Mom and baby product reviews on The Mommy Insider

Clean out your computer and improve performance with Iolo System Mechanic®

Don't you hate it when you get the kids out of the bathtub, you pull the drain stopper out, and the bath water takes forever to drain?  I am a visualizer and can't stand it when that happens because I visualize everything that might be stuck in the drain clogging it.  Gross!!
So, what do you do?  You grab the drain cleaner.

I never thought about it until recently but computers also slow down because they get clogged.  Surfing the internet, working, playing games, storing files, writing reports.. all of these things take a toll on our hard working computers which ultimately leads to a clogged system.  System Mechanic and it's set-and-forget ActiveCare 2.0 features make it easy for me as a work from home mom to get on with my work day and not have to take time out of my busy work and family schedule to perform much needed regular maintenance on my computer.

Top reasons your computer slows down and issues that System Mechanic fixes:

1. Start up overload
2. Registry errors
3. Remnants of Uninstalled Programs

Installing Iolo System Mechanic is simple and watching it do it's work is so satisfying.  It's the same feeling as when my 2 year old blows her nose and can breath again when she has a bad cold. (like now!)

System Mechanic fixes, speeds up and maintains PC's so they run like new forever. The software combines more than 40 robust tools enabling novices and experts alike to clean out their computers and keep them in peak condition.

Priced at around $49.95, Iolo System Mechanic 8.0 is a great investment that will improve your PC's performance and keep your computer running smoothly.

When my computer slows down or starts acting erratically, I get stressed.  Most likely, I am trying to get as much work done as possible in a very short period of time, and don't have time to wait on a program to open when it should open instantaneously or to find a file that shouldn't take more than 2 seconds to find.  Since using System Mechanic, I've noticed a big difference in my computer's speed and performance.
How does your computer's performance affect you?
(tell me below and you're automatically entered to win a copy!)

I have 5 copies of Iolo System Mechanic 8 to GIVEAWAY!
In celebration of Clean Out Your Computer Day, February 9th, I am giving away 5 copies of Iolo System Mechanic 8!   Subscribe to our email or RSS updates (top of right column) and I'll enter you to win one of 5 copies of System Mechanic!

Dyson DC16 Root 6 Vacuum - Pink

I've had the cordless pink Dyson DC16 Root 6 Vacuum for a little while and everyone in my family loves it, including the kids.  We have two hand vacuum's and 9 times out of 10, the Dyson is the vacuum we use.  This hand vacuum has uses Root Cyclone technology and has great suction, about twice the suction of other hand vacuums and it recharges about 3 times faster. and tools to make cleaning easier in tight spaces, as well as on hardwood floors.  
The Lithium ion battery lasts for 6 minutes or so giving amply time to clean small messes hand vacuum's are intended for.  The battery charger can be wall mounted and the vacuum features a low-battery indicator which is awesome for me because my 9 year old forgets to put the vacuum on the charger and I can tell how much battery is left.  
The DC16 is a bagless hand held vacuum cleaner and has a 1-touch cup-emptying system which I LOVE!  The 1-touch emptying system is great for those of us who make our kids vacuum their own small messes because they can easily empty the vacuum themselves.  Image that!

You can buy the pink Dyson DC16 Root 6 Vacuum at Amazon.com for about $149.  Dyson and Target will partner to give $30 of each upright purchase and $10 of each hand vac purchase to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation for a total donation of $1.4 million

Stylin’ Studio

The kids are back in school and girls are doing their best to make sure that they are up to date with the latest hair style and make up but how do they try new styles out before taking your money to buy and try out new shades of lipstick just to throw them away because 'they don't look with with my skin tone'?

Now girls can try out new styles with Stylin’ Studio.  Stylin' Studio gives girls the ability to see what hairstyle or makeup colors will look best on them, right from their computer.  Using the built-in digital camera, girls can give themselves a new makeover by changing their hairstyle, adding accessories and applying make-up.

mylo personal communicator: "My Life Online"

Do you have a tween or teen that is always on her cell phone, not only talking but texting and surfing the Web which skyrockets your cell carrier bill?  mylo is for you then.  mylo will connect to the Web from any Wi-Fi location such as a coffee shop or even your Wi-Fi enabled home and does not require a cell carrier contract. 

Complete with a 3.5 screen and a 1.3 megapixel camera, users will have a great time surfing the Web, texting, listening to music, and taking pictures!  Does it get better than that?  Did I mention that you don't have to pay a monthly fee to access the Internet from mylo?  Maybe I did.

Logitech Harmony One universal remote control

I love gadgets!  When Tim and I go to 'the electronic store' he looks at movies and televisions while I drool over the latest gadgets. When I received the Logitech Harmony universal remote control for review I think my mouth was wide open for at least a minute.  It's sleek design, shiny gadgetiness, and knowing that it could replace up to 15 remotes in my home flattered me to no end.   So maybe we don't have 15 remotes.. at least I don't think we do, but the thought of consolidating 4 or 5 remotes into one is a dream come true. No more searching for remote control's!

Set up is a cinch.  You don’t have to be an expert to set up the Logitech Harmony One universal remote control.  My husband could have even set it up if I wanted him to.  :) .  The Logitech Harmony One is programmable via the web and is Windows and Macintosh compatible.   The One's backlit keys, color LCD, and varrying button sizes make for easy recognition and operation in the dark.. you know, those times when you are up with the baby at 2am. The Harmony One has less buttons than previous versions which makes it less intimidating and helps streamline operation of the remote.

The Logitech Harmony One controls TVs, DVD players, VCRs, game consoles, home media center PCs,  and even air conditioning units.  This remote can control just about anything that uses an infrared transmitting remote control.

The Logitech Harmony One may be a bit pricey but is a device that you will use for years and I doubt it will be outdated any time soon.

Check current prices at Amazon.com or click over to the Logitech website to learn more about the Harmony One

20Q the little round gadget that knows what you're thinking

20Q has been around for years and is now available in a smaller, smarter, pastel version.   20Q is an "artificial intelligence" game that tries to guess what you are thinking about by asking questions such as "is it alive", "does it make you feel good", and "is it hard".  Much to my amazement, 20Q figured out what we were thinking 8 times out of 10.    How does it work, you ask?   By process of elimination.

I thought of an elephant, a balloon, and a piece of grass.  20Q guessed the elephant and balloon between the 15-20th guess but the closest 20Q got to guessing a piece of grass was guessing that I was thinking of a leaf.  That is still pretty good.  I was impressed. 

If 20Q doesn't guess what you are thinking about (read your mind) by the 20th question, you win! When 20Q asks the player a question, the player responds by pressing one of four buttons.  Yes, no, sometimes, or don't know.  Based on your response 20Q asks the player another question.

20Q is a great game to take on vacation as it doesn't blast annoying beeps and boings, nor does it take up much room being about the size of a child's palm.  Recommended for ages 8 and up, 20Q is now available in spring colors.

   Learn more about 20Q or buy here

iRobot Scooba

The iRobot Scooba is a superb addition to any home with linoleum, tile or hardwood floors. The Scooba preps, washes, scrubs and squeegees your floor so you don't have to! The Scooba can be turned on as you are leaving the house so you come home to clean floors. It can be u sed with a special solution made by Clorox and available at most grocery stores or you can simply use water and vinegar or just water. We tested the iRobot Scooba on hardwood floors and used the Virtual Walls in our doorways to see how they worked. The iRobot Scooba has built in sensors that prevent it from going off of ledges and stairs so the Virtual Walls are mainly for occasions when you want the Scooba to clean one room instead of all attached rooms. Simply place a Virtual Wall device on the floor and the iRobot Scooba will not go past it.

On average, the Scooba covers each area of the floor 5 times. It's fun to watch but you might get dizzy if you watch too long! The Scooba's sensors help it navigate the room and avoid carpeted areas and area rugs. The Scooba washes the floor with clean solution and deposits the dirty water into a dirty water tank automatically, so it does not recycle the dirty water. Corners, under cabinets, and tables are no match for the Scooba. It cleans these areas just as well as the rest of the floor.

Be warned, using and watching the Scooba can be addictive and you may forget how to use a mop.

Watch demonstration videos and learn more about the iRobot Scooba here.

Check prices and/or buy at Amazon.com

Pedometer

I have become increasingly aware that my body is probably not going to go back to the size 4 I was 10 years ago.  I am however, a relatively happy size 8 and that is down from a size 12 that I was  almost 2 years ago when I had Madelyn.  I lost the first 20 pounds (I gained about 35) within the first year without much exercise but when the weight loss slowed down I didn't know what to do.   

A lot of health magazines that say that walking can do the trick so I decided I would try that route before joining a gym.  I needed a way to track the distance I walked and found this pedometer to be a practical, easy to use solution.

Oregon Scientific offers several pedometers for both walkers and for those on a more rigorous marathon type routine who may need a pulse meeter to make sure their heart rate is at the correct level.

The pedometer that I favor is a simple one with a panic alarm. I am a bit paranoid. I don't like walking by myself but sometimes I have to and knowing that I have a panic alarm helps me to relax and enjoy my walk.

Pedometer with panic alarm - Oregon Scientific

T-mobile Sidekick Slide, LX, and iD

The T-Mobile Sidekick series offers sleek looking devices with many functions.  I reviewed three Sidekick devices; the Slide, the LX, and the iD all of which have a look of their own as well as differing specs.

The Sidekick devices are all great for messaging. Texting is great for parents when we need to relay a short message such as 'please get milk', or 'I'm going to be late'.I found that all three Sidekicks have superb messaging capabilities.  The QWERTY keyboard on all three Sidekick devices is easy to use however, I prefer the keyboard on the LX because of its 'clickability'. I like to feel the click when I push on a key and the LX gives that sensation.  The keyboard keys on the Slide are softer than the LX keys.

One major difference between the T-Mobile Sidekick Slide and the other two Sidekick devices I reviewed is the slide-up screen. Instead of a swivel screen, you just push up the bottom of the display to access the QWERTY keyboard. The sliding motion is smooth and the screen clicks into place for a very sturdy feel.

The LX and the Slide are bluetooth enabled so you can talk hands-free and sync your phone up to a bluethooth enabled computer.  The iD is not bluetooth enabled. All three devices have a speakerphone function which I love.

While having customizable face plates, the Sidekick iD is the least feature rich of the devices.  However, it includes features that I think are sufficient for social teenagers including a talk time of up to 5 hours, text messaging, email and games.  The iD does not have a camera like the Slide and LX.

Overall, I prefer the LX over the Slide and the ID.  The back of the LX has a nice texture which makes for easy holding while texting, and I actually prefer the heavier weight of this device which gives it a more substantial feel.  When a phone is too light I find it hard to hold on to.  Both the LX and the Slide produce good photographs.

The Sidekick LX has a built-in music player that w ill play MP3, WAV, WMA, and AAC files. You can search for songs by artist, album, genre, or composer, as well as organize tracks into playlists. To get songs onto the Sidekick, use the included USB cable and then drag and drop tracks from your PC to the Sidekick.  Transferring songs is very easy.  Other Sidekick LX features include a calendar, notepad, task list, and a download catalog.

WIN ONE!!  Sign up for our newsletter using the box in the upper right column to be notified when we are running the contest and to learn how you can enter to win a Sidekick Slide!

  T-Mobile Sidekick Slide, LX, and iD

Palm Treo 755p review + GIVEAWAY!

What brand comes to mind when you think PDA?  Palm.  Palm is the pioneer of the PD A industry and several years ago took the PDA to a whole new level with the Treo SmartPhone / mobile computing line.

The Palm Treo 755p seamlessly combines a full-featured mobile phone with email, an organizer, messaging and web access capabilities in a compact yet easy-to-use device. In addition, Palm smartphones feature a built-in QWERTY keyboard for fast and efficient data input. The keyboard, five-way navigation button and other design features make it possible for you to get more done-in fewer steps and with just one hand. Palm smartphones are lightweight and small enough to fit in your pocket but won't get lost in your favorite diaper bag or handbag. 

Complete with a comprehensive calendar function, email capability, web browsing, and a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capture, our mom testers were very pleased with the number of functions packed into this compact device.  The camera was loved by our testers and has better picture quality than the iPhone, previously reviewed on TheMommyInsider.com. The zoom function allows for easy close-ups and the brightness level, and exposure can be changed which is a unique feature as far as I am aware.  The Treo 755p's camera can very well act as your primary camera if desired. You won't have to remember to grab your camera before your child's soccer game anymore! If you take a lot of photographs and videos you can add your miniSD™ memory card for up to 4GB of memory so you won't run out of memory while shooting a video or a series of photographs.

Doctor's appointments, sports games, after school activities, and play dates can quickly be added to the Treo's calendar with a minimal number of steps which is good for busy moms.  Not only that, but you can also write notes, add/edit tasks, and record voice memo's on the Treo 755p.

When navigating the Treo 755p via the 2.5" full color touch screen your kids will be convinced that you are the caption of the 'mother ship' (aka Treo 755p).  A stylus is included for those who appreciate old school technology.  Integrated blue tooth allows for hands-free conversations while feeding the baby, knitting, or bathing the kids.

The built in QWERTY keyboard may change your relationship with your significant other forever.  The ability to send 'creative' text messages to your partner instantly will please him/her to no end.  Text messages like this are stored in a threaded chat view so you can access the history of an entire chat in a story like fashion. You'll be 'texting' like the pro's in no time.

The Palm Treo 755p has a lot of wonderful features that are sure to make your life as a parent a little easier.

Go to the Palm website to learn more about the Treo 755p or check your cell carrier for availability and pricing.

GIVEAWAY!!
Thanks to the great people at Palm, we are giving away a Palm Treo 755p for Verizon (service not included) to a lucky reader soon!  Visit the site daily to learn when we are giving the Treo 755p away and how you can enter to win.  Sign up for our newsletter using the box in the right column to be notified of the giveaway date.

Palm Treo 755p