Archive for December, 2009

Wii Sports Resort

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Product Description

Set off on a journey to a tropical island where an array of fun activities await. In Wii Sports Resort, the sequel to the engaging Wii Sports, you'll discover a wide range of new sports and activities you can play anytime. Go head-to-head with your friends and family in the ultimate sports showdown set in a tropical paradise.

Water Sports
Water Sports
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Sky Diving
Sky Diving
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Compete against friends
Compete against friends
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Wii Sports ResortAbout the Game:

In Wii Sports Resort, you'll use your Wii Remote to literally swing into action. Perform realistic sports moves to take on the competition in activities that include Sword Play, Power Cruising (racing a water scooter) and Disc Dog, in which you'll toss a disc to an adorable, Mii-like dog. Become even more immersed in the action courtesy of the included Wii MotionPlus accessory, which attaches to your Wii Remote to provide even greater responsiveness and precision. With the game's easy-to-use controls, anyone can pick up a Wii Remote and leap into the game to experience all the heated competition and hilarity.

Key Game Features:

  • Engage in a wide range of exciting activities, including Sword Play, Power Cruising, and Disc Dog
  • Savor the escapism of the game's tropical island theme
  • Jump easily into the game no matter what your experience level thanks to easy pick-up-and-play controls
  • Compete against friends and family in thrilling sports showdowns
  • Includes the Wii MotionPlus accessory, which plugs into the base of your Wii Remote to provide a more responsive and realistic playing experience
  • For 1 to 4 players

Wii Sports Resort Requires Wii MotionPlus:

You're in luck! This game includes one Wii MotionPlus accessory in the box with the game. You willl want additional Wii MotionPlus add-ons for each additional controller you will use to play the game though. With the Wii MotionPlus accessory you can add even greater precision to every move you make within the game. With your motion-sensitive Wii Remote, you've swung into action, shaken things up, bowled people over, maybe even totally flipped out! Connect the Wii MotionPlus to your Wii Remote, and the accessory's additional sensors respond to the slightest motion of your wrist, allowing your most subtle movements to deliver impressive results on screen. Intuitive and easy to use, the Wii MotionPlus is compatible with a variety of Wii games to help you increase your accuracy and enhance your overall control.

Product Details

  • Includes one Wii MotionPlus accessory (one required for each controller to play)
  • Compete against friends and family
  • Play with 1 to 4 players
  • New games include: Sword Play, Power Cruising, and Disc Dog
  • Easy pick-up-and-play controls

Video Reviews

Wii Sports Resort Trailer
Wii Sports Resort Review

Customer Reviews

A great game overall
 
Review Date: July 27, 2009
Reviewer: Gabujabu, Boston, MA
I recently purchased Wii Sports Resort along with the included Wii Motion Plus, and it has been an excellent game so far. Included are 12 games, 10 of which are new and two of which are updates to the classic Wii Sports games- golf and bowling.

Starting with the updates, I feel that Wii Motion Plus adds a lot to the gameplay for the golf game. More sensitive controls make it far more challenging endeavor, adding somewhat to the realism of the game. Also, I find that it is a lot more enjoyable to swing the club in this game than it was in the original. In bowling, it is much easier to add a spin to the ball. Of the additions, I would say that archery and swordplay are standouts, and I wouldn't be surprised if they make it into other Nintendo releases (i.e. Zelda). The game captures the illusion of actually playing with swords or a bow-and-arrow really well. I also really enjoyed most of the water sports, especially power cruising, which reminded me of Wave Race. Some of the sports, on the other hand, are less satisfying, such as cycling, since pedaling with your arms does not feel natural.

The Wii has seen a lot of "waggle-fests" released, and the nice thing about including Wii Motion Plus is that it really improves the motion-sensing fidelity of the Wiimote. I hope more games use this accessory in the future. For some of the multiplayer events, you may need to purchase additional copies of Wii Motion Plus (or get it bundled with another game), while others simply allow you to pass one Wii remote around. The graphics of the game are simple and colorful, and the game features nice water effects.

However, here are a few aspects of the game that I wish were better. Although this game has more depth than the original Wii Sports, with more games, multiple game play modes, and achievements, I still wish that there was some additional depth to some of the games (i.e. more courses, objectives, etc.), especially considering how enjoyable some of the activities are. Some people found that the original Wii Sports did not have sufficient depth, and those individuals may be disappointed. Also, it would have been nice to have online play for this game, since the game really seems to shine in multiplayer, and it is not always easy to find others to play.

Overall, I think that most people who enjoyed Wii Sports will similarly enjoy Wii Sports Resort.
Wii Sports Resort is a vacation for the whole family!
 
Review Date: July 28, 2009
Reviewer: K.T. May, New York
Wii Sports Resort, which was released in stores this past Sunday, 7/26, is a delightful spin on the Wii Sports favorite. There are 12 fun activities in this game and it comes with the special attachment, Wii Motion Plus, which you snap into the bottom of the Wii-mote for a better playing experience.

The Wii Motion Plus sensor is better at picking up your subtlest movements than the Wii-mote by itself. This makes for less frustration and easier game-play. With longer use though, the Wii Motion Plus sensor may lose calibration and won't be as sensitive to your movements. There is an easy fix, though. All you have to do is pause the game and set your Wii-mote down on a flat surface for it to re-calibrate. This shouldn't take much longer than five seconds to right itself. The more sensitive sensor works great in games like Bowling, (which is back in this game in an updated version), because you can get a better spin on your throw. However, it can also work against you in games like Golf, (which is also back and updated), since you actually have to swing straight and even, like a real golf club, or you will have a serious angle to your strike. No more flicks of the wrist in this golf game!

The game opens with an adorable, interactive sky-diving movie where you meet up with all of your past Miis. Once you get to the main menu, you will see the plethora of games that lie before you, however not everything is unlocked yet. You have to earn certain scores to unlock different modes of certain games. This is akin to Wii Sports' Training section, where each sport had three different modes you could try out. Below is a brief synopsis of the mini-games included in Wii Sports Resort.

Cycling--this can get a bit frustrating in two person mode. Both of you have to try to pedal in unison to keep your energy up and depending on which way you tilt the Wii-mote depends on which way your wheels will turn. So you really have to make an effort to work together! But it can be hysterical when you don't!

Sky-Diving--this is really cute. You have to try to link up with as many people as possible. The minute you link up with someone, the shutter on a camera will start timing you for a picture. Every person you hook up with re-sets the camera's shutter. Once you hook up with four people, it's considered "perfect", and the camera will take your picture. You have to make sure that everyone's faces are looking at the camera for maximum points. After a few rounds of this, it will conclude with you trying to hook up with everyone in the air for a huge finish.

Basketball--the initial game is a basic dunking game, trying to see how many balls you can dunk before the timer runs out. Once you have reached a certain score, you will unlock a 3 on 3 pick-up game, which is a lot of fun. You can jump up in the air and block people's shots as well as steal the ball away from the other team.

Canoeing--this one seemed to be the hardest of the mini-games, especially in two-player mode. Like cycling, this relies heavily on both of you moving in sync to get as far as you can in the canoe course.
Waverunning--in this game, you are on a jet ski and your points are calculated by the stylish jumps you can do.

Frisbee--there are two exciting versions of Frisbee. The first one you get to play with a very cute dog. You throw the Frisbee as close as you can to the center of the bulls-eye and where the dog catches it determines where it lands. This gets increasingly challenging, as you later on have to pop a balloon and try to hit the bulls-eye for maximum points. After you reach a certain score in this game, you will unlock Frisbee Golf, which is a ton of fun. You have a choice of three Frisbees designed like golf clubs and you play Frisbee within the rules of Golf.

Swordplay--this is great fun. The game plays like the tv show "American Gladiators" in that you have to knock your opponent off of the board to win. Later on, you can unlock other games like a one-player mode where you try to hit as many people as you can, forming as high of a combination as you can, without getting hit three times. This is a great game for getting out aggression and would be surreal with a light saber attachment.

Archery--the fun of this mini-game lies in its challenge. Not only do the targets get further and further away, but you have to work with the wind mileage also, (like in Golf).

There is so much to do in this game, yours truly hasn't even unlocked everything yet and I've owned the game for two days! This is definitely an improvement on Wii Sports, if even for the Wii Motion Plus alone. There is much more of a challenge in this game, since you aren't handed everything from the beginning and you have to unlock most of the modes. There are so many things to do in this game, it is guaranteed to please. Even the old favorites of Golf and Bowling have been made more interesting. The 100-pin mode that you had to build up to in Wii Sports is a 10-frame game in this version. And Golf includes the classic boards from Wii Sports, or you can play on the newly designed Wii Sports Resort green! Bottom line, if you enjoyed Wii Sports, you should definitely consider picking this up.
great fun with a big bonus of caloric burn!
 
Review Date: July 29, 2009
Reviewer: A. Chandler, Austin, TX
I love Wii games.
I love Wii fitness games.
Granted, no one is saying this is a fitness game...you will want it because its FUN but...

While this is most assuredly tops in player fun, even if you are as thin as you ever wanna be and don't count a single calorie and don't buy it for anything but to have fun...but if you happen to be like the majority of Americans you are gonna get one great unexpected bonus to really fun play: BIG calorie burn. Whether you want to or not your body will MOVE and that makes it all the more fun anyway! You are totally engrossed in play!

I wear a bodybugg to accurately measure my daily calorie burn. I mention this only because my statement isn't an assumption or that it "felt" like my heart rate was up...I wasn't even thinking of it as a workout the first time I played. But I played my first few games for 30 minutes, looked down at my wrist display...and I'd burned as much as I do with my workout dvds!! But I didn't care...I wasn't playing it for that...this game is GRAND! In fact, I wouldn't have stopped so soon had it not been hijacked by my honey. I took it back over as soon as I could and, with the other games, got the same results. Big fun. Big caloric burn. It's truly two in one. We've both laughed and "wooo hoooed!" and had a blast with the games. This one doesnt feel rushed in the designers planning and putting it together...there are not only tons of games (you unlock more as you improve) but they are so "full" of action and stimulus that it will fast become a favorite in any Wii collection, no doubt.

First, you'll begin to see the wonder of the Wii motionplus as you are dropped into the island via parachute...start playing with the controller right then and you'll witness the difference in it truly tracking your movement in supreme accuracy and time over the old remote. The cost of the Wii motionplus isnt' cheap so for it to be included in the game is a bonus because, to me, the game alone was worth the price. You know how, before the motionplus, you'd wanna yell at the tv "Hey! that's now what I was doing!" when you did one move but your mii did another? The motionplus will morph true time and reality with what you are actually doing with the remote. I've been blown away in all games in which I've tried it.

Then pick one of the many games offered for fun play on your island vacation adventure here. The detail and accuracy of every one of this could bear witness to too long of a review if I went into each one but they can't go without mention...for example, you won't just wakeboard through the ocean, you'll pass cruise liners and hear the passengers aboard cheer for you if you do a smooth jump as you pass by, you'll pass by islands, see birds and hear them and the waves will crash around you in both sound and visual. You'll see the Wii blimp fly by... so the accuracy of visual game play surrounds you while the game takes you in by feeling as though you really are behind a boat and seeing that what you do with your remote as your wakeboard handle changes the game play...do jumps in the air, try to land smoothly, become a wakeboard God...

...but here's the thing...for those who care...while you don't realize it, you are getting your heart rate up and doing ab moves! The same moves I used to jump the wakes twisting my arms and body are the same I do in my core workouts! You just don't even think about it much until you watch someone else do it and see what you've burned!

Wanna play basketball? Twisting your body to bend down, grab a ball and then throw it through the hoop gets your same ab moves workin and your arms moving for great cardio. But few would even notice that. BUT IS IT FUN? HECK YEAH! I don't care if you don't care at all about fitness every game is so detailed in all you can do, unlock, and accuracy with the motionplus that it's just filled with visual and physical and mental stimulus that makes it way beyond addictive for this household! Unexpectedly though...you may just wind up with some MUSCLE.

Wanna swordfight? You'll burn calories like upper body kickboxing moves but you'll have a blast knocking your opponent off a platform, hearing drum beats, the roar of the crowd then slicing through other objects with your sword in other games.

The crowd is so in tuned to what you do in every game that you'll even hear them count for you sometimes when numbers matter. This doesn't sound canned...YOU FEEL like you have a live audience.

The graphics stand out throughout the game to bring each game to life...take bowling, for example, you see the sheen on the polished wooden floor and wood grain and feel like you are truly in a real bowling alley within your livingroom because of the sound and graphics and accurate movement to bowling. The camera pans in as your ball moves, and their is always color, movement, and crowd noise through each game..

..even more than crowd cheering, there are visual clues in the games as well. Such as when, in basketball, you break your record, fireworks explode before you. Unlock the full out basketball game and you may even smack your face on the court when you fall.

After every game you'll see how you did and your results or awards.

this is made to be a game but beats the heck out of any of the other Wii fitness games on the market because you just have so much fun and expend an incredible amount of energy doing it just is a side bonus you don't even think about whereas the others are fitness with a little bit of fun as a side bonus...this just feels like PLAY.

Take cycling, you'll furiously move your hands up and down but feel competitive to beat the other bikers, hear your pedals and gears, ride over rocks but through mountains and water and trees then hit the city and see patio cafes and hear the wind and take sips from your water bottle. it's amazing all that goes on while you just play! Petal too hard? Your head turns red and starts throbbing! So much going on in every game...

We have been playing non-stop and have yet to have found a game we could deem unfun. I kid you not.

I always try to end every review with a negative. I feel no product is perfect. For the game, I wracked my brain and couldn't come up with one so I'll add that I wish it had a second motionplus. you don't want to play it without it and if you have someone else in your house watching you play this game, they will no doubt hijack it within minutes or whine a whole bunch. (UPDATE: At the time of my review, they had no game that came with 2 motionplus'. I recently saw one in a store that had 2 motionplus attachments inside the game so they are out there if needed. Also, since it's been awhile since the release of this game since my review, people may be already getting some motionplus add-ons in games so that this is no longer much of an issue.)

CONCLUSION: My favorite Wii game. What more can I say? Jam packed with games, ease of figuring out how to play each one, extreme visual and auditory realism AND GI-NORMOUS FUN. and sssssh, it'll just happen to burn the heck outta what you ate for lunch.





Orignal Wii sports fun but with more games!
 
Review Date: July 26, 2009
Reviewer: Adam Nobello, Minnesota
I picked this game up this morning at game crazy and im going to have to say its one of the funnest games ive played for the nintendo wii! Its just as amazing as Wii sports if you enjoyed that and theres more games to enjoy!
A list of the different games:

Wake boarding
Archery
Frisby
Bowling
jet skiing
Basketball
Cycling
Canoeing
Parachuting
Sword fighting - My favorite
Ping Pong
and golf!

Most of the games have unlockable extras like frisby starts with you throwing to a dog then it unlocks frisby golf. I haven't tried most of the extra's yet but im sure there just as fun!. Most games either have 2 extra games that are unlockable or different difficulty levels such as Beginner,Intermediate, and Pro.

If you liked the original Wii sports try this it was loads of fun 5 stars!
Another game we will play for as long as we own the wii
 
Review Date: August 5, 2009
Reviewer: loving mom, Wash. DC
I bought two copies -- one for my mother for her birthday and one for my family. All of us (5 adults, 3 kids) love it! My 80+ old grandmother loves the bowling game. My parents, both in their 60s, love several of the games and are still exploring all of the offerings on the disc. My husband, a good friend and I have played it every night since we bought it. Our group of three loves to play the sword duels, archery, frisbee dog, frisbee golf, and dog (plane) fights. My husband and I currently find ourselves strangely addicted to the island flyover game. That's where you fly a little prop plane (a cessna?) all over the islands looking for "i" points or shooting balloons. It is so peaceful and yet it compells you to keep looking until you have found all the hidden items. What I like about Wii Resort more than Wii Sports (and I love that game too) is that it adds a layer of competition and re-playability with the addition of "stamps." When you accomplish certain feats within the game (you may think of them as side quests), then you may earn a stamp. Some stamps are more difficult than others to earn. For example, in bowling, you can earn a stamp by picking up a certain type of split. Another stamp requires you to bowl a perfect game to earn it (my father-in-law has done it). Earning stamps has been a fun addition for us.

We are still exploring other games. Some are definitely more fun than others. I'm sure that there will be one or two games that we won't like at all (I'm thinking specifically about water boarding here). However, the archery, frisbee and flight games are worth the price of the game alone. Bowling is always fun, plus there's ping pong and golf. More than enough to love and balance out any stinkers.

Motion Plus Note: This game comes with one Motion Plus. You must have a Motion Plus to play, a regular remote won't work. Some games allow multiple players to share a single remote, so you don't have to buy a second (or third or fourth) Motion Plus right away. However, there are some games that can only be played by two or more people at the same time and you must have a Motion Plus for each player. There are three regular players in my house and we played happily for a week with only one Motion Plus. Now we play with two and I don't see an immediate need to get any more.

In short, I think the Wii system has succeeded in doing exactly what it set out to do -- to make gaming fun for everyone and to bring people together and get them off the couch. Wii Resort is the perfect example of that success.


Manufacturer: Nintendo
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $49.99
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Bushnell Onix400 GPS XM Receiver Review

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Product Description

Introducing the world¿s first handheld GPS to combine navigational aids, satellite photography and XM weather on a single screen. It shows you the perfect pinchpoint for this wind. And how you should dress for the day. NEXRAD weather data downlinked via XM Weather, layered over a georeferenced satellite map of your location keeps you prepared. It¿s all housed in a rubberized defensive armor built to XPX7 waterproof standards, with a high gain SIRF GPS receiver. In your palm. Features: Layer a satellite photo, topo map, compass, navigational aids and XM services on a single screen with TruView Navigation Extra-large 3.5¿ full color LCD Downloads and displays georeferenced satellite photography Displays XM weather data on the GPS map* XM Satellite radio entertainment including XM sports* SafeTrack battery conservation mode SiRF® GPS receiver Digital compass Embedded 128 micro SD card Rugged rubber armor Waterproof (IPX7 rated) *With XM Satellite subscription

Product Details

  • TruView Navigation with Satellite Photography
  • Screen layering
  • Safe track battery conservation mode & Night mode
  • Custom User Profiles
  • XM Satellite Weather and Entertainment

Video Reviews

Bushnell ONIX400 GPS TV Commercial
Bushnell Onix 400

Customer Reviews

Excellent GPS...takes a while to learn
 
Review Date: July 12, 2008
Reviewer: S. Crawford, KC, MO
Great GPS unit! The ability to show either base, arial, and topo maps is really nice. With the XM functionality, you can see weather coming in on the radar, as well as 5 day forecasts. It takes a little time to learn how to download and manage the maps but once you get it down, it's a piece of cake. We use it while camping/hiking/fishing. It really comes in handy to have the arial views when you're visiting new parks. It helps to scout out new camping or fishing areas. The XM radio functionality is a nice extra but tends to eat the battery a little quicker.
Bushnell Onix400 GPS XM Receiver
 
Review Date: August 15, 2008
Reviewer: G. Jimenez, Jacksonville, Fl USA
This is one of those products that can either be a great thing or can be a great disappointment... All dependent on actual need / intended use.

For me, it has been a great product that met my needs. I like to do a lot of camping and hiking in the middle of the woods and all I need from a portable GPS is just the basics. Let me mark locations, get me from the car to the camping site or marked locations and get me back. For this, I don't really need advanced features such as street routing, a POI database filled with restaurants, gas stations, etc. For that, I use the navigation system on my car.

Having said that, pretty much, any of the portable GPS devices meet my requirements but what attracted me to the Onix 400 was the addition of the XM Weather receiver. That extra feature, for me was worth the price as it does come in handy to be able to see when storms are coming, their severity and to be able to estimate roughly when it will be on top of you and how long it will be before it passes once is on top of you.

While the GPS with the Weather feature has been great on my outings, I do have a few complaints, which I did make sure Bushnell knew so that they can improve the product.

1. While XM does seem to work during bad weather provided the device is out on the open, it is useless when one is stuck inside a tent while waiting for the rain to stop. The GPS does have a connector to allow peripheral devices to be connected, including an external antenna, but Bushnell does not offer such an antenna. The closest they have is a headset with an antenna, but is not designed to take the role of a real external antenna. Cable is short and because of it being a headset, I don't believe it will be a good idea to leave it out on the rain for any extended periods of time.

2. The cost of extra batteries. Only Bushnell batteries can be used due to their design. These batteries are not cheap to be able to buy a couple of spares, so one has to trade real time info for battery life. Pretty much, to extend battery life, once you get to where you need to be (Camping Ground),turn the unit off and if the sky shows signs of bad weather approaching, turn it on, wait for the XM signal to update the Weather info, then turn it off again.

For me, this has not been a major issue, as turning the device off is what I would have done anyway with any other portable GPS without XM and turned it back on when on the move. Just thought other users may want to be aware of this.

In summary, if you are looking for a portable GPS specific to outdoor activities and would like to keep an eye on severe weather, this is a GPS for you.

If you want to use it as an MP3 player or for urban door to door navigation...

Have you looked at Tom Tom or Garmin?




Capable unit with lots of uses
 
Review Date: December 3, 2008
Reviewer: Ryan Pratt,
Build
The first time I picked up the unit, it felt very natural in my hand. The construction was solid. The rubberized back and glassy front were a nice contrast. The first thing that popped into my head was that this was a military grade device. The bulbous head which houses the antennae and protruding battery pack were pronounced, but had a natural feel to it. After holding it a few times, the unit fell into my hand with my trigger finger wrapping around the battery pack while my thumb held the unit securely in place. It is very easy to navigate with only one hand.
Although I never plan on submerging it, I can see how the waterproofing can come in handy especially in navigating in the rain or getting to a favorite duck hunting spot. I have wiped it clean with a moist towel and there were no problems as expected.
The top access panel houses the port to the external antennae. This is used to connect headphones or more commonly an auxiliary cable from your car radio. The bottom port is used to connect a mini usb port and to charge the unit. Unfortunately the bottom port does not have a swinging hinge like the top port so any day now I will lose the plastic connector that must be removed to recharge the unit.
Grade: A-
Comments:
* It did feel very comfortable in my hand, but it is on the large side
* Including a protective plastic screen cover would be nice. I can see the screen getting scratched with continuous use
* The bottom port cover is easily lost

Buttons and Function Navigation
When navigating, the screen is far enough away from the controls, so there is no screen blocking when moving around the controls. I like how there aren't too many buttons to get confused with. It took me a while to figure out that certain buttons needed to be held down to activate, but once I did, it was a breeze.
Switching between topographical maps and aerial views was easy. The scrolling function on the map was too slow though. It should have an increasing rate of scroll as you hold the button down. This is important if you're semi lost or choosing between a Y in the road. If you want to see a mile to the east, it takes quite a while to scroll that way.
All of the buttons feel good and are easy to reach.
Grade: A
Comments:
* Easy to use
* Not cluttered

Satellites
As the directions note, it takes one or two minutes to acquire satellite locks. I commonly see 8-12 satellites once everything goes green and locks. It is very clear once the unit locks on as the satellites turn green and your exact location and altitude are displayed.

Geocaching
I am a novice geocacher, but when I entered the coordinates of 3 caches, I was able to find one. What I didn't realize is that besides entering the coordinates, you should also read the description and hints which would've made me three for three. There is a geocaching mode or set of settings which I didn't look too deep into. I believe that other GPS systems have a true geocaching mode with logging and cache maintenance. I'm not sure how important that would be for a casual cacher as myself.
Grade: B
Comments:
* It seemed to work fine

Off-Roading/Trails
This was my most anticipated use for the GPS. I recently bought an off-road capable truck as well as a guide for off-road trails in my area. These trails were very detailed and also included GPS waypoints for each trail. Since many of these back country roads are poorly marked, GPS waypoints are vital. I set the waypoints for each trail. It was nice to be able to have long names for these waypoints. For example, I can name 01 Switzerland Trail through 05 Switzerland Trail and then connect them all by using the route feature.
The aerial maps were a big help for off-roading as well. When there was a fork in the road, the aerial view showed me which way each trail went. I could then either follow to my waypoint or compare the coutours of the roads to the maps drawn in the book.
I could have used a louder beep when the way point was reached, but there may be a setting that I missed.
The downside was that my book listed coordinates in days, hours and minutes, while the Bushenell GPS companion required the coordinates to be input as decimal hours. I had to go online and convert all of my waypoints into the appropriate format before I entered them into the GPS. This can be very time consuming. There should be a feature to switch between the three coordinate types.
Grade: B+
Comments:
* Creating waypoints and linking them together was easy
* I need to see if I can increase the volume for waypoint arrival

Car Driving
Although this unit is not designed to be a driving direction assistant, it does have major roads on the base map. With the aerial view downloaded and overlaid, it can be helpful when driving in unfamiliar areas. The car mount would be needed so I don't have to look down at the screen.
Initially I was disappointed to hear that there was not a rooftop car antennae adaptor so I figured it couldn't be used inside a car. Although it is marketed as a handheld hiking and hunting device, it would be helpful to have an external antennae so that driving to a favorite hunting or hiking spot would be easy. More importantly for me is driving on off-road trails. Luckily I found that if the satellites were acquired outside of the car and I placed the unit on the dash, it would keep locked about 90% of the time. If I lost a signal, I would push it forward on the dash.
Grade: B
Comments:
* Not its primary function, but works well enough
* Need an external antennae

Maps
I do like the idea of downloading individual maps, but as I begun to do more of it, I found it to be a pain and tended to be quite expensive. Other models offer entire regions for hundreds of dollars, whereas this unit had the ability to only purchase what was needed. I bought $25 worth which equates to 25 map sections.
From what I can tell, not all areas have L2 and L1 maps, but it still allowed me to purchase them. On average, an off-road trail will take about 8 sections of L1 maps due to the meandering of the trail. Combine that with both topographical and aerial views and its $16 per trail. There are dozens of trails in the area so that can add up. Alternatively if I could download all of Clear Creek County for $40 that would be a bargain and save me a significant amount of time downloading and transferring maps.
Grade: C
Comments:
* Too expensive for downloading a lot of maps
* Relatively cumbersome

Firmware Upgrades
The upgrade process was fairly painless. My unit was a bit outdated and it took about 5-7 minutes to update it. With the update came a newer base map which was more detailed as well as some minor tweaks to the software. All that needed to be done was a two step process of dragging and dropping certain firmware files into the proper directories on the unit while it was connected via the usb cable. Although I was told it was normal, during the upgrade the screen flickered quite a bit which can be disconcerting.
Great Unit
 
Review Date: February 20, 2009
Reviewer: M. Kirkpatrick,
This is an overall great unit for what I use it for. I don't use the XM or Weather functionality yet but I will in the near future when I start using it on my kayak for ocean fishing. I give it 4 stars simply because I don't know how XM and Weather work yet. For everything else it's 5 stars all the way. (For outdoor activity use. I wouldn't use it for road navigation.)

I've used this for Geo Caching, Hiking, Hunting,and Kayaking and so far it works great. The aerial maps from Bushnell are very detailed and provide a great perspective on the land around you. The downfall is that you must purchase the maps only from Bushnell. Not a big deal overall but they are a bit tricky to download initially. Once you learn how to do it it's not bad. The ability to customize the display and layer maps and info on top of each other is awesome. Additionally, its very comfortable in your hand and has one of the largest display screens available for a hand held GPS.

A minor inconvenience is that you must use the proprietary battery that comes with the unit rather than generic AA's. This hasn't been an issue for me since the battery life is quite long with the Lithium rechargable battery supplied and I haven't been able to deplete it yet with over 8 hours of continuous use on most days. I recommend using the battery saver function of the unit if you really want to get long length out of it, it greatly improves the amount of time you have. I plan on buying an additional battery in the near future for longer trips and for ensuring I have enough juice for the weather function when I'm out in the Gulf of Mexico. They are availabe both directly from Bushnell for $44 and also on Amazon for around $34.

For Geo caching it's a good unit once you load in the locations, however, you have to manually enter each one. If you want something specifically for Geo Caching there are other units with more specialized downloading ability and you will probably be happier with them.

Overall, I love this GPS and will be loyal to Bushnell for a long time because of it.

(If you get one you may want to ensure you get a "Gen 2" version if it's available. It has everything the 'Gen 1" does but also includes a function that shows peak fishing and hunting times.)

(Also- If you don't need the XM or Weather functionality I'd look at the Onix 350 since it's much less expensive but with all the other features of the 400.)
Onix 400 GPS
 
Review Date: April 12, 2010
Reviewer: B. Tobin, TX
I bought this device about a week ago and it is great. The device comes with a default United States base map and you have to download specific areas you want to drill down to. The 128 MB Micro SD is good for small maps, but if you want to really utilize it, you may want to upgrade. The book shows that the 128 MB chip is expandable but does not say what to.

I called customer service and was advised that it can take up to a 2 Gig Micro SD(MAX). I purchased the 2 gig memory card and copied the files from the 128 mb card over. turned on the unit with the 2 gig card in and was able to get to a main screen without a problem. downloaded a couple maps and was able to transfer to the memory easily. Unit is working fine.

I have not tried the XM services but will soon.


Manufacturer: Bushnell
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List Price: $529.99
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Disney/PIXAR Cars Mack Track Challenge

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Product Description

    Take the Mack Track challenge! Motorized Cars Drift and Jump Speedway inspired by Pixar's Cars movie. Lightning McQueen vehicle included. Kids love the skill and action-racing play!
Kids love the skill and action-racing play with the motorized Cars Drift and Jump Speedway! The action starts as Lightning McQueen (included) boosts into high speed with the power booster. Next, you can make a lane change by pushing and holding the button to make Lightning McQueen take the infield route. But wait! Mack is on the track and he's drifting! If Lightning can zoom up Mack's loading ramp, he will launch right out of the top and into the inner lane to take the lead!

Product Details

  • Kids will love the skill and action racing play
  • Motorized Cars Drift and Jump Speedway
  • Includes one Lightning McQueen vehicle
  • Lightning McQueen boosts into high speed with the power booster.
  • Mack is on the track and is drifting!

Video Reviews

No video reviews found for this product.

Customer Reviews

Lots of fun for all my kids
 
Review Date: January 2, 2010
Reviewer: M. Saylor,
My son age 2 got this from santa and has been playing with it every day since he opened it and loves it. I also have a 4 yr old & a 1 yr old and they enjoy playing with it too. Other reviews have said it eats batteries, but I have found that Energizer last much longer than the other brands. Also I haven't found that the track is flimsy, it feels like it would be because of being light weight but it has withstood my kids pullin & stepping on it.
My Son Loves It
 
Review Date: December 26, 2009
Reviewer: S. Bakus,
My son has been asking for this toy since after Thanksgiving. We bought it for Christmas and he absolutely loves it.
Excellent buy!
 
Review Date: January 5, 2010
Reviewer: Anon ymous, FL, US
My son loved this and it definitely helps him develop his motor skills. He gets such a kick out of this. It doesn't fit standard matchbox type cars, it only fits Disney Pixar Cars. I highly recommend this track!
Very good service and shipping!!!
 
Review Date: March 11, 2010
Reviewer: Adam G. Leon,
Very good item!! I have to say my son loves the Theme Disney Cars and this item very simple and easy for even an 1 year old to play with. Shipping was fast!
My 5 year old loves this!
 
Review Date: December 26, 2009
Reviewer: Lisa A. Bates, USA
My 5 year old rec'd this as a gift from Santa and just loves it! It comes w/ a plastic lightening mcqueen. My son has other movie cars, but they are metal. They still work on the track, however slow down. I would recommend other plastic cars-which I will be looking for at the store.


Manufacturer: Mattel
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Product Description

Escaping from a zeppelin in a stolen biplane, Indy and his father are pursued through the air by an enemy fighter plane. Professor Jones accidentally shoots off their own tailfin and causes a crash landing, but some clever maneuvers help them knock off both of the fighter planeÆs wings.

Product Details

  • Fighter plane has wings that detach and biplane has a break-off tailfin; each airplane equipped with flick missiles
  • Biplane measures 8.5 inches (21.6cm) long with a 9 inch (22.9cm) wingspan
  • Fighter plane measures 10.5 inches (26.7cm) long and has a 11.5 inch (29.2cm) wingspan
  • Includes 3 minifigures (Indiana Jones, Professor Henry Jones Sr. and fighter plane pilot)
  • 384 pieces

Video Reviews

lego indiana jones fighter plane attack review

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LEGO Bionicle Jetrax T6 Review

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Product Description

Prepare the Jetrax T6 for battle and fight to determine the fate of the universe with Lego BIONICLE set 8942. Featuring a special-edition Makuta Antroz figure and skyblasters that really fire, the Jetrax T6 is packed with fun, futuristic details. This building set contains little parts and complex instructions, so it is recommended for ages 9 to 16. Like all Lego sets, it also holds the potential to keep creative adults entertained for hours.

What We Think


Fun Factor:

Durability:

(what this means)

The Good: Cool folding wings and special-edition figure

The Bad: More fun if you have other BIONICLES

In a Nutshell: This battle vehicle is sure to sure to inspire tons of imaginative play

At a Glance

Ages: 9 to 16


The cockpit opens so Antroz can get in and out. View larger.


A handle on the bottom makes this ship easy to fly. View Larger.
Explore The Island of Mata Nui and Beyond
In the BIONICLE world, bio-mechanical beings rule the island of Mata Nui. There's a complex balance between the different characters. Kids can create imaginative landscapes and act out battles between their favorite Toa Nuva and the evil Brotherhood of the Makuta. With the fate of the universe hanging in the balance, these can be an intense, epic battles.

Based on the concepts that have made traditional Lego bricks a hit with generations of kids, BIONICLES use a special ball-joint design to create an equally satisfying construction experience. Elaborate figures, like the special-edition Antroz included here, and vehicles like the Jetrax T6, populate the BIONICLE universe with fast-paced battles, and this set is inspired by its own storyline: the Makuta Antroz has captured the Jetrax T6 from the Tua Nova and is flying it against them.

Building the Jetrax T6
With eight bags containing 422 pieces, the Jetrax T6 took our eight-year-old tester about three hours to assemble. Even though the instructions suggest that this product is for children nine and up, the three colorful instruction booklets were easy enough for him to follow. He found this BIONICLE simpler than many Lego brick sets he has built, but just as much fun. And when the Jetrax T6 was completed, he found it to be one of the sturdiest BIONICLES he has ever played with.

The turbine wings that fold and unfold were a huge hit, and a convenient button makes it easy to release them at the perfect moment during battle. Our tester also appreciated the way a handle underneath the craft makes it incredibly easy to fly the Jetrax T6. Three blasters on the front of the craft add thrills. And dependable BIONICLE ball-joint construction elements make this model sturdy, so you won't have to worry about it falling apart in the middle of a battle and disrupting the action.

Even though the Jetrax T6 is one of the bigger, more complex sets in the BIONICLES series, it's sure to be more fun if you have some of the other elements of the series, too. Like any battle-ready space ship, the Jetrax T6 is always on the lookout for an opponent. Once the ship was assembled, our tester quickly invited a friend over so that they could use it as part of an imagination-filled game.

What's in the Box
422 Lego BIONICLE pieces and three instruction booklets.


Product Details

  • Release the giant jet turbines with a simple push of a button for greater speed
  • Use the three powerful blasters mounted on the front and each wing to launch an attack
  • To fold turbines back in the start position, place it on the table
  • Includes special edition Antroz figure
  • Contains 422 pieces

Video Reviews

lego bionicle yellow jetrax t6 review
Bionicle Review: Jetrax T6

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Lego Star Wars Death Star II 10188 Review

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Product Description

Construct the galaxy's ultimate battle station! Who could forget the dreaded Death Star from the classic Star Wars film, "Return of the Jedi"? Now Star Wars fans and Lego enthusiasts can build the infamous, partially constructed battle station that looms in space above the forest moon of Endor. Just like in the movie, the super laser -- made here with brilliant transparent yellow elements -- is ready to fire.



The intricately detailed Death Star II is comprised of 3,417 pieces. View larger.


The super laser is also included, made with transparent colored pieces. View larger.
Impressive Display
Recommended for ages 16 years and up, this faithful replica is more than just a kid's toy. The intricately detailed Lego Star Wars Death Star II is sure to impress Star Wars fans as much as Lego collectors. Half the fun is assembling the Death Star, and the other half is showing it off to your friends. This model includes its own display stand, perfect for placing on a computer desk. Measuring 19 inches wide and 25 inches high (with display stand), the Lego Death Star is to scale with the original -- 160 kilometers in diameter -- and incorporates an impressive 3,417 pieces.

About LEGO
The world-famous building block set encourages a unique type of play that is fun, creative, engaging, and challenging. Taking its name from an abbreviation of two Danish words, "leg godt," meaning "play well," LEGO has been inspiring children and adults to do just that since 1932. Seventy-five years later, LEGO is one of the world's largest toy manufacturers, with products sold in 130 countries.

What's in the Box
Death Star replica with 3,417 pieces and display stand.


Product Details

  • Death Star replica perfect for play or display
  • Assemble this impressive Star Wars battle station
  • Built to scale with original
  • 3,417-piece set and display stand
  • 25 Inches High

Video Reviews

Lego Star Wars: Death Star Shenanigans

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Manufacturer: LEGO
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List Price: $269.99
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