Reviews by NYCReviewer

NYCReviewer says "They Did EVERYTHING Right" about Bugaboo Cameleon Standard Stroller

NYCReviewer — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:55:07 GMT

They really thought long and hard about the Bugaboo Cameleon...and they got EVERYTHING right.

First and foremost is the cradle seat. Unlike any other stroller I know of, it keeps its cradle shape no matter which of the six positions the seat is in (forward or rear facing; flat, mid, or upright). When we wer shopping for our stroller, I consulted with orthopedics, chiropractors, and pedatricians. All agreed that that the cradle position was best for the child.

Secondly: The seat can be either forward facing or rear facing. Our daugter is nearly four and we have always left it rear facing so that we could see each other and communicate as we move around the city.

Third: This is not a stroller that is easy to outgrow. Our four year daughter is well over 50% on the growth charts and still fits comfortably into the Bugagoo Cameleon.

Fourth: The handle is easily adjustable, this allowing customization for both tall and short(er) people. This makes the stroller far easier to...

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NYCReviewer says "Good, Not Great" about John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

NYCReviewer — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:09:58 GMT

JFK is one of the nation's oldest airport and its design shows. There are eight terminls, arrnaged in a circle. Except for Terminals 2 and 3 (both Delta), each terminal is a complete stand alone faciltiy...connected by either the airtrain or a shuttle bus. All inter-terminal connections are outside security. While this might sound like a pain, it only affects travelers who are changing airlines while connecting tbetween a domestic and an international flight on non-US airlines. For those flying American and Delta, your connections will be in the same terminal, so its very easy.

The new American Airlines Terminal (Terminal 8) is wonderful and very user friendly. Terminal 1 (lots of international flights) is also rather new and very easy to use. Terminal 5 (formerly TWA now jetBlue) was recently rennovated and gets high marks from users. Terminal 4 was also rebuilt within the last decade and is far superior to the old terminal.

For those who live in the New York area, it...

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NYCReviewer says "The safe way to fly with a lap child" about Baby B'Air Baby B'Air

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:45:23 GMT

If you are going to fly with a lapchild, the Baby B'Air (www.Babybair.Com) is a must. While it can not replace an FAA approved car seat for safety, it provides the next best thing.

This vest (which comes in two sizes) attaches your infant/toddler child to your seatbelt, thus preventing them from becoming a missile if rough air is enountered during flight, In short, it could literally safe your child's life.

With the larger vest, the attaching strap can be lengthened enough to allow your child to stand between your legs during flight.

A note of warning: While the Baby B'Air is approved for inflight use by the FAA, it is not approved for take-off and landing (in fact, no devise, other than a car seat, is approved by the FAA for take-off and landing). However, the regulations may be chaning so check the Baby B'Air website before travel for the latest update.

I am, in no way, connected to the manufacturers or sellers of this product. I am simply a concerned parent to believes that we,...

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NYCReviewer says "Good, but I think that most people here hype it too much" about Huggies Baby Wash with Shea Butter

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:19:28 GMT

Is Huggies Baby Wash with Shea Butter a good, quality product? Yes, absolutely.

Do I think that most of the other reviewers are over hyping it? Yes, absolutely.

To me, the best thing about Huggies Baby Wash with Shea Butter is the bottle itself. Its designed to easy holding and easy dispersing. If as much thought at gone into the product as went into the bottle, this would be really special product, rather than simply an average one.

Given my choice I would use Johnsons Body Wash since I can use the Johnson's product for both body and hair, something I can not do with Huggies Baby Wash with Shea Butter.

Don't get me wrong, there is clearly a place for Huggies Baby Wash with Shea Butter, as evidence by the glowing reviews from so many others. But, how this is better than other products escapes me.

Thus, in my opinion, this is less of a product than meets the eye and less of a product than others claim.

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NYCReviewer says "Uneven stores, uneven staff" about Babies-R-Us

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:57:53 GMT

I know that it should not, but it does. Babies 'R Us annoys me to no end. Sometimes the priceing (as with Pampers Wipes) can be great; othertimes they are really high.

The same thing goes with the staff. Some are wonderful and knowledgeable; others have no idea what they are talking about. Some ware very helpful, others are indifferent (at best)...and this is not only between stores but within the same store. One example: I was looking for the new BPA free Gerber bottles. My wife specifically asked me to get the tinted ones not the clear ones (don't know why, but she did). One clerk claimed that tinted did not exist (yet I could see them on the shelf, but not from Gerber); another said that they existed but where not Gerber (which at least validated what I could see) while a third clerk said that they did exist but that this particular store did not carry them. Other stores might or I could get them on-line (which was true).

Carpe Diem really holds true here. If you...

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NYCReviewer says "Hype and more Hype" about Huggies Pull Ups Cool Alert Training Pants

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:32:18 GMT

If they actually get cool when they get wet, my daughter either does not notice it or does not care (I have no idea which), But, in either case, they have not helped her potty train. They have, however, kept things clean and tidy since they are very good at holding wetness and dirtiness (which, in and of itself, is worth quite a bit).

My daughter loves the fact that she is no longer in Diapers, but she now sees no reason to move from pull-ups to undies. These Huggies have made her very comfortable with what she has (FYI: She uses the Huggies nighttimes for bed).

I'm also not convinced that she can remove them any eaiser than a diaper...in fact, I find them harder to open/close than the Pampers Diapers that we were using....and they are far more expensive too.

Having said all this, my wife (for reasons unknown) does prefer them to the Pampers Pull-ups.

In sum, I see the cool-alerts as a mixed bag

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NYCReviewer says "Delay is almost inevitable" about O'Hare Airport - multiple airlines

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:15:15 GMT

Expect to be delayed at O'Hare. That way if things work out, you'll be pleasantly surprised. However, on-time is the exception rather than the rule. However, if you are delayed arriving, your connecting flight is probably equally delayed departing (the smaller the plane the more likely -- and longer -- the delay).

As a frequent international traveler, my biggest gripe is International arrivals. Baggage claim can take forever (I've missed connections that I should easily have made) and, if you arrive at just the right (wrong!!!) time, it can take quite a while to get through immigration. Then, of course, you have to transfer outside to the monorail to get to your ongoing flight. A real pain. I'll take JFK or DFW over ORD anyday (unfortunately, I often don't have that option)

For those of us who fly American Airlines (AA), the Admirals Clubs are nice and the staff there can be most accomodating, Since this is one of AA's two main hubs, the airport is set-up to make things...

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NYCReviewer says "Uneven but acceptable" about Delta Airlines

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:54:40 GMT

I recently few Delta for the first time in over four years (I'm a dedicated AA flyer). On the outbound trip I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. The plane was comfortable enough (hey, it's still coach), the cabin crew efficient but helpful. The ground crew was not nearly as helpful or pleasant, which made the cabin crew look all the better for it.

On the way back, I found the flight much less enjoyable (maybe because I was stuck in almost the last row) and the cabin crew did not do anything to make the flight more pleasant/enjoyable.

I HATE the baggage charges. Some people will say that we should bring less and carry it on...tell that to an almost 3 year old. You simply need supplies and extras.

Delta has four different variations on their 757, so be very careful when booking your seat to know which version you will be having. What can be a great seat on one configuration can be deadly on another.

One real positive: Due to weather, we needed to change our return. ...

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NYCReviewer says "Well priced laptop" about Lenovo Idea Pad

NYCReviewer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:29:17 GMT

After a terrible exprience with Dell, I ended up buying a Lenovo Ideapad. We have had the unit four months and I'm relatively pleased with it.

We have had some problems with individual letters on the keyboard not working properly (at times) but other than that it has stood up well. The monitor is fine and the sound quality is good (we Skype regularly). If (when using YouTube for example) the original video quality is not great, the defiicencies really come through on this computer.

The eye scan security + password is good, but it certainly does slow down log-in.

The wireless has good range but sometimes drops the signal (not sure if the problem is the router or the laptop).

One important note (and this is not specific to Lenovo at all). Symantec Corporate does not work with Vista so if you plan to use your corporate anti-virus on this (or any Vista computer) think again.

The best thing, though, was the price. It was a few hundred dollars cheaper than the comperable Dell and...

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NYCReviewer says "Keep Your Child Safe on an Airplane" about AmSafe Aviation Cares -- Kids Fly Safe

NYCReviewer — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 02:47:13 GMT

The CARES system is the only system I know of for keeping a toddler/pre-school child safely secured in his/her own seat.

The system, which weighs only a pound, goes over the seat and then the child's head, It attaches to the regular adult seatbelt and securely keeps your child in his/her own seat. It does not get in their way, and our daughter sleeps soundly in it (we travel extensively, mostly internatioanlly),

We first learned of this system with the head of American Airlines devoted a column to it in January 2007. We purchased ours shortly thereafter and are quite happy with it. We've lent it out to several friends, who also love it (they only have to use ours once before they buy their own).

My only criticism of the product is that it does not have a 5th point coming up through the legs. This means that a younger child can slip down in the system (we counter that by placing a blanket under her knees).

I'm not one to tout products, but child safety is very imporant to me. ...

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NYCReviewer says "Heavy to carry, but great piece of mind" about Britax Boulevard

NYCReviewer — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:06:50 GMT

The Britex Boulevard car seat is their top of the line (or at least it was when we bought it two years ago). It weighs a ton, is bulky beyond belief to carry, but the piece of mind that it affords is priceless (and at $300 it hits your wallet hard too).

One very nice feature is the adjustable head rest that ensures that, as my daughter grows, her head will still be properly protected.

It took a bit of work to figure out how to install it....now having done it many, many times, I can do it in less than 2 minutes.

The true test is that my daughter loves to sit in her car seat...even if its just on her bedroom floor.

Within the next year we will need two more car seats...unless something safer has come out, they will both be Britex Boulevards

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NYCReviewer says "Works Well, Smallish Freezer" about GE Profile PFCS1NFWSS

NYCReviewer — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:05:15 GMT

Given the size of the unit, the freezer is surprisingly small. Having said that, the fridge part of the unit certainly holds a lot. The sliding shelf allows for oversized items (tall stew pot, for example),

One word of caution. The right door does not close easily. You need to give it an extra push to make sure that it closes completely (the left door does NOT have a similar problem)

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NYCReviewer says "No complaints here" about GE Profile Microwave

NYCReviewer — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:04:39 GMT

We have had this unit for about 5 months and I have no complaints with it. Granted, my wife is the primary user, but if she had a problem with it I'd have known VERY quickly.

The unit functions well. When it activates, a vent opens from the top....nice touch. It also looks sharp, which is another bonus.

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NYCReviewer says "Lousy Company...Useless Customer Service" about Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop

NYCReviewer — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:58:41 GMT

This is the most popular Dell model. When I ordered the computer, Dell told me that it would be three weeks before they could ship it. Comes the due date and they inform me that it will be another four weeks before they can ship. Had they told me that it would be over two months from the time I ordered until the time I receivd my computer, I would have gone elsewhere. But, they've got me so far into the process (and shipped me some peripherals) so I have no other option but to wait for them.

I called customer service to find out what they could do for me. In short -- NOTHING. They really did not care one iota and refused to do anything to either try and expidite my order, or compensate me for the excessive delay.

This the LAST time that I will ever use Dell...and I am going to make sure that EVERYONE knows what a lousy company they are

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NYCReviewer says "Good Back-Up Card" about Citi - AAdvantage Bronze Mastercard

NYCReviewer — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:13:34 GMT

This is a great back-up card. On the plus side there is no annual fee; on the negative side it only earns 1 mile for each $2 spent. However, since it costs nothing to carry, its provides a useful benefit and piece of mind...

NYCReviewer says "I love this card" about Citi - AAdvantage American Express

NYCReviewer — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:10:28 GMT

I love this card. Finally, for the first time, I can have an Amex that gives me AA miles. And the large enrollment bonus was a great extra....

NYCReviewer says "Mixed Experience" about ProFlowers.com

NYCReviewer — Mon, 19 May 2008 02:10:52 GMT

We placed two orders the same day. Delivery was fine in both cas.es. While one order was fine, the flowers in the other order were all dead within 48 hours.

We called Customer Service. They were very apologetic and offered to send our new set of flowers. That as not a viabe option so the refunded the money (not ideal since the objective was a nice bunch of flowers). Their prompt and easy response was greatly appreciated.

I am not sure if i will use them again, but their good customer service makes me think that they deserve another chance.

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NYCReviewer says "Expensive...but aren't they all?" about Time Warner Cable - Company

NYCReviewer — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:49:31 GMT

Time Warner is a classic monopoly. Acceptable service and range of products, but very expensive for what they offer...

NYCReviewer says "An average rental...and that's OK with me" about National Car Rental

NYCReviewer — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:43:25 GMT

I've rented from National on many occasions. I've always found them to be fine (I like the fact that they treat all of Manhattan as a single location....so that I can pick-up near my work and drop off near home).

My only criticism is that they sometimes don't have the car that I've reserved. While they've always upgraded me, sometimes I end up with a much larger car than I need (and in this age of high gas prices, that can be expensive)

April 2009 Update: I still rent from National, but am going to have to reconsider. I just received a notice from them regarding a red-light trap that I received a citation for. They infomed me that they had paid the citation and were charging me an extra $25 as an administrative fee. By their actions, they have prevented me from challenging the ticket, which I could easily have done. (I, along with others) was directed through the light by a traffic agent (who is visible in the photo).

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NYCReviewer says ""We try Harder" is not just a slogan" about Avis

NYCReviewer — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 19:38:56 GMT

Avis has become my new first choice...especially outside of New York (unfortunately, I can not earn miles on NYC rentals, which makes them less than ideal).

As a preferred member, when I rent at an airport, my car is waiting for me, with the trunk open, tank full, and ready to go. They drop me right at the car, undercover, and I'm ready to go. That is as good as you are going to get.

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