Product Description

8.0-megapixel effective recording * EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 28-90mm) * 1-13/16" color LCD * eye-level SLR viewfinder (with dioptric adjustment) * wide-area 7-point autofocus * ... Read more

Features

• Fast start-up time--.2 seconds
• Powered by rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (included, with charger)
• 8.0-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality 16 x 22-inch prints
• Includes Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 zoom lens
• DIGIC II Image Processor provides fast, accurate image processing; captures images at a rate of up to 3 frames per second

Reviews (29)

Great dSLR especially for the money
Got this camera after considering between this and the 20D.Was very impressed with the 20D, but the price difference could easily give me a very good lense, and the feature differences are minor, so Rebel XT it is.I am a photography enthuiast who wishes he had the budget for a canon 1D MarkII but instead have the budget of a mortal and have to pay for a personal camera out of his own pocket.
I have been reading some other reviews on this site and other sites regarding digital SLR cameras in general.I had to admit, most of the reviewers really are better served with a point and shoot.This is a SLR camera, it will take great pictures in automatic modes, but if you use your camera in those modes, get something like the Canon Pro1.This camera is to be used in Av, Tv or Manual modes, maybe in Program in a pinch.It requires you to understand WB, depth of fields, exposure metering as well as other wide array of nuances that come with a SLR camera.If you don't want to spend some time to learn some details about photography, you will be better served with a point and shoot.If you decide to use the attached flash for in door portrait shots, you're probably better served with a point and shoot.If you need to frame your shot on the LCD, you're better served with a point and shoot (becasue the whole SLR concept of through the lense view of the scene, DOF checking, focus accuracy is completely lost by that opinion).Yes the sensor on dSLR's will get dirty and require maintenance.Some one mentioned why don't engineer design the sensor to have the opposite charge to rebel dust.Well, dusts don't have one single polarity in their charges, so 50% of the dust will be attracted to the sensor doesn't matter what polarity the sensor is charged with.
Also, this is not a Canon 1Ds either, so it does have its limitations, but then again, people who will feel completely limited by this camera should have gotten a Canon 1D series camera anyway.
The best merit for this camera is foremost image quality.It's extremely low in image noise all the way up to ISO 800.ISO 1600 is completely usable if you stay below 8x10 enlargement and don't mind photoshopping your image a little.Again, if you don't ever want to bother with photoshop adjustment of you pictures, you probably will be better served with a point and shoot.The kit lense is of decent quality again for the price, but you're definitely short changing yourself if that's the only lense you decide for have for this camera.If you want to buy the kit and had no intention to buy another lense, you shoud seriously be considering Canon Pro1, it's got a L glass and a good match between the lense and the body.Buying this camera will be at most 50% of your investment if you truly want to make it worthwhile, the other 50% will be needed for buying good lenses (get the Canon 17-40mm USM L lense, the 70-200 4L zoom, and the 28-135mm as a walk-around, the Tamron 28-74 is an excellent medium range lense as well and is probably a superior substitue for the Canon 28-135 USM).
I would have to say lack of spot metering does give the Nikon D70 an advantage, but this camera does have a center metering mode with exposure lock, so it is not really a show-stopper. Compared to the D70, the Rebel XT has superior noise level performance.This is from my personal experience as well as photos from a wide variety of sites on the net.Low noise level is very important to me, so if this is on your priority list, you really can't go wrong with the Rebel XT at this price point.
What I want to emphasize here is seriously consider your needs before buying this camera, to make this camera truly worth the money you spent, you need to spend a bit more of your money and a lot of more of your time on learning how to properly handle a piece of equipment like this.Otherwise, you guessed it, Canon Pro1 is a very very good candidate.

This is one awesome camera
I bought from amazon after being let down by Dell. It arrived next day and on the weekend i gave it a good workout at a local airshow. I took just under 1000 photos and was amazed by how well the shots came out in sport mode. Very quick focus and spot on.
excellent camera and well built , not small as some people have noted, works for me...

Awesome!
What an amazing small compact SLR camera! I originally purchased the 20D but I found it a bit too big for my taste. The Digital Rebel XT is small and compact and perfect for my wife and I. Although small, the battery can easily shoot 230 shots in a single charge (20% using flash).

I highly recommend this camera it's perfect for amateur photographers. This is an excellent upgrade from my previous Canon G2. If you are new to photography I would recommend the G6 before this camera. But the best nest step would be this one.

Also, with the $700 dollars that I saved getting this instead of the 20D, I purchased a new Canon 17-85mm EF-S lens. What an AMZING lens!

Hope that this help!

Top Notch digital
I bought this camera as soon as it was available on Amazon, and have had it for about a month now.The experience has been fantastic.The pictures are nothing less than stunning.Colors are great, resolution is amazing, and the software package is very complete and easy to use.

Probably the best features are the number of modes that are available, and the ease of use.It can be set to a full program mode, and used as a point and click snapshot camera by anyone at all, or put into full manual mode for the more experienced.

I do have a couple of suggestions.Order this body without the Canon lens.I upgraded to a Sigma 28-300 mm Macro Zoom for about the cost of the original lens, and now have one lens for virtually any situation.

Also, get top notch compact flash card.I bought high speed, 1 GB Lexar 80x flash because I really wanted the ability to take high speed repetative pictures.I was not disappointed.You can either take one picture after another about as fast as you can hit the sutter, or put the camera into repeat-shot mode and hold the shutter button down.This is a great feature.

Also order a spare battery or two.It takes a lot of pictures on a single charge, but seems to go from a full battery indication down to dead real fast, so there's not a lot of warning that you need to charge up.

All in all, a very outstanding bit of technology.

Canon Kiss Digital N (Digital Rebel XT)
I'm stationed overseas so most companies won't let me buy cool electronics like the Digital Rebel XT so I went out on the Japanese economy.This is my first digital SLR.I've struggled trying to capture great shots of my daughters playing soccer, basketball, running track..etc., with the "enthusiast" zoom cameras.The Kiss Digital N is made in Japan and has a few minor differences from the U.S. model.The kit zoom 18-55 lens for instance is USM.I bought it as a kit with another Canon lens as well, a 55-200 EF. It's light, cheap, and good enough as I'll get to in a minute. In the end it was between the Pentax istDS or the Digital Rebel XT.After completing all of my research on-line it came down to Canon picture quality, and technology.Am I happy?So far this camera is light years ahead of any digital that I've owned.It's fast, the pictures are sharp if you understand the limitations of the lens you are using, and it's easy.My wife can use it just fine and she doesn't have a digital clue.For the enthusiast, there is plenty of stuff to play with.The 8 megapixel CMOS sensor produces amazing results.The soccer pics tell the story for me.The 55-200 EF produced some incredible shots.It's USM and focuses fast and sharp.It's not an "L" lens but I don't even know what that means!This camera will sell like crazy.Eventually I plan on buying a 35mm EF prime F2.0 lens, the wireless remote, the battery grip, and Canon Flash. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Features

• 20 GB model holds up to 5,000 songs; supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV
• Up to 12 hours battery life when fully charged (typically 4 hours); fast-charge in as little as 2 hours
• Mac OS X or Windows 2000 and XP compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Feature upgrades from previous version include new Click Wheel, slimmer case, and easier navigation
• Comes with earbud headphones, AC adapter, FireWire cable, and USB 2.0 cable (dock not included)

Reviews (6)

Addictive Product
Buy this product if you love your music and you want to be able to take it with you anywhere. Once you've transferred all your favorite songs into this compact little player you might feel compelled to spend hours categorizing and organizing them into your own personal playlists on your PC. Or you may just want to set it to shuffle and enjoy the music. The headphones sound incredible and you probably won't remember your songs sounding so good.

Simply the best.
The Apple iPod is simply the best choice for anyone living a digital lifestyle. Fit, form and function soar above the competition. Should be on everyone's Christmas Wish List for 2004. I use mine for music, calendars, todo lists, reminders, alarms, backups, and carrying files to read in the Target check-out line.

Excellent Purchase
I bought an iPod at the Target store that I work at and I love the thing. I had an old Archos MP3 player that didn't even update itself. This is so easy to use and charges so fast that you don't even have to think about it. Get one...

Amazing Player
I own the 3rd Generation iPod with the buttons on it and it's amazing. My brother owns this new 4th Generation iPod and it is also amazing. It doesn't come with the dock, however, this is not a much needed accesory. You can still transfer songs onto it and charge it if you use the firewire cable. Amazing MP3 player. It holds 5,000 songs- something you're not going to fill up anytime soon. Mine has about 900 on it and I've had it a year now. Once again amazing product, stop by the store and pick one up for yourself. You'll be doing yourself a favor!

Nice
Great place to keep all of your CD's! I only have 755 songs at this time, and the IPOD will play continuously for 1.7 days without repleating a song! And I'm only using 2.6 GB! Easy to use--nice player! ... Read more

Features

• 8.2-megapixel sensor captures 3504 by 2336 pixel JPEG or RAW images
• Includes 18-55mm (3x zoom) f/3.5-5.6 autofocus lens, EF mount compatible with all Canon lenses in EF and EF-S lineup
• Direct printing with PictBridge printers
• Store images on CompactFlash memory card
• Powered by rechargeable BP-511A 1390mAh battery pack

Product Description

Fashionably Compact
Weighing in at just 3.6 ounces and smaller than many cell phones, iPod mini fits your lifestyle and your bag, whether it be cocktail purse or messenger duffle. The chic, matte anodized aluminum case resists stains and scratches, all the while protecting your iPod mini. Recessed in the case to keep its surface pristine, the 1.67-inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song and album titles, artists’ names and more.

Under Your Thumb
The iPod mini Click Wheelfeaturing color-coordinated iconsgives you the enhanced durability and sensitivity of the iPod Touch Wheel, with buttons underneath. The Click Wheel takes best advantage of miniscule space and lets you scroll single-handedly through up to 1,000 songs from your iTunes music collection.

Clip and save
Your iPod mini includes a convenient belt clip so you can attach it to your belt, purse or backpack. You can even clip your iPod mini to a lanyard around your neck for the ultimate fashion statement.

... Read more

Features

• Up to 18 hours of battery life
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and USB 2.0 cable
• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more

Reviews (57)

love it
I always thought these things were a waste of money.Why spend 200 bucks on an MP3 player when there are others out there way cheaper?My brother got this for his birthday and thats when I found out why these are more money.They Hold about a million times more music than my old cheapie MP3 player did.The song quality is amazing.The iTunes software is one of the best players that I have had in a long time.I'd write more but everyone else has done so a million times over so why re-invent the wheel.:)enjoy!

Less for More
Just when you think it doesn't get any better, it doesn't!The new 2nd generation Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9800LL/A is the new benchmark in over-priced electronics that provide music you already own, in a duplicative, unstable, portable format.

Apple spared every expense delivering the new sleek design of the Mini Silver.Sure to make you the envy of every kid on the block.And the good news doesn't stop there.Or does it?

I love my mini!
So.... I bought a 4gb mini about a week ago and I'm loving it. I did quite a bit of research about it before I bought it just to make sure I was making a good investment. Best $200 I've ever spent.
It holds a lot of music!
Although I wish it could be worn around my neck like a shuffle... I think the Apple iPod mini Lanyard can solve that problem though.
Ummm... I love it. It works great with my PC. (I'm not a mac lover)

I <3 it.

Mini Ipod 2nd generation
I own a pink mini ipod 2nd generation and i love it! i got it in the begining of may, so its almost a month and have never had problems (except once it froze when i was at school but i connected it to my usb port and then it was fine)The little thing takes on a ton of abuse(i drop it ALL the time) but it never skips and it doesn't even have 1 scratch yet! I was debating between the mini and the 20 gb but i decided to get this one b/c i didn't need 5000 songs worth of space and it was too heavy. If you're worried that you wont have enough space on the mini...it probably wont be a problem unless you are a super heavy user(even in that case you can stillswitch off the songs)and the mini is MUCH smaller and lighter(my best friend has a 4o gb and its WAY bigger than my little compact 4 gb one)also the 4 gb is about 100 dollars cheaper than 20 gb (well, thats about 100 songs there from itunes!)most of the accsories are really uneeded and they're just 4 convinience especially the dock(although i find using the usb port to charge it and download songs extreamly simple and im that computer/electronics oriented)Itunes is really great.. i love it and i prefer it over napster(and yes, i've used both to buy,listen and download songs)the only disadvantage on the ipod as opposed to creative,dell or any other mp3 players, is that you can only use itunes and your own collections to put on your ipod.
The ipod is really "cute" and i really like the click wheel, which is really cool. The setup and use of the ipod is very easy, within an hour of opening the package, i had already instaleld all of the software,registered,charged my ipod, download a ton of songs and was already listening to them with my friends. I spent a long time deciding which mp3 player to get, and i ended up with an apple ipod which i use all the tiem and absolutly adore it! Hope this review helped!

LAST AND LEAST....
whatever, ihave been looking for an mp3 player all over the world! when i finally found i liked first of all because of its look, then because of storage and of course the MAC quality.
i was thinking on a sandisk, but my mom suggested an ipod and shed pay the difference wich sound great to me, anyways, i bought it, and enjouyed for about a week, i love to excercise, i jog a lot, andpractice basketball and martial arts, so sometimes when i try to concentrate i just play my mp3 and forget about the world and the routines just comes out easily, anyways, im not a great music fan, my storage is about 150 songs, but is never useless to have extra storage, what so ever.......
this thing is soooooo heavy!!!!!!! and soooo big!!! if i hold it on the clip, which holds from my pants as soon as i start to jog, the thing starts like comming out, or tears down my pants..!! if i hold it with the armclip, it is so heavy that i became scared of droppin it so i barely moved my arm.....anyways, the sound is goodbut not great so far the best for me on mp3's talking, storage enough, size terrible, handling terrible, and as for me excersising is very important thats why i rate it with three because it doesnt let you become healthy. now im thinking on buying a nike/phillips, or the sandisk and ill sell mine to mmy sister...whatevera good thing for sedentary kinda ppl....lol... ... Read more

Features

• Highly advanced 5.0-megapixel digital camera camera with 3x optical/4.1x digital/12x combined zoom
• 14 shooting modes, with special Scene Modes for spectacular shots in special situations
• New, larger 1.8-inch vari-angle LCD monitor for easier image preview and review
• 9-point AiAF plus FlexiZone AF/AE for off-center subjects
• New Print/Share button for easy direct printing and downloads

Reviews (1)

Nice Camera
We just got these cameras in the store and they are amazing. Everyone enjoys the LCD screen on the back. Instead of the typical fixed LCD it has a swivel one much like your Camcorder. It pops out so you can have it hang to the side, or you can flip it over to take pictures of yourself and your family if you don't have a cameraman handy. It can also flip back into the body to function just like previous LCD screens. Amazing innovation in digital camera's. Overall nice camera from Canon. ... Read more

Product Description

Now in Living Color
Everything looks better in color. With iPod photo, everything sounds better, too. With the iPod Photo 30GB you can carry an entire library of musicup to 7,500 songs and full-color album cover artor as many as 12,500 photos in your pocket.

Art on Display
As part of your song purchases iTunes 4.7 also autosyncs the Album Art you’ve downloaded. It’s true. And when you’re listening to music, you can enjoy the Album Artin color, of courseon the Now Playing screen.

Get Brownie Points for Sharing
Use an optional AV cable to connect iPod photo to a supported projector or TV, then mesmerize friends and family with a breathtaking slideshow accompanied by the music you already have on your iPod photo.

Sync, Look and Listen
iTunes lets you import your images directly into iPod photo from a folder on the hard drive of your Mac or PC. If you’ve organized your photos using iPhoto on a Mac or either Adobe's Photoshop Album 2.0 or Photoshop Elements 3.0 on a PC, iTunes rewards your diligence by importing the albums you’ve created in iPhoto or collections created in Album or Elements.

... Read more

Features

• Compatible with Mac OS X v10.2.8 or v10.3.4 or later; or Windows 2000 with SP4 and XP with SP2; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Comes with earbud headphones, AC adapter, and USB 2.0 cable
• 30 GB model holds up to 7,500 songs; supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV
• Holds 25,000 photos and displays them on a 2-inch diagonal 65,536-color LCD screen with LED backlight
• Up to 15 hours battery life when fully charged (which typically takes 5 hours); fast-charge in as little as 3 hours

Reviews (27)

I'm glad I waited.
I have wanted an iPod for a long time, and was planning on getting the 20gig B&W.Not that there's anything wrong withthe 20gig version, but for just a few dollars more, you can get the 30gig version.I have not put any pictures on the iPod, but its nice to know you have the capability of doing so.I apprecite the color screen, even if it is just for making the music slelection.The include iTunes software is pretty awesome.It took a little time to copy almost 300 CD's to my computer, but the iTunes interface between the computer and the iPod always updates the iPod with no hassles.I have used about 17gog, so, with the 30gig iPod, I will never have to worry about running out of space.The iPod is also very versatile.I hav an adaptor to play it through my boom box, and an adaptor to play it through my car's cassette player.It makes long drives very bearable.Finally, I like the way the iPod autmatically organizes all of your music, by artist, composer, genre, album, etc......The shuffle function, and the playlists are also great.This is one of my best purchases.

iPod Photo: near perfect
I have used three different iPod models since they were released a few years ago. They keep improving with age and iPod Photo is almost flawless. What's great about this model:
1. previously, I had problems with battery life dissipating after a month or so of use (and I use mine hard; it's on at least six hours a day), but that hasn't happened with this one. I find that I get right around 18--eighteen!--hours of battery life on a charge. However, if I go two or more days between use, the battery runs itself down to almost nothing;
2. the vibrant colors are a wonderful change. Compared to the iPod Photo, the old black-and-white models look positively antiquated. The font on the Photo is updated as well;
3. to my untuned ear, I cannot tell the difference between what I hear on my earbuds and the CD the music came from. Sound quality is, as always, excellent;
4. the price drop. I paid $399 for my last 40g model and $349 for this 30g iPod Photo, a superior product; and
5. picture quality on the iPod is quite (surprisingly) good. It's like carrying an entire photo album with me. I have over 2,200 songs and 1,300 photos stored on my machine and it's still more than half empty.

What I'm not crazy about:
1. I'm not sure how the album art is stored; namely, why some have it and others don't. Anything downloaded from iTunes will have it, and some stuff from my own music collection does, too, but I can't figure out a pattern and have been too lazy to research it. Less than half of my music has album art to display;
2. I know that the "random" feature is the result of a complex algorithm and has, in fact, been proven to be truly random, but my iPod has a propensity for picking certain tracks while never playing others;
3. to lower the price, Apple's skimped on the accessories that come included with the iPods. In this model, no dock or case as were provided as when I bought my 40g b-&-w model;
4. the display on iPods scratch ridiculously easily. I recommend picking up an iSkin which is a colorful jacket that fits over the iPod and comes with a screen protector that works really well. Apple sells these for about $30 but they can be had on eBay for a third of the cost; and
5. no way to delete songs directly from the iPod and no way to load photos onto the machine. Both of these things must be done from a computer.

A quick word on Apple's customer service: if you register your iPod with them, you can request repairs or replacement parts for accessories at (usually) no charge within a year of purchase. So when your earbuds begin to fray (and they will), you can get a new pair simply for asking. I've done this four times with no problems, free of charge. They even ship new parts for free via FedEx. Whoa.

I love my iPod Photo and am seldom without it.

Beware ofiTunes - Poor Quality and locks you to Apple
Previous reviews describes the HW. Not much to add here: Slick design, easy to understand, undersized screen for photo but the colors are nice.
The problem with Apple is the iTunes SW. Unlike other MP3 software I have seen, this one works only with iPod which gives you two problems: You will be locked to iPod and it may not work.
- If you have loaded 10.000 songs (no small task)onto iTunes and want to use it with another player then it's back to reloading. It will not work with other players. Also, Playlists are to be maintained multiple places etc.
- iTunes has sigificant quality problems so your perfectly working computer may not work with it. Go to http://discussions.info.apple.com and check it out - and note how many problems are unsolved so folks are sitting there unable to load, burn and play and the proprietary nature of iTunes means that there are no alternatives. Customer support is at best random
I got one iPod. My last.

A great and spiffy gizmo!!
Although I'm a PC geek, I have secretly lusted after an iPod for years, since they first came out! A: I had a PC and B: I considered it to be too expensive, then they came out w/ PC models and this weekend, I got a good price and bought it. Cool, fun! Sleek, stylish and cool. Great interface and design. I don't like the earbud thingees... alreay, inside of 24hours lost one of the pads and they are a bit uncomfortable -- am going to look for aftermarket ones. Also, bought a case and dock (both very needed and SHOULD be included with)

Already had iTunes on the comp. Have had some trouble moving my wife's purchased music, but I'm sure it will be something dumb I missed. It's a pretty good program and I like it's interface.

As for whole iPod experience, I am quite happy w/ it!!!

(Quite) A Few Quibbles
Well, let me start by saying that this is a very good product. But it is FAR from perfect. I have many complaints, often quite petty (after all, this is my first iPod), but for the $300 or so price tag I expect CLOSE to perfect...

Quibbles:
1. You can't load pictures directly from the camera/memory card onto the iPod. Or, rather, you can't view photos loaded directly. In order to view photos, they must be moved to your computer and loaded through the iPhoto software. This is a MAJOR dissapointment for anyone travelling with their iPod and camera.

2. The (necessary) iTunes software is not compatible with Windows 98 or ME. Devastating to those of us with older computers full of MP3s.

3. The iTunes software is constantly redirecting me to their store. Very obnoxious.

4. I firmly believe that any product that costs me around a week's salary should come with all the necessary accessories. Noticably absent: a carrying case (if you dont want it severely scratched), flash card reader, fire wire, decent headphones, etc. etc. All told, be ready to sink another hundred (or three...) on "fun add-ons".

5. Could they not add some better games?? My cell phone has way better games than this. My TI-83 calculator (yeah, I was a bit of a nerd in high school) had better games than this. What a waste of a color screen...

Complaints aside, the iPod still rocks. The sound quality and design are unsurpassed; the software and database style song sorting are strong - there are clear reasons why the iPod is becoming a cultural icon of the digital age. But, given the price and potential for improvement, I wish I'd waited for a better version.
... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This powerhouse GPS unit just keeps gaining in popularity. Recently bestowed the honor of being named one of "Oprah's Favorite Things for Holiday 2004" it's just getting better and better every year. With the previous version of the RoadMate 700 lacking in included accessories this years RoadMate 700 hits a home run as Magellan has wisely included in the package a windshield suction cup mount, a 12V DC vehicle power adapter, 110V AC power supply, USB data cable, universal cradle and of course a user's manual.

The Magellan RoadMate 700 offers a powerful dash-mounted navigation tool with turn-by-turn voice prompts, making it easy to get to new and unfamiliar locales anywhere in the U.S. and Canada (For a fee it can be loaded European maps using the Magallen web site and the included USB connection cable). It also features a bright color TFT LCD screen (2.25 by 3 inches), touchscreen input, WAAS reception (for 3-meter accuracy), and multiple ways to select your route and then view it on screen.

True View 3D navigation shows you the actual road layout.

The RoadMate 700 is one of the few GPS devices that's ready to go as soon as it's unpacked. Its whoppingly huge 20 GB internal hard drive comes preloaded with detailed road maps for all of the U.S. and the southern (most populated) section of Canada, so you won't have to fiddle with selecting map regions from a CD-ROM and having to transfer the data from a PC. If you keep your addresses on a PDA with IrDA capabilities then you'll enjoy the RoadMate's ability to upload the addresses wirelessly and point you right to your destination. In fact each of the 3 profiles that the unit keeps track of is allotted space for 100 addresses, making a total of 300 addresses available. Of course the most important address, home, can always be accessed with just a few clicks and from any menu and the RoadMate 700 will guide you back with ease.

You can also choose a map view, or the maneuver list.

If you are planning on using the RoadMate 700 with an older car--make sure it has a cigarette lighter power adapter, or leave enough time to charge it up in your hotel room or office with the supplied AC power cord. This also means that you won't be able to use the RoadMate 700 as a handheld device outside of your car. As for mounting, the included suction cup windshield mounting hardware is quite easy to use and allows you to mount the unit on any glass surface in your car. The RoadMate unit easily clips into the provided windshield bracket and can be tilted and turned with it's adjustable arm so you can see it easily and safely while you navigate.

Quickly locate points of interest and amenities along your route.

One of the benefits of the windshield mount is that because it's a suction cup mount you can move it in seconds from car to car with no problems at all. This newer suction cup based windshield mount is an improvement over the older three pronged mount that used to come with the RoadMate units. The older three-pronged mount was inserted into one of the middle air conditioning vents on your dash; the prongs are bendable to help you get the most secure fit, but never gave as secure of a fit as the windshield mount does.

But the RoadMate 700 shines as a virtual co-pilot. During our tests, it consistently acquired a satellite lock quickly (within a minute) and displayed our current position. From there, we searched through the vast library of POIs (points of interest) to find our destination (Seattle's baseball stadium). The RoadMate 700 has four different modes of getting you to your destination--shortest route, shortest distance, least use of freeways, and most freeways. Selecting shortest route got us to this venue using very practical directions that weren't far off from what we normally would choose.

If you're traveling to a destination that's not a widely known POI (such as a friend's home), no problem. You can enter the exact address into the RoadMate 700--using the touchscreen to tap letters and numbers into several search screens--to have it create a route. (You can also save 100 destinations in the address book.

QuickSpell minimizes typing.

The voice prompting was clear and audible (thanks to the two built-in speakers), and we were given ample warnings for upcoming turns. One of the RoadMate's nicest features is the Repeat button (which is smallish, but the only button found on the top of the device). If you miss a turn instruction, press it to repeat the previous voice prompt. Of the three view modes, True View was our favorite--it displays a 3D street-level view that helped us orient ourselves to our surroundings.

Overall, we were quite thrilled with the RoadMate 700's features: the color screen was bright and readable even in direct sunlight and the voice prompts were clear and not distracting to our driving. Best of all, the UI (user interface) screens are easy to navigate and--thanks to its large hard drive and map database--it's ready to go as soon as you open the box. While the price is not for the faint of heart, it will be a very valuable tool for many drivers (from business folk to parents) who need to get to unfamiliar locations quickly and smoothly. -- Agen G.N. Schmitz

What's in the Box:
RoadMate GPS, a windshield suction cup mount, a 12V DC vehicle power adapter, 110V AC power supply, USB data cable, universal cradle and a user's manual ... Read more

Features

• Turn-by-turn guidance with voice prompting
• Comprehensive mapping of U.S. and Canada on integrated 20 GB hard drive
• Exceptional GPS accuracy and reliability
• Advanced points of interest database. Easy to use touch-screen interface
• Comes with sunction cup windshield mount DC vehicle power adapter, AC power supply, and data cable

Reviews (47)

Magellan Roadmate 700
Eversince I used the Hertz "Never lost" navigation system in a rental car, I have been wanting to own one but at that time it wasn't available in the market . I remember, with a GPS, how easy it was for me to reach my destinations in Houston metropolitan area. An area I had never been to before. First I thought to use HP Jornada 720 for navigation but lack of compatibility was the issue. Also I didn't want too many wires around the dashboard in my car.So I dropped the idea of using a handheld pc as a gps. I started doing some research and found out that there are two GPS (Garmin Streetpilot 2610 and Magellan Roadmate 700) that dont need an installation, rather could be used with cigarette lighter. Both are portable and could be moved from one vehicle to the other. I liked the idea but could not decide which one suits my needs better. Luckily we are living in an age of information, so I was able to read a lot about these items on the internet. Garmin being couple of hundred dollars cheaper and also BestBuy had one on the display where I could actually see, touch and feel it. Unfortunately, Roadmate was not on the display like BestBuy had Garmin. Anyhow I read several reviews and could make a comparison. I am sharing my views here so that reader could get some feedback. Magellan Roadmate 700 is WAAS enabled while Garmin SP2610 is not. WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) is more accurate to locate your position. Magellan RoadMate 700 has built in 10 GB hard drive . Maps of both USA and Canada are already loaded on the unit so you dont have to load them or worry about buying expensive flash cards. Roadmate 700 has little larger screen than the Garmin and that makes a difference and resolution is also good. Roadmate 700 is easier to operate than Garmin sp 2610.Voice prompts on Roadmate are very clear and pleasant. Roadmate 700 also shows a 3D heavy arrow before the turn which is good. These are the positives in the favor of Roadmate. Lets talk about some negatives. Roadmate does not have a good mounting design. Car vents are used to mount your unit. What if you have heat on . I think that wouldn't be good idea for your unit . It may also come apart and fall on the floor. Another negative about RoadMate 700 is that it does not come with AC adapter or USB cable. Also the price is higher than Garmin SP2610. Taking into consideration the pros and cons I picked the Magellan Roadmate 700. Yesterday I picked a unit at BestBuy with a 4 year warranty (US$39.99). It took me few minutes to set it up and turn it on. I was in Manhattan NYC. I drove back to New Jersey and it performed very well. I made a wrong turn and RM700 recalculated the route right away and put me back on the track. What a relief. Let me mention here about Roadmate 500 that does not come with a built in Hard drive. With RM 500, you have to buy additional memory cards. You will be required to get it activated from the company for additional cost. You will have to download the maps of distant areas you plan to drive to.That is the reason I did not buy RM 500. I am pleased to have Magellan Roadmate 700. I will keep you posted with additional findings in future. Drive safely. Peace and Love.

Never lost again
I've only been using my RoadMate 700 for a short time and my experiences echo most of the other reviews here.

Update January 22, 2004: It's been almost a full month with the Roadmate 700. My thoughts now? How did I ever live without this? I've used this extensively to travel all through CT and into NH and MA. I love that I can be in a completely remote location and this device gets me home. Ever single time. I also have searched several times for things like gas stations and restaurants - and it is simply amazing. I like this better today than I did when I bought it. And I'm someone who gets tired of their electronic gadgets quickly.

I found it to be very easy to operate. You truly can take it out of the box, plug it in, and within a couple of minutes be navigating to any address using the maps that are all stored within the 10 GB hard drive.

When starting up I find that it has a lag of 3 to 5 minutes where it has to acquire the satellite signal. This may account for some of the reports online of units being broken or not navigating properly. Once the signal has been acquired I had no difficulty with it knowing where I was. (Update 12/24/03: My unit developed a startup/fix time of around 15 minutes so I replaced it with a new unit that did not exhibit this problem. Normal startup/fix time appears to be a couple minutes unless you've moved significantly from where you shut down the device).

The 3-D navigation is nice -- though not all that I had hoped. When travelling 3D pops up a handly graphical overview of where you need to turn next. I think it is displayed a bit early though. I was navigating today and it showed me the turn in 3D about 5 streets ahead of where I needed to be turning. I'll have to see if it is my user error somehow but it seems it would be much more useful if the 3D popped up while you were in the turn rather than several streets back.

I looked at the Garmin 2610 in comparison to this unit. I also considered the RoadMate 500. The Garmin screen seemed smaller and a little harder to operate. The RoadMate 500 is the same unit at this -- without the internal 10 GB hard disk that stores all the maps.

Unfortunately the 700 doesn't ship with an AC power adapter or USB connector (which the 500 does).

The mount that comes with the RoadMate is a plastic coated metal piece that you are supposed to use to attach the heavy unit to your vents. I lucked out and was able to stick it into my dash molding on my 2002 Ford Explorer and it fits tight and is in a good position (use a flat edge screwdriver to slightly and gently pry the molding above the radio out a little and slide the bracket in there). If you call tech support they'll send a free windshield mount to replace the vent mount.

Overall I'm happy with the accuracy and especially the ease of use of this unit. It seems that Magellan has bent over backwards to make this an uncomplicated unit for people who want to plug in and navigate without worrying about loading maps or other technical details.

Magellan Roadmate 700 VS. Garmin StreetPilot III
My wife purchased the Magellan Roadmate 700. I have the Garmin Streetpilot III in my car. I was very angry with her for purchasing another GPS since we already owned one. She said it was easier to use than my Garmin. I took her Magellan GPS for a day to prove her wrong and had to eat crow. I really tried to make it worse, but it was just so accurate and simple to use. The Magellan Roadmate 700 came preloaded with the entire U.S. map. I had to purchase maps to download into my Garmin. Every time I go out of state I have to download the new area into my Garmin. The Magellan already has it loaded. The Magellan was very user friendly. The touch screen was a breeze to navigate with. It was just simple. Plug it in and go. Needless to say she wants her Magellan back. This is a great product. I had heard it advertised on the Glenn Beck radio show and it is everything they said and more. I highly recommend this GPS product.

Multiple problems, not worth the money...
I decided to go with the Roadmap 700 at the end of April, and I have had nothing but problems with it and the manufacter. It takes at least 30 minutes to get a lock on a position. I live 30 miles north of Boston in a major metro area!! The screen will lock up at times and not move for 20-30 minutes. The touch screen has a mind of its own and the manual controls are sticking and not responsive...

I did some checking around and found out that Thales is having serious product control problems with this unit. Either you get a perfect one out of the box, or a bad one. If you get a bad one, it is real bad. I can no longer return it to the store I bought it and 2 phone calls and 2 emails to the Thales have gone un-returned. I fear the worst, and went out today and bought the Garmin 2620.

Stay away until they fix their quality control, or become more responsive to these problems. If you do buy it, get the extended warrenty from the store so you can bring it back in case you get a "bad" one...

Great Unit, a few quirks I can live with!
Purchased the unit and have used extensively across the country.

THE GOOD:
- ease of use, no manual required (really), truly plug-n-play
- GREAT unit for frequent travelers and car renters
- it works, directs me well with ample and clear notice even in difficult cities with many turns (e.g. NYC, Wash DC, SF)
- its size and windshield mounting bracket work well in most cars, vans, SUV's
- nice clear voice prompts, lots of nice customization options

THE BAD:
- when moving from one location to another - like getting off plane in new place - its seems to take awhile to 'wake up' (up to 15 minutes so far). Website says 5-10 minutes, so I guess I should relax. I recommend getting maps from car rental places so you don't have to wait too long to begin traveling unfamiliar routes.

- having to pay $20 for USB connection, $20 for AC adapter. When paying over $1,000 for this thing, you'd think they'd include it especially considering they are used primarily to fix their shortcomings (e.g. download upgrades, patches, etc.)

- all kinds of CompactFlash compatibility issues (e.g. Lexar may not work?). Before buying a card, check Magellan website or pay arm & leg for their own formatted cards.

- as best I can tell it does not have a nice feature of Hertz NeverLost - which are the icons of many points of interest at each step of your trip (like gas stations, restaurants, etc.). You CAN get these, but need to cancel your current destination, select POI, and then 'Nearest' (and then re-enter destination).

- voice prompts aren't as loud as I like even with volume all the way up, and I get occasional speaker noise/hissing

- Careful in NYC. Pay attention to boroughs when typing New York, NY as your city -- there may be many '4th Ave' addresses across the NYC boroughs and it may not pick correctly (recommend using points-of-interest if a hotel) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

So you can have a phone in every room in the house, Panasonic's KX-TG2730 expands to offer up to eight separate handsets. Each one can act as an intercom to that room, allowing you to know what's happening even when you're at the other end of the house.

Four-line LCD panels display the name and number of callers (with subscription to Caller ID service) and provide access to a 50-number phone directory that supplies one-touch dialing. A 10-number speed dialer and convenient speakerphone are located on the base, as is a fully digital answering system that provides up to 15 minutes of message time, each with a time and date stamp.

Choose from six programmable ringer tones and take advantage of the system's toll saver feature, which allows you to check messages away from home without accruing unnecessary long distance charges.

Panasonic provides a one-year warranty for parts and service. ... Read more

Features

• 2.4 GHz operation
• Frequency hopping digital spread spectrum technology
• Expandable to 8 handsets
• Built-in digital answering system
• Caller ID with call waiting

Reviews (61)

It's not what I've expected...
I bought this phone because of its features: Caller ID, answering machine and expandable. But sorry to say I agree with most of the reviews of this phone. When I'm talking on the phone the other side of the line couldn't hear me for half of the time. I use the phone the first when I call my mom who's oversea and she said 'Why are you talking to me on a cheap phone?' It's not fun using this phone when calling long distance when I'm paying for every single minute, not even fun when I paid $130 for the phone, not at all. After reading the reviews I do realised that the caller id always have 'incoming' call and yes it is slow to show the number that's calling. I'll sure to try the method a review pointout to improve the function of the caller id. I had not have any complaint about the battary life maybe because I don't talk too long a time. If I had read the reviews before buying the phone, I don't think I get this after all.

DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE, ITS A BUMMER !!!
UPDATE!!!

I replaced original battery with Energizer Nickel-Metal Hybride NiMH 1200mAh ER-P511. This battery will make this phone one incredible talking monster (3 to 4 hrs talk time, no memory effect). Make sure you are buying 1200mAh not cheaper 800mAh which is widely avaliable. 1200mAh one will cost you $25 and I found it only in best buy.

I came across this site, because I am looking to replace the phones battery. I have been using this phone for about a year ( 11 months) to be exact, and I am very dissapointed with its battery performance. Although phone is rich in features, its battery life is terrible, terrible. From only 1 hour talk time when phone was new, it is now no more than 30min. My old phone 900Mhz analog Panasonic did not need to be charged for days, this phone takes 2 days to charge. I bought it for its digital answering system and 2.4Ghz range and good looks. My previous experience with this brand was very positive, it looks like a bad product design. This phone is a BUMMER !!!!

I like this phone
We bought this phone several months ago after 2 bum tries with other makes/models. This one provides flexibility with the expansion option and speaker phone system. Caller id is a little slow to respond but not a problem. The low rating on this product's reviews doesn't reflect the true worth of this phone, in my opinion. Obviously someone has chosen to sway the rating lower due to some deeper issue. My recommendation is to see for yourself. If you're looking for an expandable phone, buy this one from a reputable place and try it out for a few weeks. If you don't like it, return it within the store's return policy.

Junk Phone.....
As stated by previous reviews this is a junk phone. My old Panasonic 900mhz was great and worked for years after being dropped a number of times.

This phone has a horrible battery life and the individuals on the other end of the line constantly complain about you being hard to hear. I have tried everything and nothing short of shouting at the phone helps. DO NOT BUY THIS PHONE!!!!!!!!!

The Best Phone For your Buck
I have been using this phone for about 2 weeks now and I have to say that this phone is just about perfect. I have no idea why so many people have battery issues. The fact is that if your battery does not last, go out and buy energizer battery. Its NiMH (ER-P511) there is no memory and it lasts for 10hrs talk time. The only bad thing for me is that, there is no blinking light when you have missed calls. If you are thinking about buying this phone, do it, you will love it. Do not listen to the reviews. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Updating the popular S400 Digital Elph, Canon's PowerShot S410 is both elegant and powerful. It features a 4-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and movie mode for videos of up to three minutes. Elegantly designed and super compact, the S400 has a protective stainless steel shell with a celabrite finish, which mixes metals and ceramics to produce a tough cool-toned exterior that is visually stunning. It also features Canon's new Print/Share button, which helps you quickly connect directly to a printer or send an image via e-mail.

Optics and Resolution
The 4-megapixel PowerShot S410 can capture 2272 x 1704 images for photo quality 11 x 14 print enlargements. It also has 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480 resolution modes. The 3x optical zoom lens has a focal length of 7.4-22.2mm (35mm equivalent: 36-108mm). It also has a 3.6x digital zoom.

Movie Mode
The PowerShot S410 features 3-minute QVGA (320 x 240) or QQVGA (160 x 120) movie clips with sound recording, full playback and in-camera cutting and editing. Individual video clips are limited to three minutes in length.

More Camera Features

• 9-point Artificial Intelligence autofocus (AiAF) for fast and sharp images, even with off-center subjects
• 1.5 inch low-temperature polycrystalline siliconTFT color LCD (118,000 pixels)
• Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
• Built-in flash with auto, red-eye reduction, and slow sync modes
• Record a voice memo of up to 60 seconds and attach to images
• Shutter speed: 15 - 1/2,000 seconds
• White balance control: Auto, pre-set (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H), or custom white balance
• Continuous shooting: 2.5 frames (maximum 5 images)
• 2x to 10x zoom into captured images while reviewing via the LCD

Canon Technology Features

• Digic Imaging Processor: While much technical discussion of digital cameras centers around the optics and the CCD sensor, the complex task of image rendering is the job of the image processor--the "brains" of a digital camera. Canon's latest, exclusive DIGIC Imaging Processor significantly enhances digital camera performance in numerous areas. DIGIC's high-speed signal processing is combined with high-capacity buffering to give Canon digital cameras fast response and continuous shooting capability unmatched by other digital cameras. DIGIC delivers longer battery life and beautiful, rich color rendition with far fewer white saturation problems. And DIGIC's unequaled precision delivers clear, noise-free images that are demonstrably superior.
• iSAPS Technology: Canon iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology dramatically improves the performance of AF (Autofocus), AE (Auto Exposure), and AWB (Auto White Balance). By analyzing a huge volume of photography data, accumulated over 60 years and the manufacture of over 150 million cameras, Canon engineers arrived at statistical relationships among focal length, focus distance, scene brightness, and other factors. Equipped with this "fore knowledge" Canon PowerShot cameras can optimize AF/AE/AWB settings for any given scene more rapidly and more effectively.
• Multi-point AiAF: Canon's wide-area, multi-point AiAF (artificial intelligence autofocus) automatically selects one or more focusing points based on factors, such as subject position and motion. AiAF works in conjunction with iSAPS Technology to more quickly and accurately achieve autofocus under a wide variety of shooting conditions. You get fast, accurate AF whether you hold the camera horizontally or vertically, with stationary or moving subjects, with off-center subjects, and even in low-light/low-contrast lighting.

Direct Printing/Sharing
The PowerShot S410 introduces a new Print/Share button that speeds and simplifies printing to compatible Canon and PictBridge enabled printers and one-touch image transfer to Windows XP, Me, 2000, and 98 computers for use with image processing programs, uploading to the Internet, or placement in e-mail. When connected to a Canon Compact Photo printer, a Movie Print mode divides the selected clip into equal parts and prints thumbnails of a maximum 63 equally spaced frames onto a single sheet of Postcard Size Paper.

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on CompactFlash memory cards (Type I only) and the included 32 MB card holds approximately 21 images at the Large/Fine setting.Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1 connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-1LH). With the LCD on, you will get approximately 190 shots. It measures 3.43 x 2.24 x 1.09 inches and weighs 6.5 ounces (without batteries).

What's in the Box
This package contains the PowerShot S410 digital camera, 32 MB CompactFlash memory card, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-1LH), battery charger (CB-2LS), USB and A/V cables, and wrist strap. The supplied software on the CD-ROM includes browsing and printing software ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) and ImageBrowser (Mac). Other software includes PhotoStitch, plus photo and movie manipulation software ArcSoft PhotoStudio and VideoImpression. ... Read more

Features

• 4-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 11-by-15-inch enlargements
• Canon 3x optical zoom lens with 3.6x digital zoom
• 9-point autofocus; movie mode; PictBridge compatible
• Store images on Compact Flash Type I memory cards (32 MB card included)
• Powered by rechargeable battery pack NB-1LH (included with charger)

Reviews (33)

Wonderful Point-and-Shoot Camera
This is the ultimate camera for active/sporting/outdoor snapshots. It's so small you can stick it in a pocket, and yet it has flash, 3x optical zoom and 4 megapixel resolution! Because it's digital you can see the results immediately, and you don't have to worry about wasting film. Send your experiences and memories to everyone!

Pros:
* Very small and handy
* Unobtrusive-your friends will stop posing every time you try to take a picture! My friend Christine has mastered the art of stealth photography with her S410; she looks in a different direction while glancing at the LCD viewfinder!
* Uses Compact Flash (CF)- Low-cost easy to handle memory cards available in capacities up to 1 GB!
* Picture quality (so far) is excellent

Cons:
* Uses a rechargeable battery-This takes some extra planning and perhaps a purchase of a spare battery.
* Non-automatic operation is difficult-the small size makes it hard to read and navigate the controls
* Small size can be a danger! You could lose it accidentally or drop it out of a shirt pocket

Terrific snapshooter, if lacking in manual functions
For about 80% of people, this camera is going to be a dream come true.

Simply put, it's the pinnacle of ultra compact digital camera technology. With a 4 megapixel resolution with a better sensor than almost all of its competitors in a body the size of a pack of cigarettes, the Canon S410 is fabulous. The buttons and other physical factors of the interface are all well designed: the zoom and shutter button are in the same place for ridiculously easy one handed operation. The function knob on the upper right provides easy access to several shooting & playback modes. Compare this to other recent sexy, ultra-compact powershooters by Casio & Fuji (Think Z4U and A340) and you'll understand why this is a superior camera.

Other pros:
-Canon STILL uses Compact Flash media, which is significantly cheaper than xD and sD, which a good 90% of other brands use. I have yet to see a downside in everyday use (don't ask me about extreme temperate conditions or whether the various media survive prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields of varying strengths, as I won't know, and most people don't care).
-I personally like Canon's picture quality far better than that of most of its competitors, within the same style of camera.
-The auto-focus system is superior to all other cameras of this size and strength. VASTLY superior.

Cons:
-Canon's movie mode is growing steadily outdated. This is one area where you may be able to find another camera that serves better: This camera is limited to 3 minutes of 15 FPS 320 x 240 resolution motion capture, regardless of the size of your memory card. I do, however, think that if you're that serious about wanting to record digital movies, you should look to a device more aimed at that sort of thing, like the new Panasonic digi-video-cams that take still images as a secondary function.
-Memory door is made of plastic, not metal like the rest of the camera, and I have seen it break.
-1.5" LCD leaves something to be desired (esp. compared to Casio's line of 2" LCD ultracompacts).
-No easy, pre-set scene modes like Fuji or Minolta have.

Reasons why you would NOT like this camera:
-If this is your first digital camera. I can understand how you may be disappointed by the fact that 99% of point & shoot digital cameras do not make film-quality prints. This is something you will just have to deal with, or not use digital cameras: short of a $700+ SLR digi camera, you will NEVER consistently get film-quality prints, and even then, you will not get the same quality as a comparably priced film camera.
-If you are a photo enthusiast. Canon's Digital Elph line of cameras is designed around every day snapshooters that do not need or know how to use things like manual white balance, various aperture settings, add-on lenses, etc. The similarly priced Canon S45 is much more along the lines of what you're looking for, if you insist on remaining in the compact category. Otherwise, invest in a digital SLR camera, as you will be much happier.

Small Size/ Big Performance
I'm not an expert on photography. I have only taken one photography class in my life, but this little camera is quite amazing! The size fits perfectly in anyone's hands; moreover, the buttons and controls are easy to manuever.

I was able to operate this camera pretty much right out of the box without having to read the manual. I have no problems downloading the pictures into my computer. It's very user friendly.

The pictures are crisp and clear, as you can see in the open window. It's a great daytime, point and shoot sort of camera and the pictures look quite professional. The only problems it has is taking night-time photos. This camera has a bit of a problem in the dark, but overall, great value for the price!!!!

I highly recommend it!

One of the best cameras out there for its size.
I got this camera because I was looking for a camera that was small but had great resolution. This camera can fit right into the palm of your hand. The only thing i didn't like was that the video is 320x240 pixels but the camera takes outstanding photos. This is a camera for someone who wants a small camera but with great resolution.

Best Still Picture Quality for Compact Digital Cameras
If you just need a digital camera to take pictures in the sun light, you can almost pick any digital camera.

But if you want your camera to take great pictures under all different light conditions (i.e. in door, with dark background, wedding photos and other complex light situations), then Canon S410/S500 will be the only choice. Thanks to Canon DIGIC Image Processor and iSAPS Technology, this Canon S410 really takes perfect pictures in all different light conditions, which no compact digital camera from other vender can match.

However the Canon case for S500/S410 is very dispointing, which is poorly made with cheap fake leather.

I found the most beautiful, perfect fitting leather case for Canon S410/S500 from http://stores.ebay.com/ProCases ... Read more

Product Description

The second generation iPod mini holds up to 1000 of your favorite songs in a compact, colorful package that goes with you everywhere. Its durable anodized aluminum shell comes in a choice of four bright colors, including blue, so you can make a bold fashion statement. Its long battery life lets you enjoy your music for up to 18 hours on a single charge. One-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Up to 18 hours of battery life
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and USB 2.0 cable
• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more

Reviews (57)

love it
I always thought these things were a waste of money.Why spend 200 bucks on an MP3 player when there are others out there way cheaper?My brother got this for his birthday and thats when I found out why these are more money.They Hold about a million times more music than my old cheapie MP3 player did.The song quality is amazing.The iTunes software is one of the best players that I have had in a long time.I'd write more but everyone else has done so a million times over so why re-invent the wheel.:)enjoy!

Less for More
Just when you think it doesn't get any better, it doesn't!The new 2nd generation Apple 4 GB iPod Mini Silver M9800LL/A is the new benchmark in over-priced electronics that provide music you already own, in a duplicative, unstable, portable format.

Apple spared every expense delivering the new sleek design of the Mini Silver.Sure to make you the envy of every kid on the block.And the good news doesn't stop there.Or does it?

I love my mini!
So.... I bought a 4gb mini about a week ago and I'm loving it. I did quite a bit of research about it before I bought it just to make sure I was making a good investment. Best $200 I've ever spent.
It holds a lot of music!
Although I wish it could be worn around my neck like a shuffle... I think the Apple iPod mini Lanyard can solve that problem though.
Ummm... I love it. It works great with my PC. (I'm not a mac lover)

I <3 it.

Mini Ipod 2nd generation
I own a pink mini ipod 2nd generation and i love it! i got it in the begining of may, so its almost a month and have never had problems (except once it froze when i was at school but i connected it to my usb port and then it was fine)The little thing takes on a ton of abuse(i drop it ALL the time) but it never skips and it doesn't even have 1 scratch yet! I was debating between the mini and the 20 gb but i decided to get this one b/c i didn't need 5000 songs worth of space and it was too heavy. If you're worried that you wont have enough space on the mini...it probably wont be a problem unless you are a super heavy user(even in that case you can stillswitch off the songs)and the mini is MUCH smaller and lighter(my best friend has a 4o gb and its WAY bigger than my little compact 4 gb one)also the 4 gb is about 100 dollars cheaper than 20 gb (well, thats about 100 songs there from itunes!)most of the accsories are really uneeded and they're just 4 convinience especially the dock(although i find using the usb port to charge it and download songs extreamly simple and im that computer/electronics oriented)Itunes is really great.. i love it and i prefer it over napster(and yes, i've used both to buy,listen and download songs)the only disadvantage on the ipod as opposed to creative,dell or any other mp3 players, is that you can only use itunes and your own collections to put on your ipod.
The ipod is really "cute" and i really like the click wheel, which is really cool. The setup and use of the ipod is very easy, within an hour of opening the package, i had already instaleld all of the software,registered,charged my ipod, download a ton of songs and was already listening to them with my friends. I spent a long time deciding which mp3 player to get, and i ended up with an apple ipod which i use all the tiem and absolutly adore it! Hope this review helped!

LAST AND LEAST....
whatever, ihave been looking for an mp3 player all over the world! when i finally found i liked first of all because of its look, then because of storage and of course the MAC quality.
i was thinking on a sandisk, but my mom suggested an ipod and shed pay the difference wich sound great to me, anyways, i bought it, and enjouyed for about a week, i love to excercise, i jog a lot, andpractice basketball and martial arts, so sometimes when i try to concentrate i just play my mp3 and forget about the world and the routines just comes out easily, anyways, im not a great music fan, my storage is about 150 songs, but is never useless to have extra storage, what so ever.......
this thing is soooooo heavy!!!!!!! and soooo big!!! if i hold it on the clip, which holds from my pants as soon as i start to jog, the thing starts like comming out, or tears down my pants..!! if i hold it with the armclip, it is so heavy that i became scared of droppin it so i barely moved my arm.....anyways, the sound is goodbut not great so far the best for me on mp3's talking, storage enough, size terrible, handling terrible, and as for me excersising is very important thats why i rate it with three because it doesnt let you become healthy. now im thinking on buying a nike/phillips, or the sandisk and ill sell mine to mmy sister...whatevera good thing for sedentary kinda ppl....lol... ... Read more

Product Description

The second generation iPod mini holds up to 1000 of your favorite songs in a compact, colorful package that goes with you everywhere. Its durable anodized aluminum shell comes in a choice of four bright colors, including pink, so you can make a bold fashion statement. Its long battery life lets you enjoy your music for up to 18 hours on a single charge. One-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and USB 2.0 cable
• 4 GB model holds up to 1,000 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more
• Up to 18 hours of battery life

Product Description

Affordable portable performance.

Fully loaded with a powerful G4 processor, a 5400-rpm 80GB hard drive, 512MB of memory, a faster-burning 8x SuperDrive and a nifty scrolling trackpad, the 15-inch PowerBook G4 boasts features few notebook computers can match.

With a processor speed of 1.67GHz, DDR RAM capacity up to 2GB, a light 5.6-pound weight and thin 1.1-inch design, the 15-inch PowerBook gives you the ideal balance between power and portability. Work and play in millions of colors on a stunning 15.2-inch (diagonal) widescreen display with 1280 x 854 pixel resolution that’s ideal for watching movies in their original wide-screen format. You can also make movies of your own with the included iMovie HD software, or get Final Cut Pro HD for more advanced video editing, compositing and special effects. And thanks to its built-in DVI port, you even have the option of connecting your PowerBook to Apple’s breathtaking Cinema Displays. Add optional dual-link DVI capability and 128MB of graphics memory and your 1.67GHz 15-inch PowerBook even supports the massive 30-inch Cinema HD Display.

As Smart as It Looks
The sleek exterior is as stunning as ever. The 15-inch PowerBook G4 comes with all the refinements and esthetic touches that make it the most coveted full-featured notebook computer on the planet: elegant aluminum construction, 1.1-inch thin design, slot-loading 8x SuperDrive and a brilliant illuminated keyboard. On the inside, a faster PowerPC G4 processor, a standard 5400-rpm 80GB hard drive, powerful graphics, up to 2GB of RAM and Mac OS Xthe world’s most advanced operating systemcombine to deliver off-the-charts performance.

Built for Speed
Inside the 15-inch PowerBook G4 is a screamingly fast 1.67GHz PowerPC G4 processor with Velocity Engine. Advanced processor design and memory architecture are among several core advantages that enable the PowerBook G4 to pack ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A word of caution
Apple needs to improve quality control and product support. The superdrive stopped working when laptop was 6 weeks old.Sent to Apple repair on April 4 and was informed 5 days later after I called that replacement wouldn't be available until end of April. New Superdrive could be quality control problem like permanent white spots on screens and batteries that catch fire of earlier models. Pity, because everything else about the machine is simply superb.

The Holy Grail of Laptop Computing
I have a friend of a friend who works at an Apple store and just recenlty he let me play with all the new stuff, some old stuff too and here is my impression of the new, improved 15 inch PowerBook. First off, and I feel like shouting this, but I won't, "It's about time Apple put out a computer that had enough memory in it to actually run it!" I have an old G3, 14 inch iBook and right off the bat I had to buy more memory, bumping it up to 640 megs, so knowing this baby comes with 512 right out the door, will bring a sigh of relief to anybody thinking of buying one.

The screen on this baby is gorgeous, no reading glasses for me here. This machine is svelte and sleek, comes with Airport Extreme built in. Has all the usual ports, plus FireWire 800 and it's crowning jewel, in my humble opinion, is the backlit keyboard. Apple claims it's ten times brighter than the old model. I can attest to the fact that it's brighter, but ten times, I don't know, I didn't see it. However, it's plenty bright enough to work in the dark. This 1.67 GHz model comes with a Superdrive and a scrolling trackpad (which I didn't mention in my other reviews). I found the trackpad scrolling business to be a little annoying, but no matter you can turn it off in System Prefs if you want. However, I imagine once you get used to it, one might find it darned handy.

Compared to my aging, but still working like a champ iBook, this baby screams. And the 80 gig hard drive gives you plenty of room to load up those MP3s to play in iTunes.

This, in my opinion, is not only the best PowerBook of the bunch, but the best laptop ever made. It is truly the Holy Grail of laptop computing. Apple has really gone and got it right this time.

Jack Priest, Sailor home from the Sea

tens years later... back from retirement
Had to return an hp laptop because it refused to cooperate.ProTools Le was too much for it.
I didn't want a powerbook, I needed one.
The blend of beauty and pleasure shocked me when I booted it up the first time.
Slipped in the gig of pc 2700 ram with no problems.
It hasn't complained once.
The superdrive is super-intuitive and easily backed up a full dvd in as much time as my pc would burn files to cd-r.
All my peripherals are compatible with osx.3.8 (which I had to download from apple...breezy.)
I'm enjoying the interface, a lot less clicks and menus to access files.
Got giggly about the zoom feature for the display.
When's the last time your pc made you smile?

In short, my g4 is the perfect houseguest.

Apple PowerBook Notebook
This is one of the best notebook PC's on the market. This has a 1.67GHz PowerPC G4 Processor which isn't too fast but it's pretty fast for the Apple computers. 512 MB RAM is just perfect but I would recommend 1GB or 2GB. 80 Gigabyte Hard Drive is really nice and it's almost the largest hard drive (100GB is the largest). It has a SuperDrive which can do whatever you want it to do. The styling on this notebook is no wonderful and comes with all the ports and features. 15.2" is pure beauty and the graphics on this thing are great. Here are the specifications of this laptop.

Processor| PowerPC G4
Screen Size (Inches/Diagonal)| 15
Optical Disc Drive| DVD+-RW / CDRW Combo
Hard Drive (GB)| 80
Memory - Processing RAM included| 512MB
Memory - Processing RAM Maximum| 2GB
Memory - Video RAM| 64MB Dedicated
Screen Resolution - Maximum| 1280x854
Wireless Capability| Built-in
Connection - Wireless Network 802.11| 802.11b / 802.11g
Connection - Wireless Bluetooth| Yes
Connection - Sound| In/Out
Connection - RJ11| Yes
Connection - RJ45| Yes
Connection - Video| Out
Operating System| Apple Macintosh OS X
Software| Pre-Installed by Manufacturer
Unit Dimensions - High| 1
Unit Dimensions - Long / Wide| 14
Unit Dimensions - Deep| 10
Unit Weight - Approximate with Battery| 6.0
Manufacturer's Warranty - Hardware| 1 Year
Manufacturer's Warranty - Software| 1 Year

Source: www.jr.com

if you're a heavy pc user, don't switch
I have Powerbook G4, purchased Nov 04, Mac OSX 10.3.8, 1.5 Ghz, upgraded RAM to 768MB.
If you're new to computing, or use Mac for non-business applications (heavy on graphics and creative work) it's probably a good choice.If you use Outlook (not Express) heavily, or use Powerpoint, Excel, and Word a lot and like XP, then the Mac is a snoozer.
reasons not to buy:
1-you pay a lot to get it to do the things a PC with updated Microsoft Office Professional Suite already does, and it never is quite as good...Mac Powerpoint feels pokier (saving, just in keeping up with my typing), Mac Excel toolbar gets on top of/in the way of my worksheets (haven't figured out how to make it go to the back), Outlook just isn't replicated at all on the Mac (unless you get Virtual PC)...Entourage just lacks the functionality
2-doesn't seem to handle the WEP password protocol on my Linksys wireless home network...even the folks at the Apple store said I wouldn't be able to get the DHCP security to work with my PC-based home network
3-Filevault....oooh, what a liability. Much touted file encryption will scramble and destroy files that are open if the Mac also goes into the won't-wake-up-again-sleep mode problem that it has. Though I never diagnosed this completely, I lost a number of key working files that may have been open when the Mac went into sleep mode (read:crashed) while I had Filevault going.I lost saved versions, and they're completely unrecoverable.Later the guys in the Apple store said they never use Filevault...it's "scary", they said.
4-Certain applications, like Visual Basic, aren't available for the Mac yet.
5-switching cost is high...getting contacts and files migrated over to the Powerbook took me a long time, and some of it is never the same. The contacts from outlook to entourage aren't organized the same (due to the fact that entourage contacts aren't as full-featured, lack some key fields), and the pc directories are only useful as read-only...I can't edit files in my pc folders and save them back into those folders (must have been some drive formatting issue that carried over); ripple effect of switching means you have to buy a lot of stuff new (back up drives, antivirus software, disk management software, backup AC cables, if you travel, etc.)
6-if you like XP, the Mac is NOT intuitive.What used to be left is now right, what's top is now bottom.I keep my mouse to the right of the screen (out of the way of typing)...but now important buttons like close/minimize are on the left, increasing mouse travel time.PC's usually have a disk drive light that lets you know the PC is working on something that involves the drive.I liked that...very intuitive way to let me know the PC is busy.No such light on the Mac.
7-you may have problems listening to Sirius radio on Safari; I needed to use Internet Explorer (Hah!much touted Mac browser useless for audio?), and even then can't get fully functional display due to some Mac technicality, according to Sirius techs.

reasons to buy:
1-Largely virus-free because virus writers get more leverage attacking pc's (more market penetration and more business focused); this is a blessing because I found Norton AV '04 to be dysfunctional, glad not to have to deal with it anymore.
2-Supposedly faster processing due to more streamlined operating system, though I don't find the mac to be any more responsive than even a lower priced pc
3-Faster boot-up and shutdown.
4-Fewer crashes-true, though not infallible either; mac's version of the PC blue screen is that some won't wake up after going to sleep
5-cool keyboard, backlit in the dark; very romantic and pretty.

Rating of 3 stars indicates sameness...it's as good as a PC, just different.I wouldn't recommend it for someone who's switching from XP expecting something superior. ... Read more

Product Description

Equipped with the productivity tools that keep you going, the S360 is the notebook for those who will not sacrifice function for performance or convenience.Integrated multimedia features, wireless capability and advanced technologies make the S360 notebook your ideal companion for enhanced productivity and entertainment at home, in the office or on the road. An upgraded hard drive and graphics card will improve your notebook experience whether you are using it for business or pleasure. The 13.3" widescreen display and generous keyboard won't cramp your style whether you're on a plane or at a hotspot. The integrated CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive gives you the power to view, play or store the information you need to disc. At 4.2 pounds, the S360 will be easy and convenient to bring with you wherever you go. ... Read more

Features

• 60 GB model holds up to 15,000 songs; supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible, AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV
• Holds approximately 25,000 photos and displays them on a 2-inch diagonal 65,536-color LCD screen with LED backlight
• Up to 15 hours battery life when fully charged (which typically takes 5 hours); fast-charge in as little as 3 hours
• Compatible with Mac OS X or Windows 2000 with SP4 and XP; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• Comes with iPod photo dock, earbud headphones, a carrying case, an AC adapter, a FireWire cable, a USB 2.0 cable, and an AV cable

Product Description

The second generation iPod mini holds up to 1500 of your favorite songs in a compact, colorful package that goes with you everywhere. Its durable anodized aluminum shell comes in a choice of four bright colors, including silver, so you can make a bold fashion statement. Its long battery life lets you enjoy your music for up to 18 hours on a single charge. One-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Up to 18 hours of battery life
• Comes with earbud headphones, belt clip, and USB 2.0 cable
• 6 GB model holds up to 1,500 songs; supports MP3, AAC, WAV, MP3 VBR, Audible (6), and AIFF formats
• Mac and Windows compatible; FireWire and USB 2.0 interface for fastest digital transfer available
• 1.67 inch (diagonal) backlit screen displays full song names and more

Product Description

Universal Media Disc (UMD):The Universal Media Disc (UMD) is a newly developed compact, high-capacity optical disc, which is the storage device for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system.UMD is the next generation compact storage media, only 60mm in diameter but can store up to 1.8GB of digital datamore than three times the data held on a CD-ROM.A broad range of digital entertainment content such as game software, videos, movies and oth ... Read more

Features

• Sony PSP Specifications and Features:
• Dimensions: Approximately 6.7 in (W) x .9 in (H) x 2.9 in (D)
• Weight: .62 lbs (including battery)
• CPU: Proprietary PSP CPU
• Main Memory: 32MB

Reviews (494)

Is the PSP really what it's cracked up to be???
I think PSP is more like eye candy than a really great handheld system. I have a PSP and I like it but it is fragile. the screen can scratch very easily. the games really are not that fun. Trust me when I say made a dumm mistake. Know I really would like a Nintendo DS. Hopefully i'll get a DS.

Best portable gaming device ever!
Without a doubt, the psp is the best portable gaming device ever.Don't listen to the poeple that keep complaining cuz they just like to complain.One of my few complaints, however is that almost all the accesories that come with the value pack are stuff that I didn't need.I have headphones and I dont need the OFFSENTERED earphones that came with this.The case is to soft. It isn't meant to protect the PSP but just to cary it in.The remote control, while being a nice feature isn't needed because all of the controls on it can be performed using the buttons on the PSP. The ac adapter and battery are needed, but the battery life on mine is only about 4 hours. I found the charge time to be about 1 hour and 40 minutes. The memory card is obviously intended for game saves and not songs but then again for all the people complaining Sony didn't intend for the PSP to be an ipod. The cleaning cloth works great and is needed because the PSP attracts dust and fingerprints very easily.While most of the accesories are usless, the PSP itself is very nice.To all the people out there complaining out there that it is too fragile or that they broke theirs maybe they should take care of their stuff!The only game that I have is NBA and I am very impressed with it.It looks just like a PS2 game.While the accesories are either usless or not needed, I am very pleased with my purchase.I think that you should get this.If you are worried about dead pixels or broken buttons than buy it at circuit city or best buy.I got mine at circuit city and it has no flaws.I hope this review helped you.

If there's a God, he's answered all gamer's prayers
Oh. My. God.
This is just beautiful.
Let me just say that DS is NOTHING compared to this. DS is nice and all (especially because it can play all the old GBA games. Would've been nicer if it still played reg. GB games. I have tried DS. I liked it for a while. It's fun to play, I'll say that. But it's not anything worth buying with this around. If someone you know has DS, mooch off them to play it.

Some people have told me this is a waste of my money, to be throwing $250 around for a system, plus $40-50 a game. Wrong. This is completely worth it. As long as you have the cash (that is, meaning there's extra after it), you should get this. Thing is, a game doesn't come with it. But there's a great line-up right now, the four I currently own being Ape Escape (god I love that it's portable), Darkstalkers Cronicles (finally 2D fighters make a comeback), Twisted Metal: Head-On (reminds me of the 2nd one, which was the best out of all of them), and Lumines (being the best game on the PSP and one of the best games ever created). With more on the way, a few being Armored Core, Coded Arms, and probably the best handheld game ever, Infected.

And not only are the games amazing, but so are the graphics quality, the amazing sound (for a handheld), and the overall feel of the system.

Anyone that's thinking of buying this: do it. It's a huge investment, but completely worth it.

P.S.- I also recommend Nyko's Charger Case. The battery life for the PSP is short, but this case, fully charged, increases the life by three times the norm. Oh, and don't buy Metal Gear AC!D. It's not as good as it's said to be, even if it's a Metal Gear game (actually, I think this game -is- on AC!D).

Great....everything!
This game system is amazing! It's great to have on a plane and be able to watch UMD's (like a small DVD sorta) without having to take a laptop. The colors are great when held at the right angle.

Pros:
Awesome screen
Precise joystick
light weight for size of screen
durable

Cons:
senstive LCD screen
volume could be louder/better speakers
should come with cable to connect to computer i think.

LISTEN UP EVERYONE
If you want to get the PSP and a game for FREE instead of paying over 250 for it, go to this link http://www.psps4free.com/default.aspx?r=383497
Sign up on the site where it says to. Make sure you use this link or you won't get to pick a free game. All you have to do is complete an offer (The AOL 30 day trial one is FREE) and refer 5 people, just like I'm doing. Go to the link, sign up, complete a FREE offer, get 5 people to sign up on the site and the PSP and game are yours free!!! It takes like a day or two. ... Read more

Product Description

records high-quality DVD-Video * records to mini DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, and DVD+RWs * recording capacity of one disc: 20 minutes at HQ setting; 30 minutes at SP setting; 60 minutes at LP setting * digital photo mode * 2-11/16" widescreen color touch-panel LCD * ... Read more

Features

• 10X optical zoom
• 2.7 inch, 16:9 aspect display
• Dolby digital 5.1 audio recording
• DVD + RW / -RW media
• 3.3 megapixel CCD

Reviews (8)

Shoot, Finalize, Play, be Amazed.
I can't believe how easy this camera is to operate.

I received the camcorder last night and was anxious to get some test footage of my daughter before she went to bed.To save time, I skipped reading the directions and went straight to fiddling with the camera.With absolutely no difficulty or direction I was able to snap on the battery pack, plug the camera to AC power, pop in a disc, and begin recording my daughter's silly bed time antics.

Now it was time to play it in the DVD player.A freind had told me that you need to "finalize" the disc before you can play it in a DVD player.So, after a moment of hunting in the setup menu I found and selected the "finalize" option.A little whirring and a grave warning not to vibrate the camera, and a few minutes later the disc was done.

I placed the disc in the DVD player still believing this was too good to be true, but there it was.My daughter giggling and singing in 16:9 aspect ratio on my big TV, with no wires and no need to boot up my computer.Within 30 minutes of pulling the camera out of the box I was playing a freshly recorded movie without having to glance at the manual.I can't say enough about the ease of use.

And, the quality is top notch.I'm no expert but I have an older Sony Mini-DV and I've been exposed to home movies made on a number of different cameras.The picture quality on this one is as good or better than any video camera I've ever seen. But it was the sound quality that shocked me.

As I sat watching my daughter sing on camera I heard her singing in front of me.Then, I was startled to hear the sounds of my wife and I laughing and coaxing her comming from the surround speakers behind me.That's right, this thing records in Dolby 5.1 surround sound!

So far, I've only recorded two discs worth of material, and I haven't even gotten into exploring the more advanced features of the camera, but it does everything I want it to do.Incredible ease of use.High quality digital picture and sound.The only drawback I see is the $5-$8 price tag per blank disc.But as one reviewer mentioned you can transfer your movie to a much cheaper full size CD-R using a DVD recorder or your computer.Then you can reuse the same $8 mini disc over and over again.

Either way, it's a small price to pay for such a convenient and high quality product.

Wind noice is the killer.
When recording outdoor, even there is not much wind at all, this camcorder produces a lot of wind noise just like a thunder storm out there. I set the volume to low in the setup menu, but it does not help at all. The picture quality is good, the wide screen produces a very nice view on the 16X9 TV.

Excellent hardware-- mediocre software
From a hardware standpoint this camcorder is excellent. Picture quality under a variety of lighting conditions including dim lighting is excellent. The quality of the still photos is also excellent-- I haven't used my digital still camera since I bought it. The only letdown is the very mediocre software package that comes with it. I'm surprised a quality company like Sony would bundle a $1000 high end camera with budget software. It's workable but don'w expect much more than very basic functionality.

This is the first miniDVD camcorder that has worked it out in terms of ease of use, reliability, and picture quality. Sure, in 2-5 years we will all be using blu-ray digital cameras that will hold 2 hours of HD video on 1 disk, making the paltry 21 minutes of high quality video (1 hour on low quality setting or 30 minutes on normal quality)seem quaint, but until then this one is it.

UPDATE-- I've have the camera a couple of weeks now. I'm feeling better about the bundled software--it turns out a lot of the bugs that I initially experienced using the software were due to codecissues and not the software itself. I actually find the software, although basic in it's features, pretty useful and stable. For those who want to edit their videos more extensively, Windows Movie Maker is free from Microsoft and handles the MPEG2 video format used by this camera very well.

The camera itself is a joy to use. I have found that 21 minutes of high quality video per disc is not as restrictive as I once thought-- having the power to edit my videos (ie cut out the garbage)makes that 21 minutes go a long way. And the media itself is not expensive-- I just bought 20 miniDVD-Rs online for $20.

Overall, a great choice--it gives me the option to burn my video right away and watch it on my DVD player at home, or if I feel like it I can download it to my computer and edit it and then burn it and watch it. Either way, a winner.

Great camcorder with High quality of picture
I bought this camcorder about a month back. I finished recording my first DVD and the quality of the picture is awesome. This is my first camcorder and I am already in love with it. I have SONY DSC-T1 with 5 MP and now this camcorder has builin flash with 3.1 MP I am rarely using my DSC-T1 for taking pictures. I would say it is worth the cost. I suggest you buy it and you won't be dissappointed.

5 stars all the way!
Was shopping around for a camcorder for awhile, and was debating against a mini dv and or dvd camcorder.Panasonic even has 3ccd camcorders at a comparable price offering supposedely a better quality camera.I had my heart set on a dvd camcorder as I didnt want the hassle of transferring to PC and then burning to dvd.Knowing myslef, I would just never get around do doing it.So after having my mind set on a dvd camcorder, looked on the internet and there was the sony 403, the specs looked good but there werent that many reviews posted.

Decided to go with it, and I must say it is one fantastic camcorder, quality is great, low light is not that bad either.Built in flash for stills work great and quality still quality is great also.I have no need for my digital camera anymore.Is convenient to store both video and stills on the same dvd.

Havent used the software for editing yet, from the reviews ive read it isnt that great, but dont expect to to do that much editing. Finalizing the dvd creates an own dvd menu, again great feature.

Touch screen is A+, 16:9 recording works well.5.1 surround sound is great add on.Battery life on packaged battery gives good recording time.

I was skeptical of the only 30 min recording time on SP mode on the camera.mini dv's offer 60 min, but after recording a couple of dvd, you really don't realize how long 30 minutes is.SHould be ample for a standard home video.There is a setting at LP mode for 60 minutes, haven;t tried it yet, but will.My guess is that I won't notice a big difference.

Overall my opinion is that if your the average user, wants great quality footage easy to use, this camcorder is for u.I personally cant tell the difference between a 3ccd camera.It is pricey, but i think sony has set a new standard in DVD camcorders.

... Read more

Product Description

5.0-megapixel effective recording * DIGIC II processor for true-to-life color reproduction * 2" color LCD viewscreen * 3X optical/4X digital/12X total zoom * 35mm equivalent focal length: 35-105mm * ... Read more

Features

• Powered by rechargeable Lithium-ion battery; stores images on SD memory card
• 5-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 13 x 17-inch prints
• 3x optical zoom; 2.0-inch LCD display; ultra-compact design (.8 inches thick)
• Enhanced movie mode with fast 60-frame-per-second capture rate
• DIGIC II Image Processor provides fast, accurate image processing

Amazon.com Product Description

Adding megapixel power to the popular S400 Digital Elph, Canon's PowerShot S500 bumps up the resolution to 5 megapixels--providing richer details and improved clarity. Elegantly designed and super compact, the S500 has a protective stainless steel shell with a celabrite finish, which mixes metals and ceramics to produce a tough cool-toned exterior that is visually stunning. It also features a 3x optical zoom, high-resolution video capture, and Canon's new Print/Share button, which helps you quickly connect directly to a printer or send an image via e-mail.

The S500's 5-megapixel sensor captures a wealth of detail.

Optics and Resolution
The 5-megapixel PowerShot S500 can capture 2592 x 1944 images for poster-size prints. It also has 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768, and 640 x 480 resolution modes. The 3x optical zoom lens has a focal length of 7.4-22.2mm (35mm equivalent: 36-108mm). It also has a 4.1x digital zoom.

Movie Mode
The PowerShot S500 lets you capture high-resolution 30-second video clips with sound at 640 x 480 (10 frames per second). You can also capture 3-minute movies at lower resolution settings: 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 (both at 15 frames per second).

More Camera Features

• 9-point Artificial Intelligence autofocus (AiAF) for fast and sharp images, even with off-center subjects
• 1.5 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD (118,000 pixels)
• Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
• Built-in flash with auto, red-eye reduction, and slow sync modes
• Record a voice memo of up to 60 seconds and attach to images
• Shutter speed: 15 - 1/2,000 seconds
• White balance control: Auto, pre-set (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H), or custom white balance
• Continuous shooting: 2.2 frames (maximum 14 images)
• 2x to 10x zoom into captured images while reviewing via the LCD

Canon Technology Features

• Digic Imaging Processor: While much technical discussion of digital cameras centers around the optics and the CCD sensor, the complex task of image rendering is the job of the image processor--the "brains" of a digital camera. Canon's latest, exclusive DIGIC Imaging Processor significantly enhances digital camera performance in numerous areas. DIGIC's high-speed signal processing is combined with high-capacity buffering to give Canon digital cameras fast response and continuous shooting capability unmatched by other digital cameras. DIGIC delivers longer battery life and beautiful, rich color rendition with far fewer white saturation problems. And DIGIC's unequaled precision delivers clear, noise-free images that are demonstrably superior.

  Canon's 9-point AiAF makes it easier to focus even when your subject is off-center in the frame.

• iSAPS Technology: Canon iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology dramatically improves the performance of AF (Autofocus), AE (Auto Exposure), and AWB (Auto White Balance). By analyzing a huge volume of photography data, accumulated over 60 years and the manufacture of over 150 million cameras, Canon engineers arrived at statistical relationships among focal length, focus distance, scene brightness, and other factors. Equipped with this "fore knowledge" Canon PowerShot cameras can optimize AF/AE/AWB settings for any given scene more rapidly and more effectively.
• Multi-point AiAF: Canon's wide-area, multi-point AiAF (artificial intelligence autofocus) automatically selects one or more focusing points based on factors, such as subject position and motion. AiAF works in conjunction with iSAPS Technology to more quickly and accurately achieve autofocus under a wide variety of shooting conditions. You get fast, accurate AF whether you hold the camera horizontally or vertically, with stationary or moving subjects, with off-center subjects, and even in low-light/low-contrast lighting.

Direct Printing/Sharing
The PowerShot S500 introduces a new Print/Share button that speeds and simplifies printing to compatible Canon and PictBridge enabled printers and one-touch image transfer to Windows XP, Me, 2000, and 98 computers for use with image processing programs, uploading to the Internet, or placement in e-mail. When connected to a Canon Compact Photo printer, a Movie Print mode divides the selected clip into equal parts and prints thumbnails of a maximum 63 equally spaced frames onto a single sheet of Postcard Size Paper.

Storage and Transfer
Images and video are stored on CompactFlash memory cards (Type I only) and the included 32 MB card holds approximately 21 images at the Large/Fine setting. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1 connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-1LH). With the LCD on, you will get approximately 190 shots. It measures 3.43 x 2.24 x 1.09 inches and weighs 6.5 ounces (without batteries).

What's in the Box
This package contains the PowerShot S500 digital camera, 32 MB CompactFlash memory card, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-1LH), battery charger (CB-2LS), USB and A/V cables, and wrist strap. The supplied software on the CD-ROM includes browsing and printing software ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) and ImageBrowser (Mac). Other software includes PhotoStitch, plus photo and movie manipulation software ArcSoft PhotoStudio and VideoImpression. ... Read more

Features

• 5-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13-by-17-inch enlargements
• Canon 3x optical zoom lens combines with 4x digital zoom for 12x total zoom
• 9-point autofocus; movie mode; PictBridge compatible
• Store images on Compact Flash Type I memory cards (32 MB card included)
• Powered by rechargeable battery pack NB-1LH (included with charger)