Joined on 11/15/05
Plug-and-Play Perfect
Pros: out-of-the-box perfect... no software needed with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, works perfectly with Image Capture without installing "proprietary software" from the CD... love that it's power-over-USB so theres no extra cord mess... lightweight and quite portable... supports scanning in Millions of colors or Billions of colors
Cons: a bit of buzz from the scan motor, but no worse than any other similar scanner... wish the lid was slightly heavier to hold down bowed or bent photos and pages, but about the same as similar scan lids.... wish there was a white version to match my iMac.
Overall Review: I wish this came in an 11"x17" version for larger scans or more scans-per-pass since I use Image Capture's "Detect Separate Items" feature to scan multiple photos at once. Scanning photos IS my business and this gem is a great new addition to my hardware lineup.
cheap is the only positive
Pros: cheap, good (not great) if you use the flash, boots up quickly
Cons: impossible to focus indoors without the flash, since anything higher than ISO-80 overexposes the image, doesnt hold flash/facedetect last used settings
Overall Review: its ok for outdoor bright daylight, it stinks for indoors at any time and the video overexposes, cell phones with worse cameras take better video... bought at a retail store and ther revies were misleading
Another Winner
Pros: Perfectly Continuous Burst mode which is wht i tend to shoot in, Awesome focus with the Macro settings, Great Quick Boot Time, Great 8x Optical Zoom, Good in low light, even outdoors at night (have not tried star shots.)
Cons: Tripod mount all the way to one side, so not sturdy on Mini/Tabletop Tripods, Proprietary Rechargeable Battery Pack*, Not enough Hand Grip (I Keep blocking the flash)
Overall Review: This was purchased to replace an older Lumix model (DMC-LZ5) which was a 6MP Dream, with a thicker body and good hand grip, almost like a mini-DSLR in shape, this could use some more hand grip and the ability to use regular batteries, but otherwise it's an amazing camera. *The Battery Pack Charger is a hot-swap style, so the battery comes out of the camera and goes in the charger base, since you don't have to (can't) have the battery in the camera to charge it, it's easy to buy one or more additional batteries and keep them with you on the go if needed. Also I love that it is physical toggle switches for the Power and Cam/Review switch, I tend to put the camera in my back pocket as i walk and they're less likely to both get switched on, so since the lens stays retracted if powered on in review mode, i dont risk harming the lens motors.
Sturdy & Hard to Beat
Pros: Durable Leatherette ear pads means no flaking foam, good sound, well driven by iPods and computers. lightweight
Cons: ears may start to hurt if you wear them 6+ hours. not the best sound but great overall range for the price (*to note, user listens to high-pitched Asian music, not American rock or classical, range subject to user's musical tastes)
Overall Review: because they fold flat in only one direction they have just the angle i need for my forward-sticking ears rather than most that try to plaster your ears to the side of your head, also since they twist back to lay flat its easy to tell which is right and left ear without having to look at the labels. also since they're not overly huge or gaudy they're not too bad to be seen wearing in public
Worth it's Weight in Gold
Pros: Light, Small, Great short cord for notebooks, wears smoothly and works for years after the Teflon pads are gone, tracks on nearly any surface, great price, immortal amounts of lifespan
Cons: after 4 years the scroll wheel clicks a bit loudly... but is still totally usable
Overall Review: Mine still great after 4 years of heavy gaming and graphics program use. would rate it a 100 if i could... Single best computer accessory anyone has ever made.