© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc. This feed is subject to our terms of use: http://www.epinions.com/help/rss_terms http://www.epinions.com/user-alanmak Recent reviews written by member alanmak en-us 121 37 http://www.epinions.com/ http://img.epinions.com/images/epi_images/logos/epinions_121.gif http://www.epinions.com/content_424779222660?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I remember when shooting pictures underwater was way out of the average amateur photographer's grasp. Remember dedicated units like the Nikonos line? Way $$$. Disposable underwater cameras were a lot cheaper, but you were never quite sure what you... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~424779222660 Thu, 3 Apr 2008 23:38:14 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_424779222660?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_416245059204?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - Firstly, let me get the obvious out of the way - no universal remote is as good as the original unit that came with your component. But, the 880 comes close. The 880 is a replacement for my three year old Sony Commander (the brick with the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~416245059204 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:41:47 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_416245059204?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_415650713220?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - User Profile I wear them in our loft condo when I'm watching TV/movies while my wife is working or sleeping. Comfort is my first priority (I may wear them for hours on end), sound dynamics are a close second. Background and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~415650713220 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:21:00 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_415650713220?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_411909000836?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - Ok, let's get the big question out of the way: The GF Lightsphere is little more than white soft plastic. It doesn't even come in any fancy packaging. The landed manufacturing cost must be, what, $1.50? Is it worth $50??? Yes, most definitely... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~411909000836 Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:14:08 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_411909000836?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_411193609860?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - The Situtation I bought the BCM657U to replace an older Bionaire that had been performing yoeman duty for the past four years. (The old unit was getting too dirty around the fan and the water reservoir was looking nasty with the lime build up.)... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~411193609860 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:41:50 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_411193609860?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_410679348868?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I recently had the opportunity to spend a day driving a 2008 323i. I took it through slush and rain, highway and city. Firstly, there is no mistaking that this is a Bimmer. It has all the drive characteristics of the classic 3-series (or at least,... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~410679348868 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:46:21 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_410679348868?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_409248370308?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - Like every other manly-man, I've prided myself on not needing directions. We all inherently know where we're going and how to get there, right? :) However, my wife does not (no, really, and she would be the first to admit it!). We both have the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~409248370308 Mon, 3 Dec 2007 11:43:45 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_409248370308?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_409242209924?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I've been using blackberries since the original 962 model (the one that looks like pager). Ever since that first "brick", RIM has been making these things better and better. Firstly, the build quality is terrific. The original berries reminded me of... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~409242209924 Mon, 3 Dec 2007 10:49:55 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_409242209924?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_409188994692?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - Since I began to drive (rear-wheel drive) German sports sedans, I've had to get winter tires at the first sign of snowfall. Even a little frost gets my cars tail-happy. The X-Ices are the best snow tires I've ever run. They are currently installed on a... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~409188994692 Sun, 2 Dec 2007 21:51:56 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_409188994692?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_231696273028?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I purchased by GMT II nearly three years ago from a local authorized dealer. It is the stainless steel model with the all-black bezel. My previous daily-wearer was an Oyster Perpetual, which was inherited from my grandfather. By the time it got to... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~231696273028 Wed, 17 May 2006 19:07:57 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_231696273028?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_230947851908?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I picked up the CPR 3 from the local GolfTown a few weeks ago as a result of flubbing one-too-many long-iron shots on the weekend. By way of background, I have a mental thing about long shots. My comfort zone starts at my driver, and then skips to the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~230947851908 Fri, 12 May 2006 16:36:36 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_230947851908?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_230767431300?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - Callaway is so "last year", literally. After banging through a pretty good 2005 season with my BB 454, I began to get the itch. I had replaced the stock RCH shaft (with an Aldila NV-65), put on a new grip, and tried several different set-ups and... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~230767431300 Thu, 11 May 2006 14:19:40 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_230767431300?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_217724325508?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - Having been in the market for a new tv for some time, I was finally motivated to take the leap when a buddy of mine talked me into buying with him (trying to get a better deal if we worked on a double sale). It worked. I had been contemplating the... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~217724325508 Sat, 14 Jan 2006 16:47:44 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_217724325508?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_187949289092?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I've been using Callaway drivers for the past seven or eight years, starting with the original Big Bertha and then the Steelhead. I've always liked their forgiving play and easy swing. The nice "ping" of a well struck shot is also a great design... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~187949289092 Tue, 28 Jun 2005 09:48:55 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_187949289092?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_184955211396?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - The model that I am reviewing is the GBBII Pro Series, 9 degree with a firm shaft. My driver for the past five or so years has been the Steelhead. After trying out a few of my buddies' latest and greatest drivers early this season, I got the itch to... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~184955211396 Wed, 1 Jun 2005 18:10:08 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_184955211396?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_149988413060?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I purchased the Torrent II to replace a much older Giro helmet (the exact model escapes me). Although I had originally set out to buy the Specialized Enduro Comp, the Torrent II was obviously the better value, with no apparent compromise in quality or... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~149988413060 Sun, 1 Aug 2004 18:33:22 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_149988413060?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_139362602628?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 2/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - OK, I'll admit that my attraction to Kodak Max 800 was purely financial. Costco sells bulk packs of the stuff at between CAD$25 and CAD$28 for 8 rolls. At those prices, I thought that I was getting a bargain. The speed is certainly there. You can... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~139362602628 Fri, 7 May 2004 15:06:45 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_139362602628?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_138149596804?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I had been waiting anxiously for this lens ever since it was announced by Nikon. I was all set to buy my sample when it was released in late spring last year. My enthusiasm was dampened by the initial reports of quality issues. Namely, soft images on... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~138149596804 Tue, 27 Apr 2004 17:23:26 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_138149596804?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_131766390404?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I've noticed the SK-6 Power Bracket in Nikon's brochures in the past. My attention was drawn because it just looked very impressive as a flash bracket with a built in power source. I did not run out and buy it immediately because: 1. It is very... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~131766390404 Tue, 2 Mar 2004 11:33:40 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_131766390404?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_121472061060?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I bought the Oly Stylus about 10 months ago after hearing rave reviews about this little unit all over the place. (It was the "perfect storm" of a favourable article in Popular Photography and a great sale price on the camera that caused my credit card... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~121472061060 Wed, 10 Dec 2003 19:34:07 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_121472061060?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_121348918916?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - I have stayed at the King Eddy (as it is affectionately referred to by locals) on several occasions, most recently on my wedding night. My stays have ranged from the standard room (facing a dark alley) to a wonderful corner suite. Although the hotel... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~121348918916 Tue, 9 Dec 2003 19:41:39 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_121348918916?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_120640212612?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - The XTCII is an inflatable diffuser that you velcro-attach to your flash unit. The regular size is for "normal" on-camera flashes. The large size is intended for big flash heads, such as the Metz handlemount units. I use the XTCII with my vivitar... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~120640212612 Wed, 3 Dec 2003 15:21:21 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_120640212612?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_120420994692?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - We stayed that Outrigger Reef (OREF) during the first leg of our honeymoon in Hawaii. My wife selected OREF on the basis of its location (on Waikiki beach) and it's relatively reasonable cost (given it's beach access). On a price/value basis, the OREF... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~120420994692 Mon, 1 Dec 2003 20:04:02 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_120420994692?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_120391765636?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - We went on the NCL Star for the second week of our honeymoon at the Hawaiian islands. We thought that it would be an inexpensive way see several of the islands. Wrong! Embarkation Getting on the ship was relatively painless. We arrived at about... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~120391765636 Mon, 1 Dec 2003 14:58:28 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_120391765636?linkin_id=8003929 http://www.epinions.com/content_120384622212?linkin_id=8003929 rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author alanmak - The Moana Surfrider was our second hotel in Oahu for our honeymoon (the first was the Outrigger Reef - see separate review). The Surfrider was more expensive, but the incremental cost over the Outrigger was well worth it. I would highly recommend this... http://www.epinions.com/content/submit.html/comment_~120384622212 Mon, 1 Dec 2003 13:57:32 GMT http://www.epinions.com/content_120384622212?linkin_id=8003929