Do you have boxes and boxes of family videos on VHS tape that you would like to transfer to DVD without paying a fortune? If so, then the DVD Maker USB 2.0 may be the product you are looking for – just remember that you usually get what you pay for, so you may have to adjust your expectations. Following is my review of :

Having two college-aged kids, I though it would be nice to take all of the VHS tapes that had accumulated over the years, from infancy, preschool, dance recitals, sports, high-school events, family holidays, etc., and transfer them to DVD for the kids (and myself) to keep with their treasured mementos. After doing some online research, I found the DVD Maker USB 2.0 to be the product with the most positive reviews, the least amount of negative feedback and the most reasonably priced (between $45-$60).

The box contained:
1 capture device – USB 2.0 Plug-and-Play Interface
1 “Quick Start Guide”
1 CD-ROM with driver, utilities and basic user manual
1 CD-Rom with Cyberlink PowerDirector v5 software and PowerProducer v4 software

The Quick Start Guide amounted to about ¼ of a page in English – the rest of the sheet was translated into other languages. It all seemed simple enough, so I really wasn’t worried. I installed the software and the driver utilities CDs and proceed to plug the capture device into my computer and VCR.

On one end of the capture device are cords for your source, a yellow video (composite) connection, audio (red and white) connection and an s-video connection. On the other end are the cords to connect to your computer, a USB 2.0 plug and Audio Out (to be plugged into your line-in port for sound).

Problem – I have an old VCR which only has one audio port (white) and this device has two (red and white). I searched for a splitter without any luck, so I had to borrow a “newer” VCR from a friend in order to make the sound work.

After wasting too much time trying to solve that problem, I had it working. Note - I was able to view my small cassettes directly from the video camera without any problem, but for the really old, large VHS tapes, I needed the VCR.

The PowerProducer program contains several options, one allows you to transfer your movie “Right-to-Disc” and another option, “Produce Movie Disc,” allows you to make a more customized DVD, like breaking your movie up into snippets or chapters. There are other options for managing and editing your videos. I was never able to get the “Right-to-Disc” option to work – after about 30 minutes into the movie, the program would freeze up and I would have to reboot the computer and start over. It became very frustrating and was not happy with the lack of product support available.

I ended up using the “Produce Movie Disc” option for everything, which isn’t all bad, as the end result turns out to be a better presentation and easier deal with when viewing, since you can select “chapters’ to view individually if you don’t want to watch the entire movie. It was nice to cut out all of the dead space and lousy takes from the original tape.

I did not use the PowerDirector software much, because whenever I tried to do something with it, I was prompted to upgrade - it seems these programs are the lite version. It would have been helpful if there were manuals included with the software instead of having to hunt for one online.

As for the quality of the recorded DVDs, they turned out to be fairly decent after tweaking the sound settings on my computer and keeping in mind the quality of the original videos. The more recent tapes came out perfect, while the old, grainy tapes came out as new, grainy, DVDs. In the end, I am just grateful for the ability to copy the movies to a format that allows my family to continue to enjoy old times.

The inclusion of the clip and lanyard, along with the noted “additional in-ear stability” should have been a clue that they may not be the best headphones for activity - one of the main reasons for purchasing a new pair of earbuds. I have been searching for a pair of quality headphones that stay put when doing general, walking-around type tasks - nothing overly strenuous like running or aerobics.

It came with the medium silicone tips installed and they didn’t feel right, so I switched to the small size which seemed to fit better. The silicone tips take some getting used to - it often feels like they are going to fall out - and unfortunately for me, the left one does occasionally slip out. I tried the lanyard and clip, however I found it to be too awkward and cumbersome.

As for the sound, there are absolutely no complaints here! I will not go into too much detail because this is where opinions can vary greatly, as everyone “listens” differently. Much like wine tasting, there will always be conflicting viewpoints as to quality, etc. I will say that I was immediately impressed by the sound quality, and only had to make a minor adjustment to lower the bass (probably because it was overly adjusted for the old earbuds). Now, if you are looking for noise-canceling headphones, these are not the ones (nor do they claim to be) - that is another Bose product.

The carrying case leaves something to be desired - like a piece to keep the headphones from getting caught in the zipper. I probably won’t use the case much anyway, but it would have been nice.

Since I am happy with the sound quality and will probably use them a lot while sitting at the computer, I will hold on to these headphones - however I will continue to search for quality earphones that will stay inside my ears, no matter what I am doing!

The material is a 3M product that provides a thin, but tough protective layer to your techie gear, preventing surface nicks and scratches. You can skin your computer, laptop, cell phone, mp3 player, printer, router, etc. - there are even skins for that Guitar Hero guitar you got for Christmas! There are an endless array of designs to choose from - Sports - NFL, Collegiate, MLB, Music, Art, Cartoons - or design your own.

They are custom fit to your laptop - and for you Mac users, the skin even has the Apple logo cut out to perfectly match that glowing piece of fruit on your screen’s lid! As with the laptops, the skins for the iPods are custom fit for each generation of the player - the one we bought was for the 3rd generation iPod with the 4 round buttons. It looks like the SkinIt Florida Panthers Ipod Skin pictured below, just with the 4 holes cut out.

There are easy-to-follow instructions that come with your Skinit - if you take the time to read them and follow their advice, you will have no problems. Just remember that when installing, you need to take it slow in order to avoid bubbles. If you do happen to get a few (as we did with the iPod) they work out easily by gently pushing the bubble towards the end of the skin.

Ah, the iPod touch! The folks at Apple must have been reading my mind, along with the minds of thousands of other people who did not want to sacrifice their current cell phone service (not to mention contract cancellation fees) just to get their hands on the iphone – when it wasn’t the “phone” they wanted most.

Not that there is anything wrong with the iphone, it’s just that many of us do not care to mix business with pleasure. All I wanted it for was its good looks and slick features anyway, and the iTouch (the name I prefer) has all that and more.

For one thing, the iTouch looks better, it is skinner than the phone, a little bit shorter and just a touch wider. The black touchscreen has the same resolution as the dazzling iPhone’s display, with just one button on the face (like the phone). The color also seems better on the iTouch. The back of the touch is the same shiny stainless as the regular iPods - if that matters to you.

I love the Cover Flow feature which has been available on iTunes and the iPhone. For those who have never used Cover Flow, it is basically like flipping through your music or video collection just as if you were flipping through your CDs and DVDs, cover art and all. Tapping on a cover will open a track list and from there you can tap again to start playing. You may also view the playlists by holding the player vertically and scrolling down, but its more fun (and cool) the other way.

The 3.5 inch crystal clear display is great for watching YouTube videos, movies, podcasts, or viewing thousands of your own pictures along with your customized soundtrack. Speaking of YouTube, the Wi-Fi abilities of this iPod have been outstanding everywhere I have used it to browse the internet. Surf the web using the touchscreen’s keyboard and tap the display to zoom in or out. You can also browse the iTunes Wi-Fi music store and buy/download music, no matter where you are.

One of the coolest features (in my opinion) is the “accelerometer” which automatically adjusts the picture when you rotate the iPod – hard to resist playing around with that one! Also, double clicking on the front button will bring up your music controls over any screen that you might be currently viewing, which gives you much better control of your music.

If you are looking for a camera, there’s not one on the iPod touch. That is a feature on the phone, but from my experience with camera phones, you are not missing much.

Battery life is a bit disappointing on the iTouch when you consider its price compared to the iPod Classic model – its closest rival. We’re talking 22 hours of audio, verses 30 to 40 hours with the Classic models.

For the most part though, the iPod has come a long way….now if they could only upgrade those darn ear buds!

The basic system requirements are: 

-          Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/Me/2000/Media Center/XP (home & pro) 

-          Intel or compatible 486 DX or higher processor 

-          16 MB RAM 

-          20 MB of hard disk space

-          20 MB of hard disk space

Set up went very smoothly, until I tried to actually start the transfer. The program was behaving like my connections were not complete. Going through the troubleshooting, I somehow came upon a solution as easy as switching the cables around, and it worked. Aside from that little glitch, everything worked perfectly. The transfer time was fairly lengthy; however I had many programs and files to move. Keep in mind that some licensed programs may require you to insert the original disk, or enter your original program key code, just to verify that you are the owner of the program.  I still use File Mover occasionally to transfer items between computers, as a back-up measure.  I recommend PCmover based on the ease of use, and their product support. Many of the questions can be answered online through their FAQ section, along with the ability to get live help, via chat.

Check it out!

Being a Tetris addict, my eyes were immediately drawn to the Tetris Tower 3-D game shown in this month’s (July 07, issue 15.07) edition of Wired Magazine. By the way, I just love this magazine! I look forward to receiving it each month and always go straight to the “Play” section where they pick “What’s Wired This Month” - usually consisting of some of the latest gadgets, games, dvds, music, tv…you get the idea.

Anyway, number 9 on July’s “Playlist” was the Tetris Tower 3-D game, in which they commented about Tetris finally getting into “meatspace.” Ok, Wikipedia time for me - this term is totally foreign to me. According to Wikipedia, the term “meatspace” is defined as, “a dysphemism for real life or the physical world and conceived as the opposite of cyberspace or virtual reality.” That’s your vocabulary lesson of the day. Look for yourself…  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meatspace) 

The little blurb went on to describe the game as playing like the old connect four game, where you drop the plastic game pieces down into the top of the game and try not to leave any empty spaces. It did not mention anything more about it, so I had to do some searching to learn more - and to get my hands on a game! I have no idea how long the game has been out and to this date, still have no clue as to whether it is a brand new game, or a few years old, but to make a long story short, I could not find a game locally and ended up winning a bid on a used game through ebay. Twenty bucks later, and a few bumps and bruises from shipping, I had my game! 

Now that I have it, I can give you a little more info. It is made by Radica Games which the box says is from Dallas, TX and appears to be dated in 2004, but I am not sure if that is the original date for this game. It requires two AA batteries for the sound effects and flashing lights. Basically the game is played by picking a particular piece which is lit up and shown on the player’s side of the game, and manipulating it into the position you want before dropping it into the game. When the piece is dropped, it is guided down by rails, along the line of connect 4.  Another “piece indicator” light will be flashing during your turn - that is the piece your opponent will have to play (ooohhh, strategy!).  The electronics are for sound, play levels, piece indicators and turn indicators. In order to keep track of how many lines each player has cleared, there are levers on the side of the game, which the individual player would pull towards them as they clear each line. The winner (of course) would be the player who cleared the most lines after the pieces have been stacked to the top of the tower.

Do I like it? Well, it definitely takes you back to the “old days” of playing boxed games. I guess if the power went out (and with summer storms in the south - that can happen often) or battery supply for my handheld gamer got low - I might play it again.

I shopped around a bit before deciding on the Seagate 200gb Pushbutton Backup External Hard Drive, considering factors such as price, size of the unit, storage capacity, user-friendliness and tech support. The price was definitely right and the 200gb model was plenty of storage for me - that handles 64,000 digital photos, 3330 hours of music, 200 hours of digital video, or 50 two-hour movies. They also make units up to 750gb, which stores 240,000 digital photos, 12,495 hours of digital music, 750 hours of digital video, or 375 games.

The unit runs very quietly (my laptop makes more noise!) and stays cool. The back-up software, BounceBack Express, is very easy to work with and I have had no problems. My first backup did take some time to run, but subsequent backups have been relatively quick since only the new changes are backed up. You can connect and disconnect the unit without shutting down your computer, which is very nice. Keep in mind though, that if you do not keep it plugged in, or at least plug it in on a regular basis, it cannot back up your stuff and be ready to save your life! The unit is also stackable, should you want to expand your storage. You get the standard one-year warranty, but more importantly you get free tech support for life!

Here are the specs for my unit, as shown on the box:

7200 RPM, 8MB cache, 350 Gs nonoperating shock resistance, Less than 27 acoustic decibels, 3.5 inch hard drive, horizontal dimensions (7.125?d x 6.5?w x 2.25?h), vertical dimensions with pedestal (7.125? d x 3?w x 6.75?h), weight 2lb 9.5 oz.

PC users: Available USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 port or Windows-certified FireWire port. Microsoft Windows XP, Me, 2000, 98SE

Mac users: Same as above (USB,FireWire). Mac OS X, OS 9.2.2 and higher.

My unit came packaged with USB cable, FireWire, AC adapter, power cord, quick start guide and bundled software cd.

In my opinion, the External Hard Drive Backup is a must for everyone who uses their computer to store everything from their treasured photos and videos, to music, or even dull, boring tax records. Even though you may not want to think about it, think about it. It is inevitable - computers crash, files get lost, lightening strikes. Whether this model is for you is your own personal decision, but it is certainly very wise to protect yourself from the unavoidable casualties of the computer world!

Great price/free shipping.

There are a number of built-in card slots for viewing most of the memory cards on the market today. They are compatible with USB Flash Drive, Secure Digital (SD cards), Multi-Media Cards (MMC), Compact Flash (CF-I/11), Memory Stick (MS/MS-Pro/MS DUO) and XD. You can view a single picture, or an entire slideshow of hundreds, depending on the size of your memory card. You may also use the USB connection to your PC.

The frame also has built in speakers, so you can play MP3 music to accompany your slideshow! Now, I cannot tell you about the quality of the speakers yet, as I have not figured out how to change my music to MP3 format from iTunes. If anyone has advice (that I can understand) on how to accomplish this, your tips are welcome!

The frame comes with an AC adaptor and a remote control, which helps you with set up, adjusting the sound, rotation of the pictures, etc. – from a distance. The picture quality is awesome - wonderfully bright and vibrant! The frames come in a variety of sizes from 7 inches to 10 inches, and a price range of just over $125 to almost $300, not including the memory card.

I am so pleased with this digital frame that I am going to purchase some as gifts for the Grandparents in our family – complete with memory cards of the grandkids’ pictures already loaded! This would also make a fantastic wedding shower or baby shower gift. What an alternative to the standard photo album!

NeatReceipts can scan and organize receipts by date, expense category, or merchant. It can also organize expenses by IRS form and category, create expense reports, scan business cards, scan important documents and just about any other document you want to store on your computer. It can create expense reports and works with most popular programs such as Excel, Outlook, MS Money, Quicken, or QuickBooks. You can finally free yourself of all those business cards you have stuffed in your briefcase, cluttering your drawers, taped to your desk, phone, monitor or refrigerator, and have them scanned and organized all in one place.

The “scanalizer” is so small that you can take it with you easily when traveling. It weighs approximately 10 ounces and is the same size as my 3-hole punch (about 10 ¾” x 2”).  Mine scans in black and white only, but I believe they have come out with a color scanner.  All you have to do is install the program, plug it in to a USB port on your computer, and start scanning! It does not require any other power source.

This is one of the easiest to use gadgets I have purchased. Set up was no problem and it even scanned the crumpled-up receipts without jamming. I was impressed by its ability to read fading receipts and automatically recognize company name, address and phone information. When you scan your document, the image will appear on the left side of your screen and the information to the right. The Vendor name, Category, Receipt Date, Payment Type, Sales Tax, Amount, Reimbursable Category, Expense Category and Personal Category are there for you to view and edit if necessary. Some of my more illegible receipts would leave the Date or Vendor category blank, so I just easily completed those areas. I have found that receipts from certain stores fade rather quickly, and that scanning those receipts as soon as possible saves me grief, especially when warranties are involved. I had a receipt from Circuit City for a printer that became so faded after just six months, that it was totally illegible.

More information can be found at their website, NeatReceipts.com.  If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to get organized – this is your head start.

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