Reviews by missann1

missann1 says "Good Place for Start and Middle and Weight Loss" about Weight Watchers

missann1 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:46:51 GMT

Weight Watchers is a good place to start your weight loss plan. The group meetings can be encouraging while the weekly weigh-ins keep you accountable.

The plan is pretty simple because most foods are assigned points and you simply add the points you eat each day. They give you a booklet with lots of foods listed in the index. The internet may give even more information. You can also calculate points using a sliding scale based off calories, fiber, and fat grams.

You can deduct activity points for every twenty minutes of exercise. The program should work well at first if you follow the plan, unless you're just mildly overweight.

Daily point allowances are designated for varying weight ranges. Unfortunately, the lowest weight was 150 pounds which corresponded to 19 points per day. This really is not going to encourage weight loss for a 150-pound woman. So shorter people may have to calculate their own allowance.

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missann1 says "Great Tool - like magic!" about Sierra Wireless AirCard 595 - Verizon Livery

missann1 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:10:46 GMT

This aircard is a winner. I used this card for a year before getting a USB type. It sustained a signal in the backwoods, highway, and airports. It can't be knocked out of the socket and travels easily. I used it on an IBM computer. If there is an issue, first make sure the card is fully engaged.

These are pricey and as with most aircards, you have to be mindful of usage, unless you are grandfathered into the unlimited plans.

Setup was easy and quick with self-installation via a CD. The bars gave an indication of signal strength and there were a few times when low strength hampered internet connectivity. This would also affect logon as authentication would take longer or not happen for a time. But this was not a perpetual situation. Waiting a few minutes or moving a couple feet usually did the trick.

If you're in a dark room, the blue flashing line can get annoying, especially if you're watching videos.

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missann1 says "Excellent Value" about Compaq Presario CQ60

missann1 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:50:09 GMT

I wanted a new laptop since my other one was a heavy one I used in college and the CD player no longer worked reliably. Fortunately just when I wanted to purchase, Best Buy ran the best deal.

I've had no major problems with the CG60. It has a wide screen and glossy black finish. Looks great and fits in my current laptop bags.

One issue is that at times the number "1" will run on out of nowhere; the solution is to press any key for it to stop.

The speakers could be better, but the sound is great through the earphone jack. The screen go black momentarily when there is a system intrusion trying to access the computer, but this is by design.

I installed Windows Vista and the applications work fine. I'm pleased with the speed of everything. Battery life is definitely not the greatest - I'd say around two hours, if that.

One nuisance is the lack of distinct function sound buttons. You have to press <function> and designated keys on the number pad.

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missann1 says "Just OK" about LG - LG shine Cell Phone

missann1 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:21:59 GMT

I don't pay for phones, so the LG shine looked like the best value with a camera and MP3 capability. I haven't downloaded music, but the camera is decent.

The main button is very sensitive, but there is a back button which make navigation relatively easy. I've noticed the phone can be on different screens if it's in my bag.

This is my first slide phone and one thing I don't like is the that the call shuts down when the slide closes. This is aggravating on call where you use buttons to enter information. Also, you have to remember to close the slide before you dial if you intend to talk with the phone engaged, which is my preference.

The functions are relatively intuitive for a savvy user. No good free games come on the phone; there are some decent ones if you pay. I have a refurbished phone, so the glass screen is far too bulky for may taste. It's not flush with the front panel.

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missann1 says "New Color works well" about Bare Escentuals Warm Tan

missann1 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:03:02 GMT

I've been a Bare Minerals fan for years ever since a college classmate from California introduced me to the line. I'm black and purchased the "dark" foundation when they only had two colors for darker-skinned women. Amazingly, the foundation was a great match. So I was upset when I lost the makeup at a hotel.

Looking the replace the foundation, I discovered the line had been reinvented with four times the orginal shades. It was very confusing, especially for brown tones with so many choices. The reps tried a myriad of shades and I toggled back and forth to the front of the store to see all shades on my face in the light.

I finally settled on the Warm Tan foundation. I'm pleased. The foundation has the same light feet as its predecessor and the coverage is still great. The price is still $25 which I suppose it fine since it was the same price five years ago. This stuff never goes on sale - a true testament to its quality.

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missann1 says "Lots of features but unreliable" about Palm Treo 750 Smartphone

missann1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:22:17 GMT

I was excited when I received the Treo, but disappointed in the lack of instructions available. The included manual included brief start-up instructions and the accompanying CD was not very useful. Online info was also limited.

The device often freezes up. I happened everyday when I first had it. AT&T sent a patch that fixed the issue for a while. Nevertheless, the internet was unreliable and I oten had to restart the connection to get on the internet.

The camera and photo quality are the worst I've seen on any phone. I was really disappointed. Video is difficult to navigate and not user-friendly.

Bubble breaker is great fun and a nice diversion.

One annoying attribute is not being able to turn the phone off. You have to remove the battery which is very inconvenient. You can turn off the phone service, but not the device itself. This was frustrating when I took my first plane ride with the device.

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missann1 says "Nice but work in progress" about Saab 9-3 2003 - 2003

missann1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:07:22 GMT

Owning a Saab makes you unique and everyone who enters your car with be amazed by the key and the ignition in the floor.

I originally went to the Saab dealership looking for a hatchback as they were the posterchild of the Saab brand. This was in late 2002 and they had stopped producing new hatchbacks in favor of the new 9-3 sports sedan. The salesman convinced be to test drive the new product and it was love at first drive!

The ride was smooth like a magic carpet. The car was so quiet I thought it had shut off. Don't test drive a Saab if you're not serious about buying.

The car is very electrical and I experienced several malfunctions in the first few months. Unfortunately, things like the headlights and door control can only be repaired by Saab dealer shops, which are scarce. What's more is they have been eliminating dealerships left and right and the future of Saab is up in the air.

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missann1 says "Cheap and Easy" about Scottrade

missann1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:54:31 GMT

If you want a no-nonsense online broker, Scottrade is your best bet. Trades are only $7 and there are no hidden fees. This may indeed represent the best value in online brokerage.

The account summary gives a short term growth history and shows the amount availble for trade. Daily gains and losses are also readily visible on the homepage. Statements are available online.

Trades are executed promptly with confirmation sent via email. Free trades are available by referring others to the service.

One complaint I had before was the inability to electronically fund the account. However, Scottrade recently launch this capability with two methods of account confirmation.

Ticker information is quick and accurate with stock charts and relevant news for review. Proxy materials are also delivered satisfactorily.

Users have the option to form a watchlist of stock tickers that will show on the homepage. The is quite useful.

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missann1 says "Best Value in Air Travel" about Southwest Airlines

missann1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:43:14 GMT

Years ago I promised never to fly Southwest again. I hated the cattle calls, the corny singing, and the gold and orange decor. However, after years of business travel, I now go out of my way to fly Southwest.

Southwest has revolutionized air travel. No one can duplicate the Southwest experience. First, the airports they frequent are less crowded, which makes the trip to and from the airport more pleasant. Check-in is short and sweet, even if you're checking baggage. As a bonus, there is no baggage fee for the two bags.

Not having to plan ahead is a huge convenience as their fares don't change. Also, there is no fee for changing flights. This makes it so easy to alter your return plans as necessary.

Their service is also quick and reliable. They make every effort to depart and arrive on-tiime. They value their passengers and provide and incredible value with Wanna Get Away fares and other promotions.

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missann1 says "Solid business and engineering programs and great college footba" about University of Oklahoma Norman Campus

missann1 — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:32:36 GMT

The University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK offers a memorable undergraduate experience. The school is well-known as a college football powerhouse, but it boasts many other favorable attributes.

OU has long recruited National Merit Scholars to campus from all over the nation; so smart people abound. This also attracts a bumper crop of top corporations to recruit graduates and summer interns. Oil and gas firms consider OU a core school, which is no surprise considering their top petroleum engineering program.

Recent improvements around campus have taken the already nice aesthetic up a few notches. The student union, engineering center, and stadium have all undergone drastic changes for the better.

Unsurprisingly, Saturdays in the fall are unmatched. Gameday starts early in the morning, even if the game is at night. Ninety-thousand fans often fill Memorial Stadium to cheer on the hometown Sooners, then filter out to patronize the many campus attractions.

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