Friday, 30 September 2011

Accurate Scale


I use this in the kitchen to get better measurements in baking and also with some molecular gastronomy. So far it has worked well. I also have a 500 gram calibration weight, and the scale continues to hold its calibration. My only minor complaint with this product is that the weighing platform is not removable; it would be much easier to keep clean if the platform was removable. Otherwise, this has been a good buy; a quality product at a reasonable price.

Digital Pocket Scale



My son is diabetic and all his food must be weighed. This little scale is perfect for keeping in his supply pack and taking with us to visit friends, to restaurants, etc. I weighed a nickle with it when it arrived - 5 grams just the way it should be. It even weighs in tenth of grams so I know if I want to round up or down on the carb counts. Perfect scale - runs on AAA batteries and has an empty battery compartment that I used to store an extra set of batteries!

Very nice scale and very affordable. I have no reference to judge its accuracy, but the scale is very precise so far. Objects weigh the same regardless of positioning on the scale, too. It looks very professional in general, but the buttons are clearly cheaply made. They will likely wear out and are difficult to push; so far, no problems. Mine was silver plastic, not black as pictured.

I used US currency coins to gauge the accuracy of the scale. The scale was accurate to US Treasury specifications 70% of the time, off by 0.1 grams the rest of the time; it was never off by more than 0.1 grams. I did not use a 500g standard weight. www.usmint.gov



The scale also powers down if not in use for maybe 10 seconds.

The results are repeatable. I have a calibration 10g weight and when placing it in the center or three of the corners the result is always 10.0g but when placing at the left upper corner sometimes the result may be 9.9g which is in the allowable range.

I have no other calibration weighs so I don't know how linear the scale is, but anyway, at for price you can't go wrong.

I highly recommend this scale.

I needed a scale that was portable and accurate for food portions. This fit my budget and fit my needs. I can also weigh small postage and letters under 2 lbs too all in 0.1 gram increments. It's easy to use, calibrate and is very functional. It runs on 2 AAA batteries which are included. The backlight display is nice and the scale is so easy to operate.



I wished there was a conversion chart included or on the inside of the lid. But then again, that is easy enough to Google and keep handy. I have one on my iPhone when I need to do a quick conversion.



My scale came in silver, not black as shown. Still very very nice and portable. Perfect for those of us watching our weight and trying our best to keep an eye on portions. Very nice little scale that can easily fit in a purse, gym bag or whatever.

This scale works fine at a very reasonable price. I use it mainly to weigh out the amounts of resin and hardener required to make small amounts of epoxy glue and to weigh small packages to be mailed. It would also work fine to weigh powder for someone doing precision reloading. The weighing pan is about three inches square and the display right next to it, so things large enough to cover up the display while on the weighing pan cannot be weighed using this device. It would be a lot more useful if the display continued to display the weight after the object was removed from the weighing pan.

The easiest way to evenly divide skeins of yarn is with a digital scale. This one works perfectly. It's small and easy to store with the rest of your knitting supplies. The actual scale surface is very small so you need to place a bowl on it to hold the yarn. But the scale also has a "tare" button that zeros out the scale with the bowl on it so you get the weight of the yarn only.



This is a great little gadget and the price is perfect.'


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Iphone 4 Case - iphone 4, candyshell


01-06-2011 Update:



In November of 2010 I finally received my new case. But I had by then found a great Incipio case that I just find perfect so I really didn't use the CandyShell. Over xmas I upgraded my wife to an iPhone 4 and so I put the newly received CandyShell on her phone. All the reflective flash problems have been fixed and the case fits perfectly. She really likes it and it's a solid case.



I have a lingering issue that the side and top of the new case might "split" with frequent removal - my old candyshell case had begun to come apart at the top and sides due to the frequent removal needed for some docks. I am not sure if this has been fixed with the new case. I would advise if you use it, remove the case from the bottom and not the top - also try to not remove it unless you have to.







---------



I did not buy this case from Amazon, got it from ATT, but thought I'd post my experience. If it weren't for one very serious flaw, this would be hands down the single best iphone case ever. With my iPhone 3 and 3gs and now the iPhone 4, I am sorta on a quest to find the best case I can. I went thru about 6 or more iphone 3gs cases before settling on one.



Pros:



1. Nice, grippy rubber case, won't slip out of your hand. Not too hard but not too soft.

2. It's rubber as opposed to silicone. So it should not stretch out of shape. Every silicone case stretches, every one of them.

3. Very very snug fit, slim profile also. Seems to fit in most of my docks.

4. Button alignment is perfect. After a day you will forgot the iphone is even in a case at all!

5. Re-enforced corners!

6. Basically it fits the iphone like a glove. No wriggle room at all.



Cons:



1. The rear of the case has an opening for the iphone 4's camera and new LED flash. But with the case on, the LED flash reflects off side of the case's opening and onto the lens when you try to take a flash picture. The result is a useless picture that looks like someone is pointing a flashlight into the lens. So, if you want to take pics with the LED flash, you need to wrestle the case on and off which might end up stretching it over time. I think if the hole around the LED were larger it would not reflect off as it does. I tested this by taking numerous pics of the same angle & subject with and without the case. The difference is night & day. With the case on, the pics are terrible. Without the case, they are very good and the lighting is even. Again, this is just with the LED flash.



2. Dock connector opening works fine with the regular apple dock cable but it's too tight to plug in the apple AV cable. Again, you have to take the case off which is not good. So, if you use the AV cable a lot, you might think carefully here.



3. Updated on 07-15-2010 - As a result of constant taking the case off and putting it on to use the flash, I have noticed the black rubber / plastic has cracked near the top of the case and around the "silence" button. The case fits so tight you have to really peel it off. This is a good thing usually. I would advise taking the case off from the bottom, where there is less to "crack".



08-12 - They are supposed to be sending me a newer model of the case that fixes the problem, once I get it I will test it out and update my review. Speck Products CandyShell Case for iPhone 4 (Moonsicle White/Charcoal, Fits AT&T iPhone)

This case is sturdy, lightweight, provides the most protection without being overly bulky. I've only seen a couple of cases that are "beefier", like the Otterbox, but who wants to put that in your pocket? (In fact they provide a belt clip because it doesn't fit in your pocket). 2 layers of protection, with a slick outside that won't get stuck in your jeans pocket, but a rubber inside with holes to make it light that will cushion the blow. Nice rim around the topside so if it fell face down it would be protected.



Update: 9/22/2010



I've seen received a new replacement case from Speck, and there are 3 important improvements. First and most important, the opening around the camera and flash has been enlarged to a "stretched circle" rather than a "keyhole". This completely eliminates the flash being reflected or bounced back over the lens, creating serious lens flare. You can now take perfect flash pictures. Second, the opening at the bottom has been slightly enlarged, so you can use 3rd party charging/syncing cables. And finally, the opening for the Mute switch has been centered. Before, it almost rubbed on the switch.



So the case is almost completely perfect. The only caveat? It scuffs and shows scratches quite easily on the back. This might not show on some of the other color combinations, but is does show on the black (batwing) version. I will say that you don't see the scratches unless the case is at an angle in most cases. I would give this case a 4 1/2 star rating, but I'll round up. I feel if the other reviewers got the new version (Speck will send you a new one free, if you have the "keyhole" version), this case would have a 4 1/2 star overall rating.



Also, I got the Speck PixelSkin HD case for free from Apple, and although it FEELS skinnier, and is by a hair, if you put the 2 cases on top of each other, or side by side, the CandyShell is maybe one millimeter wider. But you can dramatically see the size difference is extremely small. However, the sides of the HD case are hard plastic, and the buttons are WAY too stiff. You can tell if you dropped the iPhone, the Candyshell is going to protect much better, and it doesn't have an annoying seam around the middle of the sides. The Pixelskin HD case is a good case, but I think the Candyshell is much better. I'm selling the HD case. Just waiting for the Candyshell replacement.



One other thing - I don't get why people would put a screen protector on an iPhone 4. From Apple's website:



Made from the same materials used in helicopters and high-speed trains, the Retina display glass is chemically strengthened to be harder, more scratch resistant, and more durable than ever. The glass also features an oil-resistant coating that helps keep the screen clean.



Put on a screen protector and you know have a plastic surface that scratches easily, and picks up the oils from your fingers and face. The iPhone 4 (and 3GS) are so wonderfully easy to clean, just wipe the screen with your T-shirt, or a Kleenex. I had my 3Gs in my pocket for over a year, and when I sold it for $360, it didn't have a single scratch. The iPhone 4 screen is even MORE durable.



The Candyshell has a raised rim that will protect the screen from touching the ground if if falls glass side down. Plus you'll enjoy an always sharp screen if you don't cover it with a sheet of cheap plastic. - Candy Shell - Candyshell - Iphone 4 Case - Iphone 4'


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Notebook Sleeve - notebook sleeve, netbook


I already have and very much like a slightly-larger version of this for my Dell Latitude D620 computer at work, so this was an easy purchase decision. My Eee PC 1000 already came with a similar neoprene case, but a big too big for the computer alone, yet not big enough to also hold the AC adapter and a mouse, plus no way to keep them from scratching the computer if I'd jammed them all in together.



The Caselogic LNEO-10 is just enough smaller to properly fit the 1000, with a separate zipped compartment that can accomodate both the AC adapter and a mouse. Though the result looks a bit lumpy, it works well. I also very much like the handles on the LNEO-10. They are comfortable in use, and easily fold out of the way when not in use. Case Logic LNEO-10 Ultraportable Neoprene Notebook/iPad Sleeve Fits 7 to 10.2-Inch Tablets (Black)

I picked up one of these cases for my EEE PC 1000h and it fits pretty close to perfectly. The pocket on the side is big enough to hold the power adapter and a mouse. The top handles are more useful than I would have thought, since I intended to mostly carry this case inside a messenger-style bag, but I've found it quite handy to just carry the computer in just this case. The case seems reasonably well padded, probably not enough to protect a laptop from a serious drop but enough to protect it from the occasional bump. The only thing I could ask for would be for a pocket on the other side. I'm pretty satisfied with this case.

I like the design, it's a pretty tiny case. I bought it following a recomendation for my Lenovo S10 that looks awesome in white color. So what I can not accept at first, is that the red cover inside the sleeve stains the charguer and cables that ARE WHITE. CASE LOGIC MUST HAVE TO CORRECT THIS SITUATION.



If you have a black or dark netbook you'll never realize about the stains, but what if you put a document inside?

I did not notice the external pocket when I made my purchase. I was surprised to see it.



EEE 1000 fits inside the main compartment well and the power adapter fits inside the other pocket. It is not as smooth and flat when the power adapter is put in the pocket, but it is convenient for grabbing everything as one set.

The Samsung NC10 fits nicely. Not a snug fit by any means, but close enough to keep it from flopping around in the case. The external pocket holds the NC10 power supply, Bluetooth mouse and has room left for two extra batteries, a small USB router and a couple of very small items like a flash drive. The pocket will be misshapen and lumpy, but all your stuff will be in one place.



The carrying handles are soft and easy to hold.



Overall construction is typical Caselogic: very well made.



I have one small lament: no loops for a shoulder strap. My opinion is that all carrying bags should have loops o shoulder straps.



Other than that small item (and it is indeed a lament, not a complaint), the Caselogic LNEO-10 Ultra-Portable Neoprene Notebook Sleeve is an inexpensive, durable and expandable way to carry and protect your netbook.



Jerry

After trying out several different cases/sleeves for my Toshiba NB205 and being disappointed with each, I stumbled upon this Case Logic Notebook sleeve. It has been an exceptional choice in that it stretches nicely and so will easily accommodate the 6-cell battery which extends out from the back of my netbook. The pocket on the front on the bag is just large enough to squeeze in a mouse and the charging cord for my computer, although it is very "lumpy" when everything is zipped in. It definitely helps to wind up the cord prior to storing it.



One of the nicest features of the bag is the handle. It is a well-built double handle that offers a secure way to carry the computer. This case would be perfect for any of the 10.1" netbooks.

This sleeve is superior to most because:

1) It is made by Caselogic (they make excellent accessories for computer items such as flash drives, memory cards, CD books and so much more. I have owned their product for several years and they are of superb quality. Hence I bought this and am delighted.

2) The outside pocket is a very big reason I bought this case and it holds: My mini retractable mouse, small mouse pad, and a small pouch with my flash drives.

Note that the power cord is somewhat bulky inside this sleeve, however, I fixed this problem by slipping my sleeve inside my ziptop briefcase and place the power cord inside the inside inner pocket. Then I am all set to go!

Also I found that this case has excellent padding for my Acer Aspire One netbook and am very pleased with it.

I recently bought one of these cases to try out on my new Toshiba Mini NB205-N330BN 10.1-Inch Sable Brown Netbook, which has the infamous "9-Hour Battery Bulge", making it difficult to fit in some standard cases. It fits perfectly. The case is small, and I confess to feeling a little self-conscious at times because of its similarity to a purse, but the neoprene protection is fantastic, and the stretchiness allows you to easily fit an additional mouse and/or power pack in the front pocket. Although it does look pretty lumpy when you do that.



It's such a solid build that I honestly don't think I'll ever need another one -- it really does feel like it's built to last. It's good enough that I immediately ordered one for my girlfriend, one for my mom, and one for my stepdad who all have Toshiba NB205 netbooks. - Netbook - Case - Acer Aspire One - Notebook Sleeve'


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High Definition - kodak, photography


I have had my Z981 for two weeks and I have given it a thorough testing. My son is a professional photographer and he told me that I would be disappointed with this camera. I told him that I would give it a real-world test and, if I was disappointed, I would send it back.



First the cons: 1) The On/Off toggle switch is awkwardly placed. It is almost impossible to turn the camera on (or off) without moving (changing) the Mode dial. 2) The battery compartment is easy to open but very difficult to close and lock (I use my car key to slide it). Also, make sure the camera works once you have locked it. For some reason, this seems to be a problem. 3) A hotshoe and tilting view screen would have been nice but I knew from the specs that I would get neither. 4) The zoom on the back of the camera (rather than on the top) is awkward but I will get use to it. 5) I would have gladly paid an extra $50 to have the camera built out of heavy duty plastic.



Now the pros: 1) The photo quality is first rate. 2) The zoom is smooth but, keep in mind that in high power, you really need to steady the camera (I use a monopod). 3) The video automatically includes sound (not so with all cameras). 4) The video is very high quality (1280x720) and the optical zoom works in video mode. When playing this video, it fills my entire computer monitor - not just a little window in the middle of the monitor. 5) It uses SD cards. This doesn't sound like much but these are much cheaper than the proprietary cards that some cameras use. 6) It uses AA batteries. Since I travel a lot in the Amazon, built-in (or proprietary) rechargeable batteries are not an option for me. 7) I love having a separate button for all of the different functions. Most cameras have a Function button that you push and then get totally lost in the maze of options, sub-options and sub-sub-options. 8) The price is great. I have never paid less that $600 for a digital camera.



Bottom line: Great pictures, great high resolution video, 14mp and 26x zoom. It has some quirks but is a great camera at a great price. Kodak EasyShare Z981 14MP Digital Camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 26x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens and 3.0 Inch LCD

I have only owned Kodak cameras, and the Z981 is an upgrade for me from the Z1485 and the Z712, both of which I loved. What sold me on the Z981 however, was the 26x zoom. My Z712 had a 12x zoom, which was great, and the Z1485 was only a 5x, but it's small and pocket sized...great for throwing in my purse. Now, be advised...I am NOT a professional photographer (or anywhere near one). I am a stay-at-home-mom who has a slight obsession with cameras, but just cannot bring herself to take the SLR plunge. I take daily photos of my son, and of course, family trips/vacations. That said, this camera may be a bit much for your everyday Joe just wanting to take pictures of the family, since this IS pretty large and quite bulky to to carry around once it's in a case...though I certainly don't mind.



In my trials with this camera, I have found only a couple things that I'm not completely happy with. That main one is the battery compartment. While easy to open (just slide the tab and it pops open), it's darn near IMPOSSIBLE to close. I have to use a small screwdriver to slide the tab over once the batteries are in place. Also, when taking video, if you zoom in, it takes a few seconds for the focus to right itself, which may not seem like a big deal, but 5 seconds can be a long time on a short video clip.



As for everything else...I'm thrilled. While the on/off switch may be in an awkward place for some people, it's located in the same spot on the Z712, so I was already used to that. All the dial settings are very easy to use, and when you switch to each one, there's a brief explanation on what conditions you would use that particular setting for. Of course, my favorite is the 'Children playing in sunlight' setting. I can take crisp, clear pics of my boy while he's running around, and not have to worry about them being blurry, or dark. Also, (and one of the most important things, at least for me), the click-to-capture speed is VERY fast. When I push that button, it takes the picture...and I can take multiple pictures, one right after the other, with no delay.



The Share feature is also very neat. I'll admit, I'm still getting comfortable with using the App, but it's coming a little easier to me now. You'll have to download the Share App to your computer if you wish to use this feature. It'll take about 10 minutes to set it up. I think the main reason I love Kodak so much is their user friendly approach to picture taking...it's why they're the only brand of camera I've ever used. The Kodak EasyShare program is SIMPLE to use, and a great place to store or alter your pictures. Their cameras (even one as advanced as this particular model) are very easy to get the hang of after a bit of practice. If you're at all interested in this camera, I say go for it. I'm VERY pleased with mine, however, as I said, it may be a little much for the casual picture taker. - Photography - Superzoom - Super Zoom - Kodak'


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Expandable Multi-handset


I have been using my new VTECH phones for about a month now--I wanted to wait at least this long before submitting a review so I could give the product a workout and submit a fair review.



The phones are light weight but well built; the buttons have a great feel and the display is easy to read. I spent about 10 minutes reviewing the nicely organized and easy-to-understand instruction manual before I was well on my way to programming numbers and setting other features. The sound quality has been consistently good and once you've reviewed the manual you'll find the buttons and features to be quite intuitive.



From a practical standpoint, I was looking for a two-station cordless phone that does not have a built-in answering machine as I have voicemail with my phone service. So this phone fit the bill.



There are a couple of features I miss from my old phones I replaced--a belt clip (for trips to the garage when I don't want to miss a call) and a headphone jack. However, given the excellent price point of this product, I have no room to complain (For long conference calls I have been using the speakerphone feature, which also works well). I read some reviews where people complained that this phone does not have distinctive ring tones. If this is a feature you absolutely can't live without, look for a different product--remember, the price is great for what you get.



In case you're wondering, I have had zero interference with my home wireless network, which would have prompted me to immediately return this product.



The bottom line: If you're looking for a good-quality phone at a very attractive price, this is the one. Vtech CS6219-2 DECT 6.0 Expandable 2-Handset Cordless Phone System with Caller ID and Handset Speakerphone (CS6219-2)

Small, reliable phones. It's an easy way to add a phone to a room that doesn't have a phone jack. Unlike some phones of this type, two people can talk to the same caller on each extension. You don't have to transfer the call to the other handset unit. The speakerphone works great.

We purchased these telephones as a replacement for our old VTechs. We had a problem with our phone system and as a result purchased new phones during the diagnosing phase. Our VTechs lasted over 10 years and, as it turns out, were still working well. So we replaced them with VTechs and glad that we stayed with the same manufacturer. The new phones have all the features we expected and they work great with our phone company's set-up. Easy to create your own directory, retrieve numbers, etc. Most of the functions I did without reading the manual. Very user friendly. You will be glad you purchased this phone system.

This simple set offers solid performance and attractive looks for half the price of the competition. It's perfect for anyone who subscribes to a digital voice service with carrier-based voicemail (e.g. FiOS, Comcast) and doesn't need the fancy features that other sets offer.

Well, let's be honest. The phone is very inexpensive... and you get some of the baggage that comes along with that. Sometimes the signal is crystal clear, however fairly often (enough so that it's very annoying) it picks up other signals. The other signal is so loud that it makes it nearly impossible to hear who you are talking to.



If you're in an urban area or a place with a high population density, it's probably better to go with a phone that broadcasts in a higher frequency spectrum for clearer signals.

After owning a set of 3 GE phones that were total junk, these phones seem to be perfect for my needs so far. I especially like the voice mail indicator. Another issue I had with my old phones is that you had to transfer a call if you wanted to pick it up on a different phone, something my family never mastered. You can pick up a call on these phones without transferring. They are small and lightweight, the volume is great (another GE issue) - so I am very happy!

Have had this phone for about a month, nice and slick, great reception, holds about 3 numbers as a readial option, meaning that you have the option to redial any of the last 3 numbers you just dialed.

Ilumination is good when its dark, you can read all the numbers clearly.



Speaker phone not that good, It sound loud enough, but cant hear clearly what the other person is saying.

This is a great phone. I used to use an AT&T cordless phone with a handset speakerphone and heard static too often. This VTech has good clear sound and is well made. The intercom function comes in handy as well. The only issue I have with it is that it does not have an earphone jack or belt clip - functions I thought every phone offered. Still, I highly recommend.

I read a lot of reviews of this item and decided to buy it. I liked the phone till my wife pointed out that caller ID doesn't work if you have call waiting.



I'm surprised no one mentioned it that I saw. For us, having caller ID during call waiting is one of the main points for having call waiting.



It's a good phone, but if you need that feature, at least the phone we received didn't have it.'


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Office Product - label printer, office product


I needed an inexpensive label maker and found this at Staples ($19.95 on sale). At first I was a bit irked by the apparent problems with the software (which automatically installs when you plug the label maker into a USB port on your computer) and this is where, I suspect, that others have had some problems. Brother did something very stupid with the software that is pre-installed on this device - they didn't bother to add an "update" feature. As a result, many people may not be aware that Brother has updated the driver, the firmware, and both (yes, there are TWO) label editors that work with the PT-1230PC. Unfortunately, you have to go to Brother's web site to find this out on your own.



Also, the default settings cause the tape to waste space while printing labels - it is necessary to hunt around a bit in order to determine how/where to adjust the settings but, again, the label maker can be set so that very little tape is wasted (especially if the same label needs to be printed many times).



Once that the updates are installed (make sure that you pay attention to the instructions on Brother's site) and settings are adusted, this turns into a great little label maker. Had it been less trouble to search around for software updates, I would have given this label maker five stars. Brother PC-Connectable Label Maker with Auto Cutter (PT-2430PC)

I bought the Brother PT-1230PC Label Maker primarily to create labels for hanging folder tabs and interior folder tabs. For hanging folders that take 5 tabs across, this means about a 2.2-inch label. For a simple task, I ran into several issues:



1. I like my label text centered. The P-Touch Editor Lite software installed on the device has a button with a drop-down menu to select text alignment: Left, Center, Right, etc. Unfortunately, it has no effect on the text you enter. Select Center and type, or type, select, and choose Center - it doesn't matter, the text remains left-justified. I searched Brother's support website thinking I may have missed something because they implemented alignment in some non-intuitive way, but there was no information about this topic.



2. As the label needs to be 2.2 inches long, I'd like to type the text and have the software adjust the size to fit a fixed length of 2.2 inches. The Editor Lite allows you to fix the label length, but it doesn't adjust the text size to fit: it simply lets the text overrun the boundary of the label. If you don't fix the label length, it will adjust the length of the label to the text - but not vice versa.



3. I knew going in this model has a manual cutter, so I was prepared to push a button on the unit to cut the label after printing. However, every label starts with 1 inch of blank tape. If you create a 2.2-inch label on screen, when you print it you will get a 3.2-inch label, with your text starting after that blank first inch. So in addition to using the built-in manual cutter to cut the tape and remove it from the printer after it prints, you have to use scissors or a knife to remove the leading blank 1 inch so your label is the length you intended.



This unit might be OK for you if you don't care about the length of your labels, or if your label text is skewed to one side of the label, or if you want to both push a cutter button AND wield a pair of scissors after every label. Otherwise, you might consider the PT-2430PC, which has an automatic cutter than not only cuts the label after printing, but apparently also cuts that annoying leading first inch of blank tape. I assume the built-in Editor Lite has the same broken text alignment; hopefully the full-featured Editor software you can download from Brother functions correctly in that respect.

Sigint is right. Every comment made is accurate even including the lack of text centering. I bought mine at Staples. I am returning it to them today. (I never return anything, particularly something this inexpensive, but this labeler uses batteries and tape way too fast.) If you do buy it, get the a.c. adapter Power Adapter for P-touch (costs about the same as the labeler). I gave the PT-1230PC two stars because it does work and because I should have known better than to expect anything usable from Brother for $19.95 (on sale).



If you want to download anything from the Brother site, you'll need the serial number. Not the number on the bottom of the labeler, but the one on the box (and nowhere else) that you were throwing away.

I have bought 2 of these units and love them. I've seen a few people complain that they could not register to download the software from Brother's site. That's because they didn't open the unit and find the serial number under where the label cart. goes. I was able to download the extra software and it runs fine with the unit. Even the included software is pretty nice. One thing I love is that there is no install needed for the basic software. The printer acts as a flash drive with the application embedded. SO it's easy to take it w/ you and connect to any windows (XP or newer) machine and start printing. I got my units for ~20 each and I couldn't be happier. You will need 6 AAA batteries, but that not a big deal. - Usb - Office Gadget - Office Product - Label Printer'


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Warcraft - wow, mmorpg


This expansion pack introduces the new continent of Outland. This continent can only be accessed with a character that is at least level 58. If you're either just starting to play World of Warcraft, or you have no characters even close to level 58, you may just want to wait to buy the expansion at a later time.



However, the expansion also grants you access to two new races, the Draenei (Alliance) and the Blood Elves (Horde). You won't be able to create characters of either of these races if you don't have the expansion. So, if you want to play one of them you'll need to get it. If you're a new player who's just trying out the game, I'd suggest just getting the basic version and playing one of the original races, rather than spending the extra $40 before you even know whether you like the game.



You should also be warned that if you're upgrading from the original version of the game, even if your copy is already fully patched, you'll have to install the patches again after installing Burning Crusade. This is because they printed the CDs with version 2.0 of the client you use to play the game, but they've issued patches after that which you need to log into the server (up to version 2.05 as of this writing). If you look in the Patches sub-folder of your World of Warcraft folder on your computer, you should already have some of the patches present and be able to simply double click them to install. If you were to try to log in before doing that, you'll have to redownload the patch before it installs instead, which will naturally take more time.



Some people have complained about lag, crashes, and lines to log into the more popular servers. These are all short term problems. A lot of people are very excited about the expansion, and so there are far more players than usual logged in at once, which is straining the servers. Give it a week or two after release and it should begin to settle down.



For the basic version of WoW, the level cap is 60. If you install the expansion, the cap is increased to 70. If you have a level 60 character and want to continue to advance, you MUST upgrade your account with the expansion pack.



Additional level brackets for the Battlegrounds (Player vs Player areas) have been added to accomodate the new higher levels in the game. Also, a new battleground called Eye of the Storm has been made available for characters of level 61 and above. Additionally, around the zones of the new Outland continent, there are PvP tasks you can perform such as taking over control of towers, with the faction that controls all of the towers in a zone gaining a small bonus such as a 5% increase to damage anywhere in that zone.



They've also added a number of new instances/dungeons. The new ones have two settings, allowing you to go through them at either 'normal' difficulty, or 'heroic' difficulty. The heroic setting makes the enemies tougher, and provides increased treasure rewards. This keeps the instances useful for advancement over a larger span of levels than would normally be the case.



Most players will find that, as they do quests in Outland, they quickly begin to get armor that's superior to what they've previously been using. The monetary rewards in the new areas are also increased. Additionally, professions have been expanded to cover the additional levels in the game and tailoring has been expanded to include specialties similar to the way blacksmithing and leatherworking work.



Flying mounts are available on the continent of Outland for those who purchase them. However, these are not available to be used in the two original continents. This is because those areas were designed with the intention that they would only be accessed from the ground and a lot of work would have been required to make all of the quests and visuals work as intended if characters were permitted to fly around freely.



Be cautious about buying this item used. Each copy of the expansion includes a key code that is required to upgrade your account to allow access to the new content. If you buy a used copy of the software where the seller has already used that key to upgrade his account, you'll still be able to install the software upgrade, but the lack of an unused key will mean that you won't be able to apply the upgrade to your account that's required to actually access the new content.



If you install the expansion on a computer where more than one account is used (for example, if you and your spouse each has your own account) then you can only use the key to upgrade one of those accounts. The other account will continue to work, but it will not be given access to the expansion pack content. Therefore, you need to obtain one expansion pack for each account you or your household has if you want to access the new content on all of them.



Edit: As of January 22, 2007 Blizzard has announced on their forums that they're working on allowing players who already upgraded using the basic expansion to then also upgrade using the collector's edition in order to get the limited edition pet. You'll have to call Blizzard's billing service line with the unused collector's edition expansion key, so it's slightly more work than upgrading directly with the CE, but it can now be done. World Of Warcraft Expansion: Burning Crusade - Warcraft - Mmorpg - Blizzard - Wow'


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