Welcome to Shopping and Product Reviews


Saturday, May 05, 2007

Hot Vacuum Cleaner Tips Will Save You Money

There are many types of vacuum cleaners in the marketplace today to choose from often making the decision difficult; knowing what to look for will shorten the process and assure you that you're choosing the right one. You want to get a good quality vacuum cleaner that will last a long time and save money in the process. An upright vacuum cleaner will cost anywhere from $50 for a low-end lightweight model, to over $1000 for some of the newer models with new features.

If you have family members with long hair get a vacuum cleaner that has a stainless steel brush roller with ball bearings. Some vacuums rely on bags or filters to trap the dirt; they can clog up and lose their suction. There are no standards set for sealed models.

Many bagged models include a full bag indicator light to help users remember to change the bag. A good vacuum cleaner should maintain constant suction. It may be more difficult to find as many of the bells and whistles you'd like on the lightweight models.

The highest priced upright models may carry every available feature; they may be true HEPA vacuums. Find out how often belts, filters, and other items will need to be cleaned and/or replaced. Canister vacuum cleaners can come with a bag or be bagless.

Many people find they don't like to bend over to move the vacuum around so prefer an upright over a canister. Find the extra tools and features you need, and forget about the ones you don't. Do you want an upright or canister?

Do you really need a deluxe model? You can save a lot of money buying vacuum cleaners online if you do some thorough research first. If you plan to buy online you can still try out vacuum cleaners at your local vacuum cleaner dealers and stores that carry vacuum cleaners.

Once you feel fully informed, if you can, go to a local store to get a look at those you've picked and try them out. Find out the air watts to get a good indication of its suction power. Higher priced uprights have a wider cleaning path, possibly dirt sensors, and some will be self-propelled; they may have pre-motor filters to protect the motor from damage too.

The lower priced upright vacuum cleaner may or may not include manual adjustment for the height of the carpet. It's important to find out exactly what kind of maintenance your new vacuum cleaner will need. Make sure attachments are easy to put together and take apart and that they stay together and are airtight.

There are two different categories of HEPA filters that can make understanding the abilities of your filter confusing. Considering your health when it comes to vacuum cleaners is important; you don't want to create or worsen respiratory, mobility, back problems or anything else needlessly. HEPA-like or HEPA type filters may only capture only 85 to 90 percent of particles and that percent can fall even lower for particles of 1 micron and below, unlike the true or absolute HEPA filters. Get a unit with a good filtration system and protect your lungs and overall health.

HEPA type or HEPA-like filters may be made in similar ways to true HEPA filters and may resemble them but do not have to meet the same standards as true or absolute HEPA filters. True or absolute HEPA filters must pass a strict test to be considered HEPA worthy. When shopping for vacuum cleaners it's a good idea to take your health - (allergies, asthma, respiratory health, back health and physical health) into consideration.

Make sure you add on replacement bags to your initial investment if they're required. And just a reminder to make sure you check the warranty. Ask your friends and associates what they use and like.

Vacuum Cleaner Buying Secrets Revealed

You can buy an inexpensive, cheap or expensive model depending on your budget. You can save a lot of money by doing your research. There have been a lot of advances in vacuum cleaners over the years so it's hard to buy one that's bad or you'd be unhappy with.

Check out features vs. the weight to choose the right model for you. Vacuums can lose suction when the filters or bags get clogged and blow dirt back into the air. You want to make sure to get a vacuum designed for your mixture of carpeting and hard flooring.

Look into the lightweight options to find vacuum cleaners that'll be easier to push, carry, and store. Keep in mind vacuums will have a wide range of options and features to choose from; some have features like nozzles, extended cords and bright colors that add to the price. It may be more difficult to find as many of the bells and whistles you'd like on the lightweight models.

Some canister vacuum cleaners do offer HEPA filtration. Try assembling and taking apart the attachments before you buy. Check the height of fully assembled attachments to make sure that you won't be bending over or holding your arm up to use them.

Higher priced upright vacuum cleaners may range from $200 to $500, depending on the features. The highest priced upright models may carry every available feature; they may be true HEPA vacuums. Do you really need a deluxe model?

You can find vacuum cleaners listed in the yellow pages under the vacuum cleaner repair stores, classified ads in your local newspaper, on Craigslist online, eBay and other online auction sites and the manufacturer and dealer websites on the Internet. It'll cost more buying a unit with a bag because you'll be buying bags ongoing. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner may sound great, but they're actually very heavy to lift.

A low-end upright model will usually have only a suction hose with a crevice tool, stair brush, and extended wand piece. A vacuum with a bag will keep the air you breathe free of dust, allergens, pollen, smoke particles, and other chemicals and pollutants found in household air, IF it doesn't get clogged. Make sure attachments are easy to put together and take apart and that they stay together and are airtight.

Canister vacuums range in price anywhere from $150 to $1500. In the lower-end of uprights you will find a few models that have an additional feature, like bagless models or models with bags and a full bag indicator light. You'll need to decide whether you want a bag or a bagless vacuum.

HEPA is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air". To receive the true or absolute HEPA designation, filters must perform to a certain standard. Some vacuums will have a HEPA filter; this is always a good idea to keep your air free of the tiny particles that are stirred up when you vacuum. You might consider one of the lightweight models if you have physical issues.

Reducing or eliminating particles will make cleaner air for everyone in your home. It's best to get a vacuum with a good filtration system and protect your lungs and overall health. A bagless vacuum that uses filters may leak dust, dust mites, mold spores, fungus, bacteria, smoke particles, chemicals and allergen particles into the air, so small you may not be able to see all of them.

Make sure you read the vacuum cleaner ratings and reviews that you find online and offline. Buying a vacuum cleaner online or offline doesn't have to be intimidating when you've done your homework. A vacuum should last for many years with proper care.

LifeLock Service Review - Can LifeLock Really Help My Business?

In the past year alone, employers just like you and their vendors lost over 30 million employee names and Social Security numbers to identity thieves. It then takes more than 170 hours over a two-year period for each and every individual employee to recover and repair problems related to their identity theft and they usually do it during working hours. In addition, the subsequent exposure in the media and among customers and vendors can also cause great harm to a company's reputation.

There is a new company out there that says it can help you relax and know that your company’s confidential data is safe. It is called LifeLock. Their service comes with a million dollar guarantee. If you ever have a problem, they promise to fix it so that you and your workforce don’t skip a beat.

In fact, LifeLock has become the leading provider in the field of Identity Theft Prevention. The company is led by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts. They serve tens of thousands of consumers all over the United States, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. They help ensure that your employees, customers, members, readers, and other associates remain focused on the business at hand, not on fixing their identity issues.

They are so very confident in their services that their CEO regularly publishes his real Social Security number and he's perfectly comfortable with it. Why? Because he knows that they have guaranteed his good name.

Unlike reactive credit monitoring services, the LifeLock system is a proactive system. They lock down your company’s data and credit information before a thief can even get to it. They proactively keep your associates' identities safe and you and your organization look like the heroes.

The only downfall to the system is the cost. Some companies think that they cannot afford the system. However, your company must decide the risks and the benefits, because one incident alone could cost thousands in employee lost time, reputation and legal issues. Just ask anyone who has been through it. It is not a pleasant experience.

It appears that LifeLock could help most businesses. They will do what they do best and keep your data locked safe and your reputation intact or you have a million dollar guarantee that they will fix it.

Can A Proxima Projector Greatly Increase Your Business Presentations?

As PowerPoint and other programs are becoming more popular many are looking into ways in which they can expand their presentations, such as with the Proxima projector. Unlike projectors that many of us became accustomed to years ago, the Proxima projector is actually designed to make presentations used with PowerPoint and other programs very clear and crisp with bright images. The whisper quiet noise levels of the projector insure that everyone hears the most important points of your presentation, regardless of how close or far away they sit from the projector.

Whether you’re interested in designing a presentation for personal or professional use, the Proxima projector provides a way to deliver your message with crystal clear clarity. To make matters even easier, the Proxima project can also be mounted on the ceiling and well as used with a variety of screens that are currently available. Those who travel will appreciate the wide variety of projector cases that make travel with your projector easy and secure. Special heavy-duty ATA cases are also available to protect your Proxima projector when transporting it by air.

Well thought out innovations have also ensured that the Proxima projector is also quite easy to use, such as a one touch instant projection for truly hassle free operation. Even if you’ve never operated a projector before, the Proxima is quite easy to learn how to operate, right out of the box.

The Proxima projector also offers optional technology upgrades such as networking with the InFocus module and software that allows users to manage projectors from a single PC. An optional InFocus LiteShow wireless solution also allows users to utilize the option of completely wireless freedom as well. Such features are perfect for those companies and individuals who want complete control over their presentations.

Along with the numerous easy to use features and options, the Proxima projector also ranks unparalleled in terms of quality and customer satisfaction. The standard two-year limited factory warranty, including parts and labor along with a 90 day lamp replacement translates to a greater return on your investment. Regardless of what your needs are, the Proxima projector will meet each and every one of them; providing unmatched premium service.

Whether your company needs a new projector for business presentations or you simply enjoy entertaining friends and family with slideshows you created on your own, the Proxima projector can help to bring out the best of every presentation every time.

iPod Earphone Alternatives for your Workout - Exercise Time

I don’t know about you but when I am working out I have a lot of trouble keeping my earphones in place. As I sweat and bounce around, my earphones fall out of my ear. This is definitely not good on a treadmill. Especially if you are on a serious incline. I also have trouble hearing my audiobooks when the gym is crowded and the club radio is blasting. if you use your iPod or mp3/music player a lot, it's worth the investment to replace those horrible headphones with something a little more upscale.

With these issues facing me, I decided to look into some good earphones. What I learned was quite educational. I had a chance to learn about cancellation and isolation technology. I learned about the technology and two of the best isolation earphone manufacturers: Shure and Etymotic Research. The paragraphs that follow communicate what I learned.

Pro-level sound isolating earphones were developed as to allow musicians to hear their own music in loud onstage environments. Sound isolating earphones work by using soft, supple sleeves to block background noise, allowing small speakers to deliver precise sound directly to the ear.

Sound isolation allows you to hear greater detail at a lower level than is possible with most headphones or earphones intended for portable use. The isolation earphones I reviewed have one more redeeming factor: they are great for exercise and workouts. The isolation earphones usually sport both foam and silicone covers to secure the earphones in your ear.

Jamorama - The Ultimate Guitar Learning Kit

Jamorama is the ultimate kit for guitar learning. This specially designed kit lets you learn all the things you need to learn about guitars. This kit teaches you to use your hearing to get you to the stage where you can play any song that you wish to play. It gives fluency to your guitar playing ability. Well-known songs are used to guide the learner from the start. The songs are broken down into small pieces, so each part is easy to be played individually. Then the parts are put together to get a whole song. This method also saves your valuable time and money. It gives you the freedom to choose the time of your lesson. The pace of your practice also depends on you. It’s you who choose to go fast or slow.

The use of boring lessons, drills, and exercises you will be stuck backwards with very little improvements. There is no need to use any other guitar guide after you have used Jamorama.

There are two high quality books with the package. These books will take you to journey to reach the expert level of guitarists. There are ample videos for you to learn from. These 148 video lessons give you the step-by-step details of guitar playing. The videos are specially made with the help of the professionals. It was also recorded and edited by the professionals. These videos are made specially keeping in mind the fact that these have to be easy and simple and mostly effective. You have to see the movements of the hands. You can’t get an idea of a guitar stroke by reading a book. You need to see how the hand moves. You need to hear the sound of the guitar to know the actual sound. Which chords sound in what way, you can’t tell without hearing the sounds. These videos enable the features of seeing and listening. The Jamorama invites people to learn to play guitar flawlessly and smoothly in a very short time.

To make learning more effective, Jamorama has computer games to aid learning. It has a revolutionary game where you have to find out various guitar chords. It is a fun way to learn and recognize chords and their sounds. The game is named “GuitEarIt!” JaydeMusica,it is another fun game. It is designed as such to help you learn to read music. This is also included with the Jamorama.There are 26 jam tracks to jam along. These tracks cover almost all the musical styles including rock, jazz, dance, country, hip-hop etc. There are also lessons on ways to perform great guitar skills. The hard-won information from the creator is formatted into simple and easy structure. You can learn all of these whenever you want. The guitar learning techniques are developed specially by psychologists from universities. This method helps you remember lessons and chords in one-third of time spent compared with other methods. There are many more options and advantages of Jamorama. If you are trying to learn or interested in learning how to play guitar, the best option for you to choose Jamorama.

Plastic Chaise Lounge - Not as Cheap as You Would Think

Plastic is the most convenient and affordable material to consider when you are shopping for outdoor furniture. Plastic can be very stylish, comfortable, long lasting, and available in many colors. Of all outdoor furniture, the plastic chaise lounge might be the most coveted of all. Because of its style, the variety of colors, and especially the comfort ability, the chaise lounge is, in many ways, the first item bought when beginning the yard ensemble. The low price offered, when in comparison to those other than plastic, makes it almost impossible to be dismissed as an optional piece of furniture.

The plastic chaise lounge, weighing much less than its counterparts, makes for easy rearranging, and storage, if necessary. Just the affordability, alone, makes it that much more appealing. The plastic chaise lounge offers no less comfort ability because of its being plastic, nor does it lack in uniqueness of style, or color. If anything, the plastic chaise lounge is more alluring as an item because of its limitless possibilities of styles and hues. Add these things with its ability to undergo the harshest of conditions, and you’ve got yourself one intelligent purchase.

Although many find tables and chairs to be at the top of the list when shopping for the perfect lawn assembly, there are the wise that look for the ultimate in comfort before looking for the less relaxing. The plastic chaise lounge, as stated earlier, offers no less comfort than the ’preferred’, higher priced chaise lounges. With this equality of the plastic chaise lounge, added with the ability to mimic any style normally given by the more expensive chaise lounges, and again, the many colors that plastic comes in without the use of paint, or stains, it’s no wonder that many people prefer the plastic chaise lounge over the others, because for these simple reasons, the others seem almost obsolete.

It is well known throughout the world that the affordability and convenience of plastic products go unequalled. Plastic allows for the most extreme of imaginations to be met when considering style, color, comfort, and longevity in ownership. This only increases the value of the plastic chaise lounge, making it to be one of the most desired pieces of lawn furniture after considering that you‘re not paying anything extra for its appearance, regardless of how expensive it looks. The plastic chaise lounge, because of its uniqueness, is found many times to be on the top of the shopping list for lawn furniture. Guaranteed low prices make it virtually impossible to turn away from such great expectations of your plastic chaise lounge. For the environmentally responsible, it must be noted, that most, if not all, of the plastic furniture manufactured today is made with recycled plastic.

Hotel Meeting Venues Offer First-Class Organisational Assistance

If you're in the process of organising a large function - whether it's a corporate meeting, an extended family reunion or a blow-out wedding - you'll likely find yourself under a lot of stress. From booking the event location to making sure that all the necessary attendees are notified, event planners and co-ordinators are bound to have a lot on their plate at any given time in the planning process. That is why it's essential for event planners to seek help from a trusted expert that will help them cover all the bases.

Many event and meeting locations - such as hotels or conference centres - offer detailed help and comprehensive support if you book with them. Through direct booking or online booking, the best event locations will offer first-class event planning services, including a Guest List manager, the ability to book multiple group reservations at one time and the opportunity to view floor plans online in order to create the perfect seating setup for your guests.

Some hotels that offer event planning help, such as Hilton Embassy Suites, even offer the opportunity to create a personalized online group web page with a unique web address, so that your guests or meeting attendants will be able to book their own guest rooms. For example, if you're planning a wedding, creating your own wedding website could work wonders during the planning process. Your guests will have the option to RSVP online, book rooms in the hotel in which your wedding is being held and view your wedding gift list online as well.

If it's a business meeting you're planning, then many hotel meeting venues will help you determine how to divide your budget between meeting space, food and beverages, guest rooms (if necessary) and any audio or visual rental equipment you might need. What's more, you'll find detailed advice on how to plan daily schedules, should your conference carry on for more than one day. If you're trying to plan a large social gathering of friends, then meeting venues will even help you compile a list of what you require for your function: for instance, whether or not you'll need a dance floor or a stage.

Whatever type of event or meeting you're planning in a hotel meeting venue, make effective use of the checklists and organisational services available to you. This will not only ensure that your event gets off to a roaring start, but will also take some of the pressure of your own shoulders.

The Dormo-Diagnostics Sleep Machine - Does A Computer Really HelpYou Choose the Best Mattress?

Buying an expensive, top of the range mattress doesn't guarantee a good night's sleep. Companies like Serta, Simmons, Jamison and Kingsdown all make expensive, good quality mattresses and they all claim that their mattress will give you the best night's sleep. The problem is that these mattresses may be the best money can buy but they each have different qualities and each consumer buying a mattress has different needs. With its Dormo-Diagnostics Sleep Machine, Kingsdown reckon they've got the answer to guarantee a perfect night's sleep.

If you want a good night's sleep you should sleep on a good quality mattress; cheap mattresses will never give you the support you need. There are quite a few manufacturers who produce top rated mattresses, using the finest materials and technology. Unfortunately, many consumers buy one of these expensive mattresses only to feel disappointed with the comfort and support of the mattress.

The problem is, that although these mattress are amongst the best you can buy, each manufacturers mattresses differ from their competitor's. And to make matters more confusing, each manufacturer usually produces many different types of mattresses in its product range.

A mattress that may be perfect for one person may be totally unsuitable for another. Therefore, even getting recommendations from friends and family isn't going to ensure you get the best mattress.

The traditional way of choosing a mattress was to go and lie down on it and judge for yourself if it gave the support and comfort you needed. But there are always problems with this method of choosing a mattress. First off, it is very time consuming. There are literally hundreds of top rated mattresses on the market; testing out each one is out of the question.

Even if you narrow your choice down to one brand of mattress, you may still have to 'try out' several different models. And the store you go and visit may not have all the models on offer, so you might miss on the model that would have been perfect for you.

But suppose the store does have all the mattress models for one particular manufacturer, choosing the perfect mattress is still not a done deal.

You're supposed to lie down on a mattress for at least ten minutes. You're supposed to try out the various positions you sleep in. You're also supposed to wear what approximates to what you usually wear in bed - not so easy if you wear next to nothing when you sleep! You may have to spend an hour or two testing out all the different mattresses! Also, many people don't feel comfortable about lying down on a mattress in a busy store, with other customers looking at you.

If you don't feel comfortable on lying on a mattress in a store, you're not going to make the best decision about the comfort of the mattress.

Kingsdown has recognized the fact that testing out a mattress in a busy store, wearing day clothes affects the judgment made by the consumer - usually for the worst. Therefore when buying a Kingsdown mattress the company has developed a computer program to determine what the best mattress is for the customer.

Kingsdown has spent years compiling the sleep data of millions of people. The end result was the development of a computer system called the Dormo-Diagnostics Sleep Machine.

But how does the system work? Each authorized distributor of Kingsdown mattress offers the Dormo-Diagnostics Sleep Machine service. The test only takes two minutes: the customer just answers a few questions, lies down on the diagnostic bed, and lets the computer systems make its calculations. In a few minutes the customer has an easy to read printout that recommends the best Kingsdown mattress for their needs.

Of course not everyone is going to follow the recommendations of a computer. Some are still going to trust their own judgment and instincts when choosing a mattress. But if you feel uncomfortable lying down on dozens of mattresses in a store or simply haven't got the time, then the Dormo-Diagnostics Sleep Machine by Kingsdown may be the answer. The Dormo-Diagnostics system is just another option that is available to the consumer.

As stated above, there are many manufacturers of quality mattresses. They all offer the best materials and technology available but they are all different. What Kingsdown have attempted to do is to make choosing a Kingsdown mattress as simple as possible by applying computer technology; this service is unique among high end mattress manufacturers.

What Is The Best Wet To Dry Flat Iron?

There have been man innovations in flat iron technology; ceramic plates, tourmaline plates and flash heating. The latest innovation is wet to dry flat irons. Wet to dry flat irons are becoming more and more popular because they avoid the need to first blow-dry your hair and produce straighter, shinier hair for those with particularly curly of difficult to manage hair.

Applying any heat to your hair damages it. Therefore when you first blow-dry your hair and then use a flat iron to straighten it, you're subjecting your hair to high temperatures not once but twice! You can apply hair serums to your hair to help protect the damage of heat, but if you use a flat iron often you can cause your hair follicles to dry out, which in turn causes frizziness and split-ends.

Manufacturers have realised that first drying your hair before using a flat iron to straighten it puts your hair at twice the risk from heat damage. The answer has been the development of wet to dry flat irons. Using a wet to dry flat iron doesn't eliminate heat damage but it means you can avoid the high temperatures involved in blow-drying your hair. The follow is a review of three of the best wet to dry flat irons on the market today.

Corioliss Tourmaline Ceramic Wet to Dry Flat Iron comes highly recommended. This flat iron from Corioliss comes with 1.75" tourmaline plates. Tourmaline plates produce many times the number of negative ions than do ordinary ceramic plates. Negative ions close the cuticle layer to create a smooth, silky hair surface and seal in the hair’s natural moisture. Corioliss wet to dry hair straighteners also come with a Ceramic Far Infrared Heating System.

The Maxiglide MX-597 One Step Hair Straightening Iron is cheaper than the Corioliss and it also comes with steam burst technology. This Maxiglide flat iron comes with two sets of ceramic plates; the first set is the usual smooth ceramic plates found on most flat irons, and the second set of plates has small teeth like a comb, which help to detangle hair and brush it as the same time. Maxiglide claim that, just as you use bursts of steam when ironing out creases in your clothes, so too you use steam to straighten out stubborn curly hair. This sounds great but there are some minus points with the Maxiglide wet to dry flat iron. First off, the appliance has a water reservoir for the steam, which means that the unit is a little heaver and bulky making it difficult for some to use. Also, the plates are 4 inches wide making it a little unwieldy. Finally, some have complained that the detangling pins of the ceramic plates, far from helping to straighten hair, but actually make the task harder to accomplish. But despite these complaints, many find the Maxiglide MX-597 One Step flat iron an excellent hair straightener.

The Remington Wet 2 Straight flat iron is the cheapest of the three wet to dry flat iron. Its cheapness probably reflects the lack of features offered by the other two, but the Remington flat iron is excellent value for money. Unlike the Maxiglide, the Remington Wet 2 Straight does not come with steam and but, like the Maxiglide, it also doesn't have tourmaline plates like the Corioliss wet to dry flat iron. The Remington flat iron does come with dual voltage, so you can use it all over the world. Also it comes with a generous 2-year warranty: both Maxiglide and Corioliss offer only a one year warranty.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a cheap wet to dry flat iron, then the Remington Wet 2 Straight flat iron is an excellent product. If you have hair that just doesn't seem to straighten - and you've used other flat irons - you could give the steam burst flat iron from Maxiglide a try. If money is no problem and you want the best wet to dry flat iron, then the Corioliss Tourmaline Ceramic Wet to Dry Flat Iron is the one to go for.