Showing posts with label tech products. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tech products. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011

EPSON WorkForce 635~ review


Are you in need of a printer solution for a small office space? Do you have a home office and need a reliable printer that can print, scan, fax and copy? Have you ever wished you could own a great printer that count print two-sided copies? If you answered, “yes” to any of the above questions, then you must look no further than the Epson WorkForce 635.

My husband and I have been using the Epson WorkForce 635 for a couple of months now and have found it to be a terrific addition to our Epson family of printers. Not only does the WorkForce 635 print fast smudge-proof copies, it prints automatic double-sided copies as well. That is definitely our favorite feature.

Another great feature of the WorkForce 635 is its ability to print not only directly from my computer, but also wirelessly and/or from my portable hard drive. At home, we like to use this printer wirelessly. That way, we can print from anywhere in our home. Even so, I do a lot of work away from home as well, always saving to my portable hard drive. I appreciate that I can hook my hard drive into the USB port on the printer and print my documents quickly and easily.


Speaking of the capability of printing quickly, I must say, the WorkForce 635 prints more quickly that any all-in-one I have ever worked with.
• Single Sided – 15 pages per minute (ppm) in black & white and 7.2 ppm in color
• Double Sided – 7.5 pages per minute (ppm) in black & white and 4.6 ppm in color
These speeds are important to me because I have a teenage son who tends to remember school projects that need to be printed as we are rushing out the door! With the Epson Workforce 635, I don’t have to worry about waiting around for a printer to finish the job. With this printer, we can move from, “Uh oh, mom!” to out the door in just minutes!

Some Highlights from the Manufacturer’s Description:
• Save time — with the world’s fastest all-in-one in both one- and two-sided printing
• Speed through critical documents — ISO print speeds of 15 ISO ppm (black) and 7.2 ISO ppm (color), two-sided print speeds of 7.5 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color)
• Save paper — save up to 50% of your paper supply with automatic, two-sided printing
• Print twice as much — get about 2x more prints with 127 Extra High-capacity Black ink cartridges
• Individual ink cartridges — replace only the color you need
• Less hassle — built-in 250-sheet paper tray means you re-load paper less often
• Do more — 30-page Auto Document Feeder to quickly copy, scan or fax stacks of one- or two-sided originals
• Easy wireless printing — built-in Easy Epson Wi-Fi makes wireless setup, networking and printing fast and easy
• PC-Fax — fax documents directly from your computer
• Front USB port — insert thumb drive and upload files directly to your PC
• High-speed faxing in black and color — as fast as 3 sec per page; speed dial storage up to 60 numbers; fax memory up to 180 pages
• Save energy — uses up to 70% less power than laser printers
• Quickly print from your mobile device — print photos, office documents and more, see www.epson.com/mobileprinting for details
• Save up to 50% on paper with manual, two-sided printing

Bottom Line:
The Epson WorkForce 635 is a great printer for small business use- especially if one needs a solution for faxing, printing invoices, and other forms. Even so, my family loves this printer for its ability to print double sided documents and for the speed at which it prints any document.

Buy It:
For the fantastic price of only $199.99 and free shipping, you can buy the WorkForce 635 printer by visiting the Epson website at http://www.epson.com/. You can find Epson Twitter too!

Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part.

Monday, June 28, 2010

ThermaPAK HeatShift Laptop Cooling Pad Review and Giveaway

Laptops get hot. That's a fact. Some brands can run hotter than others. The laptop I used prior to my ASUS would get so hot on my lap, that it would actually burn me! Eventually, the laptop died, and I am certain that it had something to do with all that overheating.

Now, my ASUS does get hot, just not as hot as my previous computer. At times, when I am using my laptop for long periods of time, it gets so hot that it just shuts itself off. Not good. Determined not to lose another laptop to my mistake of allowing the computer to constantly overheat, I started to research products that would keep my laptop cool. It was around this time that ThermaPAK offered to send me one of their HeatShift Cooling Pads to try.

ThermaPAK's patented HeatShift Technology™ is the culmination of nearly a decade in researching thermal dynamics. At the core of HeatShift Technology™ is a unique blend of phase changing material (PCM) created by our research and development engineers. This formula has proved successful in cooling laptops up to 6°C (11°F), with the following benefits:

Benefits

  • Requires No Refrigeration
  • Requires No Laptop Power (which extends battery life)
  • Mobile and easy to carry (approved for airport security)
  • Can be used for notebooks of all brands sizes
  • Performance comparable to USB fans
The unipocket design used in the HeatShift Technology™ ensures maximum heat distribution from the notebook computer. Its design also creates air channels beneath the computer for proper ventilation and air passage.

How It Works

A device that transfers heat by conduction AND convection provides the maximum amount of heat exchange. Conduction is heat transferred directly from one object to another by physically touching. Convection is heat transferred by the movement of liquid molecules from warmer areas to cooler ones. HeatShift Technology™ pads utilize both conduction and convection to cool your laptop - and your lap!

My Review
When I first received the ThermaPAK HeatShift Cooling Pad, I noticed that it was a bit stiff. After use for a few days, it began to soften up a bit- most likely from absorbing all that laptop heat! Since using the HeatShift Cooling Pad, my computer has not shut off once. I can use my laptop for extended periods of time, and I feel no heat at all. I love that! I have taken the HeatShift Cooling Pad with me when I travel with my laptop and like that it is portable. I can either slip it in with my laptop in the carrying case or roll it up and stash it in a corner of my suitcase. Either way, it wakes up very little room. My favorite feature of the TermaPAK HeatsShift Cooling Pad? It saves my computer from an early death due to overheating too many times! This is most important to me.
Bottom Line
I would recommend anyone who owns a laptop purchase a Thermapak Heatshift Laptop Cooler. It is a great, inexpensive product that is durable, portable and dependable. It is a must-own product for anyone who owns a laptop.
Buy It
ThermaPAK offers the HeatShift Cooling Pad in the colors black, pink, or white (for MAC). You can also purchase it in either a 13", 15", or 17" size. Purchase yours by visiting the ThermaPAK website.
Win It
The great folks at ThermaPAK are offering the chance for one lucky living life one day at a time reader to win a ThermaPAK HeatShift Laptop Cooling Pad. Very cool, indeed.
How to Win
To enter, simply leave a comment telling me why you want to win a HeatShift Laptop Cooling Pad.
How to Score Bonus Entries
After you have completed the first required entry, you are eligible for bonus entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for EACH entry. Each counts as one extra entry (unless noted otherwise).
1. For five extra entries, blog about this giveaway with a link back to living life one day at a time (http://colleenstearns.blogspot.com/) and ThermaPAK (be sure to post the url to your post here in a comment so I know where to find it).
2. Subscribe to my blog via email.
3. Click on the FOLLOW THIS BLOG link on my left sidebar and become a public follower of my blog via Google Friend Connect.
4. Leave me a comment on a non-giveaway post and then let me know where you commented.
5. For two extra entries, add my button to your blog- leave me a message with your blog address so I can check it out. :)
6. Follow living life one day at a time on Twitter AND Tweet about the giveaway. Leave the URL to the Tweet in your comment. You can tweet once a day, but remember to leave the URL to each tweet. You can tweet "I entered to win a ThermaPAK HeatShift Laptop Cooling Pad from @livelifereviews. You can too! http://tinyurl.com/2eopjox #giveaway " Make sure to leave a link to your twitter message in your comment. You can do this once a day. Please make sure to come back each day and leave another comment with your new twitter message link.
7. Add this giveaway to a Mr. Linky, Blog Carnival, Sweepstakes site, forum etc. Be sure to leave the url in a comment. (1 entry per submission)
IMPORTANT
Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. If you earned two or more entries for a specific item (such as #1, #5 and #6 above), be sure to leave me a comment for each of the entries you've earned.
*Enter by 11 pm (EST) on Friday, July 16, 2010.
One lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified via email, so make sure you leave a valid email address in your comment. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email. If she or he does not respond within 48 hours, a new random winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is open only to US entries.
Disclosure:
The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: Seagate FreeAgent Go


In the past year, my computer hard drive has crashed TWICE. You'd think that after the first time, I would have learned to back up my photos and documents. Unfortunately, I did not. Twice I lost everything- photos of my boys, other family photos, articles I have written, and so much more. I am determined never to make that mistake again.

As one who knows fist hand the importance of backing up photos and files on your computer, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to review the Seagate FreeAgent Go. Weighing in at less than one-half pound, the Seagate FreeAgent Go is a light, sleek device.

From the website:
The ultimate portable storage solution with the world’s first hard drive docking station for easy access to all your stuff. Sleek, ultra-thin design that’s as stylish as it is striking.
  • Store photos, music, and other files
  • Carry your data anywhere you want
  • Sync data between computers
  • Back up files using the optional dock
Big capacity. Small package.
  • Get a lot without carrying a lot. And look good while you do it.
  • Available in a range of capacities, from 250GB to 1TB
  • The thinnest portable drive available. Even the cables are compact
  • Multiple colors to suit your style and let you tell one FreeAgent Go from the next
My review:
I was sent the Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB external hard drive for review in a slick titanium silver color. Right away, I loved the tapered look of the unit- sleek and stylish. Another great aspect of the FreeAgent Go is mobility. Portability of this unit is a must for me, as I take my laptop with me nearly everywhere. With the FreeAgent Go, I am able to back up files and photos quickly. (You can bet I am not willing to take the risk of losing another photo of my children to a hard drive crash ever again!)
Speaking of backing up important photos and documents, another great feature of the FreeAgent Go is that it will automatically back-up my files for me in case I do forget to do so on my own. This feature is what really impressed me! I set the the Seagate Manager to sync certain folders every day at a particular time. If I wanted to, I could only have it perform an automatic back-up on certain days of the week. I could also choose to disable automatic back-up- something I am not about to do! :)
One very cool aspect to the Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB hard drive is that is comes preloaded with the movie Star Trek. Once I registered the hard drive with Seagate, I was sent an activation code which allowed me to unlock the movie. Even cooler is that there are over 20 other preloaded movies on the hard drive which I can also activate for a small fee.
Seagate offers the Seagate FreeAgent Go with many different storage capacity options. As I mentioned, I was sent the 500 GB unit (on sale now through June 10 at Seagate for only $99.99!), but I can purchase a unit with anywhere from 250GB to 1 TB. Another fun option for this unit is that it is available in many different colors (I love the sky blue color.). Why not buy one which suits your style and personality?

Buy It
You can purchase the Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB with the preloaded Star Trek movie from the Seagate site for only $99 (until June 10). The regular price is $139.99! With Father's Day right around the corner, this would make a GREAT gift for Dad!

Win It
The great folks at Seagate have very generously allowed me to give away one 500GB FreeAgent Go ultra-portable drive with a free copy of Star Trek and one other movie (from the selection of 20 other titles).
How to Enter
To enter, simply share a story of your favorite movie-going or movie watching experience in a post below. (Be sure to include your email address in your post!)
How to Score Bonus Entries
After you have completed the first required entry, you are eligible for bonus entries. Make sure you leave a separate comment for EACH entry. Each counts as one extra entry (unless noted otherwise).
  1. For FIVE extra entries, blog about this giveaway with a link back to living life one day at a time (http://colleenstearns.blogspot.com/) and Seagate (be sure to post the url to your post here in a comment so I know where to find it).
  2. Subscribe to my blog via email.
  3. Click on the FOLLOW THIS BLOG link on my left sidebar. (Please note: Due to some recent changes with Blogger, those of you who already follow my blog will need to do so again. Thanks!)
  4. Leave me a comment on a non-giveaway post and then let me know where you commented.
  5. For TWO extra entries, add my button to your blog- leave me a message with your blog address so I can check it out. :)
  6. Follow living life one day at a time and Seagate on Twitter AND Tweet about the giveaway. Leave the URL to the Tweet in your comment. You can tweet once a day, but remember to leave the URL to each tweet. You can tweet "Enter to win a Seagate FreeAgent Go 500GB portable storage device from @livelifereviews and @Seagate http://tinyurl.com/294827o #giveaway " Make sure to leave a link to your twitter message in your comment. You can do this once a day. Please make sure to come back each day and leave another comment with your new twitter message link.
  7. Add this giveaway to a Mr. Linky, Blog Carnival, Sweepstakes site, forum etc. Be sure to leave a the url in a comment. (1 entry per submission)
IMPORTANT
Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. If you earned two or more entries for a specific item (such as #1, #5 and #6 above), be sure to leave me a comment for each of the entries you've earned.
*Enter by 9pm (EST) on Friday, June 25, 2010.
One lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified via email, so make sure you leave a valid email address in your comment. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email. If she or he does not respond within 48 hours, a new random winner will be chosen.
This giveaway is open only to US entries.
There was no monetary compensation received for this review. I received the Seagate FreeAgent GO for the purpose of completing this review. Receipt of this did not sway my opinion.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

REVIEW: EPSON PictureMate Charm

It's no secret that my family loves EPSON printers. We have tried other brands, but nothing has come close to the picture quality of the EPSON. With four photographers in the family, picture quality is the most important aspect we look for in a printer.

This year, Santa brought Ian his first digital camera. He takes that camera everywhere! Not a child blessed with patience, he likes to see his pictures right away. (This is a kid with photos as the main decorating element in his bedroom.) So, when I had the opportunity to review the EPSON PictureMate Charm, I readily agreed- knowing exactly who would love this printer the most!

Ian has a lot of fun with the PictureMate Charm! He likes that he can quickly put his SD card in the printer, choose the photo he wants to print, do quick adjustment to the pictures, and in no time (literally under one minute), he is holding the print in his hand.

From the Epson website:
Overview

*2.5" LCD color photo viewer
*4" x 6" photos in as fast as 37 seconds1
*Smudge, water and fade resistant photos
*Choose from various layouts and print in black-and-white, color or sepia
*Borderless photos, remove red eye, PC free
*Compatible with any digital camera
*Everyday low print price
*Easy to use
*Optional rechargeable battery for printing on-the-go
*Optional carry case and bluetooth adapter

Ian isn't the only family member enjoying the Epson PictureMate Charm. As a middle school teacher, one of the several ways I have used this great little printer is in my scrapbook class for kids who weren't able to print at home. My older son has used it to print photos he needed for projects. In two weeks when we celebrate the boys' birthdays with family and friends, we plan to have the PictureMate Charm ready to instantly print copies of photos for eveyone.

In addition to the picture quality, what we love best about the PictureMate Charm is the portability of the printer. With it's great lunch pail design, the Charm can be taken along with us very easily. EPSON offers an optional carrying case for the printer, something I have seriously considered purchasing to protect the printer when we travel with it.

One other bonus to this printer is the cost of ink and printer paper. EPSON sells these terrific Print Packs for its portable printers which cost less than $35.00 (purchased online or in stores). The Print Pack includes ink and paper, and with the glossy pack, I am able to print 150 pictures for that $35.00 (that's less than 24 cents per photo!). I think that's a terrific deal!

The only wish I have for this printer is that a battery pack was included. To use outdoors, we have to have access to an electrical outlet, which is not always possible. The price of the battery is $49.99 through the EPSON website.

Bottom Line:
Pros-
*picture quality
*portability
*fast
*low cost of paper and ink
*user-friendly

Cons-
*battery pack not included

Overall, we are thrilled with the EPSON PictureMate Charm printer! Thanks EPSON for allowing us to review this fun product!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Video Reviews

Thanks to the folks at Flip Video, living life one day at a time will soon be able to post video reviews!

Thanks Flip Video!

A Cord on Blue Review & Giveaway

*This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering!*

Do you have a problem keeping your Bluetooth ear piece attached to your ear? Have you ever lost it because it fell off, and you didn't notice it until it was too late? (That happened to me twice.) Does your ear bud ever disappear in the bottomless pit of your handbag? If so, have I got a solution for you!

A Cord on Blue offers a fashionable way to keep that mobile headset from getting lost. The chic beaded cord attaches to your shirt and then up to your headset, or you could clip it to your handbag or briefcase whenever it's not in use.

From the website:
Originally designed to respond to the new “hands-free” law in California and several other states, a Cord on Blue™ gives users a beautiful alternative to fishing for their wireless mobile headset* in a purse, briefcase or car.
You'll be dazzled by all the beautiful colors, styles and sizes we offer. Choose a short leash for a quick clip to your shirt or sweater, or go for a longer neckleash that turns into a necklace once your wireless headset is removed. Each a Cord on Blue™ is quality handcrafted in the USA, making it a special piece of functional jewelry too pretty not to be noticed. Our designers have chosen the very latest trends, from gunmetal chains to stunning shaped-glass beads for that modern fashion statement. Sparkling crystal and elegant floral beads lend a more classic, feminine look. Choose from the entire collection of over 40 designs and get ready for the compliments! It’s the perfect accessory, and a very thoughtful gift.

When I was asked to review A Cord on Blue for Mom Fuse, I was able to choose any of the Leashes or Neckleashes. That was not easy, and I will tell you, the only problem you will have with this product is choosing which design to purchase! I settled on The World on a String Neckleash. I loved the metal beads and black fire polish on this particular piece and thought it would work perfectly for the style of clothing I typically wear.

When the package arrived, I was surprised to find that I was sent a Leash and Neckleash to try. What fun! I ended up loving both, and I switch between the two quite often.

I recommend A Cord on Blue to anyone looking for a fun, fashionable and affordable way to keep from having to search for their wireless headset.

BUY NOW:
Stop by A Cord on Blue and find the perfect Leash or Neckleash for yourself.

WIN IT:
A Cord on Blue has generously offered one living life one day at a time reader a chance to win a Leash or Neckleash of their choice.

HOW TO WIN:
• Visit A Cord on Blue and then post here and tell me which product you will choose if you win this prize.
• If you are not a blogger, email 3 of your friends telling them about this giveaway, and cc me at colleenstearns@gmail.com.

ENTER DAILY!!!
Once you post your initial entry, you can come back daily and tell me you want another entry by telling me you want another entry!

SCORE EVEN MORE ENTRIES:
1. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to my site and A Cord on Blue (be sure to post your link here so I know where to find it). 3 entries
2. Subscribe to my blog via email.
3. Click on the FOLLOW THIS BLOG link on my left sidebar.
4. Add my button to your blog- leave me a message with your blog address so I can check it out. :) 2 entries
5. Tweet about this contest on Twitter (Be sure to follow me on Twitter too- see link in my sidebar.). Make sure to leave a link to your twitter message in your comment. You can do this once a day. Please make sure to come back each day and leave another comment with your new twitter message link.

IMPORTANT:
Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry. If you earned two or more entries for a specific item (such as #1 and #4 above), be sure to leave me a comment for each of the entries you've earned.

*Enter by 9pm (EST) on Wednesday, February 25, 2009.

One lucky commenter will be chosen at random and notified via email, so make sure you leave a valid email address in your comment. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email. If she or he does not respond within 48 hours, a new random winner will be chosen.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

REVIEW: iHome iHM77RC Portable Multimedia Speakers

My family loves music. We all have different tastes, and since we can rarely agree on what to listen to, everyone has an mp3 player. That way, nobody has to argue about music selection; four different people with four different tastes in music used to mean volume wars before we got the iPods.

Even so, I like to have music playing when I scrapbook. Since the scrapbook room is in the basement, I can play my music as loud as I want! The problem is that the songs I really want to listen to are on my iPod, and having the cord from ear buds dangling while I am trying to concentrate on my designs is annoying. So, I have to choose to put up with the cord or forgo the music.

I also like to be able to use my laptop in my classroom to share audio and video clips with my students. However, the speakers on my current laptop are not powerful enough for my students to hear well.

So, needless to say, when asked by Mom Fuse if I was interested in reviewing a set of portable speakers from iHome Audio, I jumped at the chance.

Now, I have to admit, when the package arrived in the mail, I had serious doubts that the iHM77RC Multimedia Portable Speakers would be the solution I was looking for. They are quite small, and I assumed that they sound quality would not impress me.

I first tested the iHM77RC Portable Multimedia Speakers at home with my iPod and immediately knew that my initial impression was wrong. These bitty speakers pack a big punch! The quality of sound is crisp and clear, even when the volume is turned all the way up.

Next, I took the speakers to school and tried them out with my laptop. Again, they delivered a full, clear sound. All of my students, regardless of where they were sitting in the classroom, were able to hear the audio clips.

Aside from the impressive sound from the iHM77RC Portable Multimedia Speakers, I love their tiny size. They take up such little room, so they are perfect for small spaces. The included carrying pouch is great for keeping them protected when taking them to and from work. I have to admit, I also adore the red color. No boring black for me!

From the website:
Sound Beyond Size! The iHM77 is the perfect stereo speaker system for your iPod, iPhone, Macbook or any Laptop and MP3 player. The iHM77 speakers attach magnetically in a capsule shape for ultimate portability, then separate and extend for surprisingly big stereo sound that must be heard to be believed. Features two amplified speakers with built-in rechargeable batteries, vacuum bass expansion, USB charging, and comes with a protective carrying case.

Check out iHome Audio to buy these amazing speakers for only $49.99. Be sure to take a look at all the other great products they have available as well.