The Diligent Shopper

Outstanding Biography
You can clearly hear Tim Russert's voice as you read this book. There were so many connections that I could make to his family, growing up, and the problems and decisions he encountered. I didn't want the book to end. I bought this copy for my son-in-law who is an avid reader. I know he will have great connections to his dad. Recently, he became the father of a son as well. I know he will think about all the life lessons that he will want to pass on to his son.

Soft focus
br /In his career as journalist and host of NBC's Meet the Press, Tim Russert was known for being prepared. He asked the hard questions of his high-profile Sunday morning guests, and his astute coverage of U.S. political elections was legendary. Time Magazine named his as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008. When Russert died unexpectedly in June 2008, the outpouring of tributes was overwhelming. br / br /Any person so well known and respected can be expected to write a book; people want to know all about the forces that shaped such a focused life, and we surely want to know all the secrets and details involving other players on the world stage. It's interesting that Tim Russert chose to write such a sentimental first book. There is nothing hard-hitting about this tender memoir. What books would he have given us, I wonder, if he'd lived out his expected life span? br / br /Despite the title, this book is definitely a memoir. Timothy Joseph "Big Russ" Russert features in many scenes, but he was certainly not the author of the environment in which young Tim grew up. If you were born in America in the middle of the 20th century, the simple family values expressed in Big Russ and Me : Father and Son: Lessons of Life will feel almost excruciatingly poignant. If you were raised in the Catholic church and schools of that era, the details of Russert's primary years at "parochial school" will strike a chord. You may not have gone to an elite Jesuit high school, but perhaps you worked hard to put yourself through university in that time of upheaval; maybe that was a huge milestone for your family, a good degree from a good college. There were challenges; the death of the Kent State students rocked universities badly, and during the Vietnam War the student draft deferment was a powerful incentive to stay in school even for those who saw the social injustice in it. br / br /If you are Irish American, you'll know exactly what Russert was feeling when John Kennedy was shot and killed. That painful time, John and Martin and then, unbelievably, Bobby ... these are some of the landmarks of Russert's youth, and if you are of that time, they're yours too. br / br /If you grew up in South Buffalo as Russert did, don't even think about missing this book. br / br /I'm not sure it's enough, from a man so steeped in American culture and politics. Russert goes on to tell of his work with Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Mario Cuomo, but the heart of "Big Russ and Me" is the American Dream as realized by baby boom families raising children in the 1950s and 60s. Those "Wonder Years" have a soft focus, and "Big Russ and Me" is a pleasant addition but gives us nothing new, asks no hard questions. It's a nice feel-good book and there's always room for that. Just know that's what you are getting, when you pick it up. Four stars. br / br /Linda Bulger, 2009

Decent Book, Great Guy
This book was not meant to be a nuanced portrait, so you won't like it if that is what you are looking for. Russert's tale is simple and straightforward. He's and trying to remember a lot of the good things he learned over his too-short life. Being from Buffalo, having met him in 1991, and being a big fan of his Meet The Press--yes, I had a lot of personal interest in the story. There is a lot that is missing that could have gone into the book, but then again, I would not have read a 1,000 page opus. What I like best is how the book showcases Tim--his optimism, his work ethic, his faith and his lack of pretense. And for that, its worth reading even if you aren't from Western New York.

Awsome book
This is truly one of the best books I ever read. I just loved it. I am from Western NY also, and a year younger than Tim. So much of what he wrote brought back so many memories He wrote this book just like he talked. Each chapter was a different segment of his life. My biggest regret is that I did not read it while he was still with us so I could let him know how much I enjoyed it. br /I recommend this book highly.

TRULY AMAZING READ, TOTALLY HEARTFELT....
This Book is a Comfort to read...!! The memories and good feelings that this book conjures up of being raised basically the same way the Russert Family was is very refreshing. We need the young people of today to read books like these to appreciate what life really is or should be about. I totally recommend this book..!!!

GPS
This product is a life saver and absolutely worth the money. I live in Maryland and I took it with me to Hawaii on a business trip and it came in very handy. It adjusted itself to the 6 hour difference in time, street maps and assisted me and my co-worker with directions all over the island. The only thing it didn't do was say the street names. I guess it couldn't pronounce them. I highly recommend this product.

Overall, a great deal.
I just completed a 10,000 mile, one month long road trip (USA coast to coast) and overall, the Nuvi 360 worked very well. br / br /A few times it stumbled during navigation and tried to lead us down dirt roads when logical paved alternatives existed. (This despite the fact that I had checked avoid unpaved roads in the menu.) br / br /Curiously, the unit sometimes mispronounced "Drive" as "Doctor" every now and then. This happened most frequently in Albuquerque, NM. I assume this was a map error though and not the fault of the unit. br / br /The flip out antenna is sometimes annoying when using the unit while walking. Not a big deal though. No issues encountered with the antenna when mounting to the windshield though. br / br /This is the unit for someone who wants solid navigation and basic features in a good package (case, chargers, etc.) at a VERY good price. br / br /As of the date of my purchase, it was covered by Garmin's free map update program. I updated it and it runs the 2010 map with no problems. br / br /You don't need a newer model unless you want the eye candy the newer processors and interface can provide. br / br /This unit already has the biggest advances - text to speech, a high sensitivity receiver and quick refresh/recalculation times, so it's good to go. br / br /Battery life is awesome so just lay it on the seat beside you and let it tell you where to go. br / br /Overall, highly recommended. 4 stars.

Not as fancy but still a quality product
The product descriptions are accurate. This GPS is lightweight and wasy to use. I had some trouble mounting the actual screen onto the rotating mount, but after some force, it worked. I haven't used the bluetooth of voice-to-text capabilities yet, but the maps are accurate and the screen is clear. A good buy if you are looking for a basic, no fuss GPS.

Great Product for my move to a new city!
This Garmin has been a lifesend for me. It helped me move from Iowa to California easily and has been great in helping me around the city of LA. br / br /However, I have some major problems with this machine. br / br /1. It doesn't tell me if I am going to be turning left or right if the next turn is over 1 mile away and there has been many times that it has made me miss a turn due to bad traffic. br / br /2. It sometimes calls streets by a different name than is on the street sign and so I have missed streets that way as well. br / br /3. It doesn't take the route that would avoid bad traffic. In LA the highways are always jammed but this GPS always puts me on these highways instead of the streets. br / br /4. Doesn't sit on the dashboard!!In CA, it is illegal to have it on your window and so I have to put it on the dashboard but it doesn't stick to it so it always falls off which is a huge headache!! br / br /Even though, I have these problems, I could not live without this GPS, it is great and well worth the money!!

Did you say something?
I've had it a week now and this is my first GPS.. br / br /Pros: Simple to use. Acquires satellites in 2 minutes or less. Unlike some other Garmin models the 360 comes with all the accessories you need. br / br /Cons: I bought this unit primarily for its TTS feature and because I think taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds is dangerous. The TTS works wonderfully and gives good directions with enough lead time. When you can hear it. And that's the problem with this unit. The volume (even on its highest setting) is too low to be heard above typical car noise levels. So, since TTS is my most desired feature, I'll be retuning it. br /

Compared to Navigon 5100
I bought a Garmin 350 and a friend bought a Navigon 5100 about 2 years ago. The Navigon is one half the price of the Garmin. Both are pretty much the same except the Navigon directs you around traffic. It's amazing and it really works. br /Garmin now keeps asking me to update my software for .00. When my Garmin become obsolete, I will get rid of it and buy a Navigon 5100 for 0.00 and have the live traffic update and software updates for free!

Very good device but could use a few tweaks
I have been using the Nuvi 350 for a few years now and think it is an outstanding device. Not only does it help you keep your eyes on the road longer (you can see the distance to an upcoming turn and also whether you need to be on the right or left-side of the road.) It is also good on dark and rainy nights when street signs in rural areas are obscured by tree branches. It also helps when on an overpass and the signs are not clear whether to be in the right or left lane for entering on to the highway below. br / br /The navigation is excellent with few exceptions. This device will save you gas when going to an area for the first time. For the most part, it is intelligent enough not to direct you the wrong way down one-way streets prevelant in many cities downtown. br / br /I would like to see some additional features or improvements: br / br /1. When simulating a drive to a destination I would like to see an option to increase the speed by 5 or 10x. Currently, it is too slow and takes a very long time to complete a 10 mile trip. br / br /2. When saving a new destination it would be nice that there would be an entry line for a suite number and/or phone number. br / br /3. The selected destination is visible in text somewhere either on the footer or header. br / br /4. The ability to save a route and then be able to reverse it. The algorithm is smart enough and should be able to take one-way streets into account on the way back. br / br /5. Even on the brightest setting, the display is a little hard to see when wearing sunglasses. Just a little more screen brightness would help. br / br /6. When on battery power only, the display will 'timeout' and go dark after 30 seconds regardless of the display timeout time period selected on the settings page. This is overcome by just touching anywhere on the screen, but when in an area where a lot of turns are needed, it is an annoyance. br / br /7. When retreiving a saved location under the 'Recent Selections' tab, the locations will come up displayed with the addresses only and not the saved names. You must remember what address goes with what name. br / br /Overall though, this is one of the best consumer devices I have purchased in years; I bought one for my daughter after a short while of using it myself. It is amazing how many locations for hotels, gas stations, etc... are pre-stored in there. On a trip cross-country I was able to find a hotel off the interstate very late at night by using the pre-stored list. Many of the pre-stored lists have phone numbers, and in this case was able to call ahead to make sure of room availability first. A real time saver after a long day of driving. Also used the pre-stored list to keep track of gas stations when driving long stretches in remote areas. br / br /Some miscellaneous items: the Nuvi 350 takes a little time to acquire the satellites in heavily treed areas and also has a little difficulty maintaining satellite signals in downtown areas. (There was a firmware update not too long ago addressing the unit's ability in obtaining new signals and updating it's position quickly after exiting from a tunnel). br / br /The device is intuitive to use and enhances safety while driving to and from unfamilar places. It is also small enough to fit in your shirt pocket. A great, great device.

2 years and this GPS still works great
I bought this GPS in 2007 and it still works great after 2 years. That is the reason I came out to write this review. It is a great product and the signal is strong and quick even in the raining day. I saw some larger screen product but this screen size is perfect for me. Don't waste your money on the larger screen. The battery last about 6 hours and I need to re-charge it every two weeks. My friend bought a TomTom about the same time and the battery only last for 3 hours after one year.

LOVE IT!
This is the best thing I have ever purchased! It has been a huge help in finding my way to places and you can even have it list of food and hotels in the area. I have really enjoyed having this and I would recommend this brand to anyone who is looking for an GPS system.

Overall good device with one really annoying feature
The main issue I have with Garmin 350 GPS is that it doesn't tell you what your next turn is. This can be extremely dangerous. If your next turn is a right at the next exit, it won't tell you until immediately before - sometimes this can be terrifying. At this point, you are in the way wrong lane and you put your life at risk trying to get into the correct lane. Maybe Garmin has fixed this issue with its newer GPS machines; I've read a lot of other complaints on here about the exact same thing with this model. Tom Tom seems to work better in this respect - your next turn is always on the screen even if it's in 60 miles, so you can be sure to stay in the correct lange.

problems, problems, problems
Have had three of these to date. My third one just died. I treat them with care. On two, the screen has gone out; one the hard drive died. I am at a year and 4 months. Since my original kindle was ordered over a year ago, I just had to pay 0 for a replacement. I have no faith this will ever be a durable device.

Amazing Gadget
My Children got me this expensive little toy for Father's day - Wow. If I had known how much I would like it I would have bought one long ago. When I go on a trip, I used to load down my brief case with books. Now I just take all my books in feather light Kindle, and if I run out of books on the trip I just order up another one - at a much lower price than a book store - and it is there immediately. Lately when people give me a book, I say thank you, put the book on the shelf, and order it up on the Kindle. In other words I am impressed, a daily user, and so far completely happy with this gadget.

Kindle 1 i a pretty awesome gadget@
I bought a Kindle 1 off ebay about a month ago after buying and returning a Sony Reader 700. I was leary about it after reading some of the bad reviews the product got. However, you cannot please everyone and some of the issues people complained about are no issue at all for me. br / br /I can see how the page turning buttons can be a problem, however, I am a petite person and have small hands. I can hold the Kindle comfortably and turn the page without any issues. Also, the black you see before the page turns is nothing. Who cares! It changes pages so quick I cannot believe that someone would actually complain about the black screen that shows up before the page changes. br / br /Today was the first day I actually paid for a book and it was B000FI73MA.99. Yes... I would like to read some of the new releases, but I do not read all that often so having the free books works fine for me. If John Grisham comes out with a new book on Kindle, I will get it..... as long as it is B000FI73MA.99. I would like Dick Morris's new book, but they want .84. If I wait long enough, I can get the hardcover at the Goodwill for .50. br / br /I was able to get the Twilight series of books for free. I am sure I cannot reveal how, but I did and there are ways to get books that are not in Kindle format, formatted for the Kindle. br / br /I took my Kindle with me on vacation. Could you imagine having to carry an array of books with you? This gadget is awesome. I am not sure I will even upgrade to the Kindle 2 or the DX. The Kindle 1 is great!

Now: with iPhone and iTouch!
I've had the kindle 1 for a year or more...and I'm rarely without it! My one acclimitzation problem was LEAVING it somewhere!! It is so nicely portable and compact that ocassionally, i'd forget and leave it somewhere!!! AAARRRGH!!! br /But now...with the free application from Apple, I can put my reading in my pocket via my iTouch! The two work together very well, provided you let the Kindle's wireless function operate, and you are able to us a wireless network with your iTouch/iPhone. br / br /AND...the i device's backlight gives a VERY bright display AND the i device allows you to use black, white, or sepia print!! br / br /I was not tempted to get the newer kindle: no SD card, case does not come with it, no ability to change your own battery.

Major works are not available.
I own a kindle since the beginning of June...My joy died a few days later,when I found out that most books I would like to download are not available for kindle. br /For instance: CAtch 22 by Heller... The Stranger by Camus.. The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann.... br /and many, many others... br / br /Ulrike Ritchie br /

new 52
LOVE LOVE LOVE our new TV!! We are so happy to be part of the HD world!

Super TV
I finally settled on Samsung after hearing so much regarding value and technology. I had my eyes set on the 6 series, but the prices on this tv started dropping. The picture is awesome for DVDs. Unfortunately, my cable provider signal is lousy.

excellence amazon's services
to buy hdtv from amazon is very convenience, reasonable price, reliable, delivery is good. Everything is straight forward , no problem at all. I am very satisfied with amazon's services.

TVREVIEW
Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color br / br / The TV arrived in good shape and I could not be happier with it. Sharp picture, great sound; just enjoyable to watch. The appearance is sleek, and adds a great deal to the decor of the family room in which it was placed.

Simply Amazing!!!
I waited awhile to write my reveiw to see if any problems arose such as the halo effect. None did. This Tv is amazing. I am stunned by the picture quality everytime I watch it. I ordered it straight from Amazon in Feb. with the free standard shipping and it arrived in 7days. I would very much recommend this tv especially at the discounted price compared to the new models Samsung recently came out with.

NOT WORTH THE HASSLE
I bought this T.V. 8 months ago. Twice I had difficulty getting it to turn on - no sound - no picture. Now I can't get it to turn on no matter what I do. The Amazon customer service rep was very friendly but could only refer me to the "third party source - Electonics Expo" who actually sold the TV (news to me!). I called the Electronics Expo phone number that the Amazon rep gave me and they told me since my TV was 32" and up - I would now have to call Samsung directly- they don't deal with them! br / br /Then I called the Samsung customer service number and the Samsung employee, who was also friendly and helpful gave me the option of taking the TV to an authorized service dealer or having a repairman come to the house. However, since I was calling from work, and didn't have the serial number, I was told I would have to call back with the serial number before they could complete the service details. I was given a transaction number to refer to when I called back with my serial number. Two hours later I called back with my serial number and the Samsung employee is now telling me I will probably have to mail the TV to a repair center as it is not likely there will be a repair center in my area (still no idea where the closest one is-must be a secret). I have been told to wait for a phone call that will come within 24-48 hours with further instructions (sounds mysterious doesn't it?) br / br /As of now I am waiting for my phone call for further instructions - which may or may not come as a holiday weekend is approaching. I have no idea how long it will be before I have a working TV. FRUSTRATING!! My guess after reading other reviews is that my TV also has a faulty power connection and this is just the beginning of the saga. br / br /Definitely NOT worth the Hassle - I need to purchase another TV for my son (and to use while mine is out for repair) and I don't know what to buy and from where. TV had a great picture when it worked, but if you buy this TV - GOOD LUCK!

Beware of Poor Warranty Service
The set is excellent when it was working but warranty service is pathetic. 3 months old and it started to have a totally white screen upon start up. Filed a warranty claim online, pickup was prompt by a repair vendor that Samsung directed me to. That was 5 weeks ago with no end in sight. The authorized repair vendor keeps saying they are waiting for parts, every time it's different and every time the part is special order from Samsung. Samsung 800# is useless, the escalation line has been down for a week, all you get is no help and a hang up. At this point, I really don't think I'll ever see the set again. Total frustration. Beware!

You won't regret it
I bought this TV 3 months ago to use as a monitor for my computer and PlayStation 3 80GB. br / br /I am very pleased with its performance, I currently run it at 1360 by 768. I had to adjust the graphics card settings to center it. Despite what I have read about needing 1080 for monitor use, it looks flawless and runs smooth. I sit about 3 feet from it. br / br /It also works perfectly with my PS3. The games look great, the blue-rays look even better. I cannot compare this to other LCD's but I have never seen a flaw while using this with a game. br / br /As far as the various features of the screen, I have not used them extensively. I hooked a VGA up to the back along side a HDMI for the PS3. I put a line out from its headphone jack to my Logitech Z-4I 2.1 Speaker System, which put the TV's speakers to shame. br / br /This TV is not much bigger than our tube, which is 30 inch, but its seems so much bigger. Partially because you can sit closer to it, and partially because almost everything is wide-screen these days. br / br /I haven't used it for broadcast TV, I use Hulu extensively. It plays 480p well. Between movies, games, and websites like Hulu, I no longer watch TV.

Stay Away!!!
When I got this item I was very impressed with the picture quality, but then after six months the picture started going out for a few minutes now and then. It would recover on its own, but then it went out for good. So I looked online and found that Samsung TV's have this problem quite a bit and good luck getting service. So I tried setting up service online but there online support center doesn't work for much of anything other than downloading user manuals. Other functionality ends up in a loop or with nothing. So I called their service department just now, and based on what people have reported I don't expect to get speedy service or maybe any service, but even if they fixed this tomorrow there is no excuse for a TV to go bad after 6 months of light usage. My other TV's are 15-20 years old and have had no problem ever.

Excellent performance for the price
I recently purchased this TV on sale for 8, and for this price, this TV is a bargain. The picture is clear even at 720p, with vibrant colors, reasonable (though not perfect) black levels and the variety of preprogrammed settings is easy to access, making simple work of changing between settings for movies, TV, and sports. The 6ms response time prevents much of the blurring in sports, though there is still the occasional ghost. The sound quality is clear, although the placement of the speakers does some muffling of the sound. I especially like the three HDMI ports, which may be useful as I update to more HD equipment. The remote is more responsive than previous versions, but it can't be used with non-samsung products. That being said, the TV linked well to my CEC enabled Philips Progressive Scan DVD Player w/ 1080i Upconversion, DVP3962/37 synced with the TV painlessly. It does not have the highest tech features, but what it does have works very well. For the price, I have not been disappointed.

Warranty Service Stinks
The vast majority of the reviews I read about this model were accurate: great picture, ok sound, nice features, etc. Unfortunately the model was too new to reveal its reliablility problems. Mine failed after 5 months of use and Samsung Warranty Services has been useless in resolving the problem. They referred me to a service center 60 miles away from me (I have now found one 10 minutes away - wish me luck) and these guys had my set for 6 weeks before claiming that they couldn't duplicate the problem??!!! They SAW the problem in my house, took it and then sat on it for 6 weeks. I called Samsung customer (dis)-service and they did nothing for me. The phone rep said it was between me and the repair company. I tried explaining that the repair company didn't know what they were doing after 6 weeks of futility, but to no avail. I can understand that things break, but the lack of warranty support from Samsung was absolutely amazing considering it was a nearly 00 purchase. Go ahead and buy this TV, but pray that it doesn't break.

NICE QUALITY TV
This tv has an outstanding picture!All functions were easy to operate. br /Setting up the picture quality was a lot easier than I was led to believe. br /The only knock I have against this tv is the sound system.Very mediocre. br /Since I am am using a seperate sound system anyway this problem is not br /really an issue for me.I would suggest anyone purchasing this tv to consider br /doing the same,but otherwise a tv well worth the money!

Beautiful picture
I purchased this television in February of 2008 after doing weeks of research and comparing the picture quality to other HDTVs in store. br / br /I could not be happier with this television. I have had it for over a year and it has survived two moves, and a toddler spilling a drink down the front of the LCD screen. br / br /Once you view an action movie or a sports game on this Samsung, you will never be able to stand watching it on a lesser quality television. If you are a serious gamer, you will fall in love with the resolution, clarity and smooth motion. br / br /If you are in the market for an LCD HDTV, you must buy a Samsung! I cannot wait until I can buy the Samsung LN32B550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV with Red Touch of Color to use in my bedroom for movie watching and as a computer monitor.

I threw it off my 8th floor balcony and it still works!!!
This thing is like a piece of iron.... but its a machine made of chips and plastic I think

Time to buy!
Between the recession and the introduction of the 240Hz LCD TV's, the price for this big beauty is down nicely. br / br /We watch movies, Hi-Def cable shows and kid shows in my family, mostly, and this TV does a fantastic job with each. If your focus isn't on sports, this is an excellent television and a very good deal right now. br / br /If you haven't bought a TV in a few years, or this is a step up, be warned! there are a lot of options and features to work with. It is worth your time to learn them, but it does take a little time. If you routinely upgrade your computers or cell phone every couple years, you'll be fine. If you don't, be prepared to spend some time learning what this beast of a TV can do for you. br / br /I recommend it and would buy it again.

Great
I love this tv everything looks fantastic. I watch blu-rays via PS3 and the pitcher is amazing. I also watch netflix instant via the computer and you can't even tell it looks like it a DVD. The remote has a type of click wheel, its hard to use and i don't care for it. I have the tv hooked up to the internet so with a push of a button you get news and weather.

Open Box at BestBuy for 9 and a little plastic cleaner tip to remove tape residue.
First off let me say that I have not hooked up my Bluray or any HD (HDMI) fed source to this tv yet. I have only seen it in the store on broadcast HD. The picture was fantastic in the store. I have had my share of LCDs too so I can speak with some authority on PQ. I currently own a Panny 42" plasma, Samsung 32" LCD. I bought this tv to game in my office to replace the 32" that I gave my son. I had intended on buying a Samsung 32" (1080P, 120MHZ) but when I got to the store I ran across the 40" 650a as a display model. There were actually 2 of them but I did not know it at the time. One was priced @ 07 (mine) and the other 9. I had noticed an older couple contemplating the one I was looking at so since I was not in the market for the 40" I thought I would let them make their decision and come to look @ it after they left. Assmuming of course they did not buy it. Well after about an hour of walking around the store looking at other LCDs I noticed they were gone or so I thought. I went back to look @ the 650a in full confidence that I would not be intruding on someone else's thought buying process. As walked back through the section where it was displayed I thought well they must have deciced against it. I walked around to the other side of the aisle just to take a look at the other display models and I noticed another 650a on the oppiste side directly behind the one I was looking @. I then realized that it was marked down to 9. As I picked up the label to inspect, well, the specs, to make sure it was the same model, the older couple popped up out of nowhere and scared the crap out of me. They told me that they were going to buy the one @ 9 and I thought well that was alot of work to avoid their buying process only to invade their buying process. Now mind you both of these 650as had visible tape residue on the back and front but i was not shakin (I well get to that in a minute). I told them up front that I had seen them looking at the other 650a on the oppiste side and I told them that I was going to wait till they had made up their mind before I came back and stood in front of it for 2 hours to make up my mind. They then told that the sales guy was going to give them the same price on either of the 650a @ 9. Well now we were kindred spirits because I was going to buy the one they didn't buy. So we both proceeded to take the labels off the display so no one else would get any ideas about these models on display and we promptly got the Bestbuy guys on the job. Now from my perspective I had gone into the store to pay 00 on the 32" version with 120MHZ so I though this is no brainer. Well this brings me back to the condition of the unit. It had tape residue all over it (not the screen) but the outer edges on the front and back. My thoughts were, it is the PQ that I am buying and not the cosmetics and I was fully confident that I could handle the cosmetic hurdle. Well this morning (the morning after) I proceeded to gather my cleaning tools that I thought would best do the job. br / br /1. Mineral Oil br /2. Screen Cleaner br /3. Mystery Cleaner br / br /Well I pulled up my office chair to this red beauty in the rough and dabbed a few drops of mineral oil on a fiber cloth and began to wipe the tape residue off the top and back of the unit. This seems to work ok but it was not efficient and it was greasy. After I got most of the residue off I cleaned the plastic with the screen cleaner to try and remove any of the residual oil. Once again it seemed to work ok but it was going to take longer than expected. I had a lot of tape to remove. Why they do this I do not know. br / br /Here is where the mystery cleaner comes into play. br / br /I own a Jeep Rubicon and Jeep owners have long had a need for something to clean the plastic windows on the soft top. br / br /I had ready to go to see if the result were more efficient. br / br /I thought well I will give it a shot on the next patch of tape. br / br /As i started to wipe over the next batch of tape residue I noticed that it was coming right off with very little effort and applying a nice shine in the process almost like I was waxing the back of the 650a. br / br /I was so happy to come to the realization that this was going to be alot easier than I thought. I continued to clean the rest of the 650a with the mystery cleaner till it looked close to brand new. br / br /After I was done I thought this product is awesome. br / br /I have also used it to clean my wife's laptop lid and a Dell Mini 9. As well as the remote that came with this display model. br / br /This mystery product is called: br / br /Plexus (www.plexusplasticcleaner.com) br / br /DO NOT USE THIS ON THE SCREEN!!!!! br / br /Only use it on the frame. br / br /So thanks to a very nice couple who saved me an extra 0 and Plexus plastic cleaner I believe I came out pretty good paying 9 for a floor model that looks very close to being new and I get an additional 8 inches of screen for 0 less than the 32". br / br /I am very happy.

Poor Value. Terrible Picture for the Money
The overall picture this set offers is very good - when ignoring the problem data traffic lines at the top of the screen - as good as most other models. However, when you pay considerably more for a set that is supposed to be much better quality, you would assume you would get a picture that you could concentrate on. The fact is that this set displays an annoying continuous set of "screen data" (moving small white lines that TV's use to configure the picture) across the top of the entire picture. These are on every television but on most televisions, 99.9% of the time they are off-screen and you never see them. Samsung said that's just the way the set works and that if you don't like it, adjust the picture size. That works only until you turn the set off. Then you need to adjust it each time you turn it back on. For a set that costs over 00, you'd expect it to work properly. I'd stay away from Samsung. They admit they are making a defective product but yet continue to sell it. I've researched a considerable amount of HDTV's since discovering this problem and most sets provide a much better picture for hundreds less. Don't be taken in by the hype of this set unless you can live with changing white lines across the top of your screen all the time. Personally, I'd highly recommend looking at a Sony. I wished I would be right now!!!

Best LCD for 2008
Samsung made a superior TV. br /I have it hooked up to my bd-p1500 br /I have this TV in my bedroom for movies only. br /Looks great

Problems with LN40A650
Bought the TV on January 11th. Spent 40.64. Worked well up until April 15th without any problems. After that the TV started to act up. All the problems were totally random... At first the picture would start to distort and then get better. Then once and a while the TV would go green on me. At the same time that was happenning the TV started flashing on and off in no apparent pattern?? Now the TV doesn't even turn on correctly, more of the on and off fashing.. Extremely annoying and very depressing. Dropping money on something that fails just plain sucks. I'll update after after I talk with Samsung and let you know how that goes.

Better hope it works!
I had this TV for less than 6 months when it died. The problems seemed to start when I got Verizon FIOS and the techs connected the FIOS set-top box to the Samsung with an HDMI cable. Turns out that Samsung has moved ahead with the their HDMI input standard, while Motorola (who makes most set-top boxes) has not. Both Samsung and Verizon recommend only using component cables to connect such boxes (which is a whole other problem). Anyway, the set stopped functioning and the repair techs said they need to replace the microprocessors. They tell me that Samsung is notorious for poor warranty support and resist placing broken sets. Parts can take weeks to months to receive. The repair folks do government contracts in this area and told me that even the Pentagon waits months for their Samsung repairs. They advised buying Sharp the next time. Samsung "field reps" called to troubleshoot, but when I called the company to talk to them (1-800-Samsung) no one there knew anything about "field reps." Try it yourself. You'll be amazed.

Good for us
Not a great review but for somebody who can't understand all the terms of latest TV technology but just have to upgrade to a flat screen.Checked out a similar configuration TV from Sony but it was way too expensive.I am reviewing this after 6 months of purchase.I have been busy admiring the flat screen. Coming to TV, it is excellent for us.It has 3 HDMI outputs and Oh yes, you can connect your 1st gen Xbox to this.No extra cables needed.Just connect the Xbox and TV with existing cables.But for connecting anything else, you need to order HDMI cables.Order them from amazon as they are very expensive in the stores. No problems reported so far. Sound can be a bit better. The remote is bit big for my hands but I guess I can live with it.The picture quality is good.It doesn't have the 120hz feature but unless you watch sports everyday hour of the day, I don't think that matters.Even with ports, there is a sports mode which can used but in normal mode, you can notice the pixels since it lacks the 120 hz feature.The menu can be a bit tiresome.I can't remember which function is in which part of the menu.I have to keep checking each and every option till I find the required setting. br /ON the whole, its good TV for the price for anyone who doesn't spend a lot of time infront of it. br /The shipping from CEVA was good.White glove service.

Great TV, but it makes noise.
We've had the TV for several months now and it is wonderful. Very clear pictures, especially in HD. The only minor complaint is that there is a relatively long delay between pushing the power "on" button and the TV actually turning on (1-2 seconds), and when it does, it has a loud chime. This wouldn't be annoying except that we have an infant in the house who is often sleeping in the same room as the TV, and the chime is loud enough to disturb her from sleep. It also chimes when you turn it off, though if you mute the TV, the chime is muted as well. Wish that was an option when you turned it on. Otherwise, fantastic TV, great price, clear picture.

Wow!
I would recommend this to anyone. It has a great quality picture. Well worth the money spent.

6ave may ship you the "B" model.
I ordered the LN40A550 from this page, and I actually received the LN40B550 from 6ave. This is indeed a "newer model", but the B-type does not have picture-in-picture, and it has the subtle red "touch of color" while the A-type does not. I can't believe they did this! Here's their response: br / br /"Thanks for your e-mail. We sincerely apologize but we sent you the upgraded model for the one you ordered. If you do not want the new model, please call us at 877-... for the RA number and the instructions for the return. Thanks." br / br /It's not enough of a bother for me to return the thing, but still: caveat emptor! br / br /Anyway, the TV is great, although it's not what I ordered!

Great Picture
Pros: br / br /Crisp Picture, Fast Response Time, Very stylish, Lots of Menu Options, Non-HD Channels somewhat clearer than other TVs I have seen. br / br /Cons: br / br /Nothing with the TV itself. After the first week I had the tv, the picture began blurring with red hues all over. The customer service for Samsung was absolutley horrific. After a month of calls and repairs I finally got the tv back. Since I live in a smaller town they had to use a third party repair party which is the worst experience I have ever had with electronic repair. br / br /Once I got the tv back however I am very very pleased!

Problem removing base
I have purchased a Samsung LN46A550 Television. The picture is great, however I have a problem. br / br /I have tried to remove the four bolts (or screws) to remove the base. They are loose, but will not come out! I have tried using tweezers and a magnet, but to no avail. br / br /Anybody know how to get these bolts out? br / br /Thanks br /

Very good TV at good price
I have been very pleased with my purchase. I got it at a very good price from the seller 6ave through Amazon. The picture quality is awesome. I had my doubts about the audio but it is ok. The TV was delivered within 2 days (free shipping) and came in perfect packing. I recommend the seller as well as this product. (I read the reviews before buying this TV)

Excellent TV but got dead pixel in a month
Before i bought samsung, i research the market and found samsung best amoung other avaiable LCDs, price wise as well as quality wise. It work fine and display excellent picture quality. Now i got a dead pixel on the lower right corner of the screen. It is Red in color. It just 36 days. Damit.You can not see it while watching movie but when the screen gets darker you can see the red spot. I called samsung and they told me that we can not send technician for service until there are total of 6 random pixels on the screen or cluster of 4 pixels at one spot. I asked samsung Customer Care, if i have only two pixels (as of now) and the warrenty period is over, then what? Its funny they told me to buy extended warrenty or pay for the service trip by technician. Well, i am very disspointed, it just 36 days and i got dead pixels....If samsung is not good then which one should we buy ughhhhh

Samsung good buy
This is a less expensive tv than the top of the line Samsung that I bought for my tv room in the basement with the full surround sound etc. However, the picture quality is very similar. The speakers are on the bottom and echo in the simi-enclosed area where I placed the set. The sound is my only complaint. Even then, it is not horrible. I recommend this tv. Great picture quality.