Customer Reviews - Nintendo DS Lite

Brief Review: Nintendo Scores Big Again, June 16, 2006
By S.fuller
Usually when a company produces a "new and improved" version of a product, there's no need to invest excitement, but for those of you who are already big fans of the Nintendo DS, the DS Lite is a brilliant handheld gaming device. I highly recommend that you upgrade to the DS Lite. For those of you who are considering the DS for the first time, I hope the following summary is of help to you in your decision. Here is a brief rundown of my pros and cons:

Pros:

1. Highly attractive look.
2. Smaller and more streamlined design gives more control while gaming. The old DS is a bit bulky.
3. Power button is no longer a button. It is now conveniently a switch on the side.
4. Stylus slot is now on the side instead of on the top. Much more convenient!
5. Microphone is now between the two screens instead of at the bottom. Very smart improvement.
6. Four levels of brightness. This is probably the most needed improvement. With the old DS, playing in well-lit areas (i.e., outside) was nearly impossible. The DS Lite's screen provides as much or as little brightness as necessary depending on your particular situation. This improvement was the deciding factor for me in choosing to upgrade from my first-generation DS.
7. The new higher-quality DS screen helps the graphics to look sharper and crisper.

Cons:

1. Brightness levels can only be changed from the configuration screen. If you're in the middle of a game, there is no external brightness adjustment.
2. The exterior of the new DS is gorgeous, but the resin-like coating means easy smudging of the external case. This will be slightly annoying for those of you who are prone to sweaty palms.
3. Still no support for old Gameboy games. There is still, of course, Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Advance SP support just as there was with the first-generation DS.

The DS Lite really is a brilliant device. Nintendo could hardly have done a better job. If you are looking for a great way to kill time and/or experience great handheld gaming, I highly recommend the DS. With so many hundreds of great titles available (when including Gameboy Advance games), a reasonable price, and such a solidly designed gaming device, you will not be disappointed.

I highly recommend this product.
From Nintendo DS Lite - Amazon.com

Customer Reviews - Palm Tungsten E2 Handheld

It is great for many things, and not so great for a few, April 22, 2005
By S.Allen

Ignore most of the complaints about this model and Palm in general. Remember what you want a Palm for: storing information in an easy-to-access manner. For most people, it isn't supposed to be a mini laptop. It doesn't matter if the specs haven't changed much over the years. How much has a DayRunner improved in the past couple of decades? Some innovations make sense, sure. I've had several PDAs over the past few years because of specific things I wanted (rechargable battery, color screen, wireless access, etc.). Now I have a E2 (for the Bluetooth, screen, design, and ease of use). But at the end of the day, my usage has stayed pretty constant. I want good PIM applications (personal information management) on a small device with a good screen and battery life and the ability to check my email. That's all I want, and the E2 gives me that. Sure, Palm could wow us with innovations, but I really can't figure out what they could introduce that would be a "must-have" feature. Competing Windows Mobile devices don't offer anything particularly better either (unless you want a jack of all trades device that isn't particularly good at anything. In other words, if you want a PDA, this one is great. Here's why:

1. For most of the things that anyone does with a Palm, it works great. In other words, the PIM features work great, and the direct synchronization with Outlook is fantastic (and a new feature only on the past few Palm devices).
2. The hardware and "fit" of the device is great. This is the latest in the "Palm V" model and it shows. No gimmicks, just a good device fit and design wise.
3. The Bluetooth feature is great, if you need/want it. Setting up PC Bluetooth sync is easy if you follow the manual and the wizard on the device. Using it with a phone is a much greater challenge due to the few phones supported directly by Palm. Check first to see if yours is. If not, there might be a work-around, but prepare yourself for a few hours on the internet trying to find one.
4. The fact that the memory doesn't get erased when the power runs out will be really helpful if you're prone to forgetting to charge your devices.

The bad:
1. Versamail is incredibly difficult to work with. By far it has taken me the longest time to find out that I can't use it to sync with Outlook as planned (this is because you can't directly Hotsync IMAP accounts with SSL security, nor can you sync an IMAP account to Outlook, points buried in Palm's website).
2. As mentioned, getting Bluetooth to work with an unsupported phone is a real pain and not the most reliable connection ever invented.
3. Yeah, yeah, it shows fingerprints, should have a power indicator light, and a cradle would have been nice. A little too much cost-cutting, I think.

Overall, I'm very happy with the E2. It does what I want and probably more than what most people desire (most people probably don't need Bluetooth on a PDA). If you don't care about Bluetooth or the non-volatile memory on the E2, get the Tungsten E and save yourself $50.

Palm Tungsten E2 Handheld
From Amazon.com

Customer Reviews - Citizen Men's Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch

Citizen Men's Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch #AN0950-53L
Gorgeous Versatile Watch, Fantastic Value, April 15, 2007
By Corey Pham (Roseville, CA)

I was looking for a watch that I could wear casually anytime and anywhere. I was not into all the complicated and cluttered watches. I also did not want something that looked too young, but at the same time, I didn't want to wear an extremley expensive watch and then be worried about breaking it.

I found everything I wanted in this watch. I recieved it as a gift from my father and have worn it everyday since. The watch is simply gorgeous and well organized. It keeps perfect time and the date is a great reminder too. This watch is fashionable and can be worn running from class to class, spending a day at the office, spending a night out on the town with friends, and even worn to fancy occasions like weddings.

The blue dial is actually a lot darker than in the picture, same can be said about the chain, but it still looks bold and classy. People will think you spent a fortune on this watch by how it looks, but its true value is unbeatable.

Considering you are paying for a Citizen that looks great, can be worn anywhere, and is super affordable, there is no reason to not own this watch. This would also make a great gift to a husband, boyfriend, or anyone who wants a fine looking, multi-purpose watch to add to their collection.
From Citizen Watches - Amazon.com

Customer Reviews - Blokus Classic 2995

Great Fun and Educational Too!, October 30, 2004
By D. Moore "catsfmf"

I originally bought this game for my classroom to help my students develop thinking skills. When it first arrived, I took the game home to figure out how to play it before introducing it to my students--and I was hooked! My own children are ages 10 and 11 and they love the game (we are buying a game for home), but I teach students up to age 18 and they enjoy the game just as much. Educationally, it helps younger students develop a better understanding of spatial relations and planning ahead. For older students (and adults) it helps to develop various strategy skills.

Unlike most educational games, the rules are simple and once you've played it through one time (or watched it through one time) all your effort can go into plotting your moves. The game doesn't run out of possibilities, either; every game is different, even if you play with the same people over and over.

As an educator, parent, and game enthusiast, this was money well spent.
From Toys & Games,Blokus Classic 2995 - Amazon.com

Customer Reviews - Economic Facts and Fallacies (Hardcover)

Economic Facts and Fallacies (Hardcover)
by Thomas Sowell (Author)

If only Sowell's knowledge and wisdom were more widely known, April 17, 2008
By Jerry Saperstein (Evanston, IL USA)

There is no end to the exposure of crackpot left-wing theorists in the media. Happening upon an appearance of a conservative economist like Thomas Sowell in the media, however, is extraordinary, which is the nation's loss.

Sowell is a prolific writer, but I doubt he reaches a fraction of the audience of a crank like Paul Krugman.

In this slim volume, Sowell exposes, refutes and debunks six of the major economic fallacies of our time:

1. Urban Facts and Fallacies
2. Male-Female Facts and Fallacies
3. Academic Facts and Fallacies
4. Income Facts and Fallacies
5. Racial Facts and Fallacies
6. Third World Facts and Fallacies

As you've probably noticed, these are six of the major flashpoint issues of our times - and Sowell knocks down the myths and lies the left-wing has worked so hard to spread.

For example, Sowell shows how elitists have made the most desirable areas of California unaffordable for all but the very rich through restrictive policies. This results in various hypocrisies, such as driving out poor blacks from places like San Francisco and also contributes to the fallacy of a lack of "affordable housing". The latter is not the fault of evil conservatives, but of very selfish left-wingers.

Sowell applies his truly formidable knowledge and scalpel-like logic to each of these six fallacies, slicing away the untruths and revealing that the United States is not a nation of massive inequalities, but is in fact still the land of opportunity.

As Sowell puts it so well, "[s]ome things are believed because they are demonstrably true. But many things are believed because they are consistent with a widely held vision of the world - and this vision is accepted as a substitute for facts." For those willing to learn, Sowell demolishes six major myths here. Would that there were more like Sowell - and those willing to learn from him.

Jerry
From Economics - Amazon.com

Customer Reviews - Trading for a Living

Trading for a Living: Psychology, Trading Tactics, Money Management (Hardcover)
by Alexander Elder (Author)


2ND READING REVIEW * * * * *, January 25, 2000
By Chuck Kelly "heavy707" (Washington State)

I have to say after reading Dr. Elders book for the second time, I am even more impressed with the wealth of knowledge and understanding of what makes the markets move. I prefer the triple screen method that is presented. This book covers all of the basic knowledge for the beginner as well as the experienced trader. If you are new to trading you will find this an excellent source to build your dreams on. I believe study is the key to sucess in any endeavor. This book is easy to read and you will be amazed at the insight you will gain as to the day to day operation of the markets. I think it is important to decide on what method makes the most sense to your trading style and then learn all you can about it. The more knowledge you have the better decisions you make. I find the hardest part being money management. I have to control my urge to follow my gambling impulse to bet the farm on what looks good in the charts. Even though I know it is a sure way to loose in the market. This is a game of the most interesting kind that changes on a moment by moment basis. What a great way to make money. My word of advice on any trade where you have the slightest doubt of why you are in it is to GET OUT IMEDIATLEY ! . If you do not know why you are in a trade and what you expect to happen and why, then you are guessing. If guessing is what you like to do go to Las Vegas and have a great time. Best to you all in trading. If anyone has a real-time quote service they are proud to have please let me know who they are. Thanks
From : Trading for a Living - Amazon.com

Sony PRS-505/LC Blue Digital Book Reader

Product Description
Experience the joy of reading a variety of your favorite books?all stored digitally in one compact device. The slimmer, redesigned Reader Digital Book lets you carry a stack of books in one hand. The Reader Digital Book holds about 160 eBooks or hundreds more with optional removable memory cards. Its portable size makes it the perfect travel companion, allowing you to read a variety of books whenever and wherever you want. With thousands of eBook titles available at The eBook Store from Sony, you can choose to download new releases, classics and popular book titles as well as view other document formats such as Adobe PDF10, RTF, TXT, BBeB and Microsoft Word. Its long battery life lasts up to 7,500 continuous page turns, and the amazing paper-like screen technology is easy on the eyes. Screen Size - Approx. 6 Measured Diagonally; Resolution - Approx. 170 Pixels Per Inch; Gray Scale - 8-Level Grey Scale Up to 7,500 page turns on full charge Audio and picture playback Dual SD Card and Memory Stick(R) Pro Duo Expansion Slot Mountable USB Drive Charges via USB Unit Dimensions (Approx.) - 6.9 x 4.8 x 0.3 (175 x 122 x 8mm) / Weighs 9 ounces Includes Tan Soft Case, USB Cable, Quick Start(TM) Guide, CD-ROM Limited Warranty - Labor- 90 days from the date of purchase; Parts- 1 Year from the date of purchase

sony prs505

Apple iPod touch 8 GB (2nd Generation)

Product Review
The iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. And with its groundbreaking technologies--including a Multi-Touch screen, the accelerometer, and 3D graphics--and access to hundreds of games, iPod touch puts an amazing gaming experience in the palm of your hand. It comes in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB models with new volume controls and a built-in speaker. Play hours of music. Create a Genius Playlist of songs that go great together. Watch a movie. Surf the web. View rich HTML email. Find your location and get directions with Google Maps. Browse YouTube videos. And shop the App Store for games and applications