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AcesWild
 
 
 
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    45
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  • First review
    June 19, 2008
  • Last review
    June 10, 2009
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AcesWild's Reviews
1 2 3 4 5 >>
 
Bring your 17-inch laptop on the road with this Ibex backpack. The multiple front-facing compartments offer easy organization, while the dual front zippers allow for quick access to your belongings. This SwissGear Ibex backpack has a 23L capacity and provides ample room for a variety of daily essentials.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
IBEST Laptop Backpack
on June 10, 2009
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
This is possibly the strongest backpack you will ever encounter without buying leather or metal/carbon casing. The weave is tight, taut and very durable. It is mostly water resistant, but will stain if it encounters bleach or other sorts of dye materials. The zippers are heavy duty and wont break off like most others. Pleasing appearnce and comfortable weight, even when full to the max.
Some Specs:
>> Color: Blue / Gray / Black
>> H x W x D: 19" x 15" x 10"
>> Fits most 17" widescreens (As in my Dell Vostro 17" w/ 9 cell battery pack which sticks out the back of the laptop, bumping it out more)
>> Reinforced ergonomic carrying handle
>> Rear hanging handle doubles as trolley strap
>> Side zippered and mesh pockets
>> Extra durable material on bottom
>> Quik Pocket holds iPod/MP3 player for easy access to all of your gadgets
>> CaseBase Stabilizing Platform keeps your IBEX standing upright to keep your valuables in place
>> Air-Flow Back padding keeps your back cool even with a full pack
>> Comp-u-Flex computer pocket keeps your 17" widescreen snugly protected
>> Three main compartments provide space for all of your belongings
>> Shock Absorb Shoulder straps distribute weight evenly and keep you comfortable
>> Essentials Organizer in front pocket has pockets and slot for all of your accessories and gadgets
This pack holds many of the usual patrons of your pockets such as pens, iPods, calculators, phones, notepads, etc. Relatively larger mesh sidepockets than you would get from an average backpack. Tends to fit 16oz up to 24oz and SOBE sized bottles fairly tight and secure. It actually stands on its own. Can fit pretty much anything you have in mind when you want to go somewhere. Great travel size, but not to be confused with luggage.
Generally, when backpacks are empty, they looks almost like deflated helium balloons, slightly flat, very light, and just filled with air in the empty spaces. This backpack, whether it's because of its frame construction or what, I don't know, but it tends to looks like something is in it all the time. It also doesn't have a chest strap to go across the shoulders to connect shoulder strap to shoulder strap. With that, you can expect alot of bouncing when riding a bike while wearing this. Not terrible or anything, just something I thought they could have easily added for extra comfort and stability during bike transport.
When all is said and done, this is probably the best 17" capable laptop backpack you will find. Needless to say it is well worth the money. Pay the little extra and get this rather than the Targus ones, those materials aren't grade A like this. If you are still unconvinced, you can probably travel to any of your local Best Buy stores and feel them/see them in the laptop case aisle. They are generally one of the few actually on display in stores and is probably one of the only Wenger - Swiss Gear items you will find on sale.
What's great about it: Quality Build - Tons of Compartments - Pleasing Appearance - (See My Specs)
What's not so great: No Chest Strap - Always Looks Full...
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5 out of 5
5
Durability
5 out of 5
5
+17points
18of 19voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Wrongs Get It Right
on August 6, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
Terrific album! A bluegrass interpretation of Pink Floyd is both comical and artistic. The familiar angst of the original is given new life here. Like its namesake, the Wrongs include all of the songs and give it a unique twist. Animal sounds even bridge the songlist together. Creative and well thought-out. Fun!
What's great about it: unique interpretation
What's not so great: shorter than original
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
The Simpsons: The Complete Third Season box set is an excellent DVD release from FOX. This four-disc set contains all 24 episodes originally aired from 1991-1992, each presented with a standard full-frame transfer and including all the jokes and little errors that you may have missed during the commercial television broadcast. The original 2.0 stereo soundtrack has been remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound for the DVD presentation in English. The Spanish and French soundtracks are rendered in good old stereo, and the language menu uses side characters to represent each option. Subtitles are also available in English, French, and Spanish. There are a lot of supplements on this disc, and they're all pretty good. First of all, there's an audio commentary track for every single episode, with different groups of participants. Crew members like David Silverman and Al Jean provide most of the remarks, frequently involving character evolutions, story development, bits of inspiration, and celebrity gossip. Cast members Dan Castellaneta and Julie Kavner also provide some comments on a couple of episodes. For those interested in pre-animation sketches and storyboards, there are a lot of them. The storyboards can be viewed manually and the sketches can be viewed by pressing enter when a little pencil appears during an episode (optionally, of course). Other extraneous information can be gleaned with pop-up video-style trivia during the episode "Colonel Homer." There's also a really cool Jukebox feature with access to every song from the third season. Other special features include Butterfinger commercials, the Thanksgiving Day parade appearance, FOX promos, some hidden Easter eggs, and a sturdy booklet detailing the episode info. Overall, this is an awesome DVD release for any fan of The Simpsons.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Third Time's a Charm
on August 5, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
"The Simpsons 3rd Season" boxed set is what we've all come to expect from Matt Groenig and company: an insight into the minds and expectations of the people who plot to menace us with this little yellow family every week. The special features include some interactive sketches, commentary for each episode, and even a Simpsons jukebox. The episodes themselves explore themes usually left for high-minded tv dramas, films, plays and literature. You already know the series or you wouldn't be skimming this. This show's satire hits everything it aims for, including religion, marital infidelity, family, friendship and even organized crime (in that Simpsons way, of course). In 1991 (the season this boxed set aired), when the zealots were screaming that Bart is not a good role model, the show is politically incorrect, etc., little did we know that this 'cartoon' would become an institution all its own. This 3rd season set the groundwork for what The Simpsons does best--original musical numbers, special guest voices who utter more than a sentence, and the contradictions of modern views of world religions. The Simpsons is perhaps the most respectful series about religion ever on television. Many don't see that. The episode Homer Alone defines it, and the 2007 movie punches it home. This box set of Season 3 is a must for your collection. The episodes can be viewed several times for the pop culture references alone. Take the season home with you. Enter Springfield, the land of yellow people and overbites.
What's great about it: improved animation quality, full-length episodes
What's not so great: no way, man!
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Bart, Homer, and the rest of the family are back in The Simpsons: The Complete Second Season. Each of these 22 episodes is presented in 1.33:1 full frame and sports solid colors and dark black levels. Since the second season of the show was in the early '90s, some imperfections abound including grain, dirt, and some bleeding colors. Otherwise, these episodes are all in very good shape. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround in English as well as Dolby 2.0 Surround in English and French. While 5.1 remixes are certainly welcome, The Simpsons isn't really an effects-heavy show and as such doesn't utilize a ton of directional effects. Overall the fidelity is quite low, though otherwise the mix is clear of any hiss or distortion. Also included on these discs are English and Spanish subtitles. Fox has made sure to add a few extra features onto this set, starting with commentaries on every episode by creator Matt Groening and various other crew members. Each of these are a goldmine of production information about the story and creative process, along with a lot of hearty laughs. Two music videos for the songs "Do the Bartman" and "Deep Deep Trouble" are included with optional commentary, plus two "awards show segments" featuring animated material from the Emmy Awards and American Movie Awards. Two video featurettes ("David Silverman on the Creation of an Episode" and "Interview") are fairly light peeks at the creation process with interviews by Groening and James L. Brooks. Finally there is an extensive still gallery with over 100 images of sketches and conceptual drawings. There are also some hidden extras featuring some weird foreign language clips.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Hey! HEy! HEY!! Simpsons finds its way!
on August 4, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
The animation of season 2 far surpasses season one. The content and themes of the episodes pave the way for the comical satire which follows in all future seasons. The episodes of season 2 take on everything from politics to nuclear power to televised violence. It seems as though the creators thought that the lifespan of their show would be rather brief, so they through in everything but the kitchen sink. Bart's character gets an occasional empathetic episode thrown his way, instead of always being a brat. We begin to learn about these characters as if they were people who live next door to us. This is part of the genius of this show. It challenges the viewer, and nothing is sacred. The commentaries on the disk are improving, and becoming more insightful. The packaging itself is silly too. This is a must have season for any Simpsons fan.
What's great about it: Everything but the kitchen sink
What's not so great: D'oh! Can't think of any...
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Doug Liman's box-office hit The Bourne Identity gets a new DVD release to coincide with the theatrical release of the film's sequel, The Bourne Supremacy. This "Explosive Extended Edition" of the film offers a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. English, French, and Spanish soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a new beginning and ending for the film, deleted scenes, a featurette about choreographing a fight scene, a featurette about how much the film resembles actual spy work, a short documentary on amnesia, and a profile of Robert Ludlum -- the author who created these characters. This is a solid release from Universal, who were kind enough to throw in a free ticket to see The Bourne Supremacy with all purchases of this disc.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Bourne Again
on August 3, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
The Bourne Identity and its two sequels are excellent psychological thrillers for a film fan looking for more thought than splatter. Even though it's got plenty of that, too. You know the story by now. And yes, it is not the book 'on screen'. Name one novel that follows the book it is "based on" precisely. You can't. Anyway, this commentary is about the special features sections of the trilogy. They are superb for any movie buff who is into the how-do-they-do-that mindset. One of the strengths of the special features section is that the filmmaker allows you to participate in the sound, editing, and so on. Movies aren't just made yesterday and come out next week. The editing is the snafu and the challenge. If you own the set, give these features a try. Yes other films have better or more complete special features, but how many maps of Middle Earth can you follow in one sitting? Therefore, identify "The Bourne" trilogy's supreme special features as something to enjoy on a dvd. Then look it over a second time. Now that is the final ultimatum.
What's great about it: sound, editing, storytelling, directing, acting, and it looks good
What's not so great: not the Ludlum book
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Beatles #1 and Here's Why
on August 2, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
Beatles 1 is a collection of the band's 27 #1 hits in the U.S. and England. It showcases the band at its artistic best. It is absolutely amazing how these songs by themselves transcend one single decade and continue to inspire today. Yes, several songs are missing from the disc because they didn't top the charts, though several of them got close. The transition between Yellow Submarine and Penny Lane demonstrates the growth and strengths of their creativity. The disc is a snapshot of the top-selling band of all time. This disc alone was the largest selling disc of the year 2000 alone. If that doesn't tell you something right there, nothing else will. Get back to these wonderful songs, then go deeper into their musical legacy. That is a trip worth taking.
What's great about it: 27 familiar songs remastered
What's not so great: none for this concept
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
"Love" Is All You Need
on August 1, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
Before he died, George Harrison got together with the founder of Cirque du Soleil and a deal was made to illuminate the timeless qualities of the Beatles music with the visual spectacle of the Cirque. This meant reimagining the music from the 2 dimensional screen surreality of "Yellow Submarine" and bringing it into the form of stage performance. Beatles producer George Martin and his son Giles created this soundscape from the best-known musical catalogue of the last 50 years. The Martins reimagine the music in a unique way. Take "Get Back" for example. It grabs the ears with the opening chord of "A Hard Day's Night", incorporates the drum solo and triple guitar work from the final suite on "Abbey Road" before we even hear the opening guitar riff of the title song. Perfect. That's how it is throughout: a fan's dream of a collection which includes more than the songs written on the cd jacket. As a listener, you will probably have fun finding certain licks and portions of the catalogue distributed within and throughout the songs themselves. Even trivia such as a siren during the "Julia" guitar intro leads quite nicely as a bridge from "Eleanor Rigby" into "I Am the Walrus" (yes, really). That alone is part of the fun. If you purchased the Anthology set in 1995, you will be familiar with some takes of the songs. The cd opens with "Because", and my only complaint is that the acapella version just incoporates cricket chirps behind the silence between verses. Maybe it part of the stage show; I've no idea. A small complaint at best, though there a couple of others, too. But not this. George Martin takes the sparse beauty of Harrison's "Guitar Gently Weeps" from the Anthology and gives it a "Yesterday" quality. It is stunning in this form. Harrison is well represented on this disc. "Here Comes the Sun" is gorgeous. All band members' music receive the same respectful, tender loving care treatment. Try this album on for size. For nostalgia purposes alone, "the love you make is equal to the love you take." You will listen to LOVE's music all over again for the first time. Timeless.
What's great about it: superb sound; 'mix' of songs
What's not so great: a couple of odd choices
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
The Beatles Anthology project (ultimately comprising audio, video, and book aspects) initially reached the public during the week of Thanksgiving 1995, with the first of three two-hour television specials broadcast Sunday, November 19, followed by the first of three two-CD sets of outtakes of the group's recordings released Tuesday, November 21. The TV portion continued on Wednesday and concluded on Thanksgiving. The second CD set was released in March 1996, with the third coming in October, while in September the VHS version of this video set was released. (A coffee-table book was published in 2000.) It expanded enormously on the original TV broadcast, which ran six hours including commercials. The home-video version had eight episodes, each running between 71 and 81 minutes, for a total length just short of ten hours, which just about doubled the running time. (The 2003 DVD reissue contains five discs, with two episodes per disc, plus an 81-minute bonus disc containing extra material.) At the longer length, the story is the same, a roughly chronological history of the Beatles from their beginnings in Liverpool, England, to worldwide fame and their breakup at the end of the 1960s. Except for brief newsreel-like recitations, there is no overall narrative, just interviews with the three Beatles then still alive (John Lennon's comments are culled from his numerous press interviews over the years), along with three key associates: Neil Aspinall (who began as their roadie and went on to run their company, Apple); Derek Taylor (their press representative); and George Martin (their record producer). As a video autobiography, the film shares the advantages and disadvantages of autobiographies, in general. On the plus side, there is lots of rare footage of the Beatles performing and, of course, their music is used extensively. On the minus side, there are occasional factual errors; there is little historical perspective (for example, there is no discussion at all of the development of the Beatle haircut and its effect on their career and on men's grooming, though this matter is addressed briefly in one of the segments on the bonus DVD); and, in telling their own story from their own perspective, the Beatles largely ignore other perspectives. They do not, for instance, ask dismissed drummer Pete Best for his side of the story. Lennon's remarks are characteristically incisive, while Paul McCartney comes off as a charming self-promoter, Ringo Starr is relentlessly sunny for the most part, and George Harrison can be smug and sarcastic. The group's history was well-documented on film, and much of that film has been obtained and used, so the viewer gets a good look at what happened. With ten hours to fill, the story unfolds gradually, with frequent stops for full-length musical segments, excerpts from radio shows, and studio chatter. This is not really the place to start in learning the Beatles' story; frequently, the interviewees provide details on a story they assume viewers already know the gist of, rather than explaining the basic facts. But it is, of course, a treasure trove for Beatles fans, providing large amounts of rare and previously unseen audio and video material on the group. The bonus DVD adds to this particularly by providing extra footage of Harrison, McCartney, and Starr together in 1994-1995, reminiscing and playing some impromptu tunes.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Get Back...Again and Again and...
on July 31, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
Here is a box set any Beatles fan can wrap his arms around. For some reason, this band never gets old, as new generations discover the group. The Anthology is a 5-disc set which covers the Beatles from birth to breakup. If you have a favorite era of the band, you could pick out one disc and have that year in their lives covered well. It is nostalgic for the Baby Boomers, and it is just as fresh as was when it was first televised in the mid-90s. The group needs no introduction, and neither does their music. How many other cultural icons can make that claim? The editing is superb. The chronology is exactly as you remember it. And the video choices are provided by the families of the band, concert materials, 'recent' interviews, radio interviews, and other documentary footage. A group of four very different individuals who came together in the right place and the right time, worked its way to the top, and paved the way for much of the music we still hear today. The additional disc is filled with plenty of special features, too. The other four combined last about 10 hours. Purchase it, rent it, check it out of the library, or borrow it from a friend. Just see it, and you'll be gladly reminded of why this band was so important in your life and popular culture, too.
What's great about it: thorough biography, positive and negative aspects are all there
What's not so great: none--perhaps it could be updated to include post-Beatles careers instead of just a cursory ending?
I would recommend this to a friend!
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy listening to your favorite jams through these bookshelf speakers that feature wide-dispersion woofers and tweeters for thrilling sound that keeps you rocking. Built-in crossovers with Mylar bypass capacitors deliver expressive highs for a lush soundscape.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Polk For the Audio Folk!!
on July 30, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
For the past three decades, Polk could only be found in high end audio stores. Thankfully, all of that has changed. Prices are competitive with other high end equipment. And I feel this brand is probably a close second to BOSE. I have these on small shelves near the ceiling of my basement. Since installing them several years ago, they have not lost their luster. The sound is excellent. The speakers seem to have a lot of stamina, and can handle new updates to sound systems. At first, I was wondering if I was even hearing them, but once I got into the center area of the room, Polk's voice became clear, and quite noticeable. The speakers don't strain. The speakers don't buzz or vibrate. They simply live up to their manufacturer's specs., and reputation. Highly recommended!
What's great about it: Crisp Sound - Solid Casing - Strong In Both Highs & Lows
What's not so great: None
I would recommend this to a friend!
-2points
4of 10voted this as helpful.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
These Kids Still Are Alright
on July 29, 2008
Posted by: AcesWild
from Wisconsin
Unlike the Beatles and The Stones, The Who's story is not as much a part of the cultural landscape as its two contemporaries. That said, "Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who" is about a good a box set as any rock fan will find anywhere. There are 3 discs: The Story of The Who, Six Quick Ones, and a 1979 concert recorded in Chicago. This compiled documentary is painstakingly researched, and the band members were candid and open. And you won't have to turn it up to 110 decibels to hear it, either! The sound quality is excellent, and the video is clear and crisp. Musical selections are both obvious, yet occasionally unexpected. Therein lies the fun. Except for the Kinks and The Yardbirds, very few bands in 1965-66 were reinventing the music as the genre was inventing itself. The Who is one such band. Unique lyrics and melodies, combined with a ferocious rhythm section, popped out of the radio like a thunderclap during an outdoor violin quartet performance in Central Park. "Amazing Journey" is a smart, illuminating glance into the lives of the 4 guys who sang "I hope I die before I get old..." If there is one quibble to be made, it is the concert choice. It is a short concert, and doesn't seem to show off the main players a year after Keith Moon's death. The anger is still there, the creativity evident in Townsend's writing and Roger's singing, but this concert choice eludes me. Back to the box. "Amazing Journey" should be part of any baby boomer's rock collection. Roger Daltrey went on the television talk show circuit to promote in late 2007, and I am glad I listened. Long live rock.
What's great about it: excellent sound, insightful interviews, one live concert
What's not so great: the concert is too short
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
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