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Saturday, March 10, 2012

Intex metal frame above ground swimming pool product review: Update

Product Dudz likes to update product reviews given to see if the product still lives up to its review, in the case of Intex Metal Frame Above Ground Swimming Pool, an update was needed. If you are looking for a long term swimming pool please take note of the following photographs, the pool in the photographs is 5 years old and was filtered with a salt filter during the summer months.

This is an Intex Metal above ground pool, it is 24' by 52 ". Product Dudz does not know if the latest pools in the Intex above ground pool line have these same issues but our job is to forewarn you of what you may be able to expect if you do not drain this pool and store it away every year. Many older homeowners, or those without storage means may encounter these problems after 5 years or so. Depending on where you live, you may experience rust problems sooner.

Before:
Intex 24' X 52" metal frame above ground pool

This is the pool after 5 years:

Intex 24' X 52" metal frame above ground pool at five years old
Intex metal frame above ground pool 5 years old

After five years of use, you may encounter these types of rust issues which have resulted in a complete breakdown in the pole supports on this pool. While these parts can be replaced, the process in replacing each of these pieces are tenuous and pricey:

Intex 24' X 52" metal frame above ground pool joints
This post has completely come away from the pool the homeowner should have drained the pool over winter to help keep this from happening. However, if you have no way to store these pool parts, or are unable to take the pool apart every year this is what will result from natural exposure to the elements.
Intex 24' X 52" metal frame above ground pool rust damage
These t-joints have completely eroded away due to continuous exposure to the outside

Intex 24' X 52" metal frame above ground pool rust at seams
The poles are also beginning to show damage from rust

Product Dudz suggests those wishing to buy this pool or one similar to it, be able to store the pool every year after use to lessen these effects. If you do not have adequate storage or are physically unable to disassemble this product you may want to consider a different type of pool to purchase. 

*Interested in buying a salt water filter system for your new pool? See our product review on Intex Saltwater Filter System Product Review.





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Friday, March 2, 2012

Product Review for GE Power Pro X500-BK 16MP with 15X Optical Zoom Digital Camera

GE Power Pro X500-BK 16MP

This digital camera has a lot of unique bells and whistles compared to your everyday point and shoot digital cameras.

Here is what the manufacturer has to say about this item:




"If you want it all, you'll want one of the GE Pro series of bridge cameras. The new X500 is as powerful as it is easy to use. All the latest digital camera technology is seamlessly built in to reflect your own powerful sense of style and capture those priceless memories that define our lives. Get closer to the action and take photos like a pro with the X500 from GE's Pro line of digital cameras."

Now the big question is, does this camera do all it claims to do? Let's find out.


This is the list of features associated with this camera in detail:


16 Megapixels with 15x Optical Zoom

The X500's 16 MP lens means your images will be alive with detail, capturing every nuance. A 15x optical zoom (combined with a 6x digital zoom) lets you get close to the action without needing to get right in the middle of it. A vivid 2.7-inch LCD screen with Auto Adjust Brightness lets you frame every shot with ease, letting you see exactly what you're getting with each click.


As powerful as it is easy to use


All the latest digital camera technology is seamlessly built in
Electronic View Finder

In addition to the 2.7-inch LCD screen, the X500 has an electronic view finder for more accurate shots in real time and better scene composition.

Shoot Video with Ease


Capture all of your videos with ease. The X500 takes MPEG-4 videos in .MOV format with G.711 monaural audio for simple, one-touch recording of those special moments. And they're easy to share using a USB connection or SD card reader.

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Adjustment

An in-camera HDR feature adjusts exposure for more detail in light and dark scenes. Get the right balance of detail no matter the lighting conditions. A 3200 ISO improves pictures in low lighting condition for optimal exposure.

Optical Image Stabilization with Auto Scene

Correct unintentional camera movements with automatic image stabilization, giving you crisp, clear photos. The Auto Scene feature automatically selects and sets the correct scene type for the sharpest, most vibrant pictures possible.

Face Auto Exposure and Smile Detection


Face Auto Exposure enhances facial features detected by the camera for true subject highlighting, making your friends and family jump out of your photos. Smile Detection lets you capture the right moment by allowing the shutter to automatically release when the subject’s smile appears.

Automatic Brightness Adjustment

An in-camera auto-brightness feature adjusts the camera's LCD viewing screen for more detail in light and dark scenes. Get the right balance of detail no matter the lighting conditions.

AA Batteries

Convenient, easy and no-hassle AA batteries keep you on the go. Get 300 shots from regular AA alkaline batteries, or up to 500 shots from AA NiMH batteries.

What you get for your $$:


GE X500 digital camera, 4xAA alkaline batteries, USB cable, shoulder strap, CD-ROM, manual, Quick Start Guide, Feature Guides, warranty card.

Price:
Currently offered on Amazon.com for:
$140.39 


The pros:
This camera is user friendly, easy to figure out and takes a lot of the guess work out of taking a picture.

Easy for first time users to use

Picture quality is very good once you learn the settings

Large view finder 2.7 inches

Shoots video with sound

The cons:


Camera is hefty

Batteries that come with the unit don't last very long

Requires 4 AA batteries

SD card not included but no biggee

What Product Dudz says:


The Bottom Line:
This camera does everything it says it does and has a lot to offer the novice photographer that needs a great camera to capture video and photographic memories. It is ideal for those with experience as well and has very few negatives in its functional features. This camera has a solid 4 out of 5 star rating based upon 170 owners on Amazon.com. It is the opinion of Product Dudz that this camera is a good value for the consumer based on the above findings. For more information, visit here:



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