SONY 40" BRAVIA® XBR® Series KDL-40XBR4 LCD Flat Panel HDTV   This is my expanded review. Read this before you buy a new HDTV. (June 15th 2011)   I have been testing this HDTV with  a HD rooftop antenna, an HDTV cable box and input from my standard definition Tivo. Why should you opt for the more  expensive XBR Series? It's all  about getting the best Sony has to  offer, and this XBR series has always delivered. I've been watching all the 3D televisions  come onto the market. I've seen the  120 hertz and 240 hertz enter the  market, as well. This Sony is 120 hertz. What I haven't seen is an  improvement in the picture quality  over the XBR that Sony is famous  for. What you should get from this  review is the impression that paying  extra for an XBR Sony is worth every  penny. I am so impressed with the  depth and richness of the color in all of Sony's XBR line. I have a  friend who has a W Series Sony and  he is happy. I know if he saw this  XBR side by side he would not be  happy with his W Series by  comparison. When you shop for a  Sony, ask your sales person which  Sony models are the XBR, because Sony doesn't list XBR in the model number any more.   This KDL-40XBR4 has the ability to  upscale a standard definition picture, and does a good job of it. One of its  best features as is the quality of the  sound which is nothing short of  outstanding, providing you use  all of the audio controls available.  My impression of the sound quality stems from placing the Sony in a corner. If the Sony was placed away from a wall or not in a corner, I'm  sure it wouldn't sound so impressive, but I can't swear by it because a lot of new technology is making its way into todays modern  electronics.	CANON VIXIA HF100 High Definition Camcorder I got this Camcorder in May '08. It does feel right at home in my right hand. An elegant piece of fine art just crying to be taken out and and shown a good time. That's exactly what I did in Kyoto, Japan in June '08. My first impression is based on testing it both hand-held and with the TrekPod Go! Walking Staff, Monopod. (See its the review on this site). Having now tried the HF100 in Kyoto and in Vermont during foliage season, I have a better impression of the quality and drawbacks of this mostly excellent device. After viewing the video on my Sony XBR, as far as picture quality goes, all I can say WOW !!! (The following text if from Canon's website.) From Canon's long history of optical excellence, advanced image processing, superb performance and technological innovation in photographic and broadcast television cameras comes the latest in high definition camcorders. Now, with the light, compact Canon VIXIA HF100, you can have stunning AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition) format recording with the ease and numerous benefits of Flash Memory. It's used in some of the world's most innovative electronic products such as laptop computers, MP3 players, PDAs and cell phones. Add to that the VIXIA HF100's Canon Exclusive features such as our own 3.3 Megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor and advanced DIGIC DV II Image Processor, SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization, Instant Auto Focus, our 2.7" Widescreen Multi-Angle Vivid LCD and the Genuine Canon 12x HD video zoom lens and you have a Flash Memory camcorder that's hard to beat and unmistakably Canon.
Sony KD-40XBR 40 inch LCD TV	Canon Vixia HR100
NEUROS OSD Media Center My first look review will post as soon as I have had a chance to test it. (The following text is from the Neuros website.) The Neuros OSD connects to your TV or home theater system and allows you to archive all of your DVD and video content. Plug the Neuros OSD into your TV, connect your DVD Player or VCR, and hit play. Your movie will be safely and legally transferred into a digital library! It works with home movies too. Just plug your video camera into the OSD, push play, and your memories are digitized. With the Neuros OSD, you can store hundreds of hours of video in one location (like an external hard drive), get rid of those bulky cases, put an end to DVD damage, and instantly access any of your videos with the push of a button on a remote. You can even transfer your video content to a portable device (video iPod, PSP, mobile phone, etc.) to watch on the go, or email your home movies to friends and family. V V V V V	LOGITECH Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac Logitech is probably best known for making excellent sounding and affordable home + PC speaker systems. They also have a large assortment of cordless mice and keyboards. I have been using this specifically for Mac Keyboard + Mice Combo for quite a while and enjoy the sleek and sturdy design. I especially like the mute button which comes in handy to mute commercials while listening to streaming media. Buttons along the right side of the keyboard allow you to start iTunes and control play/pause, forward and reverse. The volume up/down and mute buttons work for all sounds on your Mac. The mouse's scroll wheel features assignable control, like zoom or up/down and tilt left and right to move sideways in your browser and when using Photoshop, wow what a time-saver, not to mention your wrist! Why use your wrist when you can just use your index finger. You also have two assignable buttons on the thumb side that work very well in a browser, as page back and page forward control. Logitech also makes a Windows version of the Cordless Desktop S 510 using the same keyboard. However, It includes the LX5 Cordless mouse which doesn't have as many features as the MX 600 cordless laser mouse that comes with the Mac Combo. I guess us Mac owners are just lucky. Whether you're a Mac or Windows user, once you own a Logitech product you can count on excellent customer service from a knowledgeable staff who don't ask for your date of purchase and don't want your credit card number because they stand behind their products in a way that I wish the rest of the consumer electronics industry would take notice and try to emulate. Slim Devices, a Logitech company, also makes some very interesting products such as the Squeezebox digital music player that I have known about for quite a while even before they became a part of the Logitech family. I also had one of the first Harmony Universal Remotes that has also become part of the Logitech family. Logitech has a keen eye for interesting products that add a lot of luster to a already impressive line of Logitech products. I will be adding more details to this review in the next few weeks. For now I will use details from Logitech's website. (The following text is from the Logitech website) Cordless Desktop S 530 Laser for Mac Superior comfort and precision with one-touch controls designed specifically for your Mac. One-Touch Mac Controls: Instantly access iTunes, iPhoto, Safari, Mail and more. USB Mini-receiver: Get reliable wireless in an instant, and remove the clutter of wires. Power Management: Go longer with a low-battery light and auto-off. Flatter Keyboard Design: Be slim, sleek and comfortable. Silver and White Styling: Designed specifically for your Mac (consumer and Pro). ZERO-DEGREE TILT: Reduce fatigue with a remarkably natural typing feel. SCULPTED LASER MOUSE: Rest your hand on gently contoured sides and soft rubber grips. LASER ENGINE: Get exceptional mouse control in all applications on virtually any surface. TILT WHEEL PLUS ZOOM: Go side to side or in and out on photos and spreadsheets alike.
Neuros OSD Media Center	Logitech S 530 for Mac