Kakaku：5000 saved$50.00 TomTom Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Really nice GPS for a great price!) 『My husband bought this for me after he used a friend's in his borrowed car. The TomTom is easier to use and update (and way cheaper) than the GPS unit that came installed in my husband's truck. TomTom updates are easily downloaded from their website and you can get different voices if you don't want any of the choices it comes with (I love John Cleese but there are lots to choose from.) I also like that it is portable so I can use it anywhere, plus I got the special-offer free case with it . I would highly recommend this GPS unit. You can't beat it for the price.』
(Incredible! The best I've seen) 『Folks, There's so much written about the Tom TOm ONE version THREE that I'm not going to repeat over and over and over the -same'ole same'ole- I've had 4 navigation systems thus far, some pretty expensive ones. The Tom Tom 1v3 is ahead of the pack, it's loade with features and is likely one of the the best supported free online downloaded update units on the market... It's very intuitive and is easy to operate. The menus are well designed and they obviously kept in mind the last thing you want to do is sit in your car and punch a gps for hours to get where you want to go. THis is a breeze to setup, to make a route, and to change the route. There are more downloaded options (both free and paid) than you will have time to research and the user to user map update is genius.
LIke I said, I've had a few of these but I though I'd write this review for you just before buying my 2nd and 3rd unit (for my wife's car and my motorcycle). This is truly a really well designed product and it is a polished product and it's a natural in how you interface to it. SOme navigators I've used present options and flow in strange and unsetteling ways... not the tom tom 1 v3, it's menu setup is cleanly arranged exactly as you would naturally want to do things, and the flow.. it's smooth.
Get it while you can.
Bill 』
(Tom Tom Navigator) 『TomTom One Third Edition Auto Navigation System (Refurbished)
Fabulous product. Simple to use, reliable operation. Great value!』
(just what I needed) 『This is my first navigation system. I am very impressed! I used it on a trip recently and had no problems figuring out the data on the screen. 』
(Good value if you get it for $90 and if you just want a simple GPS) 『I have tried different GPS systems, namely TomTom, iGo, and Mio. My experience tells me that this TomTom is great for people who want something that is simple to use as a GPS, i.e. no fancy stuff, just give me the directions and go go go.
The one feature I really like (and I couldn't find it in iGo nor Mio) is that TomTom can generate alternate routes - Just press the "Generate alternate routes (I forgot the exact phrase, something like that)" button repeatedly until you see one that you are comfortable with. This feature is especially useful when I go on local roads (cuz sometimes their first recommended route is just too complicated).
Also, when you are at the map, press the lower left hand blue box once, you can adjust the volume. No need to go to the main menu.
In addition, you can download many different languages for this unit.
Result: I gave my TomTom to my parents after they told me that they love the simplicity of it!』 『Tom Tom One 3rd Edition GPS (Refurbished) Enjoy safe, relaxed, and cost-effective driving thanks to the TomTom ONE 3rd Edition. And it works straight out of the box! The TomTom ONE 3rd Edition features a user-friendly 3.5-inch touchscreen, loud&clear spoken directions, and comes with the latest and most complete maps of US&Canada. You'll get door-to-door accurate navigation anywhere across the continent. Because you can get new maps and free software upgrades through TomTom HOME, you'll never be out of date. You can even add to, update, and personalize your maps instantly using TomTom Map Share technology. TomTom Map Share is a proprietary map improvement technology unique to TomTom, which enables you to respond in real time to changes in the road network and correct the maps on your TomTom device accordingly. Thanks to the smart user interface, it's easy to make improvements, such as to mark blocked or unblocked streets, reverse one-way traffic or insert new street names, which will instantly take effect. Roads are continually changing. This feature gives you the option to capture these changes on your TomTom ONE in-between map releases, and keep your data current. These changes allow the community of TomTom Map Share users to always have the most up-to-date maps and inside local knowledge at their fingertips. The TomTom ONE 3rd Edition also features a sleek lightweight design that's so compact you can easily carry it to and from your vehicle』
Kakaku：12999 savedToo low to display Garmin Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Mac OS X Compatible!) 『Hopefully I'm not repeating anyone (I scanned the reviews and didn't see this). There is now a Mac OS X version of Training Center. It is compatible with: Forerunner 301, Forerunner 205, Forerunner 305, Edge® 205, Edge 305, Edge 605, and Edge 705 [...]』
(Any level runner will love a Garmin!) 『I am quite new to running and this is my first GPS device. I just got it last night and have only done 1 run with it, so I can't comment on its longevity, but at this moment I can't ever imagine running without one again. It's small and light, you don't notice you're wearing it. The displays are easy to read and programming it is intuitive, though the manual is simple and helpful if you need it. How wonderful to, in a single glance, see my running time, pace and distance! You can customize the display to show a variety of other measurements as well, such as best pace, average pace, speed (current, average and best), laps, etc. I am just a jogger and have never been good at judging my own speed; now I can tell where I am at all times and adjust according to my own goals for that run. You can save your courses and run them against "yourself" as the Garmin remembers previous runs on the same course to compare on the fly. It tracks through foliage just fine and only "lost" me for a few seconds at a time in heavy trees.
This equipment is so helpful in training for any level of run, from my little slow 5Ks to top marathon runners. Anyone will benefit from the accuracy and simplicity of this device. Don't think you have to be an elite runner to deserve one, it will improve your time and your fitness no matter where you're starting. Buy it, or if you want the heart monitor to go with it, buy the 305!』
(Very happy runner) 『I am a long-time runner training for my first marathon. I bought this device for accuracy on the long runs and it's pretty easy to set up and use. I also wear it when biking to get overall distance. The price was very good for this dual-purpose device and I'm very happy with it.』
(Accurate and Easy to Use) 『I bought this GPS to help me train for a marathon. Knowing my pace was a huge difference in helping me run longer distances. The watch seems very accurate and is simple to use and configure to your liking. I love it』
(garmin 205 review) 『I loved this watch it does everything. it works great!! I can't believe i waited so long to get one. It is the perfect thing to get any runner!!!』 『Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn't just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 205 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we've ever tested. Yes, it's that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 205 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. While the 205 doesn't offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor -- for that, you'll need to step up to the Forerunner 305 -- but it's a great way to get basic GPS location and performance data.
View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.
Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305's screen. View larger.
The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you're running or walking. View larger.
The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger.
Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger.
The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger.
Design The 205's design is a radical departure from Garmin's previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn't quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn't much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist.
Not so with the 205. Garmin's engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit's antenna to face the sky when you're running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it's smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness.
Garmin has smartly given the 205 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout.
The underside of the 205 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 205's embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.
GPS Performance The big news about the Forerunner 205 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 205's ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, our product tester had the 205 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 205, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn't faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!
The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap (Forerunner 305 model shown).
While the Forerunner 205 isn't billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There's also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you'll see below, the 205's new "Courses" feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides.
Training Functions The 205 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can't use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it's worthless. When it comes to these factors -- and here's the take home message on the 205 -- this device is successful where many other devices fail.
The heart and soul of the 205 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes.
Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that's most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you'll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it.
Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they've decided to keep a good thing going with the 205. If you're the type that performs best when you've got a competitor egging you on, you'll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.
If you're looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 205 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device.
PC Connectivity and Software Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now -- a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 205 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC (Sadly, Training Center is not Mac-compatible).
In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement.
The 205 is also fully compatible with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren't able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you're a serious endurance athlete, you'll be glad to know that the 205 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.
Pros
Radically new design is better in every way
Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it
Cons
No Mac OS compatibility
Okay, it's bigger than a sport's watch -- but so much more powerful
IPhone 3G used's review (works as advertised and then some) 『This product does exactly what it says it does and very well. It's easily portable and saves camera batteries. It also works perfectly after having gone through the wash in my pocket. (It seems I make a habit of sending electronics through the wash&spin cycles--see other reviews) Anyway, it's kind of like a Swiss Army knife; it's very handy and does what it's supposed to do quite well.』
(CHEAP AND VERY HANDY! VERY ESSENTIAL FOR TRANSFERING PICS) 『Its very handy! and its very cheap! good quality! easy to tranfer pics from digital camera to pc or mac! 2.0 and 10 in 1 is a great combination and plus it can also tranfer pics from SDHC card! Overall great card reader at very low price!』 『This USB memory card reader is the ideal companion for your digital media. Avoid the hassle of carrying a bulky card reader in order to transfer photos, music, data and more between PCs. Compatibility with : Secure Digital: SD, SD Ultra, MiniSD with adapter, MicroSD / TransFlash with adapter. Multimedia Card: MMC, RS-MMC with adapter, MMC Plus, MMC Mobile with adapter, MMC Micro with adapter』
Kakaku：4177 saved$41.77 Hewlett Packard Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (iPAQ 211 Review) 『All in all I'm pleased with the product. It has the best "video/screen" resolution I've seen, battery life is pretty good when you aren't running a boatload of wireless connections, and synching with Exchange is improved over my Palm T|X. All in all the online experience (browsing, mail, synching) is superior to Palm.
Nits and irritants:
1. When connected via USB, I cannot seem to find a way to configure the device to not come on every few minutes (maybe with every change in schedule/mail/contacts, etc.) and it is almost impossible to survive without saving your password as a result. You can't just turn it off it seems, it will pop back on within minutes. Half the time my goal is not to have it sync, simply to let it charge, so this is a major annoyance. If there's a better way, it isn't obvious and that leads to irritant number 2. 2. Documentation, especially configuration assistance is abysmal. What's new about that anymore? The art of good technical writing simply seems lost on us as a society anymore. 3. On occasion you have to wait on some update in the device to finish, just like on PCs. One of the main reasons I spent more on this than I would have on a micro-PC is I wanted instant on for schedule purposes and a usable web interface. It's truly annoying to be delayed. Easiest way to avoid delays seems to be to leave the wireless off as might be expected. The concept of throttling down background tasks seems less advanced. 4. Like a lot of folks I dislike the "up" position on the directional rocker - too small for my fat fingers to use accurately. 5. Text recognition is far inferior to early Palm Graffiti in my estimation. I could really input almost as fast as I could stroke characters on early Palm. None of the input methods on this device are as trustworthy, accurate, or fast, in fact I tend to hunt and peck the keyboard. 6. Oh yeah, really stupid thing - you can adjust the backlight down to 0, that is can't see a thing. Pretty hard to find the slider to adjust it back once you do if you happen to take your stylus off the screen. I don't know what they were thinking. 7. App interface is a bit vertical, that is seems to stack a little too much. Don't like all the drill downs, Palm was quite a bit simpler, and for general purpose more usable in my mind. It can be difficult to figure out why something is "grayed" out or why some button isn't working on iPAQ, and drilling down often requires too many levels in book. Hides/Obfuscates functionality meaninglessly.
Value/Cost: Give the price of micro PCs, 2*s. Interface/Visuals: 4*s. Font scalability is remarkable.
Browsing: 4*s. Nice to be able to see a whole page when you need to. Not all pages reproduce accurately tho.
Wireless: 3*s: Somehow it's just more difficult to configure correctly than it should be.
Synching: 3*s: Especially bad with the auto turn on/alert features. No amount of work seems to get that configured in a likable way. Otherwise pretty good. Blame ActiveSync and the Device here.
Apps: Powerpoint I like, does what I'd want it to in this format. Word seems to not manage graphical content well at all. Haven't tried Excel much or the Media Tools yet.
Palm vs. iPAQ? For usability, simple schedule/contact management I prefer my Palm T|X, cept it's dead. For Web/Browsing and Exchange Integration the iPAQ get's my vote. For input, the old Palm Graffiti with all its proprietary quirks remains the most functional in my estimation.』
(It broke after 10 days and HP would not fix it) 『My ipaq 214 broke after 10 days of use, and HP refuses to fix it even though it is obviously well within the warrantee period. They plan to charge me half the price of the new item. The 24-pin connector was always stiff (unlike the nice cradle that came with my 4700) and became more and more difficult to connect during a trip I took to Iraq. On the 10th day it stopped working altogether, having mashed the teeth on the motherboard. I was only using this to charge the unit. HP simply does not stand by their products.』
(USB Host - lose the laptop!) 『The iPaq 211 is quite a bit bigger than than the 2200 that I have had for 3 or 4 years now and does seem a bit clumsier to hold. BUT it has a larger screen with twice the resolution so that it is a joy to look at and it does seem a bit more responsive. I bought mine refurbished and it's perfect. It did have a few spots of something sticky on it but they were easily cleaned off and there are now no signs that it was anything other than brand new.
The good: It has USB host capabilities so I can transfer photos directly from SD or CF cards to a powered hard drive without a PC or Laptop. You need a special cable which costs another $50 but it is well worth it for me. The hard drive must have a separate power supply, as all 3.5" ones do. The smaller 2.5" drives are usually powered from the USB port and the iPaq has not got enough power for that. However, my Buffalo 320GB ministation is capable of being powered from the mains (my TomTom mains charger fits and supplies the 5v with the correct polarity). File transfer is SLOW (about an hour for 1GB) but that is no problem if you can get through the day and download while you have dinner or something. The reason I value this capability so highly is the ever increasing restrictions on baggage that the airlines are imposing. Hand baggage allowances within Europe are so measly now that a DSLR camera with 2 lenses, a hard drive, a PDA and a silver flute + piccolo is as much as I am allowed leaving no room for a laptop as well. And no, I would not want to pack any of that into the checked luggage.
It has both SD and CF card slots so you can have your cake and eat it. That covers both my point-and-shoot and my DSLR camera so I am very happy. It also means that you can get 64 GB of storage if you invest in 32GB cards in both slots. Yes, it does support SDHC.
It has full VGA resolution so that your photos actually look good. And you can rotate the screen with a long press of a button.
It can run movies (with added software) without significant glitches and the screen does a good job.
The wireless just works. It picks up a new connection without fuss and there is an icon to disable it (to save power) right on the Today screen.
I haven't tried the Bluetooth yet but I see no reason to suppose it works any less well than the 2200 which was fine. Apparently it does support the protocol that allows for stereo bluetooth headphones.
And Skype (free download) works almost as well as on my laptop (without the webcam of course). There is a tiny speaker on the front and a microphone to bottom left so that when you hold the iPaq up to your left ear it works just like a large cellphone.
Some people seem to hate the fact that the headphone jack is at the bottom instead of the top. However, I love that. It means that all the cables come from the same edge. It also means that you can put it in your pocket top down so you can easily reach the control dial and the headphone wire comes straight out from the exposed edge.
The not so good: It takes a second or two to turn on when you press the button. The 2200 turned on almost instantly. Not a deal breaker but disconcerting. Also, the buttons for contacts and calendar do not turn the unit on as they did on 2200. It has to be on already for the buttons to launch the programs.
I read all the reviews of the weakness of the main speaker (at the rear) and decided that for me this wasn't so important. They are right, the speakers are very very quiet. But you can hear it very well if you hold the unit up to your ear and a pair of headphones solves the problem completely. Now I need to invest in a stereo bluetooth pair!
Also you do need to press a bit harder on the screen than on the 2200 but you get used to that very quickly. I found the bare screen rather sticky so that my letters had breaks in them and were therefore mis-recognised. (This could have been because I was afraid of scratching the screen before the screen protector arrived.) Anyway, I forked out for the official HP screen protectors (you get 3 and they last for ages) and after that, writing on the screen was a joy. If choosing off-brand protectors go for the crystal-clear ones rather than the glare-reducing. I think that will get you the smoothest writing experience.
HP has not provided the backup software that saved my bacon a couple of times on the 2200. I believe there are free downloads and I will have to get one (you never know when you'll forget about it long enough for it to run down completely). However, I have now learned to install all new software to a card or to the iPaq store rather than to the default location so that at least I won't lose the programs if the power goes.
Talking of which, the unit does seem to need charging at least every other day. I believe that while in use, the power lasts longer than the 2200, but when in standby, the 2200 would go for the best part of a week without significant discharge. The 211, however, seems to lose 10% of its power just overnight even with bluetooth and wireless turned off. I haven't been able to find out why this is. Some say that it is better if you stop all running programs (and maybe pop the CF card out) and so I have found, but it still isn't as carefree as the 2200 was.
All in all, this is a pretty good PDA and the only one on the market running Windows Mobile that has USB Host capabilities, dual card slots and a big VGA screen. I don't need a keyboard so I am not prepared to pay almost twice as much for a umPC. In spite of its drawbacks, I love the 211 and really enjoy using it.』
(This is my first PDA, maybe I'm just expecting too much.) 『The product itself is not too bad. It has a solid feel to it. Programs open quickly and respond well. As soon as you turn it on its ready to go, there is no bootup time. Has a great picture but lousy sound. I ended up buying a Bluetooth headset so I can hear it. I also strongly recommend buying screen protectors because you'll be poking and stroking pretty hard with the diddle stick until the touch screen breaks in after a couple weeks of use.
The software and firmware is what's bad about it. Every time you put it on or off the charger, connect or disconnect anything, it automatically turns itself on. There is no setting to defeat this. The mobile office software and clear view PDF don't have full screen mode, so a third of the screen is taken up by the window frames. Bring up the input window and now you only have one third of the screen left see what you're working on.
Bottom line, it's a great tool for doing simple tasks. It won't replace a laptop when traveling. If you're waiting for the mini PCs to become practical, this is a great pacifier.
』
(HP IPAQ 211) 『Great product that I'm still learning how to use. This was bought to replace my Palm Lifedrive which was starting to fail. The HP works flawlessly with Windows Vista which the Palm did not. I look forward to learning new things to do with the IPAQ daily.』 『Whether you're an IT manager or a mobile professional, you can maximize your business results with an organizer that makes the most of your on-the-go style. The powerful iPAQ 211 Enterprise Handheld will run your work applications and a broad range of third-party solutions. The large 4" touch screen means excellent viewing in a variety of light conditions. It has robust SDIO expansion and it lets you connect to the Internet and get e-mail, at the office and in Wi-Fi hot spots in airports, cafes, and hotels. IntegratedWiFi - 802.11 b/g with WPA2 security Integrated Bluetooth v2.0 with EDR Marvell PXA310, 624MHz Processor 4 transflective TFT 260K color Display, 480 x 640 pixel (VGA) touch panel with LED backlight 128MB SDRAM main memory for running applications, 256MB flash ROM 2200-mAh Lithium Ion rechargeable, user changeable battery 24-pin docking connector, mini USB, Micro SD card slot Integrated microphone, receiver, two speakers, and 3.5mm 4 pin headphone jack Operating system - Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Classic Dimensions - 4.96 x 2.99 x 0.63 Weight - 114.6 grams (3.68 ounces) with battery』
IPhone 3G used's review (Excellent, awesome, fantastic, stress relieving, voice saving, good fun!!!) 『Now you don't have to lose your voice screaming at stupid drivers. Super entertaining. Amazon asked how I would rate this toy's educational value. I'd say very high because you are educating all those stupid drivers out there to "Just Drive", "Stop" and other choice phrases. This rocks!!!』
(Never had so much fun in the back seat!) 『Just used Shticks while sitting in the back seat. "You're cute?" got so many smiles. When we stopped for a pedestrian, the idiot behind us starting honking and the "Settle Down" in conjunction with "Jackass" Shtick shut him right up. I think these are a really fun way to disarm people or make them smile. Now I am looking forward to my commute so I get a chance to use them. I can't wait to use the "JUST DRIVE" one on a driving texter!!!! I HATE THAT! My blank Shtick now says "You Suck" on the front and "Really?" on the back. I LOVE THESE!』
(I can't believe these haven't been around until now!) 『These are really fun when you are driving with your friends. People don't know what to do when you show them your shtick! These things are just really cool.』 『Sometimes, you just need to say what's on your mind. But who's gonna hear you? Shticks: The Original are the fun visual way to communicate when spoken words just aren't enough. 10 uniquely designed and brightly colored hand held signs will ensure that you always make a statement. Save your breath and say it with Shticks!』
IPhone 3G used's review (Dont waste your money) 『Ok, my kid loves it. But, after seeing it in person, I cant believe how much I was charged for list little plastic toy. Cost is way over excessive. Strongly suggest saving your money, unless money is no object.』
(Don't Waste your Money!) 『My son got this for Christmas. He LOVES it but the day after Christmas the shooter was jammed and Grandma couldn't fix it, even by taking the screws off (it wasn't handled roughly)and the belt, itself, cracked!
It needs some revision in design. The belt should be soft rubber which would prevent it from cracking so easily/quickly.』
(My Son Loves It) 『I agree with the reviewers who stated that the pieces are hard to put on/remove for a 3 year old (he's asking me for help to remove the shooter thing now...) and the foam darts are easily lost (he opened it yesterday, there's 1 of the 3 darts left in the storage compartment. BUT, he loves it enough to want to sleep with it at night and to ask for it as soon as he wakes up and that's the point, right, for him to enjoy it? Plus, this one actually fits a 3 year old, where the reviews for the belt designed for the previous Batman movie was too large for smaller kids.』
(Not very sturdy) 『My son received this as a birthday gift and it broke the 2nd time that he played with it. While I was putting it on him the plastic belt just snapped in half. Luckily we had a different belt from another toy that we could use with the gadgets. The previous reviewer was right about the difficulty of taking the gadgets on and off. There's no way that my 4 year old son could do it without my help. If I had the receipt I would have returned it.』
(Fun, but items come off easily.) 『My son loved this belt. It has fun gadgets, but they were hard to get on and off for a youngster. They have to fit in a hole and then slide. When playing, though, some items came off. On Halloween night, we lost the batarang holder which caused distress for our son. We had to retrace steps and never found it. If used with care, this is a great belt. 』 『Item is in stock and ready to ship.』
『Celestron is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality optical products including telescopes and related accessories, binoculars and microscopes. Celestron is a leader in the sale of performance telescopes worldwide and has very strong brand-name recognition among serious amateur astronomers for superior optics, outstanding design, and innovative technology.This kit contains the CN 16 GPS Accessory and a CN 16 GPS Accessory mounting bracket.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Nice Sim and loads of fun to play !) 『I had bought this as an upgrade to an earlier version. It is fun to play with, though quite basic compared to what is available nowadays. It does not require too much of system resources and provides hours of entertainment and some flight learning.』
(fly high) 『The flight simulator is a flexible product. It allows the use of keyboard flying, if you really want a challenge, or accessory flying with a joy stick or any of the many products on the market today. It is expandable by adding new aircraft. I find it to be a wonderful opportunity to take some time flying and get away from the every day office routine. Microsoft has done a wonderful job with the scenery and many other functions while flying the airplane.』
(Needs Yoke! or at least Joystick) 『Great real-time simulation. This is NOT a *game*- but an exciting virtual reality flight. It does include ATC but NOT the major civilian airlines like I was hoping (American, Delta, United, etc.)
Above all let me stress in this review: YOU NEED THE YOKE. If you can't afford a yoke the joystick is second best but the keyboard SUCKS. I learned that. So it's okay to use the keyboard for your first few flights but be sure to invest in a Flight Simulator yoke (or joystick) if you haven't already.
PS? Amazon: Where did the game go? You are not offering it anymore! :( only 3rd party sellers now? ITS STILL IN DEMAND』
(Love it. Less taxing on your system than Flight Simulator X) 『My son Henry and I enjoy flight simulating together. Our last version was 2002, and the 2004 version is far superior. Most noticeable is an increase in the graphics quality of terrain and clouds/weather. The realism of 2004 is certainly acceptable, and is closer to "X" than to 2002.
More importantly, it runs acceptably (even nicely) on lower horsepower machines...I have it on a Sony laptop (1280x768, ~500MHz Pentium M, 512k RAM, XP SP2) with most sliders set to "high quality" (including bilinear anti-aliasing), and we get a pretty reliable 17-18 frames per second (fps). For us, that's a requirement for good control; lower than that and we both get frustrated.
By comparison, "X" on the same machine, with quality set mostly "Low", barely can get 10 fps. So, there's a big difference in performance.
In short, if you've got a machine of limited resources (especially the 3D graphics chip), stick with 2004. It's almost as good as "X", and you won't be frustrated with lower frame rates. Of course, if you've got a fancy new GPU from Nvidia, go for "X"; it's really great.
』
(FS2004) 『The graphics in FS2004 are vastly superior to those in my older, FS2000. Yet, they don't overwhelm my 2-year old WindowsXP machine, as FSX is rumored to do. Very nice, and customizable.』 『Flight Simulator 2004: A Century Of Flight celebrates the world-altering invention of powered flight -- by taking you on a tour of great aircraft from the past and present! Complete set of historical and modern-day aircraft to fly, from the Wright Brothers' Flyer I to the Boeing 747-700』
IPhone 3G used's review (AN AWSOME FLIGHT SIMULATOR !) 『I LOVE THIS GAME! WHEN I FIRST GOT THIS GAME I WENT STRAIT TO CREATE A FLIGHT AND FLEW A 747 AT NIGHT. I STARTED OUT ON THE RUNWAY BUT I COULDEN'T MOVE FROM THERE. SO I WENT TO GETING STARTED AND THE TOP OPTION WITH THE ASSISTED FLIGHT. THERE ARE A SERIES OF VIDEOS THAT TEACH YOU TO FLY AND A BEGINER'S FLIGHT TO GET YOU STARTED. I SUGGEST GETTING A JOYSTICK WHICH THEY HAVE PLENTY OF AT BEST BUY. I WORKED MY WAY UP FROM A CESSNA TO A BOEING. THEN I STARTED TO BE DISSAPOINTED WITH THE LIMITS OF JET LINERS AND THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NO REAL AIRLINES. SO I GOT AN ADD ON FROM GLIDE-SLOPE. ANYWAY, THIS GAME IS AWESOME! BUY IT!』
(Great, but maybe not great enough) 『After swearing that I'd stick with "Flight Simulator 2002" and forego upgrading it with FS2004, I had a second opportunity to fly this ship. While it's still not quite the wonder sim I thought it would be, FS2004 is a dependable performer. While I was quite happy with 2002, 2004 adds more integrated Air Traffic Control, more realistic looking GPS and pre-flight navigation. In two ways, the new game outshines the ancestors: first is its weather generator - with the most believable clouds of the series - atmospheric effects are much more fluid than on previous incarnations; secondly, the game's engine more appropriately models both the physical and aerodynamic aspects of each plane - rather than just flight performance, we have a better feel for each plane's dimensions, weight and mechanisms, with obvious improvements in the modeling of control surfaces, retracting landing gear, doors and vapor trails. (A great example is the Piper Cub, in which the control cables are a visible part of the flight panel and respond to aileron inputs, but I digress...). Scenery is improved over 2002 - living in the NYC area, I had fun sim-flying along Long Island's south shore.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS FREE IN-FLIGHT LUNCH: All that performance comes at a price, and despite a systems requirement for a CPU in the conservative 450mhz range, I experienced only better than marginal performance on a PC with 6 times that horsepower. The likely critical factor is a video card - my Dell system lacks an AGP or PCI-e bus, so I've been slow to get past Intel's ridiculously underpowered and misnamed Extreme graphics chipset. Frame-rate is smooth, but that's with the options turned down. I still get great looking weather, but AI traffic is painfully sparse. Water effects seemed better in FS2002, with dynamic waves and such of that game missing here. Performance on comparable notebook computers will likely suffer even more. You get more aircraft with this game than older versions - but then again, older versions were always able to accept 3rd party aircraft. The physics of hovering aircraft like Harriers or helicopters seems little changed from the days when people were able to add those planes in FS4 (late 80's early 1990's). Being no stranger to Flight Simulator, I found it was slightly trickier to install add-on aircraft to FS2004 than on the older incarnations of the game - installing some aircraft had the result of missing working gauges; some planes wouldn't install at all.
NOTAM: If you've got a better than decent graphics card (a Radeon 9XXX or GeForce FX) and missed the last few editions of MSFS, then FS2004 is great fodder for your inner armchair aviator; If you've spent less on your system's graphics card than on getting every copy of MSFS made since the days of "Flight Simulator for Windows `95", then maybe you should stick with FS2002.
NO WILDLIFE WAS ABUSED IN THE REVIEW OF THIS PRODUCT EXCEPT: My PC, a Dell Pentium 4 (3.2 Ghz) with 512mb RAM, and no graphics acceleration (yet).』
(Treats the customer as a thief!!!) 『This is the only piece of software I've seen that requires loading a specific CD *each* time you run the program. That is a serious defect---all the worse because it is clearly done with malice aforethought. Program CDs are normally kept in a safe place to avoid being damaged as well as the more serious problem of cluttering up my computer station. The MSFS folks need to get a clue!
I may well send this product back for a refund.』
(Truely "As Real As It Gets") 『I am a private pilot and granted no simulator (under a million dollars) will truly simulate flying, Microsoft at least gives good practice on various skills on REAL WORLD airports. I truly enjoy what Microsoft has done with their Flight Simulator series.
I am impressed on the details at even the smallest airports, generally speaking, even the hangars are in close proximity to where they truly are. Rivers are in the right place, and most highways are running the right way as well! The scenery is close enough that I can manage to use pilotage and dead reckoning to find places and airports without the use of a map or GPS. In my mind that is impressive for software that costs under $50!!!
Although nothing can replace the experience you get in a real aircraft, flying on MSFS can certainly help you with familiarizing with various approaches. With weather settings you can easily bring visibility down to 0 until 10 feet off the runway! I prefer the true to life clouds as opposed to just a white or gray screen that some professional simulators use.
The variety of aircraft is impressive, from GA aircraft all the way up to Airliners and everything in-between, whatever your pleasure is, you can be quite sure that you'll find it. I also have been able to download many of the aircraft I have flown as a pilot. Although they do handle differently on a simulator (as should be expected) I still enjoy the detail that has been put into each and every one of them to make me feel as if I am right in the cockpit, without paying the fuel prices!!! 』
(The best FS till date!) 『I've had MSFS2004 for the last 3 months and there's not a single day that I haven't played it. Its just that absorbing! Some reasons for this are much improved GPS navigation, more interactive ATC and ofcourse, the new airplanes.
But I'm not a huge fan of classic aircraft, and I fly my favourite plane, the 737, all the time and it is an absolute joy to fly it on MSFS2004 with the new GPS system. Its accurate to the T for precision landings. The detail paid to accuracy is mindblowing, specially runways and airport layouts. I live in a relatively smaller city of India and I was stunned to find that the airport layout is almost exactly the same as the real one here!
I do face some problems with the game, mainly with screen resolution which flickers when I have the game on high or ultra-high display settings. Also, external scenery transition isn't smooth with high display settings. Microsoft could also have done a better job with the aircraft paint jobs - the orange scheme of Soar Airlines is disgusting.
PROS:
- New additions like GPS and interactive ATC are excellent - Airports are accurately detailed (there are almost 25,000 of them!) - Good value for money
CONS:
- Doesn't work smoothly with high display settings. Images are not crisp - Cockpit graphics are substandard
TIPS:
- If you're looking for some real challenge alongwith great scenery, try flying the ILS approaches into Princess Juliana Airport in St. Maarten, Madeira in Portugal, Male in the Maldives and Osaka Kansai Airport in Japan (built on an artificial island) - Try flying the polar route and check out the Northern Lights at night! Eg: Taipei-Anchorage, Moscow-New York etc.
Also, I have a question which I hope readers can help me with. I'm unable to turn the aircraft left or right while on pushback. I've tried using the numbers 1 and 2 key as mentioned in the handbook, but it doesn't work. Can somebody help me with this? I would really appreciate the help.
Kakaku：496 saved$4.96 Microsoft Software Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Absolutely does not run on Mac) 『Amazon needs to remove the Mac Leopard compatibility. This is strictly a Windows product. Fortunately, I run Vista through Boot Camp on my Mac. Otherwise, this would be useless. Please update your listing, Amazon!』
(Doesn't run on Intel Mac OSX) 『Doesn't run on Mac with Intel Core duo running OS X. Back to Amazon it goes. 』
(Still The Fastest Interface, Some New Features, Atrocious Tech Support) 『As a loyal user of Streets and Trips for several years, I have purchased every version (often by pre-order) since 2001. In short, S&T has several advantages over online alternatives (and a few limitations) that generally make it a worthwhile investment for both business and leisure travelers.
If you already have a previous version of S&T, purchasing this version would primarily be for updated map data and point-of-interest information. The cosmetics are slightly different than S&T 2008, but there are only a few minor feature enhancements. If you are using Google Maps or Mapquest, Streets and Trips offers four distinct advantages over these free alternatives 1) speed 2) control 3) no advertisements 4) offline access (i.e. no Internet required). Personally, I became a big fan of S&T when I began to travel more frequently prior to having 3G mobile broadband access on my notebook. The ability to quickly get directions while on a business trip is very, very helpful.
.............. Why Pay For Streets and Trips 2009 When Free Online services Exist?...........
1. The speed of S&T is far superior than Internet-based alternatives. This speed advantage is especially apparent when you pan across sections of a map. In S&T, the response is instantaneous. Also, showing the point-of-interest locations (subway stops, restaurants, hotels, etc) is lightening fast. Place the mouse on a particular address or intersecting and select "Find Nearby Places". Almost instantaneously, locations in pre-selected categories appear within a defined radius.
2. The ability to tightly control, save and print maps is big plus for power users. Planning a trip to a new city? You can save as map with directions and locations as a file. Just double click on the file when you are ready to use - just like any office document. For those who make road trips, S&T provides the option to apply different speeds to different types of roads (highways, arterial roads, local roads). Unfortunately, Microsoft stopped allowing input of specific speeds a few revisions ago and now merely has slider bars that range from slowest to fastest. Also as part of this function, Microsoft allows for input of highway/city vehicle MPG and fuel cost per gallon to calculate the cost of a trip.
3. Advertisements are irritating. Time is money. The ability to view and print maps without advertisements is a big plus in my opinion. Why waste your color ink to print a banner ad? S&T allows to see and print exactly what you want.
4. Don't have mobile broadband on your notebook? Want to check destination maps while in the air? Locally stored data is the only solution. Given that the map data is located locally on the user's hard drive, there is no need to get connected to the Internet. Of course, a hybrid environment that uses both locally stored data and online information is the best of both worlds. S&T is almost there (below).
..............What Has Changed Since Streets and Trips 2008? ..............
In terms of what has changed since S&T 2008, the answer is not much. If accuracy is important to you, it always makes sense to get the latest map data that represents both new data and corrections of old data. Point-of-interest data changes much more frequently than street data, so if you a big fan of restaurants this is a valid reason to get the latest version. However, it is important to understand there still appears to be a significant delay, sometimes over 1-2 years before a new restaurant will be added to the point-of-interest data. The inability to update this information in real-time is my biggest complaint about Streets and Trips. While Microsoft is slowly enhancing the live data capabilities, there is still a long way to go. I would guess the real issue is not technical, but financial. Map and point-of interest data is a multi-billion dollar industry. It would probably require a subscription on top of the purchase price to provide higher quality point-of-interest data.
The 2009 version appears faster in use but slower to load. This implies that more data is being loaded into memory upon launch. This might have something to do with a new process that is continuously running, streetsolkshim.exe for which I have not been able to find any information. Zooming appears faster than the already extremely fast 2008 version. However, I have no way of confirming this scientifically.
There are some different cosmetics than previous versions. Most notably are the icons on top menu bar are more descriptive and can be toggled between small and large. They have graphics like a steering wheel button representing the directions function. My guess is the icon scheme is probably designed for traveling retirees with diminished eyesight.
A minor enhancement is the ability to send an address to a mobile phone from within Streets and Trips. Somewhat oddly, the function does not allow directions to be sent. This may have something to do with SMS message length limitations.
One interesting new function that improves Streets and Trips interactivity with the outside world is the Coupon Function. This connects to Entertainment.com database of coupons. Entertainment Publications, the operator of the Entertainment.com web site, predates the web. Basically, it is a company that sells coupon books for $35 with deep discounts for restaurants and attractions. In Streets and Trips 2009, a trial to the service is suppose to be free for two weeks. Afterwards, you need to purchase a subscription. Unfortunately, I have not be able to get the service to work after six (6) calls to Microsoft's horrible Indian-based tech support. The support team members had a poor command of the English language and had zero familiarity with the 2009 version of S&T. The
