Nikon Coolpix 5700 5MP Digital Camera w/ 8x Optical Zoom

Average customer rating:

Good Camera for advanced amatuer.

Good Pictures but difficult to use

Nikon CoolPix 5700 - EXCELLENT Value!

Over Rated

Lens Error

Nikon Coolpix 5700 5MP Digital Camera w/ 8x Optical Zoom

Manufacturer: Nikon
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

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Accessories:

Nikon TC-E17ED Tele Converter Lens for Coolpix 5700, 8700 & 8800 (requires converter adapter)

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Nikon MC-EU1 Remote Release Cord for Coolpix 4300, 4500, 5000, 5700 & 8700 Digital Cameras

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Nikon Camera Case for Coolpix 5700 or 8700 Digital Cameras

Product Features:

5.0 megapixel sensor creates 2,560 x 1,920 images for prints at 11 x 14 and beyond

8x optical zoom and 4 x digital zoom for 32x total; provides an equivalent zoom range of 35mm-280mm in 35mm photography

Includes 16 MB CompactFlash card; MicroDrive compatible

Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port

Uses 1 rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL1 battery (included)

ASIN: B000069092

Product Description

A compact, lightweight digital still camera with 5.0 effective megapixels, the COOLPIX 5700 was developed to join the COOLPIX 5000 at the top of the Nikon COOLPIX digital still camera lineup, renowned for superior image quality and ease of use. The wide range of users the COOLPIX 5700 is expected to attract includes advanced amateurs, digital enthusiasts, and semi-professional photographers who demand high performance in every aspect of photography, as well as an air of sophistication. The compact, lightweight body is made of magnesium (Mg) alloy, which offers unparalleled portability. The camera's ergonomic, easy-grip design ensures secure handling and comfortable operation. The Vari-angle LCD monitor and the EVF (Electronic ViewFinder) with its great frame coverage combine to offer total convenience in every shooting position. And both deliver your images almost immediately. Features such as 5-area Multi Autofocus and various exposure metering settings, extremely popular in film-type cameras, will certainly satisfy conventional camera users.The COOLPIX 5700 incorporates an auto pop-up Speedlight, and also features an accessory shoe, which enables the attachment of an external Speedlight when more lighting is necessary. Multiple capture modes can be selected, including an all-new RAW image (NEF format) recording mode for untouched image quality, and movies with audio for up to 60 seconds. The COOLPIX 5700 also has a built-in speaker, making instant confirmation playback of movies possible. Features like the Noise Reduction Mode, Saturation Control and White Balance Bracketing will also help improving image quality. The COOLPIX 5700 is compatible with a broad range of quality accessories. With so many advanced features and accessories, the COOLPIX 5700 is sure to help you realize your digital dreams.

Amazon.com Review

Building on the success of the amateur range of Coolpix cameras, Nikon has introduced the Coolpix 5700 in an attempt to bridge the gap between the amateur and professional markets. This time around Nikon has gone for a semicompact feel, combining an almost palm-size unit with a powerful features one would expect to find on a high-specification midrange digital camera.

swing-out screen of the CoolPix 5700

The swiveling, swing-out screen on the Coolpix 5700 makes it easier to frame self-portrait, overhead, and floor-level shots.

The Coolpix 5700 comes equipped with an automatic pop-up flash, plus a hot-shoe for additional flash units. The bundled NikonView 5 browser software makes it simple to download, organize, and print images. The package includes a lens cap, camera strap, 16 MB CompactFlash card, AV cable, USB cable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and battery charger. It is compatible with CompactFlash memory cards (Type I or II), as well as IBM Microdrives.

The 5700 allows the use of the viewfinder or the LCD monitor (which rotates through 180 degrees after it's opened out) for framing a picture, providing full freedom of movement and allowing you to capture a picture at any angle--no matter how obtuse. Zoom capability has been increased on the 5700, and the camera features an impressive 8x optical zoom, the results from which are good at all levels and distances. Supporting a maximum resolution of 2,560 x 1,920 (4.91 megapixels), an ISO range of 100 to 800, and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000, this camera is definitely a good all-rounder, providing you with great flexibility under different conditions.

The 5700 performs admirably, producing results way above expectation. Color balance is good, and the overall results are of a very high quality. We did have a middling complaint about its size, which actually feels a bit on the small size. With an extra couple of centimeters added to the bodywork, the 5700 would have felt much easier to handle and control in everyday usage. The position of the camera strap attachment also seems awkward, being as it is located on the upper right quadrant of the lens housing, making it sometimes difficult to gain a good grip when in use.

These criticisms aside, the Coolpix 5700 is bound to be another sure-fire hit for Nikon, balancing the huge 5-megapixel image size against a competitive pricepoint. For those not yet ready to move up to the professional level of 35mm digital SLRs such as the Nikon D100, the Coolpix 5700 proves to be a worthy alternative. --Elly Russell

Pros:

Palm-sized 5-megapixel camera with a powerful feature set
Includes sizeable 16 MB memory card--can accept IBM Microdrives
8x optical zoom

Cons:

Could be slightly larger for easier handling

Amazon.com Product Description

Nikon's Coolpix 5700 digital camera combines Nikon's world-renowned Nikkor optics, an 8x optical zoom, and a 5-megapixel CCD sensor for superior image quality. With its maximum resolution of 2,560 x 1,920 pixels and file sizes of up to 15 MB, you can create brilliant color prints sized 16 by 20 inches and beyond. The Coolpix 5700 provides great control over picture composition, and plenty of latitude to crop and resize images without digital artifacts becoming noticeable in the final print.

The 8X optical zoom Nikkor lens offers a 35-280mm zoom range (35mm equivalent), and uses Nikon-developed ED (extra-low dispersion) glass. For even greater magnification, the stepless 4x digital zoom provides for a maximum zoom range of 32x, so you can capture details even from great distances.

The Coolpix 5700 features Nikon's exclusive clear-image mode for lower-resolution shooting, plus noise-reduction mode for use with longer exposures. It also offers a three frame-per-second burst mode and a top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second, great for action-packed outdoor and sports photography.

You can frame subjects using the various-angle LCD monitor, or the new electronic viewfinder for through-the-lens viewing of scenes and menus. Nikons "quick review" makes viewing images on the included memory card a snap, and a five-area multi autofocus lets you pick your focus spot.

Its movie mode enables you to record full-motion video for up to one full minute with sound. A built-in speaker provides instant confirmation and playback capabilities for digital movies.

The Coolpix 5700 comes equipped with an automatic pop-up flash, plus a hot shoe for additional flash units. The bundled NikonView 5 browser software (for Mac and Windows) makes it simple to organize, retrieve, and print images. It includes a lens cap, camera strap, 16 MB CompactFlash card, AV cable, USB cable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL1), and battery charger. It is compatible with type I and II CompactFlash memory cards, as well as IBM Microdrives (512 MB and 1 GB).

Customer Reviews:

Good Camera for advanced amatuer........2007-03-05

I bought this camera after many years of owning a Nikon FM-2.
This camera and those like it fill a gap for those who do not want to invest in a Digital SLR system. Yet have some control over the camera.

If you can get by with 5 Megapixles this is a good camera.

If you can, buy the filter set and the adapter because it not only protects the lens but also protects the zoom mechanism.

Buy or find the MB-E5700 battery pack which letts you use 6 AA Lithium batteries or rechargables. This gives you the best power option. (Turn off the continuous Autofocus and you will save power galore!)

No serious photographer uses on camera flash. You can turn off the flash on the camera and get a Speedlight.

The camera takes a while to master if you want to use all the features.
The metering for exposures is near perfect. The problems in low light can be overcome with some simple steps.

Set the focus on infinity for long distances shots.

Use the focus lock to lock onto something with contrast in low light situations. This is the camera's Achilles heel.

The Camera in not a pro camera and will take time to shoot download hi-res photos to memory.

I have been very pleased with camera and the results. I would like to have a Nikon D200 but do not want to spend that much.

Good Pictures but difficult to use.......2006-08-13

I have had my Coolpix 5700 for several years and rarely go anywhere without it. It takes great pictures unless there is low light. It is impossible to get decent shots in the late evening or in the house. The controls are pretty complicated, but I leave almost everything on auto and this works most of the time. It is a very tough camera and has taken a LOT of abuse from me (including being dropped on bricks from a few feet up). I love my camera but it is not for the casual user.

Buy 2 batteries! Always keep one on the charger and you will be thankful.

Nikon CoolPix 5700 - EXCELLENT Value!.......2006-05-19

I purchased the E5700 back when its cost was around $975. It was money well spent. My amateur and semi-pro photography career has spanned three decades, so I've seen some good and many bad cameras over the years. The CP5700 is one of the best, IMO.
This was my first digital camera -- moving from a 35mm SLR (Canon A-1) to a pro-sumer digi. Although a bit smaller than the A-1, the CoolPix 5700 still feels pretty substantial in my hands. The feature set allows for full auto (Aperture, Shutter, Program) and full manual shooting. I also love the fact that I can carry ONE camera and take color OR B&W photos. The BEST thing about the Nikon 5700 is the screen. While it is not nearly as large as some newer models, it is the most versatile I've ever encountered. The screeen swivels in ALL directions -- making it possible to compose photos from ANY angle. In fact, I use it frequently to take overhead and on-the-ground pics. AWESOME!
Add an SB flash, or a battery pack and you're ready for pro-shooting. I would advise one thing though -- *IF* you can't find the 5700 for under $525, I would suggest stepping up to the CoolPix 8700 (same camera, but 8MP) for a little more $$$.

BTW, one problem often seen on the 5700 is the scrambled screen. Nikon will repair and clean the camera FREE of charge if that is the problem. I had mine done recently -- 8 days total turnaround. Lastly, the lens error most people experience is their own fault. They put the camera in a camera bag that's too small or turn it on in a confined space -- thus messing up the lens motor. In almost four yrs of owning the 5700, I have had ONE lens error message -- and it was 100% MY fault.

Over Rated.......2006-05-18

I bought this camera after reading a very positive review in a major "consumer" based magazine. 8 months later the image chip went defective. Just as the same "consumer" magazine reported in a later issue. Nikon fixed this for "free", they would not pay for the incoming shipping ($30).

Now 4 months later the flash does not work, the ISO settings do not change, the auto-focus is a no-go.

What a piece of junk! Nikon won't pay for these problems either!

DO NOT buy! Get the D50 or Rebel XT instead.

UPDATE! Nikon has issued a service bulletin for this model. This is the second SERIOUS issue and this piece of junk went back for the second time in its 16 month life.

I repeat-do NOT buy! Get the Canon Digital Rebel XT instead!!!

Lens Error.......2006-04-20

Have had this camera for one year, now when I try to power it on I get 'LENS ERROR' and the lens does not move. Apparently this is a very widespread and known problem that Nikon continues to charge $300 a pop to fix.

Average customer rating:
Motorola CLS1110 Professional UHF 2-Way Radio Walkie Talkie

Manufacturer: Motorola
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Ideal for businesses that are labor-intensive or have high employee turnover

Operates on 56 business-exclusive frequencies and features 121 codes for added security

Rechargeable lithium ion battery provides up to 12 hours of continuous use

Key pad lock prevents accidental changes to the settings

Transmits up to 200,000 square feet, or up to 15 floors in a multi-level building

ASIN: B0000AUFKI

Amazon.com Product Description

If you have employees that you need to keep in close communication with, the Motorola CLS1110 Professional UHF two-way radio walkie talkie can help. Offering instant communication between sets, the Motorola CLS1110 can help your business offer faster and more efficient customer service, while improving the productivity of your employees.

Take a closer look at the Motorola CLS1110's functions.
As an easy-to-use and affordable wireless solution, the Motorola CLS1110 is ideal for businesses that are labor-intensive or that experience a high employee turnover. With little training required, this walkie talkie can help companies reduce their overall operational costs and get new employees up and running in a matter of minutes. Durable enough to withstand everyday use, yet with a lightweight design that will allow employees to use it over long periods of time, the single-channel Motorola CLS1110 is a flexible solution for today's business. And, with an indoor range up to 200,000 square feet (15 floors), your employees will always be in touch.

By eliminating the noise and distraction of paging systems, as well as the annoyance of loudspeakers, business two-way radios are the most efficient ways to keep companies in contact with their employees. The Motorola CLS1110 operates on 56 business-exclusive frequencies and features 121 codes, which means that it will help ensure that a clear signal is readily available. (The use of the Motorola CLS1110 requires an FCC license.) A rechargeable Lithium-ion battery provides up to 12 hours of continuous use, and a simple drop-in charging system makes recharging the batteries after each shift a breeze. The walkie talkie features a key pad lock to prevent accidental changes to the settings and limits unnecessary downtime. It also features three selectable call tones that alert the user of an incoming transmission.

Ideal for businesses that operate over a large work area, the Motorola CLS1110 is highly recommended for cashiers, customer service, floor managers and clerks, sales staff, stock clerks, security personnel, restaurant workers, and other personnel that require constant communication.

Product Description

Additional features include: Lithium Ion rechargeable Battery; drop-in charger and swivel holster; Compatible with Spirit GT and GT+ radios; Keypad Lock; Audible Call Tones; VOX - Voice Activated Transmit with select audio accessories (not included); Durable, lightweight design; Easy for employees to carry and hold all day, yet built to withstand everyday use; Quickly copy the settings from radio to radio with the use of the optional #56517 (Cloning, Charging, Storage) accessory. The Motorola CLS1110 1-Channel Radio has a range of up to 200,000 sq. ft or 15 floors indoors, 5 miles outdoors (range will vary based on terrain and conditions). 1-watt technology provides up to two times the power of family radios. Operates on 56 UHF buiness-exclusive frequencies. Single-channel operation with 121 Interference Eliminator Codes (83 Digital and 38 Analog). Requires FCC license. Lithium-Ion battery operates up to 12 hours on a single charge.

Product Description

HP Designjet CP Ink System is ideal for design professionals and professional service bureaus who want high-quality, large-format color prints. HP Designjet CP Ink System is designed to work as a total system with HP Designjet CP Series printers using CP Ink System and HP Designjet printing material for clear, sharp results.

Average customer rating:

Great piece of gear, too bad it's dying technology.

Quite Useful

Better have neat handwriting

Save time: Put the price in dollars in a shredder

Lots of room for improvement

Logitech io2 Digital Writing System

Manufacturer: Logitech
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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GT-504 Graphic Tablet for Both Pc & Mac Good For Msn Natural Draw

Product Features:

Convert handwriting to text -- your handwritten notes will look as if they typed on a keyboard

Easy editing -- Change color and width of your ink strokes, select portions to remove, combine handwritten documents or paste information to existing documents

Search for words and phrases in your handwritten notes, by date, type of document or file name

While in a meeting, add To Do items or schedule new meetings by simply writing them down

Post-It notes and FranklinCovey's iScribe software and digital planning pages keep your new ideas and commets organized

ASIN: B00064FXH0

Product Description

The Logitech io2 Digital Writing System is the fastest and most effective mobile solution for writing on the go. It's the perfect tool for turning handwritten information into digital documents. Use it with e-mail and Microsoft Word to increase productivity, or integrate it with applications for paper-based workflow solutions and automating business processes. Export easily to Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Journal

Customer Reviews:

Great piece of gear, too bad it's dying technology........2007-05-04

I bought the Logitech io2 on a whim during a CompUSA closing sale, so I got a great deal on the device. My overall impression is that it's a "nice to have," but unless you're a manager or higher level administrative representative in a setting where you can get a larger order of them, it loses functionality.

1) I've tried at length to find different products beyond standard ruled paper for this thing, to no avail. At this point even a standard notebook would require special mail ordering, but if you know where to look, the costs can be defrayed. I bought a set of 15 "digital notebooks" with roughly 100 sheets each on eBay for about $15.00 USD + ~$10 shipping. In general, however, it's a very specialized piece of gear that demands very specialized parts -- no, you cannot write on normal paper or print out the "Anoto" sheets you need on your own. If I could just find a dayplanner that works with the pen I'd be able to justify the cost, but I can't

2) Let me reiterate that you must use specialized paper. My recommendation is that if you're willing to pay the price for the io2, you better be ready to pay for the XPaper program and extra paper (which runs at $15 for a ream of 100, by the way) so that you can print your own forms and have a good bit more functionality.

3) It seems like dead technology. Most of the excitement I've seen buzzing around this piece of gear seems to date back to 2005. Pretty much everything you see now developed for digital pen technology is all you can expect ever will be developed for digital pens; look over whats available closely, see if any of it will REALLY help you as an individual user, and then make the decision to buy.

4) Of course -- the high price now needs addressing. If you're prone to losing pens, getting pens stolen, etc etc... well, do not buy this pen. You're going to drop $150+ into a piece of gear you're going to have for about a month and a half before it gets stolen. Paranoia marks all my attempts to keep accountability of my pen.

5) It just doesn't write as well as I'd expect a $150 pen to write. I mean, it's a blue ink ball point BIC pen with a fancy camera on its nose. Don't expect something that writes as well as say, a gel pen or space pen. I did, and I was sorely disappointed. Which brings me to my next point.

6) Handwriting recognition. I won't even go into depth here. I just hope you have really, really neat handwriting. Like, your handwriting looks like you traced a typed sheet of paper.

All in all, I like it, but I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. I work in a personnel administrative capacity, so it's heavily useful to me, but I think it'd be even more useful to say, a college student who needs to have his notes collected in one place. Imagine a college student who has digitized, searchable notes and who can e-mail his notes to a friend who missed the lecture in thier full, handwritten format -- footnotes, sidenotes, doodles and all. It has a lot of unrealized potential, and I wish I could exploit its functionality to its fullest, but I just cannot at my level and at the level of availablity of products that work with it.

Quite Useful.......2006-11-16

I use it for all my notes at work. I never expect ANYTHING from handwriting recognition so I am not disappointed with their software, it's par for the course. The pen captures very detailed drawings that are easy to paste into other documents. I did have some trouble installing their software but it's been working for a year now.

Better have neat handwriting.......2006-08-30

I have had this product for about 8 months. The truth about the handwriting to word document feature is that you have to have extremely brilliant handwriting in order to use the feature. I personally have mediocre handwriting, hence the reason I required the pen (so I could read my notes). When I tried to convert the handwriting, almost everything was changed into different characters. In addition, a few things must be noted concerning this product:
1) You cannot go back and change words that are already written
2) You must write on a special type of paper which is horrendously expensive
3) The pen is ridiculously large (I have large hands and still lacked the ability to hold the pen without getting hand cramps)
4) The pen writes like a low cost pen, which will cause trouble to users who prefer finer writing implements
5) There is only one learning session for the handwriting recognition, so the program will not advance with your handwriting

There are benefits of the pen; the image produced of the notes is very accurate (I used this when I lost a few pages of notes). The battery is long-lasting. Interface is very user friendly if you have some experience with computers.

I would not recommend buying this product as a student. In the business world it may hold more functionality due to its e-mail and other features that are compatible with Outlook (especially to those who do not enjoy typing). I was convinced this product was amazing at first, but my experience has had many pitfalls. If you do possess decent handwriting, I believe the product will work much better. Hope I could be helpful.

Save time: Put the price in dollars in a shredder.......2006-08-15

I have been back and forth for weeks with Logitech Tech support and I still cannot get the darn software for this pen installed. The latest gem: uninstall my McAfee software and then try to install again. I don't think so. I have wasted hours on this usless product and now will just demand my money back. Don't even think about getting this clunker.

Lots of room for improvement.......2006-07-11

I've been using the Logitech io2 for a little over 6 months. I picked it because I needed to be able to take notes while standing for long periods of time. I found that a tablet PC was too bulky and heavy for my needs. While the pen works "okay", there's still a ton of room for improvement -- even with the latest release of the handwriting recognition software.

Negatives:
*The pen is really large. I was expecting it to be the size of a premium pen based on what I read on the internet. It's actually larger than that. There are actually warnings in the manual about not using the pen for extended periods of time because of this. It's fine for short periods of notetaking, but I'm taking notes sporadically for 4-8 hours at a time and my hand gets really sore after a while. And once my hand gets sore, my handwriting gets a little shaky which brings me to problem #2...
*The handwriting recognition software is pretty bad, even with the latest update. I think if I were sitting at my desk printing perfectly all day long, then the software would work pretty well. But from my perspective, it fails the "real world" test. When I'm actually out and using the pen, the software doesn't have flexibility to deal with simple things that most people do as they write for longer periods -- angled text, letters with variable spacing, letters/numbers that look similar. You have to print very consistently and very precisely to get good recognition. Obviously handwriting recognition like this is a huge task and very difficult. The documentation that comes with the pen makes it clear how you need to write to make it work well -- unfortunately, the marketing information makes it sound like you can just go ahead and write away and it can handle anything, which is very misleading. FYI, the handwriting recognition software is made by a 3rd party, which means that Logitech offers basically zero support for it.
*All of the software that comes with the io is pretty poorly designed, not user-friendly, and requires you to jump through a lot of extra hoops to just get your data in a usable fashion. It's almost like they designed the main software with the assumption that the primary reason you're using the pen is to get a graphical output of your writing. My reason for using it is to do handwriting recognition and get text output for use in other applications. If you just want a picture of what you've done, the pen works great. But if you want to actually get text out of the process, it's a hassle.
*Because of all these problems (poor handwriting recognition, badly designed software), I have a sneaking suspicion that it probably takes me longer to process my notes using the io pen than it would if I took my notes with a regular pen and then typed it all into the computer.

Positive things:
*The battery life is really phenomenol. I've never had the battery die on me, despite long periods of taking notes.
*The storage size is great -- again, I've never run out of room.
*It's lighter than carrying around a tablet PC.
*The training of the handwriting recognition is pretty simple and doesn't take a long time.
*The handwriting recognition software has a customization feature, where you can add new words to your custom dictionary. This is handy for me because I use quite a few abbreviations and technical words that their standard dictionary doesn't recognize.
*They give you lots of paper as part of the pen package to get started, as well as several extra ink refills. The paper isn't really that expensive, but it can be hard to find if you're on the go.
*At the end of the day, you still have a paper copy of your notes if something happens to your pen. This is something that a tablet PC can't offer.

My recommendation is to not purchase this product unless you're only looking for graphical output (ie a picture of your notes) and have large hands. If you want text to import to other applications or if you have smaller hands, this might not be a good choice for you. I think this technology has great promise, but there's still a long way to go.

Product Description

KODAK PROFESSIONAL EKTACHROME Film E100GX is the next generation of color transparency films. This film delivers extremely fine grain (rms 8), a lower D-min for whiter, brighter whites, and an improved tone scale. The film features the latest advancements in Kodak's Color Amplifying Technology and KODAK T-GRAIN Emulsion Technology to capture light more efficiently.EKTACHROME 100GX Film also features moderately enhanced color saturation, but with a warm balance (the "X" is for warm).This film produces exceptional results for advertising, fashion, editorial, architecture, nature/wildlife, and other commercial applications. It is designed for exposure with daylight or electronic flash.

Product Description

JENSEN's versatile hands-free headsets for use with cordless and cellular phones combine comfort with high performance. The JTH950 includes a lapel clip for cord management, a windscreen for additional noise reduction and a belt clip for extra convenience. It can also be used with cellular phones equipped with a 2.5 mm headphone jack.

Amazon.com Product Description

Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel with this convenient over-the-ear headset from Recoton. The JTH950 includes a boom microphone as well as a windscreen so your conversations will be loud and clear on both ends. Both the earpiece and the microphone are adjustable, allowing a custom fit for each user; it can even be easily adjusted to work on either ear. The 4-foot cord is finished with a 2.5 mm gold plated plug which is compatible with any cellular or cordless phone that has a built-in headset jack. Both a belt clip and a lapel clip are included in the box.

What's in the Box
Headset with microphone and cable, lapel clip, belt clip, user information

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly good quality.......2006-05-20

I was quite surprised when I tested this out after going by the mostly positive reviews I found here.

The volume isn't configurable by the headset, but it doesn't need to be. Sound is VERY loud & clear. Most headsets I've word don't come close to the sound this Jensen provides. I also get zero complaints from people not being able to hear me. Its seems I come across loud and clear to them as well.

You really can't go wrong on this one. It's a no-brainer considering the price.

The only one I don't get complaints about.......2005-10-14

I've gone through two of these in the last three years and so far it's the best one I've used. The earpiece is very comfortable and the pipe connecting to the mic is flexible. The great part is anyone I talk to can hear me loud and clear regardless if I'm on a cordless phone or a cell. The same goes for whomever is calling. In fact, sometimes if I hold the headset away from me I can hear what the person is saying. This is also good to use if you need to whisper. The mic can reach right in front of the mouth. Over the years I've tried using the smaller handsfree devices that just slip on the ear, but the sound is often not as good as this one. I've been told that sound between this set and the others is as different as night and day. I'm always heard better on this. The cord is usually what gives out for me because I handle it almost nightly. Though I do wish smaller sets are made that work this well, I'd get this one again if I couldn't find anything else.

IGNORE THE 5 STARS.......2005-09-16

okay, i had a glowing review for this product previously, but i've changed my mind after months of use. the sound is really, really, really loud, but your vocal timbre will be different, almost like extremely loud quality from a laptop speaker... some people found the sound to be buzzy and scrambled.

but i found a better one, though i can't remember the model number. it's an AT&T headset which is also bulky. not as speakery. maybe the noise-cancelling microphone helps. below is my previous review, only for reference:

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i can't believe it... i went through 6 headsets (including jabras and plantronics), trying to find a headset that works well. this one, the earpiece is louder than anything else, and i never have to turn up the volume unless the other person is using an inferior headset. (it's so loud that i wear it a bit off from my ear.) the microphone is so good that i apparently sound lounder than when i use the phone without a headset. (some might say it picks up too much noise, but at least it picks up the sound, especially my voice!)

the downside is that it's quite bulky, and i won't know about its durability for a while, but i'm giving it 5-stars nonetheless because none of the other headsets even came close to the sound/mic quality of this model. why other companies don't make headsets with longer booms is beyond me. i highly recommend it, especially if you have a big head like me.

get what you pay for.......2004-11-17

Sound quality -- average
Ease of use -- above average
Durability -- poor.

I beat on this headset, so my expectations are in line with results. I think it's a fair enough price that I'm going to purchase number two.

Works well.......2004-06-25

This is one of the few headsets that reliably works with a number of different phone, and produces clear sound for both you and the person on the other end of the line. We've tried a number of others that don't work nearly as well. It's comfortable enough to wear for long conversation.

In our house they hold up for about a year or two of constant use before they fail (usually the cord wears out).

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics