Price Compare Riedel Sommeliers Bordeaux Grand Cru, Single Stem

Buy Riedel Sommeliers Bordeaux Grand Cru, Single Stem

Riedel Sommeliers Bordeaux Grand Cru, Single Stem Product Description:

• Glass design enhances taste of red wines such as Red Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
• Handmade, mouth-blown full lead crystal
• Large bowl allows wine to breathe, emphasizes depth in contemporary wines
• Weighs 14 ounces; holds 30-3/8 ounces
• 10-5/8 inches tall; 4 inches wide

Product Description

This glass, first created in 1959, is not a design gimmick but a precision instrument, developed to highlight the unique characteristics of the great wines of Bordeaux.The large bowl (capacity 30 oz) brings out the full depth of contemporary wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.Modern vinification techniques enable wine-makers to concentrate the fruit to such an extent that young wines may seem one-dimensional, tannic and over-oaked if served in smaller glasses. The Sommeliers Bordeaux Grand Cru gives breathing space to both young and more mature wines, unpacking the various layers of bouquet and delivering a full spectrum of aromas. On the palate, the texture of the wine ??? soft, silky, velvety ??? is intensified and the finish prolonged, gently blending acidity with supple, sweet tannins. This is a glass that showcases these majestically structured red wines in all their complexity and finesse. The simple yet beautiful glass is mouth-blown and made in Austria and executed in over 24% lead crystal. For safe transporting, this individual stem arrives in its own shipping container with reinforced ends.Recommended for: Bordeaux (red), Brunello di Montalcino, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Domina, Fronsac, Graves rouge, Listrac, Merlot, M??doc, Margaux, Moulis, Pauillac, Pomerol, St. Emilion, St. Est??phe, St. Julien, Sangiovese, Sangiovese-Grosso.

Customer Reviews

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76 of 76 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful, but depends on how much you like wine.
By A Customer
I own a modest set (8 different stems) of Sommelier glasses for my own tasting purposes, and believe that they are worth every penny to me, personally. The quality of the Sommelier stems cannot be emphasized enough - even over the Vinum series.

They are, in every way, extremely delicate. Very thin walls, thin stems, and beautiful craftsmanship. As long as you are careful with them, they will bring your fine wines into a completely new light. They will allow you to intimately taste the wine in perfect balance.

But if you are not a serious wine drinker, stick with the Vinum series. The Vinum series is more than enough. I go to weekly wine tastings at my local wine shop where they serve the wine in cheap ($1 ... maybe) glasses that actually mask the wine's flavors and bring out the harsh qualities while supressing any smells or tastes that would actually allow you to evaluate the wine properly. I started to bring a basic Vinum glass, and the difference was unbelievable. When at home comparing the Vinum and Sommelier series, however, the difference is much less pronounced. If you use a glass that doesn't kill the wine's flavor, that's enough. The added pleasure of the Sommelier series lies mostly in its lighter, more delicate construction. Honestly, I'm not sure how much of it is purely psychological, but it just FEELS good to hold your wine in a delicate work of art.

I say mostly, because these glasses are BIG. Some of my friends have threatened to turn my glasses into fish bowls. This added size pulls apart the wine, letting you move your nose around in and above the glass to discover everything that the Vinum series might compress into a smaller space.

Overall, buying a few Sommelier stems would do your finer wines a favor, but for everyday drinking, or for those who aren't complete yuppies like myself, the Vinum Series is just fine.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Great for medium-big reds!
By Ashley
Riedel crystal wine glasses are some of the best you can buy. They are specially designed for drinking wine... Riedel makes many different shapes of crystal glasses for different wine vareitals. If you only buy one type of high-end glass for your red wine, however, this one is a great choice. As part of the Sommelier line, it is oversized, so it really opens up the wine for a fuller nose and body. Not meant for whites, or weak, light wines - use a smaller, tighter glass for that. I use this glass for bordeaux, of course... cabernet, merlot, barolo and occasionally also for pinot noir, sangiovese, a big chianti, or super tuscan. The taste of the wine in this glass is distinctly different compared to other glasses (crystal and glass) that we own and have used.I had ordered this glass to replace one that had broken. Though these glasses are incredibly well made and not 'thin' and 'delicate' as some can be, they are still fragile and should be handled and washed with utmost care, especially given the price you are paying for them! My husband chose to handwash it after imbibing a bit too much, and he broke the stem right off. I do not believe that this problem is one of quality at all, but instead consider this a warning for your handling and care for the glass.At the time I ordered, the price I found on Amazon was the lowest in comparison to find compared to other discounted prices offered. These glasses are expensive, but worth it.I was especially impressed by the shipping. In past experience with private distributors, I have had Riedel glasses break in shipping due to poor padding / packaging. When I received my glasses in this case, they were very well protected and arrived intact.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Very Special Glassware
By Great Faulkner's Ghost
If you can afford to splurge on a Riedel Sommelier series glass you will never regret it. You simply can't believe how much difference a great glass can make, even on "everyday" wines. IMHO, the Zinfandel Sommelier glass is a good all around shape for the price; the Bordeaux and Burgundy ballon are bigger and therefore better because they have more internal surface area, but they cost more and there super-size makes them somewhat impractical.Because the crystal is delicate and thin, these clearly are not for the dishwasher and must be handwashed. Be aware also that the Sommelier stems separate from the bowl rather easily if you twist the stem while drying the glass with a towel, which is quite a natural movement. But aside from that issue,which applies to many brands of hand blown crystal these are very special in every way.

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Get Cheap Tamrac 5612 Pro 12 Camera Bag (Black)

Buy Tamrac 5612 Pro 12 Camera Bag (Black)

Tamrac 5612 Pro 12 Camera Bag (Black) Product Description:

• Foam-padded main compartment
• Rigid base platform
• Side-mounted accessory pockets
• Specialized film pocket
• Internal dimensions: 15 by 6.75 by 8.25 inches

Product Description

The Tamrac 5612 Pro System 12 Camera Bag is a compact bag designed to accommodate 2 digital and film SLR camera bodies with a short zoom lens attached, a 6-7 additional lenses and a flash. It cradles the camera with attached zoom lens the Lens-Bridge Divider System. It has a Dual Action Top that provides rain protection to the foam-padded main compartment which supports the camera on foam pillars. For shock protection, the bottom has a thick, foam-padded plastic platform. The bag has a 2 Slide Pockets that uses a Memory & Battery Management System that uses red flags to identify which memory cards and batteries are available and which ones are used up. Inside the top, a Windowpane-Mesh pocket stores filters, film or cleaning materials. There are 2 side pockets for accessories. There arre 2 ZipDrop front pockets that have paraphernalia pockets and a mesh pocket to organize small accessories and personal items. In back, a zippered pocket holds maps, tickets and instruction manuals while a Piggy-Back Pocket allows the bag to be slipped over the handle of rolling luggage. The 5612 has an adjustable, BioCurve shoulder strap and an EasyGrip carrying handle. The bag can use optional Tamrac accessories that use the attachment slots for our S.A.S. (Strap Accessory System) products to customize this compact, professional bag. Features 900 Denier PolyTek and ballistic nylon camera bag Adjustable foam padded divider Lens-Bridge Divider System allows the camera to sit cradled above the rest of the equipment with various lens lengths attached and ready for action. The camera rides on an adjustable platform insuring a perfect fit with or without a motor drive. S.A.S. (Strap Accessory System) compatible - This system has components that attach to the shoulder strap to allow photographers to personalize and customize their carrying systems.

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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
Great for airline travel
By Midnight Rambler
As others have mentioned this bag holds a lot of gear. One of the biggest selling points for me is that is that is can be used as your second carryon on an airline. As big as it is, it is designed to fit under the seat, so it counts as your hand held carry on. I've traveled with it many times and never had to gate check it. It's a little tight on the commuter planes, but I've always been able to carry it on to the plane with me.Generally I have two camera bodies and an assortment of lenses, flashes etc. It has separate compartments for extra flash cards and batteries as well as a few other pockets useful for battery chargers, note books etc.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful.
Tough As Nails Bag
By SevereWX
I've been using my Tamrac Pro12 bag for several years and it's still in like-new condition. The bag is plenty large enough to hold all my gear with room to spare. The dividers allow for a large variety of layout options and has plenty of pockets for accessories. The bag is well padded and made with a tough snag and rip resistant fabric. All the seams appear to well stiched too, with box-stiching on all the major stress points. The carry strap is contoured, well padded and slip-resistant which makes for a much more comfortable day of lugging heavy camera bodies and lenses around.Every couple months I recommend spraying the outside of the bag down with a quality water-repelling spray such as that used for tents and other camping gear. This will do wonders for weatherproofing the bag to prevent your delicate equipment from getting damp if you're out and get caught in an unexpected rain.

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful.
A great bag
By George H. Paulussen
This bag is GREAT. I use it toghter with a tamrac backpack. But i prefere this one. It's nice and big. and easy to adjust to your needs.I use this bag when i travel by plane as my handluggage. It fits my basic travel camera gear and some other stuff like a book and a bottle of water.The strap is good and doesn't hurt.

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For Sale Online Caleca Frutta 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4

Buy Caleca Frutta 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4

Caleca Frutta 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4 Product Description:

• Includes four art; 409 dinner plates four art; 407 salad plates four art; 414 soup plates and four art; 428 mugs
• All natural majolica/ceramic components individually hand-painted with non-toxic glazes and colors
• Caleca pattern Frutta, a practical pattern theme that resembles fresh fruit on a sketched yellow background that looks so real that it is hard not to "pick up" the fruit from the plate
• Dishwasher safe; microwavable
• Chip-resistant

Product Description

Caleca pattern Frutta, a practical pattern theme that resembles fresh fruit on a sketched yellow background that looks so real that it is hard not to "pick up" the fruit from the plate.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
delicious!
By Demitry
very very nice dinnerware. large mugs, large plate and good size (not too small not too large) "small plates". The "soup" plates are kinda not that deep as I am used too. Looks delicious on the table with very nice colors and water-mouthing fruits.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Dishes
By Jacs
Would have given 5 stars..very pretty but they are NOT porcelain as described on manufacturer's website. They are Stoneware and will probably chip as stoneware does. Porcelain is the most durable material and that is the main reason I purchased this set.

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Discounted StableMate SH4236-2 36-Inch Tall Sawhorse, Pair

Buy StableMate SH4236-2 36-Inch Tall Sawhorse, Pair

StableMate SH4236-2 36-Inch Tall Sawhorse, Pair Product Description:

• 16 gauge rust-resistant galvanized steel construction
• Bi-directional legs increase stability
• Leg pockets keep horse rigid; no end-play after excessive use
• Self-locking legs, both folded & upright, featuring nylon-Feet
• One-year limited warranty

Product Description

Sturdy galvanized steel construction for rugged daily use. Bi-directional tubular steel legs assure no wobbling after excessive use. Built-in leg locks for operator safety. Legs easily fold into frame for compact and easy mobility. Nonskid nylon feet protect flooring provide solid footing. Factory-drilled holes for mounting wood top of choice (wood top not included). Optional accessories to optimize ease-of-use and control. 12 pack display with high-impact graphics. Prepacked and ready for display. 15" D. x 48" H. Fits anywhere. No. QP4236-12: Material: Galvanized Steel, Length: 36", Height: 48"

Customer Reviews

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
So stable, my guys are going to get me in trouble with OSHA
By Frans Vandeven
These saw horses are of scaffolding quality, that is why my guys are going to get me in trouble with OSHA. They continue to use them as scaffolding by laying 2x stock on them to walk on.I see them scrambling when I arrive at the job site.All nonsense aside, these horses are quick to set up, super sturdy and do not wiggle. Even though they are sturdy, they still adapt to uneven ground (within reason). The only thing that could be improved is the sharp edges at the bottom (2 minutes with a piece of sand paper) and the total weight of the things, they are surprizingly heavy, but I guess that is a good thing.I was just going to order another set (for more scaffolding) but I noticed the price went up by $15! what gives?Still overall this will be a purchase you are not going to regret.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
First-rate product: strong, stable, and wobble-free
By Victor H. Agresti
StableMate SH4236-2Cons:- Each horse weighs 20 lbs., due to the heavy-duty frame.- Outer edges of the lower metal ridge were a bit sharp, so I sanded each edge smooth. Took about 2 minutes.- Four rivets on the bottom of each horse end poked up about 1/4", and could catch on things like your clothes. I flattened them to about 1/16" thick with a ball-pien hammer against an anvil. (See customer images.) Took about 5 minutes.Pros:- For transport or storage, each leg has a spring-loaded pin which can be quickly unlocked and folded into a cavity in the horse bottom and locked in the closed position. Takes under a minute to open or close both horses. The legs don't pop out when you carry them.- Legs unfold easily and lock into place so they stay put. Engineering on this product is precise. E.g., the pin-to-frame-hole clearance is virtually zero, so you might have to giggle a leg to get it to lock.- There is NO side-to-side or front-to-back wobble. I weigh 270 lbs., and the horse won't move when I try.- 500 lb. capacity for each horse. I sat on top of one of them and it didn't budge or creak.- The horses are sufficiently strong to use as a scaffolding base, although Fulton says not to (no doubt for liability reasons). This is probably my 10th set of horses, and these are the only ones so far, that are strong and safe enough for that purpose. With no fear of a horse collapsing, they can also be used to store heavy materials, or as a temporary stand for an expensive tool.- At 36" high, not counting the 2 x 6, these are great if you're tall. They are also wide, at 42".- Each leg has a large nylon slip-resistant foot angled to lay flat. It won't scratch hardwood floors, and the horse is less likely to sink in soft surfaces.- Steel is 16 gauge (which is thick for this type of tool) and heavily zinc galvanized for rust prevention. (However, don't leave them in the rain.)Other:- A 2 x 6 on the top of each horse adds weight, but now a circular saw blade won't hit the horse frame. Clamp things to that board, and with a large hook in the end of each 2 x 6, they hang up.- The horses are much easier to carry with a strong handle screwed to the side of each 2 x 6.Summary:A rock-solid, very strong, stable horse. Absolutely a 5-star product.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Compact and no more wobble!
By Tim Lehnert
After years of struggling with the best portable sawhorses I could find at the big orange stores I picked up a pair of these. Each leg securely locks to the frame by means of a spring loaded pin. On arrival two pins did not engage thanks to rough handling in shipment but this was quickly fixed with a round file. The legs unfolded easily and the secure click once open is a great thing. No wobble, very stable. They stand 34 ½ inches tall before whatever top lumber you choose to add so this means less bending over all day. Once folded, rivets do protrude on the bottom of the unit but they did not seem to have excessively sharp edges. The last two legs to fold in for storage also securely lock into place keeping the unit well compacted. They could probably use a collapsible handle on the side. All in all a sturdy, portable tool for the jobsite.

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Price Comparisons of Texas Instruments Voyage 200 Calculator

Buy Texas Instruments Voyage 200 Calculator

Texas Instruments Voyage 200 Calculator Product Description:

• QWERTY keyboard for typing
• Large easy-to-ready 128 x 240 pixel LCD
• Preloaded with popular applications, including The Geometer's Sketchpad
• Accepts StudyCards for history, foreign language, English, and more
• Numeric and symbolic equations; factor, solve, differentiate, integrate

Product Description

Computer Algebra System (CAS) enabling you to manipulate mathematical expressions and functions (factor, solve, differentiate, integrate, and more). Easily evaluate mathematical expressions symbolically or numerically : Differential Equations : Linear Algebra : Work with vectors, matrices, and matrix computations including echelon form, LU or QR decomposition dot and cross product as well as eigenvalues and eigenvectors : Real-time rotation of 3-D surfaces and contour graphs help you visualize in 3-D : Allows Mathematical expressions to appear on the display the same way as they are written on the board or in texts : Uses 4 AAA alkaline batteries and a back-up lithium battery (CR1616 or CR1620). Backup battery pre-installed, and AAA batteries are included

Customer Reviews

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170 of 176 people found the following review helpful.
Astonishingly powerful, but awful documentation
By Jeremy D. Penn
The actual calculator itself is stunningly powerful. It is faster than the TI-92, the full keyboard makes it easier to work with than the TI-89, and the ability to solve, factor, work with imaginary numbers, give exact answers, as well as do all of these things symbolically, plus the amazing applications included (a version of Geometer's sketchpad!), make this the best calculator made by TI.

Just beware that some standardized tests and some teachers will not let you use this calculator.

The biggest drawback is the documentation that is supposed to help you utilize the power of this calculator. There really isn't any. There's a short manual that's included in the box, but it only gives you the broad overview of how to put the batteries in and how to turn it on and off.

To find any information on how to, say, type something in that you want to factor, you have to load up the cd-rom, and hunt around on that thing to find the information you want.Why don't they include all of this documentation along with the calculator in an actual book form? (Okay, so I know the answer to that - it saves money for them.)

It's a huge hassle - if I'm at class, or work and want to be able to use some function, I have to wait to figure it out until I can get home and load up the cd-rom, find the right page, etc....not to mention that the documentation on the CD-rom isn't that helpful either. There's lots of discussion of stuff, but it is very hard to understand.

A great calculator, but awful documentation that makes learning how to use all of its powerful functions frustrating and annoying.

89 of 93 people found the following review helpful.
Powerful little beast
By Fitz the Robot
Plain and simple, I love calculators. Yes, I have both Matlab and Mathematica running on my multiprocessor workstation but calculators have always had a special place in my heart. Since high school, I've firmly been in the HP camp and like many, I think the HP41C remains one of the finest calculators ever made. But the HP legacy started its sad decline with the 28C and the bottom fell out with the HP48G, perhaps the worst calculator HP has ever made. (It literally can take seconds to add two numbers... what could they have been thinking?)All of that being said, I decided to venture into the TI camp, if only because they still take calculators seriously. I was dubious, however, because their machines seem designed for high school students rather than professional scientists/engineers, and this is reflected in the lack of high-end software packages available for them. Nonetheless, I don't think since the HP41 line have any calculators attracted so much interest or had so large a community built around them as have the recent TIs.The Voyage 200 is something of a tour de force. It is based on the Motorola 68000, the same processor found in the original Macintosh and many other popular computers. It is programmable both in TI Basic and in 68000 assembly, the latter of which has lead to a rather impressive library of available games and applications that all run amazingly quickly given their platform. This whole software world is somewhat muddled by the fact that TI has released a series of operating system upgrades and patches for this calculator and wading the compatibility waters is very confusing for the uninitiated. (For example, for HP aficianados, it is quite possible to run an extremely well done RPN interface on this calculator, but it requires that you find & download both the RPN assembly program and HW2 AMS 2 TSR support (h220xTSR) if you're using the latest version of the operating system, AMS 2.09. When was the last time you worried about what operating system your calculator was running??)Another troublesome point about this calculator is the documentation is shockingly bad. Really, it is just plain awful. It comes with a thin, almost useless manual, and you'll have to read through 20+ pages just to find out how to add 1+1. Haven't they ever heard of a "getting started quickly" guide? There are several hundred pages of manuals on CD and on the web, but in general, there are written very poorly indeed. Coming from the world of professionally written documentation for systems like Mathematica and Matlab, I realize just how lucky we are that those companies take documentation very seriously and write far simpler manuals for much more complex systems.All in all, however, I think the Voyage 200 is the best thing going in the calculator world today. It's wonderful to once again have a calculator whose capabilities are as much fun to discover as it is to use. I doubt I'll ever find time for assembly programming on this beast, but it warms my heart to know that I could.

79 of 82 people found the following review helpful.
The Voyage 200 is a Ti-89 made difficult
By Dave
My first graphing calculator was a TI-83 Plus. What a fantastic calculator! Its ease of use is a real credit to its designers. The TI-89 is more difficult to use than the TI-83, but its not too unnecessarily hard, especially considering its advanced features.

The Voyage 200, however, is a real pain in the you know what. Not only is the Voyage absent a printed manual--this may be the new cost-cutting norm for TI products--but the electronic copy is hard to use. Instead of putting all the main information in one manual like the TI-83, the Voyage 200 design team spread its manual out across 28 individual PDF files, making it nearly impossible to print out a hard copy for reference when you're away from your PC. TI could argue that it was necessary considering the large volume of information, but after perusing the PDFs--replete with numerous examples of duplicated information--I'm sure it was really about a large lack of effort.

With that scolding of the manual designers out of the way, let me say that the features of this calculator are really quite good. When it comes to graphing calculators, TI really does make the best. If you are considering the most powerful graphing calculator on the market right now, it would come down to the TI-89 or this TI Voyage 200. The Voyage 200 is suppossed to be backwards compatible with the TI-89, but I've already found programs that run fine on the 89 but won't run on the 200--I can't understand why since they both use the same Motorola 68000 processor. Personally, if I had it do over again, I'd probably pick the TI-89 because its more traditionally styled case is less conspicuous, its features are easier to use, and it's manual is better written and available in hard copy. But if you want a tiny built-in QWERTY keyboard, a slightly bigger screen, more flash memory, and are not bothered by difficult documentation, then the Voyage 200 is probably your best choice.

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Cheapest Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode

Buy Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode

Sony DCRVX2000 MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.5" LCD, Memory Stick & BuiltIn Digital Still Mode Product Description:

• MiniDV camcorder
• 12x optical, 48x digital, zoom with Super SteadyShot image stabilization
• 2.5 inch color LCD and color EVF
• 3 CCD camcorder
• Analog-to-digital conversion with pass-through port

Product Description

The near professional-level Sony DCR-VX2000 digital video camcorder uses three progressive scan CCDs (one for each primary color) to capture quality images and can record in the 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio common to movies. A 12x optical zoom and 48x digital zoom bring images closer, while the Sony SteadyShot optical image stabilization smoothes out hand-induced shakiness.

Like most digital camcorders, the DCR-VX2000 is equipped with an IEEE 1394 connection (also known as i.Link and Fire Wire) for digital image transfer, allowing video editing on a properly equipped home computer. Also included is an S-Video input, encouraging the conversion of already existing footage into the DV format.

The DCR-VX2000 also doubles as a digital still camera, recording photos onto an included Memory Stick at a resolution of 640 x 480. This resolution is fine for images you're e-mailing or viewing on a monitor, but most dedicated digital cameras today offer far more detail. The package includes PictureGear Lite 4.1 software for Windows, which lets you transfer stills to your computer and manipulate and catalog them once they're there.

The camera includes a number of manually adjustable settings for ultimate flexibility, including manual zoom, focus, shutter speed, and exposure. Microphone record level can also be adjusted for optimum sound quality. The Memory Mix feature works by superimposing a digital still stored on a Memory Stick over the video being recorded. A color-bar generator produces standard NTSC color bars to calibrate monitors, and four different white-balance settings help optimize color. The DCR-VX2000 includes a mic input, as well as an intelligent shoe for select Sony accessories, and has several digital effects built-in. Also included are a 4 MB Memory stick and reader, AC adapter, lithium ion battery, AV cable, remote, and lens cap.

Customer Reviews

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76 of 78 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderful Camera, but realize this...
By Christopher Coyne
Before buying this camera, think carefully about what you'll be using it for, and when. I also recommend playing with one at a store, to feel its size and weight. (Even if, like me, you'll ultimately buy it at Amazon.)

I've owned the VX-2000 for over a year now, and I'm very happy with the results. Arguably, the picture quality is better than the Canon XL-1 (and the vx2000 is significantly -- thankfully -- smaller), it's rugged and reliable, and it's somewhat portable. I carry mine in a backpack that has a padded pocket designed for laptop computers. It was the best solution as most smaller camera bags don't fit this beast. Those that do aren't useful for toting other things as well.

Anyway, I know a handful of other people with this camera. Some of them are *filmmakers* and these people use their VX-2000's to document events that they'd later like to make movies of. The filmmakers, as a whole, LOVE this camera. I also have a friend who does casting for television ads. Often, for his boss, he walks around with a VX2000 and shoots people on the street, later bringing the tape to the boss for evaluation.

The other people I know own the VX-2000 because they *like electronics*. They *Like To Own The Best* and they like to play with gadgets. I advise, if you're one of these people, and really, I KNOW YOU ARE, get a different camera. Something smaller... granted the quality will be slightly less, but you're more likely to have it when you witness your kid's first words (or your best friend's wife in a rendevouz with a neighbor. you get the point) Furthermore, this camera is somewhat lacking in toy features. No night vision, no silly effects (save for a few wipes, swipes, fades, and sepia, etc.), no bluetooth transmitter, etc. It's just good, strong, somewhat rugged, and takes a great shot.

I give this camera a 5 for quality (sharp, beautiful, accuracte colors, good in medium/low light, backlight compensation remarkable, optical steadyshot rad). Just keep in mind what you want... this camera is neither professional nor amateur, and therefore I believe it serves best a select, picky subset of the population.

Last, if you do buy it, go for (1) a bigger battery, well worth the cost, and (2) a wide angle lens. Both are cool.

118 of 134 people found the following review helpful.
neither here nor there
By A Customer
You can take one of two attitudes about the VX2000. Many folks (including Sony) prefer to believe this is the ultimate consumer camera, with professional features finally offered at a consumer price. Sure, it's the extreme high-end of consumer pricing, but rich technophiles ought to be able to afford it. In this view, this camcorder combines the best of both worlds... high quality video in an easy to use regular-joe/jane product. Truly a renaissance cam, if there ever was such a thing.

The other attitude is this camera is an awkward fit into either environment. Pros (i.e. people who get paid to deliver quality video) will probably object to the noisy audio. There's lots of discussion on other webpages, so I won't delve into it here. Yes, the noise is present. No, it probably won't bother consumers shooting their vacation in Hawaii. Yes, it stands a reasonable chance of annoying a client who paid for a corporate training video. No, it probably won't annoy a client who paid for a wedding or funeral video. So take either view, depending how much you enjoy living on the high-end.

If you want to make commercials or big dramatic productions, just pay the extra cash for truly professional gear that won't leave you shopping for a better camera after a few projects. Yes, there's a special case for documentary work. Don't take $5000 cameras into volcanoes, jungles, or skydiving. Use cheaper gear that'll still do the job, like this cam. Also, there's a reasonable case to be made for interviewing people with smaller, less intimidating, consumer cameras. So those particular applications might prefer the 'best darn consumer camera around'.

My best advice is to decide what you really want to do with a camcorder. If you want to take home vids of your kids AND brag to your neighbor (who last year outdid your VHS-C camera by getting a Digital 8), this is probably right up your alley. Get it and bask in the pure pleasure of it.

If you want to simply capture your personal world on tape, get something (much) cheaper and smaller. Cheaper and smaller means you're more likely to take it along. Remember, there are good shots and ok shots, but the only bad shots are the ones you missed cuz you left the camera at home. Don't let price and bulk mess with your creativity. That'd be a crying shame.

UPDATE: After receiving some email from readers, I thought I'd clarify my opinion. Yes, the VX2000 is a good camera. But does the average non-professional need one? I'm skeptical.

A home video enthusiast can do just as well with an $800 model, perhaps even better, since it's easier to carry a smaller consumer camera around. Web-movies to be shrunk by 75% and then MPEG compressed don't need a 3-CCD camera. And an independant filmmaker will probably find it cheaper to rent better gear on the shooting days.

Buy this camera if you are highly confident that you can get massive enjoyment or a monetary return on your investment. Don't get it if it's just going to sit inside its case.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful.
An enjoyable camera to use
By Piotr Azia
The VX 2000 is a good all round camera, it is easy to use and has many features which would encourage someone to use it. From the outside we see that the camera has a focusing ring and a zoom ring, both accesible at the same time unlike with other camera models. The focus ring is fairly easy to use although it takes a little bit of time to become fully proficient. The zoom can be controled by servo or manually at different speeds, when the zoom is controlled manually though the motor is taking feedback from your fingers for speed rather than being applied directly to the lens.

With the lens we find incorporated two neutral density filters giving us a choice between three options, first one is without filter letting all light fo through the lens to the three chips, second setting is a neutral density filter to take away some contrast. We then arrive at ND2 which is a stronger neutral density filter which is normaly used during full daylight. In order to control exposure there is a button on the left which needs to be pressed in order to go into manual iris, there is a wheel below where the aperture can be controlled.

There are three chips to capture the light information rather than a single chip thus improving the look of the image. If we find that we are in a dark room then we can boost the gain if we want but if someone does not want to use the gain then it is possible to take the shutter from 1/10 000 of a second to 1/3rd of a second . The shutter speed is controled from the back of the camera via pressing the shutter speed button on the back and turning the wheel below for the correct speed. This greatly increases the light coming into the lens. As an illustration I have shot scenes with light far too low for cameras such as the Canon XL-1 to cope with and the most spectacular part is how little noise shows up on screen afterwards.

For sound we have an onboard mic which is good for ambiance sound and it is possible to plug in a mic with a 3.5mm plug. We have two settings for the microphone, either as microphone (plug in power) or as line in. Once the microphone is selected we can check the sound levels through preswsing the audio level at the back which will display the sound. Through the menu it is possible to choose between automatic or manual. By selecting manual the level may be adjusted with the db meter in camera showing -30 -20 -12 -8 -4 0 etc. so that the sound engineer may get the correct level for recording.

Additional comments

The centre of gravity is well placed on the tripod so that it lies at the same place as the mounting plate making it easier to use on a tripod. The tape compartment is accesible at all times closing in two stages, firstly getting the mechanical part in place, tape winded and ready to shoot followed by shutting the door to avoid dust coming in. With there being two record buttons, one close tothe front right of the camera and the other in the normal position there is a greater variety of shots possible.

An interesting feature with this camera is the possibility of creating an edit decision list within the camera so that it can behave as an edit controler to dub scenes onto a second device. It is dv enabled thereby allowing to copy material from one dv tape to an other. Included with this is the possibility to play from any device directly into the camera for copying tapes etc. onto a dv tape.

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Affordable Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB)

Buy Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB)

Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel (USB) Product Description:

• Powerful 16-bit 25MHz co-processor provides lightning-fast forces to bring a new level of realism to your favorite games
• Full speed USB gives you quick and easy installation and set-up
• Easy-to-secure clamp provides a stable base for serious racing
• Ships with pre-defined schemes for 20 hot games, and let's you program or modify them yourself
• Compatible with Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000 Pro, XP Home or Professional

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
great wheel
By Andrea Killingsworth
I have had this wheel for over 2 years, and it has been terriffic. It has gone from windows 98 to XP and is just as compatible as ever. It gets used and abused playing all types of games from the dirt track racing series, to formula 1, to nascar 4. It just keeps delievering the realism. I paid 150 bucks for mine, and would pay it again, but now the price has dropped.The forces are as real as it gets, buy this wheel now, you won't be dissapointed.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
A good result for the truly dedicated
By David A. Bayliss
The value you get from this product will depend upon your dedication to race gaming.I bought it for my sons who would be using the machine for an hour or two a day. Whilst initial enthusiasm was expressed by all the reality is that the computer is still used as much as it was, but this wheel has not been out of the closet since April. Here are the facts (at least according to us):a) The base of this unit is huge, so when attached to a fairly standard computer desk with sliding keyboard drawer there is no room for the keyboard too.b) The unit has three different wires which come from the back of the unit, so these either have to be threaded over the back of the desk each time, or wrap around the front getting caught up in the kids legs.c) On many of the games we tried the force of the force feedback was much stronger than in typical arcade games, too strong for my 7 year old to handle. (Some games allow this to be altered, but not all)d) Most games require the wheel to be re-callibrated for each use, perfect for perfectionists but again it means significant 'daddy intervention' when the kids want to switch games.e) The power transformer is directly welded into the plug prongs, so this beast takes up three slots in a normal power block, thus requiring its own power block.Now, on the up-side. When I use the properly installed wheel you can callibrate things so that it does handle like a real car. So if you can set things up properly, and leave them set up, then I suspect this is a very good piece of kit.But for the casual user, too bulky, too messy and too much like hard work to be used frequently.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
A True Winner
By William Bierl
I bought this wheel mainly because I wanted my buddy to be able to race with me. He did not have a wheel, so I sold him the one I had and bought this one. Let me tell ya, very good investment. Not to knock Logitecs Wingman Formula Force that I had, but this wheel accells that one by leaps and bounds. It is more precise in control and in the FF mechinisum. I have found only one downfall. Although the clamping mechinisum is solid and hold under extreme forces, it requires a lot of room between your desktop and the top of your keyboard. Over 4". So if you have a desk that has this kind of room..., get it. If not, modify your desk. Or get the Logitec..., it's my second choice.

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Buying Siemens Q2125 125-Amp 2 Pole 240-Volt Circuit Breaker

Buy Siemens Q2125 125-Amp 2 Pole 240-Volt Circuit Breaker

Siemens Q2125 125-Amp 2 Pole 240-Volt Circuit Breaker Product Description:

• 125-Amp
• 2 Pole
• Plug in type
• 2-Inch frame
• UL listed

Product Description

Siemens plug in circuit breakers are intended for use in Siemens EQ, Siemens Ultimate, ITE, and Gould load centers or meter combinations. The double pole Siemens breakers may be used in 1 or 3-phase load centers and are 240V rated. To ensure the warranty on a Siemens panel is not voided, the use of Siemens breakers is required. Siemens strongly recommends against the use of "used" breakers. The installation of used breakers in a Siemens panel will void the warranty on the panel. Siemens does not sell used breakers and has not approved any 3rd party sellers to do so.

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
As advertised
By B. Faulkner
No issues. Won't come in a little box with documentation, but neither to the breakers at the big box stores. Great source for odd size breakers I couldn't find locally.

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Compare Prices for Panasonic SA-HE200 Home Theater Receiver, Black

Buy Panasonic SA-HE200 Home Theater Receiver, Black

Panasonic SA-HE200 Home Theater Receiver, Black Product Description:

• Signal-to-Noise ( S/N ) Ratio > 100dB; Power Bandwidth to 100kHz
• Built-in Dolby Digital / DTS-ES Decoders
• Multi-Source Remaster regains sounds lost during recording
• Home Theater Mode - 130W x 6 (1kHz, 6 ohms, 0.9% THD)
• Stereo Mode - 100W per channel (20Hz - 20kHz, 6 ohms, 0.5% THD)

Product Description

This Panasonic home theater receiver offers a built-in Dolby Digital EX/DTS-ES Decoder for the optimal viewing experience. Other features include: 100 watts x 2 (stereo) into 6 ohms (20-20,000 Hz) at 0.5% THD-or 130 watts x 6 in surround mode, 6 sound-fields (Hall, Club, Live, Theater, Enhanced Surround, Party Mode) and a stylish black finish. Imported. Total Dimensions: 8-5/16Hx21-15/16Wx18-3/8D". Weight: 37 lbs.

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18 of 20 people found the following review helpful.
Unbelievable !!
By A Customer
I was ready to spend up to $1000 to get the quality, features, and performance I found in this sweet, way-great-deal surprise!!I was made aware of this new Panasonic piece by a local audio retailer - it was brand new - so I took a look and a listen. (A major audio/video magazine had also recently raved about the SA-HE100 - this guy's little brother.) I was absolutely floored!! The Panasonic SA-HE200 offers anything and everything you'll need for dynamic music or movies in up to 6 channels, and at the price is an absolute steal (a rear surround speaker is even included!!) I never thought of Panasonic as a high-end product at a beer-budget price, but my hat is off to them. Thanks for such a great package at such a ridiculously affordable price !!(Hurry and grab one before they realise they can get twice the price for it !!)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
3.5 stars to be exact
By michael crow
For $350, this is a very competitive receiver. When you throw in the free rear speaker, this is the best value in the price range. This receiver can handle anything you can throw at it, except THX-ES. Pop in any DTS encoded DVD, and this unit will impress all but the purist sticklers of sound, but it is not perfect. Keep in mind that there are very few DVDs that actually have DTS ES 6.1 encoding, and that your DVD player must be equipped with special, 6.1 channel outputs to reach the Panasonic's fullest potential. However, there is a plethora of different audio modes, some creating very convincing 6.1 channel surround. I haven't had it very long, but there are three main complaints as far as I can see.*The apparent lack of an equalizer may leave you tweaking the audio for some time without truly getting the sound the way you want it.*The all-too-small display had me squinting my way through the set up process from my couch 10 feet away.*This receiver is simply not as user friendly or intuitive as other receivers I have used/owned.

Overall, this is about the best value you can find. The laundry list of features, and the incredible amount of high-end inputs (4 optical, 1 digital coax, 2 component, and 5 s-video) make this a great buy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Great Price, Nice Sound Quality, lots of inputs!
By Jean Buillet
Before buying a receiver I searched out all sorts of brands and price ranges like I do everytime I buy a product. Usually, I end up becoming enamored by the most expensive product and shell out the big bucks to have the best. However, I happened to be in Circuit City picking up a stylus or something and they happen to have a super sale on this receiver, so, on an impulse and because it was only $250 as I recall, I decided to give the receiver a try because it was pretty well reviewed.I have owned this received now for about 3 years now and I have never had incident with it. The sound quality is very clean even with the volume turned way up, there are plenty of digital inputs (I use all of them!), and it has plenty of power to rattle your intestines. For the money it really can't be beat, the unit looks nice and is solidly built. I still really can't believe what a great unit it is and the amount of features it offers for its price, it really could easily be sold for $600 or $700.The only things that aren't great about this unit are the remote control (just ok, buttons I never use have their markings coming off) and the setup of the unit is kind of awkward. Other than that, no complaints. I would definately recommend this unit to anyone and I would buy this receiver again without hesitation.

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Best Woodstock Chimes of Apollo Silver Windsinger Windchime

Buy Woodstock Chimes of Apollo Silver Windsinger Windchime

Woodstock Chimes of Apollo Silver Windsinger Windchime Product Description:

• A very large, impressive, and deep-toned wind chime that is over 6-feet long and weighs 20-pounds
• Visually stunning with mellow tones that resonate much longer than other chimes
• 6 Silver brushed-aluminum tubes; silver aluminum top and aerodynamic wind catcher
• This chimes rich, deep notes are the result of special thick-walled aluminum tubes and a unique suspension
• Durable, braided nylon cord; 74-inches long; chime diameter is 12.5-inches; tube diameter is 1.5-inches; longest tube is 32-inches

Product Description

One of the largest windchimes made by Woodstock Chimes, the Chimes of Apollo make a striking statement in a garden or veranda. These Chimes are the product of the very finest artistry and craftsmanship, allowing you to experience a whole new dimension of beautiful sound. Fashioned after the original designs of Stephen Burnham, the look is boldly elegant and the sound is irresistibly beautiful. Made from super-thick-walled aluminum tubes specially suspended with internal pins, these chimes resonate much longer than other windchimes, bathing you in waves of enduring harmony every time the wind blows. The pentatonic tuning--from an ancient Chinese scale—produces tones that play in any order or combination without clashing.

Woodstock Chimes are the original, musically-tuned, high-quality windchimes known worldwide for their superior sound. When listening to a Woodstock Chime, you hear a fine musical instrument played by the wind. Windsinger Chimes are perfectly hand-tuned using the ancient system of “just intonation” based on natural harmonics. This means the frequencies at which the different tubes vibrate are related to one another by simple whole-number ratios. Tones that are related in this way produce the most beautiful musical intervals. The sonic effect is exceptionally pure and soothing.

More than 30 years ago, the first Woodstock Chime was created by founder and owner Garry Kvistad from an aluminum lawn chair he found in a landfill. As a professional musician and instrument designer, he was fascinated by the Scales of Olympos, a 7th century pentatonic scale that can’t be played on a modern piano. Garry had the idea to cut and tune the lawn chair tubes to the exact frequency of the ancient scale. The resulting Chimes of Olympos was the first Woodstock Chime and is still one of our bestselling windchimes. Garry and his wife Diane founded Woodstock Percussion, Inc. in 1979 and it remains a family-owned business in New York’s Hudson Valley.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
Worth every penny.
By Spinner's End
We purchased the Chimes of Apollo with the black finish, but wanted to review the silver finish, as well, in case it would help other consumers make a decision about this chime. The black finish, of course, is more likely to have a quality-control issue, and ours had none.If you are examining the product description of a wind chime this expensive, you are VERY serious about wind chimes! I am, too. I've never heard anything as nice as the sound of this chime. It is deep, melodic, and extremely resonant.Woodstock makes many high-quality chimes, and this one is no exception. It is clearly built to last, with tough, nylon strings, a composite (NOT WOOD) ringer, and a metal (again, NOT WOOD) suspension ring. I'm not certain if the chime with the silver finish has a wood or composite ringer. We purchased ours to replace a Woodstock chime which had a wooden suspension ring and ringer. It faded and cracked after several years in direct sunlight, so we were interested in purchasing one which would remain nice-looking without maintenance.If you are thinking about purchasing this chime, hanging location and hardware are an important consideration due to its size. It is about 70"H from the top of the hanging knot to the bottom edge of the sail and 13"W. It is quite heavy (manufacturer says it weighs 18.5 lbs, but I didn't weigh it). The sail is quite large, so it rings (and RESONATES!) often in my moderately breezy location.You really shouldn't buy a chime without hearing it, of course! You can hear the chime at the manufacturer's website: www.chimes.comI hope you will enjoy this chime as much as my family does.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Exactly What We Were Looking For
By Strange Graffiti
These chimes produce low, sustained, mellifluous tones -- exactly what we were looking for. There's almost no probability of disturbing neighbors with these (unless there's gall-force winds . . . but then you've got other problems), and we've only heard compliments. Though more expensive than lesser chimes, this was a great investment in our serenity, AND Amazon's price was the best. You can buy an iPod for less, but you won't get any more bang for the buck.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
THESE CHIMES ARE THE BEST
By M. Meltzer
I don't know why but I have always found facination with bells, chimes, and sleigh bells. When I heard the Woodstock Apollo Chimes at a large flea market I knew that I had to own a set. I searched the internet for weeks looking for the best price. The winner was WowCoolStuff.com. I feared that the low price would mean low service but in only 2 days my chimes were delivered. Dispite their weight and large size, I had them installed in 20 minutes. Of all of my bells, chimes, etc. that I own, these Apollo's have the most pleasing sound. The chimes are very rich in harmonics (In physics--my occupation--we call this "quality".) and when a chime rod is struck it continues to ring for a nice long time. Dispite the beautiful sound your neighbors may not love it as much as you will so consider hanging them inside, as I have done, because it is a pleasure to be able to touch them whenever I want. They are a bit expensive but they make me happy for less money than a visit to a psychiatrist. If you are willing to spend the money, thase chimes are the ones.

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Where Can I Buy LE CREUSET Enameled Cast Iron 4-1/4 Quart Soup Pot Blue

Buy LE CREUSET Enameled Cast Iron 4-1/4 Quart Soup Pot Blue

LE CREUSET Enameled Cast Iron 4-1/4 Quart Soup Pot Blue Product Description:

• Retains Heat Longer And Distrubutes Heat Evenly
• Energy Efficient, Only Low to Medium Heat Required
• Dishwasher Safe & Easy to Clean
• Does Not Require Seasoning
• Tight Fitting Lid to Seal in Flavor

Product Description

This 4 ¼ Qt Enamel Dutch oven is a traditional soup pot inspired by Southern French cuisine. It is ideal for soup, stews, casseroles, steaming and shallow frying. It is versatile enough to go from the stovetop to the oven to the table. Its special shape makes stirring sauces easy - no corners. The superb heat retention makes the Dutch oven energy efficient with using only low to medium heat. The beautiful enamel finish looks great in your kitchen and is chip & rust resistant.

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105 of 107 people found the following review helpful.
If you only buy one "good" pot, buy this one.
By ringo
This pot is wide enough to roast a four pound chicken, deep enough to make a standard casserole recipe, and heavy enough to make perfect rice for five people. The rounded bottom is just right for sweating onions and peppers. The tapered sides reduce soup and sauces quickly. The enamel coating soaks clean without scrubbing - even baked on pan juices. I've even served salad in it.

Like other Le Creuset pots, this can't be used for deep fat frying (very high temperatures will trash the enamel). So you'll have to settle for it doing everything else.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
Great for under $... may be big enough for you
By Kevin Stay
I started with the 2-5/8 quart soup pot before this size was available, and it is just too small even when making soup for two. It is now relegated to sauce duty, something for which the design is not particularly well-suited. What this design is wonderfully suited for is establishing "stirring" currents in the liquid as you cook. (Obviously, it doesn't work with chili or a heavy cream-type soup.)

If you're cooking for anything less then 8 people this size should suffice. As with all LeCreuset the quality is top of the line. If you are hoping to make soup for the extended family then you'll have to up to the the 7+ quart version. A friend of mine got it for a very reasonable price, also here at Amazon. However, be warned that it is much larger and much heavier than this model. (We refer to it as the "Herniator")

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
Poor Quality Inspection by Le Creuset
By HEC
I've ordered and returned the Le Creuset 4 1/2 Qt. Soup Pot with Cover, Blue twice. Both pieces had flaws in the finish. The first piece had numerous pits in the finish and the second piece had red speckles on the lid as well as several pits in the finish too.There is definitely a problem with the finishing process at the Le Creuset factory! Must be a lack of final / quality inspection by Le Creuset.When I bought the second piece I also received the Le Creuset Poterie 16-Ounce Covered Soup Bowls, Set of 2, Blue. They also had a problem with their finish.I'm starting to believe that the units sent to Amazon by Le Creuset must be factory seconds. The type of product you would normally find at TJ Max, Home Goods, Marshall's, etc.All I can say is, "Buyer beware of the poor quality of this product! At least in Blue!"

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