travisb
travisb's Stats
- Review Count9
- Helpfulness Votes12
- First ReviewAugust 5, 2015
- Last ReviewSeptember 25, 2015
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.4
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First Review CommentNone
- Last Review CommentNone
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count4
- Helpfulness Votes3
- First AnswerAugust 5, 2015
- Last AnswerAugust 19, 2015
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers1
travisb's Reviews
Apple - AirPort Extreme Base Station - White
The intelligent, easy-to-use AirPort Extreme Base Station with simultaneous dual-band support is the perfect wireless access point for home, school or office. It offers next-generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology and delivers high-performance wireless access for Mac computers, PCs and Wi-Fi devices such as iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® touch and Apple TV.
I was skeptical...
Customer Rating
5.0
I bought this to replace an older version that had been replaced by a modem with built-in wifi. I was unhappy with the modem's performance so I caved and bought this. I've been blown away by the performance so far. Using speedtest.net, I've found that my internet speeds via wi-fi are now just as fast as the devices that are connected with ethernet. I can get 55Mbps download speeds on any device in my house now, whether it's hardwired or connected via wi-fi. That is pretty nice.
Not sure how it would be in a Windows environment, but setup was a piece of cake in my Apple world. MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPhone, and a hardwired MacPro just plain worked. My Sony TV and Xbox connected via wi-fi without a problem. All the various video streaming devices in the theater connected without a problem via ethernet and a switch.
Very pleased. I was pleasantly surprised at the performance boost I received from this.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
+1point
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Toshiba - Canvio Slim II 500GB External USB 3.0/2.0 Portable Hard Drive - Black
Store up to 500GB of your personal files on this Toshiba Canvio Slim II HDTD205XK3D1 hard drive, which is preloaded with NTI Backup Now EZ software, so you can enjoy customizable backup options. The slim, lightweight design enables simple portability.
Works with Yosemite
Customer Rating
5.0
I never used to pay attention to whether or not an external drive was approved for use with a Mac or not, I knew how to open Disk Utility and format it correctly.
Then I bought a drive that wouldn't format for a Mac no matter how I tried.
I needed a small bus-powered USB drive to store an iTunes library on an iMac. This listed Mac on the box, but older versions. Looking it up I couldn't find any indication that it worked with anything after Snow Leopard. Bought it anyway because BB had no problem taking the other drive back and exchanging it the last time I had a problem.
Got this home and after formatting it worked just fine on both Mavericks and Yosemite.
Beautiful, minimalist enclosure. Very easy to hide, not an eyesore if seen. Feels durable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
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SiriusXM - Magnetic Mount Antenna - Black
This unobtrusive vehicle roof mounted antenna lets you enjoy enhanced SIRIUS Satellite Radio reception.
Quick fix for a dead Sirius system
Customer Rating
4.0
Bought a 10 year old BMW and the Sirius couldn't connect, wouldn't find any stations. Considered yanking the whole system out and replacing it, but that would've been thousands. I bought this and gave it a try, works great.
Only thing I'd say is that the cable is a touch thin and I think I may already have a short in it. I mounted it where the factory antenna was and run the cable in through the hatch lid, and I think opening and closing might be damaging the wire. I've noticed it cuts out a bit more than it did when I first bought it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
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Insignia™ - Case for Apple® iPhone® 6
Only at Best BuyDesigned for use with your Apple iPhone 6, this Insignia™ NS-A64T2CP matte case features TPU construction for reliable protection against forms of accidental damage. The glossy edges offer a stylish touch.
A temporary case...
Customer Rating
5.0
...that I've ended up using for almost a year now. I bought it to have something for my iPhone 6 until I could find a better case, but I still haven't found a better case. It's been great.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
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Bosch - 500 Series 24" Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher - White
Thoroughly clean dishes with this Bosch 500 Series SHP65T52UC tall tub dishwasher that cleans up to 16 place settings in 1 load. The RackMatic system offers 3 height levels, providing 9 possible rack positions for flexible placement.
Spent a lot of time researching....
Customer Rating
5.0
Tried to talk myself out of getting the most expensive Bosch, but when it came down to it, I wanted to make sure I had the quietest one. This was it.
And it's dead silent. Such an improvement over my old dishwasher, and with my open floor plan, it was crucial. I can now wash dishes when I'm at home.
The silverware rack's tines are a bit close together, but they work great, I love having it there.
The middle rack could stand to be about 1" taller, but talk about first world problems.
The bottom rack is great.
I can fit a ton of stuff in here, and it gets cleaner than any other dishwasher I've seen or used. Very happy with this purchase.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
+4points
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SanDisk - Extreme Pro 32GB SDHC UHS-I Memory Card
Store images and HD video with this SanDisk SDSDXP-032G-A46 32GB memory card that features a 95MB/sec. transfer rate for fast storage. The SanDisk Power Core Controller delivers fast performance and reliability.
Pricey, but performs well
Customer Rating
5.0
For normal use I'd never spend this much on an SD card, but it was required for my BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera.
I wish they had larger sizes in stock when I bought it, but they price matched Amazon in store (seems like they've adjusted price since then to match Amazon, too), and the card works well.
I've had no problems with this card, it's been flawless.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
+1point
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Panasonic - DMP-BDT360 - Streaming 3D Wi-Fi Built-In Blu-ray Player - Black
This Panasonic DMP-BDT360 player's Wi-Fi allows Web access. To build a complete 3D home theater system, we recommend you purchase a 3D TV, 3D glasses designed for the TV, high-speed HDMI cable and an A/V receiver that is compatible with 3D products.
Great image quality, occasional freezing
Customer Rating
3.0
First of all, make sure when you plug this in to turn off the motion smoothing feature, and turn it off again anytime you unplug the device. For some reason it resets that feature when you unplug, even though it remembers other settings.
The image quality on this is fantastic. The build quality is great. It looks nice. It's quiet. It boots up quickly and loads discs quickly. The apps are great. Haven't tried the wi-fi, I have it connected via ethernet.
All apps and disc performance are better than the PS3 this replaced.
But occasionally when I click the button to go to the apps the unit will freeze before the app screen launches. I can power it off and back on, but it doesn't fix the problem. Before I can do anything else I have to unplug the power and plug it back in (and reset the motion smoothing setting and re-login to my accounts).
It's a hassle, but it doesn't happen OFTEN. Probably every 2 months or so. According to various support forums online this is not an uncommon issue. Hopefully Panasonic will eventually address this with a firmware update. If they would fix that issue it would be 5 stars and easily recommended. I wouldn't recommend against it, either, but I'd make sure they were aware of that problem if they were considering it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
+1point
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Fitbit - Charge HR Heart Rate and Activity Tracker + Sleep Wristband (Large) - Black
Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Heart Rate + Activity Wristband: This heart rate and activity tracking wristband is built to capture your movements and health patterns all day long. Easily monitor your heart rate so you can maximize your workouts, learn about your sleep quality and monitor progress on your goals.
Pretty pleased, for the most part
Customer Rating
4.0
Most of the time I start with the good, end with the negative. I'm going to change it up.
So, the two main things that bother me are that the charging plug doesn't fit snug after about a month. I have to be careful when I set it down to charge that it's actually charging.
The other issue I have is that the loop that holds the excess band past the buckle is A) hard to get over and off the band, and B) it's made of the same rubbery material as the rest of the band and often pulls the hair out of my arm.
As for performance, it is very accurate on steps. I feel like the estimated calorie burn is higher than it should be, specifically during sleep. Maybe it is accurate, but if it is, it seems unbelievable, and I should be sleeping more.
It also seems low on calorie tracking during cardio and/or strength workouts, so if you workout daily, perhaps they offset.
The heart rate monitor is right on the money when it's actually tracking, but it often loses track of where it's at when I'm working out.
For the most part, though, I like this much better than the Nike+ Fuel Band it replaced. It's nice having an actual calorie count instead of Fuel Points that don't directly relate to anything outside of the Nike world.
Oh, and the Fitbit app is fantastic, and keeps getting better all the time. It's nice having all the data from the tracker PLUS the ability to track calorie & water intake and have them interact. Very nice.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
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Sony - 43" Class (42.5" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K Ultra HD TV
Sony XBR43X830C LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Update your living room with the sharp detail, crisp motion, and lifelike color of 4K TV. The built-in Wi-Fi lets you surf the Web and discover new programs while using your compatible phone or tablet as a remote control.
better than expected!
Customer Rating
4.0
I bought this primarily because of how it looks. Not the picture, but the unit itself. This is far from my critical viewing set. This is going to go in the sunroom to watch the news, wheel of fortune, cartoons and stuff for my son, and random programming, generally while it's still light out - in the sunroom. I have a dedicated theater downstairs. So I bought this for the overall look. It's very thin and has a tiny bezel.
I was hesitant to order it because I knew exactly what I was ordering...a bottom of the line UHD set. I had read some pretty average reviews. My thinking was I'd order this set and if I wasn't happy with it I'd send it back and order a better 1080p set.
I was hesitant to order it because I knew exactly what I was ordering...a bottom of the line UHD set. I had read some pretty average reviews. My thinking was I'd order this set and if I wasn't happy with it I'd send it back and order a better 1080p set.
I've gotta say, I'm kind of impressed for $800. I had heard stories of very bad bright spots in the corners and along the bottom edge, but this really shows very little hot spotting on the black, unnoticeable on actual content.
I'm pretty pleased with it, though if I were to do it over again, I'd probably look for a set with the same form factor, same smart apps, but 1080p. More on that in a few.
Adjusting the picture settings is a pain for the streaming options because opening any of the settings immediately turns off the streaming video. A huge pain, except I've found that it keeps the same settings as the TV tuner, which is cool since those are my inputs. I don't have anything connected via HDMI yet. I've got it dialed in pretty well at this point, and it looks very nice.
Other things I've noticed. It takes 4-5 seconds to actually react when you hit the power button. The key here is to be patient. If you are impatient and hit the button again, it will turn off right after it turns on. Just know there's a delay and wait. This could be solved if the power light would come on instantly, but it doesn't either.
The wi-fi connection is much more solid than it was in previous firmware versions, which is good because I've been thus far unable to find a good way to run ethernet. I'm still going to try, but it's nice that wi-fi has locked on and stayed connected until I find a solution. I've been able to stream "4K" from YouTube & Amazon over wi-fi, so that's good.
The set itself is beautiful. The industrial design is fantastic, and I love how, paired with a low-profile mount, it hugs right up to the wall. Small, sleek bezel and low profile were the two main reasons I bought this set, and they win. It looks just as good off as it does on.
The screen is more reflective than the matte finish screen it replaced, but it's far from glossy. I knew going in that this would be there, and I'm happy with the set. Having a dedicated theater downstairs, I don't need the perfect solution for this set. I'd much rather sacrifice image quality than give up or put curtains over the 3 walls of windows I have in this room.
Now, why would I opt for a 1080p set over this one if everything else were identical? It's not like this set was expensive, but I could've saved a few hundred bucks, and that's just good business. I started watching Orphan Black on Amazon Prime on Sunday. I watched a couple episodes in 1080p and they looked good. Then I decided to peruse the 4K content that was available via Amazon, and lo and behold, Orphan Black was also available in 4K (why the two versions weren't linked and auto-sensing display capability is beyond me), so I added it to my queue, removed the 1080p versions, and watched a couple more episodes, this time in 4K. Perhaps the opening sequence looked a little better, but I really didn't notice any difference at all during typical content. Not on a 43" set from my couch about 5' away.
I'm not discrediting 4K, I'm sure it will prove to be higher quality in certain situations, but not in this one. But, quite frankly, I'm happy with this set, and it's not worth my time to take it down, return it, buy another set and set it up. The set was, in my opinion, still a steal at $800, especially considering the last time I bought a new flat panel set it was $2400 for a 50" 720p plasma screen (that was unfortunately stolen in a burglary in a previous residence - I loved that set).
•I would give the 720p/1080p image quality a 9 out of 10.
•I would give the 4K image quality a 5 out of 10, only because it was pretty much the same as 1080p - still good.
•I would give the AndroidTV OS an 8 out of 10. I've never used any other smart TVs, so I don't have a point of reference, but overall the layout is nice, and everything loads quickly.
•I would give the TV tuner a 10 out of 10. Locked in all expected channels and haven't seen a single blip of interference or hiccup. Better than the tuner in my TiVo Premiere box down in the theater.
•I would give the overall design and appearance a 10 out of 10.
•I would give the 4K image quality a 5 out of 10, only because it was pretty much the same as 1080p - still good.
•I would give the AndroidTV OS an 8 out of 10. I've never used any other smart TVs, so I don't have a point of reference, but overall the layout is nice, and everything loads quickly.
•I would give the TV tuner a 10 out of 10. Locked in all expected channels and haven't seen a single blip of interference or hiccup. Better than the tuner in my TiVo Premiere box down in the theater.
•I would give the overall design and appearance a 10 out of 10.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
My Best Buy number: 2752815017
+3points
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travisb's Answers
SanDisk - Extreme Pro 32GB SDHC UHS-I Memory Card
Store images and HD video with this SanDisk SDSDXP-032G-A46 32GB memory card that features a 95MB/sec. transfer rate for fast storage. The SanDisk Power Core Controller delivers fast performance and reliability.
Can this be used with Canon G7x?
Can this be used with Canon G7x? Want fast memory card for shooting video.
What would be best card to use?
What would be best card to use?
Haven't used it with that particular camera, but it works great with my BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera shooting CinemaDNG files.
The camera has pretty strict guidelines for the DNG setting, and this card has performed flawlessly.
The camera has pretty strict guidelines for the DNG setting, and this card has performed flawlessly.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
travisb
Sony - 43" Class (42.5" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K Ultra HD TV
Sony XBR43X830C LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Update your living room with the sharp detail, crisp motion, and lifelike color of 4K TV. The built-in Wi-Fi lets you surf the Web and discover new programs while using your compatible phone or tablet as a remote control.
What is the black boarder around the screen like?
Is it thick? Does this tv have an attractive sleek appearance?
The bezel is about 1/2" around the screen, very minimal, very sleek. I actually bought this set more for the design than the performance. It looks just as good when turned off as it does when turned on.
Everything about it is low-profile, which was key for me.
Everything about it is low-profile, which was key for me.
8 years, 9 months ago
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Posted by:
travisb
Sony - 43" Class (42.5" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K Ultra HD TV
Sony XBR43X830C LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Update your living room with the sharp detail, crisp motion, and lifelike color of 4K TV. The built-in Wi-Fi lets you surf the Web and discover new programs while using your compatible phone or tablet as a remote control.
specs says it has wifi
but doesn't stay what streaming services are available. Is streaming available only via googlecast?
It has wi-fi, and all the usual suspects are there for streaming: Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Pandora, Amazon, Play, Flixter, CinemaNow, and a bunch more lesser known services.
8 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
travisb
Sony - 43" Class (42.5" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K Ultra HD TV
Sony XBR43X830C LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Update your living room with the sharp detail, crisp motion, and lifelike color of 4K TV. The built-in Wi-Fi lets you surf the Web and discover new programs while using your compatible phone or tablet as a remote control.
Sony's website states this tv has amazon instant video, is this true?
Yes, it has the Amazon app, allowing purchases, rentals, as well as Prime content for Amazon Prime customers.
8 years, 9 months ago
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travisb