Sony KDL46S2030 - 46” Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV -With Freeview - Black


Sony KDL46S2030 - 46” Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV -With Freeview - Black
Customer Review: Fantastic Tv
Superb quality,lots of inputs to suit most on the rear,a simple interface and extremely well laid out manual, my last sony tv is over 20 years old and still works fine i just hope this one lasts as long!!

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125
Amazon Price: ?219.99
Customer Review: Excellent !
I was a bit unsure about this sat nav after reading some of the reviews. I would like to say, however, I have not experienced any of the problems some people have. It has worked perfect and I have added an SD card for my music. You do get free trafic info, using the supplied ariel that fits inside your windscreen, but the information you get is patchy. You can upgrade to getting traffic info from TomTom through your mobile phone, but you have to pay a subscription for this. I would say that if you want to use the hands free feature’s on this, then you should check with the TomTom website for your phone’s compatability before buying it. Overall a great unit, and i would highly recommend it.
Customer Review: TomTom 520T
As with the previous reviews, this unit is easy to use both in terms of planning a trip and the actual guidance. It locates you very quickly via the built-in quick-fix software. The only misleading part is that you are under the impression that “Free Traffic Updates For Life” means you get automatic subscription to the PLUS Traffic service (saving ~?30/yr). This isn’t the case, in the TomTom 520T box you also get a RDS-TMC traffic signal reciever. The RDS-TMC will pick up traffic information from radiostations and convert them onto the TomTom. This is the “Free Traffic Updates For Life” you’re actually getting. With that said the RDS-TMC is actually fairly useful (only tried in London so-far) and highlighted several delays which the TomTom then navigated me around. How this rates against the PLUS Traffic service I don’t know.
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List Price: ?5.95
Used Price: ?6.46
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Price: ?9.92
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Quickly recharge your GPS battery with the 9M00.005 mains charger. Thanks to its included adapters, you’ll be able to recharge your GPS wherever you go.?
List Price: ?29.99
Amazon Price: ?17.99
Customer Review: useful and solid kit
The unit comes with the same USB docking station as supplied with the Tom Tom 520. So you have a spare unit there for starters. The charger is a modular unit that is pre-made to fit US sockets. there are are three other converters, which clip on solidly and convert it to UK, Aussie and European plugs. Ah voltage the cynics say. me too. But its multi-voltagew and self selecting - so it will work in the US (110v) or Euro (230v) (UK is no longer 240v by the way) The plug has a downward facing USB socket, with the standard 5v output for charging. plus of course, you can just used the USB plug to get some free power from a passing PC or laptop. Most cool.
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Sony Bravia KDL32S2030U 32” HD Ready LCD TV with Freeview - Black


Sony Bravia KDL32S2030U 32” HD Ready LCD TV with Freeview - Black
Customer Review: Stunning LCD TV
Ordered this LCD TV on Saturday night and got delivery from Parcelforce in perfect condition at 10:30am on Monday (Amazing Service - Thanks Amazon).

Have always stuck by Sony TVs with my last being a WEGA 32″ 100MHz CRT which is still awesome, but needed something more current for my XBox360 and this is just stunning! Played around with the settings (taking off most advanced features) and this baby just sings quality and clarity!

An exceptional picture, both for games and DVD playback through the 360 (via component connection).

Have not tried the Freeview yet, but can still wholeheartedly recommend this TV to anyone using an XBox360 (or those thinking of purchasing the Ninty Wii or PS3).

At this price, this LCD TV is a steal!

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If you can’t stand the heat, don’t pad your kitchen rsum. Celebrity chef Robert Irvine, star of the Food Network hit ‘Dinner: Impossible,’ spent a tense day in Washington on Wednesday amid rumors that he has lied about . . . well, just about everything. Continue …

WAUKEGAN, Illinois (AP) — A large explosion has blown the top off a shopping plaza in Waukegan, Illinois. Police say at least six people have been taken to a hospital. An explosion was reported at a shopping plaza in Waukegan, Illinois, on Thursday. The Continue …

Designer Stephen Saint-Onge joins the Better Homes and Gardens team to create monthly makeovers. Check out this month’s makeover. Designer Stephen Saint-Onge’s keen understanding of the homeowner has moved him into the spotlight in recent years through Continue …

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At a time of such economic gloom , consumers who have never set foot in an off-price home furnishings store might want to stop in and look around. And shoppers (including interior designers) who have long known about these stores’ potential for great Continue …

Sony KDL-52X2000 - 52″ Widescreen Bravia 1080P Full HD LCD TV - With Freeview


Sony KDL-52X2000 - 52″ Widescreen Bravia 1080P Full HD LCD TV - With Freeview
Size: 52 HD ready: Yes HDMI: x2 Digital Tuner: Yes Resolution: 1920×1080 Inputs: 2x HDMI 3x SCART 2x Component Input 1x Composite Video 1x PC Input Other features: VESA Compatible

Customer Review: What can I say - Bee’s Knees
I bought this TV in November 2006 with a samsung blu-ray player replacing an old 47″ panasonic rear projection.

I never thought I’d entertain the idea of a silver surround on a tv (you can buy different colours from sony btw) and always thought it would be like sitting at the cinema with a foot wide white line painted around the screen - which is worse than not being able to get onions with the cinema hot dogs.

The only reason I went for this tv was that it was one of the first 52 inch LCD models to support 1080p (full hd). Despite my reservations about the silver surround I can honestly say it just hasn’t bothered me.

The picture is clear and colours are vivid, whether playing blu-ray, sky, dvd, media hdd or digital tv I’ve had no problems with this tv. It has two HDMI connectors and 4 scart sockets making it easy to connect all the AV equipment you care to throw into you living room. The sound quality is very good though most of the time I run the sound through an av amplifier.

The killer - well that’s got to be the price, you could probably buy a cheaper 52″ tv and take a holiday in the bahamas - even the 46 inch X Series is around 1000GBP cheaper.

That said, even if I did like flying I still go for this tv - can’t say a bad word against it. Whatever the source material this tv makes it look good, if you’ve got HD, HD-DVD or blu-ray this tv is in it’s element particularly with a 1080p (full HD) source (blu-ray or computer).

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Samsung YP-U3JZW/XEU 1Gb Touch Control MP3 Player - White
in White
Amazon Price: ?34.99
Customer Review: Much better than you’d think!
After considering a portable digital music player for a while, I decided to get this, principally because it is inexpensive and plays OGG Vorbis files. It’s about the size of a forefinger and looks very nice in white. The screen is very bright and clear and is excellent in all lighting conditions. The touch controls are easy to use and intuitive, requiring only the lightest of touches to operate. The menu system is also intuitive and quick, making it very easy to move around the player’s menus and select music. Now we get to the important part: the sound quality. My word, it’s excellent! I honestly can’t believe how good it is for the price and size of device; the presets and equaliser enable you to tailor the sound to your preferences or a music genre, e.g. Rock, Pop etc. The radio, which is a bonus (but I admit that I didn’t expect it to work well), actually is brilliant. It gets a good signal and the sound quality is very good. I’m very pleased with this player. It’s much better than I had expected for the price. The only two issues I have with it are minor: * The U.S.B. connector is a bit flimsy, so it’s wise to be careful and not knock the device when it’s connected to a U.S.B. socket (the connector can be retracted inside the player, otherwise). * You can’t organise the music by tag if you don’t use the software included, which means that the music appears on the player by file name and it’s necessary to scroll through the list to find a track, though the fast menu system mitigates this problem somewhat. It even works with Linux, being mounted as a U.S.B. storage device: simply drag the music files to the appropriate file on the player. All-in-all, it’s excellent for the money. I recommend it whole-heartedly!

ATMT MP170 - 1GB MP3 Player With DAB Radio - White
Atmt Group Plc ATMT MP170 Portable DAB & MP3 1GB White Full Digital Radio (DAB) , Digital Audio Real Portable Size Using DAB Module Unique DAB Function with DLS (Dynamic Label segment) Time shift (1hr at 192kbps) Music Play : MP3 / WMA Various MP3 Play Mode and Sound Effects Six play and EQ mode Low Power Consumption: DAB : 15hr @ 1AA Alkaline MP3 128Kbps : 50hr @ 1AA Alkaline 4-Line (128*64Dots) Black/White LCD Contrast & Idle Setting Band-III Earphone Antenna Frequency Range : 20Hz~20KHz 40g (65g with Battery)
Amazon Price: ?86.12

TomTom Go Car Charger Tom Tom Go/910/700/500/300 plus free 10% MICROPRICED MONEY OFF VOUCHER
Item is compatible with: Tom Tom Go, Classic, 300 Series, 500 Series, 700 Series, 900 Series Chargers are brand new and of the highest quality CE and RoHs Approved The chargers has a inbuilt internal 2A fuse, LED light and a flexible power cord. Must have for every Tom Tom User.

DuraSec NanoTec liquid screen protector TomTom GO 920 T

Bubblefree screen protection by liquid sealing of the display with nanotechnology!

Package contents: 2 sponges, 2 microfiber towels, 1 spray-bottle display cleaner, 1 spray-bottle nanotech sealer

Made in Ge

Sony KDL46S2510U - 46″ Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview - Black


Sony KDL46S2510U - 46″ Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview - Black
The HD Ready S series is High Picture Quality Digital LCD TV whichcan be realized by “BRAVIA ENGINE” and high performanceLCD panel.

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DAEWOO DRHT630 160Gb Hard Drive DVD Recorder with Freeview
I-link, DivX, Time shift, Live Pause, One touch record
Amazon Price: ?252.18

Byo 17″ Laptop Sleeve Dots
BuiltNY BYO Laptop Sleeve for 17″ computers - Dot pattern
Price: $29.99

LG RH266H Upscaling DVD/HDD Recorder
Up to 477 hours maximum recording time on HDD. / 1080i upscaling. / Optical and Coaxial digital audio output. / Component output. / 2 x SCART sockets. / HDMI output.

Sony RDR-HX725 DVD Recorder with 160GB Hard Drive
SONY DualLAYER DVD recorder recording on a 160Gb hard drive The RDR-HX725S features a 160 GB hard drive so you can record andenjoy all of your favorite TV programs on your schedule.
Used Price: ?189.99
Customer Review: Worst dvd recorder I have owned
I bought this to replace a Medion (Tevion) recorder bought from Aldi. I assumed wrongly that the Sony would be of higher quality. My experiences have been similar to those of other reviewers. The machine has always been impossibly slow, hard to use, and lacking in some obvious features. It has always needed re-booting regularly, and now it has decided to die completely, with the dreaded “HDD error” display. Of course, it is now 14 months old,and just out of the one year guarantee. I echo the advice of other contributors - don’t buy a Sony. I have had no trouble with my Panasonic dvd player,but I wonder now with PVRs and cable/satellite playback whether I need a dvd recorder at all. Very disappointing machine,and very poor value. As for support from Sony - a joke.
Customer Review: A BRILLIANT PIECE OF KIT!!!
This is one brilliant recorder, a perfect compliment to the Freeview set-top-box. The Review: Excellent quality HDD recording, offering an array of different quality recording modes. The Guide Plus system allows futures programs to be scheduled for recording in a few seconds. No more searching through endless tapes to find which you recorded that program last week, just access the menu and away you go! Once recorded to the HDD it can be transferred to a DVD with a few easy steps. The SetUp (with reference to a Sony Set-Top-Box) The manual is comprehensive but can be confusing especially when it comes to setting up the recorder to find all the available digital channels via the Freeview box. This description should help clear any confusion and get your recorder recording in no time. 1. Use connection A on Page 14 2. Turn to Page 13 and read the second sentence: “Do NOT set “Line3 Input” of the “Scart Setting” to “Decoder” in the “Video” setup when making connection A or B. We now need to implement this so press the “SYSTEM MENU” button ? SETUP ? Video ? Scart Setting (press ENTER). Select the following option: Line1 Output: Video, Line3 Input: Video/RGB, Line3 Output: Video. Exit this Guide. 3. Press “TV GUIDE” scroll across to “Setup” ? Basic Setup. Fill in the Settings options, set External Receiver 1: Freeview - SONY - Line3. 4. Select “Host Channel Setup”: Source: Tuner, Programme Number: 03, Host Channel Name: ITV. Press “Confirm” to confirm these details. 5. Set the Freeview box channel to ITV, switch off the TV and the DVD recorder but leave the Freeview box on. Wait overnight and all the channels should now be displayed when “TV GUIDE” is selected on the remote control. Voila! The recorder should now be able to record any channel available on the Freeview box.

Sony KDL32S2510U - 32″ Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview


Sony KDL32S2510U - 32″ Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview
The new HD Ready 32 S series is High Picture Quality Digital LCDTV which can be realized by BRAVIA ENGINE high performance LCDpanel dynamic contrast and 2 HDMI inputs.

Customer Review: An amazing TV!
This Sony Bravia 32″ model is the first TV I have bought where I have upgraded from standard to high-definition (HDTV) and the differences are very noticeable indeed. When watching a DVD or TV, the picture quality is outstanding, giving the usual picture much sharper and colourful that makes my previous TV screen look dull and blurry in comparison. It’s built-in Digital Free View TV is also an excellent bonus, not having to have the little box sitting next to the TV anymore.

Also, if you buy the correct component leads for the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 (which cost about ?20 each), the quality of playing games is unbelieveable. My jaw actually dropped when I first put on Halo 3 on this TV!

I don’t know too much about the specs of the TV, so I’ve not gone into any detail about this, (fearing getting things wrong and inacurate), but I can guarantee that if you are looking for a top quality, reasonable priced and all round easy to use TV, you can’t get much better than this.

Customer Review: A REVELATION
As my old Philips 26-inch analogue TV had ‘gone on the blink’ I selected this Sony receiver from Amazon’s extensive stock. It arrived on 26 July and was easy to install single handed as it only weighs 15kg. Setting up was very easy thanks to the Auto-tuning facility. I like the security option of entering a PIN code: should the set be stolen and later recovered, entering your chosen PIN number confirms your ownership.

The antenna is a small Yagi in the loft, installed in 1969, and I was pleased to find that the picture quality is excellent. The sound quality is quite adequate considering the set is only 10cm thick and this is the only reason for my 4-star rating. (If possible, connect it to a hi-fi system with the supplied leads for a superior performance).

I’ve connected the TV to a DVD recorder and a VHS recorder, simply done using the two SCART sockets. When programming the VHS recorder, the TV sorts out the appropriate AV connection. With this set-up I can record two programmes while watching live TV

In conclusion, this was a very good buy, since it receives analogue stations too, and I thoroughly recommend it.

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Explosion at Illinois shopping plaza injures five
(CNN) — Mannequins, broken glass and debris littered the street Thursday after a midday explosion at a small strip mall that injured several people, collapsed roofs and left mounds of rubble in a Chicago, Illinois, suburb. An emergency worker searches

ENERGIZER LITHIUM AA BATTERIES 1.5V 2900MAH (CARD OF 4)IDEAL FOR DIGITAL CAMERA USE REF TYPE L91

The lady vs. the vamp at Paris Fashion Week
PETER STIGTER FOR THE TORONTO STAR The lady-like restraint of an angular Balenciaga dress. Star Stylist PARISFashion week is brimming with gossip that the two most powerful magazine editors are having a tiff. It’s all over a single quote in a recent

Tony Hawk’s Helmet Cam
List Price: ?109.99
Amazon Price: ?69.98
Used Price: ?65.39
Customer Review: Helmet Cam
Mine also only lasted 5 minutes but I thought it maybe because I wasn’t using lithium batteries. The off button doesn’t always work so I have had to just take the batteries out to stop it. It is a impossible to remove from the belt unless you get someone strong to do it. It would be better if it came with a charger. You really don’t want to think about changing batteries right bang in the middle of cycling down a hill.
Customer Review: Brilliant Entry level Action camera
This is a fantastic unit that contaiins everything you need to make easy, fun movies of your action. Perfect for kids as it is so simple to use. You really do just press and go. The software is very user friendly too, and lots of cool clips of Tony Hawk in action. I bought one for my boyfriend for snowboarding and it has since been used BMXing and just as a webcam! The photography is not going to win any awards but it’s been fun to email friends footage of their snow mishaps!

Paris fashion trends strong, safe and sombre
Recent special sections MOST POPULAR ON THESTAR.COM SPECIAL Certified matchmaker Susan Kates’ latest venture involves sharing the skills and secrets of her trade. Even as he reaches comic heights with his new basketball movie Semi-Pro ,

Sony KDL-20S3040 - 20” Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview - Mauve


Sony KDL-20S3040 - 20” Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview - Mauve
with Integrated Digital Tuner

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Samsung YP-Z5A 4GB MP3 Player - Silver
Used Price: ?39.99
Customer Review: Didn’t last long
I got this player a while back and was super impressed at first. Especially with how great it works with Media Player 11.. The best software bar none! What I noticed over time was how steadily the battery life decreased- and I was careful not to leave it charging for 48 hours and so on. I understand battery maintenance. Also my touch screen started playing up and and would sometimes get ’stuck’ with a continous scroll down until tapping on the up key. then with no warning would suddenly start scrolling down again. I had to reset it a number of times but over time it would start this odd behaviour again. So now I’m back and shopping for a new mp3 player. A bit nervous to go anywhere near a Samsung again- but want a player that plugs straight into Windows Media Player. I hate this idea of having to use proprietory software like Sonic or iTunes.. Anyway, bottom line is I would not buy this piece of kit now- much better available now at lower prices.
Customer Review: I Had one for one month!!!!!
I purchased one before Christmas. I was well pleased with it. Then one day it crashed, lost everything. I thought all i needed to do was go back on computer and transfer music on again. But no it would not let me. So took it back to shop. But never found out why. Now I miss it and would like to replace it but with what??? And yes charging it on computer was a pain and so was windows media.

HP DV9320US Pavilion Entertainment 17″ Laptop (AMD Turion 64 X2 Processor TL 56, 2 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, SuperMulti DVD Drive, Vista Premium)
Big on features and functionality, the Pavilion dv9320 Entertainment Notebook is equipped to simplify your life on the go. Its highlights include a remote control for movies, music, and photos, as well as a webcam. And like all of HP’s notebooks, it comes with industry-leading, HP one-year warranty coverage. nVidia GeForce Go 6150 (UMA) Video Graphics 120GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive LightScribe Super Multi 8x DVD+-R/RW with Double Layer Support Multimedia Drive High Speed 56k Modem Integrated 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector) Network Card 802.11b/g WLAN Wireless Connectivity Altec Lansing Sound 101-key Compatible Keyboard Notebook keyboard with scroll bar and integrated numeric keypad 2 Quick Launch Buttons-HP Quick Play Menu and DVD Touch Pad Pointing Device with On/Off button and dedicated vertical scroll Up/Down pad 1 ExpressCard/54 PC Card Slots (also supports ExpressCard/34) Kensington MicroSaver Lock Slot Security Power-on password Accepts 3rd party security lock devices Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (including 60 days complimentary live update) 5-in-1 Integrated Digital Media Reader - For Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro or xD Picture cards External Ports - 4 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0, 1 Headphone out w/SPDIF Digital Audio, 1 microphone-in, 1 VGA (15-pin), 1 TV-Out (S-video), 1 RJ-11 (modem), 1 RJ-45 (LAN), 1 Expansion Port 3, 1 IEEE 1394 Firewire (4-pin) & 1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver) Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition - 60 Day Trial Version Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions - Length 15.16 x Width 11.65 x Height 1.57 inch Weight - 7.8 pounds
Price: $1,562.00
Customer Review: A Great Desktop or Laptop Replacement
This is a fantastic computer. It is fast, uncomplicated, and stable. It starts up quickly and has enough power( 2GB Ram)for programs to run in the background without you noticing it. The layout is easy to get used to and has some great features like a remote to operate music and videos from across the room, quickplay controls above the keyboard for quick volume control and other dvd or cd operations, and a wireless switch which allows you to go from wired to wireless instantly. HP’s support is fantastic. I sent in an email question about using the built in fax modem and got an answer within hours. I also was provided with a contact name and access to fast follow up help. HP’s online classes are free and very informative.

Archos Gmini 402 20GB MP3 / Video Player
Watch your music! The incredibly small pocket video, photo and music player featuring a 2.2″ color screen and top functionalities. Using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface, the Gmini 402 will easily auto-synchronize this content with Windows Media? Player 10 each time you connect it to your PC, or convert your Windows Media? Player 10 library content to one of the many compatible formats (MP3, WMA, WAV,protected WMA, MPEG-46, WMV2 and protected Windows Media? Video). Download videos from your PC using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface. Store up to 80 hours1 of video. Play MPEG-46 and WMV2, including protected WMV2 files. Play back on the 2,2″ LCD or any external screen. Transfer photos directly from your digital camera3 or from another mass storage device using the built-in USB host connection, or from a computer using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface. Store up to up to 200,000 photos1. Organize photos in easy thumbnail or slideshow views, and watch them on the Gmini 402 screen or any external display. The Gmini 402 has a USB Host Port enabling you to copy, share, connect and transfer files directly from other powered mass storage devices such as digital cameras3, card readers, USB keys, and powered portable hard drives. Play back directly any compatible contents on the external hard drive connected to your Gmini 402 (no data transfer needed). The Gmini 402 also features a highspeed USB 2.0 interface to connect your device to your PC or Mac and easily transfer contents. Additionnally, the TV output will allow you to enjoy photos and movies on any external screen. Easily transfer songs from your PC and organize them with the enhanced ARCLibrary. Store up to 10,000 songs1 in the most used format such as MP3, WMA, WAV and protected WMA (PlaysForSure? files). Customize your view by artist, album, type of music, title, year, and create play lists without having to use a computer. The Gmini 402 also offers an audio recording application to record (enco
Amazon Price: ?171.99
Customer Review: Solid, but heavy. Nice alternative to iPod
Firstly the instructions are a bit minimalist - but most of the operation I found to be intuitive, so no big deal. However - and TAKE NOTE! - if you buy one of these, before it can be recognised by most PCs, you need to go to the on screen menu of the device, select Setup menu, then select System, then select USB port, and change this to Hard Drive. In my view this should have been the default setting. If this was clearer on the instructions, it would have saved me 2 hours effort. Once you have done this, then device is recognised as a hard drive by Windows Media Player v10 and v11 (you can download these for free from www.microsoft.com ) Other than this, the upload speed is very fast on a USB 2.0 connection, 20GB is a lot of storage (unless you want lots of video). Quality is good, it feels solid and the real metal case has a quality feel vs an iPod. However, it’s not a compact lightweight thing that you would want to use doing sports. In my view, it would be worth investing in a silicone ’skin’ or leather case (the included case is just a lightweight fabric bag), and it benefits from an earphones upgrade (the standard ones do not do the player justice). If it weren’t for the headphones and the minimal instruction then I would have given it a five. At ?125 from Amazon I still reckon it’s a good deal.
Customer Review: Great little player with room for improvement
Hi everyone, thought I’d share some of my experiences with this mp3 player. This player is very pocketable. It fits quite well in the hand and u can navigate the menus single handedly. This is made possible because of 3 soft keys below the screen. The screen is quite nice and will be enough for most of the functions but whether its big enough for viewing videos and photos is a matter of personal preference but I find it fine to show some pics to a mate or watch a short video clip or watch a film in a low lighted place but it is hard on ur eyes to watch a whole film in a bright place with lot of activity around you. The brightness of the screen can be adjusted to personal needs. Audio fidelity is good and there is a simple EQ where u can adjust Bass and Treble to personal needs. I will recommend u to buy a separate headphone or use the one u like because headphones that come with this player is not good. Audio codec support is not great. Only MP3,WMA and WAV. No Ogg support. I don’t use WAV at all ,but this player manages playback of mp3 and wma at high bitrates (>192 kbps) very well. One niggle with playback is there is no continuous play of songs. So if u are listening to a live album where continuous play without pause between songs is desirable u will be disappointed. I have noticed that the length of the pause between the songs is longer if the songs are protected(DRM’ed) ie from Napster and the like(I think this is something to do with the player checking the licences with its own internal clock and date). But on clean(non-DRM’ed) albums the pause is less than a second. But I dont have a lot of live albums so its alright for me with an occasional irritation. Album art is nicely displayed on the screen if it comes with the file ur playing. This device is ‘playsforsure’ certified so it can play subscription music files downloaded from online music stores using Microsoft’s DRM technology. Personally I have been able to do this from files downloaded/bought off Napster, Virgin and Tesco download stores. Syncing is fine with Windows Media Player 10. But I’am using it with WMP 11 and it syncs great with it too. There is a setting so that u can let this player behave as an external hard drive or a ‘Windows device’ when connected with ur PC. If ur gonna sync ‘protected’ wma’s a lot to this player then I would recommend u to use it with ‘windows device’ setting so its easily recognised by WMP10/11 and also software clients from music download stores. Video playback is good once u get ur videos on to the player. I use DivX 6.1 encoded ‘.avi’ files. They are great for viewing and helps me control bitrate and also the size of the files. There is a free program comes with the player(its on the hard drive of the player) that can convert video files to get it on to the player but it gives u less control over filesizes. This player does’nt play ripped DVD files(.vob). So if u want to get ur DVD videos onto this player u will have to rip the DVD on to ur hard drive and then have to convert the files into .wmv or .avi files using a separate program. The wmv support isn’t straightforward either. It plays only .wmv files encoded in ’simple profile’. But dont let this put u off. If u have a decent computer u can pull this off with a good video converting program. Personally I use DVD Decrypter(freeware) ;) to rip DVDs and then use AVS video converter(had bought this program beforehand for about ?15) to convert them to ‘.avi’ files. Then just drag’n'drop. It takes about 45 mins for me from DVD to Archos(1hr 30mins film without the extras). The audio recording is a good feature and I use it to record personal memos and other stuff. I don’t listen to FM radios so its okay for me. Should u want to listen to FM radios then there is an accessory for it that enables FM radio which is sold elsewhere in this site. Another useful feature is the video out. Plug in the composite to the TV input and u can show ur videos and photos to ur mates without all of them crowding and trying to stare at ur shiny 2.2″ screen!. The necessary cables are supplied for video out and there is also an option for progressive scan output(I was pleasantly surprised by this). Battery life is not phenomenal but u get about 8-10 hrs audio playback(192 kbps WMA, Volume- 35, screen backlight off, turn off screen after 1 min of non-activity ) and about 3-4 hrs video playback(see below for Video specs). There are about 10 demos of games included with this player. The quality of these games is on par with games u get with mobile phones. If u like any of the games u have to buy them from the Archos website to play the full game.All in all this is a good buy if u dont mind the little problems I mentioned above especially letting ur computer to crunch videos! Hope this helps. (For reference : Computer specs : Pentium M 2.0 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, HD speed- 5400rpm DivX settings I used : Portable profile with one pass encoding, 15 fps, 320×240 resolution(this resolution is more than enough for device viewing), Audio stream- 128 kbps mp3, with a ‘cap’ at the total file size at 500 MB)

DVB1006 USB TV Receiver
Product Details USB DVB-T TV Receiver Turn your Laptop or PC into a Digital (DVB-T) TV and recorder!! This product enables your computer to receive, record, and playback free to air digital TV programs and High Definition Television (HDTV) programs through a USB interface. Includes licensed video capture software, Blaze HD Player. Key Features DVB-T Digital TV Tuner USB 2.0 Digital TV Receiver High Definition & Crystal Clear Video Quality Supports HDTV 16:9 / 4:3 support Watch, record, pause, replay TV EPG (Electronic Program Guide) Time-shift Time Scheduling Auto & Manual Scan Subtitle, multiple language & audio Multi-Channel Preview Advanced Personal Recording Still Image Capture Digital Radio Teletext Specifications Interface Universal Serial Bus 2.0 Standard B Type USB Female Connector Digital Tuner Input Signal: 75 ohm (VHF/UHF) Receiving VHF 172~230 MHz Frequency: UHF 470~862 MHz Demodulator & FEC Channel Bandwidth: 6,7,8MHZ COFDEM Mode: 2K,8K Viterbi decoding: 1/2,2/3,3/4,5/6,7/8 Guard interval: 1/4,1/8,1/16,or 1/32 System Requirements OS Microsoft Windows 2000 or above CPU P4 2.0GHz CPU or above Memory 512MB RAM or above Video 32MB Memory Software Microsoft Direct X 9.0 or above Interface One Free USB 2.0 Port Storage 500MB Free Package Contents USB DVB-T Receiver DVB-T Antenna Remote Control USB Cable CD (Driver & Software)

Sony VAIO VGN-UX390N 4.5″ Laptop (Intel Core Solo Processor U1500, 1 GB RAM, 32 GB Flash Drive, Vista Business)
Featuring cutting-edge flash memory, the black Sony VAIO VGN-UX390N Micro PC is an ultra-portable, full-functioning PC small enough to fit in your pocket. Taking the PC to the next level, the UX390N stores data on 32 GB of solid state flash memory, instead of a traditional spinning disc drive. Weighing just over a pound and measuring 5.9 by 3.75 inches, it easily fits in the palm of your hand. The UX390N features a 4.5-inch widescreen SVGA screen that ingeniously slides up to expose an integrated keyboard. The pocket-sized UX390N comes equipped with a stylus and Sony’s VAIO touch launcher for quick access to functions frequently used such as Internet access, e-mail, various computer applications, games and music. Just push the launcher button located on the side of the unit.

It’s powered by Windows Vista Business and Intel’s groundbreaking Core Solo processor with ultra-low voltage for extended battery life. Advanced wireless capabilities are built right in–including tri-mode Wi-Fi, WWAN, WLAN, and Bluetooth–and expansion is a breeze with the included port replicator. It even includes two built-in cameras–one on the front (0.3 megapixels) for VoIP tele/videoconferencing and the other (1.3 megapixels) on the back for taking snapshots. Other technical features include a 1 GB of RAM, a Memory Stick slot, and a full complement of pre-installed software (from Internet security to Microsoft Works). For added convenience, a docking station with three 2.0 USB ports, Ethernet, VGA, iLink (FireWire/IEEE-1394) interface and an AV output comes with the unit, making it easy to connect to peripherals like a full-sized keyboard, display and speakers when back in the office or at home.

Advanced Wireless Mobility
The UX390N features Sony’s SmartWi technology, which seamlessly integrates wireless Wide Area Network (WAN), 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN and Bluetooth technologies, enabling you to toggle among your wireless connectivity options depending on your surroundings. The tri-mode wireless LAN is compatible with 802.11b/g networks (commonly found in home routers and wi-fi hotspots) as well as 802.11a networks (which has a higher throughput, but more limited range–great for closed office environments). The integrated wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) technology lets you access the Cingular Wireless EDGE network to extend your wireless coverage beyond LAN access networks and hotspots (a Cingular SIM card is included; see more about WWANs below). And with the Bluetooth wireless connectivity, you can synchronize and transfer files between the PC and peripherals such as cell phones and PDAs.

Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)
If you’re the ultimate road warrior, you need to access the Internet and check e-mail without having to plug in your Sony Vaio notebook PC, and without cables to boot. Welcome to the world of WWANs (wireless wide area networks). With WWANs, you can access critical network resources and home office files from the front seat of your car, the airport, the local coffee shop, or your recliner at home. Sony Vaio computers use SmartWi technology to access the Cingular Wireless national EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) network.

A WWAN uses long-range wireless connections — the same networks as cellular phones — to provide access across a large geographic area. In comparison, a WLAN (wireless LAN) covers only one or more buildings located close together. The use of wireless connectivity on a WLAN is simply an alternative to the PSTN (public switched telephone network), which you may have used — or still use — to dial into your ISP (Internet service provider) or reach your company’s network. On a WWAN, however, you use wireless connectivity to reach your carrier’s data network instead of plugging into a phone jack and dialing into your ISP. Each mobile device communicates with the public carrier’s base station, providing coverage across entire states, regions, and countries via cell phone towers.

Security & Safety Features
Sony’s line of Vaio UX micro-PCs take security seriously, employing a biometric fingerprint sensor and proprietary hard disk drive protection software to ensure your data is protected from unauthorized use as well as accidental damage. Fingerprint biometrics is a convenient and secure way to protect your computer and the information on it with a simple swipe of your finger. It also stores passwords to secure web sites you visit, so authentication and access are quick and easy–you only need your fingerprint.

The Basics

  • Processor: The Ultra Low Voltage Intel Core Solo U1500 processor offers a 1.33 GHz speed paired with a fast 533 MHz front-side bus and large 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system’s performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.) The Core Solo processor delivers enhanced performance for today’s demanding applications such as CAD tools, 3-D and 2-D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming. And Intel’s Smart Cache technology enables smarter, more efficient cache and bus design for enhanced performance, responsiveness and power savings.
  • Hard Drive: The 32 GB of flash memory (NAND) storage is on the small side when compared to traditional notebooks, but it is understandable in such a small package. Faster and more reliable, flash memory provides a rapid boot-up and quicker access to applications while improving battery life. Flash memory is also more reliable than hard disk memory, mainly because there are no moving parts. Since data is written to stationary flash memory instead of a spinning hard disk, you have less risk of hardware problems with the hard disk when you’re on the move.
  • Memory: It’s loaded with 1 GB of 400 MHz, PC-3200 DDR2 RAM. On the downside, that’s the maximum that the UX390N will accept, so you won’t be able to upgrade.
  • CD/DVD Drive: This Micro PC does not come with an integrated optical drive, but Sony offers an optional, external multi-format DVD burner (VGP-DDRW4).
  • Keyboard & Mouse: The hidden keyboard has 64 keys with a 0.15mm stroke and 8.6mm pitch.

Screen, Video & Audio
The UX390N’s wide, touchscreen 4.5-inch XBRITE LCD has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution (SVGA) and includes control buttons for zooming, scrolling, and a stick pointer, as well as the ability to view in either landscape or portrait orientations. The high brightness level of an XBRITE display means that black tones appear richer and deeper while white tones remain brighter. Graphics and text display clearly and colors appear more lifelike. This Micro PC includes a built-in monaural speaker and is compatible with the Windows sound system. Video and graphics are powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, which uses Intel Dynamic Video Memory Technology (DVMT) and provides up to 224 MB of shared video memory.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
The UX390N has a single USB 2.0 port, headphone and microphone jacks, Memory Stick slot (compatible with Memory Stick DUO and MagicGate functionality), and a port replicator connection. The included port replicator offers three USB 2.0, FireWire, VGA out, composite A/V out, and Ethernet (10Base-T/100Base-TX) connections.

Operating System
The Windows Vista Business operating system is designed to meet the needs of business organizations of all sizes. For small businesses, Windows Vista Business will help keep PCs running smoothly and more securely so you will be less reliant on dedicated IT support. For larger organizations, Windows Vista Business provides dramatic new infrastructure improvements, enabling your IT staff to spend less time focused on the day-to-day maintenance of PCs. An array of sophisticated new backup technologies helps protect your information even in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure. And Windows Vista Business has a new user interface, named Windows Aero, which is designed to deliver new levels of efficiency for any business user. This new interface makes it easy to navigate through the operating system and from application to application. For instance, Windows Aero helps you juggle multiple tasks at once by providing a three-dimensional, real-time, animated view of all your open applications and documents.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family’s use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Includes Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition (60-day trial), Symantec Norton Internet Security 2007 (with 60 days of Live Update).

Dimensions and Weight
Amazingly small, the UX390N measures 5.9 x 3.75 x 1.5 inches (WxHxD) and weighs just 1.2 pounds with the included standard battery.

Power
It comes with the standard VGP-BPS6 standard capacity lithium ion battery, which provides between 2.5 and 4.5 hours of power (depending on usage). The optional large capacity VGP-BPL6 battery can power the UX390N for up to 9 hours.

What’s in the Box
This package contains the VGN-UX390N, detachable stand, stylus, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, AC adapter and power cord, port replicator, Cingular SIM card, soft carrying case, and VGA/LAN adapter. It’s backed by a 1-year limited warranty with 1 year of toll-free technical telephone assistance.
List Price: $2,399.99
Amazon Price: $1,599.99
Customer Review: Nice performance but Flash Drive too small
UX390N have a better performance compress old model, but 32GB Flash Drive too small. Sony did not support creating the recover CD, even you use Sony iLink CD/DVD burner. Hate this.
Customer Review: I really wanted to like this…
The screen is very hard to read, especially if you have the presbyopia problem that people usually get after they are 40 years old (this is difficulty in seeing small things up close). There is a Zoom in/out, but it is useless because one cannot enter data when it is in use. A scroll wheel would have been nice to view things when not using a mouse (the thumbpad mouse that comes with it, is kind of awkward to use (controlling the mouse pointer is hard). Cnet review said to lower the resolution to read it easier, but many apps do not work with a lower resolution. In addition, even at high resolution, some apps have popup screens that are off the edge of the screen & you can’t scroll to it (ie: lets say you are adjusting preferences in Internet Explorer - or any program - the little popup window that comes up, you can’t click the OK button because its off the screen. So your pref changes don’t get saved). The keyboard keys should have been raised, not recessed. Its very hard to type on it. A solution I’ve found to browse the Internet is to use the free Opera internet browser. It will adjust webpages to fit the screen, yet using a larger type. I do use this with an external monitor & a wireless mouse & a Think Outside keyboard which works very well. However, there goes your portability. Just really really bummed about not being able to read the screen…

Sony KDL-46X3500 - 46” Widescreen Bravia 1080P Full HD LCD TV - With Freeview


Sony KDL-46X3500 - 46” Widescreen Bravia 1080P Full HD LCD TV - With Freeview
Customer Review: Looks fantastic…..switched off!
In all fairness, my title is harsh but the tv’s picture quality varies depending on the source it is fed. PS3 games look fantastic as do blu-ray movies. Keeping in line, Sky-HD broadcast in 1080i also looks great. However, a screen size of 46inches does not lend itself to viewing standard definition pictures. The picture can become a little jagged around edges and I have found slow-down issues on fast moving objects but I have only really noticed this on football matches. Connectivity is great and the set will look fantastic with any decor. Sound is good but I would recommend some sort of surround sound system. The remote control is large but is logically designed, will control 3 other devices (except PS3 which uses bluetooth) and also has a nice backlight function. Overall I would recommend it on its HD picture quality and design.

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See stunning wallpapers and fabrics in Harlequin’s definitive damask collection Have a look at the new Lucido collection from Harlequin. The range combines contemporary and classic damasks of varying scales and degrees of opulence in a simply Read more..

Amazon Price: ?79.99
Customer Review: The lost Star
A great little camera,easy to use, wonderful definition, but not yet compatable with “Windows Vista” therefore it cannot be used yet as a Web Cam for me,but it seems that Vivitar are working on this.
Read more..

Zennox Jupiter Digital Video Camera 2.0″” TFT Display. Features Digital Video Camera - Video Recording with Sound MPEG4 Video Format 10 Mega Pixel Output Digital Still Camera with 3.1 Mega Pixel CMOS Sensor 16MB Internal Memory MP3 Recorder / Player Web Camera Macro Mode 8x Digital Zoom SD/ MMC Card Compatible TV/ VCR Output with Sound Flash with Red Eye Reduction Inbuilt Microphone and Speaker Self Timer - 10 Sec Delay Colour TFT 2.0″ TFT Screen USB 1.1Plug-in-Play Performance Calendar Power - Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Contents in Box Jupiter Digital Camera CD-ROM USB / TV-OUT Cable Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Wrist Strap User’s Manual Earphone AC Adaptor Also Includes: Zennox Digital Imaging Disc. PC-CDROM. Technical Details photo studio, photo printer, panarama maker collage creator, greeting card creator photo montage, make presentations, make cds & dvds Edit videos
Read more..

(CNN) — Police in Las Vegas, Nevada, are investigating the discovery of what they believe to be ricin at an extended stay hotel Thursday. Authorities were called to an Extended Stay America hotel after staff found a suspicious substance in one of the Read more..

Sony Bravia KDL26S2030U 26” HD Ready LCD TV with Freeview - Black


Sony Bravia KDL26S2030U 26” HD Ready LCD TV with Freeview - Black
With our unique new technologies nothing delivers a combination ofvisual and audio in-home experience quite as stylishly as a BRAVIA.The BRAVIA ENGINE processor delivers rich deep colour like noother. TruSurround XT technology delivers a virtual sur

Customer Review: A Great Telly!
My mum’s old Sony television gave up after about 25 years, and because of it’s good track record she wanted to get another Sony for their superior build quality and technology. You pay extra but it’s worth it!

This Sony Bravia gives you great picture quality, and good sound. It also comes with Freeview which is essential for the digital switchover, this is what really suprised me. I bought a digital box so we could watch Freeview, however we were only able to get about 2 channels that were actually watchable. So I was dubious if we’d be able to use the Freeview on the telly, as I thought because its integrated it would probably be of a lower quality, but it wasn’t at all, we now get all the Freeview channels and all are top quality.

So, not a single complaint from me!

Customer Review: Great Buy
I have had this TV for about 4 months now and have found it to be excellent, easy to set up with a very clear picture and at this price it is good value for money. However, there is only 1 HD socket, not an issue for me at the moment but is it worth considering if you plan to use Sky HD and an HD DVD.

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SanDisk Sansa e280 8Gb MP3 Player with Radio
The Sansa e200 Series MP3 players are the flagship products of SanDisks audio line. Created by the leaders in flash memory, this flash-based player provides everything you need for music, photo, and video clip playback. The very attractive, sleek design includes a 1.8 TFT color screen with advanced navigational features and an easy to use interface. You can also avoid scratches and cracks with the durable Liquidmetal backing. The Sansa e200 provides superior sound playback and supports Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription music. The SanDisk Media Converter supports most image formats to enjoy photos and small personal videos. The Sansa e200 provides a microSD card slot for content portability and additional capacity with your 2GB, 4GB, 6GB or 8GB units.
Amazon Price: ?96.36

Creative Zen Sleek Photo 20GB MP3 Player
Used Price: ?75.00
Customer Review: Fine when it works, but guaranteed to break
It appears Creative are phasing out this model, but I still feel I should leave a review as a warning against the company. As I had certain doubts about the default iPod, I did a lot of research into mp3 players, and read many good reports on Creative’s models. I acquired a Zen Micro, only to have it crash violently on me on every other usage. However, occasionally you will get a dodgy model, so I was happy enough to exchange it for a Zen Sleek. The Sleek worked fine for several months, and gets its three stars for being generally easy to navigate and of decent sound quality. However, I noticed the touchpad could be unreceptive, and it’s gone downhill from there. Next to go were the buttons, which took turns not to work - sometimes volume was pretty much the only thing I could control. As a final revolt, the player deleted all its music, and when I tried to re-transfer my songs all I got were error messages. I still have my reservations about the iPod, but I may just have to go with the crowd on this one. The Creative Vision looks good, but I’m convinced it will crash just like the others. I know three other people with Creative players and they’ve all gone haywire as well. I don’t have the money for a new player every year and don’t trust this brand to deliver.
Customer Review: Cant Be Faulted
I really cant say anything bad about the Zen Sleek. It took me ages to decide which MP3 to go for. I tried a few and wasnt happy then I got the sleek and havent looked back since. I love it!!! Its so easy to use and the sound quality is good. You definately get your moneys worth. The touch pads can be a little getting used to but I think they are all like that and its still the best key pad I have used. U can sort your albums into all sorts of folders so that makes it much more user friendly too. I used it all the time and its my pride and joy. I just need some speakers now so I dont deafen myself with it in my ears all the time. If u decide to buy I hope you enjoy. One last thing it looks gorgeous and is very sturdy so no worries on breaking it like certain other makes.

Beauty salon explosion injures at least nine
CHICAGO (AFP) - An explosion in a suburban Chicago beauty salon has left at least nine people hurt after it blew out shop windows and caused the roof of a small shopping center to cave in, authorities said. Dramatic images of the collapsed roof and

Samsung YP-U3JZB/XEU 1Gb Touch Control MP3 Player - Black
in Black
Amazon Price: ?28.98

Facing Default, Some Walk Out on New Homes
When Raymond Zulueta went into default on his mortgage last year, he did what a lot of people do. He worried. In a declining housing market, he owed more than the house was worth, and his mortgage payments, even on an interest-only loan, had shot up to

Sony KDL-26S2010U - 26″ Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview


Sony KDL-26S2010U - 26″ Widescreen Bravia HD Ready LCD TV - With Freeview
With our unique new technologies nothing delivers a combination ofvisual and audio in-home experience quite as stylishly as a BRAVIA.The BRAVIA ENGINE processor delivers rich deep colour like noother. TruSurround XT technology delivers a virtual sur

Customer Review: Freeview is dreadful but the TV is good
I think the TV is great. Sadly it came with Freeview and so I now have two teenage kids who watch endless repeats for Scrubs and Friends and anything else they can find to stare at so I am selling it. BBC 3 & 4 for me are the exception but the rest is awful. I have polled my friends and they have the same feedback. I have warned the kids but they don’t listen. If you have teenage kids who are quite sporty and reasonably bright don’t buy one of these with freeview. Rant over

Customer Review: Brilliant
After much deliberation I bought one and can say it is brilliant. Easy to set up and navigate the menu,Picture and sound quality great as a sony should be

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Hood And Matsko Family Christmas Cookbook And Holiday Traditions: A Collection Of Thanksgiving Recipes
Price: ?9.92

More Microwaving Secrets (Microwave Cooking Library)
List Price: ?15.95
Amazon Price: ?15.95
Used Price: ?3.21

Microwave Cooking Times
List Price: ?5.99
Amazon Price: ?4.49
Used Price: ?0.25

Modern Microwave Cooking (Sanyo including special section on convenience foods)
Over 150 mouthwatering recipes from beefburgers to beef bourguignon and from apple cruble to passion fruit cheesecake
Used Price: ?2.50

Sony CRU46X1T brown bezel for 46X series BRAVIA LCD TV (TV not included)


Sony CRU46X1T brown bezel for 46X series BRAVIA LCD TV (TV not included)

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HP Pavilion DV2410US 14″ Laptop (AMD Turion 64 Processor TL56, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)
The HP Pavilion dv2410 is designed for your life. Your complicated and insanely busy life, where you need notebook that can handle whatever you can think of, and a few things you can’t. The HP dv2410 meets your needs with advanced mobile technology, like a dual-core AMD Turion 64 X2 1.8 GHz processor and 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM. Together they form the foundation of power & speed that can handle nearly any program you’ve got. A 14.1″ widescreen LCD gives you enough space to easily multitask, and watch DVDs like they are meant to be seen. Other features include a massive 160GB hard drive, a double layer DVD burner with LightScribe labeling, built-in Wi-Fi support, and a whole lot more… 2 RAM Slots (occupied) NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 (UMA) with up to 287MB of shared memory (memory is taken from the main system) 160GB (5400RPM) SATA HDD 8x LightScribe Super Multi Double Layer DVD Writer 14.1 WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen LCD Native Resolution - 1280 x 800 Integrated 10/100 Gigabit Ethernet Integrated 802.11b/g Wi-Fi 5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader - supports Secure Digital (SD), MultiMedia Cards (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture Cards High Speed 56k Modem Altec Lansing Audio 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34) Ports - 3 USB 2.0, 1 Firewire, 2 Headphone Out (1 w/SPDIF Digital Audio & 1 Stereo), 1 Microphone In, 1 VGA, 1 S-Video TV-Out, & 1 Ethernet Unit Dimensions - 13.15 (l) x 9.33 (w) x 1.54 (h) Unit Weight - 5.4 lbs.
Price: $1,100.00
Customer Review: Malfunctioning computer + Terrible customer support = Bad Purchase
I purchased two of this model of laptop about four months ago. Since then, they have malfunctioned in many different ways. The most significant problem is that the trackpad stopped working on one of them within about two months. That’s when I started with the nightmare of HP Customer Service! After a significant process, HP finally agreed to “repair” the notebook, which took nearly a month. When the computer was returned, the problem still existed. Now, when I talk to HP customer support, they tell me that I have to go through the exact same process again (install drivers, upgrade BIOS, reinstall Windows, etc), and then return the computer for repair again. When will they admit their mistake and simply replace the computer?
Customer Review: I’m not happy at all!
I’m not happy at all! Ok. Long story short. In less then a week, after purchasing this, one of the slots where the screen opens and closes broke off. Tried to fix it, then, the DVD drive wouldn’t work! I sent it back got my refund. I re-purchased the same computer laptop, Surprise surprise, dead pixels on the LCD screen. Returned it, was charged a restocking fee. Got another one. For no reason, one day the LCD just quit. Why did I attempt this three times? What was I thinking? Stay away from cheap, low prices pieces of garbage. It looked good. Under $700. 160 GB hard drive 1GB of ram, Dual layer DVD+/-RW drive upgradeable to 2. But, WARNING You get what you pay for, I guess.

Radiology Degree Online - Sponsored Link
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Sony VAIO VGN-N395E/B 15.4″ Laptop (Intel Core Duo Processor T5300, 1 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)
Enjoy videos and photos with brilliant colors and stunning clarity while conserving valuable power. Experience thrilling graphics and exceptional DVD viewing with 15.4-inch widescreen display with xBrite-ECO LCD technology. Its elegant design complements your home interior with cool colors, smooth lines and simplistic style. Easily capture video from your camcorder and create customized DVDs with Connectivity options include ExpressCard, iLink interface, Memory Stick(R) Media and 2 USB ports. In addition to its Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo processor (using Centrino technology), CD/DVD burner and elegant form factor, this easy-to-use notebook features a suite of multimedia software. Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 Processor 256MB VideoRAM Graphics Memory 1GB (512MBx2) DDR2 PC2-4200 533MHz Speed Memory (2GB Max) 160GB 5400rpm Serial ATA(TM) Hard Drive Optical Drive - 4x DVD+R DL Write, 8x DVD+R Write, 8x DVD+RW Write, 8x DVD-R Write, 6x DVD-RW Write, 24x CD-R Write, 16x CD-RW Write, 24x CD Read, 8x DVD Read, 5x DVD-RAM Write, 4x DVD-R DL Write&5x DVD-RAM Read Inputs and Outputs - Ethernet Port, Headphone Jack, 4-pin iLink IEEE1394 interface, Memory Stick(R) Media Slot, Modem Jack, Secure Digital Slot, Microphone Input, 2x USB 2.0 Ports, VGA Output, DC-In, Express Card Slot Fast Ethernet RJ-45 10Base-T/100Base-TX Integrated V.92/V.90 Modem RJ-11 Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Wireless LAN 802.11a/b/g Up to 4 hours VGP-BPS2A/S Lithium-ion Battery Life Operating System - Windows Vista Home Premium Dimensions - Width 14.4 x Depth 10.5 x Height 1.2 to 1.6-inch Weight - 6.5 pounds with standard battery
Price: $1,029.99
Customer Review: Be careful in upgrading memory
Machine comes with 2 512mb memory sticks installed. My guess is that with Vista many owners will want to upgrade. If you do DON’T THROW THE OLD MEMORY AWAY. If you ever have to use the Sony supplied recovery disks they will not restore your system if you have anything but the original 2 512MB of memory. Got that one straight from the Sony support desk in Manila just a few minutes ago.
Customer Review: Laptop
The perfect gift for a Son in College. Reports that it is working well with plenty of software.

Gardening for children: Molly’s patch (Part 2)
Now that Molly knows which vegetables and fruits she wants to grow, i’ts time to sow the seeds indoors. Sarah Raven reports Molly now knows what she wants to grow: broccoli, carrots, chillies, globe artichokes, tomatoes, lettuce, parsley, basil,

Toshiba Satellite U305-S7449 13.3″ Laptop (Intel Pentium Dual Core T2310 Processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, Vista Premium)
Weighing just 4.6 pounds, the ultra-portable Toshiba Satellite U305-S7449 notebook PC packs in an extraordinary amount of power and productivity into its elegant, compact package. The 13.3-inch widescreen display offers TruBrite technology for optimal image clarity and a 1280 x 800 resolution for extra desktop working space and a widescreen aspect ratio for watching letterboxed DVDs. It’s powered by Intel’s 1.86 GHz Pentium dual-core T2130, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved gaming and multitasking performance and a more efficient power consumption.

A 1.3 megapixel digital web camera built into the LCD’s bezel lets you quickly snap photos and participate in live video chats. Other features include a 160 GB hard drive, 2 GB of installed RAM (4 GB maximum), 802.11b/g wireless connectivity, Intel GMA X3100 with up to 251 MB of shared video RAM, and 5-in-1 memory card reader. Additionally, this Toshiba notebook is RoHS-compatible, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

It comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, which includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center. In addition to easily playing your DVD movies and managing your digital audio library, you’ll be able to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV). Vista also integrates new search tools throughout the operating system, includes new parental control features, and offers new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures.

The Basics

  • Processor: The Intel Pentium dual-core T2130 processor is built with the Mobile Intel 945PM Express chipset, and it has a 1.86 GHz processor speed, fast 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 1 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system’s performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

    This processor has two computational execution cores in a single processor, providing greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It’s optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the next version of Microsoft Windows, code-named Vista. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications–such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications–while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. It’s more efficient, thanks to Intel’s Power Coordination and Deeper Sleep, which help to transfer power only to those areas of the processor that need it. It also features Intel’s Digital Media Boost, which delivers enhanced performance on floating point-intensive applications such as CAD tools, 3-D and 2-D modeling, video editing, digital music, digital photography and gaming.

  • Hard Drive: The 160 GB hard drive (5400 RPM) offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 26,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software. This Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data–akin to FireWire and USB 2.0.
  • Memory: The 2 GB of installed RAM (2 x 1024 MB DDR2) will satisfy many users, but this notebook’s two DIMM slots have a maximum 4 GB RAM capacity–perfect for high-end video editing and 3-D gaming. It also offers a top-of-class 667 MHz speed. To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.
  • DVD/CD Drive: The dual-layer DVD drive is compatible with a wide range of formats, including both DVD+RW and DVD-RW discs, CD-RW discs, and dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can hold up to 8.5 GB of data–great for backing up your MP3 collection or your most important documents. It features the following speeds: 4x DVD+R DL, 4x DVD-R DL, 8x for both single-layer DVD+R/-R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 5x DVD-RAM, and 24x/16x for CD-R/RW. It reads DVD-ROM discs at 8x and CD-ROMs at 24x.
  • Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad. It also offers a launch button for the Express CD/DVD media player and control buttons (play, stop, next, previous) as well as a volume control dial.

Screen, Video & Audio
This Toshiba Satellite has a 13.3-inch TFT display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels (native 720p for high-definition viewing). It also provides TruBrite technology, which makes images brighter and more vivid thanks to its anti-glare feature. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which uses shared video memory (up to 251 MB allocated from the system memory) and provides Windows Vista Aero interface support and enhanced 3-D graphics performance–delivering over 2x scores on 3-DMark 06. Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. It also enables enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays. It also features an integrated audio card with headphone and microphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion
This notebook has an integrated Atheros 54g wireless LAN that’s fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 54/34 card slot (though no PCMCIA card slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. Here’s the full list of connection options:

  • 3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals–from digital cameras to MP3 players
  • 1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) port for connecting digital video camcorders and other peripherals
  • 1 ExpressCard 54/34 slot
  • Video out: VGA and S-Video
  • Stereo headphones/speakers/line-out; microphone/line-in
  • 5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)

It also has an integrated 56K modem (V.90) and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Premium is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family’s use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software
Microsoft Works 8.5, InterVideo WinDVD 8, Google Desktop and Picasa, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5, McAfee Internet Security Suite (30-day trial), and Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60-day trial).

Dimensions & Weight
This notebook measures 12.2 x 8.9 x 1.33 inches and weighs 4.6 pounds.

Power
It comes with a 5200 mAH lithium-ion battery pack for extra-long battery life.

What’s in the Box
This package contains the U305-S7449 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, and operating instructions. It is backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty.
List Price: $999.99
Amazon Price: $899.99

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