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Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus:
The Best Of the Rest!
 I have used or reviewed many video software packages But Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus is the one that should satisfy most everyone from the beginner who just wants to copy their family video footage to DVD all the way to the upper mid-level video nut who wants most of the bells and whistles of the more expensive professional video software without the large learning curve and dollar outlay.
 If you are a good videographer and don’t walk with your camera turned on while pointed at the ground or at some part of your anatomy (not to say that I do that) then you can easily copy your vacation or other videos right from your camcorder to a DVD using the Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus “DV to DVD Wizard.” Of course you need to be able to connect your camcorder to a USB or Firewire port in your computer and place a DVD in a recordable DVD drive. Once that connection is established you just follow directions. I am not kidding it works. Of course you will end up transferring all the little imperfections that editing will remove but who cares. The job is done! You can then copy the DVD as many times as you wish and send it off to anyone interested. This is a great way to start learning the ins and outs of this software.
FOR THE ENTIRE ARTICLE CLICK HERE
January 5, 2007
Lenovo – IBM ThinkPad:
A Christmas Surprise
 They say “Beware of what you wish for.” In this case I am very pleased that I received my wish! After getting word that Lenovo had some very lightweight IBM ThinkPad models they were providing for reviewers I sent an E-mail to the company. We messaged back and forth several times. I hoped to get the product in a week or two. Imagine my surprise when a big box arrived the next day with one of the best holiday gifts I have received this year.
I will be leaving my heavy Dell Notebook at home this year and carrying a 4.5 pound ThinkPad from Lenovo. The Notebook is a Model Z61t with an Intel Core 2 Duo T7200 2 gHz Processor, 2 gig of Memory, a 120 GB hard drive, running MS windows professional. It has a DVD recordable drive for playing and burning DVDs and CDs That adds about one half a pound. The list price is $1,799.00 for the one I have. The product line starts with a list price of $1060.00 with fewer bells and whistles.
Other features that have already caught my eye are a 1394 Firewire port and 3 USB ports. I prefer the Firewire connection for working with video and doing backups to external hard drives. Also, a built in Web Cam allows me to watch myself as I work. I don’t think that is the most productive use.
They gave me the computer to use for the next few months. After CES I will be using it as a test computer for the products I review that help improve the notebook experience or just duplicate the programs we all use on our desktops. So keep tuned and see how it works for me.
January 12, 2007
ENERGIZER Charges Phones
 While at Digital Experience on the Sunday prior to CES I wandered between food tables and bar layouts until, among the many exhibitor displays, I noticed the Energizer Bunny. Not only was he NOT running down but he was touting a new, and very interesting, product. Energi to Go. This Product comes with a slick reusable Energizer Energi To Go charger and two Energizer e2 lithium AA batteries. (reccommended) It works with most phones. Check their web site for which ones.
They gave me a sample of the product that is made to charge most Motorola phones. The box says you will get up to 9 hours in talk time with GSM phones and 6 hours with CDMA phones. You can connect it to your phone and, after 30 seconds, make a call.
 I tore the box open, installed the batteries and the connecting cable, and plugged it into my phone. It started charging just as if I had it plugged into the wall socket. The charger has a flashing blue light that indicates it is working. When your phone charging icon stops telling you it is charging the phone is charged. It took about an hour to charge the phone when it was about 50 percent low.
I have used other products that are a onetime self contained charge answer. Use it in an emergency and toss it away. They worked fine but were limited. This product can be used over and over again. Just remember to replace the batteries when needed.
By the way, I did let the phone run down its battery so I could test the plug it in and after 30 seconds make a call. It worked! I will keep this little life saver in the car in case I forget to charge my phone. Please remember to remove the batteries if you are not using the charger for a long period of time. At $19.95 it is a great buy at a fair price. More info is available by clicking here.
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