The Deets

This is meant for friends, but I suppose it could be useful for anyone looking for suggestions.

The following is a list of products I personally use or have used and recommend.

For hotels, check out this page of Hotels I’ve Stayed in AND Would Stay in Again.

Apple MacBook Pro - It’s powerful, reliable, virus free, and comes with fun software like imovie and garageband.

Canon SD800 IS - Current high res shots of mine of Flickr are shot with this, including our Croatia trip. I recently upgraded from the Canon SD600, which took great pictures, but didn’t have the slightly wider angle lens and image stabilization. If you’re looking for something at a lower price point and don’t care as much about size, check out the Canon A550.

SanDisk 2 GB Ultra II SD Plus USB Card - The convenience of having a built-in USB card in this SD card is what makes this card so great. Slide it out of the camera, fold it in half, and plug it into any PC or Mac for easy transfer of photos to your computer. This avoids the need for an SD card reader. But if you’re into that scene here’s an option that I’ve used in the past:

Kingston SD Card & USB Reader - The SD card works in many popular digital cameras, my Treo, in digital printer, etc. The card reader uses USB to make it easy to transfer images to my computer. And it’s only like a dollar more than buying an SD card by itself.

Epson Picturemate Photo Printer - I held out on buying a photo printer because I didn’t think the quality was good enough to justify. That is until I saw this one last year. Beautiful 4×6 prints, easy to use. And it’s less than $100 now. Pretty sweet.

Palm Treo 700p SmartPhone - I’m a big fan or Treo phones. I think they have the best form factor of phones on the market today. The Palm OS is particularly easy to navigate. One exception: if you need need a Windows version in order to sync with your company’s contact software like Lotus Notes, get the Treo 700wx.

Garmin Nuvi 660 Car GPS System - I’m not a huge fan of GPS systems since I’m not all that navigationally impaired. However, I’ve used enough of them on road trips for work to say that the top Garmin models are the way to go. They’re small and travel well, and they actually say the road names you’re supposed to turn on. This may not seem like a big deal until you find yourself in an unfamiliar city at a 7-Corners style intersection. All of a sudden, it makes a lot of sense.

HP DeskJet 6940 Printer - I like my printers simply and specific. Thus the photo printer separate from the main printer. This printer does one thing well: 8.5 x 11″ paper in black & white or color. Printers are getting really cheap these days, but the ink prices can kill you. HP printers have fairly good size inkjet cartridges and they’re easy to find in stores and online for reasonable prices.

iPod Nano - I actually have a regular iPod right now, but will be buying a Nano as soon as my iPod dies. Why? Because my regular iPod WILL die soon due to normal wear and tear. They hard drives are simply not durable enough for things biking and other bumpy activities. The Nano has flash memory rather than a hard drive making it more durable.

Web Services

Flickr - It’s the place to store and share photos. The annual membership is cheap and makes it easier to upload large batches of photos.

Meebo - It’s a web based IM service that lets me chat using AIM, GTalk, MSN, and Yahoo all at once without installing any of the IM software.

Gmail - Large storage, fast search, and threaded conversations.

Google Reader - My favorite RSS reader. This replaces my former favorite, Bloglines, because it’s more powerful and has a better mobile version.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Keyspan Presentation Remote Pro

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Keyspan Presentation Remote Pro by Keyspan

Powerful and Versatile, April 12, 2008 This is the best presentation remote I’ve ever used. Here’s what I like about it: - It’s PC and Mac Friendly, so I don’t have to worry about compatibility issues. Just plug the USB receiver into whichever computer I’m presenting from. - It uses AAA batteries, which are easy to find, unlike some other models that use watch-style batteries. - It has a mouse nub, so I can move the cursor around on the screen. It also has left and right-mouse buttons so I can start videos. - It works well with Google Reader, so I can also use it for browsing RSS feeds. For me, that does it. Of course, it’s also very reliable, has a good range, and sleek packaging (USB receiver stores within presentation remote). It’s not the cheapest, but this is one case where you really do get what you pay for.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Road Fever

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Road Fever by Tim Cahill

Serious Road Tripping, April 11, 2008 As someone who’s driven between Minnesota and Fairbanks, Alaska 3 times, I’m someone who understands road trips pretty well. From my perspective, this book was an absolute blast. The coverage of their preparation for the trip and the adventures they had along the way are phenomenal. An awesome read. It’s the type of book you’ll find yourself bringing up with friends, as I still do years after reading it myself.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Krups KM7000 Grind-and-Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Krups KM7000 Grind-and-Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker, Black Krups

Best Grind & Brew I’ve Used, February 10, 2008 I graduated to this model after a long run with a Cuisinart Grind & Brew model. The Cuisinart worked well, but there were quite a few things that helped justify the additional cost of the Krups model. The biggest advantage of this model is the separation between the grinding and drip portions of the unit. This allows you to only have to clean the drip section between pots. It has a lot of flexibility in how the coffee is ground and speed of drip. This allows you to dial in what you consider to be a perfect pot. Setting the time and programming the morning pot of coffee is very intuitive on this model. Just select the number of cups you’d like to make, add an appropriate amount of water, and the grinder will automatically grind an appropriate batch of beans. The one thing that makes this less that perfect is the shape of the pot. You have to pour quite slowly to avoid having to deal with coffee running over the lip and down the pot onto the counter.

Ed Kohler gave 4 stars to: Cuisinart DGB-300 Automatic Grind and Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker, White

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Cuisinart DGB-300 Automatic Grind and Brew 10-Cup Coffeemaker, White Cuisinart

Bulky, Tough to Clean, But Great Coffee, February 10, 2008 The sound of the grind and brew kicking on in the morning to start making a fresh pot of coffee is pretty awesome. I’ve been impressed with the quality of the coffee this machine generates. It offers settings that allow you to make less than a full pot which can come in handy when you don’t really need to pound that much caffeine. However, the drawback of this unit’s design is the cleaning time. The steam generated while making coffee leaks back into the grinding area, making it necessary to clean out the drip area, grind cup, lids for both, and pot between every batch. If you’re into piping hot coffee, this model does a great job with that if you set it to the hottest setting. That’s McDonald’s hot. Lately, I’ve switched to a Krups model which solves the above problems. However, it’s twice as expensive.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Moleskine Pocket Journal - Plain Pages

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Moleskine Pocket Journal - Plain Pages by Moleskine

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Pocket Size Greatness, December 2, 2007 This notebook is perfect for situations where you want to stick something in your pocket. It easily fits in your back pocket. It also has a back pocket for storing business cards, notes, etc. While small is good, it’s possible to be too small. This gets to the limit on how small I’d consider since you can only write a few words per line.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Waterpik ASD 839 Aqua Scape Showerhead, Brushed Nickel with Chrome Arm

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Waterpik ASD 839 Aqua Scape Showerhead, Brushed Nickel with Chrome Arm by Waterpik

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: Easy to install. Downpour is awesome., December 2, 2007 This installed in minutes. Just a matter of unscrewing the previous showerhead, screwing this one on (with a wrench), then adjusting the height and spray angle. The various spray options work well, but like most people, you’ll probably pick one that you prefer such as the downpour since that’s what this type of showerhead does best. It works very well for this.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Hound Dog Products Weed Hound #WEED HOUND

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Hound Dog Products Weed Hound #WEED HOUND Hound Dog

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Works great. Fun to Use., July 26, 2007 I couldn’t believe how well this thing worked. Just plop it on top of a weed - especially dandelions - step on the ledge, and watch the claws sink in and clamp down on the root in a single swoosh. I’ve found that pulling directly up slowly helps me get the entire root out, which is particularly satisfying.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to:

Ed Kohler reviewed:

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Great for SMS, email and web browsing, June 27, 2007 If you’re a heavy text (SMS) user, email user, or web browser, this is the phone to get in the United States. Fast Internet access, a full keyboard for fast typing, and a touch screen make this the best phone on the market today for serious communicators. Be sure to plan on getting an unlimited data plan because you’ll blast through data once you can. Threaded text messages are awesome. Each person you SMS with gets their own thread so you can easily track SMS conversations. Great stuff.

Ed Kohler gave 4 stars to: The Staple-Less Stapler. Pack of Three (Blue,Red,Green) - Sold by InkCityStore

Ed Kohler reviewed:

The Staple-Less Stapler. Pack of Three (Blue,Red,Green) - Sold by InkCityStore by InkCityStore

Fun staplers. Never need staples., June 27, 2007 This works great for up to, say, 5 sheets of paper. You don’t need staples, and it does only a bit more damage to paper than staples would. It’s doesn’t have the highest level of precision manufacturing, but it works fine. And they’re just fun to have on your desk.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Canon PowerShot SD800 IS 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Canon PowerShot SD800 IS 7.1MP Digital Elph Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom by Canon

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful: Best camera I’ve used, June 27, 2007 The image stabilization feature in this camera really helps when taking pictures in low-light conditions. I also find the custom shoot mode very useful since it allows me to set up a group shot, then have it take multiple photos after a 10 second pause. That way we get at least one where someone isn’t blinking. It improved over the SD600 model by moving the toggle switch from the absolute corner of the camera where it would occasionally get bumped into video mode. And 3.8x zoom is pretty dang good for a point and shoot. Yes, you can zoom to 15x, but anything after 3.8x uses digital zoom, which tends to degrade quickly.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus 2GB Card

Ed Kohler reviewed:

SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus 2GB Card by SanDisk

Best USB Cards I’ve used, June 27, 2007 For the nominal price difference, getting SD cards with integrated USB connections is a no brainer. However, there is more than one style of USB integrated SD cards. SanDisk’s are the best I’ve used since there are no removable parts to lose. The chip simply folds in half. That’s awesome. 2GB is a lot of storage in today’s world. I can take over 1000 high resolution photos on my camera on one chip. I keep a 2nd on my keychain just in case.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Taylor Professional Freezer-Refrigerator Thermometer with 3-Inch Dial

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Taylor Professional Freezer-Refrigerator Thermometer with 3-Inch Dial Taylor Thermometers

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Works Great, May 27, 2007 This thermometer works as advertised. I like the safe-temp ranges provided. If I did it over again, I may have gone for a different model since it’s somewhat cumbersome to find a place to safely put it in a home-freezer. A suction cup model may be a better choice.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Taylor Digital Stick On Refrigererator Thermometer

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Taylor Digital Stick On Refrigererator Thermometer Taylor Thermometers

Large screen, Strong Suction, May 27, 2007 This works great. The suction cup is strong and the display large, so you can put it on the back wall of your refrigerator, expect it to stick there, and still read it. I bought it after our power went out and didn’t know how warm our refrigerator became before the power came back on. Next time, I’ll know just how hot things got.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Belkin F8E449 Universal AC Travel Adapter

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Belkin F8E449 Universal AC Travel Adapter by Belkin

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Very portable and versatile, May 27, 2007 I used this in Croatia, Slovenia, and Amsterdam to charge my digital camera’s battery and it worked great. It’s small, and all one part, so you don’t have to worry about losing adapter plugs found on some other models.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Rick Steves’ Croatia and Slovenia 2007 (Rick Steves)

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Rick Steves’ Croatia and Slovenia 2007 (Rick Steves) by Rick Steves

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful: Our guide to an incredible vacation, May 27, 2007 I just got back from a trip to Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro planned by my wife using this book. The sites, restaurants, and lodging recommended by Steves are exactly how he describes them: interesting and affordable. Exactly what we were looking for. If you’re looking for tips on hot night-life scenes or a hostel hopping trip, this isn’t the book for you. It’s more for people who enjoy great food, comfortable and clean hotels, and learning about the history and culture of areas they visit.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom by Canon

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Great Size. Great Photos, February 2, 2007 I love just about everything about this camera. The special battery works well, and can handle hundreds of photos without a recharge if you don’t go crazy with the previews. However, if it does run out, you’re toast compared to having some AA’s on hand. The biggest thing that bugs me about the camera is the easily switchable mode switch. The switch on the upper-right of the camera is too close to the edge, and too easy to chance, which leads to what you expect to be photos being taken as movies. There was a similar problem with the dial used on previous models like the S70. It’s not the end of the world, but something that Canon could do better than they have on this camera. I still love the thing and would buy the camera again if mine fell in the lake tomorrow.

Ed Kohler gave 1 star to: Rival 38651-C 6-Quart Smart-Pot Countdown Stainless-Steel Slow Cooker

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Rival 38651-C 6-Quart Smart-Pot Countdown Stainless-Steel Slow Cooker Rival

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful: Unreliable . . . before it finally died., January 28, 2006 I got around a dozen uses out of this before it finally died. The thermostat seemed to have some problems because recipies were done either way early, to the point of being burnt by the time I returned from work, or still needing a couple extra hours. Eventually, it just stopped heating up, so went in the trash. When it worked, it worked great, but I eventually trusted it as much as I trust our president. It kept telling me nice things and reassuring me that everything would work out great, but actions speak louder than words whether you’re a crock pot or president of the United States.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: Black and Decker CD14SFK 3/8-Inch 14.4-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Drill/Driver Kit with Stud Finder

Ed Kohler reviewed:

Black and Decker CD14SFK 3/8-Inch 14.4-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Drill/Driver Kit with Stud Finder Black & Decker

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: A great drill for the money, August 25, 2005 As an occasional home user, this drill has worked great for hanging blinds, fixing door hinges, assembling IKEA furniture using a hex bit, etc. It probably isn’t robust enough for someone using a drill as part of their job, but it’s a great tool for occasional projects around the home.

Ed Kohler gave 5 stars to: The Marketing Toolkit for Growing Businesses

Ed Kohler reviewed:

The Marketing Toolkit for Growing Businesses: Tips, Techniques and Tools to Improve your Marketing by Jay B. Lipe

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Inspirational and Utilitarian, November 27, 2002 A very readable book, Marketing Toolkit does a great job explaining common marketing strategies including strategic planning, budgeting, and team building. I kept setting it down after coming across ideas I could apply to my own business right away. Now it’s on my bookshelf next to my desk as a quick marketing reference book.