callmeageeth
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- First AnswerJune 23, 2014
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Ninja - Foodi TenderCrisp 6.52qt Digital Pressure Cooker - Black
Ninja Foodi's TenderCrisp pressure cooker allows you to achieve all the quick cooking and tenderizing wonders that you love about pressure cookers. The Foodi's Crisping Lid allows you to air fry, bake/roast, and broil. That means you can give your tender, juicy pressure-cooked meals a golden, crispy finish. The secret is TenderCrisp Technology, which produces the perfect combination of heat, fan velocity, and air circulation to give your food even crisping from top to bottom.
Swiss army knife use, but bulky
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on October 9, 2018
Images for this Review
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First, I'm no chef. I can make basic items and have a few go to recipes, but I largely stay in my comfort zone. When I look at new cooking appliances what helps me decide whether to get it is if it comes with recipes and ideas. Sure, you can perform an internet search, but I like having a cookbook to go with the appliance (that I store right next to it) to give me inspiration. I've always been pleased with Ninja products, not only because of their quality, but they're detailed, easy to follow recipes/instructions on how to use their devices and make delicious food. The Foodi is no exception.
SUMMARY
This is one versatile machine. You can roast a chicken, steam vegetables, cook pasta, make cheesecake, and cook frozen chicken tenders. It does it all. The only drawback, and it can be a big one depending on your living space, is the size of it. This thing is MASSIVE. It takes up even more space when you take into account the steaming tray and pressure cooking lid.
This is one versatile machine. You can roast a chicken, steam vegetables, cook pasta, make cheesecake, and cook frozen chicken tenders. It does it all. The only drawback, and it can be a big one depending on your living space, is the size of it. This thing is MASSIVE. It takes up even more space when you take into account the steaming tray and pressure cooking lid.
EASE OF USE
The controls seem a little confusing or daunting at first, but I promise if you spend a little time with the manual/instructions it will all make sense. I generally just "figure" electronics and such out, but I needed to review the manual to fully understand how this baby works and it was for the best. Once you learn how to cook certain foods (obviously depending on your preference) and how the machine does it, then the controls become extremely intuitive and make sense. You just need to put a little work in at the front end educating yourself. You definitely should not be scare away if you think it's too difficult to use, it's easy to learn.
The controls seem a little confusing or daunting at first, but I promise if you spend a little time with the manual/instructions it will all make sense. I generally just "figure" electronics and such out, but I needed to review the manual to fully understand how this baby works and it was for the best. Once you learn how to cook certain foods (obviously depending on your preference) and how the machine does it, then the controls become extremely intuitive and make sense. You just need to put a little work in at the front end educating yourself. You definitely should not be scare away if you think it's too difficult to use, it's easy to learn.
RECIPES/INSTRUCTIONS
As I said, I'm big on recipes for cooking appliances. The Foodi comes with a great quick guide on how to cook basic things like cooking frozen chicken nuggets, or steaming broccoli. It also has a separate recipe book that has lots of suggestions. I didn't count the recipes but there's enough for you to please any eater. And if you're like me, you'll find the few you like and rotate them. I'm sure at some point I will need to venture out of my comfort zone (i.e. away from the recipe book) but that's okay. After using it a number of times, I feel comfortable in knowing the basics on how to cook various frozen items or pasta for example.
As I said, I'm big on recipes for cooking appliances. The Foodi comes with a great quick guide on how to cook basic things like cooking frozen chicken nuggets, or steaming broccoli. It also has a separate recipe book that has lots of suggestions. I didn't count the recipes but there's enough for you to please any eater. And if you're like me, you'll find the few you like and rotate them. I'm sure at some point I will need to venture out of my comfort zone (i.e. away from the recipe book) but that's okay. After using it a number of times, I feel comfortable in knowing the basics on how to cook various frozen items or pasta for example.
EASE OF MAKING QUICK MEALS
I cannot emphasize how easy it is to make complete meals and side dishes. It reminds me of the rotisserie oven on TV who's slogan was "set it and forget it." This baby does all the work. It will make the food and keep it warm until you're ready to serve. To make mac and cheese for example, you add the water and pasta into it, pressure cook it (which takes like 5 minutes) and then you throw the cheese in and broil for 15 minutes or so and voila, done. It takes like 3 steps. Steaming vegetables, which I enjoy, is so simple. Rather than boil pot in a water, put in a strainer and cover it with a lid and wait 20 or so minutes, you simply put the steaming basket in, the veggies, however many cups of water, and set it to pressure cook for 8 minutes (or so) and voila. Done. You don't have to test it, or go back and check on it, you throw the water and veggies in "set it and forget it."
I cannot emphasize how easy it is to make complete meals and side dishes. It reminds me of the rotisserie oven on TV who's slogan was "set it and forget it." This baby does all the work. It will make the food and keep it warm until you're ready to serve. To make mac and cheese for example, you add the water and pasta into it, pressure cook it (which takes like 5 minutes) and then you throw the cheese in and broil for 15 minutes or so and voila, done. It takes like 3 steps. Steaming vegetables, which I enjoy, is so simple. Rather than boil pot in a water, put in a strainer and cover it with a lid and wait 20 or so minutes, you simply put the steaming basket in, the veggies, however many cups of water, and set it to pressure cook for 8 minutes (or so) and voila. Done. You don't have to test it, or go back and check on it, you throw the water and veggies in "set it and forget it."
What's even more impressive is the ability to cook an entire meal AT ONCE. There's a recipe for steak, potatoes and asparagus. You can literally cook it all at one time. No more worrying about a burner here, a steak over there, oven there, it's all at once. Now granted, I do prefer a steak off the grill, but do not discount the flavor and quality of pressure cooking a steak. Sure it's not quite as good as a grill, but it's still delicious.
ONE DRAWBACK
The only drawback is the size of the device. Even though it's borderline gargantuan, I don't think it takes a star off the rating. It's big for a reason and it can cook a lot of food at once. But you do absolutely have to take the size of the Foodi into account when making the purchase. If you already use an Instant Pot, this will replace it. But it's footprint is much larger. It would also replace an air fryer if you have it. While I was literally able to donate my air fryer and Instant Pot after getting this, I still had trouble storing it. it wouldn't fit in my cabinet even though both my air fryer and the Instant Pot would (at the same time). If you don't care about kitchen space, or having it on the counter, or have so much space it doesn't matter then obviously, disregard this paragraph.
The only drawback is the size of the device. Even though it's borderline gargantuan, I don't think it takes a star off the rating. It's big for a reason and it can cook a lot of food at once. But you do absolutely have to take the size of the Foodi into account when making the purchase. If you already use an Instant Pot, this will replace it. But it's footprint is much larger. It would also replace an air fryer if you have it. While I was literally able to donate my air fryer and Instant Pot after getting this, I still had trouble storing it. it wouldn't fit in my cabinet even though both my air fryer and the Instant Pot would (at the same time). If you don't care about kitchen space, or having it on the counter, or have so much space it doesn't matter then obviously, disregard this paragraph.
CONCLUSION
For those that are new to cooking, want to cook healthy, want an easy way toi cook meals, or are simply looking for a device to replace several, this Foodi is as good as it gets. I own quite a few Ninja products for several years and I can say they hold up well overtime. I do not have any reliability issues. Not saying the Foodi is free of any problems long term, but if it's anything like my Ninja blender, food processor or coffee maker, you have nothing to worry about in that regard. This device is truly a joy to use...once you find a place for it in your kitchen.
For those that are new to cooking, want to cook healthy, want an easy way toi cook meals, or are simply looking for a device to replace several, this Foodi is as good as it gets. I own quite a few Ninja products for several years and I can say they hold up well overtime. I do not have any reliability issues. Not saying the Foodi is free of any problems long term, but if it's anything like my Ninja blender, food processor or coffee maker, you have nothing to worry about in that regard. This device is truly a joy to use...once you find a place for it in your kitchen.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ultimate Ears - MEGABOOM 3 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker with Waterproof/Dustproof Design - Night Black
Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a supremely powerful, portable wireless speaker. It blasts loud, clear, and powerful 360° sound with deep thundering bass. And it is insanely waterproof, dustproof, and drop proof too. Combined with one-touch music controls, and stunning, two-tone, high-performance fabric, the ultimate party starter has been redefined.
Durable, Loud and Great 360 Sound
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 28, 2018
Ultimate Ears (Logitech) continues making great Bluetooth speakers. The MegaBoom 3 is a great package of portability, great sound, battery life, and rugged-ness.
DESIGN and CONTROL
This is a great design. It's a nice looking cylinder that is about the same shape as the original Amazon Echo, which isn't a bad thing. The design allows for 360 audio. The buttons are easy to use, there's the large volume up and down which you'll use the most (you can't miss them) the power button and the single button in the middle that allows for pause, fast forward and rewind. While I do like having dedicated buttons to go to the next song and rewind, etc. having one dedicated button to perform all function (that you use with multiple presses) is just fine as most people, myself included, use their phone to control the music.
It has a nice little cloth hook that you can attach a carabiner to in order to clamp it to say, a backpack, which I appreciate. It's not heavy, but manages to have impeccable build quality. The fabric surrounding the speaker gives it a premium feel and is tightly woven in a way to hide/mask or even eliminate marks or scuffs from a fall (I dropped it on my driveway by accident).
DURABILITY and WATERPROOF
The main attraction in my mind is the fact that the speaker is waterproof. It literally floats in the water while playing music. While I don't think that's the best way to project sound, it is just so nice NOT to worry about damaging your speaker. Most people I would imagine use Bluetooth speakers outside, in the elements. Some are better for camping or by the pool, others need to be isolated from the elements so you don't damage them. This thing can be taken anywhere without fear of damage. If it drops in the pool or lake, no big deal. Out in the rain? No big deal. That is a great feature for someone on the move. As I said, I dropped it on my driveway, and it didn't get a dent or scuff. While I haven't taken it on a hiking/camping trip, I will certainly do so next time. I have no doubts it would be a great companion.
SOUND QUALITY
Bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen. While I wouldn't buy a speaker that didn't have decent quality, I tend to buy them based on features, since most of them in 2018 have great sound, especially to the non-audiophile. This speaker is no exception. I was impressed by the sound. Even more so by the 360 degree sound. I know Bose and maybe other companies have done it before (Amazon) but this was my first experience. It's great to place the speaker in the middle of the room or in the middle of your group and have sound coming from all sides rather than one. It really does enhance the usefulness of the speaker. If you're going to place it against the wall, this feature is moot, but if you were going to keep a Bluetooth speaker indoors on a bookshelf all the time, I might look at other options. The bass doesn't rock the house, but it's not intended too. It provides clear balanced sound that is impressive to me.
BATTERY LIFE
It's all day. I haven't listened to it for 20 straight hours, but I've gone days without recharging it with periodic use on most days. It's more than adequate and is borderline fantastic. All day life for a speaker is what you should be looking for if you ever intend on traveling/hiking/camping with a speaker.
CONCLUSION
Bottomline, if you need a waterproof and durable speaker and/or like to entertain outside this is a great option and I highly recommend it. It isn't powerful enough to be your speaker at a loud tailgate, but for smaller settings it is more than adequate in terms of sound level. And you can't beat the battery life, assuming you charge it before you use it, it will not die before you decide to turn it off.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sony - WH-1000XM3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones with Google Assistant - Silver
Listen to tunes in peace with these Sony headphones. Their noise-canceling processor blocks out background noise so you can fully enjoy your playlist, and the Smart Listening feature adjusts noise-canceling levels based on your activity. Quickly charge these Sony headphones in only 10 minutes to provide 30 hours of battery life. Industry Leading Noise Cancellation. *As of August 30, 2018. According to research by Sony Corporation measured using JEITA-compliant guidelines. In headband-style of wireless noise-canceling headphones market.
Quiet and Pillowy Soft
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 27, 2018
I have always been a Bose fan because I like noise cancelling headphones. I like being able to shut out the world and focus and Bose always had the best headphones. The Bose QC35IIs are great, but I think I can say that Sony might have them beat.
DESIGN
These are sharp executive looking headphones. They have a clean look and I like the "copper" accents. They are subtle yet stylish. I appreciate the clean look. The buttons that you use (power and noise cancelling/ambient noise) are easy to locate when in use. They adjust easily and stay in place.
FIT AND COMFORT
I describe these as pillowy soft because they are. The ear cushions have a supple quality about them that scream comfort. It's like having two pillows pushed against your head. The ear cups sit around the ear well and stay put on your head. I generally get hot wearing over the ear headphones (of any brand) for an extended period of time but not these Sonys. I can get a little hot outside depending on the weather, but for just general indoor use I've yet to get hot. In fact, I really do forget I'm wearing these. The cushioned headband is also really nice and adds to the comfort level.
SOUND and NOISE CANCELLING
This is the bread and butter and why you should buy these headphones if you're in the market. I thought Sony did a great job of creating a balanced sound. With the noise cancelling chip, the headphones just create a pure sound that brings out details in music that you haven't heard before. I'm no audiophile, but the sound is a nice balance of highs and lows. These don't "thump" like other headphones (Even the Sony high bass models) but they don't need to. You're not going to put these on and wish you had more bass. Whether it's hip hop, classical, country or alternative rock, these headphones produce a fantastic sound across the board that is a pleasure. The noise cancellation I must say is second to none. It's a treat to have a lot of background noise with traffic, and then put these on and it's like you're in a sound proof booth. yes, if someone is near you and talking to you, you can hear the mumbles (you couldn't carry on a conversation) but in terms of blocking out background noise it's scary good. I don't know much about the technical details, but it just works.
BATTERY AND FEATURES
The headphones come with a nice carrybag which is a must for something this expensive. The carrying bag is nearly identical in size to the Bose brand headphones and that's a good thing. These are relatively large headphones, but they fold flat in a way that makes them about as compact as they can get. The case also includes a short USB C charging cable and AUX cable (and two prong flight adapter which I appreciate the thought, but I can't remember the last time I was on a flight with one). One of my favorite features is USB C. I know that sounds silly, but I like to travel light and I hate carrying more cables than necessary. My phone uses USB C and now I can use the same cable. I don't use the AUX port much, relying on Bluetooth, but I still like having it just in case. The battery charges pretty quickly and seems to last forever. I can't say it gets 20 hours as advertised because I've never listened to them for 20 straight hours, but I've gone weeks with on and off use (I don't use them every single day) and still have battery to spare. They have the option to turn off noise cancelling which allows outside sound in, which works as advertised, you can talk to people that way even though it's weird that you're wearing headphones, but to me, that defeats the purpose of noise canceling headphones.
PERFORMANCE
Lastly, I'm sensitive to a headphones Bluetooth performance. Does it skip? With some smaller headphones with smaller BT chips, you can see some skipping. I have experience some skipping with these headphones, at times, I'm guessing because of outside BT interference, but it is by no means AT ALL a deal breaker. It is in a sense, something you have to deal with in any BT headphones. I can say the range is phenomenal. Most of the time when I'm listening to music my phone is in my pocket, but I was able to walk many feet and rooms away from my phone without the music skipping. this isn't a big deal to me, because again, I generally keep my phone with me in my pocket, but if you were using them with a computer and walked away, you can take some comfort that you can walk away without losing your tunes.
CONCLUSION
There's a new noise cancelling sheriff in town. These Sony cans, while pricey, are, I believe, the best in town in terms of noise cancelling performance. there might be better high end audio performing headphones, but they won't beat the noise cancelling and I promise for the average to above average music listener, these are well more than adequate regarding music quality. One more thing, in terms of taking calls, these work just fine, although I generally disconnect BT when getting a call. I prefer to hold a phone to my head. But if you take calls with headphones, in my experience these performed well with no drops and good call quality.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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WD - Blue 500GB Internal SSD SATA
Handle storage demands with this Western Digital SATA solid-state drive. Its 560MB/s read speed and 530MB/s write speed are suitable for intensive applications, and its 2.5-inch form factor fits most desktops and laptops. The solid-state drive has no moving parts, making the drive resistant to shock to protect your data. Includes the WD SSD Dashboard to keep track of the drive's status.
Fast SSD
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 11, 2018
If you have a laptop with a HDD, do yourself a favor and upgrade to a SSD. You'll never go back. It's basically common knowledge at this point, but if you don't know, SSDs is the easiest and best thing you can do to speed up the performance of your computer. In most cases they are easy to install. In terms of describing the write/read speed (which is phenomenal in this bad boy) I think it's best to let you know what I used it the SSD for. I upgraded my 750 GB HD in my 2012 Macbook Pro to this WD Blue 500 GB SSD. I was willing to sacrifice some space for the speed. After mirroring the SSD from the HDD in my Macbook, I unscrewed the plate of the Macbook Pro, unhooked one cable, inserted some mounting pegs (that are originally attached to the Macbook HDD) and voila. The first boot up took a minute or so, but after that, it's like a brand new machine. I don't have Retina display, but man, the speeds in which the computer turns on and saving files and opening programs is fantastic. I'm not talking about small incremental improvements only noted by benchmark scores, I'm talking about the average person being able to notice a substantial increase in performance of the machine all around. It was the best thing I did to my Macbook and will extend its life and use for several more years.
While I can't speak to other brand of SSD's performance and whether it's comparable, I can say that if you need (and you'll definitely want to) to upgrade your old HDD this is a fantastic option and you can't go wrong. You will immediately notice the difference!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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LG - XBOOM Go PK7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black
Party all night with this LG PK7 portable Bluetooth speaker. It uses Meridian Audio technology and dual tweeters for excellent sound quality, while the 22 hours of playback time keep you dancing. Get the perfect celebratory atmosphere with the LED multicolor mood lighting on this LG PK7 portable Bluetooth speaker.
Great features and sound
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on September 11, 2018
The LG PK7 is heavy, big and stylish and I love the design. This is a durable speaker which is a must for me. While I don't intend on dropping it (nor have I) I certainly appreciate the build quality. It seems like it could take a beating. I also like the handle for carrying it around and the heft is welcome. Bottom line is that this is a well made speaker. It is purportedly waterproof, but I didn't really test that claim. I don't know if I would take it to the beach due to the sand, but I would feel comfortable if it was by the pool and got splashed on or was left out a tailgate when it rained.
While I've never listened to it for 23 hours straight to test the battery life claims, I can say that I used it day after day over a week and it still has juice from the first charge.That's with the lights on. The one big drawback is that it takes forever to charge. I didn't time it, but it took hours which is a bit of a pain, but otherwise no big deal if you plan ahead when you think you'll need it. I'd charge it overnight.
I find the sound quality to be pretty balanced and pretty good. Compared to other Bluetooth speakers of comparable size and features, it's definitely at the top of its class. It's comparable to the Sony XB41, which I think is a fantastic sounding speaker. I would give the Sony XB41 more points for bass, but the clarity of the LG PK7 is great. Obviously some people prefer more bass than others. It has buttons for enhancing the vocals and bass; I leave both on (they're on by default) because I think otherwise, the vocals are less pronounced. With these features off, the speaker sounds more distant. The big plus is how loud this thing gets. It's meant to be used for a large gathering or party (or if you just like dancing around your house with loud music).
Sound quality aside, my big concern was droppage or skipping in music. I had no issues pairing the PK7 to my Google Pixel (running Android Pie) but I found I couldn't take my phone but 10 feet before it skipped. Even with the phone literally next to the speaker, I heard some music skipping from time to time. It may be my phone or an issue with my speaker, but it's something to think about and it's why I only gave it 4 stars. It wasn't a deal breaker, but it was just enough to be noticeable and be annoying. I ultimately chalked it up to my phone.
As for the lights, I generally like party lights (I have Phillips Hue at home and sync them to my computer) but I found the party lights in the PK7 to flash randomly; they don't seem to sync with the music. If you plan on turning the lights off anyways, obviously it's no big deal, but if you are buying it for the lights, just know that the music doesn't really sync with it. The Sony XB41, in my opinion, has better party lights and does a better job of at least appearing to sync with the music. At least as far as the lights in the PK7 they appear to be more of a gimmick as not only do they not sync well with the music, it just seems like if you're going to have lights you should make better use of the real estate on the speaker (again, if for some reason the party lights are a priority, look at the Sony XB41).
But the lights don't distract from the quality of the speaker and the quality of the sound. This is a fantastic value when you combine the size, durability, battery life and sound. It's a nice package deal. I only wish I personally didn't experience as much skipping as I do.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Lorex - 8-Channel, 4-Camera Indoor/Outdoor Wired 4K 2TB DVR Surveillance System
Only at Best BuyMonitor the exterior of your home with this Lorex active deterrence DVR security system. An eight-channel 4K Ultra HD DVR records and plays back crisp, high-quality video, while the remote-triggered siren and bright LED light work to scare off intruders. With color night vision, the cameras included with this Lorex active deterrence DVR security system provide a clear look at your property even in low lighting conditions.
Great video quality; but difficult to install
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on August 17, 2018
It’s difficult to rate this security system. On the one hand, the video quality and features are topnotch, but the installation is a GIGANTIC hassle and the system interface (UI) is dated and difficult to learn (i.e. unintuitive). If you are looking for something easy so that you can watch your house when you’re gone and don’t need to store a running loop of video, I’d go elsewhere (Arlo). But if you want high quality footage with lots of features (and no subscription costs for continuous recording) this might be the best consumer bet. But this device, for the sheer fact of the complexity of the installation, is better labeled as a “prosumer” device. I think this would be a fantastic option for a small business, but becomes more difficult to justify when you just want a few cameras here and there to check on a few locations in your house.
Bottom line is, if you are willing to put in the work, then this is one of the best security camera choices you can make.
What you Get:
You get everything you need (although, cable length is an issue, see below) including 4 cameras and cables, the DVR set top box, a computer mouse, ethernet cable, HDMI, power cord for DVR and power cord for ALL 4 cameras. The packaging is smart and everything is easily labeled. The instructions are easy to follow (re installation).
The cameras aren’t too big (although they look it in the promotional materials). I don’t think they’re much larger than an Arlo with a wall mount bracket. They are well built and sturdy. You can run the camera cables through a hole in the wall to the camera (so that you don’t see them) or there’s a notch to run the cable through the base of the camera so that you can run the wire along the wall. Obviously not as seamless but easier.
The DVR is sharp looking. It has minimal buttons and the inputs in the back are easy to understand. Plugging in what you need is simple. I actually like it’s larger platform (meaning it’s wide, but not as wide as a receiver, and they probably could have made it smaller) because I can place my computer monitor on top of it.
INSTALLATION:
This is BY FAR the biggest consideration when purchasing this product. How much time/effort/energy are you willing to spend installing. Not only that, but it requires strategic planning. One drawback is that there’s no wireless internet (to connect to the app/download firmware). Obviously, you would always prefer a stronger, wired connection, but you will likely already have a router in its spot in your house and you may not want to put the security system DVR in the same place. Me, for example, I have my router in the living room. Putting the DVR isn’t ideal, if someone broke in, all they’d have to do is take the DVR box with them and boom, footage on HDD is gone. You can obviously run another Ethernet cable, but when you are running camera cables through your house (behind walls) it is one more thing to do. Luckily for me I use Linksys Velop and can piggyback off one of the nodes for my wired Ethernet connection. But some people may not have that luxury. You can move the router, but that can be a pain.
Not only do you have to worry about placement of wired ethernet, but the DVR also has to be near plenty of outlets. You will need to plug in the DVR, plug in a monitor to see things, and an adapter that powers your cameras. So if you’re plugging the DVR near your router, you’ll likely need a lot of outlets.
My next complaint is the length of the cables provided. This isn’t that big of a deal, chances are if you’re embarking on this journey to install this bad boy, you’ll have extra ethernet and HDMI cables laying around, but know the ones in the box are 2-3 feet (I didn’t specifically measure them).
Once you find a good location for your DVR, you have to figure out where to put the cameras. Mine are all inside facing entrances, and I did this for ease of installation. I would prefer to have them outside, but I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of running wires from the outside, inside.
The installation of the camera itself is easy., Each camera comes with a hole template so you know where to drill, they come with drywall anchors, but if you’re installing outside in say brick, you’ll need some mason screws. I have a good sized house, and I installed my cameras on the inside, so I was able to make the length of the wires work. But I imagine that, depending on where you think it’s best to place the DVR, the included length might not be enough. I’m guessing you can get extension cables from Lenox, but again, another hassle and more money.
I won’t mention the running of the cables because each house is different, I luckily have a basement so I was able to drop them into the basement (where my DVR is located) and run them along the bottom floor of the main floor and “bring them up” through a hole in the wall near the location of the cameras. To put it nicely, it was a huge pain that took me an entire weekend. It felt good when I was done, but it was a process that came with a lot of headaches and having to walk away to get a breather (it’s frustrating when you can’t find a cable in the wall where you think you know it is).
USE:
Assuming you get everything plugged in, the device starts up in no time. The HDD is pretty loud, but the DVR is in the basement in a room where we don’t spend much time, so the noise is no big deal. But if you put it where you’ll be frequently, I might expect to hear a constant hum.
When you turn it on you use the cheap mouse it came with (although any USB mouse will do) to push a virtual keyboard to type in your new admin password. From there I saw 8 windows for video feeds (it supports 8, my system came with 4 cameras). From there, it took a lot clicking and dragging to figure out what to do. I eventually figured out how to have just four monitor showing at one time, I keep my computer monitor plugged in but turned off. I don’t think the interface is bad per se, but it looks and feels a little outdated and is clunky to learn how to use. Once you spend some time playing with it, you’ll get the hang of it. The one thing I didn’t like (it may be possible, I just didn’t figure it out) is that you can’t name the cameras. So when you pick a camera or record a specific feed, it says “1” instead of “Front Entryway.” It’s a minor complaint, as remembering the location of 4 cameras isn’t that difficult.
Once the video feed was in, I was blown away by the quality. What impressed me the most was the ability to click and drag a bright green box that zoomed in on the video feed. And while it’s a digital zoom, the simple fact that it’s in 4K resolution means that you can still see a lot of detail.
I didn’t try the “intrusion” zones, which allows you to isolate the portion of the feed that you want to detect motion, because mine are inside. I actually turned off the detection but would turn it on, while on vacation, we just haven’t gone anywhere yet.
The one thing that is both great and not so great, is the sheer amount of video collected. Yes, it’s great and I want it, but trying to pin down something that happened when you don’t know it happened, can be a chore. But that comes with the price of admission for any security system. I haven’t had it long enough to see how long it takes before it starts recording over (i.e. how far the videos stored goes back in time at any one point). But you can adjust the settings to record as much as you want, or just motion detection. It has alarms built into the cameras to deter intruders, but I haven’t tried that either. Again, that’s something I would do on a vacation.
CONCLUSION
If you are willing to put in the work (or pay someone) then this security camera system really can’t be beat. The video quality is second to none and I have a hard time going back to the Arlos I use on the exterior of my house. But it is a tedious and hard process if you want everything to look good and not show any wires. It’s high quality stuff and I have had no problems as of yet. But if you just want a few cameras just to observe what’s going on in or around your residence (and don’t mind charging batteries) there are easier solutions out there. But remember that the easier solutions bring their own problems (i.e. subscription fees, potential interruptions in the app itself, etc.). this baby is hired wired, so internet or not, it’s recording video. At the end of the day, the driving decision should be how much time do you want to invest in the installation. Also note that there is an app, but I haven’t tried it out yet.
Bottom line is, if you are willing to put in the work, then this is one of the best security camera choices you can make.
What you Get:
You get everything you need (although, cable length is an issue, see below) including 4 cameras and cables, the DVR set top box, a computer mouse, ethernet cable, HDMI, power cord for DVR and power cord for ALL 4 cameras. The packaging is smart and everything is easily labeled. The instructions are easy to follow (re installation).
The cameras aren’t too big (although they look it in the promotional materials). I don’t think they’re much larger than an Arlo with a wall mount bracket. They are well built and sturdy. You can run the camera cables through a hole in the wall to the camera (so that you don’t see them) or there’s a notch to run the cable through the base of the camera so that you can run the wire along the wall. Obviously not as seamless but easier.
The DVR is sharp looking. It has minimal buttons and the inputs in the back are easy to understand. Plugging in what you need is simple. I actually like it’s larger platform (meaning it’s wide, but not as wide as a receiver, and they probably could have made it smaller) because I can place my computer monitor on top of it.
INSTALLATION:
This is BY FAR the biggest consideration when purchasing this product. How much time/effort/energy are you willing to spend installing. Not only that, but it requires strategic planning. One drawback is that there’s no wireless internet (to connect to the app/download firmware). Obviously, you would always prefer a stronger, wired connection, but you will likely already have a router in its spot in your house and you may not want to put the security system DVR in the same place. Me, for example, I have my router in the living room. Putting the DVR isn’t ideal, if someone broke in, all they’d have to do is take the DVR box with them and boom, footage on HDD is gone. You can obviously run another Ethernet cable, but when you are running camera cables through your house (behind walls) it is one more thing to do. Luckily for me I use Linksys Velop and can piggyback off one of the nodes for my wired Ethernet connection. But some people may not have that luxury. You can move the router, but that can be a pain.
Not only do you have to worry about placement of wired ethernet, but the DVR also has to be near plenty of outlets. You will need to plug in the DVR, plug in a monitor to see things, and an adapter that powers your cameras. So if you’re plugging the DVR near your router, you’ll likely need a lot of outlets.
My next complaint is the length of the cables provided. This isn’t that big of a deal, chances are if you’re embarking on this journey to install this bad boy, you’ll have extra ethernet and HDMI cables laying around, but know the ones in the box are 2-3 feet (I didn’t specifically measure them).
Once you find a good location for your DVR, you have to figure out where to put the cameras. Mine are all inside facing entrances, and I did this for ease of installation. I would prefer to have them outside, but I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of running wires from the outside, inside.
The installation of the camera itself is easy., Each camera comes with a hole template so you know where to drill, they come with drywall anchors, but if you’re installing outside in say brick, you’ll need some mason screws. I have a good sized house, and I installed my cameras on the inside, so I was able to make the length of the wires work. But I imagine that, depending on where you think it’s best to place the DVR, the included length might not be enough. I’m guessing you can get extension cables from Lenox, but again, another hassle and more money.
I won’t mention the running of the cables because each house is different, I luckily have a basement so I was able to drop them into the basement (where my DVR is located) and run them along the bottom floor of the main floor and “bring them up” through a hole in the wall near the location of the cameras. To put it nicely, it was a huge pain that took me an entire weekend. It felt good when I was done, but it was a process that came with a lot of headaches and having to walk away to get a breather (it’s frustrating when you can’t find a cable in the wall where you think you know it is).
USE:
Assuming you get everything plugged in, the device starts up in no time. The HDD is pretty loud, but the DVR is in the basement in a room where we don’t spend much time, so the noise is no big deal. But if you put it where you’ll be frequently, I might expect to hear a constant hum.
When you turn it on you use the cheap mouse it came with (although any USB mouse will do) to push a virtual keyboard to type in your new admin password. From there I saw 8 windows for video feeds (it supports 8, my system came with 4 cameras). From there, it took a lot clicking and dragging to figure out what to do. I eventually figured out how to have just four monitor showing at one time, I keep my computer monitor plugged in but turned off. I don’t think the interface is bad per se, but it looks and feels a little outdated and is clunky to learn how to use. Once you spend some time playing with it, you’ll get the hang of it. The one thing I didn’t like (it may be possible, I just didn’t figure it out) is that you can’t name the cameras. So when you pick a camera or record a specific feed, it says “1” instead of “Front Entryway.” It’s a minor complaint, as remembering the location of 4 cameras isn’t that difficult.
Once the video feed was in, I was blown away by the quality. What impressed me the most was the ability to click and drag a bright green box that zoomed in on the video feed. And while it’s a digital zoom, the simple fact that it’s in 4K resolution means that you can still see a lot of detail.
I didn’t try the “intrusion” zones, which allows you to isolate the portion of the feed that you want to detect motion, because mine are inside. I actually turned off the detection but would turn it on, while on vacation, we just haven’t gone anywhere yet.
The one thing that is both great and not so great, is the sheer amount of video collected. Yes, it’s great and I want it, but trying to pin down something that happened when you don’t know it happened, can be a chore. But that comes with the price of admission for any security system. I haven’t had it long enough to see how long it takes before it starts recording over (i.e. how far the videos stored goes back in time at any one point). But you can adjust the settings to record as much as you want, or just motion detection. It has alarms built into the cameras to deter intruders, but I haven’t tried that either. Again, that’s something I would do on a vacation.
CONCLUSION
If you are willing to put in the work (or pay someone) then this security camera system really can’t be beat. The video quality is second to none and I have a hard time going back to the Arlos I use on the exterior of my house. But it is a tedious and hard process if you want everything to look good and not show any wires. It’s high quality stuff and I have had no problems as of yet. But if you just want a few cameras just to observe what’s going on in or around your residence (and don’t mind charging batteries) there are easier solutions out there. But remember that the easier solutions bring their own problems (i.e. subscription fees, potential interruptions in the app itself, etc.). this baby is hired wired, so internet or not, it’s recording video. At the end of the day, the driving decision should be how much time do you want to invest in the installation. Also note that there is an app, but I haven’t tried it out yet.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Modal™ - Diaper Backpack - Gray
Keep your little one's essentials organized and ready for use with this Modal diaper backpack. Quick access pockets provide a convenient place to stash bottles and sippy cups, while the included changing pad provides a soft, clean place for diaper changes. Two side pockets offer ideal spots for baby wipes and toys. This Modal diaper backpack boasts a hidden back pocket for your wallet and keys along with adjustable padded shoulder straps for added comfort.
Stylish and Handy Diaperbag
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 23, 2018
Who would have thought you could get a nice diaper bag at Best Buy? I was impressed by both the style and build quality of this backpack. It's also extremely comfortable to wear with adjustable straps. I like how it sits high on my back which allows for greater posture.
The best part of this bag is that it's big without being big. It holds a LOT of stuff without feeling like a big bag. It's a testament to the thoughtful layout. Another plus was that it comes with a little diagram for suggested places to put things. I know that sounds stupid, but all too often I get a bag with all of these odd pockets in different places and I don't know how the maker intended to use them. But with the Modal backpack, you get a little diagram with suggested uses which allows you to take advantage of how the makers intended you to use the bag. It holds plenty of bottles on the outside pocket and I like how the side pocket has a nice zipper and size to hold a large bag of unopened wipes. I also like the "privacy" (?) zipper that is on the inside of the bag that faces your back. While I don't call it a hidden zipper, it is nice to put important papers or receipts or keys (small keys) in a place that you know is safe and won't fall out (Like when digging in the bag). I can take pulling something out and dropping a cheap toy, but I don't like the idea of digging through the bag, pulling out a diaper and inadvertently pulling out and dropping my wallet. It's nice to have a closed space for important things you can't lose.
Other than that, there isn't much to say. It even comes with a nice diaper pad (I'm always a big fan when those are included in diaper bags). The biggest pro is that it's a good looking bag that has nice style (IMHO).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Incredible Hulk [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [2008]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
The Incredible Hulk [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [2008]
Underrated Marvel Movie
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 16, 2018
I'm not going to debate who's the better Hulk, but I will just say that this movie is fun and underappreciated. If you're a fan of comic book movies or just like a good action flick, you can't go wrong with the Incredible Hulk (plus it always seems to be at a good price)
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2706404977
Mobile Submission: False
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A new Mario Tennis game is bringing a new level of skill and competition to the Nintendo Switch system. Mario steps onto the court in classy tennis garb for intense rallies against a variety of characters in full-blown tennis battles. New wrinkles in tennis gameplay will challenge your ability to read an opponent's position and stroke to determine which shot will give you the advantage. And this time the game adds the first story mode since the Mario Tennis game on the Game Boy Advance system, offering a new flavor of tennis gameplay, with a variety of missions, boss battles and more. Up your game with Zone Speed and Zone Shot Unleash an arsenal of shots and strategies in all-out tennis battles with friends, family, and fan-favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters. Whether you play locally,* online,** or using simple motion controls, intense rallies await! In Adventure mode, experience a new favor of tennis gameplay, with a variety of missions, boss battles and more. Complete missions and boss battles in Adventure mode while mastering the controls. Test your hard-earned skills in singles or doubles with up to 4 players in local* or online** multiplayer, not to mention Tournament Mode, which lets you challenge the CPU. Store up energy and use it to pull off amazing feats: move so fast the world slows down around you or aim in first-person to send the ball crashing down! Your rivals may attempt to block you, but if they fail, their racket will take damage—and break after three hits. Fully charge your energy to launch the ball with enough force to KO your opponent! *Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately. **Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online play. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online
Plain Fun
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 16, 2018
I've heard a lot of people complain about Mario Aces, saying it's too simple, but I think it's great. I don't have a lot of time to sit down for one continuous gaming session, so I really lean towards easy to pick up and play games. This is one of them. I enjoyed the (silly) story. The mechanics are easy to learn and (somewhat) difficult to master.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2706404977
Mobile Submission: False
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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Standard Edition - Nintendo Switch
Wolfenstein® II: The New Colossus™ is the highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed first-person shooter, Wolfenstein®:The New Order™ developed by the award-winning studio MachineGames. An exhilarating adventure brought to life by the industry-leading id Tech® 6, Wolfenstein® II sends players to Nazi-controlled America on a mission to recruit the boldest resistance leaders left. Fight the Nazis in iconic locations such as small town Roswell, New Mexico, the bayous and boulevards of New Orleans, and a post-nuclear Manhattan. Unleash new abilities to blast your way through legions of advanced Nazi soldiers and über soldiers in this definitive first-person shooter.
Great Port; FPS On the GO
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: callmeageeth
from Louisville, KY
on July 16, 2018
Wolfenstein II was a great game on PS4, and while you lose some graphical fidelity on the move to Switch, you cannot beat the portability factor. I love having a great FPS to take with me on the road.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2706404977
Mobile Submission: False
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callmeageeth's Questions
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GoPro - Karma Quadcopter with HERO5 Black - Black/White
Take aerial shots with this GoPro Karma drone. Its Karma Stabilizer lets the included HERO5 Black action camera capture shake-free videos, while the Karma Grip provides reliable stabilization for handheld and mounted filming. The game-style controller with an integrated touch display makes Karma easy and fun to fly.Fly Responsibly:Before takeoff, update all software and firmware, and read the instructions thoroughly.See the FAA website for registration requirements and information about flying a drone safely: https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/. Additional state or local requirements may apply. Check your local jurisdiction. The following websites may help you make informed decisions about flying your drone: www.knowbeforeyoufly.org and www.modelaircraft.org.
Just curious what the flight time experience has been like. Says 20 minutes with no payload; however, is the camera considered "payload"? Is it 20 minutes WITH the camera? Also, how close to 20 minutes is the "actual" flight time?
Given that the camera is required to fly I wouldn't think that the camera is considered payload. I've never tried to fly with any payload mostly because I haven't needed to and it doesn't seem equipped to hold anything (you would have to use some ingenuity to attach something to it). I can speak as to how long it flies without any payload but obviously with the camera. And in my use, it's been between 18-19 minutes of flight time. The very first time I flew it, it landed itself due to low battery around the 18 minutes mark, even though on the handheld controller, the screen said there was 2 minutes of flight time left. I haven't flown it enough while taking video/stills to determine how much that drains the battery. Hope that helps.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
Sony - PlayStation VR Launch Bundle
Sony PlayStation VR Launch Bundle:Immerse yourself in a virtual-reality gaming world with this Sony PlayStation VR bundle. Experience body-responsive gaming with the two PlayStation Move motion controllers. The built-in camera lets you take clear photos, and the stereo headphones provide rich sound. Challenge your gaming ability with the VR Worlds game included with this Sony PlayStation VR bundle.
Is the camera of this bundle the latest one? The ps4 camera? Or the ps3 camera?
Yes, the bundle comes with the newest model camera. The packaging and promotions for the PSVR actually show the older model (which as I understand, will still work). This camera is completely different than the PS3 version.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
Google - Pixel 4G LTE with 32GB Memory Cell Phone (Verizon)
Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
It is an unlocked phone, so I assume it is compatible with SIM card from other countries - is that correct?
I can't confirrm that it will work sims from other countries (depends on bandwidths) but I can absolutely confirm that putting a T-Mobile sim into this phone will work. Sorry couldn't give you a better answer!
7 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
GoPro - Dual Battery Charger - Black
Charge 2 GoPro lithium-ion batteries simultaneously with this GoPro AHBBP-301 charger that reliably draws power from select USB chargers, USB-enabled computers or GoPro wall or vehicle chargers (not included), so you can keep your camera ready for use.
Does this have the cable to connect charger to computer? Is there a cord that connects camera directly to computer or wall charger for charging? I think we lost ours.
It comes with a mini-USB cable which you can plug into your computer (I wouldn't recommend because of slow charging) and a wall charger. The same mini-USB cable plugs directly into the camera itself
8 years, 1 month ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
Turtle Beach - Ear Force PX22 Amplified Universal Gaming Headset - Black/Blue
Turtle Beach Ear Force PX22 Amplified Universal Gaming Headset: Enjoy more freedom and use your universal headset with more than one gaming console. Customize your audio and let it automatically boost online chatting so you hear every sound during your gaming session.
Does it work with party system on Xbox one
It is my understanding that this headset is not compatible with the Xbox one
8 years, 7 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
HP - Pavilion 23" IPS LED HD Monitor - Jet Black/Natural Silver
Play games, watch movies and more with this HP Pavilion 23cw 23" LED monitor, which features 1920 x 1080 resolution and IPS technology for clear visuals from a wide variety of vantage points. Enhance+ uses noise reduction to improve image quality.
Can i use apple tv on this monitor
As long as your monitor has an HDMI port you can.*
NOTE: that is the simplest answer, you can, theoretically, buy a couple different adapters to make it work.
NOTE: that is the simplest answer, you can, theoretically, buy a couple different adapters to make it work.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
from
Louisville, KY
SanDisk - Ultra PLUS 128GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card
Expand the storage of your compatible device with this SanDisk Ultra PLUS microSDXC memory card that features a 128GB capacity to hold your photos and videos and a Class 10 rating to ensure speedy data transfer. The rugged design resists damage.
compatibility
I have a Dell Venue 8 Pro.Would this work with it for storage?also is it compatible with android devices?...thank you
Double check your specific Android device. Most newer devices accept it, I believe this card was intended for Android devices, but again, I know some devices only accept up to 64 GB card
9 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
from
Louisville, KY
Microsoft - Surface Pro 3 - 12" - Intel Core i5 - 128GB - Silver
Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Tablet: The new Surface Pro 3 is in a category of its own. With a stunning 12" display in a sleek magnesium frame, Surface Pro 3 has all the power and performance of a laptop in an incredibly lightweight, versatile form. It may just be the ultimate device.
How do you read a full size sd card?
You would have to get some sort of USB adapter for a full size SD card. It only accepts MicroSD
10 years, 3 months ago
by
Posted by:
callmeageeth
from
Louisville, KY