Average customer rating:
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Zenith XBV243 Dual Deck DVD-VCR Combo
Manufacturer: Zenith ProductGroup: CE Binding: Electronics Accessories:
Product Features:
ASIN: B000065BNZ |
Product Description
XBV243 is a state-of-the-art DVD/VCR player. It combines a nifty design and a high functionality with the comfort you need. XBV243 features various playback options, MP3 decoding, component video output, 4x and 16x moveable zoom, Hi-Fi stereo, front A/V jacks, auto clock set system, and more.Amazon.com Review
The XBV243 handles all your movie and music needs: VHS cassette recording and playback, superb DVD performance, fast and easy spinning of MP3 CDs. This combo unit saves space and simplifies entertainment hookups. The XBV243 plays CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, MP3 CDs, and standard DVD-Videos, from which you can easily make VHS copies (though copy-protected commercial DVDs cannot be recorded). It even has front-panel audio-video jacks for ready camcorder and video game access.As an MP3 player, the XBV243 performs better than average. We were impressed with its ability to read MP3 discs that give other players trouble, and the navigation between files and folders is intuitive and fast (it even lets you queue one song while another plays). The one downside is, the onscreen display shows only rudimentary folder and file names. If you know what's on the discs, it's a breeze; otherwise, be prepared to do a little file fishing.
The DVD player has a typically clear, strong picture, especially through its component-video outputs (for use with a compatible TV). Features include 4x and 16x movable zoom, simulated surround sound, parental locks, and the ability to receive upgrades through CD-ROM. The VCR section offers four heads (for clear slow-motion and stop-action features) and stereo sound. We found VHS images to be a little less focused than images from other combo units. Its tracking is excellent, however, delivering stable images from old and new tapes alike, with none of the gritty audio noise associated with excessive tracking maneuvers. Commercial skip works well. The deck's 19-micron video heads maintain clarity during recording and playback in EP (extended play) mode, and auto clock set maintains the correct time and even adjusts for daylight savings--perfect!
For the simplest hookup with a TV, you can use a single RCA composite-video connection to handle both DVD and VCR outputs. If you want a higher-quality connection from the DVD player, you can use a component- or S-video cable to an additional input on a TV (the VCR image requires a composite-video or RF connection with a TV). A coaxial digital-audio output feeds a surround-sound signal to a Dolby Digital- or DTS-decoding audio-video receiver. Packed with the combo unit are an S-video cable, composite-video cable, RF cable, stereo analog-audio interconnect, two AAA batteries, and a user's manual. --Michael Mikesell
Pros:
Cons:
Amazon.com Product Description
The Zenith XBV243 combo drive lets you enjoy DVDs and VHS tapes in one clean, simple system. The DVD player features disc playback of DVD-Video, CD-Audio, CD-R, and CD-RW discs. It also has digital audio output for both DTS and Dolby Digital, MP3 decoding, simulated surround sound, variable hi-speed scan (2x/4x/16x/100x [fwd/rev]), 4x and 16x zoom, parental control, and upgradable software. The VCR features a four-head hi-fi stereo, an auto clock-set system, auto daylight savings adjust, channel display, a real time counter, instant recording, commercial skip, and a 3-second power backup time.Jacks include component video out, S-Video out, coaxial digital audio out, RF in, RF out, variable audio in, variable audio out, composite video in, composite video out, and front A/V.
The Zenith XBV243 is backed by a one-year warranty for parts, and a 90-day warranty for labor.
Customer Reviews:
Pleased with this product for over one year.......2004-02-07
I have used it in conjunction with both my old analog camcorder, and a newer digital model. Fine.
I have used it without cable attached, and with cable running through it. Fine.
VERY IMPORTANTLY...it is easy enough for my kids (under 10) to use it without Dad's help. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT...Mom can use it without Dad's hinderance.
If anyone breaks it now, after one year, well it doesn't owe me anything. Good choice all-in-all.
A disappointment.......2003-05-14
Its ok, but not for the money.......2003-05-11
This one seemed like a good choice, ...the few problems I did have were caused by those annoying people putting thier grubby dirty fingers on the DVDs at Blockbuster that messed up the player reading them. after a quick rub on the DVD it worked fine.
The remote is a bit small for peopel with big fingers, but not impossible to use.
My biggest qualm with it? The buttons on the front are very hard to read and see which button you are pushing. This is due to the reflective backing the buttons are set through. If you have this unit set low and in a dark spot you can pretty much forget seeing what you are pushing, best choice is to the use the remote.
I can't testify to the programing of this unit since I've trying to figure out how to get the best picture throgh a cable box comming from a new HDTV and all the other boxes and cables, I haven't had time to bother trying to record something.
If I had the chance to buy it again? I think I would pass and go for something a progressive scan capability. I would consider a Zenith in that yes, but this no. Especially since I saw how going from the RCA connection to the S-Video improved the quality. Maybe using the component output would kick it up to change my mind, maybe not.
The Quality Goes in Before the Name Goes On..........2003-04-25
I've made many friends who are loyal Toshiba and Sony buyers jealous when they've seen this player in action, especially once I tell them how little I paid for it!
Very pleased for the money.......2003-04-22
Average customer rating:
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Samsung Yepp Hip-Hop 64MB Digital Audio Player (Orange)
Manufacturer: Samsung ProductGroup: CE Binding: Electronics Accessories:
Product Features:
ASIN: B00004Y7ZI |
Product Description
Yepp is designed for the young New Millennium generation, which is revolutionizing the way music is heard and experienced. Over the Internet community, the personal computer is quickly replacing the stereo system for providing high fidelity digital quality music and the Internet is becoming a major source of music information and content. Yepp appeals to your energetic lifestyle. With its extremely small form factor, you can take Yepp with you no matter where you go, whether you're trekking through the Himalayas or just jogging around the park. The fact that Yepp has no moving parts and an aluminum front case also means it is better at handing the hard knocks you may experience along the way.Yepp plays MP3 digital audio music files downloaded from your computer. It has a high power output signal (7mW) and a seven-mode equalizer. Yepp is one of smallest and lightest MP3 players on the market. You can connect it to your belt with its handy clip or you can carry it in your pocket and barely notice it's there. Yepp's 3-line LCD display lets you see the titles of the songs stored on your MP3 player. This feature will be useful, since the RealJukebox PC software that is provided with Yepp lets you put together custom play lists of your choosing. Yepp can be used to access a phone directory of hundreds of personal contacts. The information is entered on your PC and is downloaded in the same way that you would download an MP3 music file from your PC. You can record up to two hours of voice using Yepp's voice recording function. You can use Yepp to record your school class or store messages that will remind you of things you need to do. You can then e-mail your voice messages to anyone you want!Amazon.com Review
The Samsung Yepp Hip Hop is easily one of the coolest-looking digital audio players around, and we found ourselves offering it up like an excited kid at show and tell. The player's small size and its groovy translucent orange color never failed to impress coworkers and friends, while its excellent sound also drew raves.The most outstanding feature of the Yepp Hip Hop is its size--only 3.2 by 2.4 by 0.97 inches and 1.7 ounces. It's the size a deck of cards (and just a bit lighter) and fits neatly into a plastic pouch for wearing around the neck. We were a little dubious about how comfortable the neck cord would be, but a trip to the laundromat with the Hip Hop went off without a hitch. The player was barely noticeable and so light it didn't get in the way of fluffing and folding. Yet the controls were easily reached and the great sound made the hours of drudgery fly by. Better yet, it never skipped a beat, even when it was inadvertently slammed against a dryer a few times.
Samsung has packed 64 MB of onboard memory into this Hip Hop, enough for 60 minutes of music without fiddling with cards or paying for more memory. But if you want more playback, the player's SmartMedia slot has room for flash memory cards for another 64 MB, enough for another hour of music and an impressive capacity for an MP3 player at this price. Sound quality was very good even with the included cheapo earphones--the dynamic range was crisp and had clean tones at both high and low ends.
To download music to the Hip Hop, use the included USB cable to access the player's flash memory, format it, and transfer songs. You will need a USB port on your PC and Windows 98 or 2000 (Windows 95 and NT are not USB-compatible); it is also compatible with Mac OS 7.0 and above. Follow the directions in the manual for adding a USB driver to your system.
The Yepp Hip Hop comes with RealJukebox software for ripping CDs, which took quite a bit of tinkering to get it to work right. (Make sure to check security and encoding settings.) The Hip Hop's manual didn't help much and unless you log on to the Internet, you won't have access to RealJukebox help. But once the software was all set up, it took us only about 30 seconds to encode a track into MP3 format, and then another minute or two to move it to the Hip Hop. Figure on 45 minutes to fill up the full 64 MB memory.
Controls on the Hip Hop are basic. The buttons are the size of BBs, which were sometimes difficult to operate. The included remote control with backlit LCD adds a few more features, like reverse, hold, and four equalizer settings, but search functions are primitive.
Ultimately, its software and hardware limitations might not make it the best MP3 player deal on the market. But with its cool design, sound quality, and portability, the Yepp Hip Hop more than holds its own as an entry-level MP3 player. --L.E. Klein
Pros:
Cons:
Amazon.com Product Description
Listen to Internet music anytime and anywhere by downloading MP3 music files from your PC to the Samsung Yepp Hip Hop digital audio player. This compact, light player (just 1.7 ounces) comes with 64 MB of internal flash memory and has a slot for SmartMedia memory cards. It has a four-mode equalizer (classic, jazz, rock, and normal) and a backlit LCD screen, and it runs on two AAA batteries for approximately 8 hours of playing time.It connects to your PC via a USB cable, which is compatible with PCs running Windows 98 or 2000 with a USB port. The Hip Hop plays MP3 files and is SDMI compliant. It comes with a USB cable, 2 AAA batteries, and a CD-ROM with file management, CD ripping, and MP3 playing software for the PC.
Customer Reviews:
Fabulous!.......2001-07-29
Awesome MP3 Player.......2001-06-30
Hooray for hip-hop!.......2001-05-21
Hooray for Hip-Hop!.......2001-05-19
for easy comparison among MP3 players.......2001-03-21
Average customer rating:
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Samsung Yepp Hip-Hop 64MB Digital Audio Player (Blue)
Manufacturer: Samsung ProductGroup: CE Binding: Electronics Accessories:
Product Features:
ASIN: B00004Y7Y2 Release Date: 2000-12-01 |
Amazon.com Review
The Samsung Yepp Hip Hop is easily one of the coolest-looking digital audio players around, and we found ourselves offering it up like an excited kid at show and tell. The player's small size and its groovy translucent blue color never failed to impress coworkers and friends, while its excellent sound also produced raves.The most outstanding feature of the Yepp Hip Hop is its size--only 3.2 by 2.4 by 0.97 inches and 1.7 ounces. It's the size a deck of cards (and just a bit lighter), and it fits neatly into a plastic pouch for wearing around the neck. We were a little dubious about how comfortable the neck cord would be, but a trip to the laundromat with the Hip Hop went off without a hitch. The player was barely noticeable, and so light it didn't get in the way of fluffing and folding. Yet the controls were easily reached and the great sound made the hours of drudgery fly by. Better yet, it never skipped a beat even when it was inadvertently slammed against a dryer a few times.
Samsung has packed 64 MB of onboard memory into the Hip Hop, enough for 60 minutes of music without fiddling with cards or paying for more memory. But if you want more playback, the player's SmartMedia slot has room for flash memory cards for another 64 MB, enough for another hour of music and an impressive capacity for an MP3 player at this price. Sound quality was very good even with the included cheapo earphones--the dynamic range was crisp and had clean tones at both high and low ends.
To download music to the Hip Hop, use the included USB cable to access the player's flash memory, format it, and transfer songs. You will need a USB port on your PC and Windows 98 or 2000 (Windows 95 and NT are not USB-compatible); it is also compatible with Mac OS 7.0 and above. Follow the directions in the manual for adding a USB driver to your system.
The Yepp Hip Hop comes with RealJukebox software for ripping CDs, which took quite a bit of tinkering to get it to work right. (Make sure to check security and encoding settings.) The Hip Hop's manual didn't help much and unless you log on to the Internet, you won't have access to RealJukebox help. But once the software was all set up, it took us only about 30 seconds to encode a track into MP3 format, and then another minute or two to move it to the Hip Hop. Figure on 45 minutes to fill up the full 64 MB memory.
Controls on the Hip Hop are basic. The buttons are the size of BBs, which were sometimes difficult to operate. The included remote control with backlit LCD adds a few more features, like reverse, hold, and four equalizer settings, but search functions are primitive.
Ultimately, its software and hardware limitations might not make it the best MP3 player deal on the market. But with its cool design, sound quality, and portability, the Yepp Hip Hop more than holds its own as an entry-level MP3 player. --L.E. Klein
Pros:
Cons:
Amazon.com Product Description
Listen to Internet music anytime and anywhere by downloading MP3 music files from your PC to the Samsung Yepp Hip Hop digital audio player. This compact, light player (just 1.7 ounces) comes with 64 MB of internal flash memory and has a slot for SmartMedia memory cards. It has a four-mode equalizer (classic, jazz, rock, and normal) and a backlit LCD screen, and it runs on two AAA batteries for approximately 8 hours of playing time.It connects to your PC via a USB cable, which is compatible with PCs running Windows 98 or 2000 with a USB port. The Hip Hop plays MP3 files and is SDMI compliant. It comes with a USB cable, 2 AAA batteries, and a CD-ROM with file management, CD ripping, and MP3 playing software for the PC.
Product Description
Samsung's portable digital audio players deliver uninterrupted, digital quality sound. The Yepp plays MP3 digital music files downloaded from your favorite music websites or transferred from your CD collection through your PC. With its new compact and stylish design, the Yepp is suited for an unconventional young generation that seeks to be distinct.Yepp YP-NEU features a fancy translucent hip-hop design. It offers built-in flash memory and expandable playback time with removable Smart Media card. The backlight LCD on remote controller lets you see the titles of the songs stored on your MP3 player. Because the Yepp has no moving parts, you won't hear any gaps in the music due to the bumps and jitters you would otherwise experience with a CD player.Customer Reviews:
BATTERY DOOR/COVER... BAD CONCEPT!.......2003-04-02
MY BEEF? HERE IT IS... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE GOOFBALL WHO DESIGNED THE BATTER DOOR THAT KEEPS THE BATTERY IN PLACE. TOTALLY BAD CONCEPT AND DESIGN. FUNNY THING IS, THEY GIVE YOU AN EXTRA BATTER DOOR BUT THIS IS NOT WHERE THE PROBLEM OCCURS.
THE SMALL "TOOTH" THAT THE BATTER DOOR CLOSED ONTO, BROKE OFF AND A NEW DOOR MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT THAT SMALL "TOOTH" TO CLING TO. I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO... I FEEL LIKE I HAVE WASTED A LOT OF MONEY HERE!...
Poor design and service overshadows decent features.......2003-01-23
The player comes with:
-Unit
-Wired remote
-Earbud headphones
-CD with Real Jukebox software for ripping/uploading songs
-Extra battery door
-Belt clip
-USB to mini USB cable
Here are the key points to know about this player:
-Functions: The unit itself has volume up/down buttons, stop (power off), play/pause (power on), ff/scan, rew/scan, and a handy hold switch to lock the player in either play/off to prevent accidental bumping of buttons. The headphone port also works as the remote control port (when using remote, headphones attach to remote itself), but can be used with just headphones. There are also 3 EQ settings, but these can only be accessed via the remote. There is no LCD display on the unit itself, only a green/red LED that indicates status.
-Sound quality: While I haven't listened to scores of players, the sound rates as good or better than the other players such as Rio's, Nomad's, and Sony's I've tried. Works with low (32kbps) and high (128 ) bitrate mp3's.
-Remote: The remote is a small cylinder (about size of roll of 35mm film) with a small LCD display that indicates song number (not name), time, volume, EQ, and battery status. The display is also backlit for a few seconds upon each button press. It has the same controls as the main unit, including another hold button(each are independent) and the EQ button. This is a handy feature for those who want the unit stashed away in a pocket and just the remote handy. It has a nice spring clip to attach it somewhere on your clothing or bag strap. The headphones attach to the remote itself, which explains why the included headphones have such a short cord (does not reach from my hip to my ears without remote!)
-Uploading software: Included is the RealJukebox software to burn mp3's (up to 128kbps), manage files, and upload mp3's to the player via USB cable. Personally, I like the Jukebox software, but it can be a pain unless you are meticulous about making sure the file info is accurate (genre, artist, title, etc). Another option is to go to the Samsung website and download the YEPP explorer which just lets you drag and drop. Also, the Yepp explorer is the only way to rearrange song order on your player. Jukebox will not let you do this. I use the Yepp explorer now. The upload times seem hideously long for a USB player. Not sure if this is inherent in the SmartCard flash memory architecture, but when compared to a compact flash card I use for my digital camera, it's like molasses. To upload 64MB of songs, takes about 8 minutes. Not much faster than a serial connection I used for an older Nomad player. If you like changing songs frequently, keep this in mind.
-Battery life: Decent, about 8-10 hours without the remote. About 6-8 with the remote, as it has a display and backlight.
-Poor design throughout: My main beef with this player is that there are some real shoddy design elements such as the battery latch and the belt clip. First off, the battery door design is so poor, they acknowledge it by including an extra battery door! Well, what happens if, as in my case, it's the latch on the unit itself that breaks? Here is the direct quote from Samsung customer support:
"Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. Broken component are considered out of warranty conditions. I'm sorry our player did not perform to your expectations." That's it? I knew the latch was doomed, because it's so small and narrow and would fatigue over repeated battery replacements. So now I am sadly relegated to utilizing masking tape to keep the batteries in place because it's one of those designs where the battery door acts as the contact and counters the battery springs on the other end as opposed to a more sensible design that houses all contacts within the unit itself, with the door only acting as an access cover. This of course means every time I need to change batteries (since this has no rechargeable ones), I must break out the masking tape. ...! Then there's the belt clip, glorified strips of plastic that criss cross all over the unit, covering half the buttons. The last time I saw a clip like this, it was on my cousin's original Sony walkman from 1980! Functionally, it works, and you can still press the buttons through the plastic. I have run with it and worked out with it frequently, though the cheesy plastic holster makes me cringe in public. These poorly designed elements reflect the gap between Samsung's vision of quality with that of other brands like Sony. This unit was denied a proper QA review before heading to production, and just before shipping, someone said "hey how about a belt clip? oh and throw in an extra battery door".
In conclusion, while this player does everything it needs to, it does absolutely nothing more. Also beware of some shoddy design and a battery cover that will require masking tape within a year. If you can live with that, and you can find this unit cheap enough to justify these hassles, go for it. Otherwise, look elsewhere because Samsung's customer service will only tell you sorry it didn't live up to your expectations.
Exceeded Expectation.......2002-12-24
Buggy software, lousy support.......2002-11-05
Buggy.......2002-09-23
Average customer rating: |
ZYXEL ZYAIR G-405 IEEE 802.11G WIRELESS ETHERNET BRIDGE - IEEE 802.11B/G54MBPSWIRELESS BRIDGE (91-005-070002)
Manufacturer: ZYXEL COMMUNICATIONS CORP. ProductGroup: CE ASIN: B000H9U2V6 |
Product Description
General Information - Manufacturer: Zyxel Communications Corp. - Manufacturer Part Number: 91-005-070002 - Product Name: ZyAIR G-405 IEEE 802.11g Wireless Ethernet Bridge - Product Type: Wireless Bridge Wireless Specifications - Antenna Range: 260 ft Indoors Maximum - Antenna Range: 1310 ft Outdoors Maximum - Frequency Band/Bandwidth: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g ISM Band - Transmission Speed: 54Mbps - Transmission Speed Details: 54Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 48Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 9Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 36Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 12Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 6Mbps IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 2Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11b - Transmission Speed Details: 24Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 5.5Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11b - Transmission Speed Details: 18Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11g - Transmission Speed Details: 11Mbps Auto-fallback IEEE 802.11b - Transmission Speed Details: 1Mbps IEEE 802.11b Interfaces/Ports - Interfaces/Ports: 1 x RJ-45 10/100Base-T Auto MDI/MDI-X Physical Characteristics - Form Factor: External Warranty - Standard Warranty: 1 Year(s)Electronics: