Customer Reviews:
GPS Compatibility
GPS Compatibility…

As advertised, TOPO! works well with GPS units. I use it with a Garmin Vista Cx GPS frequently. Other people’s negative reviews concerning GPS compatibility probably stem from their assumption that they should be able to download the maps themselves to a GPS device. No, you can’t do that with just TOPO.

As advertised, you CAN download waypoints or routes before a trip, which becomes extremely helpful when you feel lost. And you CAN upload waypoints and tracks after a trip, which is very interesting to map where you’ve been.

General Comments on the Software…

This is an excellent product which I always use before going exploring or mountain climbing. I discover new features in the software all the time. I don’t think the program has ever crashed on me, and it is not hard to learn. 5 stars!!

Topo for Mac is horrible
The PC version works ok but if you own a Mac, you are out of luck. Major glitches of very basic uses (such as unable to upload waypoints from a spreadsheet to your GPS!! Both upload and download buttons and pulldowns send you to a download only option). It is one of the few Mac apps that will lock down your computer and not respond to force quit.

The interface is bizarre. Want to find a place? - go to “Edit”. Want to find a coordinate? - go to “View”. Want to find customer support? - go to the back of the room.

iMac 2.4 ghz OS 10.5.4, Topo 4.5.0

Out of date maps
I bought this software because I am a grad student and I had to survey alpine sites around the state of Colorado. I thought it would be great. It was not. The biggest problem is that the maps are out of date. For example several hiking trails are missing. I drove up at least ten roads that had locked gates that were not on the map. Many roads are not labeled or not labeled correctly. It was good for putting waypoints in my GPS, but that is all it was good for.

Expect a long learning curve
I’ve used TOPO! for eight years and it’s the best there is for mapping software. I own software for 10 of the western states and use the program almost daily. I use the program in my laptop and when hooked up to my GPS, I have what amounts to a super detailed car navigation system with a 17″ screen. As new maps become available, you can download them free into your computer as needed and it’s a very easy procedure. Also, free upgrades are available on-line and that’s an easy procedure too.

To make the state series most useable, you need to add Back Roads Explorer, which gives much more detailed up-to-date street and street name information.

The only caveates with this program is that you need a relatively fast computer and lots of memory so you can copy the whole program to your hard drive so you don’t have to constantly change cd’s. Also, expect to take some time to fully get to know this program.

Mac OS X Mapping
This piece of software is what I have been hoping for for since I bought my machine. It is the most elegant and detailed mapping system that I have used. With the Garmin Vista Cx it works flawlessly. You can download any or all of the map data from the disks into the “Topo” file and it runs very well on my powerbook G4. It will upload all waypoints, and routes. It will download all waypoints, routes and tracks! The maps are gorgeous! The interactive web feature is cool but young. It has a geocaching feature. The 3d maps are sweet! It downloads updates and new map layers almost perfectly (had to manually download the software update). I only wish that waypoints symbols would transfer to and from my unit but I can easily live without them. Load the Mapsource maps to your device (Garmin “x” series saves to swappable memory microSD cards) and use Topo! from your laptop.

Customer Reviews:
Great size and value!
Good Camera, for the price. Palm size is very comfortable. Get a 16 Gig Card and you are good to go. No complaints with a Canon. Would recommend to all real dads who want save kid memories.

1st Review
I am very pleased with the size of this product and the easy use for talking stills and movies

Problems solved
I bought the Cannon FS100 (blue) even after reading all the reviews about the problems with the .MOD file extension. After receiving the camera and playing with it for a few hours it was really symple to save the movies. I took two videos, changed the file extension to .MPG. Opened Windows Movie Maker. I imported the two movies and clicked save to my computer. Then enter the file name, choose a place to save, click next and go to other settings. Choose (High Quality Video-large) Once the movie is joined the quality is excellent. I have no problem with saving, using this method. I’m really happy with this camera. I hope this helps.

Some things no one else mentioned
I’m a beginner with video, so I’m not one to judge the quality of the image. After reading other reviews, I thought it would be better than it is though. You have only the small LCD screen to use to make adjustments such as exposure or white balance or manual focus, and LCD screens are notorious for looking different at different angles. The screen swivels for ease of use, but where do you set it to know you are seeing what the camera is seeing? Once I put some video onto my computer, it was easier to view, but several shots taken of a marina on a cloudy day had vague purple stripes in the sky. The still images are awful, with lots of purple fringing. The stabilization is electronic and only applies to the video mode, so the camera portion is almost worthless.

I took some video of some real estate to show my family, and the microphone picked up my footsteps in the grass much better than my voice. The windscreen hardly works at all. I shot some video at the beach and didn’t even notice the breeze until I heard it on the video. (and despite what another review said, there is no audio gain control — there is an audio level indicator but you can’t control it)

A big surprise for me was the noise of the buttons. The microphone is up front, but the buttons on the LCD are right there too. There are only a few things you can change while recording (exposure, manual focus, mini-light, backlight compensation, zoom), but all the buttons make noise that is recorded and make it difficult to hold the camera steady. Other features such as white balance, scene type, digital effects, and a few other settings must be chosen before recording starts.

I haven’t tried the included software. I can easily copy the files to my computer by plugging the camera in with the USB cable. I tried putting the SD card into my built-in card reader, but half the time it worked and half the time it locked up my computer. I think that’s probably a hardware issue and has nothing to do with the camera. But the first few videos I took were strange because sometimes playing them (in Windows Media Player) sometimes hung the program and sometimes they played fine.

If you shoot video at eye level, the standard grip that the camera is built for is OK. I have fairly average sized hands, but I have to put my hand at a tiring angle to keep the camera level. My boyfriend’s larger hands have no problem with this (it fits better), but he has a hard time hitting the record button with his thumb - he has to use the middle of the thumb since it’s so close. Trying to hold the camera any other way, it’s difficult to keep it level and steady.

Great little unit with some minor annoyances, but overall pleased for the price
Canon FS100 Flash Memory Camcorder with 48x Optical Zoom (Garnet Wine)

This is my 6th Canon digital video camcorder, having owned a ZR30MC, ZR50MC, ZR90, Optura 20 and Elura 100 before this one. My main objective for purchasing the new flash-memory based camcorder was to get away from the dreaded motor noise from most of these units. Out of all 6 previous models, the Optura 20 had the best video sensor CCD size (1/4″), followed by the Elura 100 (1/5″). The other models, including this FS100, use a sensor CCD size of 1/6″, so I was expecting the video quality to be a bit more grainy (especially from reading all these reviews).

Right out of the box after charging the BP-808 battery, the unit starts up very quickly, however, the LCD is a bit grainy even in moderate lighting. Don’t be alarmed though, this granularity image is not transferred to video, it’s just the nature of the 123K pixel color LCD (my Powershot SD750 has the same problem with its LCD but still takes great pictures). But the biggest test of this new unit was to see how the audio sounded from a camcorder with no moving parts/motor. I am pleased to report the sound is great, and even better (good bass) when hooked up to my 55″ projection TV.

Now for the video quality, it is true the video is very grainy and noisy in low-light settings, but I am much impressed with how well the unit retains its focus in these situations. What I am very much disappointed in is the unit only uses electronic stabilization and at max. telephoto, I can’t get a steady shot with the IS on no matter how steady my hand. And I am not sure what to think of the advanced 48X zoom, the picture tends to pixelate at you approach the 48X, so I may just stick with the 37X optical zoom (I never owned a camera with a zoom bigger than 22X on the older ZR models). Now I haven’t had the chance to video in bright sunlight, but I do feel the single LED video light works very well to help out in low-light situations.

The record, photo and playback menus are excellent on this model, since you are recording to the SD card (I use 8GB Transcend card with included USB reader) and you can never accidentally erase footage and you can choose scenes and playback with a few touches of a button. The joystick on the LCD is placed in a comfortable location and is very responsive. One major complaint I have is why does Canon insist on the user having to press buttons to activate the faders/digital effects? Every model I have owned has this same problem, and yes the mics will pick up on you having to press button to activate you fade-to-black for ending your current recording in progress. I know for a fact on older Sony 8mm units, once you activate a fader, it will remain active for every scene you shoot until you turn it off. Canon needs to do this on future models.

Still photo quality is surprisingly good on this model (as compared to experience on previous models), but it is a function of lighting available to you.

I use iMovie ‘08 and the software/Macbook has no problem recognizing the files. I don’t like the fact you have to use AC power to transfer your files/photos to your computer, but I bought the USB card reader to get around this. IMovie HD will not recognize these files, so you’ll have to upgrade to iLife 08 and you need an Intel Mac for this to work. iPhoto immediately recognizes the camera if you have any still images to transfer.

In summary, the unit is very light and easy to hold, very responsive to start recording in about a second, and the electronic lens cap is a nice little feature. Here are my PROs and CONs:

PROs:

- Sleek, lightweight and colorful unit that is easy to hold and the major user features to operate it are well placed

- Focus in excellent and very responsive even in low light settings

- Very bright LED video light that helps in low-light recordings

- Very good video quality in very well-lit surroundings, and audio is great with no motor noise!

- Excellent menu hierarchy with quick, easy playback of your scenes

- Flash memory is great and very reliable, but pick up extra cards (8GB Class 6 or higher) especially with the good prices here at Amazon.com. I recommend Transcend from experience with this unit.

- Many manual controls I have not yet explored

- NO MOTOR NOISE, did I mention this?

- Quickstart standby mode is great and really helps to conserve battery power.

- Intelligent battery meter a great addition to help you gauge remaining battery life

CONS:

- Low light performance on this unit is very poor, but video light does improve video quality and I’m sure Shutter priority and other manual settings could even help out more.

- Electronic stabilization is not at all useful at maximum telephoto and even pixelates the image while producing a really bad shake even with steady hands.

- I am not impressed with the advanced zoom to gain an extra 11X from plain optical zoom. Video quality will suffer at maximum telephoto.

- You have to use the joystick to activate faders and digital effects during your recordings, so expect to hear the button-pushing on your video footage.

- Have to plug in the unit to AC power to transfer video/photos to your computer.

So as you can see the PROs outweigh the CONs and I am happy with this unit in overall performance and value for its price (I got mine in a bundle pack at [...] with the unit, extra OEM Canon battery and a carrying case, sorry Amazon!) This camera is a definite keeper for me for a while (until I get HD TV and home theater systems), and then I’ll probably upgrade to the equivalent HD model the HF100.

I would recommend this camera to anyone wanting a new standard definition unit, but be sure to invest in several SD memory cards to support your video needs. As you can see I am a loyal Canon consumer for both my camcorder and digital camera needs. Nice job overall, Canon, on this FS100 model.

Customer Reviews:
Disappointment
I find that this “camera” takes blurred, dark, unidentifiable images in even the brightest sunlight. I will be returning it for a refund as it does not meet ANY of my needs.

Awesome product! The quality you can;t beat! Videos are terrific on this just like my camera!
This came with a high rating, and I think it supercedes the high rating for the money! It has excellent clarity, awesome video quality, easy to use, and easy to transfer! Holds SD card for what ever amount you choose! I love this product and very well worth the money I spent!

Bushnell Compact Instant Replay camera binoculars
Don’t purchase these binoculars!! I’m in the process of returning my second pair. I called Bushnell about the camera not working properly and they said to return them because they were defective. Well, I just got my second pair and they do the same thing. Bushnell said maybe a bad shipment went out. Picture looks OK in the LCD screen, but when you try to replay it, it’s all blurred lines. I’ve tried everything I can think of because I thought it might be me, but no. Also batteries went to just 2 bars in a matter of minutes. I tried 3 kinds and all were the same. Luckily the seller has been very helpful with great customer service. I’m going to purchase a good zoom digital camera instead, which is what some of the reviews recommended in the first place.

I am dissapointed
As binoculas this gadget does the job but as a camera is way far. The colors are very saturated and I had to spend a lot of time trying to fix them with different digital software. The image gets distorted quickly by the movement. Maybe using a permanent tripod. I tried the different light settings and the result is not much better. I am going to return them. If your are thinking to buy this product search for other consumer reports. I only found one and it was negative. But I did look for them after I bought the product.Don’t make the same mistake

Weak Bushnell Instant Replay
My review for the will be short and disappointed for the Bushnell Instant Replay 8×30 Binocular 5MP Camera.

Pros: compact and light, binocular optics are good, video is of middle quality, added SD card capable

Cons: camera optics very poor, it is not a true through-the-lens camera though advertised as so, relies on a separate focus free separate camera for photos and video, very hard on rechargeable batteries (mine lasted only 9-10 minutes), and LCD screen is too small (which is needed for many adjustment settings during shooting) and easily wasted out in sun light.

I cannot recommend this binocular and camera combo. I ended up sending it back, which the seller promptly refunded all but 10 percent of purchase price. I justified my return by stating, “The item had too many negatives to justify the expense.”

Customer Reviews:
High quality yet inexpensive
This keyboard is solid and responsive with robust functions and limited programmability. The handles are sturdy and contribute to the overall solidity of the device. The keys feel solid, but not stiff. The keypad is not without its quirks however; the num lock key must be *off* in order to use the letters “UIOJKLM” as letters rather than numbers. The sleep button is the only one that cannot be programmed (although the behavior of *all* sleep buttons can be set in Windows Vista). The cursor buttons are well proportioned and the joystick is rugged (although users may need to boost the track speed on high-resolution systems, i.e. HTPCs). The bundled software is primitive but functional. There is a driver for Vista 64 bit, which is critical due to Microsoft’s rejection of all unsigned drivers for 64 bit Vista versions.

perfect for what I needed
The first thing I noticed, that it came with batteries. And not just that, they were brand name AA batteries. Wow, how nice. I will have to say that is a first for me getting name brand batteries with electronics.

I plugged this thing in my Quad Vista 64bit SP1 machine, and bam, went right to the internet, got the drivers and started working. HELLO! I never used the disk, but all of the functioned seem to work with the drivers Vista downloaded. I was pleased it recognized it right away.

I would recommend this keyboard, it is affordable. I have only had it for a few months with light use, so I don’t know about the durability yet. But, so far overall I have had no problems. I can even use my regular keyboard, this keyboard, a wired mouse and a wireless mouse all at the same time, with no issues. Not to mention my infra red- remotes for the PC. Yes, as you guess I am running media center….

The joystick makes all the difference!
This will not be your deskop keyboard replacement, there are much better (although more expensive) options for that. To control the PC in your living room, however, the one that you have connected to your TV to watch all those torrents on a large screen while mindlessly reclining in your lazy-boy there is simply no better option.

First there is the pointing device: obviously mice don’t have a place in the coach, and trackballs and touchpads have to be “cranked” a number of times in order to get the pointer from one end of the screen to the other; with a joystick it is just a matter of pushing once and letting the device do its thing until you reach the desired icon or widget. Then there is the keyboard: you need something reasonably comfortable to enter URLs and search terms, type the occasional credit card number or answer your email, but you probably won’t try to do word-processing, 3D-modelling or serious video gaming in-between your video clips. And last, but not least, there is wireless: unlike products from software monopolists become hardware ergonomists, this keyboard will actually connect from your lap to its base on the stereo rack 8 or so feet away. As a bonus, the packaging looks and feels sturdy enough (but I haven’t subjected it to the kids-and-dog sress test) and the multimedia keys work with iTunes in my Mac … Can’t beat all that convenience anywhere else at that low price point!

Good for PC bad for PS3
This keyboard was designed for the living room or classroom. The keyboard is compact and sturdy. It is strong enough to sit on your lap or grip with two hands to the side. What I like is the very responsive keypad. The mouse pad is convenient and is like a game console controller joystick. I returned this after the compatibility issues with the PS3, but it worked fine on a PC. For the PS3 I loose signal after exiting the PS3 web-browser and have to reset the keyboard many times. There are trigger buttons in the front.

There are also Bluetooth rechargeable keyboards from Logitech. The RF range on this pad is good. It is at a great price, but need to be more compatible with the PS3. Interlink’s Versapoint is a similar product. Its cost twice as much but it works on the PS3 and PC. Sadly, its mouse is not as good as this one.