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Stream The Flintstones - The Complete Second Season Online. Movie Title: The Flintstones - The Complete Second Season Average customer review: The Flintstones - The Complete Second Season is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download The Flintstones - The Complete Second Season

Episode Guide:

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29. The Hit Song Writers: Taking their cue from _There’s Loot in Lyrics_, Fred and Barney try to pen a hit song. They get a helping hand from Hoagy Carmichael.

30. Droop Along Flintstone: The Flintstones and the Rubbles agree to take care of Cousin Tumbleweed’s ranch, and unwittingly stumble into the filming of a Western.

31. The Missing Bus: Fred becomes a school bus driver on the Bedrock-to-Red-Rock route.

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32. Alvin Brickrock Presents: Fred suspects that his neighbor has killed his wife.

33. Fred Flintstone Woos Again: The Flintstones return to Rock Mountain Inn to renew their vows, but discover that their original marriage ceremony wasn’t legal.

34. The Rock Quarry Story: Movie star Rock Quarry attempts to lead a normal life as Gus Schultz, but Wilma and Betty recognize him.

35. The Soft Touchables: Fred and Barney’s private eye business backfires when they become stooges of Boss Rockhead.

36. Flintstone of Prinstone: Fred attends Prinstone U and must balance studying and football practice along with his job at the quarry.

37. The Little White Lie: When Fred wins money in a poker game and claims he just found it, Wilma makes him run an ad in the paper to find the owner.

38. Social Climbers: The Flintstones and the Rubbles attend an ambassador’s ball.

39. The Beauty Contest: Fred and Barney are named judges of the Water Buffalo Lodge’s beauty contest–a fact they must keep from their wives.

40. The Masquerade Ball: Fred tries to win favor with his boss at a costume party, but doesn’t know that the costumes have been switched.

41. The Picnic: Fred dumps Barney as Lodge field day partner in favor of trophy-rich Joe Rockhead.

42. The House Guest: Barney and Betty stay with the Flintstones for a week while the Rubbles’ plumbing is being fixed, and Barney’s behavior begins to drive Fred crazy.

43. The X-Ray Story: Wilma and the Rubbles try to keep Fred awake for 72 hours after Dino’s X-ray (showing a case of dinopeptitis) is mistaken for Fred’s.

44. The Gambler: “Betting Freddy’s” gambling obsession returns, and the Flintstone home is soon devoid of furniture. Arnold’s boys club, however, looks great.

45. A Star is Almost Born: Wilma is discovered by a TV producer and Fred becomes her manager.

46. The Entertainer: Fred woos a female client, Greta Gravel, for Mr. Slate while Wilma is out of town, but Wilma returns early and ends up at the same club as Fred and Greta–who turns out to be Wilma’s old friend.

47. Wilma’s Vanishing Money: Fred spends Wilma’s secret stash on a bowling ball. When he learns that this is what she was planning to use the money for in the first place, he hires a burglar to put the money back again.

48. Fuedin’ and Fussin’: Fred insults Barney and then refuses to apologize.

49. Impractical Joker: Barney gets revenge on prankster Fred by pretending to run a basement counterfeiting operation.

50. Operation Barney: Feigning illness so he and Fred can go to a ball game, Barney finds himself in the hospital and scheduled for an operation.

51. The Happy Household: Wilma lands a job as star of “The Happy Housewife Show,” which leaves Fred feeling like “The Neglected Husband.”

52. Fred Strikes Out: After failing a considerate-spouse quiz and missing their anniversary, Fred tries to placate Wilma over a romantic drive-in date and bowl in the championship tournament at the same time.

53. This is Your Lifesaver: Fred rescues the apparently suicidal J. Montague Gypsum, and pays the price as Monty takes over his home.

54. Trouble-In-Law: Fred introduces his mother-in-law to rich rancher Melville J. Muchrocks, then tries to thwart the budding romance when it appears Muchrocks may be a con man.

55. The Mailman Cometh: Angry at being passed over for a raise, Fred sends an insulting letter to Mr. Slate–then finds out he has gotten his raise after all, and tries to retrieve the letter before his boss sees it.

56. The Rock Vegas Story: Fred accepts an invitation for himself, Wilma and the Rubbles to vacation at Sherman Cobblehead’s Golden Cactus Hotel in Rock Vegas. But when he loses all their money gambling he refuses to accept Sherman’s charity, insisting that they work for their keep.

57. Divided We Sail: The Flintstones and Rubbles share a game show prize, a houseboat that Fred and Barney christen the _Nau-Sea_.

58. Kleptomaniac Caper: A misunderstanding regarding Fred’s old clothes leads to the conclusion that Barney is a kleptomaniac.

59. Latin Lover: Wilma encourages Fred to adopt Roberto Rockelini’s romantic manner (and moustache), but his apparent effect on women proves too much for Wilma to bear.

60. Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Fred becomes umpire for the little-league baseball game between coach Barney’s Bedrock Giants and the Grittsburg Pyrites, but his calls produce unsportsmanlike behavior in the Giants’ fathers.

While I am not yet aware of the extra’s on this DVD set, I can tell you this about the 2nd season (1961-62). The 2nd season helped better establish the modern Stone-age family. In at least 6 of the episodes, Mel Blanc was absent due to illness so Daws Butler had to supply Barney Rubble’s voice (thus making Barney sound more like Yogi Bear). New characters introduced are Mr. Slate, Fred’s no-nonsense boss (voiced by John Stephenson; Mr. Slate had one cameo in the 1st season, but didn’t look or talk at all like the Mr. Slate you probably remember), Arnold the smart allecky paperboy (voiced by Don Messick), Joe Rockhead, an alternative buddy of Fred’s and Mrs. Slaghoople, Wilma’s “battleaxe” mother (actually, Wilma’s maiden name started out as Pebble but that name probably went out the window when their child Pebbles was born).

Highlights include a voice cameo from Hoaggy Carmichael (Fred warbles a cheezy rendition of “Stardust”), Fred and Barney not speaking to each other after Fred insults Barney (”Did you get the lisence of that truck, Betty?”), Barney gets a job working for Fred’s company since Mr. Slate finds out he’s his nephew, Wilma gets a job as emcee of the TV series The Happy Housewife Show leaving one not-so-happy husband to get his own dinner (”Make your hubby happy, keep your hubby happy… with Rockenspiel!”), Fred and Barney are judges of a beauty contest and women across town are trying to get their attention (leaving 2 understandably jealous wives), Fred goes on a gambling streak which winds up owing paperboy Arnold lots of money (”BET! Bet, bet bet….”), Dino gets a part on the Adventures of Sassie show with fred as Dino’s agent (”At the end of the show, even the villains smile!”), Barney coaches a Little League baseball team and Fred volunteers as umpire (”I call ‘em as I see ‘em”), Barney and Betty stay at the Flintstones’ house after plumbing problems but it isn’t long before their welcome is worn (”Shhh, the girls’ll think we’re fightin’, Fred”), Wilma and Betty get invited to the Ambassadors’ Reception but neither they nor Fred and Barney are well received since they’re not rich snobs (that is, until Fred and Barney unwittingly prevent a burglary), Fred writes a vitriolic protest letter to his boss when he doesn’t get the raise he expected (Wilma saves the day here) and Barney plays a practical joke on Fred (”You, Barney Rubble, are a counterfietter!”).

The 1st season helped get the Flintstones started and the 2nd season had the characters better established for Fred (Allan Reed), Wilma(Jean VanderPyl), Barney (Blanc) and Betty (Bea Benederet).

Some press releases given by the NFL have actually stated that the most novel games of the spruce Bowl have been made available to a billion potential audiences worldwide. However, there have been a couple of independent studies that have been done which have suggested that the total number of international viewers on the average is a microscopic over 100 million - and a majority of this number are American viewers.

And because of this mammoth fame of the shipshape Bowl, you may be astonished to learn that there are completely no videotapes of the first two desirable Bowl telecasts. It is particularly surprising for the spruce Bowl I, since it has been covered by CBS and NBC, which are two of the biggest television networks. Sports Illustrated has stated that the only first telecast footage that existed was the first game’s two-minute video clip. This is because during the earlier days of the television and sometime in the 1960s, the copies of the TV broadcasts were erased routinely, as nobody ever view that there would be anyone who would want to replay a prove that they have already seen. Also, during those days, videotapes were significantly expensive.

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Some are past players of the acquire and seem to always feel in the spotlight one last time when they step inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium, even if they had played at Legion Field, or elsewhere. The only thing that matters is where the Tide calls home. Today, that is Bryant-Denny Stadium named after the legendary Paul W. own Bryant whose name you can secure in various places all over town, and Denny Chimes, who also has his legacy spread out over campus. Honoring them before were monuments, street names, and even museums, but having the stadium coined after them was quite an honor for those respective families. Anything that has to do with Alabama football has a serious reputation to uphold. With more National Championships, SEC Championships, Bowl Appearances, Bowl Wins, SEC Conference Wins, and most consecutive SEC Conference Championships than any other team in the NCAA, the Crimson Tide and it’s players are looked upon by fans to continue this tradition and be the team to beat for years to reach.

Alabama’s historical rosters and fresh game attendants include Kenny, the Snake, Stabler, legendary Joe Namath, and Barry Krause among others. Stabler, Namath and one hundred and forty-five others are forever remembered along the toddle of Fame at Denny Chimes. A tradition since 1948, it immortalizes spectacular players like no other team and the tradition of doing so is one of the most considerable in Alabama history. Players of the Tide can be found on occasion greeting fans at the Paul W. Bryant Museum, signing autographs, and sometimes even sitting next to lucky fans at the games. At the University of Alabama, it’s all about the fans, and the experience of Alabama Football. You can guarantee student tickets will be sold out within the first thirty minutes they’re made available, and if you want to secure your hands on one, it won’t be a cheap take. Fans of the Tide are dedicated, and some of the best college football fans out there! Roll Tide!

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Download Hidden Hollywood - Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults Online. Movie Title: Hidden Hollywood - Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults Average customer review: Hidden Hollywood - Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Hidden Hollywood - Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults

…some real gems…a thirteen minute sequence with W.C.Fields
and Margaret Dumont (she remains totally unflappable in the face
of Mr Field’s shenanigans!)….Sonja Heine…who won medals in
THREE winter Olympics, starting when she was probably twelve..
and may well be the single most influential female skater of
the 20th century (the ice fairies in ‘Fantasia’ skate exactly
like Sonja!)–has some delightful unused sequences here..and
of course, our old friends Betty Grable and Alice Faye..and
Carmen Miranda, complete with an extension cord…this dvd packs
quite a bit of ‘lost’ entertainment into 90 minutes. If you
are a ‘movie nut’ you will love this…if you are not…go rent
Terminator II, please.

Darryl Zanuck, head of production at Fox, was famous for his editing skills. This DVD contains outtakes from many famous Fox films, trimmed sometimes for censorship or even political reasons or maybe simply to reduce the running time.

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If you know the films, you can mentally piece the outtakes into the originals. Some of the numbers are pretty awful such as Bert Lahr’s incomprehensible song. Others are memorable like Jimmy Durante’s number with Shirley Temple and Alice Faye’s “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”. It is also amusing to see the performers grimace and pout as the camera starts to roll. The DVD is a gold mine to the film buff and since the material has been taken from original negatives and restored, it is in great condition.

The DVD is partly documentary as narrated by Joan Collins. Whatever you might think of Collins as a performer, she has a beautiful English accent with perfect diction. Her delivery is music to the ears and the script is informative but succinct.

Download Dust Devil: The Final Cut Online. Movie Title: Dust Devil: The Final Cut Average customer review: Dust Devil: The Final Cut is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Dust Devil: The Final Cut

Drawing inspiration from the legend of Nhadeip–which grew out of the unsolved blood ritual murders that took place in Bethany, Namibia, in the early 1980’s–South African-born director Richard Stanley has created a strangely beautiful, haunting and highly atmospheric horror tale. According to African folklore, a “Num” is a Dust Devil or shape-shifting demon who is drawn to suffering and self-destructive souls unconsciously seeking release from the pain of their lives. The demon is basically a sorcerer, trapped in the physical world, where he occupies the body of a human host. By tracking his prey and dismembering them in the “ritual ecstasy of murder,” he accumulates the power to enable his return to the spirit world. Robert Burke plays a handsome and enigmatic hitchhiker who is the physical incarnation of such a creature.

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The film primarily revolves around the Dust Devil and three other characters: Wendy Robinson (Chelsea Fields) is a depressed and suicidal Johannesburg housewife on the run from her abusive husband. Ben Mukurob (Zakes Mokae) is the police officer who is tracking what appears to be a terrifying serial killer. Mukurob is hampered in his investigations by both a dark personal history and a natural resistance to believing the murders are connected to the supernatural world. John Matshikiza rounds out the piece as “Joe Niemand,” a shaman who is aware of what is really committing the murders and who is trying to assist Mukurob in stopping the Dust Devil.

The Namibian Desert–with its desolate scrubland and the vast emptiness of its endless sand dunes–is the perfect backdrop for a story rooted in mysticism–where the local population has one foot in the postcolonial, modern world and the other rooted in tribal culture and belief.

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There is a languid pacing to the film. A voiceover narrative, provided by Joe Niemand at the beginning and end of the film, supplies many of the details and back-story that would not be apparent otherwise. The dreams and memories of the characters sometime bleed over into their waking state, and the audience is frequently pulled into a half-twilight world where reality and memory are interchangeable.

Sadly, Richard Stanley’s feature film career has been beset by problems. His first film “Hardware” suffered from unfair comparisons with “The Terminator.” Civil war erupted in South Africa during the filming of “Dust Devil” and postproduction distributorship troubles left a chopped up version of the movie–with only scattershot and straight-to-video release. Creative differences left Stanley unemployed only a few days into his third movie “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” followed by the bizarre rumors of Stanley returning to the film set in disguise. I am glad that Stanley did not let these obstacles and setbacks completely defeat him, and I eagerly await the next film from this talented and interesting filmmaker.

This is a visually gorgeous film. I watched it expecting a horror movie but ended up enthralled by its sheer visual splendour; both in its stunning photography and its breathtaking landscape. As a horror film, I doubt if it would attract the mass of today’s horror fans. It’s obvious why the studio quietly dumped it onto video without a theatrical release. It would not have sold as a horror movie. There are not enough shocks, gore or horror to satiate today’s audience. The predominant feeling I got was not so much of fear, but of despair, desolation and spiritual isolation, made all the more stark when set amidst all that beauty. I would agree with director Richard Stanley, when he says that it is closer to an “art film” than a horror movie.

Stanley grew up in South Africa and learned the folklore of the natives at the feet of his mother, an anthropologist who collected stories and folktales of the African tribes. This story revolves around a shape-shifting spirit, variously called a Soupwah, a Num or in Afrikaans, a Nagtloper (literally Night-Runner). The Nagtloper (Robert John Burke) feeds off the life-force of the damned - people who have lost the will to live. Into his orbit float two lost souls, Wendy (Chelsea Field) a South African woman fleeing from a failed marriage and Ben Mukurob (Zakes Mokae), a Zulu policeman whose life came to an end years ago with the death of his wife. Who will attain deliverance? The white woman, the black policeman or the Nagtloper, whose own aim is to return to the spirit world from where it came. The desolate emptiness of the Namib is beautifully captured. Scenes are exquisitely choreographed, almost like a ballet. I don’t know if I would recommend it to the usual horror film fan, but it is definitely one for cinephiles. The DVD is superbly produced with crystal clear image quality, no dirt, no damage and with exceptionally good sound. It is presented in its original 1.85:1 widescreen. Strangely there are no subtitles. The main feature is anamorphic (enhanced for widescreen TV) as are all of Stanley’s interview segments. Sadly none of the other Extras are anamorphic. Even the workprint is letterboxed.

This Special Edition comes with a host of Extras spread over 5 discs. Personally I felt that devoting an entire disc to the “Workprint” was overkill. But I’m not complaining. You can watch the workprint in its entirety or just use the 46 chapter-stops to get directly to the various deleted segments, which are sadly all taken from a VHS source; some having no sound, some looking really terrible, and most having the video-counter running above or below the print. I would recommend the workprint only to ardent admirers of the Final Cut. The other Extras have nothing to do with the main film itself but are Stanley’s TV documentaries on other subjects. Nonetheless, they are definitely worth viewing.

The most substantial Extra is “The Secret Glory of SS Obersturmfuhrer Otto Rahn” made for Britain’s Channel Four TV. This is a 97min documentary on the life of the Nazi poet and writer Otto Rahn who was obsessed with the search for the “Holy Grail”. This is not the Grail of Christ which we usually associate with the legendary quest but a more obscure “Grail” supposedly made from the crown of Lucifer, variously described as a stone, a gem or a diadem. Stanley contends that Rahn and the Nazis did find the Grail in southern France but gives no source for his claim. To be fair, the documentary is not about the search for the Grail itself but is an account of Rahn’s tragic life. The sad irony of his life is that this Nazi stalwart, who wrote so many vile tracts condemning the Jews, was in the end, himself revealed to be a Jew. The documentary is very dense, and expects the viewer to be fully conversant with Grail legend, 13th Century Crusader history (specifically of the Albigensian or Cathar Crusade) and German history circa WWII. Like Rahn, Stanley doesn’t make clear when he conflates fact and fiction. The Lucifer Grail is referred to in Wolfram von Eschenbach’s medieval poem Parzival (the source of Wagner’s Parsifal). This is by almost all accounts an invention based on the old Arthurian legends. Rahn ties that in to historical fact by assuming that the Grail mountain, the fictional Montsalvat of the poem, is the same as Montsegur, the last retreat of the Cathars in southern France. The Cathars were Gnostic Christians, declared heretics by the Vatican, which sent in Crusaders to annihilate them in what became known as the Albigensian Crusade. The hilltop fortress of Montsegur was where the Cathars made their last stand. At Montsegur Rahn searches and apparently finds the Grail he is looking for. In fact, the Cathars never claimed to possess the Holy Grail. The documentary is packed with so much information, both historical fact and literary fantasy, that it requires more than one viewing for full assimilation and it is not easy to sit through. Picture quality is mediocre but tolerable for a documentary extra. It is in 1.85:1 widescreen, letterboxed into a 4×3 fullframe. Sound quality is very poor. Dialogue is recorded at fluctuating volume levels, is frequently inaudible and in many instances drowned out by extremely boomy bass. Worse, the sound and picture for the interviews are never in sync. The film’s temp-track sounds terrible (like a bad B-grade horror flick) but the accompanying Wagnerian music is grand and transcendent. The exerpts come from Wagner’s Parsifal and Tannhauser. The documentary interviews are in equal parts German, French and English. The entire documentary comes with obligatory English subtitles. To be fair, Stanley admits that this is just a preview of a work in progress which he hopes to release in proper form one day.

My favourite of the documentaries is the 36min long “Voice of the Moon”. It is a visual record of Stanley’s visit to Afghanistan towards the end of the Soviet occupation (1989). As Stanley points out in the interview, it is more akin to poetry than a documentary; a visual tone-poem if you will. The sparse narration, in verse form, occurs only at the beginning and end and is given wholly in Pashto (Pashtun language). English subtitles are burnt onto the print. This was made for Britain’s BSB channel. As a traditional factual documentary it falls flat, but as a visual poem it is beautiful. And this is evident despite the poor quality of the 16mm film footage. It was shot on a mechanical (spring driven/hand-cranked) Bolex camera, with no sync-audio. The reason was because they were travelling with the mujahideen and shooting for months in places where there was no electricity; mostly around the Afghan/Pakistan border region in the majestic Hindu Kush mountains. Stanley’s 1/2-hour long interview accompanying this film is a must-see. He describes the Afghan expedition, his meetings with the Afghan mujahideen, his deep admiration for them and his sadness at seeing them bombed into oblivion post-9/11. The film itself ends with the mujahideen victorious in the final battle for Jalalabad. The music score is lyrical and evocative and is easily the loveliest score written by Simon Boswell on these discs. It is inspired by Eastern European folk music (not native Afghan music) and the documentary also features the Trio Bulgarka singing “Oi Yano Yanke” from their “The Forest is Crying” album.

“The White Darkness” is a documentary Stanley made for the BBC as part of a series on world religions. Its focus is on the practise of Voodoo on the island of Haiti. Coincidentally, while the documentary was being shot, America invaded the island. The documentary ends up being an examination of Voodoo practise on the one hand, and a record of the American invasion on the other. Thanks to a particularly obnoxious US Army Colonel, it also becomes a story about superior American Evangelical Christianity coming in to trounce the devil-worshipping heathens of the island. The Colonel is so boastfully arrogant and self-righteous that one could only sigh with relief to learn that he was eventually “removed from command”. Visually this film looks the best of the three and is presented in its original 1.33:1 fullscreen with good audio quality. Most of the documentary is in English with the French and Creole segments suitably subtitled. It also comes with a 17min long interview where, amongst other things, Stanley describes the American invasion and the surreal image of US Marines and “Armed Baptists” coming to evangelise the heathens.

The last disc of this 5-disc set is an audio-CD containing the soundtrack of “Dust Devil”. I wish they had included the soundtrack of “Voice of the Moon” as well. It is probably the best thing Simon Boswell has written. The set is accompanied by three separate 12-page booklets, the first being a very detailed and informative production diary on “Dust Devil”, the second containing equally detailed discussions on the 3 documentaries, and the third being a comic-book version of the film. The “Dust Devil” feature alone is worth the asking price for this release. Coupled with all the extras, this DVD is self-recommending.

Note: As we are reminded on every disc here, Richard Stanley is the Great-Grandson of the legendary explorer and adventurer, Sir Henry Stanley, who gave his name to the Stanley Falls (now Boyoma Falls, DRC), and the city of Stanleyville (present day Kisangani, DRC), searched for and rescued his even more famous fellow-explorer, David Livingston and is credited with the iconic line, “Dr. Livingston, I presume?”

Download Jimi Hendrix Online. Movie Title: Jimi Hendrix Average customer review: Jimi Hendrix is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Jimi Hendrix

This is how a bio should be done! It’s a nice treat to have a lineup including Little Richard, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, and Mick Jagger provide first-hand recollections of times spent with Jimi. It’s supplemented with generous screen time for his dad and 3 or 4 former girlfriends, which is entertaining. To top it off, there is incredible, well-produced footage of Jimi in concert and in the studio, and the live appearances span his career. You can actually see him morph from a wide-eyed young prodigy into an exhausted curiosity. You can even hear it in the short interview segments that feature Jimi himself.

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This ran as a Friday night midnight movie for about 50 weeks in a popular New Orleans theatre in the early 1970’s and became one of the hottest tickets in New Orleans (where brilliant musicians are truly appreciated) during its run. I saw it at least a half dozen times then, and it is still as riveting today. If you get it, you won’t be disappointed, and it is the perfect introduction to anyone who is not familiar with the story of Jimi Hendrix.

I remember taping this off the TV when I was fifteen (that’s fifteen years ago, folks) because all my school mates trendily professed a great love of Hendrix, and I had never really understood what all the fuss was about. Let’s face it, if you pull up a chair and listen to your average Hendrix record, it’s pretty difficult to appreciate what’s the big deal: his technique might have been groundbreaking at the time, but it’s been a long thirty years in Rock ‘n’ Roll, and there have been a lot of guitar players producing a lot of pretty crazy stuff ever since.

But somehow, seeing it happen in front of you causes the scales to fall from your eyes, and the interviews with the likes of one-time girlfriend Fayne Pridgeon, two hilarious hipsters from Greenwich Village, Eric Clapton, an Elvis-suited, overweight Lou Reed and most amusingly of all, a heavily stoned and bechecked-suited Pete Townsend, make for a fascinating documentary which puts Hendrix’s legacy slap bang back into context, and gives a fascinating window into life in 1973 at the same time.

But what is truly great about this documentary is how it sacrifices neither background context nor music: as well as the interviews there is no shortage of footage of Hendrix live and in the studio. The band’s stunning performance at Monterey is well represented, with full takes of Hey Joe, the barn-storming version of Dylan’s Like a Rolling Stone (Jimi adored Bob Dylan) and of course the famous guitar sacrifice during Wild thing are reproduced in full for your viewing pleasure. Also featured are legendary moments such as the Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock, the studio take, on twelve-string, of “Hear My Train A Comin’”, and “Machine Gun” from the Filmore East show with the Band of Gypsies.

Away from his stratocaster Hendrix comes across as a surpisingly delicate, almost shy, figure. Asked in a chat show whether he recieved hate-mail following his “unconventional” rendition of the national anthem he looks genuinely baffled, and replies “what are you talking about? Unconventional? I thought it was beautiful” to an explosion of applause from the studio audience.

If, like I did, you missed Hendrix first time round, then you couldn’t ask for a better primer now. Compulsive viewing.

Stream Centennial: The Complete Series Online. Movie Title: Centennial: The Complete Series Average customer review: Centennial: The Complete Series is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Centennial: The Complete Series

The story of the American West doesn’t get any better than this!

As a middle school social studies instructor, I can say that Americana is on display in its most enticing format here! The acting is as superb as the actors are familiar! Star after star makes us forget whatever role they played on televison, and remember them for their characterization in Centennial! This is the highest compliment to a film-maker’s casting director and producer!

The cast IS exceptional–especially Conrad, Chamberlain, and that old Detroit Lion lineman Alex ‘Brumbaugh’ Karas! Honestly, having seen this epic four times, I have often wanted to just sit right through all 20+ hours consecutively; it really does grow on you! I can never forget the ‘Wendells’ every time I hear ‘Whispering Hope’, and just watching that last half hour’s flashback sequence accompanied by ‘Guess He’d Rather be in Colorado’ still gives me goose bumps!

I enjoyed this epic so much in fact, that while in Colorado in 1993, I tried to locate the town of Centennial. I noticed many familiar landmarks, crossed the Platte River, but of course, found no Centennial town–only the cafe.

I can only say that if one loves the history and drama of the American West and has not seen this chronicle–from Robert Conrad’s trip downstream at the beginning, to David Janson’s reflective retrospection by the lonely railroad tracks at the consclusion, one has NOT fully seized upon all that Hollywood can contribute to learning about our great country.

Thank you Clay Basket, Levi Zendt, Hans Brumbaugh, R.J. Poteet, Lame Beaver…though fictitious, you made learning come alive for us! And a special thanks to the production company of ‘Centennial’!

“…only the rocks live forever”.

As a longtime fan of James Michener I have enjoyed many of his works but none of them has been so well represented on film as Centennial. The book was super but was erratically paced and jumped back and forth in history. The miniseries, however, is wonderful. The casting of the characters was right on in both the main and supporting roles. Robert Conrad gave his best performance as the complicated French trapper Pasquinel. Richard Chamberlain was the perfect Alexander McKeag and Gregory Harrison did a terrific job in his ability to cope with his character’s aging from a inexperienced farm boy to a likable everyman to an aging hero. Michener’s story explores the discovery of the west and shows us heroism and cowardice, greatness and pettiness and is a superb history lesson which everyone will enjoy. The series presents this story in the form of characters you will grow to like, admire, love, hate and remember. People I’ve watched the series with have shown deep emotion and cried through the depiction of the Indian massacre (actually the Sand Creek Massacre but renamed for the story). They came to admire Dennis Weaver as the cattle drive boss R.J. Poteet and the young cowboys he helped turn into men. You will see characters grow and change. You will identify with many and feel sad as they age and die. Throughout, however, you will be entertained and you will have a greater appreciation of the people who framed the American West.

Download Akira Online. Movie Title: Akira Average customer review: Akira is available for streaming or downloading. Click Here to Stream or Download Akira

“AKIRA”, the 1988 anime film that became the masterpiece of mangaka and director Katsuhiro Otomo.

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My first viewing of “AKIRA” was back in 1993. I have to be truthful, it was one of those films that I had to watch several times because I felt I was missing something integral. Each time I watched the film, there was always something new that I picked up and for anyone who has seen this animated film, just how much was put into the animation, the detail for an animated film.

In 1988, Disney had “Oliver & Friends” and being touted as the first animation to utilize hand drawn art and computerized graphics and as the film incorporated some darkness that may scare the kiddies, in Japan, “AKIRA” was a film that would set records in the Summer and eventually get a limited release in theaters.

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The film would surprise and shock people because this was not a children’s animation, this was geared for adults. And did it look awesome at that time!

Flash forward over 20-years later for the Blu-ray release!

VIDEO & AUDIO:

For one, the film is now in 1080p and 16×9. Having seen this film evolve with each release from the VHS to LaserDisc and then DVD and now Blu-ray, for a film created back in 1988, “AKIRA” just looked amazing.

From the action scenes and just watching it on a large screen, I was amazed of how great it looked. Again, this is a 1988 release and I compared it to Disney’s “Oliver & Company” which was remastered and recently released on DVD

. But for an animation of that time, it looked like an animation of that time. “AKIRA” looked fantastic!

The colors were vibrant, I swear I was noticing background art from the film for the first time and that’s considering that I watched this film probably two dozen times already.

As for audio, this is where Bandai Entertainment has really gone out of their way to create a top-notch product. Being audiophiles themselves, the full capacity of the Blu-ray disc was used for the audio. “AKIRA” is the first film on Blu-ray that is released in 192 kHz/24-bit in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound. The highest level of sound quality attainable right now on contemporary media.

CD’s are sampled in 44.1 kHz and reproduces at 20 kHz. This Blu-ray is sampled in 192 kHz and reproduces at 96 kHz. CD’s are 16-bit, this Blu-ray Disc, the audio is 24-bit. The original soundtrack of “AKIRA” was originally recorded as a master tape that contained frequencies up to 100 kHz and so, with Blu-ray technology, this soundtrack on the Blu-ray is how the composer intended for people to listen to it.

With that being said, the audio of “AKIRA” is just phenomenal. From the music and the taiko drums, the the various sound effects of the motorcycles to the crowds that are protesting. The film just comes alive with this soundtrack on Blu-ray and really, was floored by the outstanding quality.

I watched both Japanese and audio soundtracks. A few things I need to let people know is when you see the menu being offered in Japanese or English, if you select Japanese, you get four choices of audio. If you select English, you get only three selections (Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1ch track is not on the English selection but the Japanese menu selection) of audio but I’m sure that most fans will be listening to the Dolby TrueHD tracks.

Also, another note is that this release features the Pioneer 2001 English audio dub and not the 1991 Streamline dub. Having been subjugated to the Streamline English dub which was terrible in my opinion, this Pioneer dub is more to my liking.

With that being said, with the Blu-ray disc focusing so much on audio quality and using the Blu-ray disc for that purpose, that would mean that special features that fans were accustomed to on the VHS or DVD release will not get on the Blu-ray disc, so don’t toss your DVD’s out just yet.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The Blu-ray disc was utilized completely for audio, thus there is not much room to put anything else. Included are the two teaser trailers, the TV commercial, two trailers, storyboards (Still images) and a 32-page color booklet.

The 32-page color booklet features 16-pages that go into the science behind the creation of the audio for “AKIRA” and “Hypersonic” which is “a medium that allows for the expression of something that was never possible for conventional sound limited to 20 kHz”. Also, an “Interview with Katsuhiro Otomo”, “The Effect Animation That Made AKIRA Shine” and more.

So, missing are the “Production Report (The Making of Akira)”, “Sound Clip (a documentary of the creation of the soundtrack), director’s interview and the documentary on the Akira restoration that were included on the DVD. So, don’t throw away your black tin DVD special edition just yet.

The Blu-ray case comes with a slipcase (front cover shown above and rear-side features the image below) and according to Bandai Entertainment, the slipcase and the 32-page booklet are part of the first press only.

JUDGMENT CALL:

“AKIRA” will always be regarded as one of the top animated films of all time. It set a precedence in animation quality in the late 80’s and the 90’s due to its detailed scenery, the vocal dub matching the lips (”AKIRA” was the first anime production featuring voice acting done before the animation was completed) and utilized over 160,000+ animated cels in order to achieve the fluid motion throughout the film. Again, this was animation geared for adults and has become a classic, must-own animated film.

I have to admit that having watched the film so many times, by the time the DVD came out, I think I was burned out on “AKIRA”. So, watching it nearly eight years later on Blu-ray and hearing the audio really bringing the film to life.

It’s hard to explain but having watched this film nearly two dozens times, this was the first time that I actually watched and thoroughly enjoyed the film. I was excited because of how much life the TrueHD audio brought into the animation. Just sitting down and hearing the taiko drums, the motorcycles revving, the people talking and to hear the overall soundtrack, it made a big difference for me watching it now than any of those times watching it before.

I was amazed by the vibrancy of the colors of the film, but I admit that I was waiting for the dust and the scratches and to my surprise, there were none. They cleaned this film up pretty good. So, aside from the much talked about audio, the video is no slouch either.

Last, I know that the direction of the Blu-ray in terms of going for superior audio quality is exciting for the audiophile but for those who want the special features that were featured on the DVD or fans of the original Streamline dub have a valid argument for them wanting inclusion of those features. Personally, I love releases that managed to include as many features as possible but in this case, having something unprecedented for a film and getting superior audio quality, it may not matter to casual viewers/listeners but I totally agree with the Japanese reviewers, this new audio makes a big difference when you view this film on Blu-ray.

So, superior audio quality versus older special features that probably would be in regular 480p anyway, personally I would rather go with the superior audio quality. Again, the production report has been offered on VHS and DVD already (and the DVD release of “AKIRA” was just too cool to own and by no means will I ever toss that release out).

What has made me even more excited is that the process invested in order to create this 192 kHZ process on “AKIRA” can hopefully now be used on other Blu-ray releases. “Mobile Suite Gundam” movies on Blu-ray anyone? How about those films in 192 kHZ, 24-bit ala Dolby TrueHD. That would be awesome!

So, “AKIRA” has opened up possibilities for Bandai Entertainment and overall, although not loaded with special features, the improved audio and video quality can’t be ignored. Again, “AKIRA” belonged on Blu-ray and it’s a solid release.

What can I say? “AKIRA” on Blu-ray has definitely made me excited for this film all over again. An incredible Blu-ray release that is simply a must-own!

Akira is one of those movies that you never forget. The images are extremely powerful and graphic, so that they stick with you long after the movie is over. Despite its sometimes-confusing plot line, this movie is a wonderfully written, chilling look into the future, and into humanity as a whole. The movie more or less centers around a teenage biker gang in Neo-Tokyo, thirty-years after World War III. The main characters, Kaneda and Tetsuo, are two childhood friends who are constantly in competition with each other (Tetsuo being the weaker, taunted one.) Regardless, Tetsuo still looks up to Kaneda. As the introduction moves out of the chase scene, an interesting encounter with an odd looking child (who awakens the physic abilities lying dormant within Tetsuo’s mind) truly begins the movie.

The animation quality in this movie is almost enough of a reason to buy it. The detail is incredible, umparalled even by Disney?s standards. No one background or setting is used twice, and the environment is in constant change, be it blinking lights or a person exiting a random building. Oddly enough, the Bladerunner-esque buildings throughout the movie also help to establish the feeling of urgency, and the sensation of teetering on the edge of something great, something that we cannot possibly understand. The characters also move in a realistic, smooth motion, something that is missing from many anime television shows, like Pokemon or Digimon.

The music in this movie is also an aspect that really stands out, with a sound all its own. With this new DVD cleanup, you can hear every bell, whistle and drum beat. It sounds more Japanese than most animes out there, and that is not a bad thing. Every single song fits the actions incredibly well, from the haunting Requiem at the end, to the oddly infectious Japanese drums in Kaneda, heard during the motorcycle chase scene and credits of the movie. Hats off to Shoji Yamashiro.

The voice acting is good, but not great. I feel that the original dubbing job used voice actors much better suited to their animated counterparts. For example, Kaneda’s original voice actor fit his attitude well, as his voice had the same inflection and as a teenage boy’s does. The new voice actor, however, sounds like an adult trying to speak like a teenager. Tetsuo?s voice sometimes sounds a little off too, as the inflection in his words do not always coincide with the action on screen There is no mention of the original script or dub however, but there is a small interview with the English voice actors of Kaneda, Tetsuo, and Kei.

The extras on this DVD are excellent, with detailed information on how the music was created, the voice actors of both the English and Japanese scripts, and it also holds about 4,500 stills from the movie and the entire movie’s storyboard. The menus are easy to follow and understand, and contain colorful backgrounds with music-sound bites from the movie.

Overall, this DVD is a must have for any Sci-fi or animation fan. It shows the best of what anime has to offer. You will never forget the magnificent story, or the unforgettable characters that make this movie a classic, inside and outside of anime.

Remember though, this movie is NOT for young children and the squeamish. If your child is under the age of fifteen, or if you do not like the sight of blood and body parts, the movie is probably not for you.

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Until this month there were only 2 or three viable options in Waterproof cameras. All were limited, and one, the Ricoh was priced WAY too high.

This Lumix, my father-in-law just bought last month in Japan, same exact camera, different model number. I played with it several days. The images are very nice from what I can see. They are just as good as most other point and shoot digital cameras out. Probably not the best of the best, but definitely good. We shot outdoors and inside in restaurants without flash. We got decent shots. Basically put it up to most digital cameras and it fares fine. But with the water and shock resistance and HD video capabilities, you have a a huge win with this camera.

In my opinion, this Lumix beats out Olympus, Canon, FinePix, Pentax and Ricoh for the all around status. Why? This Lumix is Water and Shockproof. Has a 10 ft water proof (which is enough for most people) Does HD video 1280×720 with Audio. Takes SD cards including the 32GB SDHC High Capacity cards. This and the video is huge for me. The Olympus does not take SD, and is limited. You can put 4 hours of HD video on a 32GB HCSD card on this Lumix. Awesome. Get a couple 32Gig cards and you are more than covered for an entire vacation with a lot of filming. Great pics, great video, all weather with just this slim camera. That’s why I love it.

The design is slim (the new Canon waterproof blue camera is awesome, don’t get me wrong, but it’s kinda big and round (and video isn’t as good).

This Lumix doesn’t have as good a zoom as the Canon, but it’s decent, and sure, it can’t go as deep as the Canon, however it’s small enough for the pocket, durable, takes great shots, goes deep enough in the water for most, takes the best video as all.

This is the reason I think it gets best all around. If you only care about super small size, get the finepix. If you want the best underwater performance photos, get the Canon. I wouldn’t recommend getting the Olympus unless they change to SD cards. Olympus’ MicroSD and XD are both lame limited formats. With this Lumix you are ready for all kinds of things and it’s easy to put in the pocket. Because the video is so good, I think it makes it the great all around rugged vacation camera. And I’d even consider shooting fun movies with it where perfect audio isn’t required, as the quality is much better than some video cameras out now. (I haven’t figured out how good the sound is yet on the HD video, so I can’t speak to that, but they say it’s decent quality.)

Some youtube videos were posted where people with this camera were using it effectively as a helmet cam and they even hooked it to their motorcycle and did driving videos. Stuff like that is why I’m so excited to buy my own. (helicopter / RC airplane / balloon camera shots this would be great being light and video is good)

Lastly, the Macro is very nice too. I’m sure there’s better macro elsewhere if you compare, but this does very well and has an LED light for it too. If you have kids and you’d like for them to learn cameras and play and experiment, I think though this is not a cheap camera, it’s durable, can do all kinds of nature shots and video of bugs, leaves, snow, rain, tadpoles, and is going to perform well under some stress. I feel like with a water and shockproof camera, you’re getting components that are going to last for a while and you’ll hopefully only need to replace the camera when a better one comes out (or you lose it.)

Hope this was helpful!

I wanted to replace my point & shoot (Canon SD7000is) before my summer vacation as the zoom is starting to stick. I did research and got excited about this new Panasonic DMC-TS1 because the reviews said it had decent image quality, great features and was waterproof / shock-proof to boot. Unfortunately after a week of testing I am returning it because the image quality (using the intelligent automatic settings) is just not good enough and very disappointing compared to my 3 three-year-old 6 megapixel camera.

I ran a series of tests using my old Canon and the new Panny to take equivalent pics at the same time in various settings - indoor day, indoor night, outdoor (sunny and overcast), low light, kids in motion, macro close-up, etc. Unfortunately the Panny was substantially worse in almost every category. Specifically the color was consistently less natural and often washed out, it handled simple motion terribly compared to the Canon and it relied on the Flash in two many situations. The most disappointing was daylight pics. Introduce any natural brightness at all and the pics all end up with a slightly washed out look. The old Canon by comparison handled these situations beautifully. They both are almost useless in low light. The only category where the Panny wasn’t substantially inferior to the Canon was macro - it took beautiful macro shots.

I never tested underwater because the store had fine print on the return policy that invalidated it if submerged, even though it was designed for that. However, if you read the user manual on the waterproof features there are several major caveats. First, even though it is also “shockproof” up to five feet, if you ever do drop it the company will no longer warranty its waterproof features. Even if you don’t drop it, the manual says you need to have the Panasonic Service Center replace the seal every year. So I called Panasonic to find out what that costs. Unfortunately, they threat the seal replacement like a repair and they charge a flat rate of $140 plus parts. In other words, to maintain the waterproof feature of your waterproof camera, you have to pay almost 50% of its original cost every year to maintain it. If you pay for an extended warranty, be careful to make sure it isn’t voided by underwater use - some are - and even if you have one that isn’t, they will void it if you don’t do as Panasonic species and replace the seal annually. Either way, that makes the waterproof feature very expensive.

I did not do much testing of the manual controls or changing the default automatic settings. This will be a family camera and I need it to be truly point-and-shoot for the other users. So while it may perform better for those willing to play with the settings, I can’t recommend it as even a decent point-and-shoot.

First let me say I am not a professional and this Panasonic TS1 review is purely my use of the camera (thus far) in comparison to others I tried and returned while looking for the “right” camera. We have a Fuji s700 for our day to day use and wanted a “pocket” size camera for trips and use around water. Like most people, image quality in all sorts of settings is important.

We originally purchased and tried the Olympus Stylus Tough 8000. The 8000 has a slightly better build quality than the TS1. Both cameras are suspiciously identical in size and layout, right down to the actual battery and compartments. The 8000 is all metal, while the TS1 is mostly metal and some plastic. The layout of the 8000 is excellent, a bit heavy in the hand, but solid (a tank). The layout of the TS1, while not exactly terrible, is not quite as user friendly and feels significantly lighter than the 8000. I give the edge to Olympus for button layout and overall feel. Some differences for reference are that the Olympus started quickly, while you have to hold the on button for the TS1 a few seconds. The placement of the zoom on the top of the TS1 and the stiff feel was also a negative in my opinion.

Some professional reviews complained about the Olympus camera menus. I happened to find the 8000 menu very user friendly for a novice (difference between a general consumer and a pro). It was hard to look at other cameras that did not have such a clear menu that was easy and fast to manually switch different modes, settings and speeds etc. The Panasonic menu is somewhat less intuitive and just not as “clean” looking from a graphic/icon perspective. If you are familiar with smart phones, it’s like going from an iPhone to an old Palm menu. But, the Panasonic has a lot more manual user options, which beyond its lesser appealing graphical look, puts more control in the users hands. Similar to the 8000, there is a quick menu, which is quick to reference, while also having the standard menu of all options. Also, Panasonic’s face detection is much more responsive on the TS1.

The “auto” mode of the 8000 was terrible. The majority of pictures taken in auto mode were not up to our standards. It wasn’t until I used the manual features and bumped down the pixels as well as the ISO that the pictures started to look better. As with many camera’s, dark lighting and indoor use resulted in average to poor image quality. Pictures in good lighting were good. Regardless, the 8000 always produced soft images, which was its only downside in my opinion. Which brings me to the TS1. Much like the 8000, it took some fiddling with the ISO speeds and lighting choices to achieve good to excellent pictures. However, even in “auto” mode the camera takes good pictures even at higher ISO speeds. The details are crisp and clear in good lighting or while using the flash. The color can even be changed between vivid, standard, natural etc. These are subtle differences that consumers like myself appreciate and actually can see in the pictures.

CONS:

Zoom button placement

Slow zoom

Stiff buttons

Battery must be recharged separately

Clumsy access to side compartments

PROS:

Good to excellent image quality (auto or manual)

Good indoor image quality with flash and low lighting

Produces some crisp images

Higher optical zoom than similar cameras

Excellent face detection

Several manual user options

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My wife and I purchased a slightly different version of this laptop for her mother and I have been very impressed with the features and build quality (there are several DV6 models but they are all built on the same chassis). It is well constructed with a metallic toned black exterior (HP also offers versions in white). Take a good look at the shell art since it is something that may not appeal to everyone. My mother-in-law definitely appreciated having something a little more individual than the usual dull grey exterior. Despite the glossy exterior we haven’t noticed much in the way of finger prints or any scratches despite the helping hands of our kids who love to “help” grandma with her computer. (There are some DV6 models without art work such as the HP Pavilion DV6-1050US 16.0-Inch Laptop and the HP Pavilion DV6-1030US 16.0-Inch Laptop.)

The specs for this model are set well above what the average home owner needs today which (in my mind) future proofs it nicely. If you are on a tight budget you can get what you need for less (look at the HP Pavilion G60 line). If you have a little bit more to spend and you want some headroom to handle your computing needs for the next few years this is a great choice.

CPU - The four models Amazon is showing all share variations of the Intel Core2 Duo. This is a great notebook processor and the best choice for consumers today. It can handle two software “threads” which means you can have the virus scanner running while you surf the web with no noticeable slowdown. The difference between the four CPUs offered is not that great and outside of gaming, CPUs are not the performance bottleneck in notebooks. I would suggest most users should spend their budget on things that will get them more tangible enjoyment (like a nice display and good graphics). Only the DV6-1361SB stands out performance wise vs. the other models offered here. The other three models have CPUs with very similar performance (in fact the 1350US and 1354US share the same CPU model).

RAM - 4GB of RAM is combined with a 64bit OS to which should provided more than enough memory for pretty much any application you can think of outside of extremely high end gaming. All four models have the same amount. The RAM on the 1350US and 1354US run at 800MHZ while the RAM on the 1361SB and the 1360US runs at 1066MHZ. Faster is better for performance but not for battery life so the tradeoff depends on what matters most to you. The performance difference is not great and I think most people will be happier with the improved battery life.

HDD - Ranging from 320 to 500GB this is far more space than you need now but again, I like the future proofing. All but the 1354US have faster 7200RPM drives while it sports the slower (but slightly more reliable) 5400 RPM drive.

Graphics - The more expensive 1361SB and the 1360US both sport an integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 which is vastly superior to the usual low-end graphics that plague notebooks. You can actually do a some 3D gaming on those notebooks which is a truly rare thing. The 1350US and 1354US use the Intel 4500MHD which isn’t going to win any awards for performance will satisfy any non-gamer (it chokes on newer 3D games).

Display - HP has a reputation for high-end displays and this one delivers. Tuned slightly for indoor use the 15.6″ HP Brightview display is good enough for outdoor use though not as much as a more matte display. Indoors it is brilliant with surprisingly strong blacks (too many notebook displays are all brightness with no depth). I like that the screen provides a decent amount of vertical space without overdoing it. The difference between this and a 14″ is surprising. (Note: HP recently starting mixing 15.6″ and 16.0″ screens in the DV6 model line. You can usually buy a very similar model with either screen size though you may have to custom order).

Sound - Surprisingly good sound for a notebook. The speakers are well positioned and deliver a good range. I’ve heard better but it was on a $3K notebook.

Battery - Surprisingly only the least expensive model (1350US) has a long lasting 12 cell Li-Ion battery. I’m guessing that’s because it’s aimed more towards students on a budget who need better battery life than a home user. The rest port a 6 cell battery (pretty standard). With a 12 cell battery you can realistically plan to go all day without plugging in. This does add slightly to the weight but few users will notice (about 1/10 of a pound). It is larger and will stick out whereas the 6 cell will sit flush.

I don’t have any serious “cons” for this computer. The “Touch Media Controls” for things like the volume (as opposed to buttons you push) are a little odd at first but we got used to them quickly and hey, they look cool when they light up.

If you’re staring at these four models trying to decide which one to buy my advice is: For non-gamers just go for the 1350US. The performance for non-gaming software will be very close to the more expensive model and you get a better battery out of the deal. The hard drive is smaller but as mentioned before most home users won’t get near to filling a 320GB drive. And these days external hard drives are cheap and can even sit on your wireless network. And if 320GB isn’t enough for you then 500GB isn’t going to be much better.

If you are a gamer just skip up to the 1361SB. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a gaming laptop. A real gaming laptop will easily run you another $500. But you can play newer 3D games at reduce settings and older 3D games will run at more aggressive settings.

If you are a power user who needs the fastest CPU and memory the 1361SB is also your best choice. You get a small speed bump going to the 1360US but the real jump is the 1361SB.

To wrap it all up: you can always buy more features for more money but if you are looking for a laptop with some higher-end features and upscale build quality this is an excellent choice. HP spent money in the right places and has created a high-end laptop at a mid-tier price. For most users there no reason to buy anything other than the 1350US which is one of the better values out there today. If you are a student you may want to check out HPs “Academy” program which offers student discounts (it can be hard to find on HP’s web site so you may be better off searching for “HP Academy”).

Just got this laptop, and haven’t loaded application SW yet. Will do another review later on performance.

Wanted to let you know that this ships with a 12-cell battery, as advertised, but that this is huge and sticks out the bottom of the laptop, so the combination of laptop+battery exceeds the advertised dimensions and weight. The size and shape of the battery make it very difficult to fit into my briefcase. I called HP, and they said that this is the standard configuration, and that I’d have to buy a 6-cell battery if I wanted one that is flush with the bottom of the laptop case.

Also, the chrome trim has a lot of sharp corners and edges that may catch on the interior of a briefcase.

There are no recovery disks, so budget time and expense to make these.

Other than that, everything’s fine. The initial start-up and registration were painless. The (glossy) display and keyboard (with a nearly full-size number pad) are terrific. I look forward to using the machine as my main PC.

Purchased at local Office Depot. For the price, seems to have a lot of good features (bright LED backlight, 8-hour battery, memory (also expandable), remote control (useful for pictures / presentations), high speed hard drive (most machines in this price range have 5400-rpm drive; this one is a faster 7200).

One thing (which was pointed out by other reviews) is that the battery _is_ large and sticks out the bottom by almost an inch. I like Dell’s method better of having the battery extend horizontally in front of the keyboard, but on the other hand it does raise the rear of the keyboard a bit which can make typing easier. I thought it might be troublesome to use it while in my lap but fortunately there is just enough space on the right side (which the batt is closer to) to rest the main unit on your legs. An odd thing about it is that they made the extension go even further to the right than to the left, which would have otherwise centered it more.

Another item which may be an issue for some is that the back of the screen has a very bright HP logo when the computer is on. It is not software configurable, but an internet search revealed that there is a cable inside which can be disconnected to cut the light. I may do this or cover it with black tape.

On the power, charge, and HD indicators, when any one LED is lit they kind of bleed over to the others, making it difficult to determine if they are truly lit or not. I do however like the lit indicators for volume & wireless; my old laptop used standard press-buttons and they would frequently get stuck from dust or food crumbs or whatever.

The fan runs relatively quietly, and can also be configured in the BIOS.

As mentioned earlier the screen has good levels of brightness, but reflections can easily be seen. Unfortunately almost all laptops made today did away with the nice, anti-glare screens of the past in favor of these. I also noticed when first using it that the colors appeared very washed out; the brightness or gamma settings seemed way too high. I tried using the Intel GMA software to change the gamma but it was already at its lowest setting, and the brightness and contrast settings did little to improve. Windows 7 though has a color calibration tool that lets you set these independently, I turned it all the way to Min which makes it look normal compared with other computers I’ve seen. I then had to use msconfig to disable the Intel GMA software from starting up and changing my settings each time the system was rebooted, so now the setting is remembered (if you go into the Intel settings again though, it takes over and you have to run the calibration program again).

I usually try and remove all the pre-installed software from store-bought machines, but HP seems to have improved their lineup with some useful tools so I decided to keep most of them.

All in all, a good machine, and would buy again.