callmeageeth
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Epson - EX5280 3LCD XGA Projector with Built-in Speaker - White
Impress your audience and own the room with the ultra bright EX5280 projector, offering 3,800 lumens of color and white brightness to deliver crisp, detailed presentations, spreadsheets and videos – even in well-lit spaces. From home offices to video conference rooms, this sleek, compact projector makes it easy to display captivating, big-screen images in nearly any location, using advanced 3-chip 3LCD technology and stunning XGA resolution. Perfect for creating dynamic, engaging presentations, the EX5280 allows for easy Zoom video conferencing, accepts 4K content and conveniently connects to streaming devices, such as Fire TV, Apple TV®, Roku, and Chromecast™, through the HDMI® port so you can easily share a variety of rich content, including movies, TV shows and more.
Great image quality and imaging flexibility
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on May 14, 2021
Images for this Review
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This is a capable all around projector, and perfect for business presentations. Even in less than optimal conditions. You can use this, obviously, to watch TV, etc. and it would work just fine, but it’s more geared for work/school presentations and the like. I say this because of the limited ports (which aren’t particularly conducive to home theater setups and lack of “smart” TV functionality.
IN THE BOX
It’s pretty barebones. You get the projector, power cord, remote and 2 double AA batteries. I wish it came with an HDMI cable, but I expect most people have some hanging around the house/office. It also includes a convenient carrying bag, but it’s softshell, so don’t plan on throwing it around or placing heavy things on top of it.
It’s pretty barebones. You get the projector, power cord, remote and 2 double AA batteries. I wish it came with an HDMI cable, but I expect most people have some hanging around the house/office. It also includes a convenient carrying bag, but it’s softshell, so don’t plan on throwing it around or placing heavy things on top of it.
The projector isn’t super tiny, but it’s much smaller than older projectors. I wouldn’t call this travel size, since they make projectors the size of soda cans, but it’s certainly small and light enough to the point where it’s not a burden to take with you when you need it.
PROJECTOR PORTS
There aren’t many ports in the back of the projector. And to my surprise, it seems geared to cover old and new technology. It has an old school VGA port, composite cables, and HDMI port. It also has a USB-B input, which I guess is for connecting a computer, but I don’t really know. It has a USB-A port, which I’m guessing allows you to play files directly from a thumb drive. But honestly I didn’t test it. HDMI is really all I need, but having VGA is nice, if I ever run into an issue and need it (which is still unlikely).
There aren’t many ports in the back of the projector. And to my surprise, it seems geared to cover old and new technology. It has an old school VGA port, composite cables, and HDMI port. It also has a USB-B input, which I guess is for connecting a computer, but I don’t really know. It has a USB-A port, which I’m guessing allows you to play files directly from a thumb drive. But honestly I didn’t test it. HDMI is really all I need, but having VGA is nice, if I ever run into an issue and need it (which is still unlikely).
IMAGE QUALITY
I must say, the brightness of the projector is pretty spectacular. Our office has an open conference room with lots of windows. Our old projector required us to close the shades and turn off all the lights. The Epson projector is so bright we didn’t have to close the shades or turn off the lights. While turning off lights and closing shades is generally an option, it’s really nice to have the flexibility of being able to project something in the middle of the day, in bright conditions. Obviously, the image looks better in the dark, but this is seemingly as bright as an LCD TV.
I must say, the brightness of the projector is pretty spectacular. Our office has an open conference room with lots of windows. Our old projector required us to close the shades and turn off all the lights. The Epson projector is so bright we didn’t have to close the shades or turn off the lights. While turning off lights and closing shades is generally an option, it’s really nice to have the flexibility of being able to project something in the middle of the day, in bright conditions. Obviously, the image looks better in the dark, but this is seemingly as bright as an LCD TV.
The image quality itself is high def, so the image quality looks good, but make no mistake, this is no 4K image quality. Which frankly is fine, since what I use this for is PowerPoint presentations. Which is why I said you may not want to purchase this projector as a “home theater” projector.
While not image related, I’ll go ahead and mention the built-in speaker. This projector has a built-in speaker, which is useful in a pinch, but the audio quality is teeny. It’s better than most laptops’ speakers, but it will not replace a quality Bluetooth or dedicated speaker when playing audio.
FEATURES
Like I mentioned previously, one of the boons of this projector is its flexibility. What I mean by that is, flexibility in the types of rooms where you can use it. I’m guessing other projectors have it, but you can adjust the keystone of the image depending on the limitations of the room where you are using the projector. Say you are giving a presentation in a room where you’ve never been before; say the space is crowded or you don’t really have an option to place the projector directly in front of the screen. You can use the slider on top of the projector near the zoom and focus rings to angle the screen to the side. So, imagine placing the projector at an angle (not directly in front of a screen), you can slide the slider to compensate. So in effect, you can have the projector to the side of the screen and still have an image that looks like the projector is directly in front of the screen. Same goes for the vertical keystone. Say the table where you place the projector is lower than the screen and you don’t have anything to raise the height of the projector. You can use hte buttons on top of the projector to angle the picture up or down. Again, imagine the projector being lower than your screen. You can adjust the picture on the fly so the image is directly square (vs. the bottom corners being wider than the top).
Like I mentioned previously, one of the boons of this projector is its flexibility. What I mean by that is, flexibility in the types of rooms where you can use it. I’m guessing other projectors have it, but you can adjust the keystone of the image depending on the limitations of the room where you are using the projector. Say you are giving a presentation in a room where you’ve never been before; say the space is crowded or you don’t really have an option to place the projector directly in front of the screen. You can use the slider on top of the projector near the zoom and focus rings to angle the screen to the side. So, imagine placing the projector at an angle (not directly in front of a screen), you can slide the slider to compensate. So in effect, you can have the projector to the side of the screen and still have an image that looks like the projector is directly in front of the screen. Same goes for the vertical keystone. Say the table where you place the projector is lower than the screen and you don’t have anything to raise the height of the projector. You can use hte buttons on top of the projector to angle the picture up or down. Again, imagine the projector being lower than your screen. You can adjust the picture on the fly so the image is directly square (vs. the bottom corners being wider than the top).
Another BIG thing to add is the “zoom” feature. IF you’ve ever used a projector before, the farther away it is from the screen, the bigger the picture. The closer you move it to the screen the smaller the screen gets. Sometimes you don’t have enough space in your room to get it just right. You can use the zoom ring next to the autofocus to “widen” or “tighten” the image. I don’t know the specs of the “throw” capabilities, but the range is enough that you should be good. We presented in a smallish room and were able to widen the image to fill the screen.
The remote also has some nifty features that you can’t downplay. No there’s no buttons to flip through your presentation, but say you want to blow up some text that isn’t quite as big as you hoped when making your powerpoint. You can digitally zoom in on the screen and use the arrows on the remote to move the zoomed in portion to where you want it to be. It can feel a little clunky if you’re trying to put on a smooth presentation to impress people, but being able to zoom in on portions of a presentation to highlight something is a nice thing to have. It also has the ability to mute the screen, basically making everything black. This is perfect as it allows you to get your presentation ready, then you hit the mute button which kind of turns off the screen, but upon reactivation, you’re ready to go. In other words, you don’t have to wait for the projector to warm up or anything like that.
You can even split the screen if you have two inputs. This is one of those “cool” features, without much practical use. But it’s there. You can plug in a computer using the HDMI port and the VGA port and have the screens side-by-side.
CONCLUSION
This projector is pretty no frills, it does exactly what it does, pretty darn well. The image quality is bright enough for well lit rooms, and the keystone options and throw distances give you plenty of flexibility when using it in unfamiliar rooms. I highly recommend it for anyone who gives frequent presentations, whether in your own office or someone else’s.
This projector is pretty no frills, it does exactly what it does, pretty darn well. The image quality is bright enough for well lit rooms, and the keystone options and throw distances give you plenty of flexibility when using it in unfamiliar rooms. I highly recommend it for anyone who gives frequent presentations, whether in your own office or someone else’s.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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DJI - Air 2S Fly More Combo Drone with Remote Control - Gray
Featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor, powerful autonomous functions, and a compact body weighing less than 600 g, DJI Air 2S is the ultimate drone for aerial photographers on the move. Take this all-in-one aerial powerhouse along anywhere to experience and record your world in stunning detail.
Terrific Photo/Video Quality and FUN
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on May 10, 2021
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
For anyone interested in flying drones, whether to simply fly recreationally or to take videos and photographs, the Air 2S is the current best of both worlds. While my previous favorite drone was the Mini 2, in no large part because of its small size, and cost, the Air 2S surpasses it on features at a fair price and the imaging quality is simply miles better. Obviously the 2S is more money up front, I think the benefits gained justify the cost. I’ll also go ahead and add, do yourself a favor and get the fly more package. You’ll end up needing the additional accessories down the road (i.e. batteries, carrying case, extra propellers), so you might as well get them all upfront.
IN THE BOX
For such a small box, there’s a lot of stuff in there. You’ll find most everything in the carry bag that it comes with. There’s a battery in the drone, a charging station, power cord, small USB, a USB charger that connects into one of the battery slots of the charging station, and a power cord. There’s a smaller box that has a bunch of propellers, filters for the lens, extra thumbsticks for the controller, and two batteries. Honestly, it’s about everything you would ever need.
For such a small box, there’s a lot of stuff in there. You’ll find most everything in the carry bag that it comes with. There’s a battery in the drone, a charging station, power cord, small USB, a USB charger that connects into one of the battery slots of the charging station, and a power cord. There’s a smaller box that has a bunch of propellers, filters for the lens, extra thumbsticks for the controller, and two batteries. Honestly, it’s about everything you would ever need.
I wish the carrying case had a hard shell, but I can’t be too picky.
INITIAL SETUP
For those that are new to DJI drones, the setup is pretty straightforward, but can be a little time consuming. Not hours, but don’t just think you can go somewhere and start flying immediately. The first step is to download the DJI app. I have Android (Google Pixel 4 XL) and the app is not available on the Google Play Store (for reasons I don’t fully understand). But if you perform a Google search for “DJI Fly app,” you’ll be directed to the DJI website where you can download it. You might get a pop-up about downloading an app not from the Play Store, but just ok that action.
For those that are new to DJI drones, the setup is pretty straightforward, but can be a little time consuming. Not hours, but don’t just think you can go somewhere and start flying immediately. The first step is to download the DJI app. I have Android (Google Pixel 4 XL) and the app is not available on the Google Play Store (for reasons I don’t fully understand). But if you perform a Google search for “DJI Fly app,” you’ll be directed to the DJI website where you can download it. You might get a pop-up about downloading an app not from the Play Store, but just ok that action.
First thing you should do is charge all the batteries. Good news is that you can plug all three batteries into the charger at once. The bad news is, they don’t all charge at once. Once the first is done charging, the next is charged, and then the third. It’s not a big deal, but again, something to remember before heading out to fly.
From there you open up the app. You should have the newest version of the app. But you can always check the settings. It should download automatically.
Next, you’ll need to update the drone itself. For me, the process took about 30 minutes. The app notifies you autmoatically, but if it doesn’t, you can go into the setting menu and check for up to date firmware, etc. Again, I mention this because you’ll want to do all of this with a strong Wi-Fi network BEFORE heading out somewhere to fly.
FEATURES
If you followed its release at all, you know it comes with a large imaging sensor (which means it takes in more light) and can record in 5K resolution (albeit 24 frames per second). Basically, the larger an imaging sensor the better the photo quality. It allows more light in and less noise in the images. It also records video in 4K at 60 frames per second, which in my opinion is the best. You can get smoother footage at lower resolutions, but I am really pleased with the 4K60FPS. There are a multitude of other photo and video options. I don’t generally adjust the photo settings (sticking with auto) because I’m not a professional, but will occasionally mess with the different frame rates on videos.
If you followed its release at all, you know it comes with a large imaging sensor (which means it takes in more light) and can record in 5K resolution (albeit 24 frames per second). Basically, the larger an imaging sensor the better the photo quality. It allows more light in and less noise in the images. It also records video in 4K at 60 frames per second, which in my opinion is the best. You can get smoother footage at lower resolutions, but I am really pleased with the 4K60FPS. There are a multitude of other photo and video options. I don’t generally adjust the photo settings (sticking with auto) because I’m not a professional, but will occasionally mess with the different frame rates on videos.
One thing I’m happy to have in a drone, is the obstacle avoidance. There are sensors on the back, front, bottom (and sort of on the top) that will detect incoming objects and stop the drone. While you should always have line of sight on your drone, sometimes it’s far away and difficult to see, and you lose some depth perception. I’ve gotten my Mini 2 stuck in a tree before, but the Air 2s will detect it and stop. The controller even sends out an audible “beep” and lights the screen up with an orange bar depending on what side it detects the obstacle. This is something that is difficult to test, for fear of it not working, but I did try against a large tree and sure enough it came to a complete stop. I don’t know if it would detect a small branch. But you can feel a sense of comfort it’s not going to run into a building if you were say, flying close to it or inside a large structure.
PHOTO QUALITY AND PHOTO FEATURES
I think the photo AND video quality is top notch. I took some pictures out at a farm and some video and they turned out great, even with an overcast sky. The details were spot on. I’m a recreational flyer, so while I enjoy flying drones for the fun of it, so I’m not doing it professionally and I don’t always know what to do with my footage. I have edited them in Adobe, but that’s time consuming. Enter, Mastershots, probably my favorite new feature. It’s basically drone footage editing on the go. Once you get your drone in the air, you hit the button that looks like movie film (above the record button) which brings up some options (panorama, etc.) and includes Mastershots. Mastershots allows you to focus on an object (person or vehicle) and you can select things such as wide or medium, and what shot you want (rocket is my favorite) and the drone will fly itself and record a small clip. You can then pick some preselected templates and it will create a little montage with sound. A professional probably wouldn’t use this, but for amateurs like myself this is a fantastic feature that takes the editing out your footage.
I think the photo AND video quality is top notch. I took some pictures out at a farm and some video and they turned out great, even with an overcast sky. The details were spot on. I’m a recreational flyer, so while I enjoy flying drones for the fun of it, so I’m not doing it professionally and I don’t always know what to do with my footage. I have edited them in Adobe, but that’s time consuming. Enter, Mastershots, probably my favorite new feature. It’s basically drone footage editing on the go. Once you get your drone in the air, you hit the button that looks like movie film (above the record button) which brings up some options (panorama, etc.) and includes Mastershots. Mastershots allows you to focus on an object (person or vehicle) and you can select things such as wide or medium, and what shot you want (rocket is my favorite) and the drone will fly itself and record a small clip. You can then pick some preselected templates and it will create a little montage with sound. A professional probably wouldn’t use this, but for amateurs like myself this is a fantastic feature that takes the editing out your footage.
I also want to mention the panorama function. We all know about it, but it’s really cool to create an automatic panorama shot from high altitudes. Gives an entirely different viewpoint to landscapes that shooting on the ground just can’t replicate.
EASE OF USE/FLYING EXPERIENCE
There are three options, normal, cinematic and sport, which you can adjust with a switch directly on the face of the controller. Normal is just that, normal conditions. Cinematic makes the drone fly a little slower (hence, cinematic shots), and sport mode turns the speed up. I got the drone to hit 40 MPH, which in my opinion is pretty dang fast (relatively speaking). But you should know that the obstacle avoidance sensors are turned off when flying sport, so be careful!
There are three options, normal, cinematic and sport, which you can adjust with a switch directly on the face of the controller. Normal is just that, normal conditions. Cinematic makes the drone fly a little slower (hence, cinematic shots), and sport mode turns the speed up. I got the drone to hit 40 MPH, which in my opinion is pretty dang fast (relatively speaking). But you should know that the obstacle avoidance sensors are turned off when flying sport, so be careful!
The flying experience and ease of flying is super easy. There’s a tutorial on the device that I recommend, but even if you don’t, just test flying it at first to get familiar with the controls will give you the experience you need. It’s super fun to fly a drone and DJI’s controller is super simple to use and understand. It’s just plain fun to fly one. My only minor gripe is that sometimes my drone wouldn’t turn left or right when stationary in the air. I think it was because I had the FPS setting turned on (where the camera “banks” with the drone while flying). But there were other times when it just wouldn’t move; I would have to gain altitude to get it to move. I can’t quite explain it any better, and it very well may have been user error (could have been the obstacle avoidance sensors that stopped it from moving).
MISCELLANEOUS
Just a few other things worth mentioning. I don’t have the FPS goggles, but I noticed there’s an option to fly with the camera in FPS view. When viewing on your screen, you’ll notice the camera tilt with the direction you turn. If you’re just filming, you may not want it (although, when done right you could create some cool footage). But it seems that you can buy the FPS goggles and have a FPS experience. You won’t be able to perform crazy acrobats like you could with the DJI FPS, it’s still cool to have that option. There is a small amount of onboard storage, so you can record directly to the drone, but you’ll definitely want to get a microSD card to make sure you don’t run out of space. For those new to drone flying, I do want to mention that you will need to register this drone with the FAA ($5 for three years). You’ll also have to place the FAA registration number directly on the drone itself. I won’t get into getting a license (it’s not necessary when flying recreationally) but just know that if you haven’t flown one before, you’ll want to read up on the rules.
Just a few other things worth mentioning. I don’t have the FPS goggles, but I noticed there’s an option to fly with the camera in FPS view. When viewing on your screen, you’ll notice the camera tilt with the direction you turn. If you’re just filming, you may not want it (although, when done right you could create some cool footage). But it seems that you can buy the FPS goggles and have a FPS experience. You won’t be able to perform crazy acrobats like you could with the DJI FPS, it’s still cool to have that option. There is a small amount of onboard storage, so you can record directly to the drone, but you’ll definitely want to get a microSD card to make sure you don’t run out of space. For those new to drone flying, I do want to mention that you will need to register this drone with the FAA ($5 for three years). You’ll also have to place the FAA registration number directly on the drone itself. I won’t get into getting a license (it’s not necessary when flying recreationally) but just know that if you haven’t flown one before, you’ll want to read up on the rules.
CONCLUSION
This is by far the best drone I’ve flown. It’s easy to use, has lots of useful features, including a range of functions that aren’t overwhelming to newish users and best of all, it takes stunning photos and videos. The fly more kit is a must in my opinion, giving you pretty much every accessory you’ll likely need. Not to mention it’s so small when folded up. Not as small as the Mini 2, but it’s still amazing how compact it is.
This is by far the best drone I’ve flown. It’s easy to use, has lots of useful features, including a range of functions that aren’t overwhelming to newish users and best of all, it takes stunning photos and videos. The fly more kit is a must in my opinion, giving you pretty much every accessory you’ll likely need. Not to mention it’s so small when folded up. Not as small as the Mini 2, but it’s still amazing how compact it is.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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RAYCOP - Omni Power UV+ Cordless Stick Allergen Vacuum - White
Raycop~s most powerful full-size cordless stick vacuum to-date.
Better performance than a Dyson
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on April 29, 2021
Images for this Review
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While there are a lot of good vacuums out there, I feel like Dyson is to stick vacuums what Xerox is to copy machines. But the Raycop is a brand that is worth a look when buying a new vacuum. Especially the Omni Power model. It’s not cheap, but it’s competitively priced compared to a Dyson and you get the equivalent amount of power plus the benefit of HEPA filtration and UV cleaning brush head. All-in-all it’s a fantastic machine with only one minor quirk.
IN THE BOX
You get lots of items in the box. You get the vacuum motor/base, two brush heads (one UV, the other a dual brush), battery, charger, wall mount (and screws), telescoping hose to use standing up, and smaller attachments to use for handheld. While there’s plenty of accessories, the one I wish it had was a smaller brush head. But that’s not the end of the world.
You get lots of items in the box. You get the vacuum motor/base, two brush heads (one UV, the other a dual brush), battery, charger, wall mount (and screws), telescoping hose to use standing up, and smaller attachments to use for handheld. While there’s plenty of accessories, the one I wish it had was a smaller brush head. But that’s not the end of the world.
I also want to mention the instruction manual. I know a lot of people might skip the instructions, and you certainly don’t need it, but it’s really well laid out. It’s short and uses pictures to show how to use it. While you really only have to read it once, kudos to Raycop for making it easy to follow.
EASE OF USE
If you’ve used a stick vacuum before, Dyson or otherwise, or even if you haven’t, the Raycop is pretty intuitive. It uses colors and arrows, and stickers, to show you how to detach the accessories and empty the dust bin. It’s all pretty straightforward and easy to figure out, even without reading the instructions.
If you’ve used a stick vacuum before, Dyson or otherwise, or even if you haven’t, the Raycop is pretty intuitive. It uses colors and arrows, and stickers, to show you how to detach the accessories and empty the dust bin. It’s all pretty straightforward and easy to figure out, even without reading the instructions.
PERFORMANCE
I find the performance of this vacuum to best Dyson. The primary reason is the dual brush head. I have to mention it first because I use it the most. My house is mostly hardwood floors with some rugs and carpeting in my basement. The dual brush head has the main head that has stiff bristles (mainly used for carpeting and agitating the fibers) and a second head that looks fuzzy almost like a carpet. When I run my Dyson over hardwood, I feel like it doesn’t pick everything up, sometimes even kicking smaller particles around when the brush head hits it. When using the dual brushhead on hardwood, the second brush head (the fuzzy one) seemingly captures those types of particles and sucks it in. Bottomline, it does a much better job than my Dyson on hardwood. On carpet, I think the real world performance is comparable. The best part is that you can easily activate the second brush head with your foot by pushing down (it clicks into place) and when you go over a rug or carpet, you hit a lever with your foot and it raises out of the way.
I find the performance of this vacuum to best Dyson. The primary reason is the dual brush head. I have to mention it first because I use it the most. My house is mostly hardwood floors with some rugs and carpeting in my basement. The dual brush head has the main head that has stiff bristles (mainly used for carpeting and agitating the fibers) and a second head that looks fuzzy almost like a carpet. When I run my Dyson over hardwood, I feel like it doesn’t pick everything up, sometimes even kicking smaller particles around when the brush head hits it. When using the dual brushhead on hardwood, the second brush head (the fuzzy one) seemingly captures those types of particles and sucks it in. Bottomline, it does a much better job than my Dyson on hardwood. On carpet, I think the real world performance is comparable. The best part is that you can easily activate the second brush head with your foot by pushing down (it clicks into place) and when you go over a rug or carpet, you hit a lever with your foot and it raises out of the way.
The UV head is much like an air filter to me. I can’t really quantify how well it works and almost have to take the company at its word. I love the idea of killing bacteria and allergens with the UV head, but I simply can’t say how well it does or doesn’t work. I find myself using the dual brush head more often (see my comments re hardwood floors) and don’t use the UV head because I don’t want to vacuum the same area twice to kill bacteria that may or may not be there. But if nothing else, I love the option (assuming it works as advertised). On my carpeting, I do use the UV head more often simply for the comfort of killing bacteria and because I find the performance on carpeting between the two heads similar.
It has three power settings. There’s only one power button, so you simply hit it to cycle through what I call, level 1, 2 and 3, and then it turns off. I find the base level to be just fine, but I tend to turn it on level 3 just because I can. The light on the button changes colors to reflect the power. And the vacuum does get much louder, as you’d expect, when you turn the power up.
In sum, when it comes to the cleaning performance of a vacuum you won’t be disappointed. It’s a light vacuum that is easy to maneuver both in turns and gliding over all types of surfaces.
BATTERY LIFE
I haven’t tested the battery to see how long it lasts in one use, but I can say that I’ve been able to vacuum my entire house with one charge. Frankly, that’s all that really matters. It did die on me once during use, but that was because I’d used it multiple days over the course of a week and didn’t charge it. And I can only blame myself for that.
I haven’t tested the battery to see how long it lasts in one use, but I can say that I’ve been able to vacuum my entire house with one charge. Frankly, that’s all that really matters. It did die on me once during use, but that was because I’d used it multiple days over the course of a week and didn’t charge it. And I can only blame myself for that.
The battery is removable (most batteries in stick vacuums are) but it doesn’t require any tools. You simply push two buttons on the side of the battery to release it. Which is nice because you could theoretically buy two batteries, if the situation warrants it, and batteries do degrade over time so it’s nice having something you can easily swap out.
MINOR QUIRKS
Despite the great performance, both in suctioning power and on picking up debris on hardwood floors, the vacuum does have a few minor quirks. The top one is the charging situation. So this model comes with a nice hanging mount. The beauty is this mount holds all the attachments, which I can’t say for Dyson models. This is extremely nice. It keeps track of everything in one spot. HOWEVER, the charging cable isn’t built into the wall mount. When you want to hang it up, you have to take the plug and physically put it in the battery. This is definitely one of those first world problems, but I was used to sliding my old Dyson straight into the hanging mount and it charged automatically. Now you have to take the cable and plug it into the vacuum and then hang it. Luckily the mount has a little clip where you can store the cable, so you don’t have to lean down and pick it off the ground each time.
Despite the great performance, both in suctioning power and on picking up debris on hardwood floors, the vacuum does have a few minor quirks. The top one is the charging situation. So this model comes with a nice hanging mount. The beauty is this mount holds all the attachments, which I can’t say for Dyson models. This is extremely nice. It keeps track of everything in one spot. HOWEVER, the charging cable isn’t built into the wall mount. When you want to hang it up, you have to take the plug and physically put it in the battery. This is definitely one of those first world problems, but I was used to sliding my old Dyson straight into the hanging mount and it charged automatically. Now you have to take the cable and plug it into the vacuum and then hang it. Luckily the mount has a little clip where you can store the cable, so you don’t have to lean down and pick it off the ground each time.
The dust bin is another, again, minor quirk. You have to remove the entire dust bin from the motor base and then empty it. And you have to unscrew it. The Dyson has it beat there, where all you have to do is hit a button and a lid opens and the dirt/debris is released. Given how small the bin is (not small compared to other stick vacuums) it is a bit annoying.
Last, as mentioned, I wish it had a smaller brush head attachment. I would use one to vacuum my carpeted stairs.
To be clear, these minor quirks are not dealbreakers, the overall performance of the vacuum itself outweighs these minor issues, but they were things that came to mind when using the product as a whole.
CONCLUSION
This is a well rounded, well thought out and designed vacuum. Its performance bests a Dyson IMHO, and assuming the UV brush head works as intended, has a much desired benefit of eliminating bacteria and allergens in your house resulting in cleaner air and surfaces.
This is a well rounded, well thought out and designed vacuum. Its performance bests a Dyson IMHO, and assuming the UV brush head works as intended, has a much desired benefit of eliminating bacteria and allergens in your house resulting in cleaner air and surfaces.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
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Meet the second-gen Nest Hub from Google,~ the center of your helpful home. Stay entertained in the kitchen with shows, videos, and music. In the living room, control your compatible lights, TVs, and other smart devices with a tap or your voice. And in the bedroom, Nest Hub can help you wake up easier with a Sunrise Alarm.
Great smart home addition
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on April 7, 2021
INTRO
Whether you are invested in the Google ecosystem or just wanting to dabble in smart home tech, the newest Google Home hub is a great addition. While you aren’t getting it for it’s sound quality, you are getting a smart home hub packed with features. Not to mention a good price point. I wish the screen were bigger (and you can get the bigger model, sure) but I think the price/size is a nice balance.
Whether you are invested in the Google ecosystem or just wanting to dabble in smart home tech, the newest Google Home hub is a great addition. While you aren’t getting it for it’s sound quality, you are getting a smart home hub packed with features. Not to mention a good price point. I wish the screen were bigger (and you can get the bigger model, sure) but I think the price/size is a nice balance.
I think it’s important to mention my setup, as it is the lens in which I view the quality of any tech device. I’m heavily invested in the Google ecosystem and have multiple smart speakers, Chromecasets (both the audio and video versions) as well as smart lights and smart cameras. I wouldn’t suggest you have to have all these types of smart devices to enjoy the new hub, but it certainly is nice. Of course, I can always use my voice to change my settings (turn off lights, stream music, etc.) having a screen adds an entirely new dimension. I can now view my Arlo security camera feeds, and get an idea of what lights are on in what rooms (including their respective brightness and color), all without having to pull my phone out. Of course, your enjoyment and amount of use you’ll get all depends on your particular setup.
IN THE BOX
Pretty basic, the 7 inch hub, and a charger. I’m surprised at how small the box is, it almost seems like it doesn’t fit, but it does.
Pretty basic, the 7 inch hub, and a charger. I’m surprised at how small the box is, it almost seems like it doesn’t fit, but it does.
SETUP
It’s pretty basic and exactly the same as any other Google home device. For those that are new to smart homes, all you need to do is make sure you have the Google Home app installed on your phone (iPhone or Android). From their, you the plus sign at the top left of your screen to add it to your home (of course, after you plug it in). From there, your phone should find it, and you’ll be prompted to take a picture of the QR code shown on the screen itself. After that, you can name it, and assign it to a room. If this is your first time setting up a smart home product, I highly recommend assigning it to a room in the event you add other smart devices at a later time. Doing so with each and every device helps organize your devices and makes it easier to use your voice (i.e. turn off the lights in the living room).
It’s pretty basic and exactly the same as any other Google home device. For those that are new to smart homes, all you need to do is make sure you have the Google Home app installed on your phone (iPhone or Android). From their, you the plus sign at the top left of your screen to add it to your home (of course, after you plug it in). From there, your phone should find it, and you’ll be prompted to take a picture of the QR code shown on the screen itself. After that, you can name it, and assign it to a room. If this is your first time setting up a smart home product, I highly recommend assigning it to a room in the event you add other smart devices at a later time. Doing so with each and every device helps organize your devices and makes it easier to use your voice (i.e. turn off the lights in the living room).
There will of course be the tutorials, where onscreen prompts will guide you on how to control your hub and how to swipe from screen to screen etc.
FEATURES
As I mentioned, the features available to you depends a lot on your home setup and what services you use. For example, if you use Google Duo for video calls, you’ll be able to use the hub to make calls (NOTE: this hub DOES NOT have a camera, so your calls will be audio only). IF you subscribe to a music service, like Pandora or YouTube Music, then you’ll be able to stream music. If you don’t have an account with any of those services, then obviously you won’t be able to stream music. But if you don’t subscribe or use these services now, there’s nothing stopping you from signing up for them (in some instances for free) to get the most out of your hub.
As I mentioned, the features available to you depends a lot on your home setup and what services you use. For example, if you use Google Duo for video calls, you’ll be able to use the hub to make calls (NOTE: this hub DOES NOT have a camera, so your calls will be audio only). IF you subscribe to a music service, like Pandora or YouTube Music, then you’ll be able to stream music. If you don’t have an account with any of those services, then obviously you won’t be able to stream music. But if you don’t subscribe or use these services now, there’s nothing stopping you from signing up for them (in some instances for free) to get the most out of your hub.
I will give a run down of what I use the hub for, and what else it has to offer (don’t quote me on an exhaustive list). Tracking sleep, streaming music, streaming videos (but not from every streaming service), showing Google searches (think recipe instructions), playing games (I haven’t done that yet), controlling smart devices in your house.
EASE OF USE
I find using the hub to be somewhat intuitive, but it’s different from my Google Pixel. It’s a bit jarring at first because the gesture swipes aren’t the same as my phone, but once you play with it for a few moments (and watch the tutorials) it all starts to make sense.
I find using the hub to be somewhat intuitive, but it’s different from my Google Pixel. It’s a bit jarring at first because the gesture swipes aren’t the same as my phone, but once you play with it for a few moments (and watch the tutorials) it all starts to make sense.
STREAMING MUSIC
The sound quality is nothing to write home about. It’s acceptable, but don’t expect high end audio. It gets loud enough for small rooms, but don’t expect room filling sound. At the end of the day, I stream music to Google speakers for the sake of convenience, not because of sound quality. That’s not an indictment, it’s a reality. Just don’t expect the best sound.
The sound quality is nothing to write home about. It’s acceptable, but don’t expect high end audio. It gets loud enough for small rooms, but don’t expect room filling sound. At the end of the day, I stream music to Google speakers for the sake of convenience, not because of sound quality. That’s not an indictment, it’s a reality. Just don’t expect the best sound.
CONTROLLING SMART DEVICES
Putting aside voice commands, the hub puts all of your smart home devices at your fingertips. Frankly, given all the devices I have, I find this invaluable and frankly, one the biggest reasons to get it. It’s one thing to say “turn off lights in X room”, but to have to do it multiple times is annoying. Being able to look at a screen and to see what lights are on where, and toggling them is nice. It’s also nice to be able to see my security camera feeds (which is obviously impossible with the standard Google Nest speaker).
Putting aside voice commands, the hub puts all of your smart home devices at your fingertips. Frankly, given all the devices I have, I find this invaluable and frankly, one the biggest reasons to get it. It’s one thing to say “turn off lights in X room”, but to have to do it multiple times is annoying. Being able to look at a screen and to see what lights are on where, and toggling them is nice. It’s also nice to be able to see my security camera feeds (which is obviously impossible with the standard Google Nest speaker).
SLEEP TRACKING
The new touted feature is sleep tracking. As a snorer who bothers my wife, this feature was intriguing but not the purpose of me wanting this hub. I can say that it works, sort of. I have to admit, I can only compare it to my Fitbit, and while the “numbers” (like how long I was asleep) isn’t the exact same, it’s relatively close. Sleep tracking works by using Google’s Soli sensor (which is like a radar device). When you set up your hub, you have to set the time you want to go to bed and go to sleep. Once that time hits, and you get in bed, the screen dims and the tracking begins. My issues with the sleep tracking are primarily that the screen has to stay on my nightstand, facing me. The screen dims so it doesn’t keep me awake, but I prefer to have the screen of my hub in a central room in the house, like my kitchen, so I can use it for recipes. But back to the tracking, it also records your snoring (if you snore) which can serve as proof if you don’t believe your spouse when he/she claims you were snoring the night before. It gives you an idea of your movements, again, tracking you with the Soli radar chip. My problem is I don’t know what to do with the data. It won’t magically make you get better sleep. But it’s value is helping to recognize problems, like snoring, and holding you accountable about the time you go to sleep. It’s sort of a nice feature, but shouldn’t be the reason why you buy it. And again, there’s something odd about having a bright screen so close to you on your night stand (even though it dims when you’re sleeping).
The new touted feature is sleep tracking. As a snorer who bothers my wife, this feature was intriguing but not the purpose of me wanting this hub. I can say that it works, sort of. I have to admit, I can only compare it to my Fitbit, and while the “numbers” (like how long I was asleep) isn’t the exact same, it’s relatively close. Sleep tracking works by using Google’s Soli sensor (which is like a radar device). When you set up your hub, you have to set the time you want to go to bed and go to sleep. Once that time hits, and you get in bed, the screen dims and the tracking begins. My issues with the sleep tracking are primarily that the screen has to stay on my nightstand, facing me. The screen dims so it doesn’t keep me awake, but I prefer to have the screen of my hub in a central room in the house, like my kitchen, so I can use it for recipes. But back to the tracking, it also records your snoring (if you snore) which can serve as proof if you don’t believe your spouse when he/she claims you were snoring the night before. It gives you an idea of your movements, again, tracking you with the Soli radar chip. My problem is I don’t know what to do with the data. It won’t magically make you get better sleep. But it’s value is helping to recognize problems, like snoring, and holding you accountable about the time you go to sleep. It’s sort of a nice feature, but shouldn’t be the reason why you buy it. And again, there’s something odd about having a bright screen so close to you on your night stand (even though it dims when you’re sleeping).
PRIVACY CONCERNS
I have to mention privacy. I’m not one that’s too worried about privacy in smart home devices, but I completely understand the concerns of others. I think it’s important to note that this hub does NOT have a camera. And it has a physical mute button on the back that you can easily find and toggle on or off. And the best thing is when it is muted, you get a notification on your screen so you know for certain if the microphone is on or off. Google claims to only store sleep tracking data on the device itself. I can only take Google at its word on that. But assuming that’s true, it’s super easy to delete that data. In fact, if you look at your sleep data in the morning, there’s a button right there that gives you the option to delete it. Putting aside any broad concerns or skepticism about Google’s privacy problems, the hub seems to take it seriously, so you can be confident that it’s not listening or otherwise saving data you don’t want it to.
I have to mention privacy. I’m not one that’s too worried about privacy in smart home devices, but I completely understand the concerns of others. I think it’s important to note that this hub does NOT have a camera. And it has a physical mute button on the back that you can easily find and toggle on or off. And the best thing is when it is muted, you get a notification on your screen so you know for certain if the microphone is on or off. Google claims to only store sleep tracking data on the device itself. I can only take Google at its word on that. But assuming that’s true, it’s super easy to delete that data. In fact, if you look at your sleep data in the morning, there’s a button right there that gives you the option to delete it. Putting aside any broad concerns or skepticism about Google’s privacy problems, the hub seems to take it seriously, so you can be confident that it’s not listening or otherwise saving data you don’t want it to.
CONCLUSION
This is a terrific all around smart home hub. Even if it’s the only smart thing you have, it’s nice to have to play music, look at recipes, make hands free speaker calls. And if you have smart home devices to control, it’s even more versatile. The sleep tracking is a nice addition, but it still requires you to take action with the data it gives you.
This is a terrific all around smart home hub. Even if it’s the only smart thing you have, it’s nice to have to play music, look at recipes, make hands free speaker calls. And if you have smart home devices to control, it’s even more versatile. The sleep tracking is a nice addition, but it still requires you to take action with the data it gives you.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+2points
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Shure - MV7 Dynamic Cardioid USB Microphone - Silver
The Shure MV7 is a professional-quality USB/XLR dynamic microphone, ideal for close mic applications that require vocal intelligibility with a balanced tone. A touch panel interface on the microphone itself provides control over microphone gain, headphone level, monitor mix, and muting, and the ShurePlus MOTIV Desktop Application allows users to save their own presets or enable auto-gain, compression, and EQ presets for easy real-time audio processing. The attractive and durable all metal design features an adjustable yoke that can be mounted onto a variety of microphone stands for flexible placement options.
Terrific Microphone
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on March 19, 2021
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
I always think it’s helpful to explain why/how I use a particular product to help explain my perspective. I’m a legal professional who conducts a lot of business over Zoom, and I create Presentations and videos used as exhibits. These tasks require me to have great sound. So while I’m not recording music or creating a podcast, I still rely on high end audio products (and other things) to create high end material. With that being said, the Shure microphone has been a significant upgrade to the microphone built into my Logitech webcam. I’m no audio engineer or otherwise audio professional so keep that in mind. I’m generally speaking to those like me with limited to no knowledge in microphones.
IN THE BOX
You will find the microphone, a mini-USB to USB-A cable as well as a mini-USB to USB-C cable. What it doesn’t have, and this is important to first time microphone buyers, is a stand. It does have an XLR output for those who want to record in analog.
You will find the microphone, a mini-USB to USB-A cable as well as a mini-USB to USB-C cable. What it doesn’t have, and this is important to first time microphone buyers, is a stand. It does have an XLR output for those who want to record in analog.
SETUP
In terms of plugging it into your computer, it’s straightforward. (I don’t have the necessary equipment to use the XLR output, so I’m not mentioning it here). Your computer should recognize it immediately. You can visit the Shure website to download their MOTIV software, which gives you “advanced” controls.
In terms of plugging it into your computer, it’s straightforward. (I don’t have the necessary equipment to use the XLR output, so I’m not mentioning it here). Your computer should recognize it immediately. You can visit the Shure website to download their MOTIV software, which gives you “advanced” controls.
The more important thing to remember in the setup, is that you’ll need either a table/desk stand or boom arm. I actually went with a boom arm because I don’t use my microphone everyday and the arm keeps it at the ready, but also out of the way. And I kind of like having it on my desk for the aesthetics. You can purchase either option at Shure, or Amazon. The stand or boom arm isn’t expensive.
There is also a headphone output. For those that don’t know, you can plug in a set of headphones so you can hear yourself talk (as well as the background audio, i.e. hearing someone else talk on a Zoom call). That allows you to know how loud, or how clear, your voice is or isn’t.
CONTROLS
The controls are touch sensitive. I’m not a huge fan, but they certainly work fine. I just like the tactics of physical buttons. But that’s an extremely minor issue. Once the microphone is tuned, via the Shure desktop software or otherwise, there’s really not a reason to use them other than mute. But the controls are volume and gain. You have to hit a microphone/headphone button to toggle between which setting the slider controls. Other than that, there’s no other buttons. (which isn’t a bad thing, this microphone looks slick and professional).
The controls are touch sensitive. I’m not a huge fan, but they certainly work fine. I just like the tactics of physical buttons. But that’s an extremely minor issue. Once the microphone is tuned, via the Shure desktop software or otherwise, there’s really not a reason to use them other than mute. But the controls are volume and gain. You have to hit a microphone/headphone button to toggle between which setting the slider controls. Other than that, there’s no other buttons. (which isn’t a bad thing, this microphone looks slick and professional).
DESKTOP SOFTWARE
The Shure software itself is pretty bare bones. It’s software that runs in the background. It has natural presets like mic position (near or far), adjusting the monitoring mix (whether your voice or the playback sounds is louder in your headphones) and dark natural or bright tones. There’s also manual settings, but there’s not much there to control. There is a mic gain slider, EQs, limiter toggle button and compressor buttons. Frankly, for me, a newbie to professional microphones, these settings didn’t matter to me (at least not yet).
The Shure software itself is pretty bare bones. It’s software that runs in the background. It has natural presets like mic position (near or far), adjusting the monitoring mix (whether your voice or the playback sounds is louder in your headphones) and dark natural or bright tones. There’s also manual settings, but there’s not much there to control. There is a mic gain slider, EQs, limiter toggle button and compressor buttons. Frankly, for me, a newbie to professional microphones, these settings didn’t matter to me (at least not yet).
PERFORMANCE
As I mentioned before, I’m a legal professional. Court hearings, calls with clients, etc. have all been held over Zoom. My ability to be heard and sound great is a priority. This microphone fits the bill. I’ve literally gotten compliments about how well I sound. That’s a testament to this microphone. I’ve also used it to record narrations for legal videos. I went from sounding like I was recording a voice with the wind blowing to documentary level sound (I’m speaking in relative terms here, I’m by no means a documentary film maker).
As I mentioned before, I’m a legal professional. Court hearings, calls with clients, etc. have all been held over Zoom. My ability to be heard and sound great is a priority. This microphone fits the bill. I’ve literally gotten compliments about how well I sound. That’s a testament to this microphone. I’ve also used it to record narrations for legal videos. I went from sounding like I was recording a voice with the wind blowing to documentary level sound (I’m speaking in relative terms here, I’m by no means a documentary film maker).
EDITING
I’ve used Audacity to narrate over background music. I’ve also used this microphone to record narrations directly into Adobe Premiere, with the latter being my preferred choice to ease of use. But using this microphone was dead simple with Audacity. My only concern was that when I plugged the microphone in, after Audacity was opened. It didn’t seem to recognize it. But once I restarted the application it worked every time. It’s not been an issue since, since I leave it plugged in the whole time.
I’ve used Audacity to narrate over background music. I’ve also used this microphone to record narrations directly into Adobe Premiere, with the latter being my preferred choice to ease of use. But using this microphone was dead simple with Audacity. My only concern was that when I plugged the microphone in, after Audacity was opened. It didn’t seem to recognize it. But once I restarted the application it worked every time. It’s not been an issue since, since I leave it plugged in the whole time.
CONCLUSION
If you care about the quality of your virtual conference calls or have ambitions to create your own podcast (or narrate stories), this Shure microphone should be high on your list. The microphone itself is built extremely well, it has the flexibility of having an XLR output (in case you either have or later upgrade to a mixing board) and sounds fantastic. I highly recommend it if you’re in the market for a new computer microphone. It will greatly enhance your presentations/talks/conversations, etc.
If you care about the quality of your virtual conference calls or have ambitions to create your own podcast (or narrate stories), this Shure microphone should be high on your list. The microphone itself is built extremely well, it has the flexibility of having an XLR output (in case you either have or later upgrade to a mixing board) and sounds fantastic. I highly recommend it if you’re in the market for a new computer microphone. It will greatly enhance your presentations/talks/conversations, etc.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dell - Inspiron 24" Touch-Screen All-In-One - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 512GB SSD
Unleash your creativity with this all-in-one Dell Inspiron desktop computer. The 23.8-inch Full HD display delivers detailed visuals and offers smooth touch operation, while the 512GB SSD minimizes load times, letting you jump into work sessions quickly. This Dell Inspiron desktop computer has an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM for running multiple programs simultaneously. Built in webcam, microphone, and speakers to win at conference calls.
Excellent All Around Computer
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on March 11, 2021
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
This Dell AIO is a great mid level computer that is perfect for daily tasks. It’s not a full on gaming PC (but you’d be surprised how well it does), but for everyday workflow (i.e. virtual meetings, sending emails, creating documents, etc.) it does extremely well. Especially if you’re upgrading from a laptop, you’ll love the larger screen. It has a sharp design with a small footprint and plenty of ports. I don’t generally use a touchscreen on a desktop, but it certainly has its uses. All-in-all, if you are in need of a basic computer with a large screen, you can’t go wrong. Plus it’s a Dell, so you know you have a quality computer with good support.
IN THE BOX
The box is pretty minimalist (a good thing). You get the computer, a mouse and full size keyboard with a 9 button number pad to the right. Also, the power cable.
The box is pretty minimalist (a good thing). You get the computer, a mouse and full size keyboard with a 9 button number pad to the right. Also, the power cable.
SETUP
If you’ve ever set up a Windows PC in the last few years, this will be familiar territory. And even if you haven’t, it’s still dead simple. You simply plug the power source in, put the batteries in the wireless mouse and keyboard, turn it on (I will admit, the power button is difficult to find, but it’s underneath the built in speaker bar to the right). From there you follow the steps of connecting to Wi-Fi, creating or logging into your Microsoft account and you should be off and running.
If you’ve ever set up a Windows PC in the last few years, this will be familiar territory. And even if you haven’t, it’s still dead simple. You simply plug the power source in, put the batteries in the wireless mouse and keyboard, turn it on (I will admit, the power button is difficult to find, but it’s underneath the built in speaker bar to the right). From there you follow the steps of connecting to Wi-Fi, creating or logging into your Microsoft account and you should be off and running.
I was surprised, but not really because it is a Dell, that it came with limited bloatware (i.e. extra programs you’ll never use). It came with the standard Dell assistant software (not smart assistant, but software to help troubleshoot and upgrade your firmware, etc.), Office 365 and McAfee virus protection. Compared to most PC manufacturers, including Alienware (owned by Dell) there was very minimal bloatware. I did delete McAfee, which came with a free trial, but I knew I wasn’t going to purchase. Other than deleting that program, the computer was basically a clean slate of base software.
GENERAL USAGE AND PERFORMANCE
Briefly, I’ll cover the main specs of this computer (not going into much detail since they’re listed on the website). It has a full HD screen, which frankly, at 24 inches is all you need. Anything that’s QHD or 4K, really needs a bigger screen (i.e. TV size) to really get the benefits). Full HD is more than adequate for this computer and frankly, text and icons look sharp and detailed. I have zero qualms with the quality of the screen. There’s 16 GB of RAM (random access memory) which, generally speaking, allows you to have more programs and browser windows open without sacrificing performance. There’s a 512 GB SSD which is frankly, big enough for the vast majority of people. On the back there are three USB 3.0 inputs (think faster USB transfer speeds) and one USB 2.0 speed (slower USB transfer speeds, best for printers or controllers or USB headphones that aren’t transferring data). There’s only one USB-C type port (which is super speed). I wish it had more of those since most electronics are moving to the USB-C standard, albeit, it will take a while to be universal. There’s even an HDMI out port and HDMI in port. These HDMI ports can be extremely useful. You can plug in a second monitor or a projector into the HDMI out, and you can use the HDMI in to plug in, say, a video game console (for those in a small room) to act as a screen. There’s even a full SD card slot on the back which is extremely helpful in transferring photos from my DSLR, but I do wish it was on the side or front. There’s also an ethernet port which I recommend using for internet stability if you can run a cable from your router to it. One of the cooler features is the webcam. It’s hidden at the top of the screen. To access it, you simply push down and it pops up. If you want a physical privacy screen (so you know no one has hacked it and is looking at you) you can pop it back down out of sight.
Briefly, I’ll cover the main specs of this computer (not going into much detail since they’re listed on the website). It has a full HD screen, which frankly, at 24 inches is all you need. Anything that’s QHD or 4K, really needs a bigger screen (i.e. TV size) to really get the benefits). Full HD is more than adequate for this computer and frankly, text and icons look sharp and detailed. I have zero qualms with the quality of the screen. There’s 16 GB of RAM (random access memory) which, generally speaking, allows you to have more programs and browser windows open without sacrificing performance. There’s a 512 GB SSD which is frankly, big enough for the vast majority of people. On the back there are three USB 3.0 inputs (think faster USB transfer speeds) and one USB 2.0 speed (slower USB transfer speeds, best for printers or controllers or USB headphones that aren’t transferring data). There’s only one USB-C type port (which is super speed). I wish it had more of those since most electronics are moving to the USB-C standard, albeit, it will take a while to be universal. There’s even an HDMI out port and HDMI in port. These HDMI ports can be extremely useful. You can plug in a second monitor or a projector into the HDMI out, and you can use the HDMI in to plug in, say, a video game console (for those in a small room) to act as a screen. There’s even a full SD card slot on the back which is extremely helpful in transferring photos from my DSLR, but I do wish it was on the side or front. There’s also an ethernet port which I recommend using for internet stability if you can run a cable from your router to it. One of the cooler features is the webcam. It’s hidden at the top of the screen. To access it, you simply push down and it pops up. If you want a physical privacy screen (so you know no one has hacked it and is looking at you) you can pop it back down out of sight.
I found the general performance to be good, not great. But I’m talking in degrees. If you’ve never used a high end gaming PC with top of the line parts, this computer will seem blazingly fast. If you have used a higher end PC, some actions will seem a bit slower than others, but not my much. Nothing that will cause you frustration to the point of wanting to throw your computer, but it slows down a bit on occasion. For example, when turning the PC on, it gets to the login screen quickly, but it takes a few extra beats to get running so to speak after logging in. Again, I’m not talking minutes, but I also use an Alienware desktop that puts most computers to shame, so I’m a bit spoiled in that regard.
In terms of real word usage, I rely on Outlook, Chrome, Word, Excel, and Zoom on a daily basis. After everything was installed and I signed into each respective program, I was off and running without any issues. And the 24 inch screen was a pleasure. I use a 34 inch widescreen monitor at work, and while I wish I had one at home, the 24 inch screen is SOOO much better than working off a 15 inch laptop. I love the extra real estate and it’s plenty to get my work done.
The monitor is a touch screen, which I appreciate, but for my workflow and usage, I rarely use it. My kids did use it with the Paint 3D program and loved digital finger painting. I mention this because I found the screen to be pretty responsive, although it doesn’t seem to be multitouch. What I mean by that is, yes, you can use two fingers to pinch and zoom (like your phone), but you couldn’t use two fingers to “paint” two different lines at the same time. Not sure if that matters to anyone, I can’t think of an application where I would need to do that, but wanted to mention it.
OTHER TIDBITS
The webcam quality, like virtually every other built in webcam in a computer, is of “blah” quality. Sure, it looks ok, and will perform admirably for family Zoom/Skype/Google Meetings calls, but in my profession, I prefer higher resolution with the ability to digitally zoom in and out. Point being, when I use this computer I use a separate webcam. But unless you have to have, or really want, a higher end webcam, this one is perfectly fine. What I did like about it was the WIndows Hello, which I’ve known about for a long time, but finally tried it out (think facial recognition like in an Apple phone) that unlocks your computer. That feature performed remarkable well and I want to set that up in all of my computers.
The webcam quality, like virtually every other built in webcam in a computer, is of “blah” quality. Sure, it looks ok, and will perform admirably for family Zoom/Skype/Google Meetings calls, but in my profession, I prefer higher resolution with the ability to digitally zoom in and out. Point being, when I use this computer I use a separate webcam. But unless you have to have, or really want, a higher end webcam, this one is perfectly fine. What I did like about it was the WIndows Hello, which I’ve known about for a long time, but finally tried it out (think facial recognition like in an Apple phone) that unlocks your computer. That feature performed remarkable well and I want to set that up in all of my computers.
Gaming. I said earlier this isn’t a gaming PC, but it performs pretty well for what it is. It has a built in, or “integrated” graphics card. Generally speaking, integrated graphics cards won’t run high end games (at least not at the graphical fidelity seen in gaming PCs and consoles). And I don’t know much about Intel Iris Xe graphics, and won’t reveal my ignorance talking about it on a technological level, but I can speak to its general performance. My kids mostly play Lego games (think Batman LEGO, Marvel Lego, etc.). We played together and while these aren’t graphics intensive games, they looked pretty darn good. There was no visual screen tearing and no slowdowns whatsoever. I tried out Anno 1800 (a real time strategy game) which is slow paced but has a lot of detailed graphics, and it too, performed really well. I didn’t experience any slowdowns and was pleasantly surprised with the performance. I didn’t try out any fast and furious first person shooters, but I would expect them to play reasonably well, with the graphics settings, set to somewhat minimum standards.
I also want to mention the sound. I was not only pleasantly surprised, but frankly, blown away by the sound from the built in soundbar. There’s no deep base that you would get from a subwoofer, but the speaker gets extremely loud and sounds really crisp. It’s not going to do surround sound, but watching movies, playing games and video conference calls all sounded better than you would expect. So high marks there.
My only real gripe is the keyboard and mouse. They’re wireless, which is great, but for someone who types almost everyday, I prefer the “clickiness” that a mechanical keyboard provides. This is a complaint with every computer you buy as they all seemingly come with cheap keyboards. I would recommend looking into upgrading the keyboard and mouse at some point, although there’s nothing wrong with the one in the box. It does at least come with a full number keypad to the right and in terms of the stability of the connection between the computer and mouse and keyboard, I had no issues.
CONCLUSION
This is a terrific all-in-one computer that can do a lot. It performs basic computer tasks really well, and is good enough to watch movies, and play games. It’s like a swiss army knife, doing a lot of things well, but not necessarily excelling in any one area, which is okay. For most people that’s all you need. Especially if you want or need a computer with a bigger screen than what a laptop can offer. And the simplicity of having everything built in is a big plus for those that don’t want to deal with a separate computer tower and monitor.
This is a terrific all-in-one computer that can do a lot. It performs basic computer tasks really well, and is good enough to watch movies, and play games. It’s like a swiss army knife, doing a lot of things well, but not necessarily excelling in any one area, which is okay. For most people that’s all you need. Especially if you want or need a computer with a bigger screen than what a laptop can offer. And the simplicity of having everything built in is a big plus for those that don’t want to deal with a separate computer tower and monitor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+20points
22out of 24found this review helpful.
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The Sonance Mag Series 2.1-channel outdoor rock speaker system is a $1,300 value.~ Bundle includes (2) MAGMR6 satellite rock speakers and (1) MAGMR10W rock woofer. ~ Elevate your outdoor soundscape with the Sonance MAGROCKS2.1 Outdoor Rock Speaker System, a premium 2.1-channel setup designed to disappear into natural surroundings while delivering crystal-clear audio. This weather-resistant outdoor speaker system includes two 6.5" satellite rock speakers and a powerful 10" rock woofer, offering high-fidelity performance across patios, gardens, and open-air spaces. With its rugged fiberglass-reinforced enclosures and realistic stone-like finish, the MAGROCKS2.1 system blends seamlessly into landscaping while withstanding UV rays, heat, rain, snow, and poolside splashes. Whether you're entertaining guests or enjoying a quiet evening outside, this discreet outdoor sound system fills your space with rich, dynamic sound, featuring clear highs, smooth mids, and immersive low frequencies. Built for seamless compatibility with leading platforms like Sonos, Bluesound, and Denon HEOS, the MAGROCKS2.1 is simple to install and scales effortlessly with your outdoor audio system. From casual backyard listening to rich, all-encompassing outdoor audio, Sonance delivers performance you can hear but not see.
Great sounding speakers that blend in well
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on March 8, 2021
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I have a decent size backyard and am always dragging a bluetooth speaker out there whenever friends come over, or whenever I’m out doing yardwork. The Sonance outdoor speakers are a great addition to my yard as they sound terrific. They are borderline too loud. At full volume with the right receiver they can rock your neighbors. The main consideration when looking to purchase these is placement and how to power them. These aren’t “smart” speakers, so on the one hand, they don’t require an AC outlet (they’re powered by speaker wires), but that can complicate the installation depending on your setup. Luckily for me, someone who lived in my house before me installed speaker posts outside, so other than extending the speaker wires, I was all set. If that type of install is outside your wheelhouse, I do have some suggestions.
IN THE BOX
The box is gigantic and heavy. This is a testament to the quality and durability of the speakers. What’s inside are the two satellite speakers, the subwoofer, instruction manual and a plate that you screw onto the bottom of the subwoofer after you install the speaker wires to provide more protection from the environment.
The box is gigantic and heavy. This is a testament to the quality and durability of the speakers. What’s inside are the two satellite speakers, the subwoofer, instruction manual and a plate that you screw onto the bottom of the subwoofer after you install the speaker wires to provide more protection from the environment.
THE LOOK AND BUILD QUALITY
These rock speakers look pretty good. I don’t think they’re going to fool anyone into thinking they’re actually rocks, but in terms of outdoor aesthetic, they can easily blend into your yard.
These rock speakers look pretty good. I don’t think they’re going to fool anyone into thinking they’re actually rocks, but in terms of outdoor aesthetic, they can easily blend into your yard.
I haven’t had them long enough to go through a major rain or snow/ice storm, but they seem like they’ll hold up. The material is extremely durable and at virtually every seam where water might get in, Sonance has a thick layer of clear adhesive that acts as a sealant. So I can say for certain how well they’ll hold up, they look pretty promising based on looks/weight, etc. alone.
SETUP
Just speaking generally, the set up is easy. There are speaker wires coming out of each of the satellite speakers. They plug into the bottom of the sub (similar to plugging speaker wires into a receiver) in the output (either speaker can be the L or R channel). From there, you plug in the corresponding speaker wire from your receiver into the input channels underneath the sub.
Just speaking generally, the set up is easy. There are speaker wires coming out of each of the satellite speakers. They plug into the bottom of the sub (similar to plugging speaker wires into a receiver) in the output (either speaker can be the L or R channel). From there, you plug in the corresponding speaker wire from your receiver into the input channels underneath the sub.
What gets complicated, as I alluded to earlier, is the running wires from your receiver or other powered amp to the location of your speakers in your yard. You also have to keep in mind the length of speaker wires coming from each satellite speaker. My big knock on these speakers is that I think the speaker wires built into the satellite speakers aren’t long enough, essentially forcing you to keep the satellites close to the sub. Now, you can easily extend the length of the wires by buying outdoor rated speaker wires and splicing them together, but it would have been nice if the wires were longer out of the box.
So to have the cleanest look possible, you either need to have a covered porch with a receiver protected from the elements, or install what I have, and that is speaker binding posts on the outside wall. So I have a receiver in my living room and there are speaker binding posts on the wall. That binding post connects to the binding posts that is outside, installed in the outside wall of my house. I then have wires running from the receiver to the speaker binding posts on the inside of my house, and then have wires running from the outside posts to the Sonance subwoofer (and the speaker wires from the satellite speakers plug into the sub).
Obviously, if the speakers are further away from your house, and say, directing sound towards your house, you will need to make some modifications like using more outdoor speaker wires to get to the satellite speakers from your sub. If you have enough space in your yard to keep the satellite speakers and sub relatively close together, it’s not a problem.
SUGGESTED SETUP
One thing I came up with while first testing these speakers was using a smaller amp. You can see it in one of my pictures. If I kept this setup, I would still have to bring the amp in and out from the house when I wanted to use my speakers. I would simply plug the little amp into the outside power outlet, connect the speaker wires, and then plug in my input (I use Google Chromecast to cast music, and this plugs directly into my little amp). It’s not ideal, as you still have to carry something in and out of the house like I did with my bluetooth speaker, but the rock speakers stay stationary and the sound quality is much better (i.e. louder) than the bluetooth speaker). But you could also get a waterproof housing for the little amp and attach it to the exterior wall or hide it in a bush. Just a suggestion.
One thing I came up with while first testing these speakers was using a smaller amp. You can see it in one of my pictures. If I kept this setup, I would still have to bring the amp in and out from the house when I wanted to use my speakers. I would simply plug the little amp into the outside power outlet, connect the speaker wires, and then plug in my input (I use Google Chromecast to cast music, and this plugs directly into my little amp). It’s not ideal, as you still have to carry something in and out of the house like I did with my bluetooth speaker, but the rock speakers stay stationary and the sound quality is much better (i.e. louder) than the bluetooth speaker). But you could also get a waterproof housing for the little amp and attach it to the exterior wall or hide it in a bush. Just a suggestion.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Whether you take the mini amp approach or connect it to a receiver inside your house or in a covered porch, you still have to think about how you play music. The easiest way to get started, is the old fashioned, plug an audio source into the receiver and then when you want to change the song or adjust the volume, walk up to the receiver and make the changes. This for me wasn’t ideal. I have Google Chromecasts and Nest speakers throughout my house, so I wanted to incorporate multi-room audio with the rock speakers. As I said earlier, these aren’t smart speakers so you cannot simply connect your phone to them. What I recommend is plugging in some sort of smart device into your receiver (i.e. Chromecast, Fire TV, etc) and then set the receiver to that input, make sure the receiver is outputting to the correct speakers (my receiver has Zones, so Zone 1 is the indoor speakers for TV watching, Zone 2 are the outdoor speakers) and then I case to the Chromecast which outputs music through the receiver to my outdoor speakers.
Whether you take the mini amp approach or connect it to a receiver inside your house or in a covered porch, you still have to think about how you play music. The easiest way to get started, is the old fashioned, plug an audio source into the receiver and then when you want to change the song or adjust the volume, walk up to the receiver and make the changes. This for me wasn’t ideal. I have Google Chromecasts and Nest speakers throughout my house, so I wanted to incorporate multi-room audio with the rock speakers. As I said earlier, these aren’t smart speakers so you cannot simply connect your phone to them. What I recommend is plugging in some sort of smart device into your receiver (i.e. Chromecast, Fire TV, etc) and then set the receiver to that input, make sure the receiver is outputting to the correct speakers (my receiver has Zones, so Zone 1 is the indoor speakers for TV watching, Zone 2 are the outdoor speakers) and then I case to the Chromecast which outputs music through the receiver to my outdoor speakers.
SOUND QUALITY
Sound quality is arguably the reason to get these speakers. They sound phenomenal. They can get extremely loud, but no matter the volume, I found the music to be balanced with enough bass and lots of clarity. I’m no audiophile, but they really do just sound good. Like virtually all Sonance products. They are also great for watching movies. We sometimes watch movies outdoors (I run a long HDMI cable through a window from my receiver to the projector) and use the rock speakers for my 2.1 sound. Again, the sound is terrific. It was nice setting up an outdoor movie night and having one less thing to worry about: the sound.
Sound quality is arguably the reason to get these speakers. They sound phenomenal. They can get extremely loud, but no matter the volume, I found the music to be balanced with enough bass and lots of clarity. I’m no audiophile, but they really do just sound good. Like virtually all Sonance products. They are also great for watching movies. We sometimes watch movies outdoors (I run a long HDMI cable through a window from my receiver to the projector) and use the rock speakers for my 2.1 sound. Again, the sound is terrific. It was nice setting up an outdoor movie night and having one less thing to worry about: the sound.
CONCLUSION
I’m not a whiz in the outdoor speaker market, and I’m sure there are smart outdoor speakers that could make for a more simplified setup, but I’m guessing they're even more expensive than the Sonance rocks. And remember, with any smart speakers, they generally need to all be plugged into an AC outlet which can cause it’s own setup issues. It very much depends on your outdoor space, but if you have a place where you can “hide” some rock speakers and are willing to go through the setup (you only have to set it up once) you won’t be disappointed.
I’m not a whiz in the outdoor speaker market, and I’m sure there are smart outdoor speakers that could make for a more simplified setup, but I’m guessing they're even more expensive than the Sonance rocks. And remember, with any smart speakers, they generally need to all be plugged into an AC outlet which can cause it’s own setup issues. It very much depends on your outdoor space, but if you have a place where you can “hide” some rock speakers and are willing to go through the setup (you only have to set it up once) you won’t be disappointed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+21points
22out of 23found this review helpful.
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Philips One by Sonicare is an ultra-portable electric toothbrush that keeps your smile bright. Always be ready to touch up your smile, no matter where the day takes you. Designed with you in mind, Philips One is a big step up from manual brushing.
Perfect for those looking to upgrade manual brush
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on March 8, 2021
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Small and compact. Good value, and better than a “standard brush” but pales in comparison to the higher end models. I admit that I am a longtime Sonicare user and a huge fan. I’ve owned several over the years, and now have a second one (the E model) that lives in my travel bag. This one appeals to me because of the price point and its smaller size.
IN THE PACKAGE
You get the toothbrush and a traveling case. A AAA battery is included and is already inside the toothbrush. This obviously includes one toothbrush head. You also get a travel case that the toothbrush sits snugly inside of.
You get the toothbrush and a traveling case. A AAA battery is included and is already inside the toothbrush. This obviously includes one toothbrush head. You also get a travel case that the toothbrush sits snugly inside of.
EASE OF USE
Dead simple. Push the button. Once you hit it, you get “micro” vibrations and it will run automatically for two minutes. Of course, if you want to disobey your dentist’s advice, you can hit the power button to turn it off before the timer ends.
Dead simple. Push the button. Once you hit it, you get “micro” vibrations and it will run automatically for two minutes. Of course, if you want to disobey your dentist’s advice, you can hit the power button to turn it off before the timer ends.
BUILD AND DURABILITY
Like all Sonicare toothbrushes, the build quality is exceptional. This toothbrush is much smaller than past Sonicare iterations which is nice for travel. It has a “rubbery” coating to it which is nice for gripping. But this same coating is on the case, and that thing looks dirty after a couple uses. Not a big deal, but it looks well worn after just a couple of uses.
Like all Sonicare toothbrushes, the build quality is exceptional. This toothbrush is much smaller than past Sonicare iterations which is nice for travel. It has a “rubbery” coating to it which is nice for gripping. But this same coating is on the case, and that thing looks dirty after a couple uses. Not a big deal, but it looks well worn after just a couple of uses.
QUALITY OF BRUSHING EXPERIENCE
It’s quite apparent that the Philips One is a direct response to companies like Quip, who sell electric toothbrushes at basement bottom prices. I’ve never used Quip, but thought about switching based on the price of replacement heads that my current Sonicare Diamond costs. I never did, but thought this Philips One could be the unicorn of brush quality and price. It’s not, but that doesn’t mean don’t get it. If you currently use a higher end Sonicare you might be disappointed, but if you’re upgrading from a manual toothbrush, I highly recommend it.
It’s quite apparent that the Philips One is a direct response to companies like Quip, who sell electric toothbrushes at basement bottom prices. I’ve never used Quip, but thought about switching based on the price of replacement heads that my current Sonicare Diamond costs. I never did, but thought this Philips One could be the unicorn of brush quality and price. It’s not, but that doesn’t mean don’t get it. If you currently use a higher end Sonicare you might be disappointed, but if you’re upgrading from a manual toothbrush, I highly recommend it.
The micro vibrations just don’t feel as powerful as the more expensive Sonicare models. You still get a “clean teeth” feeling, but my teeth didn’t feel quite as smooth and polished as the higher end models. And what I mean by smooth feeling, I can assure you that you will notice a big difference moving up to any electric toothbrush from a manual one, you just run your tongue over your teeth and you feel the difference. I still felt like my teeth were clean with the Philips One, it wasn’t like it didn’t work, but they didn’t feel as clean as my Sonicare Diamond. Which I guess is expected given the price point. I would imagine the comparison is the same between Quip and the Sonicare Diamond
CONCLUSION
If you are currently using a manual toothbrush, this is a no brainer. I consider the Philips One to be the budget model electric car. It is better than what you have, and the price point makes it hard not to upgrade. If, however, you are using a higher end Sonicare model, say the E-series, and are looking to upgrade or otherwise get a toothbrush with cheaper replacement heads, you could be in for disappointment. And that shouldn’t be seen as a negative, they are just different levels of quality.
If you are currently using a manual toothbrush, this is a no brainer. I consider the Philips One to be the budget model electric car. It is better than what you have, and the price point makes it hard not to upgrade. If, however, you are using a higher end Sonicare model, say the E-series, and are looking to upgrade or otherwise get a toothbrush with cheaper replacement heads, you could be in for disappointment. And that shouldn’t be seen as a negative, they are just different levels of quality.
What I can say is, at a minimum, the Philips One is a great addition for travel. It’s much smaller than the spare E-series I take when I travel which is a big plus. And while I’ve been harping on the difference in cleaning ability, my teeth certainly will be okay using the Philips One while traveling. And the 90 day battery life is a big plus for traveling which means I don’t also have to pack the E-series’ charging base, which is more added bulk.
But if you are looking to save money with the cheaper replacement heads, the Philips One is a nice balance of price and cleaning power.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+29points
29out of 29found this review helpful.
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Get organized fast with the WorkForce ES-500W II wireless duplex desktop document scanner. This reliable, easy-to-use performer speeds through scans up to 35 ppm/70 ipm1, capturing both sides of each sheet in one pass. Its 50-sheet Auto Document Feeder allows you to breeze through stacks of documents of varying sizes. Intuitive Epson ScanSmart Software2 means you can easily preview, email and upload your scans. The included TWAIN driver ensures compatibility with most document management software. Wirelessly scan to cloud storage accounts2 and create searchable PDFs. You can also scan directly from your mobile device using the Epson Smart Panel app3. Color and image adjustment features such as auto crop, staple protection, dirt detection and paper-skew correction help ensure remarkable image quality.
Excellent All Purpose Scanner
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on February 7, 2021
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I work in the legal profession, which involves scanning a lot of documents. I also scan a lot of personal items (receipts, medical records, etc.). What matters most to me is: 1) speed, 2) accuracy, and 3) quickly navigating to the place where I save my scanned documents. This Epson scanner checks all those boxes and more.
While this scanner has Wi-Fi, I typically keep it on my desk next to my computer and it's plugged in via USB. But with Wi-Fi, you have the ability to keep it further away from your computer (out of USB range) or if you are interested in simply scanning documents to a shared folder (i.e. Dropbox, etc.) You can do that and bypass the computer entirely. For me, I need to use my computer to pick where I want to save documents so I need to interface with my computer, but I can definitely see the direct to shared folder access (thru your phone) as a boon to some.
IN THE BOX
Is the scanner itself (folded up into a compact device and secured with tape), USB 3.0 cable, and power cord.
Is the scanner itself (folded up into a compact device and secured with tape), USB 3.0 cable, and power cord.
SETUP
Really simple. I removed the tape holding the scanner together and plugged in the power cord and USB cable to my desktop. Note that I am using a Windows computer. Windows then did it’s thing of preparing the device for use. That was successful. From there, I went to Google and searched the model number of the scanner for the software. (I was not prompted to download anything after plugging the scanner into my computer). I went to the Epson website and made my way to the support site. From there I downloaded the “Driver and Utilities Combo Package Installer.”
Really simple. I removed the tape holding the scanner together and plugged in the power cord and USB cable to my desktop. Note that I am using a Windows computer. Windows then did it’s thing of preparing the device for use. That was successful. From there, I went to Google and searched the model number of the scanner for the software. (I was not prompted to download anything after plugging the scanner into my computer). I went to the Epson website and made my way to the support site. From there I downloaded the “Driver and Utilities Combo Package Installer.”
I let that download and install. From opening the box until installing the software was about 10 minutes.
DESIGN AND BUTTONS
First a few things on the design. I found this scanner to be pretty compact out of the box and pretty attractive (relatively speaking). It has a number of buttons on the front that, honestly, I couldn’t tell what they were at first (outside of the obvious blue power button and Wi-Fi button). But the buttons are Power, WPS, Wi-Fi on and off, Slow Mode, Scan, Stop and NFC. Since I don’t use Wi-Fi, I pretty much only hit power and the scan button. I haven’t had the need to stop a scan and I don’t know the purpose of the Slow Mode (although I’m sure there’s a reason/benefit for it).
First a few things on the design. I found this scanner to be pretty compact out of the box and pretty attractive (relatively speaking). It has a number of buttons on the front that, honestly, I couldn’t tell what they were at first (outside of the obvious blue power button and Wi-Fi button). But the buttons are Power, WPS, Wi-Fi on and off, Slow Mode, Scan, Stop and NFC. Since I don’t use Wi-Fi, I pretty much only hit power and the scan button. I haven’t had the need to stop a scan and I don’t know the purpose of the Slow Mode (although I’m sure there’s a reason/benefit for it).
But the compact-ness goes out the door when you open up the scanner to reveal the feed trays. It ends up taking up quite a bit of desk space. This is typical, and should be expected, but it was a bit jarring to see the scanner get so big with the trays extended. But I simply slide the trays in when not using. Having to pull the trays out is no big deal.
USE AND QUALITY
So the Epson scanning software is pretty solid. I found it to be pretty intuitive. I mentioned earlier, what I look for in a scanner is the ease in which you go from hitting the scan button to saving the document to the right folder. Once you hit the scan button, a screen pops up (meaning you don’t have to manually open the scanning software). From there, you type in the name of the file, click a button to change the folder, then hit save. It’s really about as easy as it gets. For comparison’s sake, my old Brother scanner required me to open the software, click on several buttons, then scan, then a few more buttons to save it. Not to mention there was no option to save to a shared folder. It wasn’t the worst thing to have to do, but I appreciate the Epson experience because it saved me time, and when you’re scanning high volumes of documents, every little bit matters.
So the Epson scanning software is pretty solid. I found it to be pretty intuitive. I mentioned earlier, what I look for in a scanner is the ease in which you go from hitting the scan button to saving the document to the right folder. Once you hit the scan button, a screen pops up (meaning you don’t have to manually open the scanning software). From there, you type in the name of the file, click a button to change the folder, then hit save. It’s really about as easy as it gets. For comparison’s sake, my old Brother scanner required me to open the software, click on several buttons, then scan, then a few more buttons to save it. Not to mention there was no option to save to a shared folder. It wasn’t the worst thing to have to do, but I appreciate the Epson experience because it saved me time, and when you’re scanning high volumes of documents, every little bit matters.
In terms of scanning performance, this thing flies. I’m not going to recite the pages it scans per minute (I didn’t time it), but I will just say that it flies. I put a 50 page, double-sided document (black and white text) and it scanned all 100 pages in no time. If I had to guess, it was 30-45 seconds. The scans weren’t crooked and the resolution looked great. Another thing to mention for those who aren’t generally familiar with scanners outside of scanning one sheet at a time on glass, this Epson scanner (like a lot of dedicated desktop scanners) scan double-sided with one pass. No more do you have to flip the lid open and turn the page over, or hope that your printer/copier doesn’t jam when flipping the paper over to scan both sides of the page.
I do want to mention OCR and the scanning of business cards. It comes with software that allows you to archive business cards by simply scanning them. You can change the settings as to what it captures. It will then send the information directly to Google Contacts, Outlook contacts, etc. and create a contact. It’s pretty convenient.
It also processes and OCR’s (optical character recognition) text when scanning. It will scan the document and then perform OCR on the document right then and there (vs using Adobe PDF to run OCR after the fact). I don’t generally run OCR on my PDFs, primarily because I haven’t incorporated it into my workflow, but it’s nice that it does it automatically. I will say however, the OCR recognition is a little off. Sometimes it didn’t get the words right. This wasn’t an issue for me because I don’t use it, but I notice for some documents with different sized characters and different fonts on the same page, it had some difficulties. I’ve heard if you increase the default resolution of the scans, however, it will help.
I’ve scanned photos (on white paper, not actual photo prints) and colored documents and found the quality to be acceptable. 9 times out of 10, I had zero qualms with the quality of the color photos. Every now and then though, the edges would be a little blurry. But even in those small instances, the document was perfectly legible so it didn’t bother me. But I mention this in case you will be scanning a lot of photos, etc.
CONCLUSION
If you scan frequently or scan in bulk, a dedicated desktop scanner with intuitive software is a big productivity booster. And this Epson fits the bill. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s very much worth it. I have yet to experience any snags, any jams, etc. It’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it (papers with holes, torn edges from staples, legal size documents, etc). It’s not the most exciting piece of tech out there, but honestly, I can’t live without it anymore.
If you scan frequently or scan in bulk, a dedicated desktop scanner with intuitive software is a big productivity booster. And this Epson fits the bill. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s very much worth it. I have yet to experience any snags, any jams, etc. It’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it (papers with holes, torn edges from staples, legal size documents, etc). It’s not the most exciting piece of tech out there, but honestly, I can’t live without it anymore.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Mobile Submission: False
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
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JAXJOX - Kettlebell - Adjustable Kettlebell - Cool Gray
The JAXJOX Kettlebell is a six-in-one digital adjustable kettlebell ranging from 12-42 lbs. Select your weight with a touch of a button.
Versatile, but app mileage will vary
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on February 1, 2021
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I've been a long time weightlifter. Not professionally, but I've grown up lifting weights. I'm not a gym rat lifting everyday, but I know my way around working out. Ever since the pandemic hit I've been trying to make a better home gym. The JAXJOX adjustable kettleball is a great addition to my adjustable dumbbells and indoor cycling machine. With it being adjustable, you obviously don't need multiple kettleballs. However, the downside is that the kettleball is pretty big, even when set at the lowest weight. The app isn't required, but there are enough classes to get you started. The reason I say started: at $12.99, it's yet another subscription. For me, the kettleballs are expensive enough that I would have liked to see some free workouts (i.e. maybe a list of workouts to perform with a short video tutorial a la Bowflex's dumbbells). I just can't justify another $10+ monthly subscription right now. That's not to say the classes aren't any good, quite the opposite, much like Peloton, the instructions are great and really keep you motivated and help encourage you. But at the end of the day, you're either going to be motivated or not. No app, whether free or paid, will put on your workout clothes.
IN THE BOX AND INITIAL SETUP
The box is large and heavy. It comes with the dumbbell, the base, a USB-C cable, and obviously the weights. There are 5 weights and they all have to be stacked in the correct order. There's a handy tip sheet in the box that explains it. The plates are numbered 1-5 so you really can't mess it up. It's simple. But I did have some confusion connecting the dumbbells to the app.
The box is large and heavy. It comes with the dumbbell, the base, a USB-C cable, and obviously the weights. There are 5 weights and they all have to be stacked in the correct order. There's a handy tip sheet in the box that explains it. The plates are numbered 1-5 so you really can't mess it up. It's simple. But I did have some confusion connecting the dumbbells to the app.
When I first opened the box, I knew where I wanted the kettleball to be, but I didn't have a plug nearby. So to speed it up, I thought I would charge the base. I did. Unplugging the cable after the base was charged. But then when I stacked the weights, the screen would turn on, but nothing would happen.
I finally figured out, through trial and error, that there is a battery in the kettleball shell. I needed to put it on the stand and charge both it and the base. After I let it charge, the app quickly found it and it was working as expected. I just wish the language in the instructions (which I honestly could have overlooked) was a little more clear in that both need to be charged.
BATTERY AND CHARGING
Before I go into use and the app, I wanted to mention that it's battery powered. Of course, you could leave it plugged in all the time, but if you're like me, I don't have an outlet near the kettleball. My options are to either hall the entire 48 pounds closer to an outlet or use an extension cable. Neither are ideal, but it's not the end of the world.
Before I go into use and the app, I wanted to mention that it's battery powered. Of course, you could leave it plugged in all the time, but if you're like me, I don't have an outlet near the kettleball. My options are to either hall the entire 48 pounds closer to an outlet or use an extension cable. Neither are ideal, but it's not the end of the world.
I found the battery to drain pretty quickly, relatively speaking. I charged it, worked out a couple of times, and the next week the battery was low. I am not quarreling with the battery life, frankly, that type of battery length isn't bad, but again, depending on your setup, charging might prove cumbersome. You can luckily use it while it's plugged in, so unlike wireless headphones you forgot to charge, when the battery is dead you can at least plug it in and still be able to workout. Again, this is by no means a dealbreaker, just something to think about when planning where you might put the kettleball in your home workout area.
USE
Assuming it's charged, it's a breeze to use. There are only two buttons on the front screen, an arrow pointing left and an arrow pointing right. You simply push the buttons to get to the weight you want. It ranges from 12-48 pounds and goes in 6 pound increments. You will hear a beep when it's safe to lift the kettleball.
Assuming it's charged, it's a breeze to use. There are only two buttons on the front screen, an arrow pointing left and an arrow pointing right. You simply push the buttons to get to the weight you want. It ranges from 12-48 pounds and goes in 6 pound increments. You will hear a beep when it's safe to lift the kettleball.
Just for clarification, the kettleball changes the weight when a "corkscrew" inside the handle turns and locks the desired weights into position (hence why the handle has a battery too).
As I mentioned earlier, the kettleball is pretty big, but that's understandable. Obviously a straight 48 pound dumbbell is pretty large in and of itself, but it feels a little jarring to be picking up a large sized 12 pound weight. I'm a 6'4" male, so I don't find the size of the kettleball to cause any issues. I'm not sure it would for smaller persons, but it's something to keep in mind. I'm confident anyone can adjust to the size, and if you've never used a kettleball before, then you won't know the difference.
JAXJOX APP
I like the app. It's very intuitive, easy to understand, and easy to navigate. Once the kettleball is charged, it's easy to add it as a device (I assume the same is true for their other products). What I really like is the schedule function. It gives you the ability to pick what classes you want to take and put them on a calendar for reminders. It's a good way to hold yourself accountable. It's much easier to make yourself workout when it's on your calendar, vs. relying on willpower alone with no schedule (at least for me).
I like the app. It's very intuitive, easy to understand, and easy to navigate. Once the kettleball is charged, it's easy to add it as a device (I assume the same is true for their other products). What I really like is the schedule function. It gives you the ability to pick what classes you want to take and put them on a calendar for reminders. It's a good way to hold yourself accountable. It's much easier to make yourself workout when it's on your calendar, vs. relying on willpower alone with no schedule (at least for me).
The workouts are divided into "skills," "classes," and "programs." The skills are a nice way to introduce you to the proper form of lifting kettleballs (well, how to perform specific exercises/moves). The programs selection is pretty much nonexistent. There's one and it's a six week course. I haven't tried it, but much like why I like the calendar function, I think having a program that is 6 week long will really force you to complete it. The classes are similar to Peloton, you pick the class based on instructor or types of workouts. There aren't a ton of classes (at least when compared to say Peloton), but there's plenty there to get you started and I'm certain they'll be adding more. The types of classes are labeled SWEAT, STRONG and RESTORE. To me, that's like cardio, strength and stretching. The classes range from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. I found the instructors to be engaging and encouraging. They are great especially for beginners.
MY FINAL THOUGHTS
I think a kettleball, and and adjustable one at that, is a great addition to any home gym. Kettleball workouts have tremendous benefits (I've heard you spend less time working out with them than traditional weights with the same benefits). I don't think JAXJOX is unreasonably priced. If the app was required to own them, I might pause at recommended it. I think the app definitely has value, and the classes there are great, but it's one more subscription service to pay for, and at least for me, the benefits quickly run out. Frankly, there's only so many moves you can perform with kettleballs. Although I really do like the preloading and prescheduling of classes to provide you with some structure to help ensure you meet your goals. For me, I just don't see $12.99 a month subscription for kettleball workouts to be worth it. That's not to say you wouldn't like them, even if you don't think you would subscribe and your looking at these kettleballs, I would certainly take advantage of the free month. You may ultimately find that it's worth it. Even if you don't go the app route, these kettleballs work great without it and for that reason alone, I would highly recommend them for those looking to expand their home gym, or start a new one. Just keep in mind the charging situation, you'll want a plug or an extension cord nearby.
I think a kettleball, and and adjustable one at that, is a great addition to any home gym. Kettleball workouts have tremendous benefits (I've heard you spend less time working out with them than traditional weights with the same benefits). I don't think JAXJOX is unreasonably priced. If the app was required to own them, I might pause at recommended it. I think the app definitely has value, and the classes there are great, but it's one more subscription service to pay for, and at least for me, the benefits quickly run out. Frankly, there's only so many moves you can perform with kettleballs. Although I really do like the preloading and prescheduling of classes to provide you with some structure to help ensure you meet your goals. For me, I just don't see $12.99 a month subscription for kettleball workouts to be worth it. That's not to say you wouldn't like them, even if you don't think you would subscribe and your looking at these kettleballs, I would certainly take advantage of the free month. You may ultimately find that it's worth it. Even if you don't go the app route, these kettleballs work great without it and for that reason alone, I would highly recommend them for those looking to expand their home gym, or start a new one. Just keep in mind the charging situation, you'll want a plug or an extension cord nearby.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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