Sony VRDVC20 DVDirect DVD Recorder

Average customer rating:

THE MORE I DEAL WITH THIS THE ANGRIER I GET!!!

Started out great, but then . . .

Finalize errors, bad customer support

Do not buy this

Very Temperamental with DVD's

Sony VRDVC20 DVDirect DVD Recorder

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

DVD-ROM Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
External Drives | CD-RW Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
USB Drives | CD-RW Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics
DVD Recordable Drives | Drives & Storage | Computer Add-Ons | Computers & Add-Ons | Categories | Electronics | DVD+R | DVD+RW | DVD-R | DVD-RAM | DVD-RW | DVD±RW
All | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
DVD Recorders | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Electronics Spring Markdown | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
Similar Items:

Memorex 4.7GB 8x DVD+R (50-Pack Spindle)

Sony VMCIL4415 1.5m i.LINK 4Pin to 4Pin Digital Video Cable for most Sony Camcorders

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Verbatim 3 Pack 8.5GB DVD+R Double Layer DVDs with Jewel Case (95014)

Memorex DVD+R 8.5GB Double Layer 2.4x 15 Pack Spindle

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Memorex DVD-R 16x 4.7GB 100 Pack Spindle Printable

Product Features:

Makes home movie DVDs you can easily share and enjoy

Connects directly to your camcorder or VCR, no PC required

Compatible wtih i.LINK/FireWire through DV input

Records on DVD+R/+RW discs and DVD+R DL double layer discs

Can also be connected to computer via USB 2.0 connection for up to 16x DVD burning

ASIN: B00092PV6C

Product Description

There's a new DVD drive in town and the streets are going to rumble. Get ready for the Sony DVDirect VR-DVC20. This unique drive can work with your Windows PC computer and/or your home-theater entertainment system. Sony's DVDirect offers stand alone DVD recording on both DVD + & - formats directly from an analog or digital camcorder/VCR - no computer required. DVDirect can also be connected to a computer via USB 2.0 and function as a 16X Double Layer/Dual Format DVD burner. This revolutionary combo DVD CD Recorder and Player, as a standalone and as a USB PC Drive, means that you can finally choose 1 external unit to meet all your DVD and CD record and playback needs. DVD Direct can record on standard 4.7GB or Double Layer 8.5GB discs for up to 12 hours of video storage on a single disc. DVDirect can also be connected to a computer equipped with USB 2.0 for high speed 16X maximum burning, allowing you to create copies of your home movie DVDs for friends and family. As well as create advanced DVD projects, and so much more - the possibilities are like no other! Compatible with standard 4.7GB DVD+-R/+-RW Discs and DVD+R DL Double Layer Discs. 3 recording quality modes, automatic menu and chapter creation, plus easy ?start/stop/pause? recording make DVDirect easy to set up and use Stand Alone Interface Video Inputs - DV (Digital Video) Input, Analog (S Video & Composite) / Audio Inputs - Analog Stereo RCA-style jacks DVD Recording - Records both + and - formats in stand alone mode Computer Attached Interface - USB 2.0 Recording Capacity - Double Layer - 8.5GB / Single Layer - 4.7GB Unit Dimensions - 6.46? x 2.6? x 9.21?

Customer Reviews:

THE MORE I DEAL WITH THIS THE ANGRIER I GET!!!.......2007-07-19

THE MORE I DEAL WITH THIS THE ANGRIER I GET!!!

I bought the VRD-MC3 and the DCR-SR40 because of the way you advertised how you could directly record from one to the other.

Not seeing the coded fine print footnote that DOES NOT STATE DIRECTLY THAT ' you can NOT record directly from the DCR-SR40 to the VRD-MC3 on a duel layer DVD"

That is stupid!

Why would anyone build a video system with a 30 GB drive, then say it is compatible with a burner that they make and then make the largest medium that burner can burn NOT compatible with the video direct record system?

When are you going to fix it?

I have always thought Sony was "top of the line" but i have been severely disappointed with the last 4 Sony products I have purchased and I think I'm gonna start doing something about it.

NO THANK YOU!

Bruce A. Clark

Started out great, but then . . ........2007-07-18

This product was just what I was looking for in that it promised to provide a relatively easy way to transfer VHS tapes to DVD. Hookup was a breeze. Directions were generally clear. For the first 100 hours or so of recording--spread over several months, by the way--the product worked fine.

Out of about 50 DVDs I only had 3 duds, but then I tried Sony DVDs. (The store was out of memorex.) Since then the product has performed horribly. I contacted tech support twice and got no help at all. Oh, they did refer me to their tech support page which, in essense, has no genuine trouble-shooting advice. I'll probably try some different DVDs but the onus should not be on me to find the right DVD to work with this machine. Besides, it's Sony DVDs which aren't working. Strange.

Finalize errors, bad customer support.......2007-07-09

I bought this unit in 2006, have used it quite a bit, with some success, but recently it started balking at finalizing DVD+R discs that it used to just fine (same brand, etc). Now I see in here there's all kinds of problems with this drive reported in these Amazon comments.

This does have the latest firmware on it.

When I inquired about assistance on the Sony support website, they shot back asking the product serial number and mfg date. Just as I suspected, they said sorry, out of warranty range... if you want technical help with the issue, you'll have to pay $20. Forget it. I'm just getting another product that does work... with good reviews.

Too bad Sony no longer represents what it used in w/regard to quality products and support. Now it's basically just like any average joe company out there with hit or miss products pretty much at the same statistical rate as the average manufacturer. In this age, review sites such as Amazon's are the only way to go. I try to buy from Amazon too, to support them for providing this great service. Beware some other review sites, as some operators remove negative reviews, but I've seen nor heard of any such rumblings on the Internet about Amazon doing this yet.

Do not buy this.......2007-06-15

I've used this machine and got plenty of problems on loading disk and finalizing. I will never buy SONY DVD recorder.

Very Temperamental with DVD's.......2007-03-06

I purchased this about a year ago from a retail store. It looked like it was a great machine to create DVD's from my home movies and pre-recorded shows on the digital cable box. It worked fine until recently, about two months ago, when I tried copying home movies to the burner.

I did nothing different, other than load a clean 16x DVD into the machine, as before. When it went to "finalize the disk", it kept giving a "finalize error" message and ejected the disk.

I was using the same Memorex DVD+R disks that were successful in the past, but was totally clueless to what was happening. I DID upgrade the firmware about one month after buying it, and had success with the 8x and 16x DVD's until two months ago.

Had a pile of disks "coffee coasters" that were worthless, and was about ready to give this device the heave-ho, until reading another user who had success with the MAXELL DVD-R disks. As of tonight, 3-14-07, the machine is working again, but ONLY because I'm using the Maxell DVD's. This thing is very temperamental, but am hoping it continues to copy my TIVO and home movies.

All in all, it's a good idea, but poorly constructed and prone to problems. Try to look around before buying this, even if you get a great deal on it...

Best regards

Product Description

Nickel Cadmium Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960SL

Average customer rating:

Nickel Cadmium Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960SL-II

Manufacturer: Batteries.com
ProductGroup: CE

Rechargeable | by Type | Batteries | Batteries, Chargers & Power Supplies | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics | Button Cell | Coin Cell | A | AA | AAA | AAAA | C | D | 6V | 9V | 12V | Heavy Duty

Product Description

Nickel Cadmium Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960SL-II

Lithium Ion Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960SL-III Series

Average customer rating:

Lithium Ion Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960SL-III Series

Manufacturer: Batteries.com
ProductGroup: CE

Product Description

Lithium Ion Barcode Scanners Battery For Telxon PTC-960SL-III Series

Barcode Scanner battery for Telxon PTC 960SL.

Average customer rating:

Barcode Scanner battery for Telxon PTC 960SL.

Manufacturer: Hitech
ProductGroup: CE

Replaces Telxon barcode scanner battery model # 19903-106, 19903-107and 17503-002.
Capacity: 1000mAh
Voltage: 7.2V
Chemistry: Ni-Mh
Color: Grey

ASIN: B0002CNWZG

Product Description

Fits Telxon scanner model # PTC960SL.

Average customer rating:

Barcode Scanner battery for Telxon PTC 960SL.

Manufacturer: Hitech
ProductGroup: CE

Replaces Telxon barcode scanner battery model # 19903-106, 19903-107and 17503-002.
Capacity: 600mAh
Voltage: 7.2V
Chemistry: Ni-Cd
Color: Grey

ASIN: B0002CNWZ6

Product Description

Fits Telxon scanner model # PTC960SL. Higher capacity.

Average customer rating:

Good Quality, Weak Memory

Falls Short

Maddening design flaw

Problems or bugs

Good replacement for mini-cassette -- for most people

RCA RP5007 Digital Voice Recorder

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Digital Voice Recorders | Portable Audio & Video | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Office Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Digital Voice Recorders | 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:

Sennheiser MX500 Lightweight In-Ear Headphones (Blue)

Sony ECM-R300 Business Microphones

Sony ECM-DM5P Business Microphone with Adjustable Angle Capability

Sony ECM-F8 Electret Condenser Microphone with Flat, Boundary Effect Design

Product Features:

Compact digital voice recorder with voice activation

Up to 96 minutes of recording time--18 minutes on highest setting

Date/time stamp

Select between conference and dictation recording modes

Comes with 4 MB SmartMedia memory card

ASIN: B000050G9U

Product Description

Better yet record it! The RCA Digital Voice Recorder helps you keep track of all the little as well as big things when you are on the go. With 96 minutes of digital recording time, 4MB removable Smart Media card, and voice-activated recording, this recorder is as easy to use as it is powerful in helping you stay organized on the job and at home. So whether you want record your brilliant ideas for the big meeting or just remember to pick up milk on your way home, it can help.

Amazon.com Product Description

The RCA RP5007 digital voice recorder combines voice-activated convenience with a capacity of 96 minutes. A removable 4 MB SmartMedia memory card comes with the recorder. This model also features a date/time stamp and backlit LCD screen. You can program the recorder for conference conditions, when the sound source is at a distance, or for dictation mode, when the sound source is nearby.

Record with the built-in microphone or with an external microphone and listen back through the built-in speaker or optional earphones. Controls include play, stop, search, record, pause, and erase. You can also search forward and backward for important messages. This recorder runs on two AAA batteries, which are included. It has a one-year warranty.

Customer Reviews:

Good Quality, Weak Memory.......2002-08-18

I bought this player on clearance at a local... store, hoping to use it for notetaking in school. The Recorder works fine for this purpose, but with marginal audio quality, as it must be used in the low quality setting to record any more than 18 minutes. There is no built-in memory on this recorder, all memory is through SmartMedia cards, which would not be a problem if they could be over 8 MB. (This recorder will not accept any SmartMedia Cards over 8 MB), and comes with a 4 MB. 8 MB and below cannot be found anywhere that I have seen, and the recorder formats the cards for storage in such a way that they cannot be read by Card Readers and transferred to a PC. Therefore, this player is only good for someone looking to record once, listen, and delete. Nothing else can be done with the recorder that I have seen.

Falls Short.......2002-06-17

I found this recorder on clearance. I had been looking for a recorder I could take on long bike trips to listen to music. Unfortunately I didn't want to spend [money] on a Sony minidisc player so when I saw a digital VOICE recorder for [money] I thought I would take a chance on its ability to record/play music. So far I find the only acceptable level of quality for music is HQ recording. Unfortunately that only gives 16 min. of music on the 4MB card that comes with the recorder. I have tried to find an optional 8MB card at [local stores], but they don't carry the 8MB smartmedia card. Also I haven't figured out if the unit can be plugged directly into a stereo for direct recording. I hoped a direct hookup would get ride of the noise when recording on standard play, but I can't find a cord to plug into both units. The standard play records up to 90 minutes, but quality is marginal at least for music.

On the plus side the unit is small, light, and very flexible. I will give it to the wife to record lectures if I can't get more high quality music out of it.

Maddening design flaw.......2002-04-23

All that the positive reviews said is correct, in my experience. The device is reasonably priced and records and plays back reasonably well.

However, mine has an absolutely maddening flaw: the batteries are held in by a small 'door' that hinges from the bottom of the device. The battery door opens at the slightest touch: in fact, if often opens (and the batteries therefore fall out) while in my pocket, without particularly being touched at all. You don't lose your recordings, but you have to re-set all your time and date settings as a result. For me this one flaw almost negates the good features because it makes the device so frustrating to use.

Also, don't assume that the memory cards included or available for this device can be used in a PC-attached card reader: they cannot, since they have a unique proprietary format. So you cannot put these cards into a card reader and import the sound files into your PC.

Problems or bugs.......2001-06-22

It is a great recorder with many revolutionizing functions, but with revolution comes mistakes. It is found that with many of the RCA DVR'S that there seems to be a short in the system and very often it will shut off when trying to use the DVR and makes it very unreliable to when it is actually going to work. So if you have patience then this is the product to use, if you don't then i would recomend a different DVR..

Good replacement for mini-cassette -- for most people.......2001-06-18

The RCA RP5007 is a good little voice recorder, but it has its flaws. I give it four stars because, for certain applications (long dictations in a quiet room, or short interviews and speeches in louder situations), it's very handy indeed, and much better than a mini-cassette recorder.

Its major flaw is the lack of storage for high-quality recordings. The included 4MB SmartMedia card only holds 17 minutes of HQ sound -- so I'd recommend buying at least an additional 8MB card. Unfortunately, that's as big as you can get, since the unit doesn't accept cards bigger than 8MB, or 34 minutes HQ. The SP (low quality) mode lasts a long time (nearly 1hr 40min with the stock 4MB card), but the sound is highly compressed and very hard to understand unless there is no background noise at all.

It is considerably less expensive than other digital voice recorders, so compromises have been made, but they detract little from its good basic features and usability.

Here are the pluses and minuses:

GOOD:

- Small and light

- Reasonably easy to use

- Sound quality quite good in HQ mode

- Every clip is time and date stamped

- Button lock prevents accidental activation

- Both manual and voice-activated record modes

- Dictation (close) or Conference (distant) modes

- Sound clips can be stored in folders

- Sound clips can have annotations appended

- Rudimentary editing (insert/delete segments) possible

- Quick preview mode plays 3 sec of each clip

- Uses standard AAA batteries, and lasts a long time with them

- Standard SmartMedia card storage included (4 MB)

- Standard mini microphone and headphone jacks

BAD:

- Sound quality in SP (low quality) mode barely usable, especially if there is any background noise at all

- 17-minute limit on included 4MB card in HQ mode (1hr 40 mins in SP mode, but as I said, it's barely usable)

- Cannot use SmartMedia cards bigger than 8MB (34 min in HQ mode, 3hr 20 min in SP)

- Record button pauses, but does not stop recording a clip (which requires the separate Stop button) -- can be confusing on the fly

- Deleting clips is confusing at first -- RCA even includes a separate addendum to the manual clarifying how it works -- but once you get the hang of it, it's simple

- Fast-forward and reverse features are choppy and rather slow

- Plastic case seems a bit fragile

- No included AC adapter (but there is a plug for one)

Average customer rating:
Monster Cable J2MDTS6 Portable MiniDisc to CD Player or A/V Receiver Using Standard Optical to Mini Optical Connections

Manufacturer: Monster Cable
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Portable CD Players | Portable Audio & Video | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics | All Portable CD Players | CD Players With Car Kits | MP3-CD Players
Combo Receivers | Receivers & Amplifiers | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Digital Interconnects | Audio Cables | Cables & Interconnects | Audio & Video Accessories | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics
CD Players | Portable Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Product Features:

For digital hookup of portable minidisc to CD player or A/V receiver

Comes in 3- and 6-foot lengths

Interlink LightSpeed 100 high-performance fiber-optic audio cable

Tuned spectral attenuation for optimum signal admittance and low loss

Precision-polished fiber-optic Toslink-to-mini optical connectors

ASIN: B00003CWBH

Average customer rating:
theBoom Quiet Hands Free Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Manufacturer: UmeVoice, Inc.
ProductGroup: CE

Headsets | Telephone Accessories | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics
Office Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Phones | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Product Features:

Freedom. Communicate clearly anytime, anywhere! No matter where you are don't hesitate to make or take that call.

Unmatched Clarity. Even in the noisiest environment, theBoom's patented technology will allow you to be heard clearly.

Privacy; Whisper and be Heard; the person next to you can't overhear you, the person at the other end of the line hears you clearly

Increased Productivity. Reduce the time you spend on the phone repeating yourself or explaining to the other person where your calling from. theBoom's unique technology will allow you to be heard clearly the first time you speak and the other party will always assume you are in a quiet place.

Connection to virtually any communications device! theBoom's unique universal jack allows the same product to interface to multiple devices. Don't be concerned that you'll have to replace theBoom every time you change the cell phone, PDA or computer you are using.

ASIN: B0002M717G

Product Description

A revolutionary new noise cancelling headset that lets users make or take a call anywhere and be heard clearly. Proven for years on Wall Street and tested in Black Hawk Helicopter noise, theBoom is now available for cell phone users who want to be heard clearly. Jacks included in the box are the generic 2.5 mm jack, and the ''nokia'' (4-4 conductor) 2.5 mm jack. For other adaptors, please specify cell phone make and model.

theBoom Quiet Hands Free Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Average customer rating:

theBoom Quiet Hands Free Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Manufacturer: UmeVoice, Inc.
ProductGroup: CE

Headsets | Telephone Accessories | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics
Product Features:

Freedom. Communicate clearly anytime, anywhere! No matter where you are don't hesitate to make or take that call.
Unmatched Clarity. Even in the noisiest environment, theBoom's patented technology will allow you to be heard clearly.
Privacy; Whisper and be Heard; the person next to you can't overhear you, the person at the other end of the line hears you clearly
Increased Productivity. Reduce the time you spend on the phone repeating yourself or explaining to the other person where your calling from. theBoom's unique technology will allow you to be heard clearly the first time you speak and the other party will always assume you are in a quiet place.
Connection to virtually any communications device! theBoom's unique universal jack allows the same product to interface to multiple devices. Don't be concerned that you'll have to replace theBoom every time you change the cell phone, PDA or computer you are using.

ASIN: B0002M74XW

Product Description

theBoom Hands Free Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Average customer rating:

theBoom Hands Free Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Manufacturer: UmeVoice, Inc.
ProductGroup: CE

Headsets | Telephone Accessories | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics
Product Features:

Freedom. Communicate clearly anytime, anywhere! No matter where you are don't hesitate to make or take that call.
Unmatched Clarity. Even in the noisiest environment, theBoom's patented technology will allow you to be heard clearly.
Privacy; Whisper and be Heard; the person next to you can't overhear you, the person at the other end of the line hears you clearly
Increased Productivity. Reduce the time you spend on the phone repeating yourself or explaining to the other person where your calling from. theBoom's unique technology will allow you to be heard clearly the first time you speak and the other party will always assume you are in a quiet place.
Connection to virtually any communications device! theBoom's unique universal jack allows the same product to interface to multiple devices. Don't be concerned that you'll have to replace theBoom every time you change the cell phone, PDA or computer you are using.

ASIN: B0002KZLXO

Product Description

theBoom Traveler Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Average customer rating:

theBoom Traveler Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Manufacturer: UmeVoice, Inc.
ProductGroup: CE

Headsets | Telephone Accessories | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics

Office Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

Phones | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Product Features:

Freedom. Communicate clearly anytime, anywhere! No matter where you are don't hesitate to make or take that call.
Unmatched Clarity. Even in the noisiest environment, theBoom's patented technology will allow you to be heard clearly.
Privacy; Whisper and be Heard; the person next to you can't overhear you, the person at the other end of the line hears you clearly
Increased Productivity. Reduce the time you spend on the phone repeating yourself or explaining to the other person where your calling from. theBoom's unique technology will allow you to be heard clearly the first time you speak and the other party will always assume you are in a quiet place.
Connection to virtually any communications device! theBoom's unique universal jack allows the same product to interface to multiple devices. Don't be concerned that you'll have to replace theBoom every time you change the cell phone, PDA or computer you are using.

ASIN: B0002KZLWU

Product Description

Average customer rating:

If price is no object, get three
Way too much hyped up. Extremely disappointed

theBoom Hands Free Noise Cancelling Telephone Headset

Manufacturer: UmeVoice, Inc.
ProductGroup: CE

Headsets | Telephone Accessories | Accessories & Supplies | Categories | Electronics

Office Electronics | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

Phones | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics
Product Features:

Freedom. Communicate clearly anytime, anywhere! No matter where you are don't hesitate to make or take that call.
Unmatched Clarity. Even in the noisiest environment, theBoom's patented technology will allow you to be heard clearly.
Privacy; Whisper and be Heard; the person next to you can't overhear you, the person at the other end of the line hears you clearly
Increased Productivity. Reduce the time you spend on the phone repeating yourself or explaining to the other person where your calling from. theBoom's unique technology will allow you to be heard clearly the first time you speak and the other party will always assume you are in a quiet place.
Connection to virtually any communications device! theBoom's unique universal jack allows the same product to interface to multiple devices. Don't be concerned that you'll have to replace theBoom every time you change the cell phone, PDA or computer you are using.

ASIN: B0002KZLWK

Product Description

Customer Reviews:

If price is no object, get three.......2006-04-07

The hype is, in fact, true. The microphone on this headset is MILES better than any other at noise rejection; and I have tried most of the competition. You can in fact have a coherent conversation in a hushed voice while a semi trailer is driving past you on the street. The caller on the other end doesn't hear "nothing"---but they don't hear anything distracting. In addition, the clunky silicone "ear funnel" makes it easy to hear callers even in loud conditions, even at 50% volume on my Blackberry.

That said, there are several real drawbacks:

1) As a previous reviewer noted, the wind rejection is not great. The included windscreen is too small; it helps but doesn't solve the problem. I work on roofs in windy Illinois, so this is a problem, but it's no worse than other headsets. I will try a giant fuzzy ball on my next Boom, to see if that can totally eliminate the sound of a 30MPH gust.

2) The Mic is very directional, so the "fading" the previous reviewer saw was probably due the the mic drifting out of the sweet spot ~ 1" away from and slightly above your mouth. Outside of that zone, the mic eliminates the "noise" of your voice very effectively! =)

3) The ear holder is uncomfortable after many hours. This product is not "dainty", and it comes with a tenacious moldable thing that holds the headset in place. To get a snug fit, you bend it tightly around your ear. After a few hours, this HURTS.

4) Build quality SUCKS. My first Boom broke, so I super-glued it. After a couple months it got stolen, so then I waited (and waited!) for them to release the new version. The new one broke again (in a different place) after a month, so I super-glued IT. Then it broke again (in a third place), and I glued it again, and now the adapter cord is broken so I can't use it until I get a replacement.

5) Support SUCKS. It took me NINE MONTHS to get my v4 Boom. During this time, they were totally out of stock. Then, they forgot I was on the pre-order list. Then they charged my credit card and didn't send the item. Finally, they sent the item (along with some tasty chocolate as a mea culpa). Then I lost the "ear funnel", and needed a replacement. Took me six phone calls to reach someone. Then it started breaking (see above). Ten phone calls later, I haven't reached a single human nor recieved a callback.

BOTTOM LINE: Their amazing technology solves the big problem for me: project a professional phone presence while still getting the work done. I spend about 4 hours per day on my cell phone, mostly outdoors and driving, so this is a Must Have. So I'm going to just buy the damn things in bulk and live with the crappy support and fragility. If talking with customers in a loud environment is not a necessity for you, go with something that doesn't work as well but is cheaper and less breakable.

If they start giving better support, in a way that I can tell is not just to appease me, I'll ammend this review.

Way too much hyped up. Extremely disappointed.......2004-12-12

Hi, I generally try to give a product a fair chance before forming a judgment. I have to talk on phone a lot (suffice to say that I have a 5000 minutes plan for my mobile) and hence wanted to invest in a "state-of-the-art" head set for my cell phone. The main criterion I had was that my client should not know if I was making the call from my car, while crossing the road or my office. I searched on the internet and found this head set.
This headset is not as comfortable or as non conspicuous like the others smaller Bluetooth enabled (like by Jabra). I was willing to tolerate some discomfort as long as I could conduct a professional voice call with my clients without background noise.
Well, I started talking on this headset, assuming that all the marketing hype was true. But soon I realized that this headset cannot be trusted. I was making a call to my wife one day and she asked me if the weather was really bad. I was walking in slight windy conditions while talking to her and she heard a storm in the back ground. Same happened while the AC vents in the car were blowing air. OK, maybe this head set might be build just for places where there is no wind.
But lo and behold, while calling from my office too, it seams that this headset would sometimes fade in-fadeout.
I was really disappointed with this set.
This head set comes in 2 parts: the long mic piece detaches from the holder which wraps around your ear. One fine day I lost the ear piece which was a blessing in disguise since I was not going to throw a $150 head set in the trash voluntarily. Right now, I am using the cheapo headset that comes with the phone and I am much happier.

Product Description

Timex's T326H can be set to the sound of chimes, a cathedral, mechanical bells or your favorite radio station. When activated, the volume increases gradually until the alarm is turned off or "snoozed"; Timex calls this the gentle wake alarm. The sleep function can be set to one of three nature sounds - babbling brook, ocean surf and forest spring - or to a radio station. A battery backup keeps your alarm and time settings from being erased during a power failure.

Amazon.com Product Description

Travel anywhere and wake up on time with the Timex T326H Expedition AM/FM alarm clock. It folds to a compact size but features several alarm options. Wake up to bell sounds or your favorite AM/FM station. It also features a sleep option that allows you to choose from three nature sounds: babbling brook, ocean surf, and forest spring.

An analog clock face keeps time with luminescent minute and hour hands and an LCD display indicates alarm, PM, and battery-low icons.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2003-08-22

I've had this clock for two years, and I am now searching for a new alarm clock. Many of the listed features are in theory very helpful, but their application in this product is unsatisfactory. Frankly I am surprised that Timex continues to market this product.

Positive features: I love the dual analog/digital time readouts. I also like that the clock functions off either batteries or the included A/C adapter, making it unnecessary to reset the clock each time the power goes out or the clock is moved.

Nature Sounds: I thought this feature would be helpful to lull me to sleep, but it is not. The recorded nature sounds are approximately 6-7 seconds long and loop continuously when playing. The "forest" sound has the hooting of an owl in the background, and the "brook" has the chirping of a bird. The repetition of these sounds is not at all relaxing to me, rather it keeps me awake! The "ocean" sound is more tolerable, but with all of the nature sounds, every once in a while I hear a static or electric buzz or click, which is disruptive enough to wake me up.

Radio Tuner: Some stations will not tune in clearly, no matter how careful I am with the dial. The dial is very sensitive, making it hard to make fine adjustments. Further, the volume dial is awkwardly placed behind the tuner on the side of the clock. I often bump the tuner while adjusting the volume.

Volume Adjustment: The volume control was fine at first, but for the past few months the volume dial responds inadequately. I turn the dial all the way up to get normal volume, then a few minutes later the volume is blasting and I have to turn it down again. A few times I have slept through the radio alarm because of this variation.

Alarm Buttons: The buttons worked fine at first, but have become very hard to press. I often push the alarm button 3 or 4 times to turn it off in the morning. Changing the alarm/time settings is an arduous task.

Appearance: Don't be fooled by the picture! This clock is covered with a metallic colored plastic, not metal, giving it a cheap appearance.

Because of these serious and varied flaws, I am retiring this clock and purchasing another. I recommend that this product be avoided.

Waste of "time"...and money........2002-10-12

I purchased this clock about 2 years ago, and it has been a real let-down for me. I was actually surprised to see this clock still being produced/and or sold on the market. Where to begin?...The idea of a portable alarm clock-radio with both analog and digital displays, and nature sounds seemed like a great thing. However, I had problems with the clock the first week I had it, and now it barely functions. (Should have sent it back, I know, but I didn't) The amber display is somewhat appealing, but is always on when plugged in. The angle of the face of the clock is always slanted back a bit, making it difficult to see the digital read-out unless your bed sits higher than the clock. The radio is very difficult to tune, and reception is less than desireable. As far as the nature sounds go, you would think the idea is to provide a soothing soundscape of nature's best, but you immediately notice the overlapping of the sound sequences (which last only about 15 seconds and then repeat). One of the sounds is from "the forest", and you can hear a wolf or some animal howl in the distance, but 10 seconds later, you hear it again...and again...and it actually becomes very annoying!!
The time-set/ alarm-set buttons on the clock's top side barely work now (I have to push as hard as I can to get them to work), and the radio/ nature sounds just stop working sometimes (until one day I figured out that if you close the face of the clock and then re-open it, they sometimes work again-as if being reset or something.)
The snooze bar is one of the few, if any, positive aspects of this clock, as it is very big and easily allows you to silence the nature sounds or alarms with ease. There are three alarms, which gradually get louder after starting, and after each time you hit snooze, which is a positive thing about this clock. Timex has been around for a long time, but they really needed to spend more time at the drawing board on this one. It's really not worth the "time" or money.

An okay Alarm Clock.......2002-06-05

I had such great expectations for the alarm clock when I purchased it over a year ago. First of all it works fine. It sits nice and compact on my nightstand. However, it has too many little problems to make it worth the hassle.
The alarm clock has too many batteries to keep up with; one for the analog and one for digital clock and the nature sounds can be heard bleeding through when the radio is playing. Its just slight but its annoying to me.
Its not worth the hassle or money.

Not junk - but not a keeper, either.......2002-01-04

Observations: This Timex-licensed product consists of an independent analog clock and an AM/FM clock radio with a digital display that shows either the time or the tuner's frequency. Note that this is only a digital tuner DISPLAY -- not a digital tuner. When the clock is plugged in (via the included power adapter), the analog clock face and digital display are lighted all the time. There are two brightness settings. When running on battery power, all lights are off, though you can get a brief pulse of light by hitting the snooze bar. There are tiny luminescent bars on the analog clock's hands.

Pro: It has decent sound for a cheap clock radio (don't expect any bass) and decent FM reception. It isn't exactly lightweight, but it does work on batteries. It's probably well-suited for car camping. The amber clock lighting (on all the time when the unit is plugged in) is okay. The digital frequency readout is an improvement over your typical cheap analog tuner.

Cons: There are a number of user interface problems. For example, oft-used switches such as radio off/on are hidden on the side, while seldom-used buttons like "time set" are prominent. It's annoying to have to synchronize the separate analog and digital clocks. There is no clock lighting in battery mode, except briefly when you hit the "snooze" bar, BUT: If the sleep timer is on, hitting the bar will also cancel sleep mode and turn off the radio or nature sounds. When running on batteries, there's no way to light the clock without causing this undesirable side-effect. The radio frequency display is helpful, but there's no digital time readout when the radio is on. I found that the frequency display jittered a lot on most radio stations (e.g. when tuned to 102.5, it jumped around from 102.3 up to 102.8 and everything inbetween). The audio sounded fine, so this was only a visual annoyance. The tuning dial is very sensitive, requiring a fair amount of concentration and fine motor control to tune in a specific frequency. Overall, the tuner is better than cheap analog but worse than cheap digital. One last thing: The clock face folds down for travel. In this position, it muffles the radio speaker. In the open position, the angle of the clock face is not adjustible (see the photo - that's as vertical as it gets).

Bottom line: I'm returning it. It more or less does the job, but the design lacks intelligence. There must be something better out there.

WOOOOOOOW!.......2001-08-15

This clock is so cool! I love the nature sounds to get me to sleep. This clock isn't portable but it's for desks,nightstands,etc. If you want to get a clock for home this is thee clock to get!

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics