Battery Operated Ride-On ATV 4 Wheelers - Powered Ride on Toys For Toddlers

Naughty toddlers don't like to be idle! They are active in every step and it's hard for the parents to keep them stay quiet. Keeping them idle may bring out health problems. So it is good to engage them in activities that are worthy and interesting. Why don't you try kids ATV 4 wheelers that will keep your children entertained and active? You will find a wide range of battery operated and pedal operated toddler riding toys at affordable prices. These toddler toys come in a variety of colors and attractive designs. They are quite interesting too!

Even if your kid is sluggish, these battery operated toys will kindle their vitality. If your toddler is between one to three years old, then these toys are perfect for them. These kids ATV 4 wheelers are not only for toddlers, you can also get them for older kids too. Most of these battery operated riding toys can accommodate more than one person, which makes it great fun for kids riding them.

For kids above three years old, go for Kid Dune Buggy 6 V Ride-On Car Feber, which is comfy and elegant. This toy has an adjustable seat position option and a halogen headlight. The Red ATV 4 Wheeler for toddlers has got an extreme stylish look, whereas Quad Ride toy assures total fun in riding. Don't limit your kids to play only in a particular place. You can allow kids ride on these toys in the yard, park, balcony, anywhere, and everywhere.

Battery powered ride on toys and pedal powered toddler riding toys offer loads of fun. Let your kids experience real fun through these toddler riding toys. Is your kid's birthday nearing this month and are you planning to give a pleasant surprise? Get them these toddler riding toys.

Acer Aspire 5542g Review

The Acer 5542G is the company's replacement model for it's very popular 5536/5536G series. The new model comes with an improved processor and a whole new Tigris platform. It was after more than a week's wait and phone calls that I got hold of one Acer Aspire 5542G. From the moment I read the specification sheet, I have been very thrilled to get the machine in my hands. The specs boasts about a AMD Turion II 2.2 Ghz, 3GB DDR2 Memory, ATI 4570 Dedicated graphics card with a 512MB DDR3 memory and a quite generous 320GB Hard disk drive for a price tag of less than RS 34000, which is quite a tempting deal.

In this detailed review we will see how these specs meet the real performance needs.

Key features:

In this section, we will look in detail at the key components that makes up this laptop. I will also try to include as much specifications and details as available from the manufacturer's source.

Processor:

Acer Aspire 5542G comes with the second generation AMD Turion Processor (AMD Turion II M500) clocked at 2.2Ghz which houses a 1MB L2 Cache. The Turion II M500 is fabricated using the 45nm technology. It belongs to the Caspian generation of processors and supports HyperTransport 3.0 and hardware virtualization.

The Turion is AMDs answer to mobile processors, which provides excellent performance while keeping the power consumption at the minimum. The Turion processors generates less heat compared to AMD's desktop work horses that have a bad reputation in heat emission department. The Turion II being the next version of the decent performer Turion, it sets high expectations in terms of competing with the Core 2 Duos in the market. We will see how it scores in real performance when we benchmark it down the road.

Graphics Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 512MB DDR3

One of the main attractions of this laptop is the graphics engine that lies beneath the hood. The Acer 5542G comes with a dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 with 512 MB of DDR3 memory.

For those of you who are not clear about the difference between an integrated and a dedicated graphics solution, I'm adding a few words. An Integrated graphics solution (eg: the Intel's X4500) doesn't come with dedicated video memory; it eats up your system memory for graphics processing and thus the slower path between the system memory and the graphics engine causes the biggest bottle-neck when it comes to performance. Also the integrated graphics processor would be less powerful than a mainstream dedicated one in raw processing power. On the other hand, a dedicated graphics card will usually have a high speed dedicated video memory (eg: DDR3) which is coupled to the graphics processor. This removes the bottle neck and gives the card superior performance. The graphics processor on a dedicated card would usually support high-end effects provided by the latest DirectX and OpenGL APIs which gives the realism and visual-candy in the latest games.

The HD 4570 is a faster clocked version of the Mobility Radeon 4530/4330. It has a 64 Bit memory bus and comes with a 512MB DDR3 VRAM. The 512MB should be adequate for most gaming and graphics needs, unless you play in the craziest resolutions. (As rendering resolution increases, the more memory it needs). The DDR3 memory will meet the needs for the fastest and huge volume texture processing that modern games demand. However the 64 bit bus stands inferior to the 128 bit bus that most mainstream cards offer.

The ATI Mobility Radeon 4570 is based on the RV710 chip and it provides 80 stream processors. The Mobility Radeon also provides the video technology called Avivo HD that provides an on board 7.1 sound chip. The graphics solution also features a 2nd generation Unified Video Decoder that supports full bitstream decoding of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and VC-1 streams. The 4570 graphics unit is capable of handling all video tasks including HD video decoding.

Display:

The Acer 5542G comes with a 15.6" High Definition LED backlit TFT LCD display that provides 220-nit high brightness and Acer's Cinecrystal display technology. The pure widescreen (16:9) display supports a maximum resolution of 1366X768 and provides a 60% color gamut. It has a high-def response time of 8ms.

Memory: There is nothing much to boast about a 3GB DDR2 800Mhz memory that comes with the Acer Aspire 5542G when compared to the current line of laptops many of which sports a 4GB under the hood. The 3GB is sufficient for most of the computing needs which can later be upgraded to 4GB. However the 3GB deal would appear reasonable when we keep the price tag of the Acer 5542G in mind.

Hard Disk Drive: Again there's nothing jaw dropping in this department. But I would say that the 320GB that comes with the Acer 5542G is generous for most of your storage needs.

Processor performance and benchmark:

I was initially reluctant to switch from the Intel's proven workhorse Core 2 Duo to the AMD's Turion family of processors. It is a widely accepted fact that the Intel's processor outperforms the AMD counter part, provided that both runs on the same clock speed; the main culprit being the lower L2 cache in AMDs. But my reluctance to move on to the AMD Turion II was swept away by the performance benchmarks. The AMD Turion II M500 2.2 Ghz outperforms the Intel Core 2 Duo 6670 2.2 Ghz. When AMD Turion II M500 scores a decent score of 1426, the Intel Core2 Duo 6670 managed to get only 1379, though the margin is not huge.

The Turion II M500 also scored higher in the Windows 7 performance rating with a score of 5.7 against the score of 5.5 of the Intel's Core 2 Duo 6600.

The Turion II without doubt has improved it's architecture dramatically compared to the previous generation Turion, which helps it to achieve a higher performance benchmark, while competing head-on with the Intel's counterpart, even though AMD Turion II M500 houses only 1MB L2 cache compared to the 2MB offered by the Intel's variants.

The AMD Turion II M500 is doubtlessly an excellent performer and is commendable for being the first AMD processor model overtaking the Intel Core 2 Duo along the performance lines, both of which are clocked at the same speed. Though the Turion II has only 1MB L2 Cache it brings excellent performance and computing power on a budget. The Turion II M500 processor gives the Acer 5542G with great number crunching efficiency, that was much noticeable when we ran tests involving compressing/extracting, Gaming and Video rendering using 3D graphics tools. The Acer 5542G showed brisk performance during daily computing, and the Windows responsiveness and multi-tasking were significantly quick.

Graphics card performance:

The Acer 5542G with the ATI Mobility Radeon 4570 with 512MB Dedicated DDR3 VRAM is not an exceptional performer in terms of the latest gaming standards. But very few laptops comes with a high end graphics card that meets the high-end gamer's needs and those machines will burn a hole in your wallet for sure. The HD 4570 in the Acer 5542G is a decent graphics card to play a little older game titles in full detail whereas when it comes to the most recent games, you might have to tweak the detail level to a medium to get reasonable frame rates.

The Acer 5542G is an excellent choice for gamer's on a budget as well as 3D Graphics designers and Animators.

I found the Acer 5542G delivering very smooth frame rates on Test Drive Unlimited even at the highest settings, though a video review of the Dell Studio 15 housing the same graphics card showed significantly lower frame rates in YouTube. May be the performance boost is due to the DDR3 Video Memory as well as the better number-crunching done by the AMD Turion II M500. The card fared really well in older titles like Need For Speed Most Wanted, Need For Speed UnderCover, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Crysis Warhead even at the highest detail settings with 1024X768 resolution and FSAA turned on. The Acer 5542G also delivered consistently playable frame rates in Microsoft Flight Simulator which is a quite resource hungry game, due to the presence of huge textures and extensive terrain.

Display performance:

The 220-nit high brightness display of the Acer 5542G, gives excellent display quality with good sharpness and contrast. It also delivers very good and accurate color reproduction (60% gamut). The viewability from sides is not exceptional, but is adequate. The only major disadvantage of the display is that it's high glossy finish attracts glare. Hence it is not suitable while viewing against any direct light source.

Audio Performance:

The Acer 5542G sports a Dolby certified audio system. The Realtek chip provides 32bit audio decoding and provides SP-DIF and Dolby Digital output. It also supports Dolby Headphone and Dolby Virtual Surround modes. It means you will be in audio bliss, if you connect the Acer 5542G to a nice home theatre or high-end headphones.

The built-in speakers of the Acer 5542G clearly lacks the bass and was a disappointment during our tests. The sound clearly lacks the thump element in it. It doesn't mean that the speakers are worthless. The speakers give you very nice high and medium range frequencies quite well. The audio volume levels were loud enough and will be adequate if you are not in the middle of a very noisy environment.

battery:

The Acer 5542G comes with a 6-cell battery pack. It would probably disappoint you, if you are looking for a laptop with 3+ hours battery backup. The lower battery backup can be attributed to the modestly big 15.6" display paired with the dedicated graphics card that can drain out quite a lot of battery power. With the screen brightness at low, I was able to obtain a 2 hours 50 minutes backup with no audio, video or games turned on. At highest performance setting, you can expect roughly two hours of battery backup.

Heating:

Being an AMD based laptop most of us who have used an AMD based sytem would have concerns about over-heating. Stay cool. The Acer 5542G handles heat well. When you use it for extended hours for your daily computing needs, it doesn't generate any significant heat. I found the heat near the palm rest regions less compared to some other Intel based competing laptop models. The Acer 5542G has adequate ventilation at the bottom and has a vent at the back, that blows the hot air out. The fan steps into high speed the instant things start getting hot.

It doesn't mean that the Acer 5542G won't generate heat at all. The moment you start playing games, the rosy picture changes. Though the Acer 5542G's body remained just warm, the vent at the rear end was blowing out really hot air, which obviously means heavy heat generation, though it gets displaced well. Though the Acer 5542G gets away with the heat quite well, it would be a good choice to get an efficient laptop cooling pad if you are into serious gaming.

Other components:

The Acer 5542G comes with a good DVD Writer, Bluetooth, Wireless LAN etc. These devices performs quite well and doesn't seem to have any specific points worth mentioning.

Accessories:

The laptop comes with a nice backpack from Targus with Acer logo on it. The backpack has adequate space to carry some extra stuff in it while you are on the move. It's build quality is good and provides adequate cushioning for the laptop compartment.

Conclusion:

Acer 5542G is a laptop that brings great value to those on a budget, who need excellent processing and graphics performance. I highly recommend it for all gaming enthusiasts and graphics designers, owing to the excellent performance of the processor and the graphics solution built-in. It's powerful processor can meet most of the extreme computing needs unless your needs target the ultra-high-end like an i7. The Acer 5542G equipped with it's Turion II processor competes really well with the Core2 Duos out there; no need for the 'Will AMD perform equally well?' question anymore. It delivers brutal processing power.

If you are an audiophile who would play music through the laptop's built-in speakers round the clock, Acer 5542G may not be the best suit for you. If that is not a top-priority for you or if you have a nice home theatre/headphone, then the Acer 5542G gives you great joy in the audio department too, through it's Dolby processing and digital outputs. It all depends on your needs.

The battery suits the home computing / gaming / designing needs. It's 2+ hours backup can handle your presentation, on-the-go needs too, though a 3+ hours backup would have been more recommendable.

The laptop model I purchased comes loaded with Linpus linux operating system (command prompt only) and eliminates the Windows dependency, which helps the Acer 5542G keep its price down. You might also get a version with Windows pre-loaded but for a higher price tag.

Pros:

Excellent processor

Excellent graphics for designers and budget gamers

Good Looks

Quite sturdy design

Good Audio processing and digital out

HDMI

Cons:

Built-in speakers do not match the good audio processing and lacks bass completely

Glossy screen difficult to work with in direct light

Volume control keys could have been softer to touch

Arrow keys needs refinement

Pricing and final words:

This laptop is available in India in many online shopping websites at a sub RS 35k price tag. I got hold of one for RS 33700/- (approximately 717 USD) through a local dealer. With such reasonable price tag and compelling set of features, I strongly recommend the Acer 5542G.

Nook Color Review - A Look At the New Color Touch Screen Ebook Reader

Barnes and Noble has just released its new Nook Color, so that means it's time for a detailed Nook Color review. Is this a good product or just a strange hybrid between a tablet PC and an ebook reader? Let's take a detailed look at the new product and see what it is all about.

The "NC" has some very different features that differ from the original Nook, which is still available as a product from B and N.

The Nook Color Touch Screen- Obviously this is THE major difference between the original and color Nooks. It's equipped with a 7 inch color touch screen with "Vivid View" technology.

This screen is an IPS screen that shows over 16 million colors and allows for up to 178 degrees of viewing. This is the same technology used on the iPad, so if you have seen the iPad screen, then you know how the Vivid View screen looks. It also switches from upright mode to landscape when turning the device 90 degrees.

Social Reading Features- The NC comes with some features that take advantage of social media. You can share thoughts, lines from a book, favorite books, etc, through Facebook and Twitter.

Games and Apps- The NC comes with Sudoku, Chess, and Crossword puzzle games (3 games). Beyond the "Lend Me" and "Nook app" for PC and other phones, etc, Apps are still not a thing of the present with the Nook. But since it uses Google Android technology, there may be some new interest for developers.

Pandora Radio has jumped on the Nook bandwagon and offers their service on the device as well.

Lend Me App- The "Lend-me" app allows owners to lend books to friends and family who also have the app. Access to the app is more readily available to the user with the color touch screen.

Memory- The memory capacity is 8GB which allows for thousands of books, pictures, songs, etc.

Just For Kids- This new Nook section in Barnes and Noble offers a line of books that are for kids that work with the Nook Color. They are interactive to the touch and have the ability to be read to the child by selecting the feature.

battery Life- The battery life is only at 8 hours, compared to the 10-14 day battery life of the original Nook with E-Ink display.

Surfing the Web- It also allows for surfing the web (not with 3G, but wirelessly). So you can open the browser to visit sites and check your emails, as well as compose them.

All in all, the new Nook Color reviews well. It's a bold step for Barnes and Noble, and a much needed bold step at that.

Power Tool Battery Directory - NiCad, NiMH, and Li-Ion Batteries in Your Cordless Tools

It can be easy to dismiss the importance of a high-quality battery in the functioning of your cordless tools. As it turns out, however, a good battery is just as essential to a cordless tool as a healthy armature or motor. battery technology has significantly advanced since the introduction of cordless power tools; since the development of the Nickel Cadmium (NiCad), power tool batteries have evolved from NiCad to Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), and most recently to Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) technology.

Nickel Cadmium batteries were the first on the market for cordless power tools and though the technology is older, it is still very reliable. NiCads are less sensitive to adverse temperatures and have a high recharge cycle, meaning they can be charged and recharged repeatedly for a long period of time. NiCads are also less expensive than NiMH and Li-Ion batteries. On the down-side, however, NiCads tend to suffer from battery memory effect. This occurs when a battery can no longer accept a complete charge because it had been repeatedly charged without first being fully depleted. It seems the battery "remembers" how much energy it has discharged, and only wants to accept back that much energy from charger. The element Cadmium is highly toxic making it the most harmful battery to the environment. The NiCad's negative effects on the environment, in fact, cause them to be heavily taxed outside the U.S.A. As a result, many European vendors won't sell NiCad batteries.

Nickel Metal Hydride batteries run on a higher amperage than NiCads, because of this, they also have a longer run-time. NiMHs are lighter than NiCads but they are far more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, in fact, NiMH can't work in below freezing temperatures (32 degrees Fahrenheit and below) and they degrade very quickly in intensely high temperatures (105 degrees Fahrenheit an up). Although the NiMH has a longer run-time than the NiCad it doesn't accept as many charges. NiCad and NiMH batteries do have very similar overall lifespans but NiMH has a larger energy storage capacity.

Lithium Ion batteries have a higher energy density than most other rechargeable batteries. A high energy density means that the Lithium Ion has a superior energy to weight ratio storing more energy for their size than most other batteries. Li-Ions have a very slow self-discharge rate meaning they retain their charge for much longer. Most rechargeable batteries significantly deplete as they are disengaged, the slow rate of charge-loss in Li-Ions, however, allows them to maintain most of their charge for longer periods, even on a shelf in your shop or garage.

There are many benefits to working with Lithium Ion batteries from their light-weight, to their long run-time. Li-Ions maintain their charge for much longer and have continuous max power throughout their energy discharge cycle. Other batteries consistently lose power as you work. Li-Ions are light-weight, and have a huge storage capacity, this means you now have a lighter, more efficient and powerful battery without the bulk. Lithium Ion batteries are by a landslide the least detrimental to our environment, and for many reasons they are the favorite of most craftsmen.

There are, however, some disadvantages to Lithium Ion batteries. Li-Ions are a bit more expensive. The complexities of production (in circuitry) accounts for this price difference. Each Li-Ion also requires a specifically built charger to accommodate that type of battery; this means that chargers are more expensive as well, and aren't universal to all types of Li-Ion batteries. The Li-Ion has a built-in chip that protects the battery from over and undercharging, and ensures it has a longer life. This computer chip, however, doesn't allow the battery to continue accepting charge once its energy level has dropped below a certain point. Once this happens the battery is essentially dead. Li-Ions also rely on this circuit to stay cool. Since Li-Ions lose charge so slowly, and the battery and charger communicate so well together, it's fairly simple to keep Lithium Ions temperate and at a safe charge level.

Remember, the quality of the battery you use is just as important as the quality of your power tool. The battery gives the right amounts of energy and finesse to your tools and their working parts.

Acer Aspire Battery Provides Long-Lasting, On-The-Go Surfing

The arrival of netbooks has enabled many a desk-bound worker to free themselves from the confines of an office. Providing on the go computing in a lightweight package, netbooks are growing in popularity - helped by their modest costs.

Netbooks, however, do have their limitations. The screen size is often considerably smaller than you get on a laptop, let alone a full size PC, so it's not the most practical choice if you're planning on using it from your kitchen table. It also has a low storage capacity. You won't be able to store reams of information and programmes on the average netbook, but you will be able to run the applications that you need most.

Wi-Fi is a standard feature on today's netbooks - and indeed this is what the majority of users do with their netbooks. Whether it's uploading videos, downloading music, surfing the net for bargains or checking emails, netbooks make light work of the task.

Where netbooks excel, in fact, is in their portability and their web-browsing efficiency. The battery life is far superior in a netbook than in a laptop, for example the acer aspire battery has a great life of around three hours, but it is possible to improve on this.

Netbooks are geared up to be battery-efficient by their very virtue. With few programmes installed, the chances are you won't be asking your netbook to do several tasks all at once, and with a limited hard drive it won't be working too hard here either.

Although it's tempting, try to avoid charging your MP3 player via your netbook - a sure fire way to drain the battery. External devices such as USB sticks can also reduce battery time, so when you've finished with them, unplug them.

If you're hoping to get the most from your netbook's power, then check the settings on the screen. Many netbooks have the option to dim the screen, so adjust this to a level that you can still work with and you should eek out some extra battery life.

For example, the screen brightness is adjustable on an acer aspire. Battery life can be extended significantly by reducing it right down.

Proper care and attention of your netbook will also lengthen how long the power lasts. Remember to clean the battery's metal contacts four or five times a year, using rubbing alcohol on a cloth. In theory, this should help the efficiency of the transfer of power from the battery.

Another area benefitting from a regular spring clean is the air vent - which when clean will help the unit to run more energy efficiently. Refer to your manual for the best way to keep the vents clear.

Good battery etiquette will also boost power supply. If your acer aspire battery is fully charged, don't then leave it to sit in your netbook bag for months on end. Use it every week or so to keep it ticking over. Avoid allowing the battery to completely die too - by regularly plugging into a power supply.

Battery Powered Ride On Toy Cars - For Maximum Fun

Cars and car races have a great fascination for little kids. You'd have seen kids acting as if they are driving a car and making sounds as well. Active kids go a step further and may jump into the driving seat and ask for the car keys! If your kid is of such a kind, then why don't you surprise your little tot by getting battery powered ride on toys? Your little one is sure to have great fun playing with a ride on battery operated toy car.

There are many variety of ride on toys for toddlers that includes battery operated cars and pedal operated kids ride on cars. These ride on toy cars come in different designs, colors, and sizes, and are specifically designed with toddlers in mind.

Mercedes, Ferrari, or Porsche Cayenne, whichever be the car you own, you can get the same model toy car for your kid too. These battery operated ride on toys are fun-filled and some of them have gaming options too. Ride on battery operated toy cars such as Mini Motos Gray Sports Car, Alfa Brero, Porsche Boxter S Ride, and Mini Cooper Car offer great fun. If you are looking for battery operated riding toys for your growing boy, then you can pick the Toddler Boy Ride on Sports Car with Video Games. For perfect ride on cars for your little princess, the Toddler Girl Ride on Toy Pink Speedy Car with Video Games aptly fits the bill.

If you want to choose kids ride on cars, then pick from the versatile collection of battery powered ride on toys available here. Watch your young ones ride around on these ride on toy cars acting like adults! These battery powered ride on toys are safe and comfortable for your kids.

Long Battery Life Laptops (Feb 2010)

Most of the notebooks with long battery life are ultra-slim laptops. Other than Apple MacBook laptops (their battery can last up to 7 hours), there are very few full-featured laptops with good battery life. Apple MacBook laptops make use of lithium-polymer batteries (as opposed to the common lithium ion).

Ultra-slim notebooks on the other hand were able to have great battery life spans thanks to their energy efficient processors. At the moment Asus, Toshiba and Acer are the leading brands (Windows based) when it comes to long battery lifespan. The other major laptop brands don't seem too interested in producing such models.

Asus UL Laptops: Currently, the Asus UL notebook series have been making waves in the laptop market. They have gorgeous designs and are very fun to use. The batteries on these laptops can last anything from 7 to 12 hours on a single charge. One of the hottest models from this series is the 13.3-inch Asus UL30A-X5 laptop model.

Toshiba Satellite T135/T115: Another popular notebook series is the Toshiba Satellite T135 and T115 laptop series. All of the laptops from this range also have very impressive battery life. The T135-S1310 for instance can last up to 9+ hours on a single charge. Most of the casings on the laptops in this series have glossy finishes. The have very stylish side profiles and are also very affordable.

Acer Aspire Timeline: The Acer Timeline series is also another laptop series with long battery life spans. Although they are not as popular as the Toshiba and Asus laptops, they still hold their ground well thanks to their competitive pricing. Most of the Acer Timeline laptops have at least 8 hours of battery life.

Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 13.3-inch Laptop Review (9 Hours Battery Life, Ultra-slim, Windows 7)

Specifications: The Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 is Toshiba's entry into the ultra-slim laptop market. This laptop model is not only very stylish, but also comes with a set of competent specs. It has a 1.3Ghz (Intel Pentium SU4100 processor), 3GB of RAM and a large 500GB hard drive; not bad for a 13.3-inch laptop. The 13.3-inch wide-screen is a HD LED back-lit display (1266 x 768 resolution). Other features include Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity, 802.11b/g/n wi-fi, 2 USB ports, HDMI output and built-in stereo speakers. The USB ports can be used to charge devices even when the netbook is off or on stand-by mode. This model runs on the new Windows 7 OS (Home Premium).

Design: I know this may be a very personal opinion, but I feel that the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 is one of Toshiba's most stylish laptops yet! It has an extremely slim side profile, measuring just 1.35-inch at its thickest point. It is also very portable, weighing in at just 3.9 pounds. It comes in a variety of colors (namely black, white, etc). The black model is black all over (inside and out) with a glossy external casing. This model just looks really chic!

Features & Performance: One of the main highlights of the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 besides it stylish design, would have to be its amazing battery life. This model can last up to 9 1/2 hours on a single charge, thanks to its energy-efficient system. That's very impressive by any 13-inch laptop standards. Its powerful specs also make it a very competent computing platform, whether for work or play. Unlike many other ultra-portable laptops that cost a fortune (such as the MacBook Air), the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 is very affordable. Currently, it retails at just around $629 each, a great price for a powerful, ultra-portable and stylish laptop.

HP G61-320US - 15.6-Inch Laptop Review (4.25 Hours Battery Life, Windows 7)

Specifications: When it comes to value for money, HP pushes the limit with ever new entry-level laptop model. The new HP G61-320US is currently one of the most affordable 15-inch laptop models in the market. This new 15.6-inch model comes with a 2.1Ghz AMD Athlon processor, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), 3GB of DDR2 RAM and a 250GB hard drive. From it specs, it is evident that this model is designed for the average PC user who often use their laptops for checking their e-mails, surfing the web and running moderate/light applications. For graphics rendering, this laptop has an ATI Radeo HD graphics card and it also has a 15.6-inch HD display (1366 x 768 resolution). Some of its other features include an 8x DVD drive, a memory card reader, 802.11b/g wi-fi connectivity and 3 USB ports.

Design: The G61-320US laptop measures at 14.89 x 9.93 x 1.38 inches and weighs in at 5.9 pounds. Its external casing, keyboard and screen bezel has a high-gloss black surface. The area round the keyboard and the track pad on the other hand, is silver in color giving the whole laptop a nice contrast. Overall this laptop has a classic and professional look.

Features & Performance: Thanks to the very streamlined Windows 7 and the set of competent specs, our experience with this very affordable laptop model was delightful. The 6-cell battery on the HP G61-320US can last up 4.25 hours on a single charge, which is quite good for a 15-inch laptop model. The huge HD screen and the very capable Altec Lansing speakers also make watching videos on this laptop a great experience. One of my favorite features on the new G61-320US would of course, be in is price. At the time of writing, this model is selling for just around $499 per unit, making it a great buy for anyone who is looking for an affordable and capable laptop model.

Battery Maintenance and Repair For HP Pavilion Dv2000 Laptop - Interesting Review - Rebuilding

Good maintenance of HP Pavilion dv2000 battery right from the start can reduce cost and efforts towards replacement when it crashes. Keeping the battery active is a clever habit as it prevents the dying-down of the battery's supplying capacity. There is no questioning the fact that prevention of the problem is better than trying to cure it.

There are many ways to revive the battery from its dead form. Reconditioning, rebuilding and refilling are some interesting methods. Reconditioning is the process of allowing the battery to undergo a controlled series of charge-discharge cycles in order to regulate the chemical material's response to power supply and hence giving proper output. Usually, this involves letting the laptop shut down all by itself under battery power. Try to switch it on under such circumstances and make sure the battery is completely drained out. Then charge the battery to the maximum capacity. This process needs to be repeated twice or thrice before using the device again. By allowing the battery to charge and discharge to complete capacity, it regains its ability to supply power at optimal levels and for longer periods.

As the hp dv2000 battery contains a group of cells, each producing electric power for the laptop, it is often possible that only one of the cells is less efficient, although all of them work in unison. This can be due to slight variation in the chemical composition or if the cell was produced in a different batch from the others. In such a case, it is feasible to find only the one cell that is reducing the efficiency of all the rest. By replacing such a cell or a couple of cells, one can regain the previous performance of the battery. This method is called rebuilding of the battery with new cells.

Sometimes the battery performance comes down because of not using for prolonged period which leads to oxidation of the battery's chemical contents causing too much resistance to the flow of current. By replacing the oxidized chemicals in the battery with fresh un-oxidized ones, the functionality of the battery can be regained.

The batteries that initially give a considerable backup slowly reduce to 15 min and gradually even to 2 min or 20 sec backup service. As soon as the battery begins to show signs of deterioration in performance and support, it is time to look for the most feasible method of repair for the battery. Needless to say, reconditioning is a simple and easy method that one can follow right at home. But for rebuilding and refilling of chemical material, one might have to reach out to the nearest computer store or the battery manufacturer. It might take some basic home work to find the most reliable store that can provide genuine cell replacement. Most often, a new battery might just cause a third of the total cost of the laptop at the time you want to dispose of it. So, looking at repair options is always advisable before you start looking for a new one.

Too much work right. You can find from factory direct.

Duracell Battery Charger

A Duracell battery chargers are arguably the best when it comes to easy charging of batteries, be Nickel cadmium batteries, NiMH batteries or lithium ion batteries. Duracell battery chargers come in various models with a lot of functions and features in them. Their lineup consists of chargers such as Go Mobile, Go Easy, Value, Mini etc. Each of them provides a specialized usage or fulfills a unique requirement be it quick recharge, on the move, sleekness or capacity. Duracell now uses the revolutionary NiMH batteries for a sustained use even in high drain devices like your cameras and it has come up with efficient battery chargers which can very easily charge the toughest of the batteries. These chargers go into a trickle mode in which the charger chargers batteries at a very slow self discharging rate which prevents the battery from losing its peak charge. Duracell has also produced one of longest running batteries in the world and hybrid variety of batteries which can hold up charge for a longer time even when not used. Duracell's battery life has been adjudged to be the longest running battery life in the market now available, and its chargers also are very efficient catering to individual needs.

A Duracell battery charger can be used amongst a wide range of voltages starting from 7.2V to 18V and this prevents it from getting damaged if it is used with different voltages. A Duracell battery charger can hold up to 8 batteries at once. To make the usability easy, some of the chargers come with the wall mounting feature which makes it easier for the user to charge and store the charger. These chargers also come with an AC car adaptor feature in which one can easily charge the batteries while driving. Duracell has also come out with Duracell car charger which is equally reliable and efficient as the Duracell AA, AA battery charger.

Their products can be shipped to your doorstep if purchased form sites like eBay, Amazon or any other reliable online source and delivered to you within a few days of order.

Panasonic KP4A-BK Kp 4a Battery Pencil Sharpener Review

battery operated pencil sharpener works best on any desktop like Panasonic KP4A. The advantage of having a sharp pointed pen means a lot to the user and that is why battery powered pencil sharpeners are created.

Have you been breaking your pencil over and over? Well you must be sharpening your pencil the wrong way. You must find the right angle to have a keen and polished pencil. battery powered pencil sharpeners enable you to have a quick keen pointed pencil during art classes. Uninterrupted pencil strokes produce a flawless look and that is why it is important to prepare your pencils and make sure that it is sharp enough to start your artwork.

It works best with sharpener for it (actually it has its own sharpener) but Panasonic KP4A amazingly does the same sharpening. It never broke any of my prismacolors and I am using this more often because I can see that it works well and I am very much satisfied with it.

The steel blades guarantee a 16 degree point and powered by a heavy duty motor. It has a Panasonic KP4A is portable and is mostly preferred by travelling artists. Long lasting and light weight, it's totally the sharpener that you would want to own.

Forget those days when you are rushing to have your pencil and it got stuck and you are pressing it hard just to be sharpened. Those days when you almost wanted to throw your sharpener and buy a new one, those days are gone with Panasonic KP4A-BK Kp 4a battery Pencil Sharpener.

Do You Have Problems With the Roomba Battery?

Roomba vacuum is a real help and as far as the Roomba battery is concerned you need to take care at certain points so that it lasts long. This is because the users find that the Roomba battery is the only thing that needs to be fixed time and again when using the vacuum. So, it is better you find out how to increase its life and make it last long. Roomba battery can last for many work cycles if it is maintained properly. One of the points to be noted is that it should be used regularly because frequent use of Roomba will offer more cleaning cycles.

Keep your Roomba plugged in when it is not in use. Also, keep it placed on a flat, hard surface. Always try to keep your Roomba away from heat sources and store in a cool and dry place making sure that it is always fully charged. Keep the brushes clean so that Roomba does not consume more battery energy. These are all practical and easy things to keep in mind. If you visit their website you will find plenty of information regarding the Roomba vacuum as well as the problems that Roomba battery gives to the users.

If you are facing some problem with the Roomba battery and you are not able to solve it on your own, you can check it out with the legitimate website of the company and then look for the options provided there. Some of the usual problems are discussed there and suggestions of how to get rid of these problems is also available on the website. Go through them and most probably your problem will get solved. If the problem is severe, you can think of replacing the battery or ask for help from the customer care.

When you are using or not using Roomba vacuum, there can be some problems that are very simple and can be sorted by just cooling or charging the vacuum. You can consult or go through the tips provided on the website. Today it is easy for the consumers to solve a lot of problem as they can visit the website of the company and get answered automatically.

The Sony HVLIRM Battery Infrared Light

The Sony HVLIRM battery infrared Light is a great tool to use for a camcorder with poor night vision. The tool attaches to a camcorders accessory shoe, or by using the supplied accessory shoe if your camcorder does not have one, and extends night vision up to a claimed 100 feet. Indoors, the light can reach 100 feet, but the farther away the object is it will become less defined. Outdoors at night it is a different story.

The way that night vision works, is that the lights are made of infrared bulbs. The light extends in front of the camera, bounces off of objects, returns to the sensor, and the camcorder creates the picture on the screen in grey scale. When you are indoors, there are plenty of objects for the sensors to bounce the light off of, so it can reach 100 feet easily. When you are outside, often times the light extends into the area in front of you, only able to hit trees, or anything else within the 100 feet. If there is not anything within 100 feet, the screen will appear black.

This Infrared light has two ways of being powered. The first is to use two double A batteries. The second is to buy a rechargeable Sony info lithium M series battery. This type of battery can easily be found online, and in electronics stores. The two available models are the NP-QM71D or NP-QM91D battery pack. However, many stores specializing in batteries have cheaper versions of the same batteries that last just as long, if not longer. On the side of the light, there is a switch with 3 commands. An off switch, and a switch to power the tool using the double A batteries power, and a switch to use power from a battery pack.

A good practice to use if you have a battery pack is to put both double A batteries, and the battery pack in. This way, if the pack runs out of power, you can simply change the switch to the battery setting, and continue filming. Another great feature is you can adjust how far the IR light reaches. Not only does this prevent extremely close objects become washed out by the brightness, but it also saves the battery life. Overall I give the Sony HVLIRM Battery Infrared Light 5 out of 5 stars. One tip I will give if you decide to buy this, is buy it on either Amazon or eBay. If you buy it direct from the manufacturer, you may be paying more than twice what you may pay elsewhere in the same exact condition.

Why Searching For a Battery Operated Heater Can Be Frustrating

If you are still searching for a battery operated heater, you may experience a great deal of frustration as, for the most part, anyway, they don't exist. Unless you want to get the kind that runs off of your car's battery, you just won't find a portable heater that runs on batteries. There are a few reasons why, and a few alternatives below.

The Propane Option

Most people that search for this type of heater end up buying one that uses propane instead of batteries. Not only are these economical to buy, but they are inexpensive to use as well. Just a single canister of propane will keep you warm and toasty for hours. What's more, you can get a small unit with a handle to make it easy to carry around, which can come in handy if you are hiking or attending a sporting event.

Battery Car Heaters

For those who are looking for a battery operated heater for the car, you can find a few models online that will provide extra heat when your car is running. Some of these units plug into the car cigarette lighter and some of them need to be run directly to the battery. They provide a real boost when your car's heater does not adequately heat up the back seat and some people use them when they need help in defrosting the windshield.

Battery Powered Alternatives

You may experience several situations when you would like to have a battery operated heater on hand. If you are thinking about batteries, then chances are you are somewhere where you do not have access to electricity. If this is the case, you may want to consider battery powered accessories, such as vests or gloves that emit heat from tiny batteries. Alternatively, there are foot and hand warmers that can provide hours of comfort without spending a lot of money.

If you are in the market for an extra heat source and you do have access to electricity, consider small space heaters for added warmth and comfort. Only buy the newer ones with added safety features to ensure your comfort and safety. In addition, whether you are camping or just need a little extra heat in the garage, you may want to consider portable propane heaters that are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Since you are not likely to find a battery operated heater that you can carry around with you, a small propane heater is the next best thing.

Have You Ever Had a Battery Leak in a TV-VCR Remote?

A battery leak in a flashlight is not too bad. You simply clean the contacts and all is well, but a battery leak in an electronic device usually spells doom for the device. The fluid that comes out of the battery is corrosive and will normally cause damage to the sensitive circuitry in an electronic device.

There is hope! Did you know that most battery company's actually Guarantee that their battery will not leak and damage your electronic device? The next time you buy a set of batteries, look on the package for a guarantee. If it does not have a guarantee, I would stay away from those batteries.

NOTE: I have only seen this type of guarantee on standard size Alkaline batteries: AAA, AA, C, D, and a few watch batteries. I'm not sure if re-chargeable batteries leak and I'm not sure if they offer this type of guarantee.

When batteries leak, if the item is not that expensive, most people will simply throw the item away and buy a new item, but what about bigger ticket items like a digital camera? Battery leaks are not covered by the camera warranty, and having someone clean the battery leak could void your camera warranty. This is the where battery guarantees come into play.

For example, I had an $80 dive light in which the batteries leaked. I thought this was really strange because I changed the batteries weekly. TIP: Never go night diving with old batteries. I sent the dive light to the battery company and I received a new light (newer model) and new batteries.

Example two, my friend had an old camera winder which was damaged by leaking batteries. We sent the winder to the company and in a few weeks the battery company sent a check to buy a new winder and of course new batteries.

The obvious drawback to the guarantee is you have to pay to ship your item to the company, and you will be without the item for a while (4-6 weeks). Also, it is the company's discretion to repair or replace the item. For me, it's a hassle to send the item to the battery company if a replacement can be purchased for less than $20.

Do's and Don'ts:
1. Do make sure the battery company offers a guarantee on their batteries and read the terms of the guarantee.
1. Don't mix and match batteries? This will increase your chances of experiencing a leak and this will void the guarantee.
2. Don't leave batteries in electronic devices for extended periods of time.
3. Don't expose electronic devices to excessive heat, as heat will cause a leak and possibly worse, an explosion.

Whenever possible, buy rechargeable batteries. They can be used over and over again, but they need to be used, and over time they will begin to lose their ability to hold a charge. Don't expect a rechargeable battery to hold a charge after sitting in your desk drawer for two months. You will be able to recharge the battery, but the charge will not last as long.

Don't throw that thing away just because the batteries leaked in it! Check if the battery company has a guarantee!

JVC Digital Video Camera Reviews

The JVC digital camera reviews are designed to give the consumer a place to start when looking for a digital video camera. There are impressive models by JVC that include the GR-D770, GR-D720, GR-D740 and the GR-D760. The cameras start out at different levels and different price structures. These models have the 2.7-inch viewing monitor with thirty-four times optical zoom, which gives you more portability and flexibility when shooting. These video cameras are very easy to use and the manual settings make it easy to set up the camera and control your playbacks. The nice thing about the JVC video digital cameras is that they all have a auto button, which allows you to go between automatic and manual operation with the touch of a button.

The technology used on the battery has allowed JVC to offer consumers more recording time by using new circuitry in the camera that requires less power. The video cameras also have a button that you can press, to see what your battery strength is and how much time is left on the battery. The 34 times optical zoom, you can magnify subjects and not lose the quality if the image. With the GR-D770 and the GR-D760, you can record in slow motion and then play it back in real time with sound.

The JVC Digital video camera reviews are always something that you should look at before considering any video camera. You want to make sure that you have something that allows you to do the basic recording as well as the more advanced recording. By using the reviews, you can compare features, prices and find out what each camera does before you decide to by one particular model. The reviews will also tell you how other users rate the video cameras and if they recommend them.

How Long Should My Honda Civic Hybrid Battery Last?

battery warranty and disposal for your Civic Hybrid.

Introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, the Honda Civic Hybrid is one of the most fuel efficient vehicles on the road, getting 40 miles to the gallon around town, 45 miles to the gallon on the highway. Like every Honda hybrid, the Civic Hybrid's battery is covered by an extended warranty.

Lengthy Warranty

Honda offers an 8-year, 100,000 mile battery warranty on the Honda Civic Hybrid battery pack in most states. In some states, including California, New Jersey and Vermont, that warranty is extended to 10 years of 150,000 miles. Only your Honda dealer or other authorized repair specialist should perform work on the battery system. Review your warranty to find out what restrictions apply or visit automobiles.honda.com/civic-hybrid/warranty.aspx for that information.

No exact battery lifespan has been determined for you hybrid battery pack, but Honda expects the Honda Civic Hybrid battery pack to last for the life of your vehicle. Toyota, which has been building the Prius longer, says that some of its cars have now passed 300,000 miles on the odometer with the same battery. Both the Civic and the Prius utilize similar nickel-cadmium battery technology.

Battery Recycling

When your hybrid battery wears out, disposal isn't much of a problem either. Honda says that it gets treated as hazardous waste and is sent to a recycling plant for proper disposal. Parts of the battery can be used again and the chemicals inside neutralized. Contact your Honda dealer to make sure that the battery disposal is handled by them instead of something you'll be forced to handle.

With an extended warranty plan in place and disposal not an issue, buying a Honda Civic Hybrid is less of a risky proposition than what some imagine it to be. That's good news for people who want an efficient and environmentally-friendly car to drive.

How To Extend The Battery Life Of Your Toshiba Satellite L640

One of the reasons why the laptop is usually more preferred than the desktop is simply because of the fact that one can move with it from place to place, even when there is actually no power. However, it may reach a point whereby you find that your Toshiba Satellite L640 battery keeps on dying on you even when you are in an extremely desperate situation. If this happens to you, you need to understand the fact that there is really no problem with this machine and its battery, and that it is very possible to work out on the problems and so to ensure that the life of your battery is extended.

Disconnect The External Devices

External devices such as keyboards, mouse, external CD drives and so on, are some of the greatest consumers of power that you will ever encounter. For this reason, if you have your Toshiba Satellite L640 and you are afraid that they can easily consume a lot of power, it is advisable that you remove them or unplug them so that you can reduce the amount of power that is being consumed and then make sure that you save on the energy being used.

Run Basic Programs

The other thing that you will need to do when you want to save on the amount of energy being consumed by the Toshiba Satellite L640 is to make sure that you only run the basic programs. This means that you will be required to switch off things such as music, screensavers and so on. You will also need to close down any programs that may not really be that necessary.

Ensure It Does Not Overheat

The third thing that you need to do is to realize that if you want the battery of your Toshiba Satellite L640 to last long, you must be willing and able to keep the laptop from overheating. One of the biggest mistake that people do is to put the laptops on their laps - or something else that is soft such as a pillow. The consequence here is that the computer will get to overheat and therefore cause the battery to run down very quickly.

As most people will agree with me, taking care of the laptop battery is one of the greatest tasks that can be associated with the Toshiba Satellite L640. However, if at all you put effort into it, you can be pretty sure that you will definitely not be disappointed.

Droid Battery Tips: How to Improve Droid Battery Life

Droid is quite popular now. Most users are satisfied with its features, but I also see quite some users complain about its battery life. Droid is not only a powerful phone, but also a power hungry phone. Here are some easy tips on how to extend your Droid battery life.

Tips 1: Change settings and turn off things you are not using.

This tip applies to almost all android phones.

One thing that you can do is, on one of the three home screens click and hold down to add a new widget. There is a built in widget that is called Power Control, add this widget to the screen. This allows quick control over some of the less power friendly items on the phone.

The display brightness can be switched between three settings: 0%, 50%, 100%. You can just turn on the automatic control that changes with the ambient light around the phone. Or you can change it to 0% for battery saving.

WiFi/GPS/Sync/Bluetooth can all be turned off manually.

Tips 2: Make sure to put the phone in Sleep Mode

Although Droid is smart enough to put itself in Sleep mode when you are not using it, but it is also very easy to manually put it in Sleep mode by simply pressing the power button once.

Tips 3: Kill non-active apps

Fewer running apps will surely save your battery. You can try apps like Advanced Task Manager. It will automatically kill non-active apps for you.

Ultra Motor A2B Metro Electric Bike Review

A new light weight electric bike is available with A2B motor which makes riding a bicycle a very pleasant experience and saves the environment. It is perfect for those who may not be in the best of shape physically or for those who simply want to save money by cycling instead of burning expensive gasoline. The A2B motor uses a 500-watt lithium-ion battery which is very environment-friendly. The battery recharges using pennies of power as opposed to dollars of gasoline. It is perfect for use in running errands or even the commute to work. The cyclist will arrive at work refreshed and clean due to the extra pedaling power the motor provides. It also avoids the stress encountered when stranded in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The maximum speed allowed by law for electric bicycles is 20 miles per hour but the time saved by avoiding the traffic jams may make the trip faster. For those looking to replace their car with something more affordable, the electric bike equipped with an A2B motor may be the answer. Most of the time, the battery can be recharged in 3-5 hours using very little power. The bicycle is very durable and the complete electric bike with the A2B motor is very inexpensive at $2,700 when compared to a car or even a motorcycle. Bicycle sales rank far above car or motorcycle sales at 20 million per year whether it is to replace the car or to supplement the family car. The Ultra Motor A2B Metro comes with a 2-year warranty on the battery and the motor and a lifetime warranty on the frame of the e-bike as they are often called.

The A2B Metro has a very comfortable seat with springs to handle the bumps in the road and three-inch tread tires which make this bike very agile by lowering the center of gravity. It provides the options of pedaling alone, pedaling with the motor engaged or the motor alone. To make the battery last longer, the cyclist can engage the motor only when going uphill or when becoming exhausted. It is the perfect alternative to a car which burns too much expensive gasoline and pollutes the air with poisonous fumes. The motor and battery are concealed in the frame so it resembles a regular bicycle until the motor sends the rider way in front of other cyclists. The range for the Ultra Motor A2B Metro is about 20 miles depending on factors such as weight of the cyclist, terrain and climate.

TOSHIBA Qosmio X500-1OX Review

IN BRIEF: Stylish, powerful and well-equipped, but the poor screen lets it down slightly.

Toshiba's Qosmio range has long represented its high-end multimedia brand and comprises several stylish and powerful consumer machines. The Qosmio X500-10X is its flagship gaming Laptop and combines fantastic performance with cutting-edge features.

White bettered bi the Acer and HP in terms of performance, the Intel Core 17 processor delivers similarly stunning levels of power. As with all machines in this group test, the use of high-speed DDR3 memory ensures the CPU is able to work with maximum efficiency.

Graphics power

Where the Qosmio betters its rivals is its graphics power. The high-performance NVIDIA GPU easily runs the latest games and ensures photo and video editing tasks run with ease. Outperforming all other machines here, this is the gamer's choice.

Disappointingly, the 18.4-inch screen isn't as good as we had roped. Despite its full HD resolution and strong display of color and contrast, brightness is surprisingly poor. Since previous Qosmios were sold on their market-Leading screen brightness, this is unfortunate.

You can still connect to an external HDTV for a better picture using the HDMI out port, enabling you to get the best from your games and the Blu-ray drive. An added benefit is that the drive also Lets you write data to recordable Blu-ray discs.

Due to its large screen, the Qosmio is the largest and heaviest machine in this group test. Weighing a back-breaking 4.7kg, it is strictly a home desktop replacement. battery Life is surprisingly capable, however, letting you work for 207 minutes between charges.

The stylish red and black design is sure to appeal to garners and adds an eye- catching Look. Build quality is excellent and adds to the premium feet. Even the glossy pla5tics manage to prove pleasingly immune to smudges and fingerprints.

While the keyboard fails to utilize the full width of the chassis - due to the touch- sensitive control panel on the board's left- hand side - it is comfortable, large and responsive. All the keys move silently and respond well, making it one of the most usable machines in this group.

Where the Qosmio also stands out is its extra features. Stereo speakers from audio specialist Harman Kardon provide a strong, well-rounded sound, white the webcam above the screen is facial recognition compatible, letting you restrict access unless your own face is recognized.

Combining style, power and features, the Qosmio X500-10X is a great machine for garners and multimedia fans. White its poor screen brightness restricts usability somewhat, there's no denying that it's a powerful and usable machine.

Contour Core Sculpting System Review

The Contour Sculpting System is a new way of tightening your stomach to get rid of extra inches around the waist. Some are skeptical about it because you really do not have to do any exercises for the system to work. With a simple push of a button your abs are going to be worked by a tightening motion.

The Contour bypasses the brain and sends a signal directly to your muscles, telling them to flex and relax. The Contour can perform the perfect repetition each time. No getting lazy. No wondering if you are getting a great workout. No worries about hurting yourself by lifting too much weight. If you read the posts where people say that it does not work you will see that the posts are from people that have not even tried it. T

hose who have tried it all say that they love it and they are very happy with it. If you do not see results, there is a 100% money back guarantee. The best part is you will most likely see results within the first two weeks. The money back guarantee is good for an entire month and comes with a full year warranty.

The Contour Core Sculpting System uses an eating plan that will enable you to safely lose body fat while maintaining muscle mass. Since over 50% of the body fat is right beneath the skin, as bad fat is decreased, the muscles will be more visible and thus any change in shape or muscle tone will be more evident. Most customers are so thrilled when they see results so quickly that eating healthier becomes natural and will help maintain great results.

The Countour Sculpting System Includes:
1. Contour CoreBelt - one size fits all
2. M2 Controller
3. 4 Electrodes (Contour Gel Pads)
4. 4 AAA Batteries
5. Use and Care Manual
6. Diet and Exercise Guide
7. VIP - Talk Hotline Card
8. 1 year warranty
9. Travel Back Pack Bag (Bonus)

Choosing Rechargeable Batteries For Cordless Vacuums

Vacuums get a lot of use, and so it is very important to choose one which is very reliable. Buying a vacuum isn't actually a bad gift idea, there are many different types of vacuums which might make great gifts! It's vital to use a vacuum to keep your house tidy, especially if you have carpets. A cordless vacuum is also extremely useful for tidying your car.

It will be very helpful and useful if you purchase a cordless vacuum. They're not even that expensive, you can find some pretty good deals. You should be prepared to spend some time choosing your cordless vacuum so that you can get the best one possible. There are many different brands of vacuum cleaner which are available. Most home improvement stores stock a wide range of different cordless cleaners which may be of interest to you. It pays to research the different types of vacuum cleaner available before you choose to buy one as it will have to last you for a very long time.

Cordless vacuum cleaners are fantastic, they are a very good method of cleaning difficult to reach surfaces. Carrying around a heavy vacuum makes cleaning even less fun! Cordless vacuums can make it slightly more interesting. Cordless vacuum cleaners make it possible to move around much easier which can almost make cleaning fun! I said almost! Unfortunately cleaning can never be fun!

Cordless vacuum cleaners are powered by batteries. Most of these vacuums will come with a battery charger which is simply plugged into your homes mains supply. You simply need to leave this plugged in to charge the batteries up. The charging circuit will automatically switch off when the battery is full. As soon as the battery is charged you're ready to start using your vacuum. It's a good idea to choose a model which has two batteries so that you can charge one while you are using the other.

Lots of people like the idea of being able to use their cordless vacuum cleaner to clean their car, it's much better than using a corded vacuum which can be a real pain. You will be able to use these vacuums without having to plug it in which means it's much easier to reach those hard to reach places. I'm sure we've all been frustrated when we're at the end of the tether with corded vacuum designs! You can only go so far with a corded vacuum cleaner which you plug into the mains. No matter how many extension leads you plug in it's a lot of hassle to use!

By using cordless vacuum cleaners you have a lot of flexibility when vacuuming your car. You can vacuum your car without having to bother with extension leads! It's a good idea to buy from a reputable company so that you are buying a quality cleaner.

Car Battery Charger - How They Work

battery Chargers for Automobiles

Once upon a time, the battery charger cables would be attached to the terminals of your battery, you pressed a button, and you hung around for a bit. You would peek at the dial occasionally to assure yourself that you weren't overcharging the battery, and you shut it off at the exact time it was done.

Luckily, the charging operations have become much easier than they once were. Nearly every car has a 12 volt battery, and so do marine batteries and power sporting equipment. You must use a battery charger that is correct for your battery to extend its life and save money in the long run. If you fail to use the kind of charger that is suggested by your battery manufacturer, the warranty you have on your lead acid battery, AGM, or gel cell may be null and void. Using an improper charger can destroy your battery.

To determine which battery charger is the best one for the sort of battery you have, there are some things you must know. First of all, find out what kind of battery is in your motor vehicle, and find out how much storage capacity it has. Because your car battery is typically just utilized when starting your automobile, for lighting, and for your music system when your car isn't operating, and the battery recharges when the car is running, you may not think that storage capacity is that important.

The regular automobile battery can hold around 50 amp hours, while a marine battery may store 100 amp hours. Both kinds of batteries furnish 12 volts of electricity; however, if entirely dead, they will recharge for different quantities of time with a charger that carries 10 amps, say six to eleven hours, respectively. Be sure that the automobile battery charger you are purchasing has enough charging power to satisfy your requirements. If a charger has more power, the time that it will take to get your battery up to speed will be less.

Hopefully you can take this information with you on your venture into getting a new car battery charger for yourself or someone you know. In any case we at least hope you have had a pleasant and informative read of our work to bring you up to speed on the matter of car batteries and their associated chargers. Until next time, enjoy and good luck in all you do.

Philips Sonicare FlexCare Plus HX6972/10 Review

Electric toothbrushes are in a fast developing market with many different types of electric toothbrushes now available. One of the most highly regarded electric toothbrushes currently on the market is the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Plus HX6972/10.

Featuring powerful Sonic technology, a UV Brush-Head Sanitizer, five brushing modes and a myriad of other features, this electric toothbrush from Philips looks outstanding on paper, but does it live to the hype generated by consumers and dental professionals? Read on further to find out.

Features of the Philips Sonicare FlexCare Plus HX6972/10

5 Brushing Modes
Easy-Start feature - Allowing you to adjust to the technology
Sonic Technology
Illuminated Display
Gum Care Mode
Two ProResults Brush Heads included
UV Brush-Head Sanitizer destroys viruses and bacteria
Single Charge provides three weeks of use

5 Brushing Modes

There are 5 brushing modes which you can select from for your specific dental needs. The available modes are Gum Care, Sensitive, Massage, Clean and Refresh. For regular cleaning of the whole mouth, clean mode is the best for this purpose.

The most distinctive modes are Massage and Sensitive. The Sensitive mode provides a gentle, sensitive brushing, which is ideal if you have sensitive gums or any loose teeth. The massage option alternates the speed of brushing and drives fluids between your teeth to reduce plague and prevent gum diseases using large, but slow circular vibrations.

The design of the toothbrush is impressive. The currently selected brushing mode is displayed on the illuminated display of the toothbrush handle.

ProResults Brush Heads

Two high quality brush heads are supplied. A large standard brush head and a compact one are included for precision cleaning. A UV sanitizer is included which cleans the brush head, destroying up to 99% of viruses and bacteria. The cleaning cycle takes 10 minutes and has an auto shut-off feature.

A nice feature is that there are 4 coloured rings you can choose from which allow you to easily distinguish between each brush head, so you won't get mixed up with any other household members brush head.

battery Life

The battery life is very good and considerably better than previous Sonicare models. For a full charge, it takes 24 hours. This provides approximately 1 hour 24 minutes of usage, this equates to 42 two minute brushing's.

Final Thoughts

The only downside of the Flexcare Plus is that it does not dispense toothpaste. This isn't much of a negative though as its very quick and easy to do this yourself manually.

Overall, The Philips Sonicare FlexCare Plus HX6972/10 is an excellent high tech toothbrush, which is very effective for maintaining a high standard of oral hygiene. The product is impeccably designed and clearly shows that Philips have paid a lot of attention to detail when designing this brush.

It features numerous improvements over the previous Flexcare model. The most notable improvements are the new brushing modes and extended battery life. If you're looking for an electric toothbrush, which is gentle yet effective and feature packed, then the Flexcare Plus is the brush for you.

ContourROAM Review - The Best Budget Action Camera?

Contour has come out with a new action camera called the ContourROAM.

Some might say that this new camera is a step backwards in features and technology for Contour. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that came with the previous releases being the Contour+ and ContourGPS.

It seems this action camera is designed for the average Joe who just wants a handy camera that he can easily shoot HD footage with anywhere and anytime without having to fork out a lot of money for it.

The Contour ROAM does a very good job at being affordable while delivering quality. But with the low price, there have been some features that seem to be left out that may stop this from being the best affordable HD action camera on the market.

The Specs

The Contour ROAM delivers full HD 1080p resolution video. You can choose lower settings as well such as 960p and 720p. All videos are shot at either 25 or 30 frames per second. There is no option for 60fps which other competing cameras support. This is not a big issue unless you want to create videos and watch your videos back in super slow motion.

The lens captures 170 degrees which is standard across the board for more high-end action cameras. This one actually has a rotating nose which lets you spin the lens to get your frame exactly square. Very hand if you are mounting the camera on its side or upside down.

The Design

As with all Contour cameras, it is a sleek and small design. The new ContourROAM seems to have more rounded corners and all over it's a more refined design.

Switching the camera on and off is quick and easy with Contour's signature sliding switch which is positioned at the top of the camera. There is no waiting around for the camera to turn on and record. It goes from off to record in a quick two seconds.

The battery is an internal Lithium-Ion unit capable of recording for a maximum o 3.5 hours. This is quite remarkable because most other cameras' batteries only last 2 to 3 hours.

However, the internet battery is causing a bit of flack in the action camera community because there is no option to replace the battery when it goes flat. If you're in the middle of nowhere when your battery dies, you're out of luck if you want to charge it or replace it with a fresh battery.

Overall, the new Contour ROAM is a great camera for the price. It's significantly less than its competitors and produces equally sufficient high quality HD video quality.

Makita BTP140 Review - 4 Tools in 1 - But is it Worth the Price?

One of the most innovative tools to come out for some time is the Makita BTP140. Although compact in size, this thing packs 4 tools in 1 so you have less to carry around the job site. This tool has 4 modes: impact, hammer drill, driver, and regular drill so it can serve almost any function you need.

The Makita BTP140 is equipped with a 4-pole motor that delivers up to 1,240 in. lbs. of max torque. For the small size that this drill is, that's a ton of power. You're also getting 16 different clutch settings and 2 separate speed settings (0-700 RPM and 0-2,300 RPM)

When you plan on drilling into masonry and concrete, you will be getting a powerful 0-27,600 BPM (blows per minute). When you need to do a simple fastening task, you can just switch to the impact mode which delivers 0-3,200 impacts per minute.

As with almost all the new Makita tools, the Makita BTP140 features the innovative new LXT Lithium-Ion technology. These 18-Volt batteries are lighter, run longer, and charge quicker than the traditional batteries you see in a lot of other drills. There is also a built-in shock absorber to protect the battery from damage.

The Optimum Charger allows a memory chip in the battery to communicate with a CPU chip in the charger to deliver the most efficient charge possible and make the batteries last longer. On average, these new Li-Ion batteries last 2.5 times longer than a standard battery.

You would think that because of the sheer power and features the Makita BTP140 provdes, it would be a bulky drill. Surprisingly though, it's very compact and weighs just 3.9 pounds and is only 7-3/8 inches in length. Comfort is very important while you're working and the ergonomic design of the BTP140 allow it to fit very nicely in your hand and reduce the chance of fatigue.

Two more really cool features of this drill are the built-in L.E.D. light and the phosphorescent bumper ring. The light helps you see in small, dark areas and the bumper ring glows in the dark so you don't have to worry about losing your drill because you can't see it.

As you can now see, the Makita BTP140 is really an awesome tool to have. It's 4 tools in 1 which means you don't have to carry as much around the job, it delivers tons of power but is still compact in size, and the Lithium-Ion battery technology is unsurpassed by any other drills on the market. I definitely recommend checking the BTP140 out.

Difference Between a Conventional and a Maintenance-Free Motorcycle Battery

Most modern motorcycles require a motorcycle battery to power its electrical systems. Currently, there are two main types available in the market: the conventional type and the maintenance-free type. Although they are an often overlooked component, knowing the differences between the two types of batteries can help one better understand their specific maintenance needs and cost.

The conventional type of battery consists of flooded electrolyte and cell accessible construction. Although these are less expensive than maintenance-free batteries, they require more attention. Because of the process of electrolysis and evaporation, water loss is normal and therefore, the periodic addition of distilled water is required. If the battery's water level falls below the minimum fill line, permanent damage to the battery can occur as the lead plates become exposed to the air. For this reason, it's important to maintain the water levels above the minimum fill lines.

With a maintenance-free battery, on the other hand, water loss is eliminated since the unit is designed to remain permanently sealed once it is filled with acid. Although slightly more expensive than conventional batteries, it is currently popular among many motorcycle enthusiasts. Because the battery unit is completely sealed, all of the acid is absorbed in the special plates and separators - there is no need to worry about acid leaks, or refilling the battery with distilled water. Even after months of normal use, there would be enough electrolytes to keep the plates covered because of the amount of free-standing electrolytes that are above the plates.

Knowing the difference between the two types of batteries can help a rider make a better decision as to what type of motorcycle battery to use for his bike and maintenance habits. Either way, properly maintaining battery will help ensure its long-term use, and can save money in the long run.

Ridgid Cordless Drills Review - How Does it Measure Up?

How does the Ridgid Cordless Drill stand up to the others? Here's a short review to help you find out:

Like all other companies they offer machines for homeowners and for constructions workers... and they have a 12, a 14.4 and an 18v model.

12v

This one sells for $140-not cheap but not terribly expensive either. It uses lithium-ion batteries-as you'd expect for the price.

Batteries

It works for a LONG TIME, and has a FAST recharger. Just don't let the battery run all the way down to empty-this can SEVERELY reduce the lifespan of the battery-which as I'm sure you know is not easy to replace.

Power

It has decent power... 120 lbs of torque and 575 RPMs to be exact. Obviously this isn't NEARLY enough for construction jobs... but for the homeowner it's more than adequate.

18v

This Ridgid Cordless Drill is one of their most popular items... and as you would think it's suited more for the industrial worker who needs to cut through steel and metal.

Cost

It sells for $200-like the 12v this is about "middle of the road" when compared with similar models.

Features

A nice feature of it is that it automatically shifts from the top to bottom gear without you having to. This makes more of a difference than you'd think.

It prevents you from having to stop working 50% of the way through your project to alter the transmission. It always begins at the top setting... and when it sense greater resistance, it shifts to the bottom gear automatically.

Power

It produces 450 pounds of torque, which is MORE than enough for almost any job. Best of all, this Ridgid Cordless Drill is durable and you can pretty much use it every day and expect it to work a long time.

Rechargeable Triple-A Batteries - Don't Leave Home Without Them

If you are tired of pressing the button on your camera and seeing the dead battery indicator, you need to get a better set of rechargeable triple-A batteries. And when it comes to rechargeable batteries, there is one and only one industry leader that is by far and away the most reliable and most popular batteries around.

Without a doubt, the Sanyo Eneloop triple-A NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries are the most popular rechargeable triple-A batteries anywhere online. They have more than 900 customer reviews! That's right - more than 900. And the Sanyo Eneloop triple-A batteries proudly walk away with a 4.5 star rating.

The reason that Eneloop batteries are so popular is that they seem to last forever because they have a very low self-discharge. Self-discharge means that a battery loses its power when it was not in use, even if it was continuously charging. That is why most rechargeable batteries were not sold fully charged. By the time you bought them and tried to use them, their power would already be gone.

This is one of the reasons why normal rechargeable triple-A batteries got a bad name. They had to be continuously recharged, and even then you weren't guaranteed they would work very long because they discharged so quickly. On top of that, if you charged the batteries without them being completely dead, you drained its ability to recharge.

And this is why Eneloop products are so popular now. Eneloop solved all of these problems by created a low self-discharge battery. This means that you can buy fully powered batteries and use them immediately. They are perfect for electronics including cameras, remote controls, flashlights, and so much more. They can keep up to 85% of their charging ability after one year. Compare this to more traditional rechargeable products that are completely drained and useless by then.

So how long exactly can Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries last? They can be recharged up to 1,000 times without losing their charging capabilities. You would be lucky to get 10% of that out of normal batteries.

Oh, and one more great thing about Eneloop - they are not that expensive. You can get a 4-pack of rechargeable triple-A batteries for $10 if you know where to look (hint: start at Amazon).

So the second most popular set of rechargeable triple-A batteries is Sony NiHM. These also come in packs of four which will run around $10. Now you won't see the rave reviews that you see on the Eneloops' above, but these Sony products still are pretty good. They stay charged longer than most, but they can take a little longer to recharge.

People talk about getting 20 - 40 hours out of them before they need to be powered back up, but the amount of time you get will be completely dependent on what you are using them for.

If you are looking for rechargeable triple-A batteries along with the charger, here is the Duracell Mobile Charger that can charge double-A or triple-A. This is a portable charger that can charge through a normal wall plug, a car charger, or from a USB device. Virtually anywhere you are, you can be sure to have completely charged batteries almost immediately.

AC Versus DC Powered Battery Back-Up Systems

Power outage can be a common occurrence during a severe rain storm. The sump system in a home typically relies on a heavy duty AC primary pump to discharge water entering the home through its drainage system. To compensate for the possibility of a power outage, the sump pit may include a battery-operated DC or AC driven pump in addition to the primary pump. How do these AC/DC pumps differ in function and performance?

A DC based back up system typically consists of a DC pump, a 12 volt deep cycle battery (2 batteries if a 24 volt system), and a charger. Most DC pumps used as part of a back-up system were initially designed to be bilge pumps for boats and are not heavy duty, but some work well. A characteristic of a DC system versus an AC system is that the rate that it discharges is related to the degree that the battery power source is charged. A fully charged 12 volt battery will power the DC pump to its maximum capability. As the charge of the battery is consumed, the pumping rate of the DC pump diminishes. For example, a given pump will discharge at the rate of 30 gallons per minute with a fully charged battery, but may only be pumping at 15 gallons per minute when half of the charge is still left with the battery. At the end when the battery is about to be depleted, the pump may be discharging at less than five gallons per minute. DC systems efficiently consume DC current and can run continuously for several hours (up to 10 hours continuously and intermittently for several days).

An AC based back-up system typically consists of an AC heavy duty pump, a 12 volt deep cycle battery (or two batteries if a 24 volt system), and an inverter with a battery charger). An inverter converts the DC power of the battery to its AC counterpart. Unlike a DC pump, an AC pump will run close to its maximum potential capability until the battery charge is depleted. For example, if the AC pump can pump at a rate of 50 gallons per minute, it will continue at close to this rate (with minimal loss over time) until the battery power source is depleted. It is important to select an AC pump with efficient amperage rating (3-7 amp hours), otherwise the system will not run long enough before the battery source is depleted and the system shuts down. An efficient AC pump can discharge as much as the best DC system because it is discharging at a greater rate than most DC systems even though it shuts down faster than a good DC pump system. The key advantage of going with an AC system is that it is easier to match it up with its primary pump counterpart. Since the AC system requires an inverter, it is typically more expensive than DC systems which do not require an expensive inverter for its operation.

The best way to compare different available systems is to compare the total amount of gallons discharged with a given battery (beginning with a fully charged battery recommended by the manufacturer) and that the data, ideally determined by an independent testing agency, represents the time and performance until the system shuts down). The values should have been generated at an 8-10 ft. head. The head is the distance that the pump discharges vertically (in a basement, it is usually 8-10 ft).

For the most part, A DC system will discharge at a rate less than the primary pump can discharge. Whether this is good enough is something that the homeowner and/or contractor must make a judgment call on. An AC system can be matched more effectively to the performance of the primary pump. The best scenario is that the homeowner has determined how effectively his primary pump has performed during a major storm and matches that performance with that of the back-up system, whether it be an AC or a DC system.

3 Myths Busted About Household Batteries

Been buying batteries half your life? That doesn't mean you know all there is to know about them. Your ignorance could be costing you money and wasting your time. It's time to explode the battery myths!

Myth number one: You cannot recharge disposable alkaline batteries

This may have been a fact once upon a time, but whilst science has moved on, the battery manufacturers are not rushing to tell the consumer about it.

It clearly says on the sides of most alkaline batteries that they are not to be recharged; the warnings are fairly dire. "Batteries may explode" is what we're told, but is it true? Emphatically not.

Testers willing to put their lives 'at risk' by going ahead and recharging, found they were not even risking their eyebrows in the manner of some cartoon scientist, let alone their life. Even when using brief bursts of charge from a high-voltage car battery!

What testers did find was that the batteries would get hot if Over-charged, but the worst eventuality was a battery that gradually - and undramatically - split along one side, leaking a very small amount of acid. Not quite the firework display battery users have been warned of.

Whilst using a car battery for recharging alkaline batteries is not something any sensible person would recommend, there are alternatives. You definitely shouldn't use your standard recharger - these are not able to let you know when an alkaline battery is recharged which could lead to the overheating problem mentioned above - but devices are available designed specifically for recharging alkaline batteries. Some of these devices will charge Ni-Mh and Ni-Cds as well.

In the strictest sense, what is happening to the alkaline batteries is a 'recondition' rather than a 'recharge', giving a potential 90% power top-up to batteries low on energy. However, there is the potential for getting 10 or more times as much out of the battery's chemicals before it needs to be disposed of, it is both a money saver and more environmentally-friendly.

Care still needs to be taken: all batteries are capable of developing unseen faults which could see them split whilst charging, potentially damaging the charger or its surroundings. Some chargers will let you know if a battery is dead, but it is a good idea to purchase a separate battery tester to check the condition of all batteries you intend to recharge. This is important for alkaline batteries, as the battery will live longer the more frequently you recharge it. And wise for all other batteries, as even the best quality can develop faults.

If you have any doubts about the quality of the batteries you are using, it would be wisest to avoid placing reconditioned alkaline batteries in your most precious equipment.

Myth Two: Battery 'memory' is a real problem with rechargeable batteries

The concept of battery memory is not wrong, but it doesn't apply to all rechargeables, and it's a problem that is slowly becoming something from the past.

But first, what is 'battery memory'? Anyone with a rechargeable device may have noticed that the battery life seems to get shorter as the battery gets older. You may have had your own theory about why that is, but when it comes to Ni-Cd rechargeables, the short answer is 'crystal formation'.

In Ni-Cd batteries, as the battery ages crystals form inside. As the crystals get bigger, it gets harder for the charge to move beyond them. Eventually whole areas of the battery become unreachable for both use and recharge. Failure to completely discharge the battery before recharging has been highlighted as one major cause of the problem.

Thankfully the problem isn't a killer: discharging the battery fully before starting a recharge usually sorts the problem. In fact, many recharging devices now do a full discharge. Manufacturers also continue to improve their batteries to get around the problem.

Li-Ion and Ni-HM rechargeable batteries - the preferred power choice for devices such as cameras and mobile phones - work differently. These battery types do not suffer this problem and therefore do not need to be discharged before recharging.

Li-ion batteries actually have a longer life when charged little and often. Letting them go dead before recharging can shorten their life span. When it comes to cameras, battery death mid-shot could result in lost work.

Don't confuse Li-Ion batteries with the Lithium batteries available in household sizes. Li-Ion batteries are the square blocks that come with your mobile phone and some cameras, whereas Lithium batteries are those long-life - but non-rechargeable - batteries sold for high-drain devices, like cameras.

Myth three: Expensive is better

Manufacturers of known brand names would certainly like you to believe that their 'quality' batteries are far superior to the generic or 'own brand' batteries on the market. And there's nothing to say that you don't get what you pay for.

However, plenty of unbiased reviews can be found online to show that cheap batteries can give great service. 7dayshop's own rechargeable Ni-MH batteries have consistently received great reviews and very favourable comparisons with the big known brands. The internet is your friend when it comes to shopping around for the truth about low-cost versus supposed high quality batteries.

The biggest factor in getting the right choice for your device is knowing the differences between the various types and how they apply to your need. Lithium and Alkaline batteries both have good high voltage (1.5 and 1.75 respectively), whilst Ni-Cd and Ni-MH are lower (1.2), making them unsuitable for many devices that require four or more batteries.

However, unlike Ni-MH batteries, which maintain a fairly steady charge until their expiry, Alkaline batteries lose their voltage steadily as their energy drains. If your device has a power monitor, your choice could be important.

If you are after the greenest choice, you should be aware that Lithium batteries, whilst having an incredibly long life, cannot be recharged and are particularly toxic, as are the rechargeable Ni-Cds.

Using something like a camera, which is a heavy-draining item? Ni-Cds discharge swiftly, making them a problem for devices which use up lots of energy. In fact, both Ni-MH and Ni-Cd self-discharge over a matter of months: vital knowledge when fitting little-used devices.

There are many types of batteries, so before you pick up a generic pack from the supermarket, reassess your needs, your assumptions and your lifestyle. You could save yourself both time and money.