Sony VGF-AP1L 40 GB VAIO Pocket Digital Music Player

Average customer rating:

wonderful unit that has exceeded my hopes

Awesome awesome awesome

Vaio Pocket - Amazing & Stylish

another unsatisfied customer

Great Product/ Alternative To iPod But Versatility Is Limited

Sony VGF-AP1L 40 GB VAIO Pocket Digital Music Player

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

MP3-CD Players & Discman | Portable Audio & Video | Audio & Video | Sony | Custom Brands | Custom Stores | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
MP3 Players | Portable Audio & Video | Audio & Video | Sony | Custom Brands | Custom Stores | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
All Sony | Sony | Custom Brands | Custom Stores | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
MP3 Players | Portable Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
40 GB | Hard Drive-Based | MP3 Players | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Accessories:

Sony MDR-IF240RK Wireless Headphone System

NETGEAR Wireless Digital Music Player

Belkin F8V3080 TuneCast II Mobile FM Transmitter

Sony SRS-T88 Compact Portable Speakers

Sennheiser PX 200W Collapsable High Performance Closed Headphones

Product Features:

Play music, view photos and store data files.

Grid Sense touch pad, wired remote control and color LCD provide intuitive navagation and easy operation

Eye candy for the road with coloe LCD that floods your senses in crisp color. Navigate songs, watch photo slide shows, display album jackets and song data. Dreary monochrome browsing is a thing of the past

SoLong-Built in lithium ion batter lets you groove to music for up to 20 hours of continuous ATRAC3 playback on a single chatge.

ASIN: B000309ZLW

Product Description

Sony's worldwide reputation for creating unique, attractive, high-quality, advanced technology products rests on a long line of innovations embraced by people from all walks of life. With a diverse product lineup serving a variety of lifestyles and industries, Sony continuously strives to introduce new products and technologies to meet changing market needs.PRODUCT FEATURES:Hard Drive Digital Music Player;2.2" QVGA+ color LCD for displaying album jacket, music data and pictures;Compatible with Sony's Connect Online Music Store;Up to 20 hours playback with built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery;Grid Sense touchpad for precise menu navigation;In-Line remote control with 3-line backlit LCD;Intuitive music search and play lists creation;USB 2.0 cradle for easy PC Connection, high-speed transfer and charging;Transfer pictures directly from compatible digital cameras via USB cable;Plays back ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus Audio Format;Supports MP3, WMA and WAV;Music Management Software supplied.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful unit that has exceeded my hopes.......2005-12-09

After having this unit for about 3 months, I am still in love with it. Like many consumers, I researched several MP3 players and found the Vaio to be a very good choice for the price. Although the unit is slightly larger than ipods, its design makes you forget about it. I have never had a problem throwing it in a pocket. By utilizing the remote, there is no need to ever dig through your pocket.

Pros:
1. generic things like the color screen, large capacity, great asthetics, ect...
2. the remote is a godsend. it allows me to scroll without digging through my pocket. it is a one handed operation.
3. The user interface allows for many more navigation options. Although it takes some getting used to, the touch grid is a nice feature. All the common extras that you need can be accessed while on the now playing screen. No more scrolling through menus to turn on shuffle of EQ's (ipod).
4. Sound quality was the main reason for me buying this unit. I have always been skeptical about MP3 due to its audio compression. However, the Vaio excells in reproducing MP3s more like a wav quality. I have directly compared the vaio to the ipod and it makes me wonder how people can listen to the ipod. The vaio extends further into the lower frequincies, while also reducing audible distortion. If you are looking for sound quality, this is your unit.
5. Battery life is amazing. Although they claim 20 hours, its hard to really see that happening. Last week I used the vaio at full volume, with full EQ on, and shuffling through all the songs. The unit played for over 14 hours with occasional specific song selections. After 9 hours I was thinking that it was going to die, but it kept going.

Cons:
1. headphones are a stupid length. The ont sound too bad though. However, mine have already malfunctioned, causing the right one to go in and out. good news if new headphones are cheap.
2. software has some issues. I havent been really annoyed with it yet, but there are some glitches.
3. I wish the scrolling device went faster. I have a lot of artists on mine, so to get to the end it takes a while. This is the only thing that the ipod has on the vaio. Apple's scroll speed is something that could be useful. Again, I haven't been fully annoyed with it though, I am just nitpicking.
4. When I have the unit in my pocket and i am really walking fast, I have noticed that it can skip. Just slowing down for a second usually brings it back to normal though.

Awesome awesome awesome.......2005-11-10

After months of research on ipod alternatives, I purchased an Vaio Pocket (sale, $239) and was very impressed. I take it everywhere with me, very unfortunate the product had such a short shelf-life; I also bought (and returned) the newer Sony 20GB mp3 walkman, but decided I wanted graphics. I can support the reports of the reviewers about the graphics quality, it's really sweet. If you can't find a case, PDAir's site is selling VERY functional ones, as Sony's are a bit difficult to track down these days.

As for the discouraging remarks about the included headphones, I have to say that it would be the same with any other player, from any other brand. Definitely not unique to Sony. Affordable ear buds with a longer cord are available just about every wear. The cool thing about the Vaio Pocket is that you don't even have to use the screen to navigate through your album (there's an included cord menu navigation thingy that you hook up to the earbuds).

All I wish for is a travel charger or battery extender...

Vaio Pocket - Amazing & Stylish.......2005-10-27

I bought this after much searching - in fact I bought an ipod mini for my wife so I have some experience of both brands.
For those who love their music quality and want some style this machine is a great choice.

1. It is a 40GB player and cost £199 when I bought it - you will struggle to get a different 40GB player for £199 anywhere (even if it is being discontinued)

2. The screen is ace and displays almost all the information you could ever want to see of any track.
The track title
The Album cover
The Artist
The sequence number of the track (1 of 11 of an album or 211 of 9500 if you are just playing randomly from tracks on the machine.
The elapsed time AND the track length AND a graphics of how far along in the track you are.
The current time.
The battery life
That is a lot of information to put on one screen.

3. Browsing your music is made easy. The album display shows both album name and artist name as you search through.
When searching by track - it displays artist as well.

4. The sound quality is excellent and there is EQ management.

5. Cradle is a boon. Keeps machine protected and sturdy and provides drop in and out when when connected to either PC or stereo equipment. Also it is a great place to leave the machine when not using it meaning it will always be charged when you want to use it.

6. Navigation is simple once learned - same with ipod - you have to learn it first.

7. Robust build quality.

8. Battery life is excellent - I get at least 20 hours. (That is with a mix of Atrac3+ (64kbps)and mp3(192kbps) files. Every review I have seen quotes 20 as the minimum.

9. The searching mechanism (with the firmware upgrade) means I can search through 9600 tracks in a bout a minute just by keeping my finger on a button. This is impressive.

10. You can transfer pictures to it from teh camera.
This is not limited ot sony cameras - I have an olf Fuji F601 Zoom and to connect it to a XP PC you need to download the drivers. I was able to connect it to the AP1 and download the pics directly - AMAZING!!

I have had to reset it twice(or thrice) I think but on the whole it is an absolutley excellent machine and well worth the money.

It is let down by the software - Sonicstage - which must be used to manage the music on the player.
Sonicstage is not terrible in it's functionality but in it's operation(although there are some real holes e.g. not being able to create playlists on the PC and transfer them to the player without retransferring the tracks).
It holds up the PC it works on and is generally slow.
Once the music is on the player however - you are free and can enjoy it.
With the firmware upgrade you no longer need to convert mp3 files to Atrac - they just copy directly onto the player. Also instead of using Sonicstage 2.3, 3.2 has just been released which is a big improvement.
It uses USB2.03 so is very fast.
I love it - I have 9882 tracks on mine (there is nothing like having all your music with you) and have nearly 5 GB left. This is in addition to hundreds of pictures.

I thoroughly recommend this wonderful piece of Kit.

another unsatisfied customer.......2005-10-26

I was initially very impressed with the sony vaio music player aamazed at the 40gb size also it looked cool a little big and heavier then some other players but i figured i could live with it for 40gb. however i had problems with the battery running out after a few hours at times also the screen would freeze at times and it wouldnt allow me to reset restart or shut down. rather i would have to wait for the battery to run down before recharging it. despite this i didnt ask for it to be fixed accepting these as relatively minor problems. however it later stopped working altoghether after 9 months so within the warranty period. i sent it to sony which took a week or 2 to pick it up and they sent me an invoice after 3 weeks claiming it was out of warranty and i should pay £201GBP (APPROX) for repairs - i could buy a brand new player for this price - or approx. £40GBP to have it sent back to me unrepaired because there is apparently some minor water damage and as such sony will not repair the item. so i am currently without a player as such i would warn anyone against purchasing a sony player in light of the restrictive warranty policy which does not cover everyday wear and tear.

Great Product/ Alternative To iPod But Versatility Is Limited.......2005-09-28

Sony almost hit a homerun on this one. The product has an excellent user interface, huge storage capacity and superior sound!! However, Sony missed the boat in a couple of crucial areas. 1) The only way to charge the unit is to place it in the cradle. This is fine if you only use it on the subway or bus ride from work. However, for those of us who travel extensively,it would have been nice to include a charger port on the unit so that you can take along a power adapter and not have to pack the cradle as well. 2) Yes, the unit allows you to store and view pictures, however, what Sony doesn't tell you is that the delay between each picture is excrutiatingly slow. On the iPod, scrolling between pictures is for all intents and purposes, instantaneous. Not with the Vaio. There is at least an 8-10 second delay from one picture to the next(for high res pictures). I expected more from Sony. Also, the fact that they have discontinued this product and don't seem to have a replacement, lends one to assume that they are waving the white flag to iPod.

Product Description

Nickel Cadmium Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960 Series

Barcode Scanner battery for Telxon PTC 960.

Average customer rating:

Barcode Scanner battery for Telxon PTC 960.

Manufacturer: Hitech
ProductGroup: CE

Replaces Telxon barcode scanner battery model # 253184.
Capacity: 1000mAh
Voltage: 4.8V
Chemistry: Ni-Mh
Color: White

ASIN: B0002A5LE8

Product Description

Fits Telxon scanner model # PTC960.

Average customer rating:

Barcode Scanner battery for Telxon PTC 960.

Manufacturer: Hitech
ProductGroup: CE

Replaces Telxon barcode scanner battery model # 253184.
Capacity: 600mAh
Voltage: 4.8V
Chemistry: Ni-Cd
Color: White

ASIN: B0002CNWZQ

Product Description

Fits Telxon scanner model # PTC960.

Product Description

Why go out to process your pictures when you could have the DPP-EX50 digital photo printer as your all-in-one photo lab? Featuring built-in photo editing features such as red-eye reduction and automatic color correction via Sony's new Photo Quality Processor, the DPP-EX50 makes printing the perfect picture easier than ever before. And what beautiful prints they are, thanks to the high-quality dye-sublimation printing and the colorfast resistant SuperCoat2 laminated photo paper (sold separately).Connecting the DPP-EX50 is a snap. It includes both Memory Stick and CompactFlash media ports, so you're assured maximum compatibility. It also features a USB 1.1 port for PC connection and a video port for previewing your photos in a slideshow on your television. You can even print directly from your Sony digital camera thanks to its built-in PictBridge software.

Customer Reviews:

Great little photo printer.......2007-03-19

If you want really great color and image sharpness and do not want anything larger than 4" X 6" prints, then this printer is a good choice. I've used it for about two years with no problems. I figured that if I ever wanted a larger print, like an 8" X 10", then I would have a lab do it. Sony does make the ink and paper for this--Look up "Sony SVM-75LS"--it is available from Amazon, among other places. I have to say that the supplied "Picture Gear Studio" software is pretty awful. It is slow and not very user friendly. So that is why I give the printer a 4-star rating and not a 5-star rating.

Great Quality prints, but expensive to operate.......2005-09-01

We received this printer Christmas 2004 from my parents, presumably as a hint that they wanted loads of pictures printed of their new granddaughter. We had just retired an old HP/Kodak printer that was pretty good but not photo-lab quality. We were blindsided by the amazing quality of this Sony printer and went crazy with printing pictures.

Then the ugly truth about this printer reared its head: It's not always easy to find supplies for this machine. As other reviewers noted, you have to replace the ribbion/ink cartridge with every new pack of paper. We live in a small town, so we have to re-order our supplies online. The closest reseller that stocks this stuff is Circuit City, about 35 miles away. (Wal-Mart and Best Buy do not carry the packs.) And it's pretty expensive, too. We worked it out that it costs us 57 cents per print on our PictureStation. We can get them printed elsewhere for 19 to 25 cents a print.

The fact that Sony offers ZERO support, drivers, etc. for this printer on its website is ominous as well. If we had bought this printer ourselves we definitely would have returned it and bought something that was easier to re-supply and find support for.

Excellent Quality Printing, But..........2005-08-06

This printer does excellent, quality, professional printing but I cannot recommend purchasing it. Sony has changed the ink cartridge when they came out with the DPP-FP30 & the DPP-FP50 and no longer make the cartridge for this printer. If you purchase this printer, make sure you get a lifetime supply of ink cartridges before buying or you will find that the printer is useless.

Nice printer but no support from Sony.......2005-03-20

Nice quality prints and good features. Paper and ribbons are expensive and can be hard to find. Shipped drivers have problems with some usb cards, no newer drivers are available. In fact, there are NO drivers available for download from Sony's web site. They just don't seem to have any support online for this printer, period.

So far So good.......2005-01-28

I've had this printer for about 6 weeks. I do think it's strange that it doesn't come with ink and paper but I was warned before I bought it. I do find the prink packs a little hard to find and too pricy on sony's website but the printer itself is wonderful and fairly simple. I love the quality of the photos, I think they're comparable to other regular 1 hour photo shops.

Sony Picture Station DPP-FP90 + Accessory Kit

Average customer rating:

Sony Picture Station DPP-FP90 + Accessory Kit

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: CE

Sony Picture Station DPP-FP90 4x6 Photo Printer
Ultralast Sony 4" X 6" Print Pack with Snap-off Edges
15ft USB Cable

ASIN: B000UODOHM

Product Description

The Sony DPP-FP70 Picture Station Digital Photo Printer makes it possible to print lab-quality prints quickly and easily, right in your home or on-the-go. You'll create spectacular 4 x 6" color prints in about 45 seconds. The DPP-FP70 features a 2.5" LCD screen to view your images before you print. The printer is equipped with media slots for most current flash media card formats, and has a PictBridge USB port for direct printing from compatible Digital Cameras. The one-button auto touch-up feature can save a shot by helping to correct red-eye, exposure and focus, while other in-printer image editing features such as cropping and color adjustments are available for you to use. +PLUS+ ACCESSORY KIT: - Ultralast Sony 4" X 6" Print Pack - 15ft USB Cable

Sony Picture Station DPP-FP70 + Accessory Kit

Average customer rating:

Sony Picture Station DPP-FP70 + Accessory Kit

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

Sony Picture Station DPP-FP70 4x6 Photo Printer
Ultralast Sony 4" X 6" Print Pack with Snap-off Edges
15ft USB Cable

ASIN: B000UODGFM

Product Description

Average customer rating:

Really good receiver

Very configurable, great sound!

simple enough for me to use

Documentation/Remote Flaws

Packed with Features and Great Sound

Sony STR-DE997 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver (120 Watts x 7)

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
All Sony | Sony | Custom Brands | Custom Stores | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
Receivers | Audio & Video | Sony | Custom Brands | Custom Stores | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
Home Theater Receivers | Receivers & Amplifiers | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics | Satellite-ready Home Theater Receivers
Receivers | Receivers & Separates | Home Theater & Audio |
Accessories:

NXG Technology NX-PRO6W 2-Way Indoor/Outdoor Speakers with 6" Woofers (White, Pair)

JBL Northridge E90 3-Way Dual 8-Inch Floorstanding Speaker, Single (Black Ash)

Athena Micra-6 6-Piece Home Theater Speaker System, Silver/Black

JBL Northridge E50 3-Way 8-Inch Horizontal/Vertical Bookshelf Speakers, Pair (Cherry)

NETGEAR Wireless Digital Music Player

Product Features:

7.1-channel audio/video surround receiver with 30 radio presets, HD video switching, and 120 watts per channel x 7

Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES/Neo:6, and Dolby Pro Logic II 6.1-channel surround processing for lifelike, exciting audio from any source

7.1-/5.1-channel analog audio inputs accommodate high-resolution multichannel formats like SACD and DVD-Audio

6 digital-audio inputs, 1 digital output; includes phono input for turntable and preprogrammed/learning LCD remote control

Measures 16.9 x 6.2 x 14.6 inches (W x H x D)

ASIN: B00029U126

Product Description

When it comes to sound investments for your home theater system, Sony leads the way once again with the new STR-DE997. This amazing 7.1 channel audio/video receiver offers a virtual array of the latest audio advances, including Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS-ES and up to 2 zone/2 room audio features, which is perfect for the 120 watts of power this stylish receiver can pump out at a moment's notice. To make sure you 'get the picture', the STR-DE997 includes high-definition capable component video switching, as well as component video up-conversion and assignable digital inputs.With this receiver as the centerpoint of your home system, you can truly discover what hassle-free home theater is all about..

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy dynamic, full-force home-theater excitement with Sony's 120-watts-per-channel STR-DE997. The receiver accommodates everything from the latest surround-sound movie formats to cutting-edge high-resolution audio sources. The STR-DE997 delivers 120 watts per channel across 7 main channels (left, right, center, left/right mid surround, and left/right rear surround) and has a dedicated subwoofer output for an eighth (the ".1" low-frequency effects channel). You get everything from Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES/Neo:6 surround decoding to Dolby Pro Logic II processing (creating 5.1 channels from 2) and 5.1/7.1-channel analog inputs to handle music from Super Audio CD (SACD) and DVD-Audio.

You get conveniences, too, like multi-room outputs that come with independent source switching, so you can listen to a DVD in the living room while someone else is listening to a CD in the kitchen. The supplied Remote Commander learning LCD remote control comes preprogrammed for a range of devices, and it also learns new commands and has the ability to perform limited macro commands.

The receiver includes an FM/AM tuner with 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and a host of video inputs--5 composite-video, 3 S-video, and 2 component-video--to simplify switching between components and your television. Component-video upconversion from composite- and S-video sources improves upon the quality of your video inputs while simplifying connections with your component-video-capable television. Further, the receiver's actual component-video inputs accommodate wide-bandwidth (80 MHz) high-definition signals and work well with 480p signals such as those from progressive-scan DVD players, while composite-video inputs are upconverted to S-video quality.

A set of front-panel audio/video inputs includes an optical digital-audio input and facilitates spontaneous hookups with camcorders, gaming consoles, MP3 players, and minidisc player/recorders.

There's even a phono input for your once or future turntable--yes, they still make 'em, and yes, your vinyl will sound as good or better than ever. The unit's 3 stereo and 1 set of multichannel analog audio inputs simplify hookup of, for instance, a cassette deck, a VCR, and a high-resolution audio device that decodes formats like SACD and DVD-Audio. A total of 6 assignable digital-audio inputs (4 optical and 2 coaxial) accept bitstream feeds from DVD players, CD players, and other digital devices, while a single optical digital-audio out channels sound to a CD or minidisc recorder.

Digital Cinema Sound System is a group of exclusive Sony algorithms (the receiver offers 13 total) that represent a total re-thinking of home theater sound based on careful measurements of movie-production dubbing stages in Hollywood. Cinema Studio EX modes offer greater apparent distance from listener to screen and a full array of 10 additional virtual surround speakers.

Sound Field Link applies the last-selected sound field to an input whenever you select the input. For example, if you select STADIUM for the CD input, change to a different input, then return to CD, the receiver will automatically apply the STADIUM sound field.

Finally, Auto Channel Grouping helps integrate 5.1- and 6.1-channel programs with your 7.1-channel system. When a 5.1-channel mix is present, Auto Channel Grouping will route the discrete information for surround left/right directly to surround left/right outputs while adding a new surround back left/right channel. When 6.1-channel mix is detected, Auto Channel Grouping will route the discrete information for surround left/right directly to surround left/right output while the sixth channel is duplicated by both surround back channels (left/right).

What's in the Box
Receiver, remote control (model RM-LG113), remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty/registration information.

Customer Reviews:

Really good receiver.......2005-04-24

My only complaint with this receiver is it doesn't have an optical DVD input. It does have optical inputs, but not for DVD. I don't understand this, as most of Sony's DVD players have an optical digital out.

That said, I was still able to hook it up through Video 1. The sound is excellent. Man, I love surround sound!

The receiver was upgraded from the previous STR DE945. The 997 is much easier to use, in my opinion. The remote control has been improved 500%.

Very configurable, great sound!.......2005-02-17

This is my second Sony amp, my first really nice amp.

My favorite thing about the amp is the assignable digital coax and optical inputs. I was able to set up my Dish receiver, xbox, and DVD player to all use the best audio and video they support, by reassigning the appropriate ports. There was a little trial-and error involved, but now that it is set up it is extremely easy for everyone in my home (including my 3-year-old) to use.

It sounds fantastic! Being able to program the height and distance of the surround speakers, as well as being able to specify wether or not to send lower frequencies to them, was a big help in being able to get the sound juuuuuust right. This feature would also be handy for making adjustments to accommodate an odd-shapped room.

simple enough for me to use.......2004-12-11

unsure why the tech nerd had problems with the manual.
i followed it to setup all my speakers (6.1 config).
i used it to reassign a digital input.
i started programming my remote within 1 minute... just like the manual said. i tought it the codes for my Scientific Atlanta HD recorder and the DISH box, and it already knew about my Philips DVD player. Now its the only remote i have to use.

i'm into HDTV, so the component switching was neccessary for me to accomodate several HD inputs - works fine, PLUS it upconverts my older DISH Network receiver's s-video output and goes out the component plug just fine - just 1 year ago receivers wouldn't do this and this was a shock for me - svideo has never looked so good on my tv.

there is one problem though with the optical input jacks - sony started using a type with a little flap door - and if you use a cheaper optical cable, it can hang when inserted, so when you yank it out, it tears the door off and makes that optical input unusable. I bet Sony will learn and soon abandon this type of connector, but for now, be careful if you plug in a cable and it won't come back out easily... if this happens, you may just want to leave it in there.

Documentation/Remote Flaws.......2004-12-08

Great receiver, features sound and looks. Price/Performance can't be beat. However, this is a complicated piece of electronics and the supplied manual doesn't do it justice. Receiver setup (if you wish to depart from the default) requires tedious trial and error when good documentation would have stepped you through it. Basics like defining the function of each control on the face of the receiver are missing. I've spent a few hours trying to program the remote -- with out success. It's frustrating to have a great machine with rediculously inadequate documentation.

Packed with Features and Great Sound.......2004-12-08

I'll admit that I'm a bit of a newcomer when it comes to home theater. But I am a musician and a former professional audio engineer, so I think I have a fairly well-tuned pair of ears. This unit is loaded with handy features, like acting as a switchbox for video sources, with numerous switching options, a wide variety of input and output connections, and a means of labeling your tuner presets. Some of the bells and whistles are really unnecessary, but it's easy to disregard the ones you don't want to use.

The 7.1 surround sounds great if you have any media encoded with it. There's very little out there right now, but the Star Wars trilogy DVDs are encoded with "Dolby Digital 5.1 EX," which is essentially 7.1, and they sound fantastic. 5.1 source material (both Dolby Digital and DTS) sounds great, too. You can use Pro Logic II to simulate a 7.1 soundtrack, but it really doesn't do much other than spreading the sound out a little, which is a nice effect, although subtle.

The unit reproduces other digital sources very well also, such as CDs and the coaxial feed from my digital cable box. Analog sources are reproduced effectively and adequately (including my turntable), although they seem dull in comparison to the digital sources. But that's probably not the fault of the unit so much as it is the source material.

A word of caution: make sure you take the time to set up the unit and your speakers properly. It took me a week or two of trying different settings and different speaker placements before I finally got it all sounding the way I wanted it.

Overall, I'd say that this is a pretty darn good receiver for its price range. If you're looking for something good and versatile in a mid-level range, you could do a lot worse.

Average customer rating:
Network Peripherals Nuswitch Ds4Tf 4 Port 10/100BTX One 100Bfx

Manufacturer: NETWORK PERIPHERALS
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Switches | Wired Networks | Networking & Online Communication | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
ASIN: B00005161C

Product Description

The NuSwitch DS4TF is a cost-effective, auto-sensing managed Ethernet switch. With three 10/100Base UTP ports and one 100Base fiber port, the DS4TF can meet your demands for increased bandwidth while delivering superior flexibility in terms of network speed and media options.The DS4TF can learn and store up to 4,096 MAC addresses per port. It can function as a collapsed backbone or as a segment switch connecting multiple sub-networks of 10Base-T or 100Base-TX hubs or switches. The device can also function as a standalone. The 1.3Gbps switching fabric allows wire-speed switching of four segments (full duplex) while the 100Base-FX port lets you establish a fiber uplink. The DS4TF's advanced management features -- SNMP, RMON, Telnet, and Web-based management -- make the device an ideal backbone/segment switch for existing or new hubs and switches. Software-based features include virtual LANs (VLANs) and spanning-tree capabilities. The DS4TF Network Management Software (NMS) is supported by NuSight 2.0 and HP OpenView (32-bit) under Windows 95, 98, and NT (4.0 and above) through SNMP. The NMS provides an easy-to-use, point-and-click interface for monitoring network performance and switching activities both in-band and out-of-band. You can also use any web-browser to monitor the switch in-band and out-of-band.

Average customer rating:

Still a good unit to have

Don't trust it for enjoyable MP3 listening.

Great little CD/MP3 Player

amazing value for your money!

MP3 CD player manufacturers never seem to get it right . . .

RCA RP2450 Portable CD/MP3 Player

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

All Portable CD Players | Portable CD Players | Portable Audio & Video | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
MP3-CD Players | Portable CD Players | Portable Audio & Video | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
CD Players | Portable Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
RCA | Custom Brands | Custom Stores | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics | MP3 Players | MP3 Player Accessories | CD Players | Remote Controls
Accessories:

Sony MDR-V700DJ DJ Style Monitor Series Headphones

Skipdoctor CD Repair Kit

Sony MDR-G57G S2 Sports Street Style Headphones with Reflective Ear Piece

Sony SRS-T55 Folding Travel Speaker with 2-Way Power Supply

Motorized SkipDoctor by Digital Innovations (Model 1013000)

Product Features:

Portable CD Player with MP3/WMA playback

ID3 compatibility with 16-level subfolder management

CD, CD-R, CD-RW compatible

45 to 128-second espX skip protection

Includes stereo headphones and car kit

ASIN: B00006LEJ7

Product Description

You don't have to enjoy your favorite mp3s while sitting in your living room! Get outside and move around while listening to your favorite mp3s or CDs. With 45-128 second espX Skip Protection, you won't miss a beat of your tunes! RCA even made it easy to locate your favorite songs by including the ID3 Tag Information and 16 Level Subfolder Management.

Amazon.com Product Description

RCA's RP2450 offers the convenience of WMA (Windows Media Audio) decoding in addition to playback of MP3 CD-Rs and CD-RWs. RCA even makes it easy to locate favorite songs by including the ID3 tag information, 16-level subfolder management, and a multiline dot-matrix LCD. With 45- to 128-second espX skip protection (depending on the audio bit rate), you won't miss a beat of your tunes! Playback features include digital volume control, track-folder programmability, and digital bass boost. Supplied with the player are X-Phones stereo headphones, a car kit, and music-management software on CD-ROM.

Customer Reviews:

Still a good unit to have.......2005-10-08

After owning this item for many years, I can say it's given me plenty of good use. It does occasionally have problems with skipping (a very harsh quick buzzing noise) or garbling, but more often than not it works perfectly fine.

One important note: this unit prefers CDRs to be recorded using "Mode 2/XA". Many cdr burning programs default to Mode 1, but in Nero you can choose Mode 2/XA. Mode 1 CDRs may not play very well, if at all, so beware of this. It's possible newer RCA models will have the same issue.

If you can find this unit used or in a discount bin for cheap, grab it.

Don't trust it for enjoyable MP3 listening........2004-03-02

There are many nice features about this player, including the nice display and the great sound. It was great for listening to audio CDs in my car (the battery life is horrible, so plan on using an adapter).

However, it was horrible for MP3s. During about every other song, it would freeze up and emit the most loud and annoying buzzing sound (a very short bit of the MP3 playing repeatedly, I guess), which would not stop without pushing a button. Acted flaky with certain MP3 songs, wouldn't even play some, sometimes it would just give up and shut off. I'm not sure if that was related to long filenames or what. It also seems to add or emphasize garbles in MP3 files. I burnt a CD of high-bitrate (192-320 kbps)songs that I listened to all the time on my computer with Winamp and never noticed the garbles -- I noted them very frequently with the RCA player. I spent more time trying to get it to play a song (counting the looong delay before it plays a song) than actually listening.

I'd say spend your money on something else that you won't be tempted to anihilate with a sledge hammer after nothing but frustration.

Great little CD/MP3 Player.......2003-11-30

I've had this CD player for a while and I love it. It's great. Good sound and as others have noted, it doesn't skip and I've tried. Batteries seemed to last ok.

My complaints
1) - The cord of the remote is broken after 6 months of careful use. I don't know if RCA or someone makes a replacement.
2) - Random - what the %*#^% is the problem there? Random to me means different songs every time. This thing seems to generate a random list and plays it in that same order every time. Is that a common problem with CD players?

Pretty minor - you won't go wrong for this price.

amazing value for your money!.......2003-08-01

this player is excellent. i have had it for over a year and i can vouch for the fact that it is skip free, amazing quality and the id3 tags works like a charm. couple of gripes: no rechargables and no AC adapter but it is still undoubtably a great deal at <50$
lack of remote and backlight could be reasons for this low cost. however, the quality of playback and skip free good sound makes up wholesomely for it.
i also have a panasonic mp3-cd bought a month back (hence newer) and yet i feel the RCA scores over this one on pure clarity and skip free music.
you cant go wrong withthis one as a good low cost mp3 cd player

MP3 CD player manufacturers never seem to get it right . . ........2003-06-01

NOTE: I bought the rp2452...I'm pretty sure the only difference is that the rp2452 has no car-kit.

I purchased this MP3/CD player expecting a lot. I guess that was a mistake.
Main Flaws:
-No support for multisession CDs
-Crash Prone (As if the OS was made by Microsoft)
-The lid is wobbly
-*BIGGEST FLAW*: if you're scrolling through the tracks on an MP3 cd, it takes almost a minute (seemingly decades) to load the song you've chosen. You get used to it, but it's almost like torture when you're waiting.
Main Strengths:
-*BIGGEST STRENGTH*: Anti-skip. It is amazing. RCA got something right, oh so right. This thing never skips. Ever.
-Sound Quality: Clear, crisp sound. Much better than playing mp3s on your computer at home.
-Remote: Perfect size, has a volume control, start/stop, hold(there is no hold on the actual CD player), skip forwards/backwards, has a nice clip too. I guess I'm nitpicking when I say that the cord's a little bit too long.
-Solid Design
-Bass Boost (DSP): It makes a big difference.
-Playlist maker: I assume it's good, I don't really use it though.
-Comes with a stereo connector for RCA connections, as in part of a home stereo.

Overall, it's pretty good, but you could do better with your money. It's limited featureset is far from perfect.

Average customer rating:

not as pictured here

MONSTER CABLE J2DVD-CHP10 Monster Video Ultra-High Resolution Component Video Cables

Manufacturer: Monster Cable
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

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Product Features:

Component video cable for greater picture resolution.

Multi-stranded copper center conductor ensures a more linear bandwidth for a clear, sharp picture.

Double shielding protects against RFI and EMI.

Connects DVD player with component video outputs to TV with component video inputs

24k gold contacts

ASIN: B00006JPTZ

Product Description

MONSTER CABLE J2DVD-CHP10, MONSTER VIDEO ULTRA-HIGH RESOLUTION C

Customer Reviews:

not as pictured here.......2006-06-03

Product is great, but actual cable received looks different from website picture; it is not black, like most Monster Cable 2 cables, but marble, like previous Monster Cable 1 cables; printed label does not state "Ultra-High Resolution", but "High-Resolution" only.

Overall, products seems to be fine. As a friend told me once, there is a point from where difference is not perceivable, at least not for amateur enthusiasts like us.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics