Ultra Cool Gadgets » Electric

Whynter WC-321DD 32 Bottle Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler, Stainless Steel Trimmed Glass Door with Black Cabinet

ashish — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 08:17:36 +0000

This Whynter Dual Temperature Zone Wine Cooler offers premium quality and sophisticated design. It allows for 32 bottles of wine storage capacity, 16 bottles in the right zone and 16 bottles in the left zone with vibration-free thermoelectric cooling. With the thermoelectric system, your wine is kept at the appropriate temperature and humidity levels without damaging vibrations. This cooling system has no moving parts and is CFC-free, which means that you get silent, long-lasting, and environmentally safe refrigeration for your collection.

Product Features

- Adjustable thermostat for both zones (46F – 66F).
- Enhanced LCD temperature displays for both zones.
- Solid state components for long life – the only moving parts are fans to circulate air for even temperature distribution.
- Soft interior LED lighting with on/off switch.
- Voltage: 115V /60Hz; Power: 210 watts / 3.0 Amps; ETL certified.

Customer Feedback

The unit came delivered in perfect condition. The only assembly that was needed was to insert the shelves and install the door handles. The instructions say to let the unit sit for 24 hours before plugging it in, but of course, we unpacked it and plugged it in before we saw the instructions. I unplugged it as soon as I ready that (so after maybe 20 minutes) and then plugged it in again the next day. It was fine, and it got up to temperature very fast. I can’t remember how fast, but fast.
The unit is very quite. We have it in a back bedroom/play room, and you can sleep there without being bothered by the fridge.

People who drink a lot of champagne, the unit does not accommodate champagne bottles well. The shelves themselves are not metal and seem a little light but they’ve been fine so far.

NewAir AW-180E Thermoelectric Wine Cooler With Touch Screen

ashish — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 07:38:12 +0000

In order to fully enjoy a bottle of wine’s true aroma, it’s important to keep it at the proper temperature, as serving it too cold will cause it to lose its flavor notes while excessively warm temperatures will speed up the aging process. However, whether you’re a budding wine connoisseur or a true oenophile, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars building a home wine cellar. Instead, a thermoelectric wine cooler such as the NewAir AW-180E is a great, affordable way to keep your wine properly chilled.
The NewAir AW-180E thermoelectric wine cooler has an eighteen bottle capacity with digital controls that make it incredibly easy to use. The LED light provides bright contrast and the touch screen on the display is intuitive and easy to control. Moreover, an internal LED light within the NewAir AW-180E wine cooler illuminates for greater visibility so that you know exactly which bottle of wine you are pulling out.
In terms of sound, because the unit’s thermoelectric technology involves very little moving parts, this results in vibration-free, silent operation that won’t disturb your indoor environment. Lastly, for a touch of sophistication, the racks inside the NewAir AW-180E are chrome-plated.
For an affordable, compact, and easy-to-operate thermoelectric wine cooler with a large eighteen bottle capacity, try the NewAir AW-180E.

Product Features

- Product Dimensions: 25 1/4″ (Height) x 13 1/2″ (Width) x 20″ (Depth).
- Has very convenient digital temperature controls.
- A compact wine cooler that fits eighteen bottles inside.
- This wine cooler operates silently so it can be used in every environment.
- The racks are chrome plated so your bottles rest in the height of sophistication.

Customer Feedback

The AW-180E NewAir 18 is an attractive and stylish unit, and will look nice in any kitchen or dining room. It was easy to set-up (only the door handle needed to be attached). We were able to place 18 different size bottles of red and white wines inside it without any problem. The controls are simple and easy to operate, and the unit temperature (we set it at 60°F) was reached in a matter of hours and readily maintained. The blue interior light is a nice touch, too.
t seems to runs continuously (i.e. does not cycle on and off) and therefore you will hear a continuous hum in a silent room.

Dimplex CS3311 Compact Electric Stove

ashish — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 09:57:52 +0000

For instant warmth plus ambiance, this portable electric stove features patented flame technology for the 3D effect of a realistic-looking fire, complete with dancing flames, but without the hassle of cut wood, an open flame, propane, or fumes. The freestanding unit does not require venting or a chimney, and no combustion means no greenhouse gasses–just plug it in to any standard household outlet and turn it on for economically heating a living room, bedroom, or other cozy place in the home. The unit’s fan-forced heater quickly and quietly distributes up to 5,115 BTUs of soothing warmth, while its adjustable thermostat allows for maintaining personal comfort levels. The stove can also provide a glowing fire without heat for visual enjoyment year-round. Concealed controls offer a clean look and a remote control comes included for turning the unit on or off from anywhere in the room. The 1500-watt electric stove measures approximately 11-2/7 by 20 by 23-1/8 inches.

Fireplaces once were the primary sources of heat for homes. Now they’re more closely associated with decorative, environmental atmosphere. Yet the visual appearance of a crackling fire seems to reduce stress and is considered to provide an aura for romance and intimacy. Most apartment dwellers are deprived of the positive, tranquil moods that are induced by fireplaces. Even those living in brownstones may have inoperable fireplaces. The Dimplex CS3311 is a safe, electric heater that resembles a portable fireplace. It can thermostatically heat a 10 foot by 12 foot room at up to 5,115 btu. Furthermore, this portable, compact unit has a simulated 3D fire simulation within a chamber to deliver the illusion of a natural, crackling fire. Now every home can experience the joy and soothing, spiritual enhancement that a fireplace can bring. With heat on/off settings, this fireplace can elevate moods anytime throughout the year.

Product Features

- Electric stove with 3D flame technology for a realistic-looking fire.
- Fan-forced heater distributes 5,115 BTUs of heat; no venting required.
- Adjustable thermostat; fire effect with or without heat; concealed controls.
- Freestanding, portable design; on/off remote control included.
- Measures approximately 11-2/7 by 20 by 23-1/8 inches.

Customer Feedback

The Dimplex CS3311 Compact Electic Stove has the same great flame-effect technology as other Dimplex products. There just simply is no better “artificial flame” at this price, and probably not at a higher price either. I purchased this heater more for looks than for heat, but the added heat may come in handy too. It’s fun to put a basket of wood by the stove to add to the illusion.
My only other suggestion is that the stove looks best in an area with a neutral floor color because the mirror at the back of the “fire compartment” picks up the color of the floor and gives away the illusion, if it’s in a room with a blue carpet, for example.

Toshiba HD-A20 1080p HD DVD Player

ashish — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:35:10 +0000

Toshiba’s HD-A20 is a great choice for people ready to step up to full 1080p playback in a high definition player without a huge price tag. Offering playback of HD DVD discs with outputs of 720p, 1080i , and full 1080p as well as upconversion of regular DVDs to 1080p through HDMI this is the first high defintion player available to offer a full HD experinece at a price this low. Audio output supports 5.1 channels of surround sound in Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD formats, as well as legacy formats along with legacy formats including Dolby Digital and DTS.
Besides playback of HD DVDs and regular DVD discs, Toshiba’s HD-A20 also supports playback of DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs, CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs. Playback of MP3 and WMA audio files is not supported.
With the 1080p capabilities of the HD-A20, Toshiba has taken high definition to the next level at an attractive price point. The HD-A20 joins the existing Toshiba HD DVD line-up that includes the entry level HD-A2 and the top of the line model, HD-XA2. This expanded line of products offers enhanced functionalities of the HD DVD format and is proof of Toshiba’s commitment to the smooth transition to the next stage in high definition entertainment.

Technical Details

- HD DVD, DVD, and CD Playback.
- Supports next-generation formats: Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD, and Dolby TrueHD.
- High definition 720p, 1080i, and 1080p resolution.

Customer Feedback

I’m very happy with this in all respects. I had returned an HD-A2 already, as it would hang sometimes when changing layers on dual layer SD (standard) DVDs. The A20 does sometimes have a perceptible “glitch” when changing layers, but no more than that. My impression is that the 1080p picture looks better than the A2′s 1080i did, but that might just be wishful thinking. Obviously, as with and HD-DVD player, you’ll get a little better (“lossless”) audio if you have an HDMI-equipped receiver, but I’m happy to use optical digital cables for now and upgrade in a couple years.
One thing I strongly suggest, though, is that you attach this to the internet using the ethernet port in the back. If you aren’t wired for ethernet, consider setting up a wireless bridge (or “gaming adapter”). Updates for the player AND for some of the HDDVD titles (!) are available for automatic download if you’re hooked up.