Advantages: Cheap (for Blu-Ray), better than the Sony ones, works well, upgradable
Disadvantages: No DVD+R / +RW playback, no SVCD or VCD playback

...'s component analogue terminals. The first was the most important because Blu-Ray is still an evolving standard and there will no doubt be new variants and updated features in the standard that means some movies won't play properly. I had the same thing with early DVD players and insisted on getting ones that had upgradable firmware so that the bugs could be fixed. The first generation of standalone players have not had upgradable firmware and some have had older variants of the HDMI standard as well, making them a high risk for becoming redundant. The BD-P1400 has two ways in which the firmware can be updated. Both are described in the manual and are "user" options in the setup menu (not hidden or for "service operators" only). The BD-P1400 has an Ethernet port and is internet-capable. It can go to it's own web site and check... Read review

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Advantages: Quick and easy to use
Disadvantages: A bit bulky and a bit expensive

...I was lucky enough recently to be asked to test the Philips GC7220 Steam Generator Pressurised Ironing System. To be quite honest I had never heard of a steam generator before. As ironing is my most loathed household chore an iron is an iron and not really something I spend time looking at in shops or researching on the internet, but when I was offered this to try out and told it claims to make ironing easier and possibly cut down ironing time by 50% then I thought I would give it a try! A Bit About The Steam Generator Pressurised Ironing System The Philips GC7220 is blue and white in colour with a stylish easy to use, lightweight iron. It uses 3.5 bars of powerful steam pressure, which release 80g of steam per minute. The steam generator, which is approximately W 9" x L 16" x H 7" should first be filled with water before... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful
Disadvantages: None

...Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam DVD is another exceptionally good TV programme released on DVD that carefully reflects and capture's Fred Dibnah's love of steam and his respect for the engineers who made steam not only a possibility but a living and breathing reality before, during and beyond the Victorian era. As anyone who knows of Fred Dibnah will be able to testify, Fred Dibnah has had a special fascination for all things steam since his childhood growing up in the Northern industrial town of Bolton, Lancashire. In Bolton if cotton was King, the steam must assuredly have been his Queen or consort. Fred's respect was made manifest by the fact that he carefully and expertly restored steam engines not only for himself (his Aveling and Porter traction engine for one) but also for friends and later for commercial clients. Although... Read review

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Advantages: Works well and you get lots of accessories
Disadvantages: Could do with a bigger fabric tool

...Mulit Function steam cleaner Small and compact Weight 0.7kg Tank capacity Large Height 2.6 cm Width 32 cm Depth 22 cm Colour Yellow and Black. Accessories 2 extension poles Fabric cleaner tool Window cleaner tool Floor cleaner brush Nozzle protector cap Measuring jug Funnel Fabric cloth for the tool Belt attachment to carry on your shoulder Grey bag to keep it all together Ideal for cleaning hobs, work surfaces, sinks, tiles, windows and glass, clothing and upholstery. Cleans and sanitises with the pure power of steam Uses tap water, no detergents needed Pressurised steam removes tough grease and grime Kills germs, dustmites and neutralises allergens Disinfects those hard to reach areas Steams away wrinkles instantly Ideal for refreshing upholstery. Safety issues The steamer is pressurised, heated... Read review

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Advantages: Even more great steam footage
Disadvantages: None

...Taw Valley Orient Express Steam has to be one of moy favourite of the Green Umbrella steam train videos. It tells the story of then Southern West Country Class steam locomotive 34027 "Taw Valley." You see, years ago, railway companies would design a new locomotive and name the after things. The Castle Class, for example, would all be named after castles. The West country class locomotives were all named after features in the South West of England. Hence, of course, the name Taw Valley." Taw Valley is a Bulleid locomotive. "What on earth," I thought, "is that all about, then?" Ths video explains all. (A clue: It is not pronounced Bell-eyed, but rather Bull-Id. No. You are right. That's not much of a clue, is it? I'll explain the name, later.) In 1980, Taw Valley was, let's be blunt about it, in a bit of a dreadful state... Read review

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Advantages: small machine, easy to use
Disadvantages: only 1/2hr worth of steam per use

...This revolutionary cleaning system can be used in just about any room in the house for just about anything! The Steam Buggy lets you clean your house with just ordinary water and the power of steam! Or so the advertisement told me and as I’m a sucker for gadgets and gizmos I bought one for the princely sum of £97.99 inc. postage and packing. This was much to the dismay of my other half who believes that there’s no substitute for elbow grease and a lot of sweat. There are a few jobs around the house which I hate, two of which are cleaning the oven and cleaning the windows. I was hoping that the Steam Buggy would help me glide through these problem areas without too much hassle. After filling the Steam Buggy with water and waiting what seemed an absolute age, well 8 minutes, for the machine to start spurting out... Read review

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Advantages: Fantastic look back at Fred Dibnah's life
Disadvantages: None

...Fred Dibnah. Man of steam. Getting steamed Up is a very popular Fred Dibnah DVD. I heard someone say: "When they made Fred Dinah, they broke the mould." That's a nice thing to say, a good compliment, really, but it is not quite true. For Fred's sons are equally as passionate able steam preservation as their late father. But that's slightly off the point, here, so on with the review. This DVD shows many aspects of Fred's life. His fascination with chimneys, his love of steam and also his love of historical building and a stirring belief that we must preserve our industrial heritage for our own and future generations. Watching Fred swap tales of steam engines and of steeplejacking and jokes with his equally steam mad friends whilst supping ale at what the DVD bills as "the world's largest steam rally" at The Dorset Steam Fair... Read review

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Advantages: High steam output
Disadvantages: very bulky

...We needed a new steam iron and while watching bidup.tv, before turning light off one night (what else does one do before turning light out ). They have the Morphy Richards Steam Generator on. Wow says wifey I want one of those, so a bid is made and we win. The postman arrives 5 days later with this HUGE parcel, God is it big. On television it looks big yes but in real life well words fail me. The Steam generator comprises of a large boiler unit that holds 800cc of water, attached to which is the iron. The only disadvantage that I have found as yet is that the boiler unit is so large that you cannot put it onto ironing board. It has to be placed to the side on a coffee table. The main features of this system are:- ~Iron~ On the top is the steam control button. Under the handle is the soleplate temperature control thermostat... Read review

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Advantages: Fantasitc footage of the last days of steam
Disadvantages: None

...This is another in the eminently professionally produced DVD programmes on steam train released through Green Umbrella. With the Very Best of British Steam of Yesteryear, you are given a real feast for the eyes and also, for the memory, of course. Well, for those of us old enough to remember when steam trains regularly plied their business up and down the main lines of the United Kingdom. The last regular steam runs in Britain came to a very sad halt in August 1968. That's slightly under a year before the first manned space flight to the moon, for those interested in transport trivia. Without an unsung bunch of dedicated enthusiasts and professional and semi-professional film makers in the previous two decades, these wonderful steam trains would not be available to the general public. They would only exist as the personal... Read review

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Advantages: Exceptional Holiday
Disadvantages: Cost to get in, cant get round it in one day

...There is so much to say about the Great Dorset Steam Fair that this could take forever, therefore I’m going to give you a few highlights of the show and what its all about. This year was the 36th annual Great Dorset Steam Fair and as the name suggests it is a steam fair of mammoth proportions, you would not believe the size of the place. The Great Dorset Steam Fair is mine and my partners annual holiday. The show goes on for 5 days and is from the Wednesday to the Sunday of the last august bank holiday week. Believe you me, you need all of these five days to get round, its also nice to stay due to the high level of alcohol consumption there is in all the beer tents dotted around the place. Anyway I’m beginning to waffle, therefore I will try and put some of this into some sort of order. The Great Dorset Steam Fair is located... Read review

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