Electronics Consumer Reviews

2008 Ebay change

2008-02-05T23:43:00.000-08:00

This past week in Washington D.C. Ebay held the 2008 ecommerce conference for power sellers, announcing changes in Ebay. My last post regarding Ebay power sellers and digital corp got a lot of exposure, so I think it's relevant to mention the recent changes in Ebay. The most important difference in Ebay will be its CEO the current CEO Meg Whitman will be replaced be John Donahoe. The other topics and issues that were reported to have been mentioned at the conference were "Best Match" and "DSR" scores. These 2008 Ebay topics can be found on the ebay site.

There are several electronics sellers on Ebay, including Digitalcorp (the seller mentioned in the previous post), that are concerned about these changes. Sellers agree that these changes are creating buyers with unreasonable expectations in their sellers. This is an interesting point, because many electronics sellers are dealing in high volume, quick sale merchandise that jumps off the shelves. My researched proved that it's often the case electronics companies must go through several internal changes to meet ebay standards. Therefore, online retailers can suffer in their feedback when in reality their services are perfect and reliable.

Digitalcorp

2008-02-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

In my neighborhood, I'm the camera and electronics guy that everyone asks, "where should I buy my digital camera?" I'm hesitant to answer this question, because bad experiences can happen wherever someone goes to buy something. I don't want to send somebody to a site and they catch someone on the other end of the line who is having a bad day. That being said, I do send people to a few places where I've had good experiences.

I'm a big fan of Best Buy stores. I think it's a great place to go and see what you like. You can get a hands on look at all their electronics. Before you buy, check the same products online to see if you can get a better prices. Don't be to quick to buy in the stores, you can get a much better deal on electronics on the Internet. There are even cheap electronics and digital camera low cost prices on Ebay.

This week in the news Ebay got a lot of press, when Meg Whitman announced she will be stepping down as cheif executive. There was an article in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Here's an overview about Ebay's new leadership. Although Ebay is changing its leaders, the auction site thrives with sellers reaching Power Seller status. I dealt with several such as digitalcorp a power seller on Ebay. I read some negative comments about Digitalcorp ; however, I only had positive experiences when buying from digitalcorp on Ebay. I had a great experiences when I bought I camera package from digitalcorp. This goes to show you why I don't reccomend where to buy, because I can think a site or seller is great and someone else thinks otherwise. There are several other sellers out there such as stingray, electronicsking, digitalcameraman, check Ebay to find one that has the products you're looking for online. What do you have to say?

Bottom line, buy online and check your options.

Here's a clip about an Ebay seller...

Canon Rebel XTi Blogger Review

2008-01-14T20:38:00.000-08:00

I’m back after a trip to New York City and there I had a chance to visit B and H Photo. While I was there, I checked out all kinds of digital cameras, video equipment, and other electronics. It’s a great place to go see when you’re in New York City. So, now that I got to see all these new digital gadgets, I’ll be writing more for on my Electronics Consumer Reviews blog.

The first thing I checked out was a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi. This is a very cool digital camera. I wanted to buy it, but I already own too many digital cameras. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi has amazing performance features and it's easy to use. This makes it a great value.

I’m a big fan of Canon digital products and this one is no exception. It has a newly designed 10.1 MP Canon CMOS sensor and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor. I think the size and handling of this camera is perfect for any user. It’s very lightweight and would be perfect for capturing family pictures on a trip.

The price at B and H Photo was good, but some research at various online stores proved that web prices are often better than in stores. I looked on Amazon and Ebay and found great deals. There are many digital camera ebay sellers that offers cheap prices. I’ve had a lot of luck buying discount digital cameras online. It’s important that you be comfortable when buying digital cameras on the web and get what you want.

If you can go to New York and check out B and H Photo and see the Canon Rebel XTi for yourself, do it. Most of you won’t go, so online is where you get your information. Do some research and you’ll find that the Canon EOS Rebel XTi is an excellent digital camera. You might even be able to find some discount digital cameras online.

Take a look and this Canon Rebel video and you’ll see how good this camera is in action.

Canon 40D Digital Camera Review

2007-12-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

Canon like Nikon is a brand name that you can trust and those names stand for photography. Actually, the first photos I ever took were from a 35mm film Canon camera. It was an AE-1 built in the late seventies. The new Canon 40D is an amazing new breed of digital camera.

The Canon EOS 40D has a newly enhanced, 10.1-megapixel CMOS imaging sensor (designed and manufactured by Canon). I took a few test shots and could easily recognize the quality that this system creates. The proprietary and super-efficient DIGIC III image processor allows the Canon 40D to deliver incredible photographs. Its completely redesigned auto-focus sensor and fast, 6.5 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images), allow the EOS 40D SLR to provide excellent functionality and simplistic options.

The most impressive from the short list of features I just mentioned is the fast 6.5fps. I tested the Canon EOS 40D outside and was able to capture movement of cars and birds flying overhead. This will be very useful if you’re trying to photograph children. The Canon 40D shocked me with the quality that it delivers at those fast speeds. Let’s be honest, this type of performance is usually only available to pros, now even an amateur can capture professional images.

Watch this clip and you'll see the real speed...

The speed of the EOS 40D SLR comes from Canon's balanced combination of its latest processor, DIGIC IIII, DDR SDRAM high-speed memory, four-channel-per-line sensor readout, and two separate motors for shutter and mirror operation.

I'm really impressed with this Canon EOS 40D and would highly recommend this digital camera. It's not easy to pick between this and the Nikon. I've found that photographers are either loyal Canon people or Nikon people. I'm a Canon person. So, when I'm ready to buy it will likely be a Canon. The Canon 40D is a digital camera worth every dollar.

After watching this commercial for the Canon 40D you'll understand...

Nikon D80 Digital Camera Review

2007-12-26T21:40:00.000-08:00

The other day I was at my friend Rina’s house and we were talking about my electronics consumer reviews blog. She's a big fan of what I'm doing and offered to help. She mentioned that digital cameras should be a major focus of this project. I agreed. Rina suggested that I write about her new Nikon D80 digital camera. I know a lot about digital cameras and some of my friends even consider me an expert on the subject.

The only problem is that I don’t have enough funds to continue to buy the most recent digital cameras or electronics. So, I depend on my friends and test their new digital cameras or electronic devices when they buy something. That way I can test out and use the various digital cameras. Let’s stick with the subject at hand, the Nikon D80 digital camera.

Rina took the Nikon D80 digital camera out of her carrying case slowly and had a big grin on her face. I was smiling as well because I read about all the cool features and specs about the Nikon D80. The most impressive feature to speak about is that the Nikon D80 digital camera is TEN (10.2) MEGAPIXELS. This significant improvement in quality is compacted into a smaller more efficient model than previous D series cameras. Rina was quick to show me how she loved the small light weight improvements to her older Nikon models. She joked that it goes up in model numbers but down in size and weight.

Here's a short list of features that are packed into the Nikon D80 digital camera…

10.2 Megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor: Effectively optimized by Nikon to deliver a wide dynamic range, producing outstanding images with high resolution and vivid detail yielding 3,872 x 2,592-pixel files.

New high-resolution Nikon image-processing engine: New 12- bit Image Processing Engine combines color independent analog pre-conditioning with improved image processing algorithms.

Instant 0.18 sec. start-up with fast 80ms shutter response. With a power-up time of a mere 0.18 seconds and a shutter release time lag of only 80ms, responsiveness is extraordinary.

Continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per second and up to 100 consecutive JPEG images: Fast framing rates contribute to the ability to capture moments in time instantly. Sophisticated systems throughout the D80, including high-speed buffer memory handling, fast image processing, high-speed memory card access and large system bus bandwidth help make this possible.

Up to 2,700 images per battery charge: High-Efficiency power systems featuring reduced power consumption and Real-Time Fuel Gauge with Nikon's EN-EL3e Lithium Ion rechargeable battery.

There are so many cool new features. I could have listed them all but why do that when you can watch a great video...

The one key feature that Rina was telling me about is how easy the Nikon D80 was to use. She told me that the Nikon D80 digital camera took her a few days to learn all the functions. Trust me, if she can do it so can you. Here's an example of another female that loves the Nikon D80, it sounds like she's from the UK - love the accent.

I can tell you that based on what I saw of the Nikon D80 at Rina's house is that it really delivers everything it promises. I'm not ready to buy another digital camera, but if I were to buy one now it would be the Nikon D80. Just when you think there's nothing more that could be done in the digital camera world, investigate the Nikon D80 - it's an amazing digital camera.

Denon AVR-2808ci 2808 CI Review

2007-12-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

When buying electronics from the Internet it’s important to research the products before finding that great deal on Ebay. This blog will assist you in that research regarding various popular electronics. The first product review is about the Denon AVR 2808 CI AV receiver. I have to be honest, Denon really created an amazing receiver for the new era. The Denon AVR 2808 CI AV receiver is not your father’s 8 track system.

The Denon AVR-2808CI AV receiver is a system that delivers maximum technology and QUALITY for the dollar. The functionality of this Denon model is user friendly and simple. With a name like Denon 2808 CI most novices would assume it’s difficult to figure out how to operate, but that’s not the case. The Denon AVR-2808CI is easy to use and the new graphical interface is spectacular. There are many different interfaces in the electronics industry; the Denon system is very cool and intuitive.

Today, there are several formats that a receiver must be able to recognize. Electronics are very specialized and digital files are unique to some hardware and software. The Denon AVR-2808CI AV receiver is an electronic system that can read MP3, WMA, FLAC and AAC. Many receivers can handle those formats; however, the Denon AVR 2808 CI AV receiver stands out amongst its competition. Denon is a name that stands for superior sound quality and excellent durability. I’m more than satisfied with my Denon AVR 2808 and I’m confident you’ll be happy with your purchase.

The Denon AVR-2808CI has a "three-zone, three-source" capability, so you can have a different sources playing in three separate zones. This is one of the most important features when considering including this system in a home. The versatility is a tremendous positive of the Denon 2808. The Denon 2808 CI also includes decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. I did some research and found that these are two of the new high-resolution audio formats available on HD DVD. The DVD industry is still new when it comes to the format, but this system is geared to handle even Blu-ray discs. The Denon 2808 will usher in the future of sound.

The Denon AVR-2808CI has a suggested retail price of $1,200. There is no reason to pay the retail price tag for this item. I got mine for much cheaper on Ebay. There are a lot of electronics at discount prices on Ebay and on websites. When buying expensive electronics at high prices it’s important to deal with a seller on Ebay with a high feedback score. I got mine from Digitalcorp http://stores.ebay.com/digitalcorp , the transaction was smooth and quick. There are mine other sellers, but I can only speak of my own experience buying electronics online. The best thing is to do research and check out the sellers website, sometimes there are better deals. I researched their site and liked what I saw - http://www.shopdigitalcorp.com/.

Here's a list of features that are listed in the Denon 2808ci user manual -

Features and Specs:New front panel design, controls and lettering Equal power amplifiers: 7-channel Power output (watts per channel @ 8 ohms, 20hz to 20kHz): 110 All channels rated @ 0.05 THD Low impedance drive capability High-current/discrete amplifiers Independent power transformers: 2 DSP Processors - Analog Devices, SHARC: ADSP 21366 x 1, 21367 x 1 Processor design: 32-bit floating point Processor circuit sampling frequency: 192kHz Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital+ Decoding, dts-HD Master Audio Decoding THX Surround EX and Dolby Digital Surround EX decoding Dolby Pro Logic IIx, with Cinema, Music and Game modes dts ES Discrete 6.1 and dts ES Matrix 6.1 decoding dts Neo:6 Stereo-to-Surround Cinema and Music modes dts 96/24 5.1 for DVD-Video processing XM-HD 5.1 via Neural Surround decoding Compressed Audio Restorer for portables/iPods/network audio Audyssey MultiEQ XT auto setup calibration and room correction for 6 seatingpositions Auto setup microphone included: New Y/Mold type AL24+ Processing on front left and right channels 24-bit/192kHz DACs: DSD1608 Analog-to-Digital conversion: 24/192 PCM1804 Variable High/Low Pass crossover points (12/24dB):40/60/80/100/120/150/200/250 Assignable digital inputs iPod ready with a Denon D-dock USB Port for portable music players/flash drives/HDD with command andcontrol functionality XM Satellite Radio ready - "Mini-Tuner" compatible Multi-source/Zone discrete tuner select function - AM/FM/XM HDMI 1.3a Repeater Inputs/Outputs - supports 1080p, 36-bit Deep Color, xvYCCColor Space, Auto Lip Sync correction, 7.1 uncompressed 24/96 Audio, SACD Analog to HDMI Video Conversion/Scaling: 480p/720p/1080i/1080p Faroudja DCDi Video Processing and Scaling (FLI02310) Main Zone Video Encoder: Analog Devices ADV7320 12-bit Main Zone Video Decoder: Analog Devices ADV7403 12-bit NSV - Noise Shaped Video processing Digital Inputs: 3 coaxial, 4 optical Digital Outputs: 2 optical (assignable) Digital-to-Analog REC Out Analog Audio Inputs (including Tuner): 10 Phono Input Analog Record Outputs: 3 Front Panel A/V Inputs w/Cover: Composite, S-Video and Optical Independent Video Conversion: S-Video to Composite for Zone 2 Composite Video Inputs: 7 Composite Video Outputs: 3 S-Video Inputs: 7 S-Video Outputs: 3 Component Video Inputs x bandwidth (assignable): 3 x 100 Component Video Outputs (parallel main zone): 2 Discrete second zone Component Video Outputs RS-232 Port for third-party controllers and new Denon 2-way Remote Controland RF/IR Base Station 3-source, 3-zone capability D/A conversion for multi-zone outputs (Optical, Coaxial and PCM signal only)Enhanced Power Amplifier assign for multi-zone or bi-amping: 4 modes Compatible with optional RC-7000/7001CI IR/RF 2-way Remote/Base Station Dimensions (W x H x D in inches): 17.1 x 6.7 x 16.9 Weight: 30.9 lbs.

I hope this post was informative and helpful. There are more to come regarding electronics and digital cameras.