Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery (New Line Platinum Series)
by Mike Myers Elizabeth Hurley
Director: Jay Roach
Average Customer Review:
DVD (14 September, 2004)
list price: $14.96 -- our price: $13.46
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

If you don't think Austin Powers is one of the funniest movies of the 1990s, maybe you should be packed into a cryogenic time-chamber and sent back to the decade whence you came.Perhaps it was the 1960s--the shag-a-delic decade when London hipster Austin Powers scored with gorgeous chicks as a fashion photographer by day, crime-fighting international man of mystery by night. Yeah, baby, yeah! But when Powers's arch nemesis, Dr. Evil, puts himself into a deep-freeze and travels via time-machine to the late 1990s, Powers must follow him and foil Evil's nefarious scheme of global domination. Mike Myers plays dual roles as Powers and Dr. Evil, with Elizabeth Hurley as his present-day sidekick and karate- kicking paramour. A hilarious spoof of '60s spy movies, this colorful comedy actually gets funnier with successive viewings, making it a perfect home video for gloomy days and randy nights. Oh, behave! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• Widescreen
• Dolby

Reviews (465)

Crude, lewd, yet outrageously entertaining!
The brainchild of former Saturday Night Live cast member Mike Myers (Wayne's World, Wayne's World 2), Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery burst onto the Hollywood landscape in 1997 and made a beeline for the cult classic Hall of Fame. A parody/satire of the popular James Bond films of the past several decades, Austin Powers gave birth to a number of quirky and famous characters such as Austin himself, Dr. Evil, Scott Evil, and (later) "Mini-Me". Sporting some of the most outrageous antics and bathroom humor in the history of film, Austin Powers successfully utilizes its play on the James Bond series (because it so parallels the films) to create a memorable movie that will keep you laughing for two hours plus...

Mike Myers plays the role of Austin Powers - international man of mystery. Frozen in a cryogenic chamber since the 1960s, Austin is thawed out in the 1990s in order to take on his arch-nemesis Dr. Evil (who has also been frozen during that time period). A free-love advocate, Austin makes an immediate play for his new partner Vanessa Kensington (Elizabeth Hurley), daughter of his former spy partner Mrs. Kensington (Mimi Rogers).

Meanwhile, Dr. Evil collaborates with his entourage which consists of Number Two (Robert Wagner), Frau Farbissina (Mindy Sterling), and others. He develops a plan to steal a nuclear weapon and hold the world hostage for... one million dollars! No. Make that one trillion dollars!!! To carry out his task, Dr. Evil must not only face down Austin Powers and his beautiful partner, but he's forced to grapple with the common-sense, quasi-evil tendencies of his son Scott Evil (Seth Green) with whom he's constantly fighting. Can Austin Powers save the world? Or will Dr. Evil succeed in holding the world hostage?

The success of Austin Powers is wholly attributable to the unique comic mind of Mike Myers who not only starred in the leading roles, but who also wrote the screenplay. Myers' portrayal of Dr. Evil steals the show with his evil laugh, diabolical grin, and propensity for all things evil (such as "evil petting zoos"). His soliloquy while receiving family counseling with Scott ranks as not only one of the best scenes in the film, but among the best scenes from any comedy film ever made. Elizabeth Hurley also turns in a good performance as Austin's partner Vanessa (doing a far better acting job than the verbally-challenged Heather Graham who always seemed to be reading from cue-cards in the Austin Powers sequel).

Meanwhile, Will Ferrell (of SNL and Elf fame) makes a notable appearance as Dr. Evil's henchman, Mustafa. His is a recurring character in later films. Overall, Austin Powers is one of the funniest films you'll ever see. Unless outrageous comedy is simply not your cup of tea, I can't think of any reason not to recommend this film. Although the sequels are hilarious in their own right, the original is the best (as is often the case), and that's why Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery is a definite must-see film...

The DVD Report

Austin Powers
Austin Powers is one of the funniest films I've ever seen. The movie is a laugh out loud riot, and it'll have you begging for more. The story is about a secret agent that's cryogenically frozen for thirty years, so he can catch his old time adversary Dr. Evil. Although the story is a bit far fetched and predictable, it doesn't ruin the film. The movie does a great job making fun of one of America's outragious decades, and it pokes fun at a lot of spy movie cliches. With so many sexual jokes about the sixties, this film never stops being interesting. Overall, it's a great film to enjoy.

Also, the DVD has an incorrect framed transfer.
The DVD presents the film with a ratio of 1.93:1, when the film's ratio is actually 2.35:1.

Mediocre
I waited a long time to see this movie. It sounded stupid and wasn't worth my time. I finally saw it and I wasn't much off the mark. It is one of those movies that you see just because so many other people have. Has some moderatley funny parts, but none that really made me laugh. I like that they used Kurt Bacharach and music from earlier films (e.g., Casino Royale). It was neat to see some toned-down 60s flashbacks, if just to get it out of your system. Overall, I wouldn't see it on its own right, but it is a "societal" movie that needs to be waded through. ... Read more

Asin: 6304696221
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Bachelor Pad Christmas
Average Customer Review:
Audio CD (15 October, 1996)
list price: $11.98
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Nostalgic to a fault, A Bachelor Pad Christmas features some notable vintage vocal and lounge music performances, including Ella Fitzgerald singing "Let It Snow" and the original Mel Torme version of "The Christmas Song" (who wrote the chestnut himself). The compilation's most surprising pieces, however, are the numerous instrumental tracks, featuring David Rose on a lovely Christmas medley and Edmundo Ros's wild and enchanting arrangement of "My Favorite Things." And with Jimmy Durante's memorable "Frosty the Snowman" and Spike Jones's "Here Comes Santa Claus," you have to guess that this disc isn't entirely geared to single, swinging males (unless it is also geared at their inner child, too.) --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Hipster Holiday
Given the reflexive flinch many have to the onslaught of the holidays (and the ever-present repetition of a couple dozen Christmas chestnuts), it's a treat to slip a disc in the player that brings something a bit hipper and less well-travelled.

The archivists at Mondo Lounge have put together a fine (if a bit short) program of ten tracks, ranging from the swingin' sounds of Ella Fitzgerald ("Let it Snow, Let it Snow") and Wayne Newton ("Jingle Bells") to string and horn-laden instrumentals by Ronnie Aldridge and Edmundo Ros.

In between are ballads from Connie Francis and Mel Torme (including his rendition of his own "The Christmas Song"), and novelties from Jimmy Durante and Spike Jones. It's a nicely balanced program that plays well as both foreground or background entertainment - a perfect addition to your CD changer's holiday set. This is sure to remind you that Santa likes his martini very, very dry!

Not so bad
I did like this cd- if you are into lounge music and all that good stuff you would enjoy this one also. Just beware if you play it around people who have had a bit to much egg nog! ... Read more

Asin: B000001EW1
Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Easy Listening    4. Holiday    5. Lounge    6. Pop    7. Swing    8. Traditional Pop   

The Barbecue! Bible
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (06 January, 1998)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.57
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

There's a world of grilled food out there, and Steven Raichlen seems to have wandered through all of it the State Department deemed "safe." No Afghanistan, for instance. No Iraq. But not to worry. Any decent conflict produces refugees, and nothing travels quite so easily as your own way with food. So Raichlen availed himself of restaurant cooks in this country where and when he had to--all to get right down to the meat of it.

"Barbecue," as Raichlen points out, is a confusing word in the U.S. because it means so many things, up to and including slow-cooked barbecue with its smoky aroma and succulent charm. The word stands in for the tool itself. It's an event. It's food. It's the style of cooking.

To set the record straight, 90 percent of Raichlen's recipes (there are more than 500, from drinks to appetizers to main courses, salads, and desserts, not to mention sauces and dry rubs) are for grilled foods--and that can mean cooked on a hot grill, a moderately hot grill, a relatively cool grill, or an indirectly heated grill (which is more like an oven than a grill, but that's another story). Raichlen gets into some barbecue recipes: pork ribs, for example, or beef brisket, or chicken. But the reader would be better advised to look elsewhere for instruction specific to barbecue (cooking for long periods of time with smoke at low heat). The results will be more appealing.

But grilling. Well, Steven Raichlen has a lock on grilling. This book is absolutely overwhelming it is so deep, so comprehensive, so far-reaching, so all-encompassing. This isn't one of those chefs with taste memories from a grill in Barbados, now let's try to jazz it up and be clever kind of books. No. This is a book by an author who squatted in the market in Vietnam eating whole grilled eggs dipped in a special sauce, and he gives you the recipe and the technique. You could go set up your own egg-grilling stand in a Vietnamese market with this book. You could open shop in Central or South America. Or North Africa. Or the Middle East. Or Korea. Anywhere food is grilled--be that meat, poultry, seafood, or vegetables--Raichlen's been there and brought home the goods. The real goods.

But there's another angle, too. Raichlen freely shares his travel experiences with you, making this a valuable travel book. And he freely shares his techniques, too, telling you exactly how he learned and all about who taught him. His book is worth it just for the section on salads and sauces. Start there and work your way from cover to cover. Hey, take all summer trying. You won't regret it. Your life will never be the same. You'll probably find yourself thinking that if one grill in the backyard is good, two is no doubt better. See? You're already on your way. Let Steven Raichlen be your guide. --Schuyler Ingle ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Stupid title - great barbecue book
I take issue with other people who've said that this book's recipes are complicated.If you think putting ingredients in a blender to create a marinade or reducing sauces on a stove is difficult maybe you should be reading The Betty Crocker Kid's Cookbook.

This is not a how-to book, rather it is a cookbook packed with awesome barbecue recipes from around the world.I've made tons of them, including several of the satay recipes, steak recipes (I especially like the T-bone in Garlic/Lime marinade), deserts (his kheer recipe is great), and fish (the Salmon with the basil/wine/cream reduction is killer).Almost everything I've made in this book turns out great, and they are relatively easy to make.

Thou shallt LOVE thy BBQ!
This book is brilliant!

Around 300 pages - packed with Steven's wealth of experience with BBQ bastes, sauces, glazes, rubs, marinades etc!

He uses some pretty radical combinations of herbs, spices and kitchen ingredients - in ways that are guaranteed to transform how you BBQ or even just cook in the oven!

Guava BBQ Sauce, Sweet Sesame Soy Marinade, Balinese Seasoned Salt, Chinese Fire Oil to name only a few!

A favourite of mine was Berber Spice Paste which we used over BBQ'd Aussie Lamb leg! My wife thought that it was the best lamb she'd EVER eaten - period!

Buy the book - to my mind it's a MUST HAVE!

Steve

CALLING IT A BIBLE IS DEAD ON TARGET
At over 500 pages and over 500 recipes this indespensible guide is most definitely a bible for anyone who follows the religion of grilling.Author Steve Raichlen has traveled across not only the country, but around the world over a three-year span with recipes from over 25 countrys to add to all the great recipes from here in the states.Best of all that even if you live in an apartment this book is a must have because many of these recipes can be made on indoor grills like the George Foreman.Clearly Raichlen wants to hit as large an audience as possible.Want Exotic?How about Persian Chicken?

Fish, Beef, Poultry, Pork, Veggies, appetizers..No matter what you're looking for, you're sure to find it in this comprehensive book.Raichlen also provides great advice on what equipment to use and clearly says you don't need a $1000.00 grill to do great BBQ.Filled with great tips on sauces, marinades, and rubs, this book is designed for palettes that crave taste.Best of all Steve presents recipes that for the most part are made with very simple ingredients that won't have you needing gourmet food stores.

A grillers delight!

... Read more

Isbn: 1563058669
Subjects:  1. Barbecue cookery    2. Barbecue cooking    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Methods - Barbecue & Grilling    6. Methods - Outdoor    7. Religion    8. Cooking / Outdoor   

George Foreman GGR50B Indoor/Outdoor Grill
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $119.99 -- our price: $59.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Grilling really can't get much easier than this. After assembling the grill (which takes only a few minutes), simply plug it in and allow about 10 minutes to fully preheat the surface while you gather your steaks, kebabs, or whatever's to be grilled. The electric heat has an adjustable range from low (for keeping food warm) to high (for searing steaks). The nonstick grill surface not only means you can use a minimum of added fat, but it also makes cleanup a cinch. The surface has a subtle slope, with channels that draw accumulated fat or other liquids into a tray just below the surface. The high domed and vented lid helps create a circular flow of hot air to ensure even cooking--particularly important for a large roast or whole chicken.

The grill can be placed either directly on a tabletop or atop its pedestal. On its own, the grill surface stands about 6 inches high; with the pedestal, it stands about 2-1/2 feet high, not counting the domed lid. The pedestal is plenty sturdy for cooking, but the grill still seems a bit top-heavy, so pay special attention if grilling in a high-traffic area or near kids. Because of the easy electric heat, this grill can be used outdoors or indoors--when using it indoors, though, be prepared for potential spattering, steam, or other side effects of cooking. --Cynthia Nims ... Read more

Features

• Grill top measures 17 inches across for generous cooking capacity
• No-fuss grilling made easy, for use indoors or outside
• Grill can be used on pedestal (stands about -1/2 feet high) or on tabletop
• Uses electric heat, with adjustable range from low to high
• Sloping grate base draws fat away from food to collect in easy-to-empty tray

Reviews (55)

Great grill!
I bought this as an addition to our propane grill and our charcoal grill, for days when the weather doesn't cooperate or when I just don't feel like messing with lighting the others.So far, we've had burgers and fish prepared on the George Foreman grill and I love it!Everything cooks quickly, evenly and tastes great.I think I will be using this much more than I use the other two grills.I think I will try bacon on it some Saturday morning.What could be better than frying bacon outside, where it can't splatter all over the kitchen and most of the grease will run off and be collected in the little pan?! I also plan on using it on low to keep cooked food warm for a party we are hosting soon.This is a very versatile appliance that can be stored outside on the porch.Woo-hoo!

Great for an ELECTRIC grill
Before I get into this review, we have to understand the product we are looking at: a George Foreman ELECTRIC grill. George Foreman products are essentially useful variations of hotplates. In this case, the hot plate takes the form of a grill (with a stand, a dome cover, a large cooking surface with raised grooves etc...).

That being said, this product caters to people (me) willing to try a product that is not a traditional charcoal grill, could be useful in smaller spaces/porches, looks like it is easy to use and clean up, could potentially cut some fat (never hurts, right?), and seems like it will work well as a good back-up grill or a quick solution to throwing mini-bbqs requiring even heat distribution without the hassle of buying/lighting/dumping coal. If that's you, then read on...

Here, I'll try my best to outline the grill's pros and cons, as well as do a quick, inevitable comparison it to a traditional charcoal grill.

PROS:
The pros of this grill basically equal the pros of using hot plates in general:
1) Quick Heat - The whole surface heats up very quickly (you'll be ready to cook in a few minutes after you twist the switch)
2) Design - Basically you have the stand, a bottom dome, the flat grill that sits on the bottom dome, then the lid (top dome). You can easily remove the flat grill part to use indoors separate from the stand, and it also makes for easy cleaning since you can just throw the flat grill surface in the sink.
3) Easy to Clean - The grill surface is relatively easy to clean. Understand, grease is never easy to clean. But in my situation, i wipe off the chunks of grease with paper towels, then run hot water over it in the sink (yes it fits in my sink) and wash it with a soapy sponge. It's basically like cleaning a big oily plate by hand in the sink, however easy or hard that is to you.
4) Space Saving - The bulk of the materials are where it should be: the grilling surface. Everything else (aka the stand) is small and portable.
5) Easy to Assemble - A no brainer. Put the pole of the stand into the foot of the stand. Attach the grilling surface to the bottom dome. Stick that whole thing on the stand. Then put the cover on top. Took a few minutes while I was watching TV.
6) Great Tasting Food - Of course this part is important. I tried cooking everything unseasoned and it just tastes great. I mean, this this one thing I love about hotplates...food tastes good without a lot of seasoning. I cooked unseasoned burgers, top sirloin, chuck roast, kielbasa..it was fast, it tasted good, and it had good looking grill stripes on it when I was done.

Cons:
Seriously, not much that I can think of. If I had to be picky:
1) Could be a little heavy for people with a bad back?
2) When you lift it by the handles, the stand comes out (since they're not really "attached"....the grill just sits on the stand.) So you gotta lift it by the pole of the stand, really...this isn't even a con truthfully.
3) People complain about the grease not dripping into the pan. Well, it's a hot plate with grooves and a hole in it for grease to drip. Of course not all the grease magically swims toward the magical grease drip hole. But still, it works fine...I didn't notice sever grease build-up that stood in the way of my grilling.

Comparison to a Traditional Grill:
Really, there shouldn't be a comparison. Obviously this is not a charcoal grill and should never be compared to one. They are just 2 different things, and so they make food taste different: traditional grills basically fire cook your food through the coal's heat so you get the taste of charcoal while this product essentially "pan sears" your food. I'm a long time lover of all kinds of BBQ, and charcoal grills are great fun, make great tasting food and really cannot be replicated. You shouldn't be buying this grill to ever *REPLACE* a charcoal grill; it should be bought to be a 2nd grill that's great for rainy days or a primary grill if you really have no space and don't have time/space to deal with lighting and dumping charcoal.

Overall, this grill is an electric hot plate with raised grooves that makes great tasting food quickly, quietly, and easily. And for what it is, it's a SUPERB product (and relatively affordable too!). Go get one! I didn't regret my purchase and I don't think you will either.

Drip pan is too small
My only problem is the "convenient" drip pan.Maybe i'm the only one who likes to cook more than one thing at a time; but anyways, the fat and juices of the meat quickly overflowed the tiny drip pan and ran out the bottom making a mess everywhere.The "convenient" drip pan is located under the hot metal plate and you just try and empty it while cooking.Luckily I was cooking outside!! The grill works surprisingly well and the food produced was just excellent. Be aware of this problem or you might not be so lucky. ... Read more

Asin: B00004W499
Subjects:  1. (George Forman)    2. Small Appliances    3. Electrics    4. Indoor Grills   

Waring MBB518 Bar Blender, Stainless Steel
Average Customer Review:
Kitchen
list price: $190.00 -- our price: $129.00
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Bandleader and inventor Fred Waring introduced the first blender in 1936; more than 60 years later the Waring blender remains the standard for the field. Tall and old-fashioned looking with a plated metallic finish on its base, this blender will crush ice and blend frozen fruit beautifully in a few seconds. This blender feels sturdy: the lid, with a cap that doubles as a 1-ounce measurer, fits securely, and the pitcher, made of thick, ridged glass, won't wobble. Many chefs prefer a blender rather than a food processor for soups and creamy sauces--the blades of a good blender whirl more quickly than those of a food processor and will refine a thin liquid such as cream of tomato soup to an incomparably silky texture. This blender is definitely up to that task. The fixed, self-cleaning stainless-steel blades on the base of the pitcher mean the lid is the only separate part to wash. --Maria Dolan ... Read more

Features

• Measures 16-1/2 by 8 by 7 inches; 1-year warranty, 5-year motor warranty
• 40-ounce glass jar holds 5 cups of mixed drinks, soup, or sauce
• Powerful 350-watt motor crushes ice fast
• High and low speeds cover mixing, chopping, and pureeing
• Dishwasher-safe glass jar and lid for easy cleaning

Reviews (32)

Don't waste your money
I bought this 2 weeks ago. Used it about half a dozen times and the motor's busted. It's smelled since the first use. Other reviewers reported the same. I'm buying one of these instead
KitchenAid KTA-KPCB348PPM Pro Line Chef's Blender with Polycarbonate Jar, Pearl Metallic

The blender of the 4 I've owned in the last 2 years.
I make smoothies every morning, and so I wear out blenders fast.I've had this one for two weeks, and I *love* it -- it is way better than the Oster and Cuisinart models that I have gone through.

This is the easiest to clean, least messy blender I have owned.In particular, having the blade and gaskets as part of the glass jar is a huge plus for not allowing any leaks to seep out at all, and for making this extremely easy to clean.

I also love how quiet this is compared to other blenders of the same power ratio.Note well, I'm not saying this is all that quiet, but compared to the others, it is not as loud as they are.(You still wouldn't want to be on the phone while blending.)

Also, this blender does a better job at circulating the contents than the other blenders I've had -- so that even in just 10 seconds of blending, all my frozen fruit is cut up.In the Oster blenders I've had, even after 30-40 seconds there are sometimes big chunks.

The only bad thing I will say about it is that the jar isn't huge, but I still give it 5 stars because the jar is big enough for smoothies and for margaritas, and it does a better job than any other blender I've used.I love how cleanable it is in the dishwasher too.

Much better than the Kitchenaid
I had a Kitchenaid blender quit on me(second time with the same problem) and found out that they have changed the style and don't make replacement parts for my model.I would have had to buy an entire new blender.From the looks of it, they didn't make the new ones any more robust so I decided to look at other brands.Stumbled across Waring and did a little research.Found out that Waring sells every part for every blender that it has made in the last 60 years.That level of support combined with the favorable reviews led me to take the plunge.After eleven weeks with my new blender, here are my observations:

Noise - I think this one is slightly quieter than my Kitchenaid and definitely quieter than my parents old Oster.Even so, don't plan on trying to watch TV or carry on a conversation with the thing running.Luckily it does it's job pretty quick.

Cleanup - FAR better than the kitchenaid.No disassembly required; just put some hot water and a little dish soap in and run it a few seconds.Rinse and you're done.Dishwasher safe if you feel like it too.Kitchenaid has the jar, lid, jar base, blade assembly, and gasket to fool with.Lots of crevices for food to get stuck in.

Performance - Simply a better performing blender.Blends drinks to a much smoother consistency with no big ice chunks left behind.With the Kitchenaid I frequently had to pop the lid off and give things a stir to get them mixed up and worked down to the blades.I rarely have to do that with the Waring.I don't have anything scientific to back this up, but I think it is a matter of geometry.The Kitchenaid is a wide, squat jar where the contents seem to be able to find refuge from the whirling blades.The Waring is taller & skinnier and it seems that nothing gets away from the blades.The Waring has only two speeds while the Kitchenaid had five, but I don't really miss them at all.I haven't found anything the Kitchenaid could do that the Waring can't do at least equally well.

Durability - The problem I had with the Kitchenaid was the blade assembly.The metal "gear" on the bottom is a press fit onto the shaft that connects to the blade.When this loosens up (such as when an ice cube jams up the blade) there is no way to repair it.New assembly costs about $15.If the Waring had a similar failure, the thing does come apart, the replacement part is about $4, and it is widely available.Other than this, they both seem to be durable and rugged.The glass jars on both are thick and sturdy, and they really give the blender some mass.

So far I've had my blender 11 weeks and have been using it mostly to make frozen drinks and milkshakes.The Waring is by far superior to the blender it replaced.It looks great, performs nearly perfect, and comes from a company with an excellent reputation and parts support.Can't ask for much more than that. ... Read more

Asin: B00004S8F8
Subjects:  1. Barware    2. (Bar Ware)    3. Bartending    4. Small Appliances    5. Electrics    6. Blenders    7. (Osterizers)   

Canon PowerShot S100 2MP Digital ELPH Camera Kit w/ 2x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $499.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Canon's latest crowning achievement, the PowerShot S100, packs a high-quality digital camera into the tiny, elegant body of Canon's Digital Elph series. With this item, Canon becomes the first to produce such a small digital camera with high resolution. The super-popular Elph APS cameras were favored because users could slip them into shirt pockets and take them anywhere. Now the digital camera has truly come of age with this ultraportable model.

The PowerShot S100 uses the same durable stainless-steel case as the traditional Elph series cameras. It offers 2-megapixel resolution for high-quality photos and prints up to 8 by 10 inches. Canon provides the PowerShot S100 with a high-resolution, low-distortion, all-glass aspherical 2x zoom lens (and a 4x digital zoom as well). The 1.5-inch LCD monitor displays most camera settings with easy-to-understand icons and minimal text. The PowerShot S100 features a 0.37-inch CCD that creates full color or black-and-white images up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels (it also offers a 640 x 480 pixel image size). The built-in flash uses a light guide and does not need a fresnel lens or a large reflector, making the camera even more compact.

The PowerShot S100 stores images on an 8 MB CompactFlash card. Adobe PhotoDeluxe and PhotoStitch control image management, editing, compositing, and printing, while ZoomBrowser EX or ImageBrowser produce self-running screen slide shows, automatic e-mail preparation, and auto layout. The camera uses a high-speed plug-and-play USB interface, plus it has NTSC-out so you can view your photos on your TV. It's fully compatible with both Mac and PC platforms. ... Read more

Features

• Included 8 MB CompactFlash card holds 12 images at default resolution
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery included
• 2.1 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints
• 2x optical plus 4x digital zoom lens with autofocus

Reviews (221)

Digital Camera that thinks it's a tank!
I bought this camera when i was a sophmore in college.And now, 2 years out of college, a handfull of beautiful days, a half-dozen life changing moments, and umpteen vacations later it's still goes with me everywhere and snaps photographs.all the sticker labels on it have since been knocked off but it doesn't matter because i know what they all do.This puppy is built to last.When I eventually pass this one down in the family and buy a new one, I'll be getting another canon for sure.

If you're looking for a high-value digital camera that thinks it's a tank, get the Canon s100.

One of the better *compact* cameras for beginners
I bought this camera for the same reason many of you are considering it, or have already bought it--it's size.It is amazingly small, it's hard to believe all that has been packed into this camera.I take it with me everywhere,literally, it is so small that I am able to keep it in my pocket, and I don't have to fear that it will get ruined in my pocket because it is so durable. There is also a small covering for the lens, so you need not worry that the lens will get scratched.
The picture quality surprised me, when I first saw this camera I saw how small it was an instantly assumed that the picture quality would not be good--but I was wrong!The picture quality of this camera is outstanding (taking its' size and price into consideration).

However, I do have a few things to complain about...

First off, the battery.This camera uses a lithium battery, I find lithium batteries to be highly inconvenient; because what if you are on vacation, where the nearest place to buy batteries is just a gas station--there is no way that you are going to find lithium batteries there.Not only is it inconvenient, but also the battery life span is short.The longest I've had it work was about 1 hour and 45 minutes.This isn't uncommon in cameras, though, just as long as you bring your charger and spare batteries, you should be fine.

Another problem I had with this camera was the zoom function.Such a small zoom length that you would think that the zoom would be silent since it hardly zooms in...wrong!Very wrong.The zoom function on this camera is so loud that sometimes you will be unable to use it if you find yourself in a situation where you must be quiet.Even just turning the camera on will move the lens a little, resulting in a noisy start-up.

The flash is very weak.Really dissapointing. If you are inside, you can't be any farther away then 10 feet in a lit room.

The last problem I found with this camera was the macro function.The auto-focus on the camera seems to have trouble focusing on the subject.To make matters work, there is no manual override to overcome this problem.The focus is great, though, if you are not taking a macro shot.

These are all the flaws I found in the camera, it's not my first choice in cameras, I have come across many other beginner cameras that I prefer over this camera, but the thing you have to keep in mind about this camera is the size.If you are just looking for something to keep with you at all times, then this is a great camera choice.

Very handy second camera
I've had this camera for three years.I bought it new, when it was cutting edge and very expensive.I put a 128MB CF card in it.

First, I have to say that I have NEVER had the slightest problem with this camera or the software.I've probably taken upwards of 5000 pictures with it, it's been all over the country.The software has been installed on Windows 95, 98, 2000 and XP and I haven't had any problems with it.The camera is solid, performs well, takes good pictures, and the battery lasts pretty long if you disable the LCD viewfinder. If battery life were that big a deal, one could purchase a second battery and rotate.

All that said, I am a little disappointed with the quality of the pictures from the camera.They are razor sharp, the color balance is perfect, and the focus is great.When taking pictures of people, however, it shows EVERY flaw in the subject's skin.Scratches, oil, freckles are magnified and come out looking horrific.It requires extensive Photoshopping to fix the flaws.Other cameras taking pics of the same subjects turn out looking much better.I'm going to buy another camera to take baby pictures, but I'll keep this as a travel camera. ... Read more

Asin: B00004TS16
Subjects:  1. S 100    2. Digital Camera (Cameras)    3. Photograph (Photography)   

Panasonic PT-61DX80 61 " SDTV-ready Projection TV
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $3,499.95
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

The Panasonic PT-61DX80 TV is standard definition compatible (SDTV). Anexternal over-the-air antenna may be required to receive SDTV broadcasts. Ifyour cable company passes through a network DTV signal unchanged, an optionalset-top decoder box is required to decode and tune the program.

The 61-inchprojection TV has a fine-pitch screen that lets you see the intricate detail inthe projected images. The PT-61DX80 is capable of up to 850 lines of horizontalresolution. Picture quality enhancements include video noise reduction,horizontal and vertical edge correction, a 3-D Y/C digital comb filter and aprogressive scan line doubler.

Two-tuner picture-in-picture allows you towatch two television programs at once. The PT-61DX80 is equipped withSpatializer simulated surround sound and has SAP stereo reception with 10-watts-per-channel output. You can adjust the tonal quality with thebass/treble/balance controls. You can even adjust the balance control tocompensate for a particular viewing room, or the specific placement of yourfavorite seat in the house.

The TV includes a lighted home theater remotecontrol with joystick that can be programmed to control most current audio andvideo equipment, such as VCRs, DVD players, cable TV boxes, CD players, laserdisc players, satellite receivers, stereo receivers, and audiocassette tapedecks.

The audio-video input jacks include two S-Video inputs, two RF antennainputs, a center channel input, and both fixed and variable audio output jacks.The PT-61DX80 features two on/off timers and V-chip parental control.

Thisproduct meets the Energy Star guidelines for energy efficiency. The TV weighs250 pounds and is 59.7 inches high by 51.8 inches wide by 27.7 inches deep. ... Read more

Features

• Component-video inputs
• 61-inch projection TV with high-resolution CRTs (cathode ray tubes)
• 2-tuner picture-in-picture
• Stereo/SAP reception with amplifier for 10 watts per channel
• Spatializer surround sound

Reviews (1)

Godzilla Sized T.V.
Wow I just bought this T.V. two months ago and it is everything I expected and a whole lot more.When it arrives at your house I would suggest you take the door off the hinges because you might have a hard time getting itthrough the door. At a whopping 61inches it is practically the largestscreen you can get on the market.The visual quality on the projectionscreen is simply amazing, I was surprised at the resolution of a screen sobig the clarity is astounding. Also the audio is mind blowing, when youturn the extended bass up you could set a few car alarms off on the block.The only down side to the T.V. I found was that you have to get a reallygood warranty and it has to be checked by a professional at least once ayear to make sure all of the T.V. tubes are good and you have to sit acouple of feet away from it so you don't have vision problems especiallysmall children.Lastly, for a T.V. of this quality you have to make aninvestment is a superior sound system and a DVD player is highlyrecommended. ... Read more

Asin: B00004SD8O
Subjects:  1. Projection TV, Television    2. 61"    3. PT61DX80, PT61DX, PT61, DX80, 61DX    4. Television (Televisions, TV, T.V., TVs)    5. Projection    6. Big Screen