Reviews by Saxguy

Saxguy says "Very functional so far" about Epson Stylus NX 515

Saxguy — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:54:12 GMT

When my Canon Pixma IP4300 blew a printer head, it was clear that I needed a replacement.

I was looking for an all-in-one so that I could replace the scanner and the printer with just the printer. I was looking for decent scanner/copy quality and excellent print quality, as I do business cards and flyers to support my music business.

I checked product reviews online and went into a local BestBuy to compare this, the EPSON FX515 all in one printer, and a couple of other printers and this seemed best. I paid $130 with a 2 year serice agreement.

So far, it's done what I have wanted pretty well:

*The output, whether blank and white or color looks great on high quality paper

*Envelopes print easily and well, the Canon didn't.

*the printer is noticeable faster than my Canon was

*scans and copies are fast, too and up to 20 pages can be copied by using an automatic document feeder.

*I have more space on my desk because one unit replaced two (scanner and printer)_

There are cons, too:

*The...

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Saxguy says "not all that great except for the recycled cartridge policy" about Staples

Saxguy — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 18:51:35 GMT

Thanks to the recent closing of a couple of Office Depot stores near me, Staples is the only large office supply store nearby. The store near me has a nice selection of office supply items, at less than full retail price. However, their prices are not competitive.

I have found that Office Depot's prices are a little less that Staples on the iterms I use - pencils, pens, storage, paper. Plus, Office Depot usually has online coupons available for purchases of $50 or more and Staples does not.

Where Staples really shines, though, is their rewards plan and specifically their rewards for recycled cartridges. For the last several months, Staples will provide $3 in reward cash for ink cartridges recycled at the store. Any brans qualifies. This is great for me, as the Canon Pixma IP4300 I use takes 5 ink cartridges and consumes them heavily.

Rewards accumulate and a coupon is sent in the mail quarterly. The coupon can be used on any items in the store. Even better, sales tax is not charged on items...

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Saxguy says "I ALWAYS know what time it is" about Casio Gwm56001v Gshock Watch for Men

Saxguy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:37:47 GMT

Once I found out that there were watches that could calibrate their time daily, I decided to check this out. I found this unit, the Casio GWM5600V1, on Amazon for under $100.

The watch calibrates itself by signal daily with a transmitter located in Colorado. So, it is never more than a split-second off from the actual time. I was looking for a watch where I would never have to set it. The Casio GWM5600V1 hasn't needed setting and I have the confidence of knowing the time is always accurate.

The watch is also green in that it is solar powered. There is an indicator on the face as to whether the charge level is low, medium or high. During the summer, it stays hig from my time in the sun. During fall and spring, or even winter, I will place it in the sun for an hour or so to charge. It can also get recharge from artificial light, but that takes longer.

The black metal band was comfortable for me and looks great, as does the face which has black trim with orange accents. It also has lighting...

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Saxguy says "Yeah, there are flaws, but it's still very good for me" about Epinions

Saxguy — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:14:38 GMT

I've been a writer at Epinions for over 9 years. Yes, the site has its flaws, however, I like it and I will continue to write there.

I enjoy the earnings potential inherent in writing a hot review. I've had a few reviews (over a long time) generate more than $100 cumulatively, and others well into double digits, generally in electronics, computer hardware or computer software.

I also enjoy reviewing saxophones, clarinets and supplies, as I do at Viewpoints. I had originally been attracted to VP because band instruments and supplies were not reviewable at Epinions, something I disliked until they corrected it. I also think their financial resources have improved, as they were acquired by Ebay a few years back.

That having been said, people are clique-ish over there, and there are members who use their influence in a mean or arbitrary way. Still the Lead people in the two categories I have status in, musical equipment and sports and outdoors, are very nice, accessible and helpful.

The computer...

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Saxguy says "Can be very useful for additional discounts" about ebates.com

Saxguy — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:12:31 GMT

I've used Ebates.com for some time as a way of wringing additional discounts out of some online purchases.

The way the site works is that you go to the Ebates web site, click upon the vendor name that you want to use and then Ebates opens up and reports a traffic ticket number and then links yopu through to the site you want to purchse from. Buyer makes the purchase and then the money gets credited to your account. The money is paid out quarterly and you can choose check or paypal. I am now using Paypal.

If I want to buy someh=thing from an online vendor other than Ebay, I go around and find the best prices for the item and then check if the vendor is listed on Ebates. Several vendors I use regualrly are, including

Ebay 2%

Buy.com 1%

Active Musician 2.5%

Barnes and Noble (usually 4%, temporarily at 8%)

Half.com 4%

Musician's Friend 3%

Petco 6%

and many others.

Most recently, I have been using Ebates.com for buy-it-now items on Ebay, earning 2%. The one drawback with Ebay is that you...

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Saxguy says "1% cash back adds up" about Chase - Freedom Rewards

Saxguy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 17:14:45 GMT

We have been using the Chase Freedom Rewards Card for several years now. The Card is issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank, where we have our bank account.

The Chase Freedom Rewards Card offers typical credit card features and some not so typical features including:

*Visa branding

* no annual fee

* no interest if the balance is paid in full

*online access to statements. The statements are easy to read.

*card can be paid online

*1% cash back on everything; 3% cash back on purchases in the 3 highest categories

*Rewards cash can be received by check anytime

*If rewards cash accumulates to $200, they will add a $50 bonus when you withdraw it.

This has been the card we use for groceries and most necessary purchases. I have also used the Chase Freedom Rewards Card for larger purchases, such as musical instruments, furniture, appliances and auto repairs.

I do recommend that people do not charge more than they need to. Keeping balances on credit cards in general is not a good idea,...

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Saxguy says "weak coffee" about GE Digital Coffee Maker Model Number: 169164

Saxguy — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:55:01 GMT

When our Braun KF 420, for which we had paid $20 died, we had to replace. My wife and I both need good coffee in the morning. We look for good, strong coffee and use freshkly ground Starbucks beans.

We looked at some of the Cuisinart units at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but those looked complicated and expensive. So, off to Wal-Mart we went and immediately saw this unit, GE Digital Coffee Maker Model Number: 169164, for under $30.

We were looking for at least a 10-cup coffeemaker. This has 12, defined by manufacturers as 5oz. cups. Well, for a coffee drinker those are shot glasses. We were also looking for a unit with a permanent filter, because of lower operating cost and mess. It seemed like is was easy to use and GE has a good general brand reputation so we bought it. Other accesories included a scoop and a charcoal filter for the water, which has a $9.95 replacement cost. We figured that the filter was not needed as we use bottled water for coffee.

We followed the instructions...

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Saxguy says "The finishing touch on my birthday celebration" about New Holland Brewery Dragon's Milk

Saxguy — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:35:02 GMT

Yesterday, my wife and I were doing our usual weekly shopping at Whole Paycheck (err. Whole Foods). We were cycling through the usual tasting. I told Mrs. Saxguy that I wanted to share a large bottle of some great beer as part of my birthday celebratin, and she was game.

I enjoy the syrupy stouts with the high abv (alcohol by volume) and I was hoping I could find one that was oak-aged at a moderate price. Oak again add a bourbon flavor to the taste. While there are bourbon-flavored beers, many are really expensive.

So, when the Whole Foods beer person recommended Dragon's Milk from the New Holland Brewing Co., this, I was intrigued. It was $8.99 for a 22 oz bottle and was from the (nearly) local New Holland, MI.

At home, we decided to enjoy this as an after-dinner drink, even though it isn't quite as sweet as the Belgian Ales that I enjoy and she doesn't. She also dislikes the very bitter India Pale Ale tyoes.

This poured dark brown, nearly black. There was a nice head,...

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Saxguy says "Seemed like it was tougher to use this year" about TurboTax Home & Business Software for PC

Saxguy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:15:40 GMT

I’ve been using turbo tax products to do my personal tax returns and selected family members for many years. I’ve generally liked the products. While expensive, they traditionally have been easily navigable, easy to use in terms of inputting electronically available online financial data, and they were consistent and practical.

This year, I did Federal and Illinois tax returns for my Father-in-law (retired with a pension, some annuities and property taxes) and my son (wage income). These proceeded without mishap.

For the last few years, my tax returns have become increasingly complex as I have added a schedule C (profit or loss from business) sole proprietorship for my music teaching and performing business and done some IRA conversion transactions from regular to Roth. So, I have been using the Turbo Tax Home and Business 2008 product,...

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Saxguy says "Excellent one-stop source for manuafacturing CDs" about discmakers.com

Saxguy — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 18:07:13 GMT

I've used Discmakers as the manufacturer for both of my CD Manufacturing projects.

They can be found online at www.discmakers.com. They also have local offices, although I dealt directly with their headquarters in New Jersey.

While there are plenty of CD duplicators, the allure of Discmakers is as a one-stop shop. They tie in so many of the extra services that a musicians needs. With the smaller manufacturers, some of these extra services are. well extra.

I manufactured 1000 CDs with color 4 panel jewel cases for 99 cents each on a recession fighter special where they commit to ship within 15 to 20 business days. They made that commitment, and their build quality was excellent. For that price, a bar code and soundscan (the electronic service that tracks sales) was included, as was shrink wrap.

Shipping was $180

That price was based on my supplying a design that was ready to be manufactured and a master CD that was ready to be manufactures.

I paid an extra $49 for th mega bundle that inclluded:......

Saxguy says "Works well but a bit pricey" about Real Health Laboratories The Prostate Formula

Saxguy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:01:21 GMT

A few months ago, I was having trouble urinating. I would get up two and three times overnight to urinate. During the day, there were times when I would feel the need to urinate, not much would come out and then I’d be back in the rest room half an hour later with the same situation. This is typical for men who are over 50, as I am, but it was still cause for concern. The fear, of course, is prostate cancer and I’m pretty attuned to that as my father in law is currently suffering from that illness.

So, I saw my primary care physician for my annual physical and mentioned it as a concern. He conducted the tests, diadnosed an enlarged prostate but no cancer, and prescribed Flomax.

Flomax improved my flow but I was feeling strange. Then one night, I woke up at 3 feeling flushed and very faint and spent a while sitting in the bathroom next to the toilet waiting for the feeling to pass. Mrs. Saxguy told me later that what I experienced was the same thing as one of her hot flashes....

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Saxguy says "A great alternative for independent musicians to create buzz" about Music Submit.com

Saxguy — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 06:24:38 GMT

I have used MusicSubmit.com on occasion to promote my CDs. They are a service where they maintain opt in contacts in your musical genre and submit your information to them. The typical rate is $100 for 400 contacts, although they do sales. I've purchased 250 for $34.95.

The musician upload a picture, up to 4 MP3 musical cuts, biographical information, a press release, pictures and a video. Musicsubmit then sends it to that number of contacts in your genre and tracks your acceptance. The contacts include reviewers, online music sites, netradio staios, radio stations and others.

On it's face, there are a lot of negatives:

1. it can be a passive strategy. My acceptance rates have been well less than 10%
2. Somce acceptance contacts are not worth accepting. One example is netradio stations that require artists to sign away royalty rights on music submitted.
3. There are typically 3 - 5% dead links out of every submission.

However, these cons are really rather minor, if the musician wants to......

Saxguy says "There is no need to Chase after any other primary bank" about JP Morgan Chase - Chicago, IL

Saxguy — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:48:35 GMT

Chase has been my primary bank for many years. I have a free checking account, with direct deposit. Online banking, including online bill pay, is free.

I have my main checking account and a couple of credit cards, along with a safe deposit box. I use online bill pay.

I'm especially delighted with their new atms. I can deposit checks without an envelope and the images print right on the receipt. This makes accounting for my music business much easier, as my students' families pay by check. I don't even have to prepare the deposits. All I have to do is feed the checks into the ATM and verify the deposit amount. It even lets me enter the amount if a check is not readible. There is a real convenience factor with the ATMs, as Chase has more ATMs in the Chicago area than any other bank .

Online bill pay works great. I can set up a vendor using and address, for single or recurring pay. Major vendors can be paid electronically, with a 1-day lag, other vendors get a check inusually a week. I'm not......

Saxguy says "The provably best inventory accuracy for what we needed" about Sears.com

Saxguy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:55:58 GMT

When the flooding rains hit Northern Illinois about a month ago, we had a problem.

We've had our basement flood out many times over the years an spent a lot of money trying to mitgate it, including overhead sewers, a couple of sump pumps, sealing foundation cracks and, most recently, replacement of window weels.

That rain was the worst I've seen in over 20 years of homewonership in terms of amount of water. It was higher outside than I had ever seen it.

Inside, the window wells did a good job, we were getting some seepage but it was fairly manageable. Still, there was a growning puddle and mopping it up wasn't very fast nor particularly effective.

So, I worked the PC and my wife worked the phone to try to locate a wet/dry vac. Menards was out and had a scheduled delivery but would not hold anything. Nor did they allow online orders. . A Lowes locaiton about 10 miles away had stock but they wouldn't hold it. They said the only way to hold it was order online. Well, that store had no online inventory......

Saxguy says "Great tools for the independent artist" about reverbnation.com

Saxguy — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:29:29 GMT

I discovered Reverbnation.com several weeks ago. It's one of may sites competing to serve the independent musical artist.

I first heard about them as they had a link relationship with Facebook, where I maintain an artist site (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=569908746). I was looking for a way to get music on my profile page. Ilike is such a service but I was having trouble getting my songs on Ilike to display the way I wanted on my profile place. Plus, I like links with garageband, so I cannot now post the cuts I want directly.

So, I checked out reverbnation, hoping I might get a way to put my music on Facebook. I did get that, but a whole lot more.

Reverbnation had a number of different widgets, which an artist can use. One is a music player, another a video player, still another can provide a way for fans to sign up for an email list.

The widgets work, wonderfully well. I had originally taken samples off my band home page, www.jazzobsession.com, because they were captured by spiders......

Saxguy says "Great stand, outstanding value" about Bartoc Double Lip Music Stand

Saxguy — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:35:26 GMT

When my wood studio stand broke a few weeks ago, I decided to replace it. Immediately I was considering wood music stands because of the way they look. However, the stands I was looking at were fairly expensive and not all that adjustable. So, I started using my gig tand temporarily in the studio and looked for alternatives.

The features i was looking for were:
- sturdy'
- reasonably priced
- wide range of potential height
- rubber feet or wood feet with floor protectors
- wide, deep table (to hold thick music books, open)

This item seemed to have a nice combination of features and could be delivered for about $31. Another nice extra was that this had a double lip, so that I could put pencils and a small metronome in the lower tray It was also billed as portable, even if the table does not fold.

I ordered this item. It came and I put it together. I was happy with the build quality. I did need to tighted the fastening screws on the table a little bit, but that was no big deal.

This unit has great...

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Saxguy says "Great Dessert Beer" about Southern Tier Imperial Creme Brulee Stout

Saxguy — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:26:00 GMT

I have a love-hate relationship with Southern Tier Brewing's prodcuts. Several, such as Gemini, Unearthly, Big Red and Hoppe have been very, very good. Others, such as Raspberry Porter, Cherry Saison and Tripel have not been good.

However, I like stouts and high abv beers, so wehn I saw Southern Tier Imperial Creme Brulee Stout on the shelf at Whole Foods at $6.99 for a 22oz bomber bottle, I decided right away to check it out.

The label reported 10% abv and that this was made with vanilla beans and lactose sugar.

The nose was vanilla and caramel and sweetness really did smell like Creme Brulee.

This poured dark brown, almost black with a very thin head.

The mouthfeel was pretty thin for a stout, It would be a stretch to describe this as medium body. It was in between thin and medium bodied.

The taste was much like the nose - vanilla predominated, but there was a caramel sweetness as well and faint chocolate. There was almost no alcohol burn

I think this wouldn't paid very well with a meal because...

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Saxguy says "Not ready for prime time" about Borders.com

Saxguy — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:19:18 GMT

For years, Borders Books online presence had been serviced by Amazon.com. From my perspective, it had worked well. Obviously, from Borders' perspective, it hadn't, so they ended the affiliation.

I got a $5 coupon in the mail on Saturday for the NEW Borders.com, so I decided to check it out. Like the stores, they have 40% off on New York Times bestsellers. They also, like Amazon, provide free shipping on orders over $25. They also provide free shipping to stores on all items.

So, I checked them out for some music/cd books I was looking for.

The site was terrible.

The initial loading speed was adequate, but the speed in refreshing pages after searches was much too slow. Plus, there mere more than a few times when I clicked on an item for further details when it didn't load at all. I checked some other web sites at the time, including Amazon, and none of them were slow, only Borders.

It got to the point where I was looking up product details on Amazon for the stuff I was interested in at Borders.......

Saxguy says "Great source for independent music" about Garageband.com

Saxguy — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:50:25 GMT

Garageband.com is a site that features lots and lots of independent music. It's free.

I've used Garageband.com for my original recorded music to get comments on the songs, the mix, etc. I figure it's low-cost market research before I go into the studio to mix the music and to decide about what's on the CD.

Garageband only allows original (non-cover) music, so they don't get into the thorny copyright issues that other sites have. They have basically every genre imaginable.

There is a contest that rates current songs within each genre. Musicians can buy entries for $19.99 or earn entries by reviewing 15 pairs of songs. This is valuable for me as I can get reviews without paying for them on music before I commit to issuing a CD.

The top songs I've heard in each genre are solid professional musical efforts and are quite enjoyable.

I've gotten great comments on particular songs, how they are mixed, etc. For example, I put up two songs from my live recording on June 22. I thought one was better than......

Saxguy says "Another disappointment from Southern Tier" about Southern Tier Cherry Saison

Saxguy — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:18:44 GMT

I am really intrigued with brews from the craft brewer, Southern Tier Brewing of Lakewood, New York. A dizzying array of brands, some seasonal have been showing up in Chicago in liquor and grocery stores.

I've enjoyed several of theirs, including Hoppe, Gemini, IPA and Choklat Stout. Others have been disappointments including their Belgian-style product, Tripel, and their Raspberry Porter. Still, I am an optimist when it comes to beer. I like high abv beers and, usually, fruit beers, so when I saw this on the shelf at the local Whole Foods, I decided to check it out, paying $6.99 for a 22oz bomber bottle.

Southern Tier markets this as a cherry wheat beer. The abv is a little high for a wheat beer and a fruit beer. Of course, that doesn't bother me at all. The oak aging was also a plus, as I've enjoyed oak aging in sone shouts I've had.

Initially, I was surprised that there wasn't much cherry in the nose. I expected more. The prevailing aroma on the open was bread-like malt.

This poured gold,......