. There's Avi, Randy's best friend and front-man in all their business ventures -- in this case, building the world's first politically independent data haven, much to the dismay of major governments. There's Lieut. Goto Dengo, engineer for the Nipponese army and builder of the primary hiding place of Japan's stolen billions in gold bullion. And, moving like mist between the two separate generations, there's the _eminence gris_ Enoch Root, Catholic priest, doctor, cryptographer, conspirator, and take-no-prisoners philosopher. Add to this list several dozen supporting players, all equally well realized, and the richness of the narrative texture is unbelievable. Besides the sheer enjoyment you get from Stephenson's Roman-candle style, his highly original metaphors and similes, and his ironic sense of humor, you're gonna learn a lot about cryptography (both the wartime vintage and the present-day digital variety), and about irregular warfare, and a score of other subjects. Yes, it's a huge book -- but it has to be. The heft also allows space for the author's sprawling digressions on topics as diverse as jungle survival, the similarities between computers and church organs, granny-grade furniture, U-boat life, several Holocausts, imprinting of sexual fetishes, Finnish psychology, the neuro-sociological origins of the ancient Greek pantheon, how to divide up an inheritance, the socioeconomic underpinnings of paper currency, and the proper way to eat Cap'n Crunch. It doesn't all advance the plot, but don't worry about it. Every single paragraph in this thing is worth reading, savoring, and storing away for later rethinking. I'll be reading it against in another decade.

Fun for everyone -- not just the hacker community....
Hey, I did my time working in the computing universe -- as a "DEC-10" operator, an "engineering aide" on work study, a UNIX documentation technical editor (for industry, NOT those semi-literate hackers who wrote the BSD manuals, thanks!) and a programmer in Pascal, C and FORTRAN -- but computers still remain glorified and troublesome _appliances_ in my view. So, a 918-page(!) book about hackers had better have more going on than elaborate self-aggrandizement to keep my interest.This story goes well beyond your usual cyberpunk novel, by fully engaging the larger context in which the techno-wizardry occurs.We get to learn lots of fascinating back story involving (real or imagined) events from World War II, bringing home the recognition that the Web and all of our taken-for-granted computer hardware did not come into existence from vacuum.All of this information is woven into stories about very interesting people, whose lives you either envy or recognize as not so very different from your own, after all.I understand that Bobby Shaftoe and friends are present some of Stephenson's other books, and I'll be looking for them.To echo a previous reviewer, I do hope, though, to see more fully-realized female characters in Stephenson's future work.Say, one with a Ph.D. and a sense of adventure, but not necessarily built like an Olympic athlete or with Heinlein-esque inflated breasts? ... Read more

Isbn: 0060512806
Subjects:  1. Espionage/Intrigue    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Espionage / Thriller    4. Historical - General    5. Literary    6. Science Fiction    7. Science Fiction - High Tech    8. Thrillers   

Snow Crash (Bantam Spectra Book)
by NEAL STEPHENSON
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (02 May, 2000)
list price: $14.00 -- our price: $11.20
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

From the opening line of his breakthrough cyberpunk novel Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson plunges the reader into a not-too-distant future. It is a world where the Mafia controls pizza delivery, the United States exists as a patchwork of corporate-franchise city-states, and the Internet--incarnate as the Metaverse--looks something like last year's hype would lead you to believe it should. Enter Hiro Protagonist--hacker, samurai swordsman, and pizza-delivery driver. When his best friend fries his brain on a new designer drug called Snow Crash and his beautiful, brainy ex-girlfriend asks for his help, what's a guy with a name like that to do? He rushes to the rescue. A breakneck-paced 21st-century novel, Snow Crash interweaves everything from Sumerian myth to visions of a postmodern civilization on the brink of collapse. Faster than the speed of television and a whole lot more fun, Snow Crash is the portrayal of a future that is bizarre enough to be plausible. ... Read more

Reviews (439)

Stephenson's unique
Snow Crash is one of those books that will either grab you in the first 30 pages, and hold you to the end, or you will hate.You'll worry about the comic book aspect at first, but quickly get past that.

As with much of Neal Stephenson's writing, Snow Crash is completely unique.It is hilarious through the first half of the book, and has a couple of Stephenson's amazing allegories sprinkled throughout.One in particular describing a Dilber-view of a future Federal bureaucracy is worth the price of the book on it's own.Snow Crash is not, however, at the level of Cryptonomicon.The world of Snow Crash seriously bogs down and becomes Hollywood-movie-clichéd at the end.But it's a great ride getting there.

Will It Ever End??!?!?!
My gosh, what a complete waste of time.I finally put the book down after 6 weeks and 273 pages.I just couldn't take it anymore.I would have stopped a long time before now, but I don't like leaving books unfinished.In this case, not finishing is better than the alternative...

Nothing every really happened in the book, at least not the part I read.There were a few scenes where something actually transpired besides dialog or author rambling, but the scenes were shallow and short.

I kept waiting for some big event to take place after all the description, but over half way through the book, it never did.I just feel like I wasted the last 5 weeks trying to get through this book, when normally it takes me only a week to get through one that can keep my attention.

I was not impressed.

something for a Jerry Bruckheimer film, but that's all...
From what I heard, this was meant to be up there with Neuromancer, but it didn't even come close in my opinion.

After [what seemed like] the first three or four times Stephenson explains to the reader that computers understand binary, and that binary is made up of 1's and 0's, I started to get a bit worried about this novel.

I continued though, thinking that he was just educating the computer illiterate in the early chapters, but it just went on and on...

The whole thing just seemed to be made up of a mish-mash of 'cool' images like hackers, samurai, the Mafia, skateboarding, etc, etc, etc... All just thrown into the mix for the sake of being cool.

The only interesting thread of an idea in the book just sort of trailed off into nothingness, just like the rest of the story.

I give it one star for the mythological storyline [which was the only thing that kept me reading], and for resisting the urge to write the protagonist from the first person. Everything else just annoyed me.

If you're after a cyber-novel with genuinely creative ideas (not just a Neuromancer wannabe), try Permutation City (Greg Egan). ... Read more

Isbn: 0553380958
Subjects:  1. American Science Fiction And Fantasy    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Science Fiction    5. Science Fiction - General    6. Science Fiction - High Tech    7. Fiction / Science Fiction / General   

Wired
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $59.40 -- our price: $12.00
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Magazine Subscription

Reviews (68)

Lots of Flash, No Bang.
Wired purports to be a cutting edge high tech magazine. In fact, it is little more than a Nerd's version of People magazine, with a lot of short, unconnected articles purporting to offer inside information from the tech community. It is most likely to be of interest to Gamers (and has lots of ads addressed to that crowd).

The best thing about it is its (expensive) graphics, but that doesn't justify wasting your time or money on it.

BEWARE OF YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
I got a letter from a collecting agency stating WIRED hired them "to write you as to why payment has not been made as of this letter date." The letter ends in a bold, italicized threat:

"This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose."

I never subscribed to this magazine yet I got this letter. I called the handy number right at the top of the "bill" and I was forwarded to a recording with the following instructions:

press "1" to make payment
press "2" if already paid
press "3" never received subscription
press "4" never renewed subsciption
press "5" never ordered subscription


I pressed 5, and that was that. Talk about a low way to get subscribers. This is bottom feeding. Magazines used to offer you incentives. Now they threaten to louse up your credit rating.

Anyway, I am writing this to inform and warn existing and future subscribers about this magazine. Based on the options given above, not only "non-subscribers" like me get a letter from a collecting agency to subscribe to this magazine, but also existing subscribers who did not renew their subscriptions.

I think this is taking guerilla marketing a bit too far - not only are you being billed for something you didn't order, but they're skipping right over you and sending your name directly to a collection agency.

The Dark Side Of Wired
I was a Wired subscriber for 2 years but later on decided not to continue with the subscription. I wish it was that easy! They sent me a couple issues after the subscription ended (without any approval!) and then started to bomb with those endless mail reminders like "we still didn't get your payment, please don't forget" and "we want you not to miss any of our great issues". Sure thing, I ignored them but now they forwarded my info to some collecting agency which threatens me and asks to pay the subscriprion fee plus late fees plus collection fees.

The magazine itself is okay though. I quite understand this review is basically not what people write about things but anyway. I just wanted to address this information to whoever might be interested in it. ... Read more

Asin: B00005N7TL
Sales Rank: 8
Subjects:  1. Computers & Internet    2. Internet    3. Business    4. Technology   

Rolling Stone
Average Customer Review:
Magazine
list price: $103.70 -- our price: $12.97
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

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   

RIM 957 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $499.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Research in Motion's BlackBerry wireless handheld has been one of themost talked-about handhelds on the market recently--and the press coverage itreceived due to it being the communication gadgets of choice for Al Gore'spresidential campaign certainly didn't hurt. But thanks to its full-functionorganizer, synchronization with many popular desktop PIMs (personal informationmanagers), thumb-operated QWERTY keyboard, and, of course, wireless e-mail, theRIM 957 BlackBerry is more than just hype.

You won't receive instant wireless gratification right out of the box--you'llneed to juice up the internal rechargeable battery via the docking cradle (ACadapter included). Also, the activation process requires you to first registeronline and wait three to five business days for a confirmation e-mail.

The biggest challenges we faced, thanks to years of Palm usage, were thekeyboard and the trackwheel controller. There's no need for a stylus with theRIM 957--all text input is performed using the minikeyboard. At first we wereall thumbs, but we got the hang of it after a day's usage and could type away--evenhitting the ALT keys (which cover numbers and symbols)--like a pro. And forlonger e-mail messages, the RIM 957 is certainly easier and quicker than writingGraffiti characters with the Palm stylus.

And instead of tapping screen icons to access functions or scroll through ascreen (the RIM 957's screen is not touch sensitive), you use the trackwheel onthe right side of the device. Just roll to a desired item and press it in toselect it; this is also how you access menu items when in a list, such as theaddress book. To return to the previous screen (or get out of the menu), simplypress the Escape key below the trackwheel.

We easily synchronized the device with our Outlook contacts, to-do lists, andcalendar. The RIM 957's desktop software includes Intellisync, which cansynchronize the device with Microsoft Outlook and Schedule+, GroupWise, LotusOrganizer and Notes, Symantec ACT!, Goldmine, and Netscape.

Once out on the road, e-mailing was a breeze--we maximized our time by sendingmessages back to our office from New York taxis and while waiting for a delayedflight. With the device on, e-mail was received automatically, and we werenotified with a simple tone. You can also set the device to vibrate, which ishelpful when the RIM 957 is stored in the included belt-clip case.

The RIM 957 does have some shortcomings. There's no Web browsing, and you won'tbe able to use applications developed for the Palm OS, the predominant handheldplatform. Also, you will have to work with your company's system administratoror your ISP to receive messages from your company or other e-mail account.Finally, if you are in a rural area, you might not get any connection, as themonthly wireless service (provided through Aether Systems) is primarily focusedon larger metropolitan areas.

That said, if you're a modern-day road warrior who needs to be connected to e-mailat all times, the RIM 957 offers all the tools of a personal organizerwithout the hassle of having to jack into a modem or cell phone to get online.--Agen Schmitz

Pros:

• Wireless e-mail as easy as paging
• Typing long messages with built-in keyboard is easier than writing usingPalm Graffiti
• Full-function organizer and easy synchronization with desktop PIMs

Cons:

• Not compatible with Palm OS applications
• Most rural areas won't receive service--be sure to check Aether Systems foravailability in your area
• Won't automatically connect to your company e-mail account

... Read more

Reviews (51)

Perfect PDA at a great size
I love my RIM 950 Blackberry now that I have one. I had heard about them from everyone, and even seen one in a movie, so I finally caved and got one. This little tiny thing is amazing, and with all the things it can do. I might as well toss my pager away as we speak. It's about the size of a pager (maybe a little bigger) but it makes you feel as if it is a pager.

That's probably one of the main things I like about the Blackberry. It's sheer size helps it get carried anywhere you need it. It even fits into a shirt pocket. I hate carrying things on my belt (it'll probably look dumb anyway), so I just have it in my pocket. The keyboard is also fairly original and it's 100% easier to use than handwriting recognition by far, and since the blackberry doesn't have a touch screen, all the browsing is done by a control wheel which is actually easier than it looks when you try it. I wish the backlight was brighter, though. It would help a lot.

I'm not sure I want to purchase service yet, so I just use it for it's scheduler, and the other things such as Address Book, Memopad, Tasks (also know as To Do list), Calender, Calculator, and the Alarm (very useful). All of these things come in handy for someone who constantly forgets things, and that's exactly why I finally got one. It saved me for sure. For instance, just yesterday I was getting two of my relatives addresses, and I didn't have any paper (it was at a party) and so I whipped out my Blackberry and jotted it down into the Address Book.

I have only one complaint. It eats up batteries like there's no tomorrow if you turn it off. It's better to leave it on if you're reading my review and you're planning to get one. Surprisingly, it actually keeps a really good battery time life if you leave it on. I was flabbergasted when I figured this out. It's great how it only needs one AA battery to do everything it does. A great PDA which I recommend to any business person who doesn't always want to lug around a lap top.

Not a good fit for me
My main complaint about the 950 seems trivial, but is actually pretty important. I absolutely refuse to wear this thing on my belt, so I keep it in my handbag. Well, the holster is not rigid enough, so the device turns itself on when I'm not paying attention and eats up batteries like you wouldn't believe. Now it seems like every time I pick it up the battery is dead. The device is almost worthless to me at this point. I wish I'd purchased the 957 instead. At least it is rechargable.

Great, great device
This thing saved my life.I am chronically disorganized (always writing things down on slips of paper and losing them, forgetting appointments, and such).Well, now I have it all in one place and it nags me enough so I can't forget anything!I love these things.

The only reason I held back and gave it 4 stars instead of five is because it eats so many batteries I might have to get a second job soon just to keep it supplied.I have to replace the battery every 2 days or so, that seems to be an awful lot.

But the other functions more than make up for the battery-eating capacity!Don't let that deter you (plus you can always use the docking cradle and use A/C power when you're not on the go (not really often enough in my life for the docking cradle to be very useful though!) ... Read more

Asin: B00004WGTA
Subjects:  1. Pocket Information Managers (PIM)    2. Email Appliances (Appliance)   

RIM 950 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $399.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The RIM 950 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld offers a complete wireless e-mail solution for the mobile professional. Compose e-mail messages using the built-in keyboard, then send and receive e-mail via the embedded wireless modem. Integrate e-mail sent from the RIM handheld device with your primary desktop e-mail account. The RIM 950 also comes with a full-featured organizer, allowing you to keep track of your contacts, schedule, and to-do lists. You can then synchronize this data using the included docking cradle with such desktop PIMs as Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Organizer and Notes, Symantec ACT!, and GroupWise. To check coverage in your area, check the Aether Systems Web site: www.myaetherbb.com/start.asp.

About the size of a pager, the RIM 950's screen has a sharp LCD screen with six to eight lines of viewable text. The main menu features intuitive icons and menus that are accessed with a thumb-operated trackwheel. The device has 4 MB of flash memory (plus 512 KB SRAM) and operates on a 32-bit Intel386 processor. It runs on a single AA battery.

The RIM 950 Blackberry comes with a docking cradle, a belt-clip case, Blackberry Desktop Manager software, and a Blackberry installation and user's guide.

Important note to customers: The RIM 950 Blackberry Wireless Handheld requires a $39.95 monthly wireless service through Aether Systems. An activation guide with details is included in the box. Should you have questions or need assistance regarding service details, contact Aether System by email at moreinfo@myaetherbb.com or by phone at 866-815-2701. ... Read more

Features

• Send and receive wireless e-mail
• Built-in keyboard with thumb-operated trackwheel
• Synchronize with your desktop e-mail and organizer applications
• 4 MB flash memory plus 512 KB SRAM
• Integrates with most Internet Mail accounts--AOL Mail, CompuServe Mail, and Hotmail are not compatible (contact your Internet Service Provider for compatibility details); requires $39.99 monthly wireless service through Aether Systems

Reviews (51)

Perfect PDA at a great size
I love my RIM 950 Blackberry now that I have one. I had heard about them from everyone, and even seen one in a movie, so I finally caved and got one. This little tiny thing is amazing, and with all the things it can do. I might as well toss my pager away as we speak. It's about the size of a pager (maybe a little bigger) but it makes you feel as if it is a pager.

That's probably one of the main things I like about the Blackberry. It's sheer size helps it get carried anywhere you need it. It even fits into a shirt pocket. I hate carrying things on my belt (it'll probably look dumb anyway), so I just have it in my pocket. The keyboard is also fairly original and it's 100% easier to use than handwriting recognition by far, and since the blackberry doesn't have a touch screen, all the browsing is done by a control wheel which is actually easier than it looks when you try it. I wish the backlight was brighter, though. It would help a lot.

I'm not sure I want to purchase service yet, so I just use it for it's scheduler, and the other things such as Address Book, Memopad, Tasks (also know as To Do list), Calender, Calculator, and the Alarm (very useful). All of these things come in handy for someone who constantly forgets things, and that's exactly why I finally got one. It saved me for sure. For instance, just yesterday I was getting two of my relatives addresses, and I didn't have any paper (it was at a party) and so I whipped out my Blackberry and jotted it down into the Address Book.

I have only one complaint. It eats up batteries like there's no tomorrow if you turn it off. It's better to leave it on if you're reading my review and you're planning to get one. Surprisingly, it actually keeps a really good battery time life if you leave it on. I was flabbergasted when I figured this out. It's great how it only needs one AA battery to do everything it does. A great PDA which I recommend to any business person who doesn't always want to lug around a lap top.

Not a good fit for me
My main complaint about the 950 seems trivial, but is actually pretty important. I absolutely refuse to wear this thing on my belt, so I keep it in my handbag. Well, the holster is not rigid enough, so the device turns itself on when I'm not paying attention and eats up batteries like you wouldn't believe. Now it seems like every time I pick it up the battery is dead. The device is almost worthless to me at this point. I wish I'd purchased the 957 instead. At least it is rechargable.

Great, great device
This thing saved my life.I am chronically disorganized (always writing things down on slips of paper and losing them, forgetting appointments, and such).Well, now I have it all in one place and it nags me enough so I can't forget anything!I love these things.

The only reason I held back and gave it 4 stars instead of five is because it eats so many batteries I might have to get a second job soon just to keep it supplied.I have to replace the battery every 2 days or so, that seems to be an awful lot.

But the other functions more than make up for the battery-eating capacity!Don't let that deter you (plus you can always use the docking cradle and use A/C power when you're not on the go (not really often enough in my life for the docking cradle to be very useful though!) ... Read more

Asin: B00004WGT9
Subjects:  1. Pocket Information Managers (PIM)   

Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Router
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $99.99 -- our price: $59.99
(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 (557)

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.

quite good, for a small home network
I've had this router for about a year now, and it does everything I need for a home network of < 5 computers. The only thing the out-of-box firmware doesn't have that I wanted is DHCP reservations. However, I got a better firmware from:
http://wifi-box.sf.net
which does this and adds a few other features. ... Read more

Asin: B00007KDVI
Subjects:  1. Linksys   

Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G Notebook Adapter
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $79.99 -- our price: $49.99
(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 PC card for laptops to use the 802.11g standard, which is four times faster than the current standard (802.11b) and backwards compatible.

The new Wireless-G notebook adapter (PC Card adapter) from Linksys has both the 802.11b and newer 802.11g standards built in, so you can connect your notebook to existing 802.11b infrastructure and also the new, fast Wireless-G networks. The included setup wizard walks you through configuring the adapter to your network's settings, step by step. Then just slide the adapter into your notebook's PC Card slot and enjoy network access with your notebook computer, while retaining true mobility.

Wireless-G is the 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products that are 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 also work with existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment.

Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers on the network, wherever you wander. At home, you can surf the Web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out on the patio.

You'll also be able to connect to any of the growing number of public wireless hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels, and convention centers. And as those hotspots upgrade to the new high-speed Wireless-G standard, you'll be ready to take advantage of the increased speeds.

Get connected to current standard 802.11b networks today, and be prepared for the future with the Wireless-G notebook adapter from Linksys.

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

• Compatible with Windows98SE, Me, 2000, and XP
• Operates in the 2.4 Ghz frequency spectrum with speeds up to 54 Mbps
• Complies with IEEE 802.11g draft standards, and is backwards compatible with IEEE 802.11b products
• 32-bit CardBus Interface
• Up to 128-bit WEP encryption

Reviews (178)

Disappointed
I have always purchased Linksys in the past, routers, switches & hubs with absolutly no trouble. I read all the reviews here, some good, some bad. I took the advice of some who said not to use the setup CD and to download straight from the web. Another said to setup the router and not let your "know it all" 19 year old set up the laptop adapter first, among many others. Well, I set up the wireless router WRT54GS but could not get a clean install of the software drivers not even from the web. Finally I got it to install and work. It worked fine as a router with a Ethernet (wired) connection to my laptop. Then the fun started when I tried to install the Laptop Adapter WPC54G. I can't begin to explain the hours and pain that was spent. No matter what I did or how I did it, the adapter was active and appeared to be ok BUT it would not communicate withe Router. I tried every configuration I could. And, Yes, I called Linksys. Even at 3AM they are there to help you .... RIGHT! I called them 3 times, was on the phone for almost an hour each time and GOT NO WHERE. It might have been faster if the people spoke english as a first language!. Bottom line, Linksys said there must be something wrong with either the adapter or router, or both and left me hanging. THANKS. I bought both pieces back to the store and returned them. Would have liked to exchanged them for another Linksys set but, the experience was very very BAD. I purchased the D-Link DI-624 108Mbps G Wireless router and the D-Link DWL-G650 108G Laptop adapter. In 20 minutes I was up and Running. Lesson Learned? ... If you buy Linksys or anyone else, and it does work out of the box (if you followed instructions), consider it dead and don't waste anymore of your time trying and trying to make it work!

Strong Connection and good range.
This wireless network adapter is durable and provides a great connection with relatively little configuration.I have installed this card in IBM T30 and A20 models as well as HP notebooks. I had a dlink card on my last computer that had less than half the range it claimed. The instalation was simple and intuitive enough for the technologicaly challenged could get wifi connection easily.I have yet to find an incompatible network.

This card isnt the cheapest (but its not the most expensive) but the price is worth the durability and knowledge that you are connected with a quality product.
Go wireless with the WPC54G today.

WPC54G v2 & AES
After purchasing the WPC54G v2, I was disappointed to notice that it evidently doesn't support AES. I'm using the Linksys Network Monitor v2.1 (also tried Funk Odyssey), and driver v6.0.0.18.
Linksys' website has the product data sheet for this card, which lists security as: WEP, AES, TKIP, 802.1x. The user guide, that came with the card, as well as the user guide posted to the website, speaks about AES as a selection. And the Network Monitor application, prompts you to choose, "from either TKIP or AES," only that AES is not listed in the drop down list.
From my reading posts, it appears that v2 doesn't support AES, while some other WPC54G versions do. The problem is that Linksys makes it very unlikely that you'll realize this before purchasing the card. Between their website, userguide, software, as well as all their retail channel partners listing AES as a supported protocol, you're destined to purchase the card and be disappointed once you attempt to configure AES.
After contacting Linksys, this is the clarification I received, "...AES is supported with the previous version which is WPC54G Version 1. There is no driver yet for the version 2 wireless-g adapter that supports AES as on the moment. Keep posted from the website for any updates with regards to the device. You can go to www.linksys.com..."
This doesn't really manage expectations, though, and leaves it likely that others may potentially experience the same confusion. ... Read more

Asin: B00007KDVK
Subjects:  1. Linksys   

Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive "Burly Brawl" and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with The Matrix Revolutions. The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made Reloaded an explosive hit with critics and hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Asin: B0000AXE8I
Subjects:  1. Science Fiction   

Neo thus embarks on an adventure that is both terrifying and enthralling. Pitted against an enemy that transcends human concepts of evil, Morpheus and his team must train Neo to believe that he is the chosen champion of their fight. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action, and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Reeves andFishburne--who both turn in fine performances--much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Moss, who flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semipsychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise--a chapter that is arguably superior to the other sci-fi smash of 1999 (you know... the one starring Jar Jar Binks).--Jeremy Storey ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Dolby
• Widescreen

Asin: B00000K19E
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-action/Adventure