Reviews by JonesMike

JonesMike says "A great machine" about Apple iMac 24" Desktop Computer

JonesMike — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:50:10 GMT

The iMac was first considered as an option for me when I realized how costly the more powerful Mac Pro towers are. Of course the Mac Pros are working with much greater components and are monstrous computers but the price is still quite high for a user who is not completely invested in their computer for their work. The iMac offered a cost effective alternative to my problem and I am very happy with the way it worked out.

People still are impressed or maybe even skeptical about how the iMac contains the entire computer in what seems to be the monitor. But think about it this way, a laptop, and very powerful ones at that are able to pack an huge amount of processing power into a small laptop body so why is it so suprising for the iMac? This fact makes the iMac a very easy to move machine that I am not afraid to use onsite for any work since all I have to do is have a desk and a power outlet to bring the whole thing with me. Also, the iMacs have grown greatly as time has passed and now are...

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JonesMike says "this is a great machine" about Apple MacBook Pro 15"

JonesMike — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:53:49 GMT

The new Macbook Pro series of laptops are a great addition to the Apple lineup of powerful and well rounded computers. I have specific experience with the 2.53 GHz processor and 4GB RAM model of the 15 inch series. This is a great machine that has power and great design. This is my first step into using the Leopard operating system and I must say that I am impressed. I was not sure that a change from Tiger would be that different perfomace wise and was afraid that the changes in the operation and the look would be jarring (ie the kind of change that went on from Windows XP to Windows Vista for me). Leopard is sleek and fresh while maintaining a level of familiarity to Tiger so I am not left scratching my head wondering how to perform an old task in a new way. Aside from the new operating system, the new upgraded power of the machine is great. The fast 2.53 GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM really make this computer zoom. Great for pro level applications as well as just browsing the internet....

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JonesMike says "great fun" about Nintendo - DS Console

JonesMike — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:59:59 GMT

My Nintendo DS reminds me how much fun I had when I would play my old school original Game Boy back when the screens were all yellow. Nintendo has a good idea of what makes up a simply fun and entertaining gaming product. While you will not see the more adult-themed titles like in the larger and more powerful systems, the DS focuses more on innovation on the level of experience. The Nintendo wi-fi system and linked game play is an awesome addition to their portable gaming system. My friends and I would play linked games of Mario Kart and have a blast. A great feature too is the "download play" feature where you can play a game with a friend without even owning the cartridge. This in my mind is a great gesture on the part of Nintendo, allowing users the ability to easily create a gaming experience that is truly unique. Of course there are many great titles for the DS - some of my favorites being Pokemon Diamond and of course Mario Kart. Go grab one and you will be sure to have tons of fun....

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JonesMike says "The best of the next generation" about Sony - PlayStation 3 80GB

JonesMike — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:52:01 GMT

I bought my Playstation 3 a little bit over a year ago and have been having a great time with it ever since. I always had fun playing the great titles of the Playstation 2 like the God of War Series and the Metal Gear Solid series. I just never really felt like I needed to make the switch to the next level with the Playstation 3 until they came out with Metal Gear Solid Four. This indicated to me that the next level of greats was coming out for the newer system and I thought that it was time to upgrade. Not only does the console have great games and a huge upgrade on graphics, but Sony has made sure to make their hardware update relevant in today's world. The inclusion of a Blu Ray disc player was a great addition and also a main selling point for me. Now I get to watch my favorite films in upgraded HD without buying a standalone Blu Ray player (that possibly could have cost well over half the price tag of the Playstation 3). The combination of the games, graphics, internet connectivity...

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JonesMike says "great casual use camera" about Canon PowerShot A560 Digital Camera

JonesMike — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:34:26 GMT

I bought this camera for my girlfriend as a gift since she was always borrowing my digital camera and didn't have one of her own yet. I was looking for something easy to use but something that would produce good results. I knew Canon was usually a reliable brand and began looking at reviews for the Powershot series. I found a great deal on the A560 and decided to purchase it. It features a large, bright LCD display that works great for point and shoot use. I was also impressed with Canon's advancement of the controls as far as the buttons on the back of the camera are concerned. The controls are smooth and straightforward, even for a beginning user. Another small thing that I found interesting about the camera is its ability to switch the viewing angle when you are playing back your photos. Depending on which way you are holding your camera (either horizontally or vertically) the display flips the picture to allow for optimum viewing. Just a cool plus, but of course not a deal breaker....

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JonesMike says "kanye fell off" about Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreak

JonesMike — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:23:03 GMT

I've been a fan of Kanye for awhile and one of the things that kept him relevant in my mind was his mainstream accessibility while maintaining artistic integrity. From his unique sampling catalog in his extensive list of beats to his witty lyricism that the mainstream hip hop world hugely lacks at this point in time, I felt that the music he made was something worth listening to.

Now, fast forward to the pop music world dominated by guest appearances of T-Pain on every single R&B and "hip-hop" track that MTV puts on and it is plain to anyone that Kanye's use of the played out vocoder on 808s and Heartbreak is a step backward in his creative ascent. I've read articles where he said "he wanted to do something new" proclaiming that he made hip hop albums already with College Dropout through Graduation. It's one thing to try something new, but when a hip hop super producer as well as recognized MC goes the way of using a voice modulator popularized by a guy who made songs like "I'm in Love...

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JonesMike says "This is not hip-hop" about Lil Wayne - Lollipop single

JonesMike — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:22:00 GMT

First off, does no one remember back in the day when Lil' Wayne was just a guest star on Juvenile's song "Back that Azz Up?" I feel like those who are down with Tha Carter III and all this new wave of auto-tune "hip-hop" don't remember that his "skill" was laughable at best ten years ago and still isn't fresh now. Robot voice is not fresh, it's not new, and it does not represent what I call talent. If you are one of those who doesn't necessarily listen to lyrical content, I don't mean to offend you, but this song is straight up garbage.

When I see what is "hot" on MTV it saddens me that what is conveyed as hip hop music is stuff like Lil' Wayne, OJ da Juiceman and Rick Ross. There are artists with integrity out there who will never get the recognition they deserve while these other guys make it to the top of our society's ranks of "pop culture." So, if you really do just want to party in a club to a vapid "club-banger" then Lollipop is good for you. For those who want to find some music...

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JonesMike says "Fun at first, but gets old " about Star Wars - Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

JonesMike — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:02:55 GMT

I got this game after seeing the crazy looks ads for The Force Unleased where it appears that you can force push anything or hit any enemy with force lightning and just wreak general havoc in the Star Wars world. And, sure enough, when I started playing that's exactly what I was able to do. Sure, it was fun for a little while but the button mashing combos with the Apprentice's lightsaber got a bit repetitious for me after awhile.

I am a big fan of the original Star Wars series and I can say that the story of the game was OK for a game that is one of the many offshoots of the franchise. You get to explore a story arch that is not mentioned in the series and fight your way through up until the ending. One thing that I did find interesting was the God of War style finishing moves that you could perform on certain enemies like the bull rancor or AT-ST. This game is alright overall, but I really value a game that makes me want to keep playing it even after the story is over. The Force Unleashed...

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JonesMike says "one amazing show" about Planet Earth

JonesMike — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:59:59 GMT

I watched Planet Earth back when it first aired on Discovery Channel a couple years ago and I am still watching reruns whenever it comes back on Animal Planet. This is one of the great endeavours of nature filmmaking that will be a touchstone for things to come in the future. The footage is top notch and if you are lucky enough to view this masterpiece on a high definition television then you are in for a huge treat.

Not only is this series awe inspiring but it is thought inspiring. It makes you stop and realize how vast our natural world is from the great whales to the smallest and heartiest organisms that live near the deep sea vents. What I enjoyed about the series was that after showing us all the great footage of nature the closing episode spoke of conservation and how important it is for humans to realize we are a part of nature no matter how advanced our civilizations may become. We are still inhabitants of this earth along with the millions of other species. If you can, pick this...

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JonesMike says "A new brand of survival horror" about Playstation 3 - Dead Space

JonesMike — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:52:42 GMT

I got my copy of Dead Space for PS3 about a month ago for a trade in. Now everyone can get this game for a steal since its price was dropped to around 30 bucks at most retailers. I highly suggest picking up this game if you are a survival horror or general action game fan. Dead Space is an original take on the genre that echoes sci-fi horror films like Alien, Event Horizon and others.

In the game you play the character of Isaac Clark and must go on a repair mission to a mining ship that has been infested with an alien scourge that turns the dead crew into hideous monsters that Isaac must battle. Be warned, this game keeps you on the edge of your seat and the superb sound design seals the deal. When I play at night with all the lights off and the surround system turned up the creaks and groans of the mining ship keep you constantly on edge until another beast runs up on you to dismember your body. This is a must play for PS3 owners, you won't regret it.

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JonesMike says "Solid Snake Returns...'nuff said!" about Konami - PS3 - Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots

JonesMike — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:09:59 GMT

Metal Gear Solid 4 is the latest installment of the Metal Gear series and does not fail to deliver to both long time fans as well as new comers to the series. The graphis are top notch with the processing power of the next generation platform of the Playstation 3 and takes Solid Snake to a whole new level. The game is everything I loved about Metal Gear Solid from the original Playstation without the weird side notes and murky story of Metal Gear Solid 2 on Playstation 2. You play as fan favorite Solid Snake and continue on where the past games left off with Snake delving deeper into his past and his relationship with Big Boss. The character controls are smooth and not clumsy and a great new feature is the customization process of both weapons and camoflauge. Not to mention the added bonus of Metal Gear online that is included with the game! You get all this plus a complex, challenging and engaging game story arch which will leave gamers enthralled for hours.

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JonesMike says "One of the PS2's all time greats " about Playstation 2 - God Of War

JonesMike — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:45:51 GMT

I got God of War when it went to the Playstation Greatest Hits Collection for a bargain price of around 20 dollars. That was probably the best 20 dollars I ended up spending on my PS2 video games. God of War has it all. I heard a lot of hype about it when it came out and when it was in development but when I played it for the first time I really understood what all the talk was about. The game is epic in its treatment of both story, character development and level layout. I am a huge fan of mythology in general and this game's unique and creative treatment to the subject matter of old mythology was awesome. From fighting the Cerebus to defeating Ares himself at the final level, God of War truly puts the gamer behind the controls of what feels like rewriting the ancient myths. The gameplay is brutal and definitely not for the faint of heart, but it is of course not just a blood and gore button masher. There are puzzles abound and tests of dexterity woven beatifully within the story of the...

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JonesMike says "The professional's choice" about Canon - EOS-5D Body Only Digital Camera

JonesMike — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:33:59 GMT

The Canon 5D is a great camera. I have been a avid fan of photography for years and have been increasing my caliber of digital cameras as time has gone on. The 5D is a far leap from my first point and shoot digital cameras from years ago. The image quality is amazing as well as the new HD video shooting option. The video is crisp and clear with fairly good color attention. While I did notice a bit of color noise in the video, it is a small setback for having HD video recording capabilities in this already powerful camera. The main thing that really catches my attention is its ability to manipulate the focus range - just as with still photos, the SLRs capability to alter focal length and thus range of focus you can really see the effects of this with the video feature. When you see what is capable of you can compare the focus effects to an awesome rack focus seen in much higher budget productions using film cameras. All this said, the 5D handles itself beatifully with its image control and...

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