Video Reviews

I bought this stereo based on the customer reviews and of course the low price. I returned it. The CD player worked for only a few hours before conking out. The digital tuner did not tune stations as well as I can with my other, non-digital radios. But most of all I was disappointed with the sound quality. It was very poor in my opinion and sounded like I was listening to it in the bathroom.

It's great, the best thing I ever bought. I got it as a mothers day gift and it is amazing. Great sound and features, I love the remote. I would pay more money for it because it is comparable. One downfall. The lenth of the speaker wires is small, like 4 feet. I wanted my speakers farther apart (on the top of a book case) so I went out and bought 30 feet of speaker wire for $3.50. It was the best bucks I ever invested for the entire package.

If you want a good system, this is your best bet!

I bought an older version of the Koss CD system several years ago and paid more for it. This system has been updated and improved aesthetically plus they have added a digital tuner and remote; furthermore, anyone familiar with Koss knows they build quality systems. You cannot do any better in the sound department so unless you are willing to spend big bucks on your system this product is the way to go. The Koss CD system will not disappoint you!

I've only owned this card for 6 months and the cooling fan just started making a loud annoying noise. That's unacceptable for a $190 card! ATI won't send me a new fan so I guess they expect me to pay $10 to send it back in for repair, leaving me with no card and costing me more than just buying a new fan. I think I'll just unplug the fan, let the card burn up and then never buy ATI products again.

The other ongoing problem is that if I just have my flat screen connected with the DVI connector, after win2k boots, my screen is blank. If I hook the DVI **AND** the VGA connectors to my flat screen, it works fine and stays in digital mode--pretty annoying. It also won't properly display 1600x1200 on the VGA port--my other systems work fine at 1600x1200.

Bought the card and it ran fine for a few weeks, then suddenly without any changes to hardware/software the card started to freeze in 3D games. I thought it was a driver issue so i tried ALL drivers... Still no stable system now i've finally been able to get my system stable enough for 3D games. With Fast Write of, AGP set to 4x. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CARD TO ANYONE.

If you have unlimited funds and don't need to be a savvy shopper, then by all means buy the best ATI or Nvidia video card on the market. But for the rest of us average joes, the ATI Radeon 9600 Pro is the smart choice for those that don't want to break the bank yet still appreciate superior PC graphics. I haven't always been a believer in ATI video cards. A few years ago, this brand was notorious for driver issues and other compatiblity problems but I'm pleased to say that after several months of gaming on many titles, I haven't had any video card related problems yet. That's not to say it doesn't happen but my experience has been fantastic thus far. What really surprised me though with my Radeon 9600 Pro is that I can play almost all PC games at their highest graphical settings (shadows, model detail and other aspects) and a 1024 x 768 resolution with little slow down. Now I do have a decent processor and more important, plenty of RAM in my desktop, but with the phenomenal success I've had so far, I wonder why people spend a few hundred dollars more on a better model. Honestly, you won't be missing much with a 9600 Pro. There are a few models more advanced than this card, but not many, and the visual performance advantages in those cards may not be worth the extra two hundred or so dollars you'll spend. Especially because software is always behind hardware. Some top of the line video cards don't even have games available yet that take full advantage of that model's power. If you're not computer literate, as much I have enjoyed this model, I might recommend you also look at its chief competitor, Nvidia, as that company's video cards still have less technical issues in general. Nvidia and ATI are also constantly at war and pay software companies to make their games play better on a certain type of video card. The good news for ATI owners is Microsft and ATI have become recent bed fellows and Microsoft makes one of the most important software programs in the gaming business - DirectX. Nvidia is still the king of video cards but ATI may replace it in the near future.

At first I was impressed with my AV380, but then I realized my battery life was defective - approximately 90 minutes on a full charge. My AV380 is still under warranty, and Archos doesn't return my emails, and doesn't even have a telephone support line, so I'm at a loss how to get help!! I can not reach anyone at Archos, and my warranty is running out.
Before buying mine, my friend had warned me, and I had read reviews before that Archos customer support is known for being the worst in the business. But I figured I would take my chances - I did - and now I'm paying for it!
Incredible that this company is still doing business here in America... I understand they are based out of France.... Maybe that explains the lack of customer service... Buy at your own risk - Peeved in Hawaii!

This thing is exactly what I was looking for to take on long trips. First, it replaced a portable DVD player and the need to take all my movies on DVD disks with me. Next, it replaced an electronic film vault as I can load JPEGs in from my CF cards, and the screen is much better to share photos with friends. And the size and weight of the AV380 compared to lugging around a laptop is pure joy!

I was concerned that movies would be "jerky" or "pixilated", but nothing could be further from the truth. Maybe it's not DVD quality, but it's so close I can't tell the difference.

This product is going to turn heads wherever you go. I see that Archos is releasing the AV400, which has CF built in, but it's not hard to do with this unit. Synchs right up to Win XP, and the USB 2.0 is great for moving files around.

Anything I don't like? I believe we'll see these PVPs really take off in the next year. On my wish list would be removable battery packs, a speaker, and a built in CF reader (all now available on the new AV400 which should be shipping soon, and more file acceptance TIFF, PDF, etc. A flip cover for the screen would also be nice, as the unit doesn't come with a case. Recording movies into the unit is a snap, but the process of doing file conversions on movies I've made with Pinnacle was more daunting than I was prepared for (no, I didn't major in computer science). Much easier to just output to disk or camcorder and then re-record into the AV380.

All in all, the coolest product I've bought since the first portable DVD players came out a few years back.

The archos AV300 series is a portable computer in addition to an awesome personal video player. All you need to do is install windows to a partition you make on the hard drive and you can run your computer from anywhere where there is a USB connection and a monitor. The simplicity and speed of the file transfer method is un-matched unless you need to install an upgraded USB hub. All you do is drag and drop. Immediately upon plugging in the Archos to a computer it recognises it as a USB mass storage device and you are ready to do your bidding. And get these while you can. The main problem is that battery life is less than 4 hours when watching videos. And since the battery is a proprietary non-removable Li-Ion battery, you can't just pop out the old battery and put in a new one. The unit does have a ability to turn off the LCD backlight while operating each time you skip a song or mistakenly press a button in your pocket. It has an excellent record timer, A nice surprise,so you can record a weeks worth of your favorite reruns. It is easy enough to get video recorded into it with the provided cables and DVR attachment, and easy to connect to your TV for playback. If you read the specs and don't have a problem with the size and other features, you will be very satified. Don't expect DVD quality playback on your TV. It has the wonderful AV recorder which comes inside the pack, makes video recording very easy. you wont need a video anymore. connects easily to the TV or VCR, but you should be careful of the cables connecting the AV380 because they turn out to be too plenty. The remote control (wireless) is excellent and makes life easier when placing the AV380 away from you. Finally, Archos gets it!! With this model, Archos has addressed most of the drawbacks of previous models. This product is actually in a class of its own! It does everything it claims to do, and does it well! The interface has also been drastically improved, though it is not obvious how to use the 3 "soft" buttons at first since the buttons are aligned vertcally at the right while the functions are listed horizontally at the bottom of the screen. However, a quick glance at the button descriptions in the quick-start guide is all you need to understand how everything works. Yes there is actually a quick start guide in addition to the well-written manual. The interface is much improved by the addition of a joystick. Also, the Operating System now allows file-handling functions such as rename, delete, etc to be done right on the jukebox, whereas a PC was required before. Also as with previous models, the jukebox looks like a hard-disk when connected to the PC which means transferring files back and forth is as easy as drag-and-drop (as opposed to using proprietary programs). The USB 2.0 connection is extremely fast and definitely a plus. The audio input jack doubles as line-in and mic-in. Live recording is now very clean with no hard-disk noise, even when using the internal mic. This model adds official support for playing WMA files. The latest OS update (free on their website) adds support for playing AND recording in WAV format (in addition to the MP3 format. You now have a full blown DAT recorder in your pocket! This update also allows you to do some basic audio and video editing on the unit itself. Video looks very good indeed on the large 3.8" LCD screen. May not exactly be DVD-quality as they claim, but its close! The included DVR module allows you to record MP4 video on the fly or you can convert videos to MP4 on your PC and transfer them to the unit. Pictures look great! The unit supports both JPEG (non-progrssive) and BMP. You can use the optional memory card readers to upload directly into the jukebox bypassing your PC, or you can download pictures from your PC. Also for the hefty price tag, Archos should have included the optional wired remote that adds FM Radio support. The lack of an included carrying case is puzzling especially since the cheaper Archos models all came with cases. Go out and buy a case right away to protect that huge LCD screen.
The Arcos is quality is miles ahead of any other competetors products.
Recommendation:If you like having alot of movies on hand, alot of photos on hand and the ability to play hundreds of song, then this is for you. I am a chauffeur for a living and this definately kills the sit and wait time assosciated with my job. Excellent for long trip, plug into the vehicle dvd player or music into the tape deck. Makes for a shorter trip.

Have done lots of shoots with a digital still camera, so ventured into the digicam world 3 weeks ago. Seems like Optura 20 has some potential, but the menus are cryptic and the manual is terrible- constantly refers to terms that aren't explained, diagrammed, or indexed. I know what I want to accomplish, but Canon routinely frustates my ability to do it. After 3 weeks, cannot view a still picture recorded onto the card, but not positive I've even taken one.

Microphone is sensitive to low noise (good thing), but on playback the sound is overpowered by motor noise unless you're recording a rock concert. Very distracting, so add $180 for their accessory mike.

Wide angle close-ups are amazingly detailed, but images quickly lose their fidelity as you shoot more distant objects (like a house from across the street). Wide angle is a very relative adjective here; it's still a narrow field of vision, and Canon's wide adaptor is only a .7x (for $160!). I bought a Sony .6x for $39 that did well, and a fisheye that took in about the same breadth as our field of view.

Button for shooting stills is directly under where your thumb fits, so my first attempts at video recorded only stills (I think... see above).

Jury's still out on a looong recess with Canon's Optura 20, just glad I didn't pay more than $719 for it.

This is my first camcorder and although I am by no means a dummy, this is making me feel a little bit like one. I immediately took it from the box and started using it. Most products I can pick up on like that, not this one. I have been looking over the owners manual and am now finding it pretty easy to operate. I purchased this to film my son and family outings. It has alot of features for video editing etc.. I will probably never use but they are there. Overall I would say it was a good purchase. The image quality is great and if you want a 4x6 still it is great for that too. The night shot is unlike Sony which is what I am used to. There is some sort of delay so when you move the camera it takes a second for the image on the screen to catch up. I don't know if that is from me not using it correctly or what. There is a built in light so you can't be sneaky with it in low light conditions. I would spend the extra money for the 20 over the 10 for the color view finder and other options. I ultimately didn't go with the Sony TRV 38 because of canon quality and recent things I have heard regarding Sony service and the lack of aftermarket support products. All in all a good camera.

I have owned this camcorder for six months now, and have found no fault with it. Before buying it, I was concerned about negative reviews regarding motor noise, low light, and body size. Fortunately, none of these has caused me a problem. The surroundings have to be completely silent to hear the motor; I have yet to have a problem with low light, and I like the feel of the body. I particularly like the ease with which I can take a still photo with only a minor interruption in video recording. I wanted the 16X zoom for sporting events, but I found it also useful at a recent graduation. While seated, I find I can hold the camcorder adequately still, even at 16X zoom, but a tripod is always useful. In the presence of a live orchestra, the audio quality is outstanding.

The one I purchased arrived defective. It took customer service almost 2 months to fully correct the problem and send another unit.

When it works, it's a great device. Good range and has the key features for a good presentation.

I really found this remote to be perfect for what it's supposed to do, run PowerPoint. It has a nice look, fits perfectly in the palm of your hand (as opposed to my old, bulky remote that I found myself fidgeting with), and runs PowerPoint like a dream. I have free range within my training room and quick response to commands. It is also is very easy to use with a simple layout for the technology impaired user.

The only warning that I would give anyone is that the RemotePoint Navigator is designed to run PowerPoint and nothing else. If you want it to run other programs, you're better off looking for something else. In my organization, many of the subject matter experts produce their own slide shows for training or presentations. Many of them prefer to use Corel Presentations over PowerPoint (I don't know why). This remote doesn't work well with Corel Presentations because of the commands.

However, if your only goal is to run PowerPoint, I highly recommend this product.

I do a lot of speaking - workshops, keynotes, etc. - and recently bought this to replace my old serial-port remote. It works like a dream from both close up and while wandering in a big room and does everything it needs to for a reliable PowerPoint presentation. As a bonus, it is really small. The remote, batteries, and small USB stick fit into its own bag, which is smaller than a glasses case. I am more than happy with it and would recommend this product to anyone looking for a small, reliable, and uncomplicated PowerPoint remote.

One small recommendation - be sure to remove the batteries when you're not using it. Any jostling during your travels will push the buttons and wear out the batteries. Of course, this advice would be the same for all remotes. I just had to learn it the hard way!

I'm not sure what the bad reviews are all about. I bought this for my sister and decided to try it out before I gave it to her. Right now they're setup in my living room and I don't want to give them up. I don't have home theatre because my room is too small for a "real" home theatre system, but this system was awesome.

The reviews that say it won't play deep bass aren't accurate. Maybe they've imporved the system since those reviews, but I sat in my living room with a sound level meter and ran through some test tones. From 200Hz down to 30Hz the meter registered 70db absolutely flat down to 30Hz and the volume trailed off between 30Hz and 25Hz or so. It was amazing to see the meter reading unchanged through the crossover and remain steady even though my ears could no longer hear it. I watched a couple of movies this weekend and the system had my floor and couch vibrating exactly the way it should have.

I used the system to play movies in Dolby Pro Logic II using the stereo analog inputs and Dolby Digital using the TOSLINK hookup. Both performed incredibly. It's like going from a mono TV with the speaker on one side to a stereo TV.

The downside to this system is that I have wires strung all around my living room which I couldn't live with in perpetuity. In truth though, this is NOT home theatre system, that's just the way I chose to test it out. It's designed to be placed around you on the floor when you play games and be cleaned up when you're done.

My primary home theater speakers (LF, C, LR and SW) are all Klipsch products. They have performed so well, I went nuts when I heard the GMX D-5.1 DCS. I may not have the ear of an audiophile, but I can hear the difference between the accurate sound reproduction of the GMX D-5.1 DCS and do-do. Their digital reproduction is great. Connection to my SB Audigy was a trip when I used the digital signal outputs with an analog source! Turn it down!!! A five would have been my rating except for the somewhat confusing setup process and a limited speaker output configuration. But don't get me wrong, a Klipsch speaker has no equal!

I just bought these and have them hooked up to my Sound Blaster Audigy Sound card.

I set it up to go to 5.1 channel, Digital Output only. Audio played from the speakers, but when I ran the Test, the one that goes "Front Left"... "Center"... "Front Right" ... "Rear Left" ... "Rear Right" ... I only heard it say "Front Left" and "Front Right", meaning that it didn't output correctly. I thought maybe the speakers were defective or my sound card wasn't setup right.

I decided to run some other tests.

I used Creative Playcenter to play some of the sample AC3 files, and they played beautifully! Played in 5.1 surround sound, I was immersed in sound. Close your eyes and you feel like you're really there.

I played a DVD and it was awesome! Words aren't enough, great bang for the buck, awesome sound quality reproduction.

Bass is phenomenal. I live on the 2nd floor of an apartment and I'm pretty sure my neighbor downstairs is going to get upset.

Even playing 2 channel MP3s sounds great too. I noticed that it separates some of the frequencies. For example, all the bass to the subwoofer, of course, but also, the rear speakers seem to only play the highs, the center speaker plays the mids, and the front speakers seem to cover a much wider spectrum. This gives a nice illusion of surround sound. Even listening to 2 channel stereo sounds nice.

I've read some of the complaints that the Audigy only plays 2.1, but this is not true. The Audigy is capable of playing 5.1 through these speakers, but it won't reflect that if you try using the Test that comes with the Surround Mixer.

Make sure your DVD software is setup for SPDIF output, and any other audio app is set for SPDIF output.

First off, don't take this as a reason NOT to buy this unit. The player/recorder worked great right out of the box. It records great to -RW and -R discs and to the hard drive.

The dubbing feature from the HD to the DVD burner is a little slow (it's actually 1x mode) unless you activate highspeed dubbing, but has a neat timing feature where you can schedule a dub from HD to DVD in the future. I pop the DVD in when I go to bed and it's ready to pop into a stand alone DVD player when I wake up. I was so happy to see that the DVD-R played in my 6 year old Sony DVPS-550S player!!!

My biggest beef is the lack of editing support. You can edit scenes, add chapters, and move things around but the menu is clunky and it take for ever to change the name of a title with the remote control. I now burn to DVD -RW, finalize the disc, and dump it onto my PC for advanced editing and then reburn to -R disc. I was debating on whether I needed a HD unit or not. A HD makes it a lot easier to use the unit as a VCR, which I have started to do.

Overall, VERY satisfied with this unit. I was lucky to get it on Amazon for 379!!!

The DV-HR300U is a fabulous product. VERY easy to setup and use. The manual can look a bit intimidating at first, but it is fairly well written for as much as it's trying to cover and if you are at all comfortable just diving in and pressing buttons, then the manual becomes more of a reference book since the on screen prompts are pretty much self-explanatory. Sharp isn't usually known as being the best in home A/V, but I have to say this unit seems to be built quite nice (the remote is absolutely hideous though) and it's features and performance are on a par with any of the "higher end" manufacturers. I haven't had any trouble recording to HDD or DVD, everything works just like it should, right out of the box. I suspect that if you are having as much trouble as some seem to have you might have a bad machine, as everything I have tried so far (recording from satellite, and camcorder to HDD then dubbing to DVD) has worked flawlessly and the picture and sound have been spectacular. It will not copy commercial, copy-protected DVD's (or VHS, I suspect) by itself...if that is your intention, you'll need one of the devices by Sima to bypass the macrovision (or one of the old APEX DVD players), or use your PC for copying DVD's and keep all the menus and extras. I bought this when the price was $379, but even at $449, it's a heck of a deal, especially when compared to the similar Panasonic models or the TiVo with DVD-R and there is no monthly fee. Easier than most VCRs to program to record. If you think you want/need it, get it, you'll probably like it.

Finally something that can replace your VCR and do more. Easy to use once you figure out all the steps. Be sure to read the manual.

i did a lot of research before buying this card, and in my honest opinion this is one of the best PCI graphics cards you can get, and at $100 is a great deal. i was playing unreal tournament 2003 on my dell dimension p4 1.8ghz with 512mb ram and standard onboard intel 3d graphics running windows XP home, and i had to play with practically all graphic options unchecked and set on the lowest settings. after i installed the card (see below) i gleefully checked every box and pumped all options to the max, and was rewarded by a beautiful game in its fully glory, and at an even better framerate than before. well worth it.

to install, it was somewhat of a hassle. the drivers included on a cd didnt work, and i had to go to pny's site to download them. but they send you over to nvidia to get the drivers, and since nvidia is the chipset and not the card, they provide drivers only with no support whatsoever. so, i got the drivers in, got direct x 9 installed, and no dice. you have to (again, this is windows XP home) go to the display, enable the dual monitor support, select the GeForce FX 5200 as your display for the second monitor, then choose that as the default, then dont expand display over 2 montiors. then you shut down, then plug the monitor from your onboard video to the new GeForce FX 5200. this is more of a windows XP/dell onboard video problem, which is what i still gave the card 5 stars, but you should still be aware of it.

anyways, bottom line: great card! good value, great performance, and if youre stuck in PCI graphics land, you cant go wrong with this for $100 bucks.

I love this card. It's versitile, its east to install, its great for newbies or hardcore graphics users. The price ain't bad either :-) What more could you ask for?

I bought this card because I was attempting to install dual videocards to expand my desktop. As it turns out this card comes equipped with two outputs. Instead of having to run this card along with a crumby 8meg ATI rage, I was able to run both monitors off of a single PCI slot @ 128 megs. Bravo.

Given that most people who look for a video card that can run their 3D games, I was surprised that the Radeon would be able to run up to par with the Nvidia's GeForce2 (of course, not beating it all the time). Though, 3D is not everything. The ATI Radeon has superb 2D quality, which can only be topped by Matrox. Their DVD playback/decoder is one of the best in the industry. So for overall performance, the ATI Radeon is a card that can satisfy you in all areas.

Though, there is only one nagging thing about this video card. In history, ATI has a lot of trouble releasing good performing drivers. This may be important since we are going to have different OS's every two years or so. Though, the hardware potential is there. If ATI would get their driver development straight, I would have given this card 5 stars.

So, if you are looking for speed for your 3D games, buy another 3D card. If you want the whole package, this is the card for you.

If you are looking for that card that will give your games that punch needed to run at desired framerate, look no further. The ATI Radeon is at the top of its class. This is an excellent buy for the price and framerate deliverance. Though it is no GeForce 2 GTS 64MB, it gets your games off and running quickly. If you are looking for a game to show off your new card, get Nocturne. I highly recommend this card for everyone and anyone looking to upgrade their PC.

I bought this item on september 2001 and has played me all the games i have. A friend has a 64mb card and yet, my 32mb radeon is still best. It runs all the games you can imagine. The FS2002 runs it perfectly. I am very pleased with this item. Definitely a must buy product.

I bought this card with high expectations when it first came out and was disapointed becasue the Number 2 graphics company "Ati" at the time, in the world did not release a decent hardware driver in not one but two months! After sitting in my old cabinet drawer I call the morgue becasue it's full of old computer parts. I decided to take the card out and give it a 3rd chance. I couldn't belive my eye's as I saw soldier of Fortune 2, and Battle Feild 1942 and a few of my old games run well. This card work's perfect after I gave up and bought a pricey Xtasy Ti 4600 that is now obsolete becasue of Ati's 9700 pro!

Before I bought any of the above hardware I read most hardware article's online and in print. To name a few sources I read in print and the net: Smart computing, Maximum PC, Tom's hardware guide. com, zd-net and c-net. Were did I go wrong, I bought impulsively. It wasn't too long ago when you bought the very best hardware for your PC and It would last you at least a year before it was considerd a antique. Not anymore, we just jumped in to a new age were new computer hardware keeps coming out every few months. Not even the PC hardware publications can keep up with some of the new hardware inovations. Why do I say this. I read the above sources religously and they didn't even give anyone a warning untill two month's before the release of the new Ati 9700 pro!

My advise, as soon as some new hardware comes out and computer publications online or print give it all the hype and glory setting and breaking record bench marks to the point were you feel as though you have to have it, Stop throw some cold water on your face and wait a few month's. The end result you will have more choices and you will save a lot of cash$$$.

First off let me help you novices out there a little bit. Don't buy a video card because of its price, its hype, or its look, do your research! This card is excellent, it is blazingly fast, (it beats geforce 3), and it is a steal... BR>A key feature in the radeon 8500 is the programmable pixel shaders. Let me tell you a little more about them. Geforce 3, 4 and radeon 8500 all share them witht he exception with the Geforce 4 MX. The newest games will use programmable pixel shaders and if you don't have a video card that uses this, then you can't play it. The radeon beats its competition while being half the price! but be cautious because there has been driver issues with ATI and what seems to be "cheating drivers"

Pros:
blazingly fast
comes from a respectable company
excellent image quality

cons:
driver issues

I have had this card for about 6 months now. I got it before the GForce 4 came out and before the Radeon 9700. If your looking to get the MOST for your money this card is the way to go. It's faster then the all the GForce 3's and is just as fast as the GEorce4Ti 4200, for a fraction of the cost. Driver support was an issue in the past as you will read in some of the older reviews of this card, but now ATI has fixed all the driver problems they have had in the past. In fact they have been coming out with drivers faster and of a better quality then Nvidia for about the past six months. If you buy this card I recomend downloading the newest drivers from the ATI website as soon as possible, the new drivers are of MUCH better quality as I said before...

To get the most out of your older games with this card to to your display properties- advanced- Direct3d or openGL, and bump the Anisotropic Filtering up to 16.With little or no performance hit your games will look MUCH better.