TechyTart
TechyTart's Stats
- Review Count5
- Helpfulness Votes198
- First ReviewJanuary 9, 2014
- Last ReviewOctober 18, 2016
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating3.6
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First Review CommentNone
- Last Review CommentNone
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
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- Answer Count3
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First AnswerJanuary 9, 2014
- Last AnswerOctober 9, 2014
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers0
TechyTart's Reviews
WD - Blue™ 500GB Internal SATA Solid State Drive
Upgrade data speed with this 500GB Western Digital Blue solid-state drive. It delivers transfer speeds of up to 545MB/sec. and has an MTBF rating of over 1.75 million hours, ensuring a long service life. This Western Digital Blue solid state-drive comes in a compact 2.5-inch form factor to fit in computers or laptops.
Nice boost for 4 year old Sony Vaio laptop
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
on October 18, 2016
I installed this in my sluggish Sony after cloning the existing 5400rpm drive using FREE Macrium Reflect software. (You can also go to the WD website to download Acronis WD version for cloning and the WD SSD dashboard software.) .
The drive ships with no spacer, screws, software or instructions for installation and you will need a USB 3.0 to SATA cable or enclosure to clone your existing drive to the SSD.
Speed estimates up to 550mb/s are optimistic. I was able to get in the 450-480 range though for read/write.
For the price, this is a good drive. It made my old laptop 'new' again without any boost in memory or other adjustments. I now have a i5, 1.6Ghz, 8GB memory with a SSD running Windows 8.1 that boots in less than 20 seconds and speeds through everything from opening programs to streaming video from Kodi.
Overall, I'm pleased with this drive. It's great for an upgrade on a budget, and general computing use. Those who have never used a SSD drive before will be blown away by what a vast improvement it is over the traditional hard drives.
FYI... SSDs do not need to be defragmented. In fact, that will reduce the drive's lifespan so don't do it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+7points
7out of 7found this review helpful.
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Amazon - Fire TV Stick - Black
Amazon Fire TV Stick connects to your TV's HDMI port. Just grab and go to enjoy Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, YouTube.com, music, and much more.
Inexpensive & Powerful Entertainment
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
on November 23, 2014
Images for this Review
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I received this item via Amazon's first offering to Prime members and I'm really, really impressed with the build quality and performance of this streaming device.
I own an Apple TV, Roku 3, Chromecast, smart TV and other streaming media devices, but the Amazon Fire TV Stick is quickly becoming a favorite. It's small, highly portable, is easy to install and use, and zips right along, especially when accessing Amazon's app.
It has game apps, but this is where it's less appealing. The remote is the real issue. I didn't get it for gaming, so it's not a big deal to me. I use Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, Pluto TV and other video streaming apps without issue. They open quickly on my home network (60 Mbps) and there's no buffering, which is great!
I am a cord cutter (meaning I don't have cable or satellite TV), so streaming media supplements the over air TV I get with my Mohu Leaf 50 antenna. (I wrote a Kindle book to help others cut the cord: Simple Guide to Over-the-Air Free TV .) The Amazon Fire TV Stick works well and could easily be used by cord cutters to supplement their OTA TV entertainment with streaming media.
It works on a HDTV or PC monitor with a HDMI connection and has to have a AC plug nearby as the Stick is powered. A HDMI extension cable is included with the Fire TV Stick and AC power adapter in the box.
When you consider how much this thing can do, how quickly it does it with a dual core processor, the simple user interface, the help videos in Settings, the ability to get a voice activated remote (as with the Fire TV) and/or a game controller for it, and the ability to use it to mirror what's on your Kindle to your HDTV - you've got a winner!
Even non-techy types will love this thing. You'll love it even more if you have Amazon Prime membership at $99 a year. Your Photos and Videos that you've uploaded to the Amazon Cloud (unlimited space for Prime members) can be accessed by the Fire TV Stick to be shared on your HDTV. You also get access to all that great Prime programming.
There's also an Android app for this thing that gives you voice activation - a remote for your smartphone. There's not yet one for iOS, but I"m sure they are working on it.
The only app that is missing (popular ones anyway...) is HBO GO. Not sure why?
You can setup this Stick on a motel HDTV on the road. You just need the motel's Wifi network and password (setup in Settings) to link up. Once you get this thing and register it, you input your Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon info. If you don't have Netflix - you can get a 1 month free trial. If you don't have Hulu Plus - a free 7 day trial is offered.
Amazon Prime members also enjoy Prime Music (their library is accessed from the Amazon Cloud via the device), Pandora, Spotify and other music media.
Apps are downloaded onto the device which has limited memory, but can be removed to make more space if needed. Photos and Music from Amazon remain on the Cloud, and do not take up space on the device.
I'm just really sold on this thing at this low price point, with this great performance out of the box.
I think it would be the perfect gift for college students, travelers, cord cutters, or anyone who wants to enjoy streaming media cheaply, but with quality hardware and ease of use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+106points
113out of 120found this review helpful.
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NETGEAR - Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 5 Router
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Router, with breakthrough Tri-Band WiFi 5 delivers multiple bands for homes with many WiFi devices. WiFi speed up to 3.2Gbps and 6 high performance antennas provide maximum speed and range. Smart Connect allows you to game, stream, and download mega-sized files without lags.
Dead in 3 Months - Poor Customer Service
Customer Rating
1.0
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
on October 9, 2014
I purchased this item to upgrade my home network for multiple wireless devices and to stream media. I'm a cord cutter (using over the air TV and streaming media for my entertainment), thus fast, stable wireless and wired connectivity is very important to me. I also work from home using the internet for my work every day.
The Nighthawk setup was quick and easy, and the Netgear Genie interface easy to use for an intermediate to advanced user.
When the Nighthawk worked, it was very fast, but never stable; needed a reset every 48 hours or so.
After 3 months of this type of performance, it would no longer maintain a connection.
I contacted Netgear Customer support and tried 5 different possible fixes they offered for the problems I was experiencing. Thankfully I'm a techy-type and understood how to do all those fixes that were offered. I thought at the time that someone with less experience or someone who was afraid to try the tech fixes, would be in real trouble; feeling stuck and helpless.
When it was determined it was a hardware failure, I was given a RMA number and asked to ship the unit with tracking (at MY cost) to them.
In 7 business days I received a replacement unit. I had sent them mine in excellent condition with no nicks or scratches, in the original box. The replacement I received had a chunk out of the antenna and scuffs all over it. It was packaged very poorly; loosely wrapped in bubble wrap in a basic brown box, with the antennas rolling around the box.
The refurbished replacement unit worked for a few weeks and then it too began having issues dropping connectivity, and needing frequent resets.
I also bought the R7000 model and had a similar experience.
Since I had this experience with (3) Netgear Nighthawk routers in 6 months and now am using a TP-Link Archer 8 without incident and achieving faster download speeds and stable signal quality, I believe the Nighthawk series may have some serious software and hardware issues.
Considering the high price on this item, you may want to consider similar products from TP-Link, Asus and D-Link before you grab this one - even on sale. Save yourself the potential headache of dealing with connectivity issues and lack of quality customer service after the sale.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+48points
57out of 66found this review helpful.
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Sharp - AQUOS Q Series - 60" Class (60-3/32" Diag.) - LED - 1080p - Smart - HDTV
Sharp AQUOS Q Series LC-60EQ10U HDTV: This Sharp AQUOS Q Series TV's Quattron technology ensures you experience vibrant details and bright yellows, deep blues and rich golds. SmartCentral 3.0 and built-in Wi-Fi let you wirelessly stream movies, TV shows and music.
Stellar Picture, with a Few Issues
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
on June 2, 2014
Picture Quality
5.0
Sound Quality
3.0
Features
4.0
What's great about it: HD Picture Definition and Clarity, Wired Internet Connection, Color Saturation, Netflix, Web Browser, Smart Guide
What's not so great: Sound, WiFi Connectivity Issues, Viewing Angle Issues, Auto Light Adjustment, Poor Included User's Manual & Setup Guide
This TV was a major upgrade for me from a seven year old 42" plasma, and admittedly, my expectations were big for this TV.
For the most part, I'm very happy with it, but I have had no luck getting it to connect wirelessly and thus had to use the Ethernet port on the device to hard wire it to receive internet service to the TV. I have approximately 15 devices on my wireless network and am no novice to setting up electronics, so this issue is a frustration.
Another frustration is the omission of the Amazon Instant Video app on this TV. Why leave that off? I hope with future software updates (automatically done per the settings) that one appears. For now, I use my Sony Blu-ray player or Roku 3 for Amazon media.
Sound reproduction on this TV is definitely lacking, but most users will add a sound bar, sound plate or AV receiver powered speakers (5.1/7.1) anyway. If you had not planned on that, but are purchasing this TV, consider the sound - otherwise it's probably not a big issue.
I did note some gray blotchiness when the screen is black (transitioning from one channel to another while watching TV), as well as some dark 'bleed' from the corners of the screen when the background is very light colored. Nothing dramatic, but it's there.
I picked up the Disney WOW Blu-ray disc to calibrate the picture on this TV, and it made a nice difference even after a basic, beginner calibration. The set wasn't too far off, but out of the box the colors were too vibrant (seems odd to type that, but it's true...) for my tastes. Using the calibration disc helped a lot!
Despite these things, it's still a very good HDTV for the price when you consider the smart features and HD picture quality. The up to 240Hz refresh rate is great for action movies, gaming and sports, but for the most part I keep the Advanced Motion Enhancement set to 'off' or Low 120, otherwise the 'soap opera affect' takes over. (Google it to see what it is if you don't already know.) Going into Advanced settings after turning that 'off' you will want the 'Advanced' to zero and then 'Standard' to eliminate this on your TV.)
I love that it has 4 HDMI, older composite and component hookups, in addition to VGA, optical audio, (2) USB and a Ethernet port. The bezel is super thin and there's virtually no edge to the screen thus the screen size is maximized.
Side viewing is less enjoyable than straight on, and the screen appears somewhat washed out if you are past about 45 degrees. The plasma is much better in that respect.
Setup once it was turned on was simple to follow and other than the wifi issue - done with ease. I did receive the wrong screws to mount the base to the TV, which required a trip to a local store and a guess as to the right screws. (#5 metric 1" if you need to know.)
The remote control isn't back lit, which would be great, and some of the buttons are smaller than I think they should be. There's a huge Netflix button and the numbers are remarkably large, but the Channels, Volume, Input and Menu buttons are all kinda small.
I do like the Smart Guide, which once you put in your zip code and how you're receiving your content (Netflix, Hulu Plus, cable tv...) will populate an on screen guide and show you at a glance what's on at that moment. I use over-the-air TV so I chose 'local' as my input option for TV. The set was able to scan for channels, and quickly and accurately capture them. When the channels are displayed you get helpful info such as the audio source (whether surround is there...) and video (480i, 720p, 1080p...).
I'm a cord cutter (no cable or satellite TV) and wrote a book on it entitled: Simple Guide to Over-the-Air Free TV which is available as a Kindle book on Amazon.
This smart TV is a very nice way for those who want to cut the cord to supplement their over air TV with streaming media, and a media PC (I have my laptop connected via HDMI and I use XBMC media center). I'm not happy that this TV lacks Amazon's app, and a few others, but it does have more good than bad in this area. The dual core processor opens apps quickly and they all seem to work well.
While this TV has issues, it's still a very good buy at this screen size with these features. I'd suggest taking a look at your needs and considering how you'll be using your TV. That should help you decide if this TV and it's stellar picture quality overrides its shortcomings for you.
This product has... Useful Internet-enabled features, Easy to set up, Great value and features for the price, Right number of connections, beautiful hd display, integrated on screen guide, remote diagnostics via internet, variable motion enhancement
About me... Technically savvy viewer, Love to stream movies
I would recommend this to a friend!
Internet Connectable?Yes
Connected to the Internet:Yes
Internet content most enjoyed: Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video
+5points
6out of 7found this review helpful.
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HP - ENVY TouchSmart Sleekbook Touch-Screen 15.6" Laptop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Modern Silver
HP ENVY Sleekbook m6-k012dx Laptop: With touch-screen capabilities and ample hard drive space, this HP ENVY Sleekbook is a great option for students or business professionals looking for quick access to multiple documents, movies, music and more.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Snagged at a budget price, I'm happy
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
on January 9, 2014
Display
4.0
Performance
4.0
What's great about it: Bluetooth, touchscreen, back lit full-sized keyboard, zippy performance, ultrathin
What's not so great: Runs hot, Beats Audio, HP bloatware
Purchased at just under four hundred on New Years Day, I was thrilled to get a laptop with these specs. USB 3.0, HDMI, media reader, touchscreen, enhanced graphics, back lit full-sized keyboard, Bluetooth and 1TB hard drive were all attractive to me, and while the AMD A10 processor gave me pause, I jumped on the deal.
What I've found after a bit of use is that after unboxing, running Windows Update and then updating to Windows 8.1 for free via the Microsoft site, I like this quick, mid-range laptop a lot. I got a heck of a buy for the price I paid, but if I'd paid more, I'm not sure I'd feel this way.
The Windows performance Index is a 5.8 on this PC, with graphics being the lowest score. 7.1 and 6.8 were memory and processor respectively. (7.1 was the highest score.)
The PC's fan runs a lot and it heats up quickly. I put a laptop fan underneath it which meant more fan noise, but it did take the CPU temp down. This is an ultra-thin notebook, and I had hopes of traveling with it, but in all honesty I'd need the laptop fan with me too, to feel like I wasn't potentially harming the PC with the heat it generates.
Beats Audio was disappointing. The PC has a built-in subwoofer in the bottom, and two speakers up top. The sound can be adjusted via the Beats software and that helps, but it's still not the 'ta-da' I had hoped for when I saw 'Beats Audio' on the box. Perhaps I was just expecting too much?
I paired the PC with my Creative Bluetooth headset. It connected easily, but sounded terrible. Again, maybe an issue with the drivers for the headset or a software setting. A wired headset sounded fine.
Pairing with a cheap Bluetooth speaker was easy, and gave me the best quality sound thus far from this laptop. I enjoy listening to iTunes Radio this way, and it worked well.
The webcam is OK. A bit grainy, but fun avatars and effects. Easy to upload photos and video to Facebook too.
The PC doesn't have a CD/DVD player, but the 3 USB ports make it easy to add an external one if you need it. They are only about thirty bucks so I'll probably pick one up to have on hand.
The touchscreen needs to be calibrated , but once you do, it's great. Crisp and clear, 15.6" screen. The keyboard is responsive and backlighting can be turned on and off on the keyboard. Touchpad too is responsive.
Moving through multiple tasks quickly is no problem for this PC. Nothing bogs down. Netflix and Hulu Plus look great, and photo editing was a breeze. I can't speak to gaming, as I don't do much of that, but I suspect it would be fine for most online games.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this HP as for me it was a budget price with mid-level features.
This product is... A touch pad that works great, Big screen size, easy to set up, super slim, great features
About me... Budget Conscious, Basic web surfing & emails, Social media enthusiast, Regularly process large video or graphics files, Comfortable with technology
I would recommend this to a friend!
+15points
15out of 15found this review helpful.
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TechyTart's Answers
Belkin - AC750 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router - Black
Add a smart router to your connected home. With technology to prioritize which tasks get the most bandwidth, your entire household will be able to work and play online at the same time.
Range
I bought this router to replace a 2011 Netgear N600 that went out. The wireless range of the Netgear reached my detached office and upstairs bedroom. This router does not.. The Best Buy Salesman said this router should have significantly better range. I am seeing far less range. Is there something I can try to fix the range issue before I return it? If I do return this one, any suggestions on what I should get to improve the range compared to the old Netgear?
When this one works - it has great range, however I've had terrible luck with Netgear Nighthawk routers dropping their signals and needing frequent resets. Their customer service requires you to send hardware failure routers back to them at your cost , and they send you back a refurb router that may or may not be in good shape.
I prefer the TP-Link Archer C8. It seems like its range on paper should be less, but it's actually faster, about the same range, and much more stable. It's also got a 2 year warranty.
I prefer the TP-Link Archer C8. It seems like its range on paper should be less, but it's actually faster, about the same range, and much more stable. It's also got a 2 year warranty.
9 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
TechyTart
from
Southern Oregon
HP - ENVY TouchSmart Sleekbook Touch-Screen 15.6" Laptop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Modern Silver
HP ENVY Sleekbook m6-k012dx Laptop: With touch-screen capabilities and ample hard drive space, this HP ENVY Sleekbook is a great option for students or business professionals looking for quick access to multiple documents, movies, music and more.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Finger Scanner
I currently have the HP Envy, and wanted to know if this one comes with the finger scanner? The one that I currently have does, but I do not see it in this picture. Also, does it have a backlit keyboard?
Yes - it has a backlit keyboard (navigational button to turn it on and off is at the top of the keyboard). No - it doesn't have a finger scanner.
10 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
TechyTart
from
Southern Oregon
HP - ENVY TouchSmart Sleekbook Touch-Screen 15.6" Laptop - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Modern Silver
HP ENVY Sleekbook m6-k012dx Laptop: With touch-screen capabilities and ample hard drive space, this HP ENVY Sleekbook is a great option for students or business professionals looking for quick access to multiple documents, movies, music and more.Learn more about the New Windows ›
I really want to buy this, but it's unavailable at all the Best Buys near me, and sold out online. What should I do?
Watch and wait on Best Buy - they are Clearance stock now. Ebay also has them.
10 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
TechyTart
from
Southern Oregon