I have always been a handyman around the house and I often get calls from people who need some sort of help -- whether it's installing a microwave, getting a PC built, or building a deck outside the house. I guess you can call me a jack of all trades, master of none.

I often found myself without the right tool when someone would call me to do something silly like tighten a screw. I started carrying a Swiss Army Pocket Knife Swiss Champ but lost it. After some time I found myself needing something to replace it and felt that the Swiss Army was good, but it lacked ruggedness. I then went for the Leatherman Wave Multitool, which I also lost after a couple of years of use. I finally decided I needed to replace it, but didn't go for the Wave because all my pants would get holes in the pockets since it was so heavy. So, the end result was something small and manageable.

Enter the Leatherman Micra Multitool. I wish I had gone with this one first as it has proved to be a very rugged tool for its small size. It features a nice set of scissors, a sharp small blade, tweezers, a nail file/cleaner, flat Phillips screwdriver, extra small and medium screwdriver, bottle opener, and a ruler. Best of all it fits easily in your pocket and if you attach it to your keys, you will never leave home without it.

THE GOOD
- Good construction.
- Great assortment of tools in such a small tool.
- Easy to carry anywhere you go.

THE BAD
- A bit expensive.

IN THE BOX
- One Leatherman Micra Tool.

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Leatherman

The Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras are nothing new, they've actually been around for years, but they are such a great tool for photographers, we decided to review them for 'ya.

We want to bring to light (hehe!) the fact that our studio product photographers keep buggin' us to review this speedlight because they love them so darn much. Our studio crew owns two of these SB-600 Speedlights and they do wonders with them.

This Nikon Speedlight is the answer to most lighting problems you would find when trying to flash a group of people. You pop it in to your hot-shoe (that little slot on top of your camera) and you are done. It is an easy step for a flash so powerful. Nikon has really put some thought into their speedlights. The flash can be triggered remotely by using the on-board pop-up flash. Nikon calls this the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS). Take note though, this feature is only available in their mid range to high end DSLRs, though it is known to work with some of the higher end Coolpix cameras as well with the use of some extra accessories.

The flash will work in TTL mode (adjust the flash according to what the camera sees "Through The Lens") and for the more advanced users it can be set to manual mode allowing the user to set the power of the flash in increments.

If you are not that serious into photography and are looking for a fancy flash for your DSLR don't waste your money on the SB-900, it will cost you twice as much for more power than you will probably need. I also wouldn't go for the SB-400 just because it is a minuscule step from the pop-up flash. The SB-400 also doesn't let you bounce light from the ceiling or walls which is one of the best advantages of these external flashes. In all, the Nikon SB-600 falls right in between and it is therefore the one we would recommend.

TIP: Flashes keep a great resale value so, don't be shy to put them on eBay when you want to move up. You can't lose (at least not that much).


THE GOOD
- Good construction
- Excellent flash unit delivers what it promises
- Good battery life
- Wireless capabilities

THE BAD
- Expensive
- As far as we can tell it can't be used as a slave for point and shoot cameras like its bigger brother the SB 900 can.

IN THE BOX
- One SB 600 Speedlight
- 1 Stand for the Speedlight
- User Manual / Warranty papers
- Pouch

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Nikon

Looking for a small, yet decent set of speakers for your laptop, iPod or portable device? We recently tested the Diamond MSP100B Mini Rockers Mobile Speakers at our labs and were very impressed with the sound quality.

The speakers are shaped like a little capsule with all the cables retracting inside the unit. The capsule breaks apart and delivers a pretty crisp sound with a nice hint of bass. We were pleasantly impressed at the audio that came out of these little guys.

The unit has a universal 3.5mm audio plug. Its power output is 4W and has an internal Li-Polymer battery that will give you about 6 hours of playtime on a single charge. The speakers measure 4" x 2" and fit snugly in the included carrying case.


The Diamond Mini Rockers in Action

For around $29.99 we feel the speakers are a good buy.

THE GOOD
- Loud with good bass
- Great price

THE BAD
- Cables do not retract well
- Battery does not seem to be consumer replaceable
- Cables could be a little longer. The cable that connects the left to the right speakers are a little short for comfort.

IN THE BOX
- One set of Diamond Rockers Speakers
- USB Y-Cable for charge while listening
- User Manual
- Pouch

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Diamond

Got a need for an extra long shoe horn -- a 2ft long one? We came across this odd shoe horn while strolling through our local Ikea store. It is specially useful for people with back problems that prevent them from bending over (or the unbelievably lazy).

The shoe horn is priced at a whooping 99 cents. Hell, we can't even buy a soda at that price anymore. Best of all it comes in three colors for you to choose from.

Apple's iPad will be hitting the market in about 60 days. It is cross-breed that lies somewhere between an iPod touch and a netbook. Apple hopes it will sweep the market like the iPod touch and iPhone did, but we are not sure that Apple will have a repeat success with the iPad.

The iPad is basically a netbook without a physical keyboard (it has a software keyboard). The cheapest version (16GB flavor) will run you $500 dollars without a 3G AT&T data connection. We find it real hard for Apple to make this product as popular as their iPod touch, after all, it's just a super-sized iPod touch. You can't really install full-blown applications on it like you can on a laptop or a netbook -- only apps that appear at the Apple store. Realistically though most of those apps are basically for fun and lack real meat and bones we need for real productivity. We also feel as if 16 gigs is mediocre for a device that costs $500.

Sure the Apple iPad acts as a movie player, music player, and web browser, but are you really willing to pay that much money for that use only? The real question is, will the Apple iPad be a product you use vigorously for a few weeks and then toss it in your pile along your endless Wii accessories?

Only time will tell if we are wrong about this one.

All sippy cups aren't made equal. I can attest that I have tried almost every sippy cup out there with my 18-month old daughter. I have come to the conclusion that the Playtex Sippy Cups are by far the best sippy cups out on the market today. Why you might ask? Well its simple, they don't leak and my daughter doesn't turn blue when she is drinking her milk.

The cups are BPA-free so they are safe for your little one. They have built in handles that are great tiny hands and they come in a wide variety of colors and designs so you have a choice of which one you like better.

The Playtex Sippy Cups are well built. My daughter drops them all the time from her high chair and I have yet to see any of them break.

We did not like two things about the Playtex Sippy Cups: they do not have a lid and they do not have markers for ounces.

THE GOOD
- Does not leak
- Variety colors
- Inexpensive

THE BAD
- No lids
- No markers for ounces

IN THE BOX
- Sippy cup

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Playtex

Going out to dinner with the kids? Make sure you pick up a Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat. It's a little apparatus that will help you keep germs away from your little one -- no more eating off the restaurant table. The placemat is made of a soft rubber that can be rolled up for easy storage. It stays on the table by using small suction cups that do an outstanding job at gripping to virtually any surface. However, we did notice the product had a little bit of a problem adhearing to mesh tables or tables with holes.

The Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat also has a little sleeve on the side that overhangs from the table to catch any food that rolls off. This will keep your baby dry in the event of a spill.

Kiddopotamus Tinydiner Placemat comes in a variety of colors and designs and sells for approximately $9.99.

THE GOOD
- Soft rubber can be easily folded
- Easily fits in diaper bag
- Easy to clean
- Keeps your child from getting dirty
- Powerful suction cups

THE BAD
- Won't stick to mesh tables or tables with holes

IN THE BOX
- 1 Kiddopotamus Tiny Diner Placemat

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Kiddopotamus

If you want to get something for someone that has everything this Christmas, but haven't found anything, take a look at the Cinemin.

Since we weren't able to get our hands on one of these to do a full review, we went out to our nearest Brookstone store and had the manager give us a demo. This little thing is amazing.

The image is very good and can be projected on pretty much anything. It uses Texas Instruments' DLP projection technology to do its magic and we recommend a white surface to project onto. The uses for this little guy are endless: you can project onto the wall to show friends and family a slideshow, YouTube videos, presentations, and so forth. You could even watch a movie on the ceiling of your room while you are on your way to catch some Z's. Honestly the gadget is pretty cool. The image was a little dim when we saw the demo, but it was probably due to the bright lights in the room. The Cinemin Projector can be used with portable media players, pretty much any apple product from the i family (iPhone, ipod), Flip Video, PSP, digital cameras, portable DVD players, netbooks, notebooks, and smartphones with video-out functionality. One thing to caution: the screen wouldn't project what was on the iPhone screen as we were going through the menus. It basically only works for pictures, movies, and presentations on the iPhone.

The Cinemin Projector has a resolution of 480 x 320 (HVGA). Its 90 degree swivel allows you to use it pretty much anywhere without using anything to prop it up. The Swivel can project a 60-inch image from over eight feet away.

This mini projector has a built-in speaker with adjustable volume and a headphone jack. The audio from the projector through the built-in speakers was decent, but if you have a large crowd you will probably want to connect your own powered speakers. The batteries should last up to two hours and are rechargeable.

Although the Cinemin Projector is a bit pricey at $299, we are sure that its usefulness outweighs the price.

THE GOOD
- Has many uses
- Multiple AC plugs allows for international use
- Small package delivers big image
- Can be used with multiple devices

THE BAD
- Battery life seems a little low
- A little dimmer than we expected
- Pricey
- Can't be used to scroll through iPhone menus

IN THE BOX
- AC/DC power adapter
- Power plugs for North America, UK, Europe, and Australia
- USB (A) to mini USB (B-5 pin) cable
- USB (A) to mini USB (B-4 pin) cable
- 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable
- AV composite to 3.5 mm cable
- Battery
- Padded soft case with Velcro flap
- Quick start guide.

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
WowWee

There comes a time in ones life when we need to make hard decision like which casket to choose for a loved one. Walmart, and Costco are just a few of the big time resellers that have entered the game. They are offering quality products at reduced prices.

If you have recently had a loved one passed you may still have sticker shock on how overpriced all the services are. We are here to help you save a little money. If you are a Costco club member make sure to take a look at the selection they have. Otherwise you have Walmart.

The one thing we don't like much about this is that you must wait for them to deliver the casket. . The only way to purchase them is online. From what we have investigated it looks like they can be delivered within 24 hrs. None of the stores carry these items so you wont be able to see them

Pictured above is a Walmart Dad Remembered casket for $895.00

If you have kids you likely go through dozens of batteries on toys. My wife and I have a 16 month old who loves her toys. We were throwing our money down the drain by buying batteries every time we went to the supermarket. Not having a good experience in the past with rechargeable batteries, we were skeptical about purchasing the Energizer 15-Minute Battery Charger.

The charger pictured here is also available with an AC adapter which is the one that we used for the review. It really does take less than 15 minutes to charge and gets you up and going in no time. Even the Energizer bunny himself couldn't catch up with the speed of this charger. The charger typically sells for about $30.00 and comes with 4 X AA batteries, but is also compatible with AAA batteries (great for remote controls). Currently the highest ma rating available is 2500mAh and a pack of four AA will run you about $13.00. We found a good deal on amazon of 2 X 4 AA packs for under $20.00.

The included AA Energizer rechargeable batteries are not as long lasting as the regular Duracel or Energizer batteries you find on the shelf, but they do save you a lot of money in the long run. These batteries can be charged hundreds of times and although the battery life decreases as time passes, the effects are not noticeable until the end of a long life cycle.

A few hints when buying the batteries, make sure that you purchase the highest mAh (milli Amp Hour) rating you can find. The batteries will be more expensive, but will have more power and last longer per charge. Also label and charge the batteries in sets. They tend to last longer when charged as a set. I use a sharpie to label which helps me see which batteries are older and have degraded life. Finally, remember to check with the toy or appliance you are going to put them in to make sure it allows you to use these type of batteries. I have been able to use them on toys, cameras, and remotes without a problem.

If I had to buy this kit again I wouldn't hesitate. It has saved us a ton of money. The instant gratification of having fresh batteries in 15 minutes is also a plus. One last thing to note is that you are reusing these batteries so it is great for the environment.


IN THE BOX
- Energizer 15-Minute Battery Charger.
- 4 X AA Energizer rechargeable batteries
- AC Adapter

THE GOOD
- Saves you money over the long run
- Charges four batteries in under 15 minutes
- Batteries can be charged hundreds of times

THE BAD
- Initialialy expensive
- Batteries tend to degrade after many uses

WHERE TO BUY
Amazon

MANUFACTURER
Energizer