mrbill

Pros:

This is a nice solid little knife. It is quite lightweight, and very small when folded. It also includes a little clip on the side to stay put on the lip of your pocket. The blade is razor sharp - no sharpening was needed

Cons:

I find it a bit fiddly to open and close. The locking mechanism is quite nifty, but it is certainly not a knife you can open one-handed.

Other Thoughts:

This knife is very lightweight and small - can easiliy fit in a pocket and not bother you at all.

Bottomline:

Very cute - would make a nice gift. Comes in a nice box too. Lightweight, sharp, and a nifty locking mechanism.

Pros:

This is a nice knife - quite small, yet when open feels very good in the hand. The shape of the handle and the finger indentations and short strong blade make this knife ideal for hunting (i.e. gutting an animal), or for more pratical uses - opening boxes.

Cons:

None really - this is probably the most solid knife i've had from DX. If there is one downside, i'd say it is the locking/unlocking mechanism which uses a spring. I can see this being a single point of failure in the future.

Bottomline:

This knife may not suit everyone due to the size and shape. It is nevertheless a very solid feeling knife.

Pros:

Very very bright. This is far brighter than my AA powered 606A Q5 unit (as you would expect). Very solid feel - feels like a $50 flashlight.
Glass lens, and aluminium reflector.
It lights up the fence at the bottom of my garden - around 150 feet.

Cons:

The batteries do rattle inside a bit - but nothing that bothers me. I suppose you could wrap some tape around the batteries to prevent this if it bothered you.
I think this unit is a little bit expensive - it would be nice if it were more like $35. I suppose you can't have everything :-)

Bottomline:

Although this light with rechargeable batteries and the re-charger is alot to pay for just a 'flashlight' - I think it is worthwhile if you're looking for something bright.

Pros:

Nice product. Well packaged in a retail pack. Nice selection of colours, and very strong bond. Was delivered in two packs of 5.

Cons:

I think a bit expensive for what it is. I would like to see 50 of these sold loose for similar money. I suspect a large part of the cost of this item is the P&P and retail packaging.

Other Thoughts:

Still good value regardless - very colourful, and the velcro is very strong.
I wouldn't mind seeing larger/longer versions of this product too.

Bottomline:

These are decent value for money - do not hesitate.

Pros:

I have a Kettler exercise bicycle which has a heart rate monitor. My kids got hold of it and broke the monitor. I saw this and was unsure if it was going to work, but for $3.50, it was worth a try - and it DOES WORK! I didn't even bother finding out how much a replacement from Kettler would be - i'm sure over $20.

Cons:

Maybe could be a bit bigger with a longer cable - but to be honest it is fine.

Other Thoughts:

I know my use of this was unique, but if you are in a similar situation, it may be worth trying.

Bottomline:

If you need a replacement heart monitor for your exercise bicycle - this is worth trying. If it is a Kettler with a 3.5mm jack for the monitor - this will probably work.

Pros:

Cleans up solder tips very well.
Package seems small, but a little goes a long way.
It has a little stick pad on the bottom - i've affixed this to the base of my soldering iron so it does not get lost, and is always ready to use.

Cons:

None really - this product does the job. I suppose it could be cheaper.

Bottomline:

If you do any amount of soldering, then you need this product. It is a bit like flux, and solder - everyone who solders should have this as a standard tool.
Oxidized tips do not transfer heat well, and you could end up damaging whatever you are soldering because of this.

Pros:

Well packaged.
Instructions:
1) Clean your screen very well with a dust-free cloth or microfibre cloth.
2) Remove the protective paper from the back of the screen protector, and the surrounding bit of paper on the sticky edge.
3) Carefully place the screen protector on your camera screen. Rub the edges of the protector with your microfibre cloth to make sure it sticks properly.
This protector fits the 40D perfectly.
The sticky pad which adheres to the orignal screen has quite a bit of 'give' in it - it appears to be made of sticky foam.
The sticky materials and protective plastic appear to be 3M branded - so it is good quality.

Cons:

Instructions only in Chinese!
Seems expensive for what it is.

Bottomline:

If you want a screen protector get this one. I only wish Canon had the facility for the plastic snap on protectors like Nikon.

Pros:

Has a wide range of temperatures
Long metal probe.
Adjusts for C and F

Cons:

Doesn't acquire temperature straight away - seems to probe at 2 second intervals, and takes about 15-20 seconds to get the final temperature. This might be because the temperature probe is inside a metal sheath which takes time to heat up and/or cool down to the correct temperature.

Bottomline:

Overall, for the money, this is not a bad temperature probe. I will be using it for food - just got to keep in mind that it is a bit slow.

Pros:

Works as described - remote shutter.
Supports half-press focus, plus full-press to take the shot. Also has an option to keep the shutter depressed without any user intervention (handy for long exposures)

Cons:

It would have been nice if the cable was a bit longer, and if the button felt more like the cameras shutter - with a tactile feel of when you are half-pressed and fully pressed down. At the moment it is a bit soft - but for the money I can't complain.

Bottomline:

If you want an occasional or hobbyist cable remote shutter - you can't go wrong with this.
I used it with my 40D with no problems.

Pros:

Does what it says - it measures very accurately whatever is between the little metal pins :-)
Supports both inches and centimeters.

Cons:

The slide could be a bit smoother. Batteries which shipped with the unit were low - but it shipped with spare batteries, so I just replaced them.
Manual was for several different models - It was a bit confusing to figure out which one you had.

Bottomline:

If you need a caliper measuring device for low cost, then you could not go wrong with this.
I'm fairly happy with my purchase - i'm sure you will be too.

Pros:

This is my first LED flashlight and i'm quite impressed. It is small enough to be compact, but still fits nicely in the hand (with the AA battery extension). I am using NiMH AA batteries.
This light is very very bright. I'm not used to such bright white light (but i'm sure I will!)
Clicky at the bottom works well, and the threads unscrew very smoothly and nicely. There appear to be rubber O-rings at each point - so fairly weatherproof.

Cons:

None really - this is a really nice light. Perhaps it would be nice to have a more robust clicky.

Other Thoughts:

I can see myself becoming a flashlight junkie after this. I think I will need bigger and brighter for sure.

Bottomline:

Buy one - you will not regret it. If you just want one flashlight - this is the one to get.

Pros:

This pen does what it says - covert recording. The picture quality is excellent. The sound quality is passable - not brilliant - but good enough. Has a timestamp embedded video - with a bit of configuration, you can set this timestamp as mentioned in other reviews.

Cons:

No documentation whatsoever. I'm fairly sure there must be alot of settings one could set in the userinfo.txt file - but they are unknown.
Battery does not appear to be replaceable.

Bottomline:

If you need a covert DVR camera - then this is the one for you. The price is fantastic for what this is.

Pros:

LCD screen better than I thought it would be. Shows Radio frequency, track number, and scrolls name of MP3 file playing.
Most functions needs to be done via the remote control. Has a volume function, and equalizer for varioius types of music (rock, pop, classical etc).

Cons:

As with many items which are powered by the lighter socket, it doesn't always sit properly, but this can be adjusted for.
I have to remember to take it out of the lighter socket or I suspect my battery will get drained! This is not an issue with this item, but with my car which has power to the lighter with the ignition off.
Does not appear to have a shuffle option.

Other Thoughts:

Seems to handle folders on the SD card fine, though I could not see a way to select the folders - could only select by track number. Could skip directly to a particular track, and also track + and -. There is also a 100+ and 200+ track button to skip to high track numbers directly.

Bottomline:

If you have a car with no CD player, or MP3 input, or you are in a company or hired car, this item is ideal. Just plug it in, and tune your radio to it and listen to all your MP3's on an CD card. A great stop-gap between buying a new car radio. Lots of old cars only have radio or radio/casette - this solves that.

Pros:

I'm actually fairly impressed by the quality of watch for the money.
The circumference of the watch and strap is about 21cm. Too big for my wrist, so I will be adjusting it.
The dial is quite large - about 42mm, and the crystal is very clear, as as the print around the dial which appears to be embossed and just just printed on. The wristband is very solid - not cheap feeling, and very shiny. and clean. Everything came wrapped in protective plastic including the back, front, and the strap.
The instructions that come with it say it is only splash resistant - i.e. some rain, or maybe a splash from washing your hands - not swimming or immersive.

Cons:

It remains to be seen how well the self-winding works.

Other Thoughts:

Instructions say you can hand wind this watch and it will last 24 hours. Self winding involves wearing the watch for 8 hours a day.

Bottomline:

I think for $20 it is well worth it. Quite a stylish and clean looking watch!

Pros:

These little cleaning cloths are fantastic. I keep one in my glasses case, a couple with my camera gear, one with my video camera, and gave some away to friends. They pick up all the oil and lint from lenses, and even buff up the cameras themselves.

Cons:

None really - they are a bit on the small side, but for my purposes are the right size. Colours are a bit weird, maybe if they were all one neutral colour they may be a bit more appealing.

Bottomline:

You can't go wrong with buying these - particularly at this price. They work wonders on any surface which needs a delicate touch.

Pros:

This is a well built remote, with the right features on it. Pity it did not work on my camera :-(

Cons:

This will _not_ work on any x0D Canon camera such as the 30D or 40D. It does not support InfraRed remotes.

Other Thoughts:

Makes sure you are using a 300D/350D/400D/450D or the Rebel range in the US, - this will not work with the 30D or 40D.

Bottomline:

Though this did not work on my camera, I was not disappointed as I know several people with 350D's and I gave it to them as a gift. This item was so inexpensive, that it didn't really bother me :)

Pros:

Works as advertised, you strike the metal shaft, and out comes a hot, long lasting spark - enough to light a piece of fine tinder

Cons:

It would have been nice if the shaft was a bit longer, but this does not detract from its usefulness.
For what it is, it strikes me as bit expensive - but perhaps this is due to the materials (magnesium?)

Other Thoughts:

Keep in mind that the shaft comes coated in some sort of protective wax, so you need to shave this off first, and after that you will start getting your sparks.

Bottomline:

I've always seen these used on TV by people like Ray Mears and always wanted one of these.

Pros:

Cool looking knife, feels good in the hand, and sharp! Comes with a sturdy carry pouch (which I do not use), and the pocket clip is very sturdy.

Cons:

As with all DX knives, you get what you pay for. This is a knock-off knife, so don't expect the same quality, but for the money this is a great knife.

Other Thoughts:

Remember folks, knives are not toys - nor are they for children. DX should really put disclaimers on their website for such items.

Bottomline:

You will not be disappointed if you buy this knife - not a toy of course, but a great addition to anyones knife collection.

Pros:

As with all DX knives, you get what you pay for - and in this case you get a little bit extra. Nice sharp blade, solid feel, and a handy carry pouch (which I do not use).

Cons:

May need a bit of tightening or loosening to give you the kind of smooth opening action you want, but this is easily done with the screws on the side of the blade. The black finish on the blade may wear over time, particularly with sharpening.

Bottomline:

Great knife - do not hesitate to buy this one - particularly at this price!

Pros:

This is a fantastic knife for the money. The grip has a nice feel to it - it does not feel like it will slip out of your hand. Very well made grip, and the blade is nice and sharp.

Cons:

None really - I suppose it would have been nice if this knife was curved all through rather than having that little kink in it (makes it harder to sharpen), but that is the style of this knife - so if you don't like that, then buy a different one :-)

Bottomline:

Great little knife - very solid and sits well in the pocket.

Pros:

Nice little knife. Quite small, but that is what I wanted it for. Quite sharp too - but could be a bit sharper.

Cons:

Could be a bit sharper, though it is plenty sharp as it is. The clip is a bit small, and I am unsure of its usefulness, but it is there if you need it.
Some of the hex screws did come loose, but these were easily tightened using an allan key.

Other Thoughts:

Easy to keep in your pocket, and the lock seems to work very well indeed. I find I use it mostly to open up parcels and boxes.

Bottomline:

For the money, you can't go wrong. Do not hesitate to buy this nice little knife.

Pros:

Fantastic little headphones - sound great, and actually stay in my ears (most do not - I must have strange ears).
Comes with extra ear pads in different colours.
They are made from metal which gives them a nice heavyweight feel, and I suspect also help with the nice deep bass sounds you get from these headphones.

Cons:

The lead could be a bit longer.
It is a bit fiddly to replace the ear pads, but not impossible.

Other Thoughts:

I use these at work to listen to MP3's at my desk, and other audio over the internet (YouTube and such).

Bottomline:

Well worth it - cheap enough to use at work in that if they go missing, you won't worry too much.

Pros:

Works as advertised. You press the button on the top with your thumb, and an electric jolt jumps through your body.

Cons:

Build quality is not great - but hey, this is a disposable joke gift. You use it a few times, and the novelty wears off.

Other Thoughts:

Classic practical joke - always funny when someone is not expecting it (and even if they are). I would just be concerned about using this on someone who was old, or had a heard condition or pacemaker - so be careful!

Bottomline:

This is well worth the $2 just to see the look on peoples faces when they press that little button. Some people have mentioned an issue with battery life, but i've pressed the button dozens of times and it is still going strong.

Pros:

Works as advertised - opened up my Nintendo Wii with no problems.

Cons:

None really - quality is not stellar, but I don't plan on using this as a professional tool - just the one-off when I want to open my Wii to add a Wiikey. Over-use or using this for the wrong sized screw may strip the head, but it should not be a problem for a Wii which is not over-tightened.

Other Thoughts:

If you want to open your Wii or other Nintendo device, this one should work for you!

Bottomline:

Well worth it. At this price I would not hesitate to order. Even if you don't need this right away, buy one anyway - you may well need it in the future, and for 96c it is well worth keeping in your toolkit.

Pros:

Seems to do what it says - a 4 port KVM switch. Keyboard switching, no power supply needed.

Cons:

Only supports PS/2 type keyboard/mouse connections and standard VGA cables. You will need to purchase cables extra - I had a set from my previous old analogue KVM switch.

Other Thoughts:

This unit does not require a power supply. According to the manual you only need an external power supply if your PC can't supply enough power via the keyboard connection (on some laptops for instance).

Also - it _does_ support keyboard switching - so you can hide the box away - press scroll-lock twice, then arrow keys or 1,2,3,4 and it takes you to that screen. This is a nice feature. It also supports an auto-scan mode switching between all screens automatically until a key is pressed.

Of course, you can also press physical the button on the unit to change screens.

Bottomline:

Nice little KVM for home/office use. I replaced an analogue KVM switch (with a large manual knob) and this DX one is much better - no noise on the video, and automatic switching from the keyboard.