Sony DCR-SR80 60GB 1MP Hard Disk Drive Handycam with 12x Optical Zoom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just bought this camera from Circuit City about two weeks ago. The first camera I had to return the next day because the image on the LCD was stuck upside down. The camera powers up pretty fast and you can begin recording in just a couple seconds. I love the fact that you can browse through the video and play anything on the fly. I would have thought at this price point it would take better still shots (only 1mp)but that wasnt really the reason I bought it anyway. Low light is ok.. it's no better or worse then my JVC Mini DV. I like the Sony 'night shot' feature. It allows you to take video in total darkness with a built in infrared mode. Do yourself a favor though and purchase an extended battery. The one that comes with it is pretty worthless at only a 1 hour rated life. I purchased the extended 9 hour battery and can realistically get about 4-5 hours without having to charge. The touchscreen is a little different but you get used to it quick. Kinda wish it had a viewfinder but that's on the next model up.
Mainly I purchased this because I was sick of dealing with tapes... I have a whole box of VHS and Mini DV tapes that I now have to take the time and convert to usable formats on my PC. The beauty of this camera is that all that goes away and the video is going to be in it's purest form for this level of camera. It doesnt take hollywood level video but at least you are removing one step out of the equation when having to re-render it. The software that comes with it is pretty worthless. about the only thing I liked was it has the ability to archive any changes from the camera whether video or photo and auto back it up with one click.
Don't buy the SR-40 or SR-60 you will be disapointed with the features vs. price. If you are looking to upgrade from tape go with this one the SR-80 becasue it is the best value over the two lower models. If you can afford it (i couldnt) Get the SR-100 becasue it has the better camera (3mp) and a viewfinder.
Compare the reviews of Sony vs JVC before you buy a HD Camera!!

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With a generous 60GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), the DCR-SR80 Handycam camcorder can capture up to 40 hours of video in standard 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen formats. And it couldn't be easier to share everything with One Touch DVD Burn capabilities. You can burn directly from the camcorder or the Handycam Station cradle. Additionally, you can connect to a DVDirect burner to create DVDs without having to connect to a PC. With a 12x Optical/800x Digital Zoom combined with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens videos remain brilliant and still images are simply amazing. Sony's 1/5.5" Advanced HAD (Hole Accumulation Diode) CCD with 690K (effective) video Pixels provides stunning detail and clarity, for exceptional video (up to 520 lines of Horizontal Resolution) and still image performance. REalize great looking Digital still images with 1,000k effective Pixels. The 12x Optical Zoom helps to bring the action close up from far away. In addition, the 800x Digital Zoom interpolation means that extreme Digital zooming is clearer, with less distortion than previous types of Digital zooms.

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Sony HDR-CX100 AVCHD HD Camcorder with Smile Shutter & 10x Optical Zoom (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Excellent EXMOR Sensor and image processing engine, the BEST as for today! Small size. Full HD. Fast start. Even with "Limited" features has a lots of them. Camera instantly detected in PC-XP Pro and Mac-OS/X. I do not care about 4MP still shots, so won't even bother to talk about it.
Native MTS camcorder format is not supported by many players. It needs to be converted to H.264 usable by BlueRay players ...
I was reading reviews before buying this camcorder, and was just amazed how much ridiculous stuff people were saying. Some have no clue what to do with this (or Canon...) HiDef camcorders! Speaking about this CX100 - there is nothing to be scared about. Nor about Canon's or others Sony, Canon Panasonic's ... all using slightly different flavors/methods of recording AVCHD. Sony happen to mark their movies with MTS extension. I have ~6 years old Pentium 4 2.8HT/2 GB RAM/XFX with NVidia7600GT card/DirectX 9.x. (Window Media Player +Xvid plugin) playback is not perfect, a little choppy but acceptable. Please note, that if you computer preview is smudgy and choppy, this is NOT a CAMERA fault! Same video is played perfectly fine on Blue Ray player when converted to H.264. I also have new unibody 2008 Mac Book pro OS X - laptop detects camera right away and launching iMovie08, offering video transfer. If you have older, non Intel Processor Mac - forget about this camera - and ALL OTHER's AVCHD/H.264 camcorders - most likely they will not be working for you. So, please, do not write negative reviews, do not confuse people, OK?
I do not use Component and AV cables (they still in the box). If you do, you are downgrading HiDef video to patetic Analog quality. I refuse call it a "Standard Definition". HDTV is new STANDARD! And that other thing is, Analog. :) So, I use just a HDTV cable to direct view on HDTV, and USB cable to move files to Harddrive.
This camcorder when connected via USB cable is detected as external drive, not a camera. No big deal to me, even more convenient. I prefer to be able to save original files by Copying them to folder I created on my harddrive. When camera is connected to computer, make sure - do not delete movies from camcorder this way. Movies "List/Previews" still will be displayed in camera LCD preview. Completely delete files in build in memory only using in-camera controls. And format removable MemStick only in camcorder, not in computer. I believe, this is typical to all camcorders.
If you already have HDTV - LCD or Plasma, you can view footage directly from camera connecting via HDTV cable. It is looking really good on my Samsung LCD, as good as any non-studio recorded HD content. But this is only a temporary solution. You'll need to empty memory to take more video's, right? I wanted to get the best video from this camcorder and it is all about conversion of MTS to H.264. There are different solutions for Mac and Windows users. Keep reading.
.......................................
PC users:
- You can use supplied by Sony PMB Software to burn your original HiDef files to REGULAR, not a Blue Ray DVD-R!!!! This is awesome for someone who already has Blue Ray player anf HDTV! I repeat, they can be burned on regular DVD burner, to normal DVD-R, and then played in the Blue Ray player in full glory, with no quality loss, which can occur in conversions to other formats. I made disk like that, and tried it out - and I can assure you - it is real HD video! No motion blur, no hiccups, all is PERFECT! Looks like BlueRay players have much better hardware to handle HD content. You can AVCHD DVD directly from camera, or from movies you copied to the comp harddrive. For each movie event I create separate folder, and later PMB need to 'analyze' each folder befor disk burn.(By the way, when PMB burning disk, you will see that MTS format is converted to H.264). It is in a Manual too.
- One more way: You can install XVID (free) plugin and you can perfectly play original uncorverted MTS files via Windows Media Player!!!!
- Another way: you can get DIVX 7 Pro for mere $[...] ([...]) and convert to MKV, or DIVX PLUS HD format, which can be easily played on PC and Mac computers. DIVX player is free, is that Pro version, which has converter is not free...
- If you have slightly outdated Core 2 Duo comp - make sure you get more memory (4GB+, and better video card with HD support, like Nvidia 9000 series DDR3 /Direct X 10/Open GL2.x)
- Allegedly Windows 7 should have better HiDef support and most of the codexes... will see.
.....................................
Mac Users:
- Sony providing PMB software for PC user only. Get over it. But actually, Mac user have even better solution, not free though...
- You can get Mac version of DIVX player also for $[...] and convert MTS to something more user friendly.
- Or, (My choice) you can shell out $[...]+tax for Elgato Turbo.264 HD USB/hardware based encoder/accelerator ([...]), and convert MTS to h.264, then store them on external haddrive
- Quick Time Pro 7 can be used for playing H.264 movies! Again, they can be burned on regular DVD-R for BlueRay players. You also, can connect your Mac via MiniDisplay Port /HDMI adaptopr ([...]) to any HDTV or projector for bigger trill.
- PS: MacConnection catalog now is listing this CX100, so you see - it is OK, it is safe to get Sony HDR CX100! :)
....................................
Finally, if you don't have any stinkin' computer, or all what you got is one of those anemic 'netbooks' and you still want Canon, or Sony H.264 camcorder - No problem. At Costco, for $[...] you can get standalone Sony DVDirect MC5 DVD recorder (not a Blue Ray disk recorder, regular DVD's) and connect it by USB cable. You can make AVCHD disks readable by Blue Ray players. Never tried myself, just repeating what Manual says :). Canon also has similar device, but it looks like it is making only analog, not HD DVD's. So, all you will need is: Camcorder/MC5 recorder/Stack of DVD-Rs (which cost on average ~$[...] each)/new BlueRay Player/720p, or 1080p LCD or Plasma HDTV. That's it!
MY OBSERVATIONS and recommendations after first week of playing around.
1. ALWAYS record in highest possible resolution [HD FH].
2. Set color to X.V. COLOR!!! (if you have Sony Blue Ray player/and HDTV supporting that (Sony, Panasonic...) you can have advantage of enhanced colors). But it may be better turn it OFF in really sunny day. Colors might be way saturated (red/blue/yellow) almost fluorescent. And even with x.v.color off - believe me, camera will produce very nice video! And use of x.v. color could be very beneficial for cloudy days, or for dimmer lighting.
3. Make sure that you have image stabilization (STEADYSHOT) tuned ON!
4. ...all other settings I have on Auto. You choose yours.
5. There is bunch of useful presets like Beach, Landscape, Soft Portrait ... I have to check it out yet.
6. Camera is very light, so you'd better hold it steady, or attach it to something. I have small tabletop tripod (~$[...]) and I have it attached to the bottom - it works for me like an extra handle.
7. Even when camera is on a tripod - pan (sweep left/right) as slowly and smoothly as you can. Many people have to learn this, because some report excessive blur - it not worse than much more expensive camcorders. It is YOU - you need to learn how to "drive" your new toy. Eventually, it will come to you, no worries.
8. Get a Polarizer, or UV filter - to see through the glare of glass or water. This is VERY nice thing to have on a bright sunny day!
9. Tripods? I have Slik Compact XL, light and good for travel. Works for me. But much better is Manfrotto 190XDB I saw for $[...] at bestbuy... Very solid built, and smooth panning.
RECIPIE to get best video (This is true for ALL camcorders, and digital cameras):
- Try to get as close as possible to object you are filming. I think, best range is 2 - 20 ft. Next best is 20-50 feet
- Do not shoot in the dusk/dark. Film in well lit conditions. Try to have sun, or source of light behind you, not in front of you (unless you are shooting Hawaiian sunset... :) In low light - this camera is about the same as any other one's, if not better. Do not listen to purists about low light "performance".
- Turn OFF that "Digital Zoom"! 10x of OPTICAL zoom is more than enough for most conditions. Beyond that you will get big quality degradation. Try to apply less zoom as possible. Besides, "digital" zoom is using camera sensor, reducing resolution to get higher zoom. NOT good!
- Less zoom will make a big difference (unless camera on a tripod) for Image Stabilization, it will work better. Try, and you will see how is difficult to hold camera still on far zoom range...
- U can use Wide Angle adapter, I got ~$[...] Sony VCL-0630X through Pricegrabber and it is just... OK. At max zoom, corners will be blurred a bit. You can find better one for $[...] (Sony VCL-HGA07).
CONCLUSION: There are better camcorders over there. I really like new Canon HF S100... But it is around ~900! And this cutie, for under 460 --- it can be beat! And even in a "pocket" size - it is real Hi Definition camcorder, just use it to full capacity! Later on, when I become a PRO cameraman, and have tons of money (3500-4000) - I will definitely go for a Scarlet from RED ([...]). But now -- I'm happy with CX100. When I get decent video's I will post it on [...].
... Phew, I'm tired of typing. Just go and get it.
UPDATE: I just saw Pricegrabber's new super deal - 455 at [...]! That's $[...] less than I paid)
You'all have a good time!

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The Sony HDR-CX100 is a high definition Memory Stick Duo media Handycam camcorder that offers 1920x1080 Full HD video recording and 4.0 megapixel still image capture in an ultra-compact, affordable package. While the HDR-CX100 packs a healthy feature set, including a 1/5" Exmor CMOS sensor, BIONZ image processor, Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology, and 8GB of embedded flash memory, its most differentiating characteristic is its ultra-compact design. The small size and light weight of the HDR-CX100 allow for easy portability, and the choice of silver, black, and red color variations give consumers the opportunity to pick the color that best suits their tastes. The HDR-CX100 appeals to consumers who are interested in HD quality video and who desire a compact, portable design.

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Sony Handycam DCRDVD850 DVD Hybrid Camcorder with 60X Optical Zoom (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This Handycam has everything needed to be the most versatile of all of Sony's models with up-to-the-minute technology.
I originally hesitated because this only has an internal flash memory of 16 GB. However, I have a few of the sony memory sticks (4GB) Sony MSMT4G 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo (Mark2) Media and having them as an option allows me to record as much time on this unit as I could usually want. It is true that with the internal flash memory your recording time is restricted to about 11 hours. However, each 4GB of memory stick prolongs that limit by about 3.5 hours and supplements the internal flash memory.

I find the flash medium (and the memory sticks) to be preferrable to an internal hard drive (which can store 60 GB, but, are subject to mechanical failure). Although the hard drives will store 60GB, I rarely have that much to accumulate in digital footage before I dump it to my notebook, or, an external USB hard drive. 11 hours of storage is about perfect for a day of interviews and miscellaneous recording.
This unit is a very nice, attractive, two-tone gunmetal and silver finish. It is slightly larger than the (very compact) DCR 47-87 series.Sony DCR-SR47 Hard Disk Drive Handycam® Camcorder (Silver) However, it will still almost fit in the palm of your hand.
The images are sharp quality, indoors or out. It is true (for a change) that the unit allows for one-button record to DVD. You can just slip a mini DVD (3") in the unit by lifting the cover and placing the DVD in the unit. This will burn about an hour to the 3" DVD so you can share it immediately. You need to use Sony's proprietary 3" disc Sony 3" Rewritable DVD+RW for Camcorders - 3pk but they are reasonably priced and reasonably available. The advantage of the searchable .mpg2 CODEC on disc should be obvious (as opposed to DV tapes).
If you need larger DVD burns, with the USB connection, it is possible to burn DVD's on the spot (I use this for interviews) for copies and distribution from your notebook computer. In addition, the internal file configuration can be converted to .wma or .mpg using Sony's proprietary software (included). (You will need to download the software updates to be able to edit the files using, for instance, Vista movie maker or other OS based video editing programs). The CODEC format is .mpg2 (not very efficient, but, allows for high resolution and editability (with updates to Sony's sofware).
This unit is sturdy and made as well as any of the Sony handycams. The chassis is, in fact, a proven design that has been around the SONY marketplace for over five years.
Another very useful feature is the 5.1 surround sound microphone. When you want to accurately record both audio and visual, directional stereo mic's will often pickup background noise and hiss, but, little else other than sound (such as voices talking at the camera) aimed at the mic. With the surround sound, you pick up everyting omnidirectionally. This is not only useful for picking up the voice of the person making the recording (as well as the subject) but has many other uses as well. When video'ing nature, the omnidirectional mike tends to attenuate the background hiss from all directions, yet, still pickup the sounds of birds and other nature sounds.
The digital quality is excellent (680,000 pixels translates to almost (about 75%) HD), and, with proper care in setting up your shots (being careful to avoid reflected or (too much) polarized light) you can make professional recordings.
After reviewing all of the available options out there, I think this is the unit with the most reliable and versatile features that is on the market.
Here are the specs from Sony's website:
Specifications
Recording Format DVD Video Codec MPEG-2
Media Storage Type 8cm DVD (DVD+R DL / DVD+RW / DVD-RW / DVD-R) HYBRID / HYBRID Plus HYBRID Plus
(16GB Built-in Flash Memory and Movie recording on Memory Stick) Image Sensor Type 1/8" CCD
Audio Format Dolby Digital 5.1 Creator (5.1ch.)
Zoom Mic Yes
Carl Zeiss Lens / Filter Diameter Vario-Tessar / 30mm Optical / Digital Zoom 60x / 2000x Maximum Still Image Resolution (Photo Mode) 720 x 576 Image Stabiliser SteadyShot LCD Screen Size &
Type 2.7" Wide LCD (123K / 16:9) with
Touch Panel Face Index Yes
Film Roll Index Yes
Memory Stick Duo Slot Yes
USB Terminal Yes (USB 2.0 High Speed)
Dimensions (W x H x D) 55 x 89 x 130mm Mass (w/o Tape, Battery, etc.) Approx. 390g
Supplied Accessories
AC Adaptor AC-L200 Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-FH30 AV Cable Yes Application Software Picture Motion Browser USB Cable Yes

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The Sony DCR-DVD850 is a standard definition, DVD-format Handycam camcorder that offers a step up from the DCR-DVD650. In addition to simple touch panel operation, DVD convenience, and a 60X optical zoom lens, the DCR-DVD850 adds 16GB of embedded flash memory, allowing for extended recording times and Hybrid Plus capabilities, which let the camcorder record video directly to either DVD media, embedded memory, or removable Memory Stick PRO Duo media (media sold separately). The DCR-DVD850 replaces the DCR-DVD810 for 2009. Target consumers are those interested in the convenience and compatibility of the DVD format, as well as those who desire longer recording times out of their DVD format camcorders.

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Xerox Phaser 6125/N Color Laser Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am awarding this printer 5 stars for its ease of installation, quality of output, quality of workmanship, unit price and the average cost of a printed page.
The Xerox Phaser 6125N appears to be a solid, quality unit. Given that you will print about 500 pages before you need to buy your next toner, you get a lot of value for the price. Thereafter, based on the prices currently listed at Amazon, paying $70 for 2000 black and white pages is not bad at all. In fact, on a per-page basis, you are paying significantly less vs. what you would spend on a generic ink-jet printer.
I installed the printer at home, in the basement, plugged into a wireless Linksys router via an Ethernet wire. My printer is now taking jobs from 5 different computers, connected through the same router over Wi-Fi and running Windows XP and Vista.
The unit comes in a nice, neat box where very little space is wasted. The unit is very much assembled and ready to go. There is a `Quick Installation', poster-sized guide (also a 'flash' animation on the CD) that explains in detail how to remove the various sticky tapes that held the printer together during transportation and lock in the toner cartridges. Once that's done, you plug in the power, connect the printer via either USB or Ethernet (USB and Ethernet cables NOT included), turn it on, set up your favorite language if it's not English and you are ready to go. On the computer side, you need to install the Xerox printer driver.
The driver installation(*) was relatively quick and nearly flawless. For it to proceed, the setup program must first find the printer. Since the printer was not physically connected to the laptop, it immediately started to look for IP-based printers. You must make sure that the printer is turned on and it has an IP address(**) while this is happening. The status page, which you can print from the front panel, will tell you if that is the case. My DHCP-enabled Linksys router assigned an address to the printer so no complicated setup was required. On the Vista side, I had to give Vista permission for a couple of tasks to complete. The setup gives you the opportunity to register your printer online. I agreed and it was quick and easy even though I was surprised that the setup knew my printer's serial number but not the model which I have to pick it myself from a long drop-down list.
From the moment I opened the box to the time I printed my first page off a document, it took less than one hour. I can see how some users may require help with the network installation part. I cannot say how Xerox supports end-users with more complex network setups because I did not have to call the tech support.The Phaser 6125N is a large, solid box (see Amazon's picture) and it is so because it holds large (fully loaded) toner cartridges and the fuser unit. Printing is quick and quiet and I experienced no paper jams yet. The colors are bright and both the text and the graphics are crisp - I printed some very complicated flowcharts and a colorful logo to test and I was satisfied with the result. Out of the box, over 200 PCL and PostScript fonts are supported. Other features include 128Mb of memory, support for various paper sizes and paper types including glossies and envelopes, it can be set to go into PowerSaver mode after a period of inactivity (and I reduced it from the 30 minute default to 5 minutes), can be set to produce an audible tone on various conditions, will produce Configuration pages with values for various settings and parameters including the environment's temperature and humidity.
This printer should be ideal for the small office and it could be great for the home if the relatively large size does not bother you. In my case, it doesn't because it's going to stay in the basement. Memory expansion or wireless connections were not issues for me but those who have such concerns should do some research before buying.
________________________________________________________________________
(*) Be aware that a nearly identical model, the Xerox Phaser 6130/N Color Laser Printer offers a few enhancements and extra capabilitis such as:
- Double standard memory (128 MB vs. 64MB) and the ability to upgrade it up to 1152MB
- Larger toner cartridges
- Mac OS support
- Built-in PCL emulation and PostScript 3
(**) Note that you will have to install the driver on ALL the computers that are going to use the printer. Every time you install the driver, you will be prompted to register again. After you complete your first registration, ignore any subsequent invitations.
(***) I can think of 3 basic way you can connect the printer without having to buy any extra hardware, other than a cable, if you don't have one already:
1 - Personal printer - use a USB cable to connect it directly to your desktop computer (or your laptop's docking station)
2 - Shared printer - after connecting the printer as above and you install the printer driver, share it (the specific steps depend on your operating system but it's usually easy). This way, anyone on the same network can use it for as long as the computer that's sharing it is up.
3 - Network printer - you plug it into a network port or directly into a router using an Ethernet cable. Unless you place some restrictions, everyone on the network should be able to use the printer for as long as it is on and the network is up.
(****) The 6125 Toner capacity are: 2000 pages for 'black' and 1000 pages for the Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. If found a 'third party' that offers the set of 4 cartridges for about 55: Xerox Phaser 6125 Set of 4 Compatible Laser Toner Cartridges: 1 each of Black 106R01334 , Cyan 106R01331, Magenta 106R01332, Yellow 106R01333 by LD Products.

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Xerox makes color the easy choice with the refreshingly office-friendly, value-packed Phaser 6125 color laser printer. This's compact printing solution powerful enough to handle all of your office printing demands with ease.

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HP Laserjet M1319F Mfp Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had an HP Fax 1010 for my home office, and it was a trouper - always worked great. But then HP had a recall due to potential fire hazard, and offered a rebate on several of their faxes and multifunction fax/printer/scanners.
So I went for the M1391F MFP. I don't really care about printing - I've got a color duplex laser printer for that. I wanted something that would fax, copy, and scan with an auto-feed.
Here's what it's good at:
1. Scanning letter-size pages (although their Mac software could use some work).
2. Copying letter-size pages.
3. Faxing letter-size pages to U.S. recipients.
And the document feed works great.
Here's what it won't do:
1. Scan legal-sized pages
2. Ring or make any kind of noise when it gets an incoming call, from a fax machine, cell phone, or land line. Even with all the volume settings turned to high.
3. Receive an incoming fax or phone call. At all. From anywhere.
The capper tonight was that I had to fax a time-sensitive document to New Zealand, and this piece of work thinks the NZ dial tone is a busy signal and won't connect.
I tried to access HP's live chat help desk, but nobody picked up in over a half-hour. So now I'm having an extended, hours-between-installments email correspondence with Nigel from Bangalore, and he's asking me to verify the model number and what version of Windows is on the attached computer and am I using USB. Well, there is no computer attached, Nigel, I'm using this as a detached fax machine. But as someone who's written printer drivers for your own company's printers, and fax software for your competitors, I can assure you that if the attached computer is preventing this unit from receiving faxes or recognizing international dial tones, you need to look for another job.
I dug out the old 1010 and it sent the fax just fine.
This unit has a wonderful feature set. If only it worked. It's useless to me, and I'm going to have to start looking for a fax machine that works.
When I was in grad school over 20 years ago, HP sold the best lab equipment money could buy. You knew if you got an HP gas chromatograph, or infrared spectrometer, or oscilloscope, you had the highest quality available on the planet.
Now... I've bought probably a dozen HP laser printers since 1990, and never even looked at another brand, with one costing over $10,000. But after this hunk of junk, I will certainly look at alternatives in the future.

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Satisfy your office needs by combining fax, copy and scan capabilities with high-quality laser printing. Just about everything you need is in the HP most affordable multifunction laser printer. Its a high-end fax machine that can do so much more. Save money with a multifunction laser printer with a low purchase price. Typical office print job time to completion can be more than two-times faster with Instant-on Technology. Connect to the network quickly with the reliable Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. Use the host PCs processing power to complete complex jobs and avoid costly memory upgrades.Read and navigate menus easily thanks to the two-line, back-lit control panel.

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Iomega 33991 eSATA/FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0 500GB UltraMax Hard Drive Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this drive to run Time Machine on a PowerMac G5. The cost of the drive seemed ridiculously low, given the variety of connections that it supports (I'm using Firewire 800) and its large storage capacity. Installation was a breeze: just attach and follow a couple of onscreen instructions. The drive sits about 2 feet from the computer, and is so quiet that I never notice it's there. This is my second Iomega storage device. The first was a StorCenter we use as a NAS server. I couldn't be more satisfied with the Iomega brand.

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Manufacturer Product DescriptionThe Iomega UltraMax Hard Drive, eSATA/FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0, 500GB is a high performance (eSATA 3GBits/sec) storage solution with multiple connection capabilities and a sleek design that perfectly complements the latest Mac computers. It includes one eSATA port, two FireWire 800 ports, one FireWire 400 port, and one USB 2.0 port (eSATA PCI card sold separately).


The Iomega UltraMax Hard Drive Iomega offers a suite of hard drives tailor-made for the Mac user with pre-formatted drives to ensure compatibility, as well as stylish designs. These drives are ideal for space-hungry applications such as archiving images and music, storing large desktop publishing files, and editing digital audio and video. They offer maximum speed and Performance with your choice of multiple interface combinations including eSATA, FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces. They integrate seamlessly with Mac computers and the Mac OS 10.5 Time Machine feature plus serve as network shared storage when used with the Apple AirPort Extreme.



Perfect Match for all Needs Whether you are a digital enthusiast who needs fast transfer speeds and high capacity storage for digital editing and storage or a Mac user who values the HFS+ and FireWire formats, the Iomega UltraMax Hard Drive is a perfect fit for you.




Product Features
Versatile – Multiple connection capabilities with transfer rates of up to 3GBits/sec with eSATA
High capacity – Massive storage available for photos, music files and videos
Mac friendly - Preformatted in HFS+ therefore works seamlessly on Apple computers
Now compatible Mac OS X 10.5 including Time Machine!

What\'s in the Box Desktop hard drive, eSATA cable, FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 400 cable, USB 2.0 cable, power cord, power supply, quick start guide

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G-Technology 913005-01 750GB Quad-Interface Storage Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had two of these hard drives for over 3 months now I am completely in love with them.
The connectivity, the style, the capacity, the speed, and how it goes perfectly with the rest of my Apple gear... it's just an amazing piece of hardware.
I use one primarily for editing, and the other one as a back up with Time Machine. Haven't had any problems so far and if I ever need another HDD I know I'll get another G-Tech, this one, or if they come out with a better one then that one.
Love it!
EDIT - 08/26/2009: Still have it and still going strong. All hard drives crash eventually, but I can guarantee that whenever these two puppies fail I will be getting another G-Tech drive. Truly a remarkable product and the only hard drives I currently recommend.

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G-Drive Q storage solutions offer the ultimate in flexibility by providing users with FireWire 400 FireWire 800 USB2.0 and eSATA ports all in a single unit.This is a perfect high-performance solution for storage intensive applications including audio/video editing digital photography MP3 libraries and high-speed data backup.Features a "Fan-less" cooling system and the latest technology 7200 RPM hard drives.USB2.0 supports up to 33mb/sec FW400 up to 38MB/SEC FW800 up to 61 MB/Sec and eSATA up to 85 MB/sec.

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LaCie d2 160GB TRIPLE interface external hard drive FW/FW800/USB2 ( 300716 ) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this triple interface external hard drive mostly so I can have enough space for my iTunes music library in Apple Lossless format. I saw the older models at the Apple Store and I loved how they looked and the build quality was noticeably better than the external drives from other brands. The blue LED is also a very nice touch.
The triple interface makes it easy to use this drive with any Macs, if you have a Mac with FW800, transfer rate should be blazing fast. I also use it with my work laptop running XP and Gentoo GNU/Linux, no problem using it from all the different OSes.
The drive runs pretty quiet, not sure why others had complained about the noise level. The fan on my PC laptop is much noisier than the LaCie drive.
I highly recommend the LaCie d2 triple interface hard drives to anyone looking for a ton of additional storage for data. It probably wouldn't be wise to install programs on the drive as the transfer rate is still not quite as fast as native IDE, SCSI, SATA, and what not. But it's fast enough for high-quality streaming video, and definitely more than sufficient for music files like AAC, Ogg, and MP3. It is also excellent to use for backing up important data, but note that it only contains a single drive inside and it does not have any sort of redundency.

Click Here to see more reviews about: LaCie d2 160GB TRIPLE interface external hard drive FW/FW800/USB2 ( 300716 )

Equipped with the fastest-ever FireWire standard, this drive is capable of reaching transfer speeds of up to 800Mbits/s for FireWire 800 users, up to 400MBits/s for FireWire 400 users, and up to 480Mbits/s for USB 2.0 users. This drive's triple interface, 7200 rpm speed and 8MB buffer make it the fastest-possible storage solution for digital content creators.Made of a metal alloy that dissipates heat and prolongs drive performance, the LaCie d2 Hard Drive features a slender, stylish case that offers versatile desktop and rackmount configuration options. A space-saving drive stand allows for upright desktop use, while an optional rack-mounting kit enables configuration in standard 19-inch racks. This drive also features a fan-free design for quiet operation.With plug and play convenience, LaCie d2 Hard Drives are hot-pluggable for easy file transfer and data sharing. With the appropriate cable, LaCie's new hard drives can be connected to any computer equipped with FireWire 800 (9-pin), FireWire 400 (6-pin), USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 ports, making it the most universal drive ever.Chained and striped in a FireWire 800 RAID 0 configuration, LaCie d2 Hard Drives can reach unprecedented sustained transfer rates of up to 100MB/s, making them ideal for working with professional video in high-end workstation and small-server environments.

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LaCie d2 3 TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive 301526 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I went the full 3.0 USB route for my Mac Pro. LaCie IPC card, cable, and d2 1TB hard drive because only LaCie offers a Mac USB 3 driver. Great drive well made but write speed no faster than my eSATA drive. Bottom line looking for fast external drive cheaper to go eSata drive by LaCie.

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Get ready for SuperSpeed performance. The LaCie d2 USB 3.0 features 7200 rpm drives, and reaches up to 130MB/s, making it ideal for creative professionals looking for high transfer speeds. The d2 USB 3.0 is designed to integrate into any professional work environment. It comes standard with advanced backup software, which helps to make it extremely reliable. With the performance of USB 3.0, you can transfer large files and perform backups faster than ever before. Its unique fanless aluminum heat sink design prevents overheating by providing efficient and still unmatched ultra-quiet and safe heat dissipation. The LaCie d2 USB 3.0 is versatile and can stand upright, be stacked horizontally with other drives, or rackmounted to save desktop space. In addition, it helps you reduce power consumption by switching to its eco mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. For better energy efficiency, it will also automatically shut down when unplugged from the computer. On top of that, it's recyclable. With the LaCie d2 USB 3.0, you've got the perfect partner for storage, backup, or data creation--regardless of file size.

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Philips 9397 Digital Dictation Starter Kit (LFH9397/00B) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great product. Everything you need to begin digital dictation/transription is included and it was so easy to use. I had it installed and testing it within 20 minutes. I use the recorder in a large room with up to 50 people in attendance and it picks up great. I would highly recommend this product to anyone who needs to dictate and transcribe meetings.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips 9397 Digital Dictation Starter Kit (LFH9397/00B)

Utilizes the latest digital quality from dictation to transcription using the convenient Digital Pocket Memo 9370. Transfer dictations for transcription by e-mail or PC network via USB download. Then easily transcribe your documents with SpeechExec Transcribe software. An ergonomically-designed USB foot control for hands free operation and stereo headphones for perfect sound quality empower the transcriptionist. The 9370 features an asymmetrical and ergonomic design delivering unparalleled user friendly operation. Push button switch allows for quick control and single hand operation. Large graphical backlit display lets you view all vital information at a glance. DSS file format allows a higher compression rate, reduced file size, and additional information such as author name to be stored in recording header facilitating file organization. The ten dictation folders allow easy organization and archiving of files which can be transferred to your PC via a USB 2.0 cable. Includes SpeechExec Dictate, easy-to-use dictation software with settings that can be configured to the author\'s needs. An intuitive user interface, allows work to be tracked, in progress and urgent jobs can be prioritized. Efficient handling of sound files makes job retrieval simple and fast and the job status information allows work to be tracked in progress. Includes SpeechExec Transcribe, a simple workflow based transcription solution. Relevant data such as length, author name, key words and priority status are accessible throughout the transcription process. Features such as graphical position indicator, audio volume meter and audible scan function facilitate the transcription. Speed control, DSS/WAV/WMA/MP3 playback and automatic backspace provide first-class reproduction of your dictations. Package contains 9370, working pouch, 2 AAA batteries, Mini-USB cable, SD memory card, USB foot control, Earphones, USB license key, SpeechExec Dictate and Transcribe software.

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1000GB G Raid 2 1TB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This one terabyte drive is big enough to tackle the needs of most any personal computer user out there. The ratings all over the Web suggest better than average life span and few failures out of the box.
If you're into the metallic aluminum look of a lot of electronics today, this will fit right in with your decor. The bright white light on the front of the drive (dare I say beacon?) stays lit 100% of the time, and if the drive is reading/writing data, the light flashes like an white LED strobe light. Some will love it and some will put black tape over the supernova white lamp.
It has a cooling fan at the rear end and holes on front, back and sides for full airflow. The biggest negative is the noise factor. The thing whirrs constantly at high speed. If you have an older PC with a traditional cooling fan, you'll never notice the G-Raid drive over the PC noise. But if you have a newer model, super quiet PC, or an iMac (which is absolutely silent), you'll be looking for a distant spot to locate the whirring G-Raid. Luckily the drive comes with a long (about 4') cable that can run either 400 or 800 FireWire. USB 2.0 is also supported. -1 star for the noise factor.

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Introducing G-RAID2 - the next generation in the award winning line of storage solutions from G-Tech! G-RAID2 is specifically designed to support professional content creation applications including audio/video editing 2D/3D animation and digital imaging. G-RAID2 features a new triple interface - FireWire 400 FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 ports - for universal connectivity and the latest 7200 RPM SATA II drives mated to an Oxford 924-based hardware RAID 0 controller. G-RAID2 supports the playback of multiple layers of video in real-time and offers unmatched performance and reliability.

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QNAP TS-210 2-Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have tried a few of these boxes, and settled for QNAP. To make long story short, this box has very low operating and standby power (not counting drive power), it is quiet with smart fan (3 speeds auto/manual adjusted based on drive or system temp), transfer speed for >4GB files from my Dell XPS thru gigabit switching hub is around 10MByte/s write, 25MB/s read. USB drive plugs directly into the box, write/read is about 12MB/s (not fully tested)
I use this to stream 1080p and other media to my Brite-View BV-5005HD streamer box Brite-View BV-5005HD "CinemaTube" 3-in-1 1080p Full HD Multimedia Player/Streamer/Torrent Downloader, Black, cpu loading is only around 10-13% during super smooth playback. Box is not heating up much, keeping at 40 some Deg C. Even if the box is 100% running file transfer, media streaming seems to take precedence over file operations.
Its BT/ftp download manager is a snap to use and performance is comparable to PC utorrent.
The most obvious difference is the speed of its web user interface, it is super fast when compared with other brands, it is also independent of it cpu loads.
SSH is easily accessed using clients such as putty. Neat little Linux box.
The only down side are being its bright LEDs in front, must be covered if you are watching movies with lights out.
Enjoy, this box will not quit on you!

Click Here to see more reviews about: QNAP TS-210 2-Bay Desktop Network Attached Storage

The QNAP TS-210 Turbo NAS is the most economic two-drive storage solution for Prosumers and SOHO users who want a NAS with compelling features, solid performance, low power consumption and high reliability. Incorporating a Marvell 800 MHz CPU and 256MB DDRII RAM, the power consumption of the TS-210 Turbo NAS in operation is only 14W which is much less than that of a PC. The TS-210 offers features more often found in much higher end NAS servers, including built-in iSCSI target service, policy-based unauthorized IP blocking, SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), remote replication, a Gigabit LAN port, and 3 USB ports (the front USB port includes an auto-copy feature). The TS-210 Turbo NAS is not only an ideal storage server but also a multimedia station to enhance your home entertainment experience. The built-in UPnP/ DLNA media server (with TwonkyMedia enabled) of the Turbo NAS supports gaming consoles for media playing and the NAS works well with NFS-supported High-Definition (HD) digital media players. Also, the TS-210\'s AJAX-based NAS management software utilizes a web interface that allows intuitive management of all the Turbo NAS features.The Turbo NAS supports RAID 1 Mirroring for non-stop service and easy maintenance. When data crash occurs, the administrator can be alerted by e-mail alarm and LED indication. The hard disk drive can be replaced by hot swapping without turning off the server. The intelligent data rebuilding capability allows users to replace a failed drive by hot-swap. This enables automatic data rebuilding to the new drive without suffering from any system downtime.

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Glyph GT 050Q - Hard drive - 2 TB - external - FireWire / FireWire 800 / Hi-Speed USB / eSATA - 7200 rpm - buffer: 32 MB - black powder coat Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros:
1. Very well built / durability. Best I have seen.
2. Has a power button
3. Love the power supply. Best I have seen.
4. Lots of connections (Esata, Firewire 800, Firewire 400, USB)
5. Large cache size (32 mb)
6. Lots of space for storage
7. Powers down when not in use
8. Great durable carrying case
9. Best warranty I have seen (3 year warranty and the first 2 years comes with data level 1 data retrieval, the only warranty that I have seen that comes with any free data retrieval and includes overnight replacement)
10. The company overall has a very good reputation and is pretty much the only hard drive manufacturer that is approved by Digidesign
11. From what I've heard, Glyph has very good customer service (though I have not dealt with them yet)
Cons:
1. NO USB CABLE?
The only cables that are provided here is the power cable, Firewire 400, and Firewire 800 cable. WHY NO USB? I realize the main purpose of this drive is for pro audio or video programs which require fast connections such as Firewire or ESata, but what if you want to connect this to a computer that doesn't have firewire? You have to buy the cable elsewhere. This is the ONLY DRIVE I have seen that doesn't include a USB Cable.
2. IS IT 5900 RPM or 7200 RPM?
On the back of the box where the serial code is it says "5900 RPM". WHAT??? It's advertised as a 7200 RPM hard drive almost every where I looked. I bought this hard drive from ADORAMA. When I noticed this it was too late to email them since I did not notice this until I already used and registered it so I cannot send it back. For everyone that is going to buy this, CHECK THE BACK where the serial is. I think I found at least one site that mentioned this being a 5900 RPM drive so i'm not completely certain it is 7200. I will try to research more into this as well.
3. PRICEY
It's the priciest hard drive I have seen.
4. NOT VERY PORTABLE
Though the carrying case is durable enough to certainly work efficiently, due to it's size you can't carry it in a backback unless it has no protection. Every other hard drive that exists (as far as I know) comes in a box with enough packaging that you can put it back in the box and carry it safely in a backpack. This is not a 3.5" drive, it's basically double the size and therefore is not as portable.
5. NOT DEAD SILENT
Yes, the hard drive is silent but the fan is very audible which stays on as long as the drive is in use.
Overall:
The hard drives durability, warranty, and power supply are by far the best I have ever seen which are all things I look for. Also, though I do have some gripes with this drive, I cannot recommend a different product because many other hard drive manufactures / enclosure makers (Western Digital, Seagate, Lacie, HP, Iomega, and even more expensive ones such as G - Tech) have way more design flaws compared to Glyph products. Do I feel safe that I can rely on this drive? Yes. Will I still back all my data onto a separate drive? You bet ya, and I would urge anyone else to do the same because it's a fact that all hard drives die. The question is when.
I put a lot of time into researching and writing this review so I hope this helps.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Glyph GT 050Q - Hard drive - 2 TB - external - FireWire / FireWire 800 / Hi-Speed USB / eSATA - 7200 rpm - buffer: 32 MB - black powder coat

The 2TB Quad Interface Hard Drive from Glyph-Technologies is an external hard drive in a GT-050 desktop enclosure. It can connect to your computer via the FireWire-800, FireWire-400, USB 2.0, or eSATA interface. The drive is designed by Glyph for use in professional audio applications.The enclosure is constructed from stainless steel and features tri-laminate sound-damping to help reduce noise. This makes the drive an ideal solution for storage in audio and video production environments.

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LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 200 GB FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0 7200RPM Portable External Hard Drive 301310 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've used LaCie drives for years and they seem to fail far less often than other drives I've used (WD, Seagate, Maxtor.) Perhaps one of the reasons that my hard drives fail often is that I tend to be a little rough on them. I edit video, often on location, so I drag my drives all over the place. I'm hoping with it's rubberized shell, this LaCie will go the distance. I love that it is self-powered so I don't have to lug a power adapter with me. It's one of the few portable drives that is fast enough for video editing. I purchased the case LaCie Cozy 3.5-Inch Hard Drive Carrying Case 130903 (Grey) for it as well to further protect it. I'll update this review if it dies.
Update: I've used this drive for a year and it's still going strong. I'm going to upgrade to a larger capacity model soon.
PS - It always makes my day to know that people find these reviews helpful. So, please vote (the "Was this review helpful to you: Yes or No" buttons) and leave a comment if you'd like, even if it's just to say, "Hi!" I respond to all comments so feel free to ask a question about the product. Also, when you leave a comment, I will go to your reviews and pay you the same courtesy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 200 GB FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0 7200RPM Portable External Hard Drive 301310

The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 301310 200 GB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 Portable Hard Drive, Design by Neil Poulton, is built to survive the harsh elements of the real world. This durable, portable storage drive offers 200 GB of storage along with a universal high-speed USB 2.0 connection and FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 interfaces. This high-performance drive is built with a rugged, drop-resistant aluminum alloy shell and a shock-resistant rubber bumper, making it the ultimate solution for your on-the-go data needs. With FireWire 800, FireWire 400, and USB, the Rugged All-Terrain has near-universal compatibility. View larger. Ultra-Portable Data Shuttle If you travel a lot with your data, the Rugged All-Terrain is the drive is for you. Perfect for users who need backup, storage and large-volume exchange for office files, photos, music and even video clips, the Rugged All-Terrain is powered by the FireWire or USB connection, which means that it uses the power of the connected computer to operate and doesn't require an additional AC adapter or power cord.The Rugged All-Terrain offers the triple-interface convenience of high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity (which is USB 1.1 backward compatible) along with both FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 interfaces. With this triple-interface functionality, along with the drive's driver-free and plug-and-play features, exchanging data between Macs and PCs is as easy as it gets. The Rugged All-Terrain even comes with a USB power-sharing cable for low powered USB hubs/computers. (The Rugged All-Terrain requires no extra drivers for Windows XP/2000/Vista and Mac OS X operating systems.) This high-performance drive features a spin speed of 5400 RPM, an 8 MB cache, and a transfer rate of up to 800 Mbits per second via the FireWire 800 connection. Measuring a mere 3.5 x 1 x 5.7 inches (WxHxD) and weighing less than nine ounces, the Rugged All-Terrain is designed to travel and will fit easily in your briefcase or backpack. Take it with you on business trips and vacations, or use it for transferring files from one desktop computer to another.Included with the drive are LaCie software bundles to enhance its performance and functionality, including LaCie's 1-Click Backup Software (for Mac and PC) and SilverKeeper Backup Software (Mac).Mobile, All-Terrain Protection Designed exclusively for LaCie by world-renowned designer Neil Poulton, the Rugged All-Terrain is built like an off-road vehicle, ready to withstand the bumps and bruises of your travels. Its unique, scratch-protected aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper make it especially resistant to harsh elements. In fact, the drive is designed to withstand vertical drops of up to 35 inches while in non-operating mode. (Dropping the drive while it's in operation, however, could cause damage, so be careful!)For additional styling points, the Rugged All-Terrain can be outfitted with additional colorful bumpers that will keep your drive protected. Easy-to-change and durable once on, they are made of the same quality rubber as the original bright orange Rugged sleeve. The optional set, which is sold separately, includes green-grey, blue-grey, and black bumpers.
Free One-Year Unlimited Backup Service With the purchase of this LaCie Hard Disk, you will also receive a full year of LaCie's Online Backup service. With this service, the data that you store on your computer will be encrypted twice and uploaded to the offsite data center where they will remain encrypted, maintaining your privacy. When you sign up for the service, software is added to your computer that looks for new and changed files to update. The service is completely automated and only backs up new and modified files when your computer is idle, so you don't have to do a thing, and your computer's performance will never be affected.This service lets you upload an unlimited amount of photos, music, video, and documents for a full year. After that you can continue with the service for a low monthly fee. This is LaCie's way of ensuring that should anything happen to your Hard Disk -- should it get stolen or damaged, for instance -- your invaluable data will remain completely protected and accessible.The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain Portable Hard Drive is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.
About LaCie Established in France in 1989, LaCie is a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple and Linux users. With offices and plants in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie develops and manufactures external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology.
What's in the Box Rugged All-Terrain drive, FireWire 800 cable, FireWire 400 cable, USB 2.0 cable, USB power-sharing cable, and quick start guide.

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HP CP3525DN Color LaserJet Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I received this printer on January 22 and got it set up successfully last night (January 28). It is too early for me to comment on the print quality. What I have seen looks fine but I have only printed 4 pages so far and have not yet tried the duplex option.
I am writing this review to comment on HP's customer support, since an earlier reviewer had a totally negative experience. Some of my dealings with the customer support system were good and some were bad.
I received the printer on a Thursday while I was at work. I couldn't get to it until Saturday. Then I unpacked the printer and removed all the protective tape, etc. When I turned it on it stopped immediately after the memory check with an error message "Inflate failure. Download RFU file now. Download RFU on USB port" or something close to that. I knew I was in trouble. I went on line and found the latest firmware update (RFU = remote firmware update) and downloaded it to my Mac. But I couldn't figure out how to send it to the printer, since the instructions said to use ftp (which works over the Ethernet connection). That requires knowledge of the printer's IP address which it probably didn't even have yet, since the failure occurred so early in the startup process. And even if had one there was no way to find out what it is, since the keys on the console elicited no response at all. Besides, the instructions on the printer's display said to use USB. Nowhere in the instructions was the use of USB to do a firmware update ever mentioned.
So I made my first call to tech support. It is one of those horrible voice-activated menu systems. It took me several minutes, enunciating my responses as carefully as I could, to finally get transferred to tech support. It was at that point I was told that tech support hours are 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific time M-F and closed on weekends. I was out of business until Monday.
Monday morning at 6:15 a.m. I called again. This time, while I was carefully saying the model number of my CP3525dn, the computer voice interrupted me. It said that it had determined that my printer was no longer under warranty, so I was not eligible for phone support. It told me to use the e-mail system and hung up. If I had not gotten further on Saturday, I don't know what I would have done at this point. Most likely I would have called the company I bought it from and had them take it back. But, because of Saturday, I knew that the real problem was the poor quality of their voice-activated menu system. So I tried again and finally, by about 6:25, I got connected to an actual human being.
The lady I first talked to was polite and friendly, but obviously working from a script and not very knowledgeable. She worked with me for about 45 minutes. She told me how to use USB to download the firmware update. But when I downloaded the file absolutely nothing happened. She had me try numerous things (restarting my Mac; power cycling the printer, etc.). Several times she put me on hold for 5 minutes or so to try to get help from another customer support rep. But nothing worked. She finally gave up and transferred me out of customer support to a department she referred to as simply "hardware". The lady there was also polite and friendly and sounded much more knowledgeable. She worked with me for an additional 45 minutes. She asked me a lot of questions and was able to determine that the formatter card (essentially, the internal computer in the printer) was malfunctioning. She thought it might be a bad connection of the memory module. She talked me through removing the formatter card from the printer and manipulating it. Then she had me re-install the card and try again. The same error immediately appeared. So she promised to send me a replacement formatter card. I asked if it wouldn't be more effective to send a repair person to my house. But she told me that the formatter card is considered to be a user-replaceable part and there was no way a repair person would be sent. The warranty I read on the Internet before buying this printer explicitly stated that the printer came with a one-year warranty which includes in-home repair by HP.
The replacement card was sent as promised. It arrived the next day (Tuesday, which was yesterday). I installed the new card and turned the new printer on. The initialization process was frighteningly long. I thought I had some new problem. But after a very long time the printer said "Ready"! At this point, the quick start guide says to print a configuration page and check for the IP address. I did so, and discovered that the IP address of my printer was 0.0.0.0. The manual says this means there was a failure to assign the printer an address. The manual makes all sorts of suggestions which were clearly not appropriate for my situation. It also asked me to make choices between options which I did not understand and the manual gave no explanation of their meaning. So I decided to wing it. I went into the Mac printer/fax system utility and told it to add a new printer using Bonjour (which I knew this printer is supposed to support). It worked. It found the printer, set it up, and I was finally up and running. What an ordeal.
So here are the pros and cons of my experience with HP regarding this printer:
Pros:
(1) friendly, courteous support reps; the second-level lady I talked to was clearly very knowledgeable.
(2) the replacement part came quickly;
(3) the replacement part worked;
(4) setting up the printer on my Mac was a breeze, once the hardware problem was solved.
Cons:
(1) An absolutely horrible and unreliable voice-activated menu system;
(2) The hours of tech support availability are terrible, and clearly designed for people who live in the Eastern time zone. Anyone (such as me) in the Pacific time zone cannot interact with tech support without taking time off from work.
(3) The in-home service part of the warranty does not cover all possible hardware problems. There are user-replaceable parts which you the user must replace. If you are afraid to dive into the hardware I strongly recommend against buying any printer from HP.
(4) The quick start guide which comes with the printer makes assumptions about the type of installation the printer will be used in (a commercial environment on a system which has a professional system administrator) which will be inapplicable to many customers.
(5) The how-to-use manual which comes on the CD has so little information it is laughable.
(6) Firmware updates are possible via both Ethernet and USB. But only the Ethernet method is mentioned in the instructions.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP CP3525DN Color LaserJet Printer

HP CP3525DN Color LaserJet Printer. You want high quality output, and you want it delivered fast. HP understands, which is why this printer produces both color and black and white pages at speeds up to 30 pages per minute /ppm. Start fast and finish sooner. Instant on Technology uses cutting edge fuser technology that enables print jobs to begin quickly from low power mode. The Time To Completion /TTC of a typical office print job can be nearly 3.5 times faster from low power mode on this device with Instant on Technology than on devices without it. Produce documents that make an impact. HP ImageREt 3600 and HP ColorSphere toner work together to create sharp images and crisp text for all of your business needs. Improved HP ColorSphere toner provides excellent edge acuity for detailed line work, spreadsheets, and architectural drawings. This HP printer is designed to maximize your investment. With the HP Color LaserJet CP3520 Printer, you can get black prints for the same cost as on a black and white HP LaserJet providing general office effectiveness, while also allowing you to print in color. Choose an optional high capacity print cartridge for even more value. With HPs Color Access Control technology, easily control who can print in color and how much. Effortlessly share the printer with embedded gigabit networking. Enjoy enterprise class security features such as IPSec and IPv6. With expandable memory, an open EIO slot, and optional third party solutions, you can expand printer capabilities as your business needs grow. Produce professional, attention grabbing marketing materials in your own office by combining. HP ColorSphere toner with HPs full line of papers. Easily produce brochures, flyers, postcards and newsletters on up to 58 lb glossy media. Effectively communicate internally and generate sales for less time and money than the cost of outsourcing.

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Iomega UltraMax Plus 4 TB USB 2.0 eSATA/FireWire 400/800 Portable External Hard Drive 34497 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This drive is fast--much faster than I expected. I am using RAID 0 since usable space (4 TB) is more important than mirroring and other such RAID features, as this is the back-up drive for three other drives with a total capacity of 4 TB.( I also have an off-site back-up.)
My only complaint is that it has a "brick" power cord rather than an internal supply. I'v got enough bricks laying around on the floor! Plus, bricks usually have power cords twice as long as necessary. I'm tired of power cords, cables, and bricks!!
It still rates 5 stars with me just because of the speed.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Iomega UltraMax Plus 4 TB USB 2.0 eSATA/FireWire 400/800 Portable External Hard Drive 34497

The Iomega UltraMax Plus Hard Drive, eSATA/FireWire 800/FireWire 400/USB 2.0, available in 2TB and 4TB capacities, adds secure, high-capacity storage to your computer system with a sleek compact design that compliments the Mac G5. This high-performance, HFS+ formatted drive includes RAID 0 for higher data throughput and RAID 1 for data security, a three port USB hub and three FireWire ports for expanded storage, delivers transfer rates of up to 800 Mbits/sec and can be connected to any computer equipped with FireWire 800, FireWire 400, or Hi-Speed USB 2.0. An eSATA port has been added for the best performance on a PC. Iomega UltraMax Plus includes EMC Retrospect, Iomega QuikProtect, and MozyHome Online Backup software to secure your data (via download).

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HP CP2025DN Color LaserJet Printer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this printer earlier this week to replace an HP 2600n that had failed. The software installed without issues on four computers, which run either Windows Vista or Windows XP operating systems. No problem printing on any (or all) of the computers. Printer prints both color and B&W very quickly. Duplex printing option works great. Prints are high quality.
The only issues to date include:
1. Installation software offered either default or custom installation options. Even though I chose the custom option, the software gave me no choices for installation, and everything was installed on all four computers. I had to call customer support to then uninstall unnecessary software on three of the computers.
2. HP defaults this printer to the setting: Stop at out. This setting stops the printer from printing when a print cartridge has reached the end of its estimated life. I've found that a print cartridge has several hundred usable pages of life left when this setting is reached. You can override this setting by setting: Override out.

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HP LaserJet CP2020 CP2025DN Laser Printer - Color - Plain Paper Print - Desktop CB495A#ABA 749

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