Product: Buy Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro Lens with Built in Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras At Amazon!

List Price: $1,622.95

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Compare Prices on Tamron AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD IF Macro Lens with Built in Motor for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

The Tamron SP AF70-200mm R/2.8 Di LD [IF] Macro for Nikon AF Mount is the newest in Tamron’s long line of high quality lenses. This light weight ultra fast telephoto zoom lens has a maximum aperture of f:2.8. No matter where you zoom, this lens will retain this fast aperture, great for low light or sports photography. The built in macro feature of this lens gives great close up capabilities with a magnification ration of 1:3.1. Designed to use on both full frame and APS sized sensors and constructed with 18 lens elements in 13 groups you will be able to product razor sharp images no matter what camera body you use. Attach the included tripod mount for enhanced balance and stability. Feature packed, this lens comes standard with lens hood, case, and Tamron’s unsurpassed 6 year manufacturers warranty.

• Color: Black
• Brand: Tamron
• Model: AF001N-700

Features

• Fast f 2.8 telephoto zoom
• Excellent macro magnification of 1:3.1
• Includes case and lens hood
• Removable lightweight Tripod Holder
• 6 year manufacturers warranty

Great lens at the great price. The best lens of Tamron. Nikon version.
I have used this lens 3 weeks so far, took around 300 pictures. This is the greatest lens Tamron has ever made, I think! I were so surprised about its optical performance, far more than what I expected!! I owned Tamron 28-75 before and this lens is even much better optically. Super sharp in all aperture stops, even at 2.8 ! The colors are very true-to-life and bokeh are so wonderful, creamy. The AF is pretty accurate although not very quiet ( on my D80), but still quieter than the Nikon 80-200 I tried before. The weight: lightest in the class. Built: very nice.You can take off the tripod collar easily to make it much lighter if you don’t need a tripod. If you don’t shoot pro and fast sports to earn money, this lens will meet all your needs. The only missing on this lens is VC ( or VR). But you can not require that at this price! Get it, and you will happy with it.

Simply Outstanding
I have had this lens for a few weeks and it hasn’t been off my d300. It’s sharp at 2.8 and razor sharp by 5.6. In fact at 5.6 I can’t tell it from my Sigma 150 macro. It pairs very well with my Sigma 1.4 TC though the EXIF data is 1 f stop faster than reality. Macro mode is very good and with the 1.4 TC is excellent.

It can be a bit slow to AF in dim light or in macro mode focusing on small objects. If I could only have one lens this would be it.

PL

Good first impression, but critical testing needed
I’ve had some limited use with this lens, but for the most part, I’m pleased on a value basis. I had one serious issue, but it was resolved by Tamron.

Image quality is very nice (on a Canon 40D), with good performance throughout the range. However, the 40D is a smaller sensor design, and the full-frame designs will be more demanding.

Build quality seems about average for this class of lens (which is higher than your typical lenses), and the size and weight are also average. Used on a 40D, the focusing is fast and accurate. Switching to manual is quick, but not as quick nor as easy as on Canon’s comparable USM designs.

Compared to the competition, the Tamron does not have a USM/HSM type motor; therefore, it’s a bit noiser (and doesn’t have the quick manual focus mentioned above). Also, Tamron is not offering a newer teleconverter option like Canon or Sigma.

The serious issue I had was with the tripod collar. It simply would not turn. You’d have to undo the collar and remove it to turn the camera. Tamron replaced the collar, and now it works as designed. An educated guess is that the first collar was slightly out-of-round.

If money’s not an issue, the Canon 70-200 (or IS version) are tough to beat. If not using teleconverters, I’d say I like it a bit better than the Sigma, but they’re close in value.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 DG HSM II Macro Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Movie Title: Support Your Local Gunfighter/Support Your Local Sheriff
Average customer review:

Support Your Local Gunfighter/Support Your Local Sheriff is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Support Your Local Gunfighter/Support Your Local Sheriff

James Garner turns in a enormous performance in this pair of western spoofs, although not related to his favorite Maverick role both films are similar in their humorous style and Garner is objective as crafty as his Bret Maverick character. In Wait On Your Local Sheriff, Garner is a slick drifter who accepts the job of sheriff in a miniature Colorado town and uses his wits and mercurial plan to super up the town and derive the heart of a sparkling yet clumsy lady. In Aid Your Local Gunfighter, Garner is a kept man with a poor habit of losing money to the roulette wheel. He then uses another drifter to pretend to be a distinguished gunfighter in a plan to design some hasty money. Yet when the dependable gunfighter shows up it is up to Garner to place the day. The two films are quite similar and are companion films with many of the same actors and a similar spot engrossing a sly stranger who is able to accumulate over the town and a elegant lady with his charm and ability to out deem his opponent. I bought this combo pack for a huge price; both films are very amusing and are classic western spoofs along the lines of Blazing Saddles only G Rated. A titanic rob for any fan of James Garner or Westerns in general. Unbiased beget definite you regain both films in this clean combo and keep a few bucks while your at it.

These two films are as honorable as it gets when it comes to comedy westerns. The only quandary is the colors on Aid Your Local Sheriff are somewhat musty and too red. The print is definite without any scratches or other defects. It’s fair that the colors haven’t dilapidated well. I watched it on several sources so it isn’t objective the color being off on a particular TV. I calm found it quite watchable. It was at most a minor annoyance.
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]]> http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/03/support-your-local-gunfightersupport-your-local-sheriff-streaming/feed/ http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/02/peg-perego-tatamia-high-chair-cacao-sale-29999/ http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/02/peg-perego-tatamia-high-chair-cacao-sale-29999/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 04:34:53 +0000 maggie9277816 http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/02/peg-perego-tatamia-high-chair-cacao-sale-29999/

Compare & Purchase Peg-Perego Tatamia High Chair, Cacao at Amazon by clicking here!

List Price: $329.99

Amazon Price: $299.99

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Peg-Perego Tatamia High Chair, Cacao Description:

The Peg Perego Tatamia Is a truly amazing! Its definitely a Multi Purpose Seat! For starters, the Peg Perego Tatamia is a baby recliner. A height adjustable comfy recliner from newborn to tots. The Tatamia is also a relaxing, soothing swing complete with a front bar. The Tatamia also converts to a high chair. The Tatamia can be raised or lowered to adjust the height. It also converts to a youth chair by removing the tray. This chair was not only designed to be a comfy feeding space, but it eliminates the need for parents to buy extra gear. It does triple duty as a highchair, recliner and baby swing. With the click of a switch the baby seat slides down out of highchair mode and doubles as a swing. It is not an automatic swing, but just a soft moving pendulum. When not being used, the spring loaded base folds up easily so that the chair can be stored easily in a closet.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18618 in Baby Product
• Color: Cacao
• Brand: Peg Perego USA
• Model: IMTATNAA91PL57
• Released on: 2009-08-28
• Dimensions: 41.50″ h x 24.00″ w x 35.00″ l, 28.00 pounds

Features

• Comfortable seat fully reclines and adjusts to nine heights
• Spring-loaded design allows it to automatically fold to a compact storage size with a smaller footprint than a regular high chair
• The 5 point safety strap and passive restraint T bar retain your child in complete safety
• Wide, spacious, softly-padded seat is covered in our ultimate Prima Classe upholstery
• Can be used later as a youth chair at table

Customer Reviews:

Great 3-in-1 Product!
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1XBXA862NAH01 A video review of the Peg Perego Tatamia.

Finally Found What I Was Looking For…
I had a very difficult time finding the “perfect” highchair (which I’ve decided doesn’t exist), but this comes pretty close. I had been watching the reviews and reading about this chair long before it came out, and since I didn’t think it would be released in time to use with my youngest, I went ahead and bought the Chicco Polly highchair. I hate it. I know most people love it, but I hate it for many reasons - the main one being because the T-bar is attached to the tray. So, we bought the less expensive and more cute-sy Fisher-Price Rainforest highchair. Definite cute, nice toy, but flimsy, cheap, and bad fabric. So, my search continued. I ran across this highchair online and realized that it would, in fact, be released right around when I would need it. I pre-ordered it, and finally received in on Tuesday. Right out of the box, I was impressed! What I like about it: (1) the seat material is very soft, leather-like, and easy to clean, (2) I was able to make all adjustments without ever opening the manual (all levels and buttons are red), (3) the t-bar is attached to the seat (although there is a protrusion on the bottom of the tray so it doesn’t sit flat on a counter), (4) the snap-on tray top covers the entire top of the tray, with no exposed edges or gaps to get food under, (5) it makes a great swing/recliner, (6) it folds easily and compactly, (7) the seat and footrest recline together, (8) it’s just plain cool looking! What I don’t like: (1) the swinging radius isn’t very big - it’s more of a rock than a swing, (2) the tray, when pushed as far towards the child as possible, still leaves a couple inches where food can fall onto baby, and (3) there is a protrusion on the underside of the tray that prevents it from laying flat on a table. For the functionality and coolness factor, I can live with the three things I dislike, and I still think it’s a 5-star highchair/baby swing(rocker)/recliner. My son loves it and seems very comfortable in it and 5 months and 16 lbs, and that’s what really matters. I think I’m going to splurge and buy the 2009 Tatamia Accessory Pack in Orange, but all I really want is the toy bar - I don’t “need” the soft cover or sunshade. All in all, I highly recommend. I’ll post more pictures once my camera battery is charged…

Great chair
This is a great chair. My daughter seems very happy and comfortable on it. I just wish I’d had bought it before, because my baby was 7 months when we got it and she wasn’t interested in the swing anymore.

It feels very sturdy even when my daughter moves a lot like if she were jumping.
The wheels are very soft on the floor and the material is extremely easy to clean, it really doesn’t matter that is white!!! Some crumbs may get into the corners of the seat, but nothing that can’t be cleaned in five seconds.

The tray is a little hard to get out, but I guess that’s for security reasons and with a little practice it gets easier every day. On the other hand it doesn’t get as close to the baby’s body as in other chairs, so it leaves a couple inches where food can fall, but I’ve solved the issue using a bib with front pocket.

From the Manufacturer
The Tatamia is a multi-purpose baby seat that is so much more than a high chair. It simplifies your home by replacing three pieces of gear (high chair, recliner & swing) to meet every phase of a child’s life, from newborn to toddler.

Compare & Purchase Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 Home Theatre Projector V11H336120 at Amazon by clicking here!

List Price: $1,599.99

Amazon Price: $1,425.14

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Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 Home Theatre Projector V11H336120 Description:

Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 8100 1080p 3LCD Home Theater Projector

• Brand: Epson
• Model: V11H336120
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 5.40″ h x 17.70″ w x 14.20″ l, 16.10 pounds

Features

• Rich, vibrant color and reliable performance ¿ 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine
• High-definition, 1080p home theater experience ¿ D7 panel delivers 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Astounding clarity ¿ 36,000:1 contrast ratio
• Stunning picture uniformity and clarity ¿ stateof- the-art lens by Fujinon
• Amazing, true-to-life color ¿ Epson exclusive Cinema Filter with an expanded color gamut

Customer Reviews:

AWESOME projector!!! I’M VERY PLEASED!!
This technically is my third projector so I am experienced in projectors. My InFocus Screenplay 4805 had reached 3000 hours and the lamp burned out. I was ready to upgrade. At first I bought the Sanyo PLV-1080HD as an open box buy. When I got it home, to my dismay there was over 700 hours on it! BUMMER!! Since I had 30 days to return it, the salesman told me new projectors were on the way and to hold tight. (I would never buy a demo projector again!)

Well two weeks later I saw the Epson in the store. Since I had the Sanyo for 2 weeks, I had something to compare it to. The blacks are twice as good. It is super bright. The colors POP like an LCD TV. Basically it turned my white screen at home into the world largest flat panel. They had a gray screen at the store and the whites were still plenty bright. The screen at the store had glass particles that showed up and were distracting during the movie, so I won’t be purchasing a glass particled screen.

Both projectors were much better at my home. The demo room has too much light near the screen. At home, I was a little alarmed by the Epson 8100’s oversaturated color right out of the box. The Sanyo was pretty good right out of the box, but the Epson demands adjustment. On HDTV (Cox) most of the people were overly reddish. One of the preset modes for HDTV removed too much color.

I found a review of the projector that included calibration configurations and that made a WORLD of difference. That’s when it started to shine even on ECO mode! (I think it could beat Sanyo PLV-1080HD’s brightest mode on ECO mode!) I am so excited to have purchased this brand new. I find it a definite upgrade to be able to go 4000 hours on a bulb and only pay $300 for a replacement versus Sanyo’s approximate 2000 hours and $400 for a replacement.

Blu-rays were awesome on the Epson 8100. Razor sharp. Even up close to the screen, you can hardly see the porch screen. The contrasts and shadow details were notable.

There are plenty of parameters to adjust this projector. With the warranty, lamp life, and awesome picture. I will definitely be pleased for a long time.

Some reviews went back and forth about organic versus inorganic panels and guess about what kind of panels this projector is made of. The two year warranty give me peace of mind that if the panels go bad, I will get it fixed.

I have used a projector since 2005 and I have used it for TV, movies and some computer use. I do cut it off if I’m not watching but I have fallen asleep a few times. It’s on most of Saturday and Sunday. Still in 4 years, I only used the In Focus for 3000 hours.

I had considered having a LCD TV in addition so I could save the bulb, but I can buy a lot of bulbs for that cost and even a 52″ TV seems tiny after being accustomed to a 92″ screen. I was watching Larry King and the wall behind him was true black. The color was awesome. CNN shines! Sports look GREAT. (Sports were dim on the Sanyo PLV-1080HD.)

My projector is at least 20 feet away and giving off plenty of light even with my lights on. According to one of the reviews, the light is considerably cut when you have it too far away. I have it at the longest distance where you can have it 100″ and using ECO lamp with the light off and it’s plenty bright.

I have it on a shelf in the back of the room so I can still enjoy my ceiling fan in the summer. The exhaust vent on the front is a life saver on this unit. The Sanyo was blowing hot air and some bright light out the side of their projector. The Sanyo did have a door to hide the lens but Epson has a lens cover. Since I can easily reach the lens, I’ll just put the cover on, when I’m finished. I may even purchase a full projector cover for when it’s not in use to cut down on dust.

There were overwhelming positive reviews for the Sanyo, but this Epson will blow it away. Even the exterior design in a little more sexy in pearl white and a little bit more stream lined and less boxy.

Finally, don’t pay full price as it’s a buyer’s market. I got an awesome price at a major retailer and for 0% financing, so get yours today! Get this projector!

Phenom projector I could actually get my wife excited about!
Short of it–AWESOME! I’m projecting a 150″ screen from about 16′. BluRays are unbelievable–theater quality. Very quiet. Very easy to install and adjust (first one I’ve done and it took 5 minutes to set up out of the box, and then another 1-2 hours spent mounting it) It is very bright–room does not need to be black for excellent image. What else can you say? It does what it says. Beware other cheapy projectors w/o lens shift, though–lens shift on this makes the installation so easy and gives a lot of latitude as far as height and distance from screen/wall.

Fantastic Projector!
I have immense praise for the Epson 8100 home cinema. My last projector was a 1300 lumen 480p Mitsubishi (HC100) and this projector is just so much higher quality it’s stunning. It’s quieter, brighter, immensely more clear, and boots to display much faster. I have not had any large issues with it yet. If given the choice I would absolutely buy this one again. I do have a good basis of comparison too, my friends all have projectors in their homes as well and the Epson easily competes with my buddies $5000 projector that he purchased around 9 months before this one.

Two things I would like them to change…
1. When displaying via the HDMI input, I would like to be able to re-size the image. Even if the signal is sent at 1920×1080, there are times I want to zoom in or stretch the image (Fullscreen DVD played on a windows desktop at 1080p)
2. When looking at BIOS Setup on the Media PC I have connected, the BIOS menu is all jammed up on the left side and does not format correctly. This is due to the projectors improper support of “Text Mode”. It’s usable, but looks bad.

5 stars, worth every penny I paid for it. LOVE IT!

From the Manufacturer
Captivating quality and color at a compelling price point. — Experience rich cinematic adventures at home with the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8100. This affordable projector puts you in the middle of the action with blockbuster brightness and contrast. Whether you enjoy movies, games or sporting events, every image is sure to pop off the screen thanks to Epson’s D7 chip and an impressive contrast ratio up to 36,000:1. With Epson’s 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine, 1800 lumens of color and white light output^* and HDMI connectivity, you get dynamic high-definition performance. Best of all, with the exclusive cinema filter from Epson and powerful lens by Fujinon^® — a brand trusted by renowned Hollywood filmmakers — you’re sure to experience movies like never before. And, it offers easy maintenance with an efficient cooling system and convenient dust filtration system. So, bring home the PowerLite Home Cinema 8100, for big-screen entertainment you have to see to believe — all at an incredible value.

Quality and Color That’s Beyond Amazing

3LCD technology delivers amazing color and detail. Whether it’s a blockbuster movie or live sporting event, 3LCD technology takes video performance to the next level. Delivering legendary image quality, this innovative technology always ensures a stunning cinematic experience.
Color — 3LCD technology goes far beyond ordinary color. “Clear,” “rich” and “vibrant” barely begin to describe the incredible depth and brilliance it delivers. The impact is stunning. It’s an astonishing level of realism you never thought possible.
Reliability — 3LCD technology is durable and dependable. Road-tested by millions of projector users around the world, it has been used in more projection products than any other.
Detail — 3LCD technology offers extraordinary detail. And detail is what exceptional image quality is all about — from movies to videogames, 3LCD light engines deliver incredible, jaw-dropping detail — the kind that puts you right in the middle of where the action is.

Amazing Color and White Light Output

Color light output is a metric reported in lumens. It measures a projector’s ability to deliver color. Developed by color scientists, color light output provides a simple and accurate way to evaluate projector color performance, which helps end users make better buying decisions. Color light output is critically important because color is a key indicator of picture quality. When color light output and white light output are equivalent, you get optimal color performance. With Epson, you can be confident you’re getting what you need because Epson measures white light output according to the ISO 21118 standard, a more rigid standard than the maximum or outdated ANSI lumens rating used by competitive products.

Energy-efficient E-TORL^® Lamp

The innovative E-TORL lamp, exclusively from Epson, is a reliable performer that delivers more lumens per watt and lasts up to 4000 hours.^** Switch the projector to High Brightness Mode and the E-TORL lamp still produces up to 4000 hours of light performance. The special E-TORL design minimizes both light diffraction and light leakage, providing you the ultimate in lamp longevity. So, while the E-TORL lamp maximizes your viewing time, it also minimizes your costs.

Home Entertainment Made Easy

The PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 provides astonishing placement flexibility with a 2.1x zoom ratio and vertical and horizontal lens shift (without image distortion). Additionally, there are two HDMI ports for flexible connectivity options. The PowerLite Home Cinema 8100 works with any blank wall or screen and projects DVD movies up to eight times larger than they would appear on a 40″ widescreen TV. In fact, it displays an 80″, widescreen image from just 8 feet away, or a 120″ image from just 12 feet away.

OptiCinema^™ Lens for Outstanding Picture Quality and Easy Set Up

The OptiCinema lens system is a precision, high-quality, optical grade system. Co-developed with Fujinon, a top supplier of precision camera optics to the world’s leading HD camera makers, this system offers excellent picture uniformity and clarity across the screen.

Features/Benefits

• Rich, vibrant color and reliable performance — 3LCD, 3-chip optical engine
• High-definition, 1080p home theater experience — D7 chip delivers 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Astounding clarity — up to 36,000:1 contrast ratio (Auto Iris On)
• Stunning picture uniformity and clarity — state-of-the-art lens by Fujinon
• Amazing, true-to-life color — Epson exclusive cinema filter with an expanded color gamut
• Brilliant images, anytime, day or night — 1800 lumens color light output, 1800 lumens white light output^*
• Unobtrusive operation — low fan noise (just 22 dB) so the audience can focus on the soundtrack
• Cutting-edge connectivity — two HDMI ports for maximum flexibility
• Energy-efficient E-TORL lamp — 200 W lamp lasts up to 4000 hours^**
• Smooth gradations — 10-bit panel driver
• Ideal for fast-action movies, TV shows — advanced, high-speed auto iris function adjusts light output up to 60 times per second
• Easy maintenance — convenient dust filtration system with large surface area for greater efficiency
• Outstanding support — 2-year limited warranty; two-business-day shipping service
• Dimensions (W x D x H) — Excluding feet: 17.7″ x 14.2″ x 5.4″ and Weight 16.1 lb

Epson Home Entertainment Projectors

Epson high-definition projectors take home theater entertainment to a whole new level, featuring color and detail that’s sure to win rave reviews from friends and family alike. With the vivid realism of Epson 3LCD technology, these projectors will make your home the hottest ticket in town. Experience movies, games and sporting events like you never have before. Designed by the world leader in projectors, these models are the ideal choice for amazing home entertainment that all are sure to enjoy.

What’s in the Box

• PowerLite Home Cinema 8100
• Power cable
• Projector remote control with batteries
• User manual

• Designed to be recycled^****

* Light output varies depending on modes (color and white light output). White light output measured using ISO 21118 standard.
** Lamp life will vary depending upon mode selected, environmental conditions and usage. Lamp brightness decreases over time.
*** See our website for convenient and reasonable recycling options at www.epson.com/recycle

Epson and E-TORL are registered trademarks, Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark and Better Products for a Better Future is a trademark of Seiko Epson Corporation. PowerLite is a registered trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2009 Epson America, Inc. 8/09

Compare & Purchase Iomega MiniMax Hard Drive, FireWire 400/USB 2.0, 1TB - 33957 at Amazon by clicking here!

List Price: $208.99

Amazon Price: $138.69

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Iomega MiniMax Hard Drive, FireWire 400/USB 2.0, 1TB - 33957 Description:

Add 1TB of capacity to your Apple Mac mini with the Iomega MiniMaxDesktop Hard Drive. Its compact, stackable, design provides maximum storage to manage, organize and protect your digital photos, music and movies in stylish simplicity. The drive is also expandable with a three-port FireWire and three-port USB 2.0 integrated hub to help you go with the flow!Save up to 4,000,000 photos, 18,500 hours of music, or 1500 hours of video.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1386 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Iomega
• Model: 33957
• Format: CD
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 12.25″ h x 8.50″ w x 3.50″ l, 3.57 pounds
• Hard Disk: 1TB

Features

• Comes with Iomega MiniMax Desktop Hard Drive, USB cable, FireWire 400 cable (1394a), Power supply, Power cord, One Solutions CD
• Expandable - More connection capabilities with three FireWire ports and a three-port USB integrated hub
• Smart - Interactive cooling system with thermal probe automatically regulates fan speed
• Secure - Comes complete with EMC Retrospect software for hassle-free backup and disaster recovery
• Compact - Just 6.5? square and 2? tall, takes up minimal space

Customer Reviews:

Not just for the Mac Mini
Not just for the Mac Mini

I originally purchased one of these as a companion to a Mac Mini. But it has been such a spacious and reliable drive that I have purchased more for different machines including my Windows laptop. And the built in USB hub is a nice touch. It is so convenient I don’t know why it is not a standard feature of all external hard drives. I highly recommend for use with PCs or Macs.

If you do use it with a Mac Mini, I have a recommendation. Somewhere in the documentation I read where it suggested to stack the MiniMax under the Mac Mini. While it does fit and stacks nicely, it gets way to hot. I would recommend putting them side by side.

9/22/2009
While I can’t refute other reviewers’ experiences, I can share my own. I now own 6 of these drives, one 500 gig and five 1 terabyte models that I have purchased gradually over the past year and a half. I’m actually here to buy two more. They all were shipped the next day and arrived from Amazon in new condition. And all 6 of them are still running flawlessly. I still highly recommend this drive.

Does what it’s supposed to and looks good doing it
This is a solid product for a good price. It looks good and is a great addition to a Mac Mini media pc set up. Stack these things up and you can get all your dvd’s on there with the right software. Works like a charm.

That said, it is worth noting that, as of today (5/29/09) not a single one of the 1 star reviews has had anything negative to say about the actual product as far as I can tell. That is, they either didn’t receive it, or it took too long to ship, or it had scratches on it or looked used, etc. I realize that people need a place to post their problems,and those are legitimate problems. It’s just that ALL of the negative reviews are not actually about the usefulness or functionality of the product itself. Just something to keep in mind when you might be tempted to overvalue the star rating.

Easy Setup
It was extremely easy to setup the drive. Just plugged it in and it was Mac formated and found by the OS. It has been running 24/7 since I purchased (only a few weeks now), but is quiet, not terribly hot, and functioning as intended.

Product: Buy Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Vibration Reduction Zoom Nikkor Lens - Gray Market At Amazon!

List Price: $699.95

Amazon Price: $528.35
Click Here To See Amazon Sale Price

Add to cart to see low price@

Availability: In Stock

Usually ships in 24 Hours

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Compare Prices on Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5 - 5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Vibration Reduction Zoom Nikkor Lens - Gray Market

new high-performance 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor lens, featuring a new optical formula and Nikon Vibration Reduction (VRII) this new Zoom Nikkor is capable of producing images with clarity and contrast typically found in lenses costing much more. Comprising many of Nikon’s most advanced features such as Nikon ExtraLow Dispersion (ED) glass, Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and enhanced Vibration Reduction (VRII), internal focus (IF), as well as optics perfected for use with both Nikon DX format digital and 35mm filmSLR cameras, the 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor is sure to appeal to a broad spectrum of Nikon photographers.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31763 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Nikon
• Dimensions: 2.40 pounds

Features

• Minimizes the effects of camera shake
• Allows photographers to shoot hand-held at as many as 4 shutter speeds
• Minimize chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range
• Enables fast and quiet autofocusing
• Improved handling characteristics and the elimination of the rotation of front lens element

Be very careful
I’ve heard of many people buying “grey/gray market” lenses and cameras and then being denied service by Nikon when the item breaks or has a problem.

I’m NOT saying this lens is a bad lens, I only want people to be aware that this could be a potential problem after your purchase.

Movie Title: Gladiator - Extended Edition
Average customer review:

Gladiator - Extended Edition is available for streaming or downloading.

Click Here to Stream or Download Gladiator - Extended Edition

I’ve objective examined some of the fullsize screenshots over at AVS and this ‘blu-ray’ looks unpleasant.

Buy,Download, Or Stream Gladiator - Extended Edition! Click Here

It uses DNR and EE throughout.

DNR - In 2008, a lot of studios were using this process. Basically, it digitally ’smudges’ the image to cloak any evidence of film-grain and, predictably, blu-rays with DNR discover like s–t. Most studios have stopped using DNR. But Paramount, apparently, is continuing to release this smudgy garbage and trying to pass it off as ‘high definition’

(If you want the DNR experience at home; you can collect the same finish by smearing vaseline all over your TV situation. Yes, that’s about what it looks like)

Buy,Download, Or Stream Gladiator - Extended Edition! Click Here

EE - Edge Enhancement; in DVD days, when everyone was watching on cramped televisions, studios would exercise EE which basically messes with the colors a bit and adds intellectual white halos all around the edges (’enhances’ them) That might have made sense on a 10″ mask, but on a decent sized television it looks awful.

There should be a generous release of this soon. Wait for that.

This review refers to the blu-ray narrate quality only. The movie itself is an absolute classic. Unfortunately this blu-ray was a victim of mighty DNR and EE that has actually removed and distorted record detail. Here’s a respectable example. At the beginning of the movie where we stare Maximus as a General leading a final battle, you stare an astonishing wide shot of flying, flaming, arrows. It should search for improbable, proper? Obnoxious. The relate was DNR’d so badly that it actually removed arrows and the ones you can recognize are a blurred mess! Absolutely abominable. Don’t ruin your money on this. Wait until they release a quality blu-ray because “this is not it!”
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]]> http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/01/gladiator-extended-edition-movie-streaming/feed/ http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/01/magellan-maestro-3220-35-inch-portable-gps-navigator-with-text-to-speech-sale-13995/ http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/01/magellan-maestro-3220-35-inch-portable-gps-navigator-with-text-to-speech-sale-13995/#comments Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:33:27 +0000 maggie9277816 http://wearechangefl.org/maggie9277816/2010/09/01/magellan-maestro-3220-35-inch-portable-gps-navigator-with-text-to-speech-sale-13995/

Compare & Purchase Magellan Maestro 3220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech at Amazon by clicking here!

List Price: $249.99

Amazon Price: $139.95

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Magellan Maestro 3220 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Text-to-Speech Description:

MAGELLAN Maestro 3220 3.5 Inch Auto Navigation. The Magellan Maestro 3220 delivers a feature rich navigation experience at a highly affordable price. Its new industrial design is ultra thin and elegant, while its intuitive user interface guides drivers to their destination via voice and on screen prompts. Essential features include 6 million searchable points of interest, pre loaded maps of North America, Puerto Rico, and Mexico, multiple look up options, and more.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21731 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Magellan
• Model: Maestro 3220
• Dimensions: .70″ h x 3.25″ w x 3.65″ l, 1.01 pounds
• Display size: 3.5

Features

• Ultra Thin Auto Navigator
• 3.5 in QVGA Color Touch Screen
• Pre Loaded North American Maps w/6 Million Points of Interest
• SiRFstarIII / Fastest GPS Position Acquisition in the Industry
• 1.7 Lbs (WxLxH) 0.7″ x 3.65″ x 3.25″

Customer Reviews:

Don’t buy
Magellan Customer service is the worst customer service I have ever dealt with. They offer a free 30 day map update since all of their products ship with out of date maps. This would be a good thing except it is in the fine print of their products and their customer support email address that their website list is the wrong address. I had to get through to their customer service by posting a bad review on their website. By the time they responded my unit was beyond the 30 day limit and they refused to give me the update. This is a bad business practice. Garmin has a 60 day guarantee which is posted directly on their website in plain view.

I love it!!!
This is my first GPS, but I assure you it does everything I need/want it to do. It is NOT widescreen, but the screen is still plenty big enough to see easily. It has options to search for local banks, restaurants, gas stations, etc. The voice is sufficiently loud and clear as it gives out step by step instructions. One thing that confounded me a bit was I had to go into “options” to turn on the text to speech. The default setting only announces whether you take a right or left. Once you turn on the text to speech, it says the street names and everything. In fact, if you enter custom addresses, it will announce those, too. Very nice GPS!!!

support
The feedback for this gps is misleading a lot, in my personal eyes. The bad feedback is only regarding company service, rather than the GPS tool.
I didn’t deal with issues with Magellan company, so I don’t know how that is. However, this GPS is actually the best one since I owned. In past 5 years, I owned one GPS from MIO, one GPS from Garmin, two GPS from Megellan, and another one GPS connecting with PDA. In general, Garmin 350 and this one are the best in my mind, but this one is much cheaper. I’ve recommended many friends around me for this tool.

Product: F**K - A Documentary
Average customer review:

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It’s puzzling how words do people differently. Some are strongly affected, while others pick them in sail. But one thing is for sure, the F-word has been a contentious four-letter symbol for a multitude of reasons.

Buy,Download, Or Stream F**K - A Documentary! Click Here

First, is where it came from. There are so many deceptive claims as to boggle the mind. Most of these fallacies center around a Playboy Magazine article from the 70s that said the F-word was “An order from the King to go forth and propagate.” Supposedly this originated sometime around the 17th century and, of course, it’s completely counterfeit. Helping to dispel this anecdote, the F**K documentary seeks to speak and entertain and does so for the most fragment.

So where did this dastardly word reach from? The simple acknowledge is: we don’t know. We do know that it first appeared as a written word around 1456, but that’s about it. What we do know is that now the word is held as vile filth by some, while others expend it daily.

Buy,Download, Or Stream F**K - A Documentary! Click Here

Cutting a substantial swathe across socio-political and generational lines, the documentary interviews everyone from cursing experts and porn stars, to Miss Manners and Pat Boone.

Anyone enthusiastic in the First Amendment should no doubt discover this documentary along with THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED. Both focus on America’s disdain for words over violence. It’s quite all true to shoot someone in the face on TV, but say the word “F**k” and you’re in titanic wretchedness with the FCC. A brief and sexually explicit scene from a European rock concert shows how begin other nations are to sexuality and the F-word’s deliver meaning, while American’s can’t seem to earn over it.

That being said, I will say that I exhaust the F-word on occasion but only within an appropriate context. I don’t be pleased comedians who exhaust it in every sentence (Chris Rock immediately leaps to mind) simply for shock value. I guess you could say that the F-word has its status in our society but, like chocolate, if you over-indulge in its spend, you’ll slay up with a gluttonous-type pickle. Whereas chocolate might waste up giving you diabetes, over-usage of the F-word might destroy up making those around you haunted away.

Some of the more funny moments in the film are with Pat Boone and rapper Ice-T. Pat Boone, Mr. Natty, never curses. What he does do is employ his hold last name as a sort of cursing venue. “If I find aroused about a abominable tennis shot, I’ll shout `Boone!’” Ice-T heard this and, of course, faded it to stout advantage. He found it comic and said that “Tonight I’m gonna go home and Boone my wife.”

Another pleasurable aspect in the film was showing how hypocritical some politicians were. Most critical among them were Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. Nixon probably had one of the foulest mouths ever to enter the Whitehouse, while George Bush enjoys sticking his middle finger up at cameras. This is quite ironic since these conservative “gentleman” are the one’s who’ve lambasted the liberal left for its unruly and depraved befriend on free speech when referring to the word f**k.

This is a very gripping documentary with plenty of playful and nice people giving their views on this dinky word.

It’s clearly hard to write a review of this movie, why, well it’s about a word that is specifically banned in Amazon’s reviews. We’re left to the euphimisms they mentioned in the movie.

All kidding aside, the first half of this film is remarkably pleasurable. It’s well attach together and makes a lot of sense. Impartial after the couple simulating sex at the rock festival in Europe, the film impartial becomes repetitive and tiresome.

The movie is a classic talking head documentary. There’s some cute animmation between segments (study the mask art, the same artist did the inter segment work) . A couple of talking heads against a gloomy background talk about some aspect of the word. It goes attend and forth, and sometimes a clip is shown to illustrate the point. There’s subtitles that are supposed to be witty (not really) . The talking head list is very wide - from Miss Manners to Ron Jeremy (that aesthetic well covers the gamut there) . Tera Patrick is surprisingly smart. And of course I’d like the movie when Kevin Smith talks.

There’s a couple of gracious segments about Lenny Bruce and George Carlin - in so many ways this film should be about these two guys.

How offensive is this film - it’s not really. That word is traditional over 800 times. But after about number 100, it’s nothing. In fact you kind of gain yourself leaning toward saying it in casual conversation. The views are somewhat well balanced between conservative notion (Pat Boone) and liberal idea (Kevin Smith) . It isn’t apparent the director had an axe to grind one method or the other.

An hour and 30 minutes, roughly. It’s so R rated. Actually when you gather down to the nudity, it’s R not anywhere advance NC-17. No violence. Minimal nudity (you would demand more) . Tons of strong language.
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Compare & Purchase Magellan Meridian Color Handheld GPS Navigator 16 MB at Amazon by clicking here!

List Price: $499.99

Amazon Price: $499.95

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Magellan Meridian Color Handheld GPS Navigator 16 MB Description:

Full Color 120 x 160 pixel display. Accurate to within 3 meters or better. Easy to use. Built-in mapping of North America and unlimited expandability with removable SD memory cards. Full Featured Navigation. Store up to 20 routes and 2,000 track-points. 2 Million. Save Track-to-Route - convert complicated track files into easy to follow routes. NorthFinderTM shows your direction even when standing still. Sun/Moon positions shows you when the sun will rise and set, as well as the phase of the moon, for any date and location in the world. Fish and game calculator. Monitor the GPS satellites in view and get information about their status.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39829 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Magellan
• Model: 980598-18
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.75″ h x 6.00″ w x 8.75″ l, 9999.00 pounds
• Native resolution: 120 x 160

Features

• Full-color 120 x 160 pixel display; backlit for easy night-time use
• Uses WAAS technology for accuracy to within 3 meters or better
• 16 MB of built-in memory includes mapping of North America and unlimited expandability
• Rubber armored construction is impact resistant and waterproof
• Runs for up to 13 hours on 2 AA batteries; includes USB interface with cable

Customer Reviews:

A wonderful GPS worked great!
Just returned from a trip to Europe, and I have to say this GPS is stellar. I read some of the other comments below and let me offer some advice that clears up some of the problems.

The backlight is adjustable, there is Bright, Dim, and Off. You change from one to the other by holding the power key down for a few seconds.

There is a work around for the maps. I was able to download all of german, netherlands, italy, most of poland etc. You need an SD card programmer to do it, and either 128 mb or 64 mb cards. I needed 192mb total to store what I wanted. Each “Region” that you want to store has to be under 16mb. You can store up to 4 regions in a “Map”. You can store as many maps as you want to the SD card, but you will need to rename them from “Region00.” to “Region01″, “Region02″, etc. In this way you are able to store multiple 64 mb “Maps”. You can change which map you are using by going to card utilities->select map. Waypoints and routes are stored in the GPS, so they will be sticky if you switch cards.

Using this method you can download all the maps you could possibly need during your trip, and not have to lug a laptop or any software around with you, maybe a couple of postage-stamp sized sd cards. Also note that you’ll want to load at least 16mb of the European basemap onto each sd card if you will be using it in europe.

Be sure to format your SD cards before using them!

I think the unit would work with 512mb sd cards, but I don’t have a 512mb card to test with.

Another important note is that magellan is releasing Turn-By-Turn software for this GPS this Month! It will retail @ 149.99 and if you do a cost comparison between the magellan and the garmin software, the magellan will now work out cheaper AND provide turn by turn routing with voice prompting (This is just a fantastic software upgrade, I can’t believe it can be done without buying a new GPS. I will have to see how well it works when I receive my copy however.).

Some items that keep this from getting 5 stars:

Non-intuitive user interface for loading multiple maps (workaround described above)

Battery life - I went thru about 4 2100 maH AA batteries a day. I had the backlight auto-off set at two minutes, but wanted the gps on all the time to get accurate routing. I remember by GPS V goes for a couple days on one set of batteries, although it uses 4 batteries instead of two.

No compass - this makes it kind of tricky to navigate if you’re walking. The directional arrow is frequently inaccurate, so you have to cross check the street that you are on. I’d love to see a screw on magnetic compass attachment for this unit. The sport-trak color has the compass, but only allows 10 or so MB of built in maps.

No built in auto routing - was kind of dismayed to find it didn’t have this originally, but with the promised software upgrade, it should be good. I do feel that this should be built into the unit, as a I think every user out there would want it. $150 is a bit much to pay for software that should really be included with the unit.

Annoying alarm when battery reaches critical - There are some times that you don’t want to advertise that you are carrying around an expensive device, and having the alarm go off in the middle of a subway or something could be dangerous. Didn’t fully investigate if this can be turned off.

Difficult to tell which button you’re pushing if it’s in your pocket - a little bump on the power and enter buttons would help for unseen operation.

External connector is slow to connect disconnect - you have to turn a screw to connect the external car power or PC interface cables, which takes 60 seconds or so, maybe 30 when you get good. Very difficult to accomplish while driving.

Annoying alarm when external power lost in car - my car connector kept turning off when bumped with the hand, and then this alarm would go off. A single beep would suffice guys!

External power should turn off backlight saver automatically e.g. the backlight should stay on. (or better yet, seperate backlight saver mode for battery and external power). Ditto the auto-off functions although I wasn’t using those.

Display - the display was pretty good, and the color definitely helps to clear up the map. Street names are a bit difficult to read and certain zoom levels, the detail level/zoom level threshoulds might need a bit of adjustment.

Antenna - Definitely works better when the gps top is pointed up. This is only my second GPS but it seemed a little less sensitive then my GPS V is.

Cursor - cursor didn’t track correctly when entering in a street name where the second word of the street name caused it to wrap to the second line; the cursor remained on a blank square - annoying, no big deal.

German streets - geez, the first 17 characters are the same, can someone figure out how to do the UI so it is easier to get to the right street? I think using the up/down arrows to scroll thru the possible repeat characters would be much easier then the current methods.

color display too dark
I bought one of these because it had a color display. After I received it I noticed the display was practically impossible to see unless the backlight was on high. I drove around with it a little and it tracked where I went very well but I had to leave the light on all the time and it ran the batteries down in about four hours. I was using Duracell 1800 nimh rechargables.
I returned it the next day and got a Meridian platinum for less money and it has a barometer and thermometer. The display is visible in the day and you only need the back light on at night.
Unless you like changing batteries often get a Meridian platinum or a Meridian gold.

Meridian COLOR vs. PLATINUM
Display:
The COLOR has no-light/dim/bright, as does the PLATINUM. But the COLOR it is only usable with bright lights in daylight and dim during nighttime, with no lights you don’t see anything. The Platinum w/o light has still an acceptable display and runs for about 8 hrs, the COLOR on bright runs slightly over 4 hrs (1.850 mAh).

Functionality:
The colored display is very helpful together with Topo Send. You can easily distinguish between different graphics by the color; like arroyos and dirt-roads, specially marked arreas and lakes, etc.
What is missing on the COLOR compared to the PLATINUM is the baro, thermo and the build in electronic compass (not gps dependent). I thermo and baro I found fun to play around with but never really found a serious application. The compass needs constant alignment and is often considerably off. For all those applications there is way better stuff out there.
The COLOR has the better software wich might be due to the fact that I downloaded the latest software to it (v. 5.12). After v. 5.xx there is supposed to be a street navigation function to it, which I haven’t found yet- maybe only works with MapStreets.

Durability:
As I pointed out in my earlier review on the PLATINUM this unit is extremely rugged and highly reliable in the field. I figure so will be the COLOR.

Deficiencies:
The backtrack function is higly deficient. When you wanna walk back you have to hit every single point this function created on the way back. Often you don’t do that because you do a shortcut. Neither one of those units does allow you to bypass one single point and from now it desperatly points back to the one point you might have missed by a couple of feets.

Map-Download:
has certain limitations which are discussed in some other reviews on this side. Even with the latest software I was only able to download 3 regions to one map, but 4 maps alltogether with a total of 120mb over my PDA (Card-Reader might be even better) by doing the following:

1. Without connecting your Meridian to a PC, begin the map Upload process (click Regions; then Upload to GPS).
2. When the map data conversion process is done, MapSend will display a message that it cannot find your GPS receiver to perform the download.
3. Stop the process here by selecting “Cancel”.
4. Using Windows Explorer, go to Program Files/Magellan/MapSend/Export and locate the file called “maps.img”.
5. Copy this file to the SD card using USB card reader. Do not create any folders within the SD card where you place this file. Your Meridian will always looks at the top, or “Root” level within the card.
6. Rename the file “XXXXXX.img” - Example (SO California.img).
7. Remove the card and place it in your Meridian. You can use your Meridian as you would normally from here. (If you have at least software version 3.12 loaded on your Meridian, you will be able to select a map image to use from the Card Utilities menu - Press MENU to find Card Utilities)

Verdict:

I do recommend both units, but do personally prefer the COLOR for its more consise display even considering the extra functions on the PLATINUM. Because of certain flaws in the software I give both a 4 out of 5.

Amazon.com Review
Amazon.com Review The Magellan Meridian Color GPS receiver is just as at home navigating the highways and byways in your car as it is tracking through your favorite mountain trails. This top-of-the line GPS device features a preloaded 16 MB map database of North America, which can be augmented by detailed maps from optional CD-ROMs via the Secure Digital memory card slot. It also offers easy-to-read navigation screens, good-sized buttons, and a thumb directional pad on the front, and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) for three-meter accuracy.

Map screen. View larger.

Compass display. View larger.

Road-view mode. View larger.

The Meridian Color is versatile GPS device that is perfect for navigating the highway or the trails. View larger.

Compared to Magellan’s Sportrak line, the Meridian is bulkier both in weight (8.5 ounces with batteries compared to the Sportrak’s 6.1 ounces) and overall dimensions–6.5 by 2.9 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D)–making it not quite as pocketable (unless you have cargo pants). The bright color screen measures 2.2 by 1.75 inches and has a decent 160 x 120 pixel resolution with 16 colors. Compared with the staid monochrome screens of most GPS devices, the icons and mapping details jump off the screen. We found it to be nicely readable in the car and in most outside conditions, though it wasn’t at its best in direct sunlight. As with cell phones in the car, you will have to be wary with your usage. The Meridian Color can be a bit distracting while you’re driving, as you have to read the screen for turning instructions (though there are audible prompts) rather than hear a voice providing directions.

With a selected map region loaded into the memory, simply press the GoTo button and select either a new or previously loaded waypoint or a point of interest (such as an airport or sports arena) to navigate to via a street route. After a bit of calculating, the Meridian Color presented us with a turn-by-turn journey that we could follow while driving. As we neared each turn, the Meridian Color emitted a set of beeps to warn us of the upcoming direction change. The set of beeps elevated to an urgent level when we were right on top of the turn. We used this to plot a course to Seattle’s Space Needle, and it produced acceptable results. However, if you’re familiar with the terrain, you may have found your way in less time with better shortcuts. If you turn off the Meridian while following a route, you can return right back to it once you turn the device back on.

Magellan’s Meridian series offers Secure Digital (SD) memory card expandability, which is a bonus for adding a large amount of map data, especially for long trips. However, we were disappointed at its placement within the device behind the batteries rather than in an external slot. This won’t be a problem for most users, but it could be annoying if you had a number of maps spread across several cards.

We experienced good battery life during our test–Magellan boasts 13 hours of continuous use with two AA batteries. If you do plan on frequent use in your vehicle, we recommend either purchasing the optional cigarette lighter power cable or using NiMH rechargeable batteries, which typically provide a longer battery life, as well as minimized cost in the long run.

Overall, we were pleased with this portable hybrid car/outdoor GPS receiver. The Meridian’s color screen definitely provides quick viewing details while out hiking or mountain biking, while the driving navigation features were indeed helpful in unknown locales. However, if you do plan on using your GPS primarily in your car, you should think about moving up to either Magellan’s Meridian Color Traveler (which includes a street map CD-ROM, vehicle mounting bracket, and power adapter) or the Magellan Roadmate (with voice instruction). –Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

Cons:

Note: All available screen shots were in black and white. The Magellan Meridian Color provides 160 x 120 pixel resolution with 16 colors on all screens and displays.

What’s in the Box
Meridian Color GPS receiver, PC cable, 2 AA batteries, wrist strap, and user’s manual (English/French).

Amazon.com Review
The Magellan Meridian Color GPS receiver is just as at home navigating the highways and byways in your car as it is tracking through your favorite mountain trails. This top-of-the line GPS device features a preloaded 16 MB map database of North America, which can be augmented by detailed maps from optional CD-ROMs via the Secure Digital memory card slot. It also offers easy-to-read navigation screens, good-sized buttons and a thumb directional pad on the front, and WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) for 3-meter accuracy.

Compared to Magellan’s Sportrak line, the Meridian is bulkier both in weight (8.5 ounces with batteries compared to the Sportrak’s 6.1 ounces) and overall dimensions–6.5 x 2.9 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D)–making it not quite as pocketable (unless you have cargo pants).

The bright color screen measures 2.2 x 1.75 inches and has a decent 160 x 120 pixel resolution with 16 colors. Compared with the staid monochrome screens of most GPS devices, the icons and mapping detail literally jumps off the screen. We found it to be nicely readable in the car and in most outside conditions, though it wasn’t at its best in direct sunlight. As with cell phones in the car, you will have to be wary with your usage. The Meridian Color can be a bit distracting while you’re driving as you have to read the screen for turning instructions (though there are audible prompts) rather than hear a voice providing directions (a feature of the Magellan Roadmate).

With a selected map region loaded into the memory (such as from the Mapsend DirectRoute CD-ROM), simply press the Goto button and select either a new or previously loaded waypoint or a point of interest (such as an airport or sports arena) to navigate to via a street route. After a bit of calculating, we were presented with a turn-by-turn journey that we could follow while driving. As we neared each turn, the Meridian Color emitted a set of beeps to warn us (which elevated to an urgent beeping when we were right on top of the turn). We used this to plot a course to Seattle’s Space Needle, and it produced acceptable results (though, if you’re familiar with the terrain, you may know better shortcuts). If you turn off the Meridian while following a route (say if you take a coffee break), you can return right back to it once you turn the device back on.

Magellan’s Meridian series offers Secure Digital (SD) memory card expandability, which is a bonus for adding a large amount of map data (especially for long trips). However, we were disappointed at its placement within the device behind the batteries rather than an external slot. This won’t be a problem for most users, but it will be annoying if you’ve got a number of maps spread across several cards.

We experienced good battery life during our test (Magellan boasts 13 hours of continuous use with 2 AA batteries). If you do plan on using it a lot in your vehicle, we recommend either purchasing the optional cigarette lighter power cable or using NiMH rechargeable batteries (which provide a typically longer battery duration as well as minimized cost in the long run).

Overall, we were pleased with this portable hybrid car/outdoor GPS receiver. The Meridian’s color screen definitely helps with quickly viewing details while out hiking or mountain-biking, while the driving navigation features were indeed helpful in unknown locales. However, if you do plan on using your GPS primarily in your car, you should think about moving up to either Magellan’s Meridian Color Traveler (which includes a street map CD-ROM, vehicle mounting bracket, and power adapter) or the Magellan Roadmate (with voice instruction). –Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Color LCD is very readable–routes and icons pop off the screen
• Controls well laid out, navigation screens are intuitive (especially for new users)
• Optional mapping software is easy to use and transfer

Cons:

• SD memory card slot not easily accessible
• We recommend a power adapter or NiMH batteries for extended car use

Amazon.com Product Description
Early Adopters Pick: January 2003. The first handheld GPS unit with a full-color screen.

The Magellan Meridian Color is the first handheld GPS receiver to feature a full-color screen. Find your way with superior tracking and accuracy to within three meters, a built-in mapping database, and a high-color, high-contrast, backlit, 120 x 160 pixel display. The Meridian Color finds your location by tracking up to 12 GPS satellites simultaneously, and is also assisted by the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), so it’s accurate to within three meters or better.

The Meridian Color is ruggedly constructed and is waterproof, so you can take it anywhere, whether you’re navigating the streets or hitting the trails. It features nine customizable graphic navigation displays including a map, compass, and speedometer, and text readouts that show heading, bearing, speed, direction, ETA, and more. You can choose from 12 built-in coordinate systems and 76 datums including latitude/longitude, the Universal Transverse Mercator grid, and the Military Grid Reference System.

The Meridian Color features 16 MB of built-in maps of North America–including interstates, highways, major roads, waterways, cities, airports, and more–that you can also expand by downloading onto an optional Secure Digital memory card (not included). You can store up to 20 routes, 500 waypoints, and 2,000 track points, and the Save Track-to-Route feature allows you to convert complicated track files into easy-to-follow routes. Magellan MapSend software, available separately, lets you save hundreds of routes to your PC.

Other features include NorthFinder technology, which shows your direction even when standing still; sun and moon positions, which shows you when the sun will rise and set and the phase of the moon; a fish and game calculator, which shows you when the fish are likely to be biting in any location; and satellite status, which monitors the GPS satellites in view and gets information about their status.