Pricey but competent...
583097
This is my first GPS for a motorcycle so I can't compare it to previous models. It's rather grossly overpriced and does not offer many features beyond what you would get on a non-mortorcycle  (and thus non weatherproof) version costing hundreds less.  While the Zumo uses the same RAM mounting system as other GPS brands, you can't easily disconnect the power-cord from the bracket.  When installing, plan and run your wiring first!  The power button seems easy to find but in fact is difficult to truly find and depress, particularly with gloves.  Despite several screen display options the fonts (for informational items like speed, turn info, etc.) are too small for anyone over 30 (a good time for me to plug Dual Eyewear, a company that makes "reader" sunglasses that are brilliant!!). It is hard to believe there are no font size options.  The 480 X 272 res display is like something out of the flip-phone era compared to what is available today in other devices.  The route planning software is tweaky, you have to be very precise when creating your own routes and perform sanity checks on routes it automatically creates (or find yourself on a dirt road in Oklahoma as I did).  I guess the worst news is, these complaints aside, it is probably the best choice out there.

I returned the Tom-Tom Rider after a check-ride because the maps seemed out of date (despite updates) as did the point-of-interest database. Two restaurants and a hotel (both opened at least a year ago) were not listed.  On two occasions, the lane guidance was wrong (at critical turns).  I will post a separate review because these issues seemed to mar an otherwise very nice GPS.

As for the Garmin, the plus side is the maps and database seem to be up to date.  The Base Camp planner is tweaky as I have said but it is usable after a bit of a learning curve.  All the points I've wanted to find have been there (I've ridden in 3 US states - TX, AR, and OK). Updates are slow to download but fairly easy to access.  Lane guidance seems good and the split screen is helpful.  You can get compass and heading info as well as your elevation (fun to watch in the mountains).  The weatherproof case seems durable so far.  None of these GPS screens are bright enough for direct sun (whatever the advertising says) but I found the display to be bright enough for most of my riding. The touch-screen does work with gloves though Garmin's user interface can be clunky (an iPhone it's not).  Battery life is 4 hours max with the screen at about 70% bright (much better than the TomTom).  The auto zoom map feature works well and magnifies the important part of the map as you approach a turn.  It's very sensitive to your direction/movement and responds quickly.  The display will automatically switch to a night view mode when it gets dark.

I have a feeling all these GPS makers will be a memory before too long.  Phones and other devices will offer more for less (plus make weatherproof accessories).  But if you need GPS services now the Zumo should serve you well.  It's pricey compared to the TomTom but seems to perform better.
1706595
a little pricey, but works fine & can be used several times
611877
I didn't give it 5 stars because it isn't perfect... but for the price, it's pretty darn good.

Installation: Super easy! Familiarity with what's under the hood of your PC helps, but if you can follow simple instructions, you should be good. It takes 2 5.25" drive bays. I only had one bay free, but I'm pretty handy with a dremel and not afraid of a little minor pc-case surgery).

Hardware: YES, the VFD looks washed-out on installation. I'll give you that. BUT the contrast and brightness are software adjustable. So, if you spend a couple of minutes adjusting it, you can get to look like the one in the ad. The remote range and reception angle are quite good for me. The front buttons work fine, but are fairly useless with the remote (pretty much like any home theater appliance).

Software: As someone else said, don't bother with the bundled disk. Just get online and download the latest drivers and apps. I'm using Windows 7 (64bit) and the software works pretty well with it. The ability to turn the computer on and off, and launch your apps by remote control is outstanding. You can configure what apps that launch as well as the remote commands within the apps. I'm using it with Windows Media Center, XBMC, Hulu Desktop and Boxee. Haven't had a problem with any of them so far.

YMMV, but this unit is just what I needed for my HTPC and works really well so far (had it for about 2 weeks).
180778
Not the most reliable, but serves my purposes well and was worth the $330 (on sale) price tag. Would buy again.
578074
works well...wish it were not so expensive - I would have brought more...
4151685
Does what I need it to do. Quality is good, particularly considering the modest cost.
3738124
This is a fine light. Having used the Serfas USB thunderbolt for some time (and loving it) but wanting to save a bit of money this seemed like a great alternative. And function-wise, at absolutely is. It does the job honorably. Design-wise I'm not a huge fan though, especially after using the aforementioned serfas light. The pattern of button clicks to access the different light modes is unnecessarily complicated (they do send a helpful email when you order to explain it, but I'm of a school of thought that believes bike lights should be simple enough to not warrant extensive instructions). The "feel" of it is a little cheap (though certainly nicer than the $8 SUPER-cheap alternatives). And I find myself not totally trusting the mounting bracket, which seems to depend on a tiny tab of plastic that will almost certainly fail at an inopportune moment (I've had too many lights do exactly this to believe otherwise). Bottom line, it will do the job and is worth the money. I do think it's worth slightly more for a slightly better overall experience with another light, if that's something you value.
2859806
I used this to replace an old encore wired router and a Trendnet TEW-711BR N150. The TEW-733GR seems to work well--barely becoming warm. (Supposedly, it's energy-efficient, also.) I don't believe that, given this somewhat more advanced model, wireless really proves much better than my previous, lesser Trendnet TEW-711BR--though. Many believe that Trendnet's configuration menus generally prove easier than those for many other brands. Both Trendnet routers offer switches which allow instant shut down--sans inelegant unplugging. That's a great feature! (The manual indicated that router configuration would start directly upon hooking up and plugging in to an active PC--that wasn't the case for mine--I needed to input the device configuration url in order to proceed, nevertheless. No biggie.)

A great many users would welcome the networking equipment companies incorporating alternate external antenna ports more often into their wireless models--allowing easy replacement of too-many generally cheap antennas. Here, the antenna is internal: The antenna here may prove generally invisible--yet, it's not forgotten! With either router, I get full bars/strong signal for my Android tab nearby. Farther away in the bedroom, about 50ft. away from the router and through a few walls, a bar is shed--that's far from hopeless and tragic! Nonetheless, I had hoped that N300 would offer some significant difference in wireless signal--versus the TEW-711BR.

Still, the gigabit switch is a great feature: Paradoxically, I've noted that wired gigabit routers tend to cost a great deal more than low-end wireless gigabit models.  Merely functioning as a wired gigabit router, the TEW-733GR remains still a pretty good value. Many other consumer-favored brands extract many more dollars for their better models featuring gigabit....
2392882
Color selection is very good....For the price a very adequate value.
3847526
As advertised. You won't find anything in its class that can touch it for the price.
1671824
The MTR201 strikes a nice balance between (relative) affordability and studio-level performance. I'm comparing it to the other two mics I have in my little home studio (Miktek and Shure), and while it can't quite compare in terms of clarity in the high and low ranges, it's also a fraction of their prices, and for the price Amazon has it listed ($199.99 currently, discounted from $299.99), it's a great deal in terms of it being more than capable for most home studio applications (vocals and the more common instrument miking scenarios).

It's an attractive, well-built mic with a nice finish and good weight. It comes in a padded carrying case (pretty standard for pro-gear mics), complete with a shock mount and a pop filter (which is a nice touch, as I haven't seen hardly any mics come standard with one), all of which the case is fitted to accommodate.

As mentioned, highs and lows are obviously not going to sound quite so clean as they would in higher-dollar mics, but for project/home recording, or even as part of a multi-mic array in a professional recording environment, this is just fine. The signal is mostly transparent (as one would expect from a condenser). There's a certain amplitude-for-clarity tradeoff that I've noticed with condenser mics, and a higher-dollar mic is going to retain a bit more of that amplitude, so the raw signal from the MTR201 will probably come off as a little quieter than in a 'better' mic, but again, it's just a mixing issue at that point (for the most part). But most of these considerations are only things pro sound engineers will likely notice or need to address.

Of note: the MTR201 DOES require phantom power (48V), so whatever audio interface/sound board you're using, make sure it has the juice.

In brief, I find this to be a VERY solid mic that couples good performance and mid-studio quality with an attractive price. Ideal for the hobbyist on a budget.
1493924
GOOD OPTION WITH VERY LESS PRICE THAN OTHERS
526535
I was hesitant to purchase this based on other reviews, but this unit does work and does it well.

This is an odd-little device. It's small enough to work as a consumer/home-use capture device, but it is priced significantly higher than your el cheapo ~$30 H.264 capture devices. But the price is significantly cheaper than the usual professional-grade, rack-mount boxes you might find in a studio/production house. The settings/features are oriented toward professionals or those with highly specific needs, not general-purpose home use.

If you're just wanting a basic capture device to plug your old VCR into and run on your computer at home, don't buy this. You'll be much happier with the little H.264 devices that cost ~$30 (generic-brand Windows-oriented devices) to ~$80 (for a Mac-based Elgato capture device).

I have an Elgato Video Capture at home, and it works great and is easy to use. But I was starting up a serious project around digitizing old home VHS tapes with an S-VHS deck and a time-based corrector, and didn't want everything captured to a compressed H.264 codec. I wanted to have the ability to convert to other codes/formats in the future.

This little guy provides the RCA connectors  that I wanted, but captures UNCOMPRESSED video. That means a simple 30-minute VHS capture is going to take up a good 30+ GB of space on your hard drive. One tape I captured consumed 157 GB of storage. This is fine for compressing/converting into other formats later, but is not what you want for general playback on your home theater/media box.

You'll need to have an output monitor device. Unlike my Elgato, I can't just plug my VCR into my computer and hit the "start" button. I couldn't get this to work until I had an output monitor as well (I used an old TV with HDMI input). Also, you need to truly understand how to configure your capture settings, as there isn't any "auto-detect" feature. For VHS captures, setting it to NTSC for both input and output was the solution. For other captures using HDMI or component video, you have a variety of options that you'll need to systematically experiment with if you don't understand how video formats/aspect ratios/resolutions/etc work.

Ultimately, the dang thing works fine if you are a professional/prosumer/power user AND you want uncompressed video AND you don't mind working the settings a bit.

If you just want to plug something into your computer at home and have it work with minimum effort, I strongly recommend you look at other, cheaper products.
3557532
Works fine, looks decent, takes little space, and only reason I gave it four stars is that for the basic capabilities of what is now essentially a commodity item it should cost less.
1884233
Good enough I guess, nothing to write home about, other than the price
3852313
pretty good.  No complaints yet.  Little pricey if you ask me.
1380105
I had previously used some Monster cable, since discontinued, on my other speakers, and while some audio professionals seem to feel that Monster is a bunch of hype and wildly overvalued, there were a lot of little qualities to it that I was hoping to find in this much less expensive brand.
I will say that it seems to be doing a fine job, reaching my rear surrounds without major loss.  The two wires are easily differentiated, one being blue, the other black.  It's easy to keep from tangling, and is a decent price for 100' of 14 gauge copper.
However, compared to the Monster, the insulator feels a little stiff.  The two wires don't separate as easily; it helps to start it with a knife, if you don't have a strong thumbnail you can hook between them, which can be a little annoying if you're doing a lot of terminals.  It's not the worst thing I've had to put up with all day, and I have another 50 feet on the spindle I'd happily use when the need arises.  As functionality goes, I'd say it's probably a better value than most bigger names.  But your extra money used to get a wire with a more pleasant tactile experience, which counts for something.