One of the more usual ways to add to the attractiveness of your back yard is to provide a habitat that draws in your bird population. Birds are a delightful fellow member of your “estate” adding not only a delighting visual improvement, but the wondrous sounds that accompany a good deal of bird species.

But the story is not complete unless we recognize that putting a birdhouse in the backyard likewise allows for flights of imagination as well. These are miniature houses, and in general the birds are unsusceptible to the exterior of the house, so it provides a great prospect to add a twist that reflects the personality of the owner of the property.

This personal expression may take on an unbelievable range of options. Here are just a few ideas that you may find:

Church Birdhouses – These capture a assortment of houses of worship. From the old traditions of the Byzantine eastern Christianity, to the stately Notre Dame, or a Gothic look, or to the simple country chapel, there is a church birdhouse design to fit your tastes.

Victorian Mansion – Reflecting the best the era had to offer, this may be found in multistory designs, with the size and presence you would suppose from a mansion.

Log Cabin Designs – Echoing the architecture of the early settlers, you may find these made from traditionalisti woods like fir, or more contemporary selections like bamboo.

Stained Glass Birdhouses – One of my favorites, these are many times simple designs, but have sides fashioned with stained glass that will capture are reflect the sun and add a visual appeal that is larger than the house itself.

Face Birdhouses – A not so long ago standard type of house, these are shaped like an A frame, but the front surface is a face made from a resin form. The faces available include a standard cat, where the bird hole is the mouth, along with a pirate face, or a frog, a tree leaf, or a deer with antlers.

Painted Birdhouses – By merely adding a design with paint, the selections are endless. You may construct almost any desired look with paint, and these tend to be comparatively inexpensive as well.

Garden Bird Kit Childrens Binoculars Image

Garden Bird Kit Childrens Binoculars Photo

Garden Bird Kit Childrens Binoculars Image

Garden Bird Kit Childrens Binoculars Picture

See all customer reviews…

Orion Classic Bonus Accessory Pack Picture

Orion Classic Bonus Accessory Pack Image

Orion Classic Bonus Accessory Pack Picture

Orion Classic Bonus Accessory Pack Image

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Tough, Clear, Protective
By M. Palsson
Works very well on my older iPod Video, but the curves on my new iPod Classic are a problem – the material is a bit thick and will not lay down over the curved surfaces.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Nice
By Brent Smith
This is a very clear and effective cover screen for the front, back and scroll wheel of your ipod. It will probably work best in conjuction with another skin or clip on belt carrier. I would definitely buy it again.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.
Don’t waste your money if you have the current generation iPod Classic
By John Merle
Curves on the face, and the matte finish of the new iPod mean that the rigid plastic of this product won’t stick to the face of your iPod. Works great on the back, but useless for the front.

See all 31 customer reviews…

Motic Instruments Microscopes Pk70 221 001 Focusing Picture

Motic Instruments Microscopes Pk70 221 001 Focusing Photo

Motic Instruments Microscopes Pk70 221 001 Focusing Photo

Motic Instruments Microscopes Pk70 221 001 Focusing Photo

See all customer reviews…

Bushnell Ultra Hd Legend Binoculars 10×36 Image

Bushnell Ultra Hd Legend Binoculars 10×36 Image

Bushnell Ultra Hd Legend Binoculars 10×36 Image

Bushnell Ultra Hd Legend Binoculars 10×36 Image

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Affordable medium-sized masterpiece
By Richard Randall
I have owned a range of binoculars from 8 x 20 to 11 x 80, Zeiss, Leica and others. The Bushnell 10 x 36 HD are a somewhat unusual format, but they work well. The optics are excellent (sharp, clear, good colour fidelity, with very good close focus. The waterproofing is effective and the binoculars are lightweight. The twist up/down eyecups could have had a couple more stops, but that is a small criticism. The portability of these Bushnells is good for climbing and hiking. They feel good in the hands. All in all great value for money – and with a lifetime warrantee.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Top optics for bargain price
By J.O.O.
I have just got back from a few days of searching for traces of the Iberian wolves in the remote parts of the Spanish-Portugese border. In an attempt to also spot the wolves I was out at both sunrise and sunset in mostly cold, windy, cloudy, rainy weather. I brought my new Legend Ultra HD 10×36 and my faithful Zeiss Classic 7×42 TP. Although now more than 15 years old the Zeiss are widely regarded to still keep up with some of the best of today’s binoculars. I was quite keen to see how the Bushnells were going to perform in a field comparison. Now it must be said it is somewhat difficult to make a direct comparison between a pair with 7x magnification and a pair with 10x. The Zeiss have also, theoretically, better low-light performance with its 42/7 ratio. Anyway, what I found was that:
the Ultra HD show noticeable more reflexions in certain complicated light conditions than the Zeiss, although still not disturbing
the wide field of view of the Ultra HDs made them as comfortable to look through as the Zeiss pair (which have wide field of view for their age)
the sharpness was similar and also focus towards the edges of the field was similar
the colors were similar
and, surprisingly, the low-light performance was similar. The Zeiss is somewhat brighter, but it was compensated with the higher magnification of the Ultra HDs allowing detection of more detail. It is amazing for a pair of 10×36! (I wonder how the 10×42 or 8×42 would do).

Mechanically, the Ultra HDs feel a little ..delicate. Indeed the focus wheel fell apart (!) after just a while. But it was later easily fixed at home with some silicon glue and the repair is now not visible at all. But I prefer the lighter, more delicate construction before the heavy rubber blocks that most other low/medium priced binocs appear as. It gives the feeling of optical instrument rather than a toy. My Zeiss were, likewise, more delicate than its competitors (I had a pair of Swarovski Habicht SL 7×42 but changed them for the lighter Zeiss). Dispite the problem with the focus wheel and the reflexions I do not hesitate to give the Utra HDs five stars. They are very very good for the price, in pair with my Zeiss.

I did not buy the Bushnells to replace my Zeiss, I bought them to complement them. But they are so good that I will not suffer on the occasions when I am leaving my Zeiss at home. My Ultra HDs are much smaller and somewhat lighter then my Zeiss so, as planned, I will sometimes find it more convenient to bring the Ultra HDs.

I also own a pair of Leica 10×25. They are also so different from the Bushnells that they don’t replace eachother. The Leicas are possibly somewhat sharper, a little bit fuller in the colors, slightly less bright in low-light conditions, but have a much narrower field of view (I don’t like them for birding, here the Ultra HDs are better). Thus, the Ultra HDs are close. However, the Leicas fit in a shirt pocket!

The lens caps do fall off easily. I saw in an other review that others have had the same problem with Ultra HDs. I solved the problem by placing a tight rubber ring in front of the rubber ring of the lens cap. The rubber ring of the lens cap can not slide over the new one which is so tight that it does not move. I found the ring in a hard ware store. It is a slightly conical rubber seal (black) used to seal the connection of two tubes used in the regular plumbing below the kitchen sink. I put the higher side of the conical ring backwards towards the rubber ring of the lens cap. I bought rings with 40mm diameter. I had to use mild force to stretch them over the barrels of the binoculars, but once there they dont move. I did the same on my Zeiss for which I had the same problem with a pair of home made lens caps built on the same principle.

I did not see any wolves, but nice fresh trails. They’re out there allright!

See all 2 customer reviews…

Burgundy Baytronix Astroventure Reflector Telescope Pic

Burgundy Baytronix Astroventure Reflector Telescope Pic

Burgundy Baytronix Astroventure Reflector Telescope Pic

Burgundy Baytronix Astroventure Reflector Telescope Pic

7390 of 7519 people found the following review helpful.
Fantastic device – pick your Kindle!
By FreeSpirit
Having been a little overwhelmed by the choices between all the new Kindles and which one to get, I ordered this new basic $79 Kindle first to take for a spin. So far, I like what I see. I also own a Kindle 3 so that’s the only device I can really compare it to at this time (I think a comparison between other tablets and this Kindle is meaningless, this device is all about content and delivery):

1. Form-factor – Compared to the Kindle 3, this Kindle feels more compact, lighter and easier to hold. My hands wrap around this better than K3. Reading books for a few hours at a stretch will be easier on this device compared to the K3. It is the lightest such device I have used compared to all previous Kindles and other tablets.

2. Screen – I personally like the fact that there are no keys on the device and that keys come up on the screen when you need them. Delivers a better overall reading experience. However, navigating through the on-screen keyboard with the 5-way controller can be taxing if you need to do a lot of searching, and you might miss the full physical keyboard. I hardly search on the Kindle itself, I search for books on my laptop so this is a non-issue.

3. Price! – At $79, you can’t go wrong. Compared to buying paperback or hardcover editions, you will recover the cost of this in a matter of a few months because most Kindle content is priced cheaper than print editions (and you get it instantly, and can access it wherever you are). Not to mention all the free Kindle downloads available in the catalog.

4. Display – almost the same E-ink display at the K3. No glare no reflection. You can sit in bright sunlight and read it just like a book. Page turns seem a lot faster on this compared to the K3. Screen size of the Kindle 3, this new Kindle, and the Touch is exactly the same in size.

5. Wi-Fi – this can be a pro or a con (no 3G) depending on a user’s personal preference. If you travel often and would like to be able to download content anywhere without worrying about getting a wi-fi connection, you’re better off sticking with the K3 or waiting for the Touch/Fire. For me, 3G is not a major issue.

6. Text to Speech and Audiobooks – These two features are lacking in this device. I personally have never used these features on my K3. If you listen to audiobooks or TTS or music on your Kindle, again the K3/Touch/Fire might be better options.

7. Storage – this device can store 2GB which they claim is approximately 1400 books. For me, that’s a massive storage capacity and it will be years before I get close to that capacity. Again, if you download books occasionally and have a moderate Kindle downloaded content on your device, 2GB is plenty. Of course, think ahead and see how much you would expect to download in the coming 2 years (I am assuming the device will be outdated and replaced within this time-frame).

8. Battery life – too early to tell but Kindle battery life tends to be great. Specs state that the battery life of this device is 1 month compared to 2 months for the Touch or K3. 1 month is plenty (Android phones need to be charged every hour!). At least I know that if I’m going on a long flight, this device won’t need charging if I charge it up in advance.

9. Power adapter – this Kindle does not come with a power adapter, only a USB charging cable. You can either buy it separately for $8-10, or use your existing USB power adapter. Any USB adapter would work with the charging cable (previous Kindle versions, Apple’s portable devices, and most HTC phones, come with a standard USB power adapter that would work for this device). There are also plenty of $2-3 adapters available here if you search for USB chargers.

Bottom line – the choice between this basic Kindle, the K3 Keyboard, the Touch, and the Fire is really a personal preference. This device itself is meant for the minimalist Kindle user who, like me, reads say a 2-3 books a month, wants a device comfortable to hold, and doesn’t need any fancy bells and whistles on the device. I guess it depends on what you use your Kindle for. If it’s just the basics, this is the perfect device to get.

In my humble opinion, the choices:

(i) If you have a DX or an old Kindle version, or if you don’t have a Kindle yet and are an average book-reader, this is definitely the one to get – baseline model that is affordable and is a pure e-reader.

(ii) If you have Kindle 3 and don’t really need an upgrade, I recommend sticking with the K3, it’s a better device than this one in terms of features. If you do need to upgrade, the Touch is probably a better option because of all the additional features, at a small incremental cost.

(iii) If you’re looking for the loaded full-on Amazon content experience with access to all the apps, streaming audio and video, and playing the “strangely therapeutic” Fruit Ninja, wait for the Fire!

I sincerely hope this review helps you decide whether this Kindle is right for you. If you are still unable to make a decision, it may be worthwhile to wait for the Touch and Fire to be released, and see the reviews on those devices before making a final decision.

2903 of 2976 people found the following review helpful.
Facts to Consider when Buying This Kindle Instead of Others
By J. Ts
First off, I received my new Kindle this morning. I previously owned the Kindle Keyboard, but actually really didn’t like the keyboard or the way the buttons were pressed together. I’m not a fan of touch screens so I bought this one.

There are a few things to know about this particular Kindle that can help you decide if it’s right for you…

Here is a list of things to know about this Kindle.

1. You’ll be using an onscreen keyboard with the 5-Way Controller. This is not a problem for setting up WiFi and a little writing but if you are an avid note-taker or do a lot of writing with your Kindle, you might want to opt for the Kindle Keyboard.
2. NO AUDIO – If you are planning on listening to audiobooks, Mp3s, or Text to Speech on your Kindle, this is not the device for you. There is not even a headphone jack, so there is absolutely no audio support.
3. 2GB! This device has 2GB of storage, which is half of all the others… if you seriously need to keep over 1,400 books or so on your Kindle, you should opt for one of the others, all of which have 4GB. I only keep a hundred or so books on mine and the rest are up in the Amazon Cloud waiting for convenient download.
4. There’s no 3G version but the WiFi works just fine.
5. There is a shorter battery life. Amazon reports the battery life is only one month of reading, compared with the others that clock in at two months. If you are going to be away from electricity for over a month, first of all RESPECT!, second of all, you may want a Kindle that has the 2 month battery life.
6. It’s lighter than all the other versions. It weighs in at just under 6oz (170g). The closest competition is the Kindle Touch which is about 7.5oz.
7. It has 5 buttons on the face at the bottom. In the middle is the big 5-Way Controller button as found on other Kindles. There are two small buttons on either side of this. On the left side, from left to right are the “Back” button and the “Keyboard” button. The “Back” button is the same as on other Kindles. The “Keyboard” button calls the onscreen keyboard onto the screen. On the right side of the 5-Way Controller are (again, from left to right) the “Menu” button, and the “Home” button. The “Next Page” and “Previous Page” buttons are the same as on other Kindles.
8. Because of the above 5 buttons, I find it much easier to use than the Kindle Keyboard. On the Kindle Keyboard, the “Back” button was right below the 5-Way Controller, and I accidentally hit it on more than one occasion.
9. On the bottom there is only the mini-USB port, the charging light, and the On-Off Button.
10. There are not a whole lot of covers available for this Kindle yet. (Amazon’s won’t be available until the end of October.)

As for reading, and as a pure reading device. It is awesome… in fact, without the keyboard, audio, and other features I don’t need. This is actually the best one for someone like me who just wants to read.

I’ve already successfully transferred my library, downloaded books over WiFi, and borrowed library books through the Overdrive Library eBooks System. My only small point of dissatisfaction is that there are so few good covers and accessories right now (though there ARE some available that look pretty good).

All in all, I believe this is the BEST of all the Kindles currently available. Only consider others if you:
a. Really want the touch screen version.
b. Need audio.
c. Need 4GB
d. Need a big Kindle DX.
e. Take a lot of notes or do a lot of writing that requires a keyboard.
f. Prefer the design of another version.
g. Need more than a month’s battery power.

Hope this helps someone make a good decision!

(Brief update: I love this Kindle, but right now the scarcity of good, inexpensive covers for it is a little troubling. The Amazon made leather one with light won’t be available until November or so and there are currently no inexpensive ones to use in the interim. I’ll just have to use it gently for a month or so.)

Update on cases:
I mentioned this in the comments section, but I’ll repeat it here for people who can’t yet find a good case -

Checking the specifications for the Kindle, Nook Touch, and Kobo:
Nook Touch
6.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
Kobo Reader
6.5 X 4.5 inches
Kindle (4th Generation)
6.5 x 4.5 x 0.34 inches

It looks like the Kobo is about exactly the same size and the Nook Touch is slightly longer. If you need a case but can’t find one that you like yet, it may be worth a little hunting to see if a nook or kobo case or cover might fit the bill.

1135 of 1199 people found the following review helpful.
The most compact Kindle yet. Extremely legible display, snappy performance
By M. Erb
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RWG7OQ5NMGUMW I was thrilled to receive my new Kindle. I ordered it Sep 28, chose overnight shipping and it arrived (Sep 29) just a few minutes ago. Usually I use a device for a while before reviewing it. In this case, I felt it was important to do a quick review right away because if it can help you in your purchasing decision, so much the better.

If you are a little perplexed with all the various Kindle models and are wondering if this Is the Kindle for you, here are a few questions for you to consider…

1. Do you need text to speech capability or have the desire to listen to mp3′s on your Kindle? If you can live without that, then proceed. This Kindle does not have a speaker thus is not capable of text to speech or playing sounds of any kind including mp3′s.

2. Is color important to you? This is not a color Kindle, it is gray-scale. If you are mostly wanting to read books then this will work for you exceedingly well. The e-ink screen is gorgeous, sharp and provides the ability to change font size, font face and line spacing. It even displays photos quite nicely, but in gray-scale. And you can even zoom in on images.

3. Is a physical keyboard a necessity for you? If you like to make notes and annotations while reading, you may want to look at another model Kindle that has a physical keyboard. Although this Kindle has a screen-based keyboard, it is tedious to type more than a few words or URL’s. It works very well for minimal typing but it’s not for you if you need more than that.

4. Is compact size important for you? Then this is the one to get. It’s thin, light and diminutive in size. Slips easily into a purse, pocket or inside pocket. It is so light which makes holding and reading with one hand for longer periods of time very easy.

5. Do you want to be able to occasionally use a web browser to access a web site? Well surprise surprise, you can do that on this Kindle. It’s an “experimental” feature but it works quite well. It’s been experimental for years, so I’m not quite sure why it’s still labeled experimental. But in any case you can visit websites, save bookmarks and it works.

I also own the original Kindle with the SD card slot. Compared to the original Kindle, this new one is svelte. Thinner, lighter and notably, the e-ink on this new Kindle is vastly improved. In low interior lighting with gray overcast lighting outside, I’m able to easily read the Kindle. It is amazing how the screen almost glows, as if it were backlit. Of course it is not backlit and in fact will not work in the dark. But if you have a small reading light, that solves that problem. Otherwise in most other situations you will pleased with the excellent sharpness and clarity of the Kindle text.

Page “turning” was very snappy to me especially when compared to my old Kindle. The black page flash that occurs on every page turn on the old Kindle does not occur nearly as frequently with the new Kindle. It now occurs after every 5 page turns.

The fact that there is no physical keyboard means that this Kindle is absolutely the easiest to carry Kindle ever. Fits nicely in the hand and the slightly grippy surface makes you feel secure in holding it… it will not easily slip out of your hand.

Setup was a breeze. The Kindle immediately identified my Wi-Fi network and as soon as I entered my password using the onscreen keyboard, I was good to go. Signal strength indicated very high on the Kindle and I did not notice any degradation in signal no matter how I handled it.

As concerns the onscreen keyboard, it was easy and intuitive to use. I don’t expect to have to use it very often and for me I’d rather have no physical keyboard because that makes the Kindle smaller and easier to pack and go.

You still get the typical Kindle tools, such as Highlighting, Notes, Annotations, Public Notes and a few others. You can upload PDF and TXT files and view them. You can easily transfer prior Kindle purchases to your new Kindle. You have the ability to create “collections” Once you’ve created a collection, you add items to it and this is a great way to organize many books.

I have not had this model long enough to comment on battery life, but I’m sure that based on my previous Kindle and the specifications that it will excel. I believe that reading 1/2 hour a day will let you go a month before needing a charge if Wi-Fi is off. That’s pretty awesome. It is charged via the included USB cable and that can be from your computer or via an AC to USB power adapter, or in-car power port USB adapter.

And don’t worry that the memory has decreased in this Kindle. There is still more than enough memory to hold well over 1000 books. And you archive books too which means they are just a click and a few seconds away from being downloaded back to your Kindle from the Amazon Cloud.

Regarding the ads… they are not objectionable. In fact (don’t tell this to the advertisers) I didn’t even notice that there was an advertisement on the home screen until I deliberately looked for it. It takes up just a small portion of the bottom of the screen and is no taller than an inch in height. I don’t know for sure whether all ads are the same size but the one I’m looking at is very unobtrusive. The screensaver ads are full page and don’t bother me at all. And of course, you may just end up getting a good deal on something. I LIKE the ads. Just today I got a couple from an ad that saves me $5 on a $10 Amazon purchase in addition to my choice of a selected list of Mystery/Thriller books for only $1. Love the deals!

I think Amazon has another winner on its hands with this ad-supported Kindle. You just can’t beat it for reading and I’m so glad I got it.

If you have any questions please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them.

UPDATE: 10/16/2011 – I had the opportunity to compare the display of my new Kindle with that of a friends who had a Kindle with keyboard. I’m not sure how old his is, but his display actually had a somewhat lighter colored background which made the legibility slightly better in my opinion. I was quite happy with the clarity, sharpness and contrast of my new Kindle until I compared with him. Now I’m a little conflicted. It’s still great, don’t get me wrong, But it’s not an improvement necessarily over the previous generation as far as I can tell. It’s also possible that there are variations in the e-ink display depending on the luck of the draw. I may question Amazon about this and will report back here if I do. I’d still get this in a heartbeat, but just wanted to let you know about the contrast issue.

UPDATE: 10/17/2011 – There is a new firmware update for the Kindle that addresses the page refresh issue. The new version is 4.0.1 If installed, you will see an additional option in the Settings panel on page 3 called “Page Refresh.” This allows you to have the Kindle refresh the page at each page turn (the screen flashes black briefly.) Otherwise the Kindle will not refresh the page until after each 5 page turns.

UPDATE: 10/19/2011 – I called Amazon Kindle Support to discuss the screen darkness issue I mentioned above. They said they’d send a replacement which I’ve just received. I’m happy to say that the screen background is in fact -slightly- lighter in color on the new Kindle I just received. I’m happy and probably would have still been happy had I not replaced it. But at least I am psychologically satisfied now. The difference in background color was extremely subtle so I wouldn’t worry at all about it if you are happy with your newly purchased $79 Kindle. However there do seem to be some circulating that are more obviously darker and if yours is one of those, then contact Amazon.

UPDATE: 12/6/2011 – Wow, the way these specials offers are going, this Kindle is going to end up being free. I just got another $10 Amazon gift card for $5 the other day. Plus a free Audible Audiobook and 50% off a Kindle cover. Loving the special offers.

See all 3745 customer reviews…

Nikon 8202 Sportstar Hunting Binoculars Pic

Nikon 8202 Sportstar Hunting Binoculars Image

Nikon 8202 Sportstar Hunting Binoculars Photo

Nikon 8202 Sportstar Hunting Binoculars Pic

See all customer reviews…

Mg B 00910 60 Dia 600mm Telescope Image

Mg B 00910 60 Dia 600mm Telescope Pic

Mg B 00910 60 Dia 600mm Telescope Photo

Mg B 00910 60 Dia 600mm Telescope Pic

1158 of 1187 people found the following review helpful.
Sweet bargain, great performance
By DrZ
I got this HDMI cable for under $10 with shipping just to see whether it will work as well as the expensive ones and it was well worth the risk. I tested it with my upconverting LG DVD player on 1080i resolution on my 42″ 1080p Westinghouse LCD TV (update 2009: now used for Blu-ray from PS3 to 46″ Sony LCD TV) and it works just like any other HDMI cable, including those loud names who charge you ten-fold for “golden plated extra special micro gravity nanotechnology space age wireless high conductivity low noise extra gauge supercalafragilisticexpialidocious” cables with no difference in performance. By buying this cable I avoided the huge “naive citizen tax” included in these products. Considering its price, this is an amazingly good cable.

2588 of 2697 people found the following review helpful.
Works for me and I’m a moron.
By Moviefan
This cable has received a lot of attention on Amazon, so I thought I’d throw in my two cents. I’ll write the most simple review I can:

Me buy this cable. Me plug this cable between Sony PS3 and Philips 42″ LCD TV. Sony PS3 say “HDMI Detected”. TV say picture from source is “HDMI 1080p”. Me point to Monster cables and laugh.

I will now go back to banging coconuts together. Thank you.

965 of 1016 people found the following review helpful.
Why pay out the wazoo when you can get this cable?!?!
By Ten D
OK – here’s the story. I was going to buy a Toshiba HDTV. I had picked it out already and was ready to purchase it and that was when I found a promotion at a local retailer that if I bought a Toshiba HDTV then I can get $200 off of any of the Toshiba HD DVD players. The HDA2 was normally $399 but was on sale for $299 and with the $200 off I got it for $99!! You can’t beat that!

Well, I got that on Tuesday and it was an unexpected purchase. I asked the person at the store how much the HDMI cable would be so that I can hook it up as soon as I get home. He said, it’s a Monster Cable and it costs $124.99! Whoa! I went up to the shelf and saw the sticker that said $124.99 on it and on the sticker it said “Financing Available”! What?! I’m not going to pay more for the cable than I did for the DVD player! These guys are crazy!

I told the guy “You are nuts if you think I’m going to pay that amount” and I logged onto Amazon and purchased this HDMI cable I’m doing the review for. I paid, with shipping, less than $9 for it. I was a little worried about it though – I’m sure that there must be a difference between the $124.99 cable and the $9 cable. So, I took the test. I went and purchased the $124.99 cable (mostly because I was too anxious to try out the new HD DVD player and couldn’t wait for it to arrive). I plugged it in and of course the HD DVD I played looked absolutely amazing! The very next day I got the $9 cable (pretty fast shipping by these guys by the way) and I hooked it up. I was worried what I would find but when I started watching the same HD DVD that I watched the night before on the $124.99 cable I could notice NO DIFFERNCE WHATSOEVER between the two cables’ results. So I returned the $124.99 cable.

You will not be sorry if you purchase this cable over the other ones in the major retailers. Don’t let them tell you “it’s a better quality cable” or anything like that. This cable is built very well – you can just tell when you hold it in your hand that it was made well. You don’t get the fancy plastic packaging that you have to tear into with a knife and cut your fingers on though (oh what a bummer!). Get this cable. It’s great!

The only thing you will want to research is that I have seen in some literature that there are two different kinds of cables. I think there is a special one for 1080p DVD players (dont’ quote me on this). So do your research before purchasing just to make sure that this is the correct “type”. As far as build quality – picture quality, for use with an upconverting DVD player as well as the Toshiba HDA2 HD DVD player, it’s an absolute steal.

See all 5665 customer reviews…

Vwr Vistavision Stereo Microscopes 11389 133 Pic

Vwr Vistavision Stereo Microscopes 11389 133 Image

Vwr Vistavision Stereo Microscopes 11389 133 Pic

Vwr Vistavision Stereo Microscopes 11389 133 Photo

7377 of 7506 people found the following review helpful.
Fantastic device – pick your Kindle!
By FreeSpirit
Having been a little overwhelmed by the choices between all the new Kindles and which one to get, I ordered this new basic $79 Kindle first to take for a spin. So far, I like what I see. I also own a Kindle 3 so that’s the only device I can really compare it to at this time (I think a comparison between other tablets and this Kindle is meaningless, this device is all about content and delivery):

1. Form-factor – Compared to the Kindle 3, this Kindle feels more compact, lighter and easier to hold. My hands wrap around this better than K3. Reading books for a few hours at a stretch will be easier on this device compared to the K3. It is the lightest such device I have used compared to all previous Kindles and other tablets.

2. Screen – I personally like the fact that there are no keys on the device and that keys come up on the screen when you need them. Delivers a better overall reading experience. However, navigating through the on-screen keyboard with the 5-way controller can be taxing if you need to do a lot of searching, and you might miss the full physical keyboard. I hardly search on the Kindle itself, I search for books on my laptop so this is a non-issue.

3. Price! – At $79, you can’t go wrong. Compared to buying paperback or hardcover editions, you will recover the cost of this in a matter of a few months because most Kindle content is priced cheaper than print editions (and you get it instantly, and can access it wherever you are). Not to mention all the free Kindle downloads available in the catalog.

4. Display – almost the same E-ink display at the K3. No glare no reflection. You can sit in bright sunlight and read it just like a book. Page turns seem a lot faster on this compared to the K3. Screen size of the Kindle 3, this new Kindle, and the Touch is exactly the same in size.

5. Wi-Fi – this can be a pro or a con (no 3G) depending on a user’s personal preference. If you travel often and would like to be able to download content anywhere without worrying about getting a wi-fi connection, you’re better off sticking with the K3 or waiting for the Touch/Fire. For me, 3G is not a major issue.

6. Text to Speech and Audiobooks – These two features are lacking in this device. I personally have never used these features on my K3. If you listen to audiobooks or TTS or music on your Kindle, again the K3/Touch/Fire might be better options.

7. Storage – this device can store 2GB which they claim is approximately 1400 books. For me, that’s a massive storage capacity and it will be years before I get close to that capacity. Again, if you download books occasionally and have a moderate Kindle downloaded content on your device, 2GB is plenty. Of course, think ahead and see how much you would expect to download in the coming 2 years (I am assuming the device will be outdated and replaced within this time-frame).

8. Battery life – too early to tell but Kindle battery life tends to be great. Specs state that the battery life of this device is 1 month compared to 2 months for the Touch or K3. 1 month is plenty (Android phones need to be charged every hour!). At least I know that if I’m going on a long flight, this device won’t need charging if I charge it up in advance.

9. Power adapter – this Kindle does not come with a power adapter, only a USB charging cable. You can either buy it separately for $8-10, or use your existing USB power adapter. Any USB adapter would work with the charging cable (previous Kindle versions, Apple’s portable devices, and most HTC phones, come with a standard USB power adapter that would work for this device). There are also plenty of $2-3 adapters available here if you search for USB chargers.

Bottom line – the choice between this basic Kindle, the K3 Keyboard, the Touch, and the Fire is really a personal preference. This device itself is meant for the minimalist Kindle user who, like me, reads say a 2-3 books a month, wants a device comfortable to hold, and doesn’t need any fancy bells and whistles on the device. I guess it depends on what you use your Kindle for. If it’s just the basics, this is the perfect device to get.

In my humble opinion, the choices:

(i) If you have a DX or an old Kindle version, or if you don’t have a Kindle yet and are an average book-reader, this is definitely the one to get – baseline model that is affordable and is a pure e-reader.

(ii) If you have Kindle 3 and don’t really need an upgrade, I recommend sticking with the K3, it’s a better device than this one in terms of features. If you do need to upgrade, the Touch is probably a better option because of all the additional features, at a small incremental cost.

(iii) If you’re looking for the loaded full-on Amazon content experience with access to all the apps, streaming audio and video, and playing the “strangely therapeutic” Fruit Ninja, wait for the Fire!

I sincerely hope this review helps you decide whether this Kindle is right for you. If you are still unable to make a decision, it may be worthwhile to wait for the Touch and Fire to be released, and see the reviews on those devices before making a final decision.

2896 of 2969 people found the following review helpful.
Facts to Consider when Buying This Kindle Instead of Others
By J. Ts
First off, I received my new Kindle this morning. I previously owned the Kindle Keyboard, but actually really didn’t like the keyboard or the way the buttons were pressed together. I’m not a fan of touch screens so I bought this one.

There are a few things to know about this particular Kindle that can help you decide if it’s right for you…

Here is a list of things to know about this Kindle.

1. You’ll be using an onscreen keyboard with the 5-Way Controller. This is not a problem for setting up WiFi and a little writing but if you are an avid note-taker or do a lot of writing with your Kindle, you might want to opt for the Kindle Keyboard.
2. NO AUDIO – If you are planning on listening to audiobooks, Mp3s, or Text to Speech on your Kindle, this is not the device for you. There is not even a headphone jack, so there is absolutely no audio support.
3. 2GB! This device has 2GB of storage, which is half of all the others… if you seriously need to keep over 1,400 books or so on your Kindle, you should opt for one of the others, all of which have 4GB. I only keep a hundred or so books on mine and the rest are up in the Amazon Cloud waiting for convenient download.
4. There’s no 3G version but the WiFi works just fine.
5. There is a shorter battery life. Amazon reports the battery life is only one month of reading, compared with the others that clock in at two months. If you are going to be away from electricity for over a month, first of all RESPECT!, second of all, you may want a Kindle that has the 2 month battery life.
6. It’s lighter than all the other versions. It weighs in at just under 6oz (170g). The closest competition is the Kindle Touch which is about 7.5oz.
7. It has 5 buttons on the face at the bottom. In the middle is the big 5-Way Controller button as found on other Kindles. There are two small buttons on either side of this. On the left side, from left to right are the “Back” button and the “Keyboard” button. The “Back” button is the same as on other Kindles. The “Keyboard” button calls the onscreen keyboard onto the screen. On the right side of the 5-Way Controller are (again, from left to right) the “Menu” button, and the “Home” button. The “Next Page” and “Previous Page” buttons are the same as on other Kindles.
8. Because of the above 5 buttons, I find it much easier to use than the Kindle Keyboard. On the Kindle Keyboard, the “Back” button was right below the 5-Way Controller, and I accidentally hit it on more than one occasion.
9. On the bottom there is only the mini-USB port, the charging light, and the On-Off Button.
10. There are not a whole lot of covers available for this Kindle yet. (Amazon’s won’t be available until the end of October.)

As for reading, and as a pure reading device. It is awesome… in fact, without the keyboard, audio, and other features I don’t need. This is actually the best one for someone like me who just wants to read.

I’ve already successfully transferred my library, downloaded books over WiFi, and borrowed library books through the Overdrive Library eBooks System. My only small point of dissatisfaction is that there are so few good covers and accessories right now (though there ARE some available that look pretty good).

All in all, I believe this is the BEST of all the Kindles currently available. Only consider others if you:
a. Really want the touch screen version.
b. Need audio.
c. Need 4GB
d. Need a big Kindle DX.
e. Take a lot of notes or do a lot of writing that requires a keyboard.
f. Prefer the design of another version.
g. Need more than a month’s battery power.

Hope this helps someone make a good decision!

(Brief update: I love this Kindle, but right now the scarcity of good, inexpensive covers for it is a little troubling. The Amazon made leather one with light won’t be available until November or so and there are currently no inexpensive ones to use in the interim. I’ll just have to use it gently for a month or so.)

Update on cases:
I mentioned this in the comments section, but I’ll repeat it here for people who can’t yet find a good case -

Checking the specifications for the Kindle, Nook Touch, and Kobo:
Nook Touch
6.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
Kobo Reader
6.5 X 4.5 inches
Kindle (4th Generation)
6.5 x 4.5 x 0.34 inches

It looks like the Kobo is about exactly the same size and the Nook Touch is slightly longer. If you need a case but can’t find one that you like yet, it may be worth a little hunting to see if a nook or kobo case or cover might fit the bill.

1126 of 1190 people found the following review helpful.
The most compact Kindle yet. Extremely legible display, snappy performance
By M. Erb
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RWG7OQ5NMGUMW I was thrilled to receive my new Kindle. I ordered it Sep 28, chose overnight shipping and it arrived (Sep 29) just a few minutes ago. Usually I use a device for a while before reviewing it. In this case, I felt it was important to do a quick review right away because if it can help you in your purchasing decision, so much the better.

If you are a little perplexed with all the various Kindle models and are wondering if this Is the Kindle for you, here are a few questions for you to consider…

1. Do you need text to speech capability or have the desire to listen to mp3′s on your Kindle? If you can live without that, then proceed. This Kindle does not have a speaker thus is not capable of text to speech or playing sounds of any kind including mp3′s.

2. Is color important to you? This is not a color Kindle, it is gray-scale. If you are mostly wanting to read books then this will work for you exceedingly well. The e-ink screen is gorgeous, sharp and provides the ability to change font size, font face and line spacing. It even displays photos quite nicely, but in gray-scale. And you can even zoom in on images.

3. Is a physical keyboard a necessity for you? If you like to make notes and annotations while reading, you may want to look at another model Kindle that has a physical keyboard. Although this Kindle has a screen-based keyboard, it is tedious to type more than a few words or URL’s. It works very well for minimal typing but it’s not for you if you need more than that.

4. Is compact size important for you? Then this is the one to get. It’s thin, light and diminutive in size. Slips easily into a purse, pocket or inside pocket. It is so light which makes holding and reading with one hand for longer periods of time very easy.

5. Do you want to be able to occasionally use a web browser to access a web site? Well surprise surprise, you can do that on this Kindle. It’s an “experimental” feature but it works quite well. It’s been experimental for years, so I’m not quite sure why it’s still labeled experimental. But in any case you can visit websites, save bookmarks and it works.

I also own the original Kindle with the SD card slot. Compared to the original Kindle, this new one is svelte. Thinner, lighter and notably, the e-ink on this new Kindle is vastly improved. In low interior lighting with gray overcast lighting outside, I’m able to easily read the Kindle. It is amazing how the screen almost glows, as if it were backlit. Of course it is not backlit and in fact will not work in the dark. But if you have a small reading light, that solves that problem. Otherwise in most other situations you will pleased with the excellent sharpness and clarity of the Kindle text.

Page “turning” was very snappy to me especially when compared to my old Kindle. The black page flash that occurs on every page turn on the old Kindle does not occur nearly as frequently with the new Kindle. It now occurs after every 5 page turns.

The fact that there is no physical keyboard means that this Kindle is absolutely the easiest to carry Kindle ever. Fits nicely in the hand and the slightly grippy surface makes you feel secure in holding it… it will not easily slip out of your hand.

Setup was a breeze. The Kindle immediately identified my Wi-Fi network and as soon as I entered my password using the onscreen keyboard, I was good to go. Signal strength indicated very high on the Kindle and I did not notice any degradation in signal no matter how I handled it.

As concerns the onscreen keyboard, it was easy and intuitive to use. I don’t expect to have to use it very often and for me I’d rather have no physical keyboard because that makes the Kindle smaller and easier to pack and go.

You still get the typical Kindle tools, such as Highlighting, Notes, Annotations, Public Notes and a few others. You can upload PDF and TXT files and view them. You can easily transfer prior Kindle purchases to your new Kindle. You have the ability to create “collections” Once you’ve created a collection, you add items to it and this is a great way to organize many books.

I have not had this model long enough to comment on battery life, but I’m sure that based on my previous Kindle and the specifications that it will excel. I believe that reading 1/2 hour a day will let you go a month before needing a charge if Wi-Fi is off. That’s pretty awesome. It is charged via the included USB cable and that can be from your computer or via an AC to USB power adapter, or in-car power port USB adapter.

And don’t worry that the memory has decreased in this Kindle. There is still more than enough memory to hold well over 1000 books. And you archive books too which means they are just a click and a few seconds away from being downloaded back to your Kindle from the Amazon Cloud.

Regarding the ads… they are not objectionable. In fact (don’t tell this to the advertisers) I didn’t even notice that there was an advertisement on the home screen until I deliberately looked for it. It takes up just a small portion of the bottom of the screen and is no taller than an inch in height. I don’t know for sure whether all ads are the same size but the one I’m looking at is very unobtrusive. The screensaver ads are full page and don’t bother me at all. And of course, you may just end up getting a good deal on something. I LIKE the ads. Just today I got a couple from an ad that saves me $5 on a $10 Amazon purchase in addition to my choice of a selected list of Mystery/Thriller books for only $1. Love the deals!

I think Amazon has another winner on its hands with this ad-supported Kindle. You just can’t beat it for reading and I’m so glad I got it.

If you have any questions please leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer them.

UPDATE: 10/16/2011 – I had the opportunity to compare the display of my new Kindle with that of a friends who had a Kindle with keyboard. I’m not sure how old his is, but his display actually had a somewhat lighter colored background which made the legibility slightly better in my opinion. I was quite happy with the clarity, sharpness and contrast of my new Kindle until I compared with him. Now I’m a little conflicted. It’s still great, don’t get me wrong, But it’s not an improvement necessarily over the previous generation as far as I can tell. It’s also possible that there are variations in the e-ink display depending on the luck of the draw. I may question Amazon about this and will report back here if I do. I’d still get this in a heartbeat, but just wanted to let you know about the contrast issue.

UPDATE: 10/17/2011 – There is a new firmware update for the Kindle that addresses the page refresh issue. The new version is 4.0.1 If installed, you will see an additional option in the Settings panel on page 3 called “Page Refresh.” This allows you to have the Kindle refresh the page at each page turn (the screen flashes black briefly.) Otherwise the Kindle will not refresh the page until after each 5 page turns.

UPDATE: 10/19/2011 – I called Amazon Kindle Support to discuss the screen darkness issue I mentioned above. They said they’d send a replacement which I’ve just received. I’m happy to say that the screen background is in fact -slightly- lighter in color on the new Kindle I just received. I’m happy and probably would have still been happy had I not replaced it. But at least I am psychologically satisfied now. The difference in background color was extremely subtle so I wouldn’t worry at all about it if you are happy with your newly purchased $79 Kindle. However there do seem to be some circulating that are more obviously darker and if yours is one of those, then contact Amazon.

UPDATE: 12/6/2011 – Wow, the way these specials offers are going, this Kindle is going to end up being free. I just got another $10 Amazon gift card for $5 the other day. Plus a free Audible Audiobook and 50% off a Kindle cover. Loving the special offers.

See all 3732 customer reviews…