Kakaku：2751 saved$27.51
Lodge
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Just what I needed) 『This was just what I needed and I didn't have to spend over $200 to get it. The quality seems to be up there with the expensive pans. My only complaint is that it is manufactured in China but know that is how they keep the prices down.』
(Lodge Color Enamel Dutch Oven) 『Excellent Dutch Oven, the price is very good compared to the imports. Functionally the same as the much more expensive pots.』
(extremely pleased) 『I absolutely love this dutch oven. since I got it I have used it several times a week&the quality is amazing. I just love it!!!!』
(This is a workhorse!) 『I received my Lodge Enameled 6qt Cast Iron Dutch Oven last week. It arrived properly packaged and in great condition. The color is so beautiful, but the utility is amazing. I have used this at least once a day for the past week. Even though I made room in a cupboard for it, I now leave it on the stovetop so I'm not bending every hour to get it out! I have used it on the stovetop and in the oven with amazing results in my recipes - eggplant parm, pot roast, chili, lentils, chicken cacciatore, chicken marsala, steak pizzaiola, rattatouille, zucchini&eggs, you name it - it is great. Easy clean up, too! I highly recommend this size, too. I have other smaller ones and also regular cast iron - which also gets a workout in my kitchen. But this one - just superb!』
(The best deal in the house) 『I have been debating a purchase of Le Creuset for over a year now and try as I might, I just can't spend what amounts to nearly a car payment on a pot. When I saw Lodge now has enamel cookware I felt I would be getting the best as their quality has always been unmatched. Their regular cast iron is indestructible. I ordered the cafe brown (still that 70s girl) and it is gorgeous. It's not a flat brown but gradated and very elegant. The application of the layers of enamel is perfect, no chips or thin areas. The packing was superior with little clips around the base to avoid nicking from the equality well packed lid. These people really know how to "do it right" and Amazon's price on this item is the best, by far. I have an eclectic kitchen, always trying to find the best pieces from each manufacturer. I have Calphalon, All-Clad, and Cuisinart pieces but this is quickly becoming my favorite. I really love it.』 『For more than a century home cooks and great chefs have cherished their round enamel cast iron ovens. From the stovetop and oven, to its elegant table presentation, Lodge Enamel provides superior cooking performance, versatility, and unparalleled style. When you're finished with your meal simply store your food in the refrigerator or freezer without any concern about food reacting to the porcelain enamel surface.』
Kakaku：1051 saved$10.51
Fuji
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (jewel cases) 『jewel cases arrived in a reasonable time in good shape and were priced at a very good price.I bought these jewel cases in the past and I am very happy with them. The only cons I have with them is their tendency to break when they fall due to the weakness of the upper tabs. John C Kansriddle』
(Fast Shipping, Great service, and Great price!) 『It was delivered as promised by the merchant on Amazon. I've used about 15 of the 200 ordered. Better price than Dollar Tree and just as good quality. I'd recommend this manufacture and brand to everyone! Wish I could find this kind of value and service for my DVD+/-RW and CD+/-RW disks too! Thank you FujiFilm Media!
Will continue to buy this as long as supplies last.』
(Fuji's Jewel Cases Snap Away Your Loose DVD Worries!) 『I have bought several of these 100 packs over the last several months and I am thoroughly pleased with these purchases! I will keep coming back for more! The price is right, and the cases are colorful, durable, and extremely helpful for someone who often burns dvds/cds or receives dvds/cds from friends and family that often come in flimsy paper sleeves. They keep my dvds/cds safe from dust, breakage, and any other concerns to precious and fragile items like these! Amazon ships them safely and quickly and they are a long term solution to an annoying spindle problem!』
(Carefully Packed) 『These were well packed, and arrived intact with zero loss from breakage. The CD cases are simple and economical.』
(Great Job well done Amazon) 『I bought 200 slimline jewel cases from Amazon they got here quick 3 of them where broken. But Amazon give me a $5 credit to use on my next Amazon purchase as a compensation for the 3 broken jewel cases love Amazon.com they rock.』 『Fujifilm is one of the leading providers of imaging and information products. Fujifilm and its employees are committed to providing consumers and professionals with the most innovative and highest-quality imaging and information products and services. The company's technological breakthroughs have played a major role in working towards achieving this goal.』
Kakaku：7880 saved$78.80
R H Forschner by Victorinox
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Sharp Knives, First Time Ever) 『I also bought a Wustoff sharpener with this set of knives and I'm very pleased.』
(Very good Product) 『Very good product, I am very satisfied with my purchase, highly recommended. the knives are very sharp making cooking a very enjoyable experience.』
(Forschner Number 1 Choice of Professionals) 『I purchased the 8 piece Forschner block set (plus the 7 inch Santoku), and highly recommend this set and the extra 7 inch Santoku which fits in the same block. The deciding factor for me were the comments by professional chefs and butchers on various web sites including this one. The problem with purchasing individual knives is that the cases are very expensive (with shipping and handling the mark up over mfg cost must be 1000%?), but you just cannot have sharp knives loose in a drawer. The block is $30+ if you compare the piece part prices, and if you have small kitchen it uses the least space, further away from kids hands, less fiddly than the knife safes as well. As for what you get in the block set, it has just about the right combination of knives for me, the Santoku knife fits in one empty slot as well (thanks to reviewer who commented on that). There's a steel included as well which is essential. The boning knife is longer than the one in my old set, but I don't do use it that much. There's one spare slot for a smaller knife. These knives are all very sharp, and I'd say the 8 inch chef's knife is the largest I would ever need, better for heavier cutting, but also OK for fine cutting as well. The 7 inch Santoku is lighter and I like using it-I can see why it's popular, better for potatoes/vegetables but can also handle heavy cutting as well. They both are great for fine chopping using a rocking motion, and with plenty of knuckle room. With a 2 cook kitchen having the two knives in the block seems a good plan. The Santoku has slightly different handle shape than the other knives which may be for Asian style chopping (versus rocking), I'll have to experiment. As for using in a dishwasher, one Forschner supplier recommends no, the reason being the plastic cover on the dishwasher rack will be cut and may cause the underlying metal to corrode, not to mention knife edge wear, and change in blade temper (although I am sceptical about this last one) . If you clean them as you go this isn't a problem. 』
(You think you don't need these, but you do) 『Sure, I read about how great Forschner knives are for the money, but I considered my old Chicago Cutlery set to be good enough. How much different can one set of cutlery be than another, anyway? After all, I'm no pro chef, just a home kitchen hacker.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I got the Forschner Fibrox eight piece set.
The items in the set are well chosen for the average range of kitchen tasks, although I would like a smaller flexible paring knife rather than the included four inch rabbit (?!) knife. I am mildly surprised at how well the serrated bread knife handles a block of cheddar or a tomato; it might be the favorite of the bunch. I also like the shears, and find the 10" slicer large enough to handle anything I'll ever serve. The boning knife makes taking the skin off a salmon easy. The chef's knife is big enough for me and not too large for my better half.
The Fibrox handles are comfortable, give a secure grip and fit my big paws and my wife's smaller hands. The knives all "feel good" to me, well balanced and solid. Yes, they are sharp, and the included steel hones them with little effort.
If you've read this far, you might be like I was, wondering if good knives can really be that much better than "good enough". The answer is a resounding yes. They really are a pleasure to use, and a job like cutting up a chicken for frying is now a chance for me to enjoy the quality of these knives rather than just annoying drudge work.
If you still aren't sure, order a Forschner Santoku or mini chef's knife to try for yourself, and when you do order the set it will find a home in one of the two empty slots in the block.
』
(Very nice set, biggest knife is the tiniest bit flimsy) 『I do love this knife set, especially for the price. The knife block looks awesome, everything works as expected, and it's a joy to cook with. I slice through meat, veggies, and everything else without problem, and very neatly. My one issue is that the biggest knife seems a little bit flimsy. I don't know if my cutting block is the issue (plastic, not wood), which may well be, but it doesn't seem to have the thickness I expect. Maybe I'm just used to dull knives, though. In all, I recommend the set, especially for the price. I'm sure you already know how highly rated this set is by knife appraisers.』 『A mid-range line for the proficient or aspiring home chef, this R.H. Forschner block set consists of a selection of the most commonly used kitchen cutlery. The blades, hand-finished in Switzerland, are constructed of high-carbon, no-stain steel, with a full tang for superior strength and balance. The knives retain their sharp edges and are readily resharpened when necessary. All the utensils feature black fibrox handles, molded in an ergonomic shape that is designed to reduce wrist tension over extended periods of use.
The five knives in this set consist of a 4-inch paring, 6-inch boning, 8-inch chef's, 8-inch bread, and 10-inch slicing. Completing the selection are a 10-inch sharpening steel and pair of kitchen shears. All come with designated slots in the solid hardwood block, angled for quick access. Covered by a lifetime warranty against defects, the cutlery in the set is dishwasher-safe, although washing by hand is recommended.--Ann Bieri
What's in the Box 8-piece cutlery set. The set consists of: 4-inch paring knife; 6-inch boning knife; 8-inch chef's knife; 8-inch serrated bread knife; 10-inch slicing knife; 10-inch sharpening steel; kitchen shears; hardwood storage block. 8 items total.』
『R. H. Forschner is a division of Swiss Army Brands, Inc, renowned for the Victorinox Swiss Army Knife. These knives are specially ground and tempered so that they can be resharpened over and over again, keeping a sharp edge throughout their lifetime. State of the art technology blended with old world craftsmanship produce cutting instruments of excellent quality, at reasonable prices. Forschner Victorinox Fibrox knives have earned high marks in a well-known cooking magazine which stringently tests kitchen products. If you're in the market for some new cutlery, consider the wise financial option of buying a set. You'll get the best value possible, and a collection of knives that will see you through just about any chopping, slicing, cutting task.』
Kakaku：396 saved$3.96
Sesame Street
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Short And Sweet) 『Kids just love Elmo, no matter how much adults may not feel the same way, though I do admit I am somewhat entertained by him. But my son (2-1`/2) absolutely loves him, so that is what really matters. I try to limit television/video time and a one or two 1/2 hour breaks during the day and this is a good DVD for those times - you usually cannot go wrong with CTW.』
(Great for the kids) 『My granddaughter loves this Video..Thank you for getting it to me as quickly as you did!』
(A Favorite) 『Very cute! One of my 22 month old son's favorites. We have seen many of the Sesame Street DVDs (including Elmo's World). With the real background, catchy songs and the cute story line this one keeps us coming back.』
(Elmo is awesome!) 『This DVD was wonderful for my Elmo crazy son on our recent road trip. I only wish it was longer! Elmo rocks!』
(Great DVD!!!!!!!!!!) 『This product is fantastic!!! My grandsons love Elmo and they sing and dance with Elmo and his friends through the entire dvd; especially the 2 year old. I only wish that the length of the show was longer than 30 minutes. They should come out with The Best of Elmo 2.』 『TheSesame Streetcharacter has fun singing some catchy new songs (you and your toddler just might, too), explaining the difference between light and heavy, having a laugh over pictures and numbers, and sharing the screen with a good-natured Whoopi Goldberg and Julia Roberts. Of the various Elmo videos, this one really does have the choicest material and stands up to repeat viewings--a big plus with little ones.--Tom Keogh』 『Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 04/06/2004 Run time: 30 minutes Rating: Nr』
Kakaku：400 saved$4.00
Nickelodeon
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Look Out Barney here comes Yo Gabba Gabba!) 『Our grandaughter loves all of these Yo Gabba Gabba's. I guess it is the all the bright colors. She loves to dance. I could say this is her favorite, but she loves to watch all of the Yo Gabba Gabba's the same. She never bores of them.
Who knows would you ever think that a man wearing a 60's orange wig with clothes that look 2 sizes to small would catch the attention of preschooler.
The show teaches children about respect and is very educational. 5 star for this one.』
(We Love Yo Gabba Gabba!) 『My 3-year-old absolutely love Yo Gabba Gabba. It has to be one of the goofiest shows I have seen in a long time, but she really loves it. It has taught her so many things like sharing, cleaning-up and keeping your hands to yourself. I am so glad they finally came out with a toy and clothing line also. The music and dancing in this video will keep your child entertained, but it also keeps them active becuase you have to dance while you watch it!』
(We Love It) 『This show has been a hit for the whole family (Mom, Dad, Toddler) since discovered! The characters, guests, animations, and music are lots of fun!
Most importantly, it's a good clean message beginning to end. Would highly recommend.』
(Just what the short attention span Doctor ordered) 『So. Yo Gabba Gabba.
How to describe this show? Start with the title, which is inspired by the The Ramones' timeless Teenage Lobotomy creed, then add DJ Lance Rock, who resembles an anorexic Raj from "What's Happening!", and put him in a giant orange wig and striped jumpsuit that makes him look like the complete opposite of a Buckingham Palace guard. DJ Lance Rock then walks onto a white background with a magical boombox (of COURSE there's a magical boombox) towards a long buffet table displaying Gabbaland - or as normal people see it, a minidioramma that seems as if it was made by a 5th grader with a really short attention span. DJ Lance Rock proceeds to open his boombox, revealing a bunch of generic cartoon monsters that get magically transported to Gabbaland, where they transform into generic actors dancing around in monster suits (2 of which proudly display the zipper on the back).
I love this show.
Why? First of all, the music is catchy. Repetitive? Oh yes. Oh yes. But in a good way. You actually don't mind finding yourself unexpectedly humming these little ditties sometime during the day. Then there's the cartoon interludes, which rival anything out of Ren&Stimpy, Spongebob Squarepants, and anything else dreamt up by a stoned college frathouse with basic computer animation skills. Then there's the clips of 5 year old kids either dancing (and reminding you "I like to dance"), riding random toys, or scanned into Intellivision games from the 1980's.
Then there's the frequent visits from actors and musicians who seem to be "in on the joke." In 3 minutes, you can easily bounce from Plex the Magic Robot teaching your kids how to brush their teeth, to Mark Mothersbaugh from 80's alt-punk group Devo instructing you in the finer points of drawing a fish. Skip next to Biz's Beat of the Day, where Biz Markie invites your kid to learn his latest beatbox riff, followed by an animated adventure of Super Martian Robot Girl that would make William Hanna and Joe Barbera cry, then on to Nathan who "likes to daaaaance!" (and grooves like he's in a Kanye West video), which leads to the Yo! Gabba Gabba characters singing and dancing about sharing, follwed by Elijah Wood sharing his Puppetmaster dancey dance. DJ Lance Rock then takes us out of every episode by inviting us to look back, and remember what we did today. This consists of quick vignettes of everything covered in that episode, which naturally is mixed into a techno/hip-hop number that includes NYC nightclub electronica/rave special effects in the background.
And somehow, somehow it all comes together. It WORKS. It works for the kids and adults alike. It is at all times a wholesome children's show, an inside joke to gen-Xers who grew up in the 80's, a manifesto for the current Spongebob college crowd, and a useful tool for parents who want something that the kids will enjoy while learning valuable life skills, while making them laugh a little bit inside about how goofy the whole process of parenthood can truly be.』
(Yo happy happy) 『Bought this for my son. He loves it. If your kid likes music, this is a good one!』 『A hip Nick Jr. show for toddlers that's both entertaining and educational,Yo Gabba Gabbafeatures human host DJ Lance Rock and five colorfully costumed characters who dance, sing, and play together while learning about things like friendship, differences, and problem solving. "Friends" finds the Dancey Dance Bunch playing together and discovering the importance of respecting one another and "Dance" features lots of dancing fun and a lesson about taking turns. "Eat" trumpets the benefits of healthy eating and trying new foods and "Happy" celebrates the joy of play. Each episode includes segments with real kids doing things they love, animated sketches, celebrities like Mya and Elijah Wood teaching dance steps, drawing lessons with Mark Mothersbaugh, and lots of musical numbers in varying styles including pop, rock, and rap. (Ages 6 months to 4 years)--Tami Horiuchi』 『Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 10/14/2008 Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Nr』
Kakaku：1296 saved$12.96
DVD International
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (I am not impressed...) 『Like the other reviewers have already stated, the test pattern for contrast doesn't seem to work. I can see all the steps from black to white no matter where I set the contrast. Also the color decoder doesn't seem to be correct. The instruction say to start by setting blue levels, and then the red and green should be correct. This was not the case. Not only did my picture look better at the factory setting, but the red and green still did not match. I tried to correct this by adjusting the tint, but I was on my own since there is no instruction for setting tint.』
(Definitely made a difference, but missing key features.) 『Some quick info that I'm basing my review on: The TV I have is the Samsung LN52A750 (a very popular higher end TV right now). My HD sources are: Blu-Ray = PS3, Comcast HD cable, and an XBOX 360 for games. All of these are via HDMI.
I almost always have my TV on in a dark room which is what I wanted the calibration optimized for. I tried my naked eye, then the THX test pattern on the Terminator 2 Blu-Ray but I noticed some noise/graininess in background images sometimes.
Pros
1. Makes the THX test pattern that is available with some Blu-Rays a waste of time. I used the one that came with Terminator 2 (but they're all the same). I did not like the results. But I tried it because renting T2 on Blu-Ray was faster and cheaper than buying DVE so I thought I'd give it a try. To me, the THX patterns are next to worthless. I hate to be so critical but they really are.
2. In-depth education about HD in general, some tricks and methods used by TV manufacturers as well as movie studios, mastering firms, etc. This information is interesting, educational, and useful for optimizing your set. Even though a setting like "color" in your menu might seem obvious, this disc explains how it works within your set which does help in the calibration process.
3. Comes with a color filter that you hold up to your eye to get the red/green/blue correct.
4. If you set aside a couple of hours (yes, a couple of hours) and pay attention to the information presented on this disc (may take watching the same section a few times) you will get your set calibrated as close as you can. Skipping right to the test patterns won't do you any good because you won't know what you're trying to achieve. Spending hundreds of dollars to have someone come out is just crazy.
5. After adjusting some settings, my TV really does look even better than my own naked eye settings (which I was already in love with).
Cons
1. As I expected, there is nothing in this BD about my TV's unique settings for: a. Backlight b. HDMI Black Adjust c. Dynamic Contrast d. DNR (digital noise reduction) e. And other menu options (flesh tone, white space, etc.) included in my LN52A750. But I think the factory options for these are fine.
2. While it does include a wealth of info, it's sometimes narrated too fast and/or not clearly enough. I had to watch the section that explains the test patterns 3 times. I didn't mind doing it but thought they could have delivered this in a better way.
Parts of this disc may seem intimidating (even for those of you that consider yourself experts because you browse A/V forums LOL) but if you watch the sections a few times until you understand, you'll be happy you did. My picture really is improved, and I got rid of the background graininess and noise. I think this disc is worth hanging onto, mainly because of future environmental changes that may occur (i.e. you move, rearrange your room, change the lighting, etc.).
I struggled with 3 or 4 stars. I'm happy with the purchase but would have given it 4 or 5 stars if it included info on other menu items in my TV. 』
(Great, if you have the patience) 『This is probably the best way, short paying for professional calibration, to get your money's worth out of your HDTV and surround sound system. It's a bit time consuming, and can be frustrating at times as it's not exactly the easiest to follow at many points. However, if you're spending so much money on a home theater, you might as well spend an extra $15 and an hour of time to use this disc and really get the best picture and sound that you can tweak out of your system.』
(Digital Video Essentials) 『Found it rather disappointing. I have the original video essentials dvd and didn't find anything on the blue ray version to justify replacing it.』
(I can see the difference) 『There is a LOT of information on this disc. They explain how surround sound works and the best setups. They discuss HD video and how to get the optimal image from your TV.
Worth the price. It really helped me configure my HD TVs to look their best.』 『Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 03/25/2008』
IPhone 3G used's review (W O R S T MOVIE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!) 『THE worst adiuo and bad story line. What'a waste of my hard worth cash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!』
(excellent) 『it is very nice to be able to get these old favorites on DVD and to be able to share them with my grandkids. The quality on the DVD's was great. Thanks Cathy』
(I love Peanuts) 『Peanuts has always been one of my favorite cartoons. I enjoy reading the 'reprints' in the newspaper even now. Charlie Browns Christmas is definately a must have in this household. I've enjoyed it repeatedly over the years. What's Christmas without a reminder of what Christmas is all about.』
(The Best Animated Xmas feature) 『Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas in a world besieged by commercialism. The story Charlie Brown's quest works on a number of different levels, making it worthwhile viewing for children and adults. This half-hour special hits the mark with its message, its wit, music and charm. 』
(Wonderful New Transfer of Classic Tale) 『I love it! This disc is such an improvement over Paramount's disc, both in video and audio, that I don't know where to start. So I won't. And, it appears that they did use the first-year version of the film as there were a few animation errors that were cleaned up for the second and subsequent airings, according to the creators. I'm assuming one of those errors is towards the end when the gang is standing around C.B,s tree and humming. For one split second, Pig-Pen's head disappears, revealing Patty's dress behind him. RIOT! A true American classic.』 『This television classic features the Peanuts characters in the story of Charlie Brown's problematic efforts to mount a school Christmas pageant. Everybody's on board: Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, but the biggest impression is surely made by Linus, who stops the show with his recitation from the gospels of the story of Christ's birth.--Tom Keogh』
IPhone 3G used's review (A great movie for children!) 『Starting a collection of favorite movies for my CA granddaughter. Was pleased to find it on amazon and at a good price. It was shipped quickly and was exactly as described.』
(Buyers beware!!) 『The US DVD have a severely cropped image (though not 4x3) compared to the english region 2 release, which offer the complete image in a very wide format, with lots of black top and bottom. In you don't have a 31 inch (or bigger) 16x9 TV set, this can look awkward, but if you do, get the UK region 2 release, if you can. The difference is dramatic! Believe me. I have both. I got the US version first, but as the resolution isn't enough in NTSC, I got the UK release as well, and what I got, and only recently discovered, was a much wider image.
The US image perfectly fill up the 16x9 screen, but...whoa, how much it leaves out!!!!』
(I love this movie!) 『Who can resist Peggy Lee in this movie? We have loved it for many years and the 2 disc Platinum Edition did not disappoint.』
(This is a great classic!) 『Loved this movie as a kids and wanted it for my kids. They loved it too.』
(Favorite cartoon) 『"Lady and the Tramp" is my favorite Disney movie. Who can forget the romantic scene as our hero and heroin share spagetti and they meet nearly nose to nose on a single strand while serenaded ...'a beautiful night'. This film showcases great characterization, voices, sound and imagery. It's comical and thrilling with the feel good happy ending. I bought this for myself.』 『Disney's first animated feature in CinemaScope is now available in widescreen presentations on video, and it is definitely good to get the whole picture. One of the studio's most original and charming movies, the 1955 film tells the story of a rakish, street-smart dog named Tramp, who helps an aristocratic pooch named Lady out of some trouble and then commences a romance with her. Sweet, funny scenes abound, and the combination of innocence and sophistication would have done well in a live-action picture. Peggy Lee cowrote the songs and provides the voice of the Siamese cats in one of the film's best-known musical sequences. This newly restored version spruces up both sonics and visuals, and a letterbox version is available.--Tom Keogh』
