Cordless Drill-Drivers

I recently wore out the battery on my old 12v Black & Decker Drill/Driver. It wouldn't hold charge and after 5 years good service it was no surprise and was pleased that it lasted so long!

The search for a replacement was pretty urgent as I had a few bit's of flat-pack furniture to put together and wanted a pretty fast decision after some basic research on the choices.

I briefly considered buying a replacement battery for the drill, a quick search found one on Amazon for £32. Though I did have to ponder briefly if the drill had the life left in it to justify this, when for not much more I could buy a new drill/driver. add this to the fact the last few times I'd used the drill it was starting to smell a little like the brushes were burning out, so my decision for a new toy was made a bit easier!

When deciding on a budget I was allowing myself about double the cost of a replacement battery. Considering whether I'd really be using it often enough for me to consider buying the higher quality, more professional models or stay within a reasonable budget. I don't tend to do a lot of DIY, and powertools scare me a little after having accidentally drilled right through my finger once! (full story)

So my spec was really for the qualities of a driver, over that of a drill as I didn't intend to be doing too much drilling. Also, I was quite keen to look at battery options, as I essentially fried the battery in my previous Black & Decker by leaving it on charge for too long, too often so ideally looking for a fast charge time.

I compared the specs of the following Bosch PSR 960 & 300LI, Draper 71385, Dewalt DC740KA, RYOBI LSD1202PB which were all within my price range.

Bosch PSR 960- current price £44.99 from Amazon or £41.83 from Tooled-up.com
Rated 9.6v, 5 torque settings, drill spec of 14mm wood, 8mm steel, max rpm 550, charge time 3 hours.

This does seem to be much more of a casual cordless driver than a drill. The capacity of a 9.6v battery and a 3hour charge time makes it pretty impractical for any extended work. Though perhaps worth considering due to it's relatively small size and weight, but not the best out there if this is what you want in a cordless drill/driver.

Bosch PSR 300LI - Current price £35.88 from Amazon or £55.71 from Tooled-Up
Rated 10.8v, 10 torque settings, drill 10mm wood, 6mm steel, max rpm 400, charge time 5hours!

Again, much more of a casual cordless driver than a drill.
Surprisingly lower drilling specifications than the PSR960. Though for casual use the Lithium Ion* battery is a distinct advantage over the PSR960, although charge times may be longer, the battery is far lighter and suffers from no memory effect and minimal self-discharge.

Draper 71385 - Current price £25.17 from Amazon, £26.95 from Tooled-Up
Rated 14.4v, 17torque settings, drill 10mm steel, 20mm wood, max rpm 550, charge time 3-5hours.

You may think with a higher voltage you'd get something with more ability to drill, though the spec's seem better, try drilling steel with a top speed of 550RPM and you'll get bored pretty quickly. The torque settings seem impressive for a cordless driver, but for a cordless drill the max rpm is a little woeful. Add that to the long charge time, it's definitely a no for me. And that's without even taking into account the colour & style of this drill, it looks more like an accessory for a fancy dress Bob the Builder outfit than a serious tool!




Dewalt DC740KA - Current price £71.90 from Amazon, £99.90 & £74.99 from Tooled-Up*
(* 2 prices from tooled-up as 2 items have same name/spec, but slightly different looks, the £99 one is identical to the amazon offering)
Rated 12v, 14 torque settings, drill wood 25mm, steel 10mm, max rpm 1200, charge time 1hour, 2x batteries.
This model is definitely getting nearer to a pro model, though the above prices are heavily discounted from the RRP of about £200, this is quite a bargain currently. The other huge advantage this has over the previous drill/drivers reviewed is it comes with 2 battery packs, meaning you can use it quite intensively and with a 1 hour charge time you could quite possibly use it all day! Along with the much higher drill speed this is also a true Drill/Driver combo and will perform drilling tasks with relative ease in comparison to previous cordless models reviewed.

RYOBI LSD 1202PB - Current Price £79.95 from Amazon, £59.95 from Tooled-Up
Rated 12v (lithium ion), no torque settings!, drill wood 20mm, steel 10mm, max rpm 500, charge time 45mins, 2x batteries.

Now this floated my boat for a number of reasons, the 2 Lithium Ion batteries and 45minute charge time makes this a great choice for light household tasks that only need doing every couple of months to spending all day assembling flatpack furniture due to the fast recharge time, charge retention in storage and two battery packs.

So after a bit of deliberation I decided the 2 choices were the Dewalt or the RYOBI. As I don't really intend to do much drilling and if I do, I can always fall back on the trusty 240v B&D hammer drill if needed I was swinging more towards the RYOBI. The Lithium Ion* battery on the RYOBI was the final thing to swing me, as earlier mentioned, LI batteries are the dogs
gonads, and in a few years they will be the standard replacement for most devices currently using NiCad.

The order from Tooled-Up arrived within 48hours, and I was pretty happy with the compactness of the driver, and it's comfort.
The only drawback I have found with it is - the lack of a variable torque control, why it doesn't have one is a slight mystery, but it hasn't presented me with any problems and I suppose I don't actually need this feature too badly either.

It's been a while since I've had any new 'toys' to review, though hopefully this will change in the near future and I'll be able to share more views, reviews and opinions on a wide range of gadgets.

*Lithium Ion is definitely one of the specifications I personally require as I want to be able to get the drill out of the cupboard and be able to use it straightaway without having to put it on charge. Also the lack of 'memory' means it can be fully charged each time,
a problem I did find my old B&D suffered after time.

Also, I'd be quite happy to recommend Tooled-Up if you were looking for DIY or Pro power tools. I received an excellent service, got a great bargain, and their website was a breeze to navigate and order from.

Eco-Gadgets from Oxfam

Oxfam have been one of the biggest names in charitable works for a number of decades now. Few people will be able to say they haven't at least visited an Oxfam shop at some point or other. Whether it is looking for that essential item to make that fancy dress costume zing, or a cool ethical gift or fairtrade produced card Oxfam is often the first choice.

But did you know Oxfam now have an online store?
That sells Gadgets???

I was very surprised when I discovered this and quite excited that they also intend to increase their range of eco-gadgets in the near future. When visiting the Oxfam Online Store it may not be immediately obvious where the gadgets are hiding. Currently their store is divided into 3 areas -

Oxfam Unwrapped - For the stranger ethical gifts for that hippy aunty such as a Goat (£25) or a Sheep (£29) for that Rugby playing work colleague. If you don't think much of the facilities at your local boozer perhaps clubbing together with a few friend to buy them a Toilet for £50 will give them a hint!

Oxfam Secondhand - Everything from secondhand clothing to Books & Music, household bric-a-brac, boardgames and toys. More or less what you would find in the local Oxfam shop, but online.

Oxfam Ethical Collection - Fair Trade products are one of the cornerstones of modern Oxfam shops, though the online store provides a far wider variety than most local shops. Appearing here are items such as Fairtrade Backgammon sets from Peruvian producers, Handcrafted Ceramic Chess Sets from Indian fair trade producers and fair trade foods from around the globe.
The quality fashion clothing from fair trade producers around the world had me stunned as to how cool they were and how much variety was available. Each of the fair trade products has detail of where it was produced and by whom. This information really helps to connect you to the product as though it was made by someone you know especially for you!
What About The Gadgets! - Sorry, I got slightly distracted with the rest of the store, and I'm sure you will too!

Oxfam EcoGadgets - are unexpectedly hidden in the Home section where you can buy Ceramic Incense Holders, Embroidered Journals and Recycled Wine Glasses.
Well, what about the gadgets? Currently the range is fairly small, though I have been tipped off that the range will be expanding over the next few months. At the moment you will find a few wind-up items such as Torch, Lantern & Radio, a couple of Solar powered chargers, for batteries or phones/mp3 players and a very cool looking nightlight that will only cost 50p to power for the whole year!
Though I do like the night light, what I'm going to be putting on my Christmas list is the Wind-Up DAB-radio. I'd never come across one of these before and was surprised they existed! Hopefully I'll be reviewing it in the new year! Meanwhile I'll list some of the specifications it is advertised as having and I'm sure you will be impressed!

- Powered by internal battery or AC via mains adapter
- Battery charged by winding or AC adapter
- Wide variety of DAB stations
- 5 Memory presets
- Customise your own station order
- Stereo RCA output sockets
- Stereo headphone socket

And finally, the bit that most impressed me was the length of time it is advertised as being able to play for on a single charge - 6 hours of DAB listening, or up to 36 hours of FM!!! Impressed? I certainly was! The bad news comes a little later in a few of the reviews I read, 1 minute of winding is alleged to give 1 hour of FM use, and I guess you are already doing the math here, 3-5minutes of DAB radio due to the power hungry processor and LCD screen, thoughother reviews stated in practice that you didn;t get much more than a minute of DAB.
If you've ever used a wind-up device you'll know even 3minutes winding will seem like an eternity, and if forced to use in those conditions you will be re-tuning for FM and scanning for a replacement station. Though for a portable DAB radio the FreePlay DEVO is a great compact solution, being rechargeable means you can take it out for the day to catch your favorite DAB show in the park or at the bottom of the garden.

The other thing I should point out here is that although Oxfam introduced me to the Free Play DEVO DAB wind-up radio I was surprised by the price difference between various suppliers. Currently (17th Oct '08) the Oxfam price is £79.99 + £3.50 delivery for this, whilst it is available for on Amazon UK for £34.66 with free shipping!

As I can't yet review the product and most of this post has been about the Oxfam Online Store, I'll end this review with a couple of conclusions.

The pages load quickly and have a fresh look to them making for a pleasant browsing experience. The categories could maybe do with some work, though as their are so few 'gadgets' I can understand why they appear to be lumped in under Home. Well, so far so good, the only place they really lost points here was in pricing. OK, they are a charity, they do good work and many people would be happy to pay a little extra to buy something from oxfam knowing the profits will be going to a good cause. But 100% more than other retailers? I do hope they will be looking to keep an eye on others selling similair products and provide more competitive pricing in the future!

Review - Phillips Sonicare HX6932/10 Flexcare Rechargeable Toothbrush & Sanitizer

The easy conclusion would be that this power toothbrush is going to deliver the best brushing of your teeth outside of a Dentists! After making such an incredible statement I will now back it up with my findings.

This toothbrush isn't exactly revolutionary in using ultra-sound to clean your teeth as well as the brush. It also isn't the first to provide lights to indicate battery condition or lights to indicate brushing mode. In fact the only revolutionary thing about this brush is it's docking station which contains an Ultra-violet Sterilizer for cleaning your brush head after use! Maybe not that revolutionary after all you may imagine as toothbrush sterilizers aren't exactly new.

So what is so special about the Phillips Sonicare HX6932/10 Electric Toothbrush & Sanitizer?

* The Lithium-Ion battery used is far superior to the Nickel-Cadmium used in most Toothbrushes so will give longer life and will allow full charge to be attained for longer. Lithium-Ion is also more environmentally friendly than Ni-Cad.

* The Ultra-Sound may not be new, but Phillips have come close to perfecting it's use in the Sonicare HX Range. The Ultra-Sound waves provide effective cleaning and deplaqueing upto 4mm away from the brush head, reaching between your teeth and into your gums.

* The sanitizer built into the charging station is actually an awesome idea. Santizers are often overlooked, along with the germs and bacteria that breed on your brush while it sits in the bathroom for 3 months at a time! A decent sanitizer can cost half as much as this combination, whilst Phillips have included it for the equivalent of £20/$20 extra from effectively the same brush (HX6902/HX9552) without the sanitizer. The chrome front also does look pretty cool!

Anything Bad?

Well apart from the price tag, surprisingly little!

* The noise may be a little difficult to get used to at first, even for the experienced user of an electric toothbrush. After getting used to the high pitched whine, though others will swear the sound isn't unusually loud as they won't be able to hear it as it is in your head! It's the ultra-sound vibrating through your teeth and jaw to your ears and it can seem to be very loud until used to it.

* The vigorous action may also be a little too much for those not used to such a powerful cleaning action. Also it may take upto 10 uses to remember to place the brush in your mouth before hitting the on button. Until this time you'll use a lot of toothpaste when the initial blob is flicked off the brush the second you hit the on switch. Phillips have designed in a gradual increase in power for the first few brushes to get you used to the power packed by this brush.

* The UV Sanitizer is good, but it's not the best, UV bulbs will need replaced probably about the same time the warranty runs out, though the brush battery should sill have plenty of punch in it. Currently it's unclear whether the bulb can be replaced. Personally I'd prefer a Steam Sanitizer, but I'll be happy with this one and keep the number of wires and plugs down to the minimum in the bathroom!

Conclusion

Awesome Brush! My teeth only felt this clean previously when they were done by the dentist or dental hygienist! Some great modes for cleaning, from hurry, to thorough, to gum massage for those 'sensitive' days. My only regret is not having found a brush as good as this before!

A Wind Up MP3 Player! Reviewed

Trevor Baylis launched the wind-up radio to great acclaim over a decade ago. This years launch of his wind-up Media Player has been a little more subdued, but heaven knows why as this gadget is wonderful in so many ways! It includes many additional features you would not find on any other MP3Player, such as a bright LED Torch, and a method of providing your mobile phone with an emergency charge.

Features -
1.8" colour screen.
video player
fm radio
led torch
phone charger -use the winder to power your phone!
photo viewer
ebook viewer
hi-fi recorder - Record Gigs!
memo recorder
data storage -Use it to carry and store your data files
dual power charge- USB or eco-windup

Critique
Well, the 1.8" screen isn't quite upto as high a standard as an iPod, but it is functional and still worth including. The card based memory may not suit all users, though as a flexible and easy way of transferring and carrying media it is very widely used, hard-drive based media players use a lot of their power just spinning the drive so this is obviously why they decided on a card based system. With SD-Cards available which hold 2gb widely available, you don't need many to rival the capacity of most MP3 Players.
The plus side of things obviously comes from being able to charge it up by winding wherever you happen to be. The additional features which include being able to use the winder to power up a mobile phone and including an led torch are just genius, also the FM radio is a great addition for people who wish to listen to the radio whilst on the move as well as their own library of music.
For a full review of this, including more pictures and specifications - The Wind Up MP3 Player

The Wind Up Media Player is available from All Things Green

Reviewed - Hannspree JT01-32E2000G - 32" Widescreen HD Ready LCD TV - With HDMI

Possibly the cheapest 32" LCD, HD Ready, LCD TV with HDMI Input available in the UK today!
Now Hanspree may not be a name that you are familiar with but this model is getting good reviews on amazon. And currently at £379 it's almost a £100 cheaper than any of the competitors! (price on 29th Sept 2007 - Subject to change.)

Technical Details

Main Specifications

• Product Description: Hannspree Xv 32" LCD TV
• Product Type: LCD TV
• Diagonal Size: 32" - widescreen
• Weight: 21.8 kg
• Digital Television Certification: HD ready
• Resolution: 1366 x 768
• Display Format: 720p
• Input Video Formats: 720p, 1080i
• PC Interface: VGA (HD-15), HDMI
• Technology: TFT active matrix
• Progressive Scan: Yes
• Image Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Sound Output Mode: Stereo
• Speaker System: 2 speakers
• Remote Control: Remote control - infrared
• Power: AC 120/230 V

Extended Specifications

General

Product Type: 32" LCD TV Weight: 21.8 kg

Audio System

Equaliser: Yes Output Power / Total: 20 Watt Sound Output Mode: Stereo Speaker(s): 2 x right/left channel speaker - built-in - 10 Watt Speakers Included: 2 speakers

Connections

Connector Type: 1 x composite video input ( RCA phono ) ¦ 1 x S-Video input ( 4 PIN mini-DIN ) ¦ 1 x component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ) ¦ 2 x HDMI input ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) ¦ 2 x SCART ( 21 PIN SCART ) ¦ 1 x VGA input ( 15 PIN HD D-Sub (HD-15) ) ¦ 2 x audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) ¦ 1 x audio line-in ( mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )

Display

Diagonal Size: 32" - widescreen Display Format: 720p Resolution: 1366 x 768

Power

Power Device: Power supply - internal Voltage Required: AC 120/230 V

Remote Control

Type: Remote control - infrared

Video Features

• Teletext Memory: 1000 pages
• Teletext: Yes

Equivalent US Model -

Review - Philips HS8060 Shaver - The Best Electric Shaver a Man Can Get?

In this Reveiw we shall be looking at the Philips Nivea Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System - HS8060 Shaver - Currently available from Amazon at the price of £100, a discount of £50 from the RRP.

What's so special about this razor? - Well, Phillips do have a range of razors that have been getting rave reviews and the HS8060 is the latest in this line. The unique feature that the HS8040 and HS8020 shared with this new model is the revolutionary moisturising dispenser, which dispensing moisturising shaving foam as you shave, giving the look and feel of a wet shave. You just push a button to dispense the gel whilst shaving to get the required amount of lotion. These shavers have been selling like hot cakes as a result of this and are on the wish lists of the well groomed gent up & down the country, if not already in their bathrooms. The new feature that the HS8060 has is that you don't have to mess around refilling the razer, it refills automatically whilst in the charging cradle, all you have to do is replace the cartridge which sits in the cradle occasionally.

Plus Points - This is probably one of the only razors that can take off a few weeks of stubble as easily as a wet shave, with the closeness and smoothness of using a twin or triple bladed safety razor. Also due to the moisturising action it doesn't leave the skin at all irritated. Another big plus is the ability to use this razor in the shower, which certainly helps cut down on 'grooming time'.

Bad Points - The only drawbacks I can imagine with this razor is the funny eeee noise it makes, which is more amusing than annoying. Mildly annoying is the fact you are almost locked into buying the nivea moisturiser to refill with. Maybe not such a big deal when you compare it to the cost of shaving foam and razorblades, but no choices in what brand, so it's a good job this Nivea moisturising cream is such good stuff!

Conclusion - Well worth the money, this razor is doing stuff electric shavers have been promising to do for years - shave closer than a blade! Just wish I was in a position to buy the company!

Current pricing and availability on amazon UK-


Or just use This Link to check out the customer reviews of this shaver.

And on amazon.com, this model is known as the Norelco 8060x

Review of GPS systems for Trekking, Hiking, Running & Cycling

GPS equipment for trekking, hiking, running, cycling is a little different to that which you'd want to use in the car. There are a number of different units on the market that provide hands free easy use and the features and functions you'll require. As with all GPS equipment there is one company that takes a lead in this field - Garmin.
Here we are going to look at a number of the most popular hands-free GPS equipment for outdoor activities.

Garmin Forerunner 301
Primarily designed for the runner. It comes with a heart-rate monitor and software for you to analyse your training programme.
Features -

• Locations - up to 100
• Training data: Displays training time, pace, distance, lap pace, lap time, lap distance, average and best pace, elevation, and calories
• Lap history: Records up to 5,000 laps by day or week; stores approximately two years of data
• AutoPause: Automatically pauses training timer when you slow down below specified resting pace
• AutoLap: Automatically triggers lap when you reach specified distance
• Virtual Partner: Displays graphic "virtual partner" that runs with the set goal, letting you track whether you're keeping up or falling behind
• Pace alert: Alarm sounds if you're slower or faster than the pace you've input
• Time/distance alert: Alarm sounds when you reach the specified time or distance
• Interval training: Allows you to set up exercise and rest intervals and number of reps
• Map mode: Shows location and marked locations
• Heart rate monitor: Yes
• Heart rate info: Displays heart rate (beats per minute) and zone (between 1 and 5)
• AutoLearn: Learns user's heart rate zones and adjusts them as fitness levels improve
• AutoScroll: Cycles through data pages during workout
• Alerts: Alarm sounds if you reach minimum or maximum heart rate
• Multi-sport: Sets up profiles for running, biking, and other sport
• Display: 1.44 x 0.92 inches, 100 x 64 pixels
• Temperature range: -4 to 140 degrees F
• Interface : USB
• Batteries: Rechargeable lithium ion
• Battery life: 14 hours
• Waterproof: Yes
• Warranty: 1 year parts and labor

Plus Points -

• Lithium Ion battery -14hours
• Nice size display
• Easy interface with pc, USB and good software
• Sattelite reception & pick up is generally good, pick-up 30seconds to 2minutes depending on location. Signal strength remains good in most circumstances.
• Screen Size/Visibilty is very good for such a small unit.
• Heart Rate Monitor is generally good, very occasional spikes, though these are probably caused by not fitting the sensor correctly/securely.
• Training Buddy - fantastic for setting your pace almost worth the price of the unit itself!

Bad Points -

• No Mac Compatability for the Training Centre software
• Signal can break out under heavy tree cover or in built up areas.
• Supplied map software is not very accurate, better maps are available att an additional cost

Garmin Foretrex 201
Maybe not quite as good as the Forerunner 301, but may be a better device for those into watersports due to it's better waterproofing.

Features -

• Racing timers: Configurable start sequence, alert tones and large-number digital readout
• Trip computer: Trip distance, trip timer, plus essential navigation data
• Waterproof: Yes (IEC 60529 IPX-7 standards: submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes)
• Waypoints and routes: 500 waypoints with graphic identification; 20 reversible routes
• Track log: 10,000 trackpoints, TracBack technology and 20 saved tracks
• Display: 100 x 60-pixel monochrome display with backlighting
• Display size: 36 x 23 mm
• Batteries: 1 rechargeable lithium battery (supplied)
• Battery life: 15 hours (typical use)

Plus Points -

• The waterproofing is the best in its class
• Backlit display
• GPS Accuracy - upto 3metres!

Bad Points -

• No supplied base map
• charger quite large

The Conclusion -

The Garmin Foretrex wins on most counts in my opinion, for general trekking and watersports, though if I was in need of a virtual training partner or wanted one to help with a training program the forerunner would win.