ITJim
Top 100 Contributor
ITJim's Stats
- Review Count145
- Helpfulness Votes1,552
- First ReviewNovember 23, 2013
- Last ReviewJune 29, 2025
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.3
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- Answer Count18
- Helpfulness Votes30
- First AnswerNovember 23, 2013
- Last AnswerMay 22, 2021
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- Best Answers3
Microsoft - Wireless Controller for Xbox One - Black
Microsoft XBX1 Wireless Controller: Make sure your every move is executed with precision on your Xbox One, because on the virtual battlefield there's no time to second guess yourself. Let the remote you hold in your hand become an extension of you.
Not like there is any choice
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: ITJim
from Maine
on February 14, 2014
What's great about it: Like Tigger it's the only one
What's not so great: It's the only one
It's hard to review a product when there is no competition to compare it to. I do find the controller too sensitive. Other than that feels like the Xbox 360 controller. If you want to play Xbox games this is the best product on the market because it's the only production the market.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
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Microsoft - Surface - 32GB - Black
Microsoft Surface Tablet: Do more on the go with the productivity of a laptop in the compact size of a tablet. Create documents with Microsoft Office RT, sync files between Windows devices and video chat with friends and family. The built-in kickstand props up your tablet at just the right angle for easy viewing.
Windows 8.1 made this a great product
Customer Rating
5.0
Ease of Use
5.0
Features
5.0
What's great about it: Construction, Form Factor, MS Office, ease of network integration, Accessories
What's not so great: Initial Update to Win 8.1 and General System Updates
Good:
Office and Network integration. Why is network integration such a black hole for IOs and Android? Microsoft will use Cloud, home network resources, and business network resources with little effort on the customer's part to setup. My primary reason for purchasing this is my frustration with the hoops I have to jump through to simply read, edit, and save the multitude of documents I have on my home NAS server. I mapped a D: drive for my network. That's it. Now I can open any file on my network, edit it, and save it back to the original location. I have a Samsung Note 10.1 2014 edition, one of the most advanced tablets on the planet, and it can't even do that simple task. Instead Android and IOs slave you to the cloud and rely upon third parties to implement something meaningful in their applications. I haven't seen a good implementation model yet from their party devs on either Android or IOs.
I also like the improvements with 8.1. The tablet is starting to feel more like a true mobile experience than the late 8.0 version did. The screen is bright. The Touch and Type 2 keyboards are fully supported. The hardware feels great. I haven't seen any hesitation in my apps thus far. Internet explorer is slower than I would like but it displays everything as I would expect to see them on my PC.
Office and Network integration. Why is network integration such a black hole for IOs and Android? Microsoft will use Cloud, home network resources, and business network resources with little effort on the customer's part to setup. My primary reason for purchasing this is my frustration with the hoops I have to jump through to simply read, edit, and save the multitude of documents I have on my home NAS server. I mapped a D: drive for my network. That's it. Now I can open any file on my network, edit it, and save it back to the original location. I have a Samsung Note 10.1 2014 edition, one of the most advanced tablets on the planet, and it can't even do that simple task. Instead Android and IOs slave you to the cloud and rely upon third parties to implement something meaningful in their applications. I haven't seen a good implementation model yet from their party devs on either Android or IOs.
I also like the improvements with 8.1. The tablet is starting to feel more like a true mobile experience than the late 8.0 version did. The screen is bright. The Touch and Type 2 keyboards are fully supported. The hardware feels great. I haven't seen any hesitation in my apps thus far. Internet explorer is slower than I would like but it displays everything as I would expect to see them on my PC.
Office RT is an excellent inclusion. I realize that Microsoft is targeting students with this platform but it's a great inclusion for anyone interested in an office suite that works. So far everything I can do on Office 2013 on my desktop I can do on the Surface RT. The best part is I can save the doc to my network for sharing across all of my MS devices.
The not so good:
First, and there is no sugar coating this, the update process to 8.1 is long. You can stick with 8.0 if you want but I'm telling you now that 8.0 was ill conceived, slow, and total garbage. When you log in make yourself a Windows Live ID, log in, and head straight to the store for the 8.1 update. It should be the first thing the pops up on the screen from the store interface. Plug the device into the wall and update. Go eat dinner and watch a movie. The update along with supplemental updates will take a few hours at best. Be patient.
Text isn't as clear as I would like it to be. But that's a resolution issue that was resolved with a higher res screen on the Surface 2. The desktop is still around. For 8.1 MS did allow some pinch and zoom functions in some of the native desktop apps like Office. That was most welcome. You don't have strain your eyes reading email anymore.
And the kick stand is great if you are sitting at a dinner table at normal dinner eating height. Other than that it can prove to be a challenge finding a comfortable location to read the screen. Again, this was addressed in Surface RT 2.
First, and there is no sugar coating this, the update process to 8.1 is long. You can stick with 8.0 if you want but I'm telling you now that 8.0 was ill conceived, slow, and total garbage. When you log in make yourself a Windows Live ID, log in, and head straight to the store for the 8.1 update. It should be the first thing the pops up on the screen from the store interface. Plug the device into the wall and update. Go eat dinner and watch a movie. The update along with supplemental updates will take a few hours at best. Be patient.
Text isn't as clear as I would like it to be. But that's a resolution issue that was resolved with a higher res screen on the Surface 2. The desktop is still around. For 8.1 MS did allow some pinch and zoom functions in some of the native desktop apps like Office. That was most welcome. You don't have strain your eyes reading email anymore.
And the kick stand is great if you are sitting at a dinner table at normal dinner eating height. Other than that it can prove to be a challenge finding a comfortable location to read the screen. Again, this was addressed in Surface RT 2.
Conclusion:
I got this tablet for $199 over the Black Friday month of sales. I am very happy with my purchase. My Samsung Galaxy 2014 and iPad have decidedly taken a back seat to the Surface. Android, minus all the hype, is simply not there yet. I bought the Samsung for some of the specific features of this product and nothing more. And iPad is an entertainment platform. Look around sometime and you'll see most folks with IOs products are playing games. The RT is definitely slower than most 2013 tablet systems but the features and value, even on the first gen platform, are well worth the price I paid.
I got this tablet for $199 over the Black Friday month of sales. I am very happy with my purchase. My Samsung Galaxy 2014 and iPad have decidedly taken a back seat to the Surface. Android, minus all the hype, is simply not there yet. I bought the Samsung for some of the specific features of this product and nothing more. And iPad is an entertainment platform. Look around sometime and you'll see most folks with IOs products are playing games. The RT is definitely slower than most 2013 tablet systems but the features and value, even on the first gen platform, are well worth the price I paid.
This product is... responsive touch screen, Good sound quality, easy to set up, Perfect for Business, Variety of apps available, Easy to navigate, Great screen size, Comfortable to hold
About me... Budget Conscious, Basic web surfing & emails, Parent with kids, Technology guru, Gamer, Business Professional
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 736414133
+19points
19out of 19found this review helpful.
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Samsung - Galaxy Note 2014 Edition - 10.1" - 16GB - Black
Samsung Galaxy Note 2014 Edition - 10.1" - 16GB: This sleek, stylish tablet comes with a 10.1" Full HD touch screen to display movies, Web sites and more with impressive visual fidelity. The included S Pen is pressure sensitive and allows you to draw, write, edit and more as easily as if you were using a real pen.
Nice but not Great
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: ITJim
from Maine
on November 23, 2013
What's great about it: Bright hi-res screen, Spen, quick and responsive, some nice pre-loaded applications
What's not so great: Spen seems like an after thought and is treated as such, sound is a bit weak
Pros: Great Screen, good sound, Mainstream applications like Netflix work without a hitch, Spen, Haptic feedback with keyboard, fully featured keyboard, can remote desktop into Windows with the Remote Desktop App.
Cons: Short battery life, Poor integration with Cloud, no Integration with Private Networks (at least nothing I can find), Application Permissions are too broad in scope (why does a recipe application require access to my contacts, accounts, and snap photos without my permission?), cannot turn off keyboard auto correct, cannot make the keyboard simply vanish or resize/change shape, at the click of a button, Spen needs more applications (Why is my note pad on a 10.1 keyboard so small?) Spen needs better integration into apps (sourly lacking in innovation Samsung - please make this the tool to have), Case is $80.
Samsung, you can keep the case. I'm not buying it for $80.
Over all I am happy with this tablet. Personally, I would have gone with the Windows Surface Pro 2 however I had some defective hardware, returned it, and went with plan B due to time constraints. The Samsung Tablet is chock full of features. I've had this for three weeks and I'm still finding stuff. And that's an issue with this product. I'm finding my way around the system and the interface. Also, Android, as a whole, doesn't integrate with home network well. If you have a folder share someone where on your network you'll have to find another way to share those photos and files. I haven't found a way yet to map a network drive. And cloud integration is still infantile at best. If I edit a document in cloud storage the edit is saved locally somewhere in the bowels of Android. I have to dig it out and then use magic to upload my edits back to the cloud. Come on Google.
This product is... responsive touch screen, Good sound quality, lightning fast, Perfect for Business, A nice compact size, Sharp graphics, Great screen size, Comfortable to hold
About me... Basic web surfing & emails, Parent with kids, Technology guru, Computer technology beginner, Gamer, Business Professional, Comfortable with technology
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
+4points
10out of 16found this review helpful.
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Microsoft - Surface 2 - 10.6" - 32GB
Microsoft Surface 2 - 10.6" - 32GB: Mix work and play with a tablet that juggles business or homework just as easily as it keeps pace with your gaming and Skype chats. The touch-optimized version of Microsoft Office RT keeps you productive on the go, and the built-in kickstand features just the right angle for viewing, whether on a table or your lap.Learn more about Windows 8.1 ›Free Windows 10 UpgradeUpgrade for free to Windows 10 when it's available*, and get the best combination of the Windows you know, plus lots of improvements you'll love.
Mine must have been defective
Customer Rating
2.0
Posted by: ITJim
from Maine
on November 23, 2013
What's great about it: Great Package, good sound, overly bright screen, responsive, Office, and the App Store is getting some good apps
What's not so great: Uneven backlight, confusing multi-tasking interface, unable to shut down background tasks or programs, etc...
I've been a Windows 8 user since it came out. I was looking forward to 8.1 and the improvements therein. I also was very excited about the Surface 2. I bought one the day it came out and, unfortunately, returned it the next day. I truly tried to love this machine but I just couldn't see myself suffering through all of the issues I was uncovering. After reading many other reviews, and witnessing an old man with a law background do things with his table that I, a 20 year IT vet couldn't, have to conclude that my product was defective.
First, the system kept crashing. I've been running Windows 8 on a full PC for some time now and haven't once seen it crash. The screen would simply freeze and display strange graphic artifacts. Second, the backlight was all messed up and unevenly light the screen. I could see this when the screen was completely dark such as right before a Netflix movie launches. Both cameras took horrible, grainy photos and videos. One feature I was looking forward too was the sync between Windows desktops using your Windows Live account. However, this seemed to have really screwed up the tablet and removed some key applications from view. Performing a hard reset and not binding my Live ID to the tablet solved that issue.
Finally, I feel that MS needs to divorce itself from the Windows Desktop on the mobile front. It's a must have when working on a PC. But from a system that is purely RT I feel that Office and related products could have benefited from the RT experience and not simply a desktop experience. It got rather confusing when I click on Word I got dumped to the old desktop and then launched Word. Pinch and zoom does not work with the ribbon bar and, for some reason, didn't work with my documents either.
I wanted to use this as a remote terminal for the other systems on my network. I couldn't get them to talk or the connection kept dropping.
I tried to use Miracast to broadcast to my TV. The two would see each other but wouldn't sync. That old man I spoke about earlier not only go his to sync but was doing everything I wanted to do with my Surface with little to no IT training. Put all this together and I truly feel that I had a defective unit. Why am I writing this review then. Well, MS let me down. And second if you are seeing these same behaviors I urge you to exchange your model for another one. Apart from the operating system I'm sure your experience will be different.
One final note. There is a lot of great technology here and some really innovative ideas. I was surprised by the small attention to details. The Keyboard rocks and the kick stand is indispensable. The touch screen is very responsive. And the unit simply feels well made. I just couldn't get past the technical issues that was dragging down my experience. I needed something quick so I ended up purchasing a Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition. Talk about a mess of a system but it got me close to where I wanted to be. I'll write up that review soon.
This product is... responsive touch screen, Good sound quality, easy to set up, lightning fast, Perfect for Business, Variety of apps available, Sharp graphics, Great screen size, Comfortable to hold
About me... Budget Conscious, Basic web surfing & emails, Parent with kids, Computer technology beginner, Gamer, Business Professional, Comfortable with technology
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
+8points
11out of 14found this review helpful.
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Microsoft - Type Cover 2 for Surface - Purple
Navigate content displayed on your Microsoft Surface tablet with ease using this Microsoft Type Cover 2 N7W-00003 keyboard, which features a full row of function keys, Windows shortcut keys and media controls for flexible options.
Fantastic Keyboard
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: ITJim
from Maine
on November 23, 2013
What's great about it: Thin, mechanical keys, back lighting, works flawlessly with Surface
What's not so great: Cost is way out there.
This, by far, is the best portable keyboard I have ever used for a portable device. I've owned Apple and Android devices and tried a host of blue tooth keyboards. All I ever got over blue tooth was maybe every other or every third character not being captured by the device while I typed. I type over 100 words a minute so you can imagine how frustrating constantly slowing down to correct my words ever other second. This keyboard blows away anything that a blue tooth keyboard offers. It kept up with my typing speed and I never once felt like I had to slow down for my device. If you purchase this keyboard you will not be disappointed. The price is a bit out there however everyone seems to be charging a premium for even the most inexpensive, trivial mobile accessories these days.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Verified Purchaser:Yes
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
My Best Buy number: 0736414133
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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ITJim's Questions
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Bowers & Wilkins - B&W PI5 True Wireless Headphones with Adaptive Noise Cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX, Charcoal - Charcoal
B&W PI5 true wire-free headphones are attractive, well-built, and they deliver a refined sound quality. Featuring Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm aptX technology these earphones ensure reliable connectivity whether you are streaming from your smartphone, tablet or PC. Allows connection of up to two devices at the same time, however, only one device can be used to play or make a call at a time. Download the Bowers & Wilkins free headphone app, available for Apple and Android for further control of the sound and noise cancellation, right on your phone. The PI5 headphones feature the latest innovations in adaptive noise cancellation along with 4 built-in microphones that pick up ambient noise and cancel it with an equal, but opposite, audio signal and enhance the call quality. There are three levels of Adaptive Noise Cancellation – High, Low and Auto, that can be controlled either by the multi-functional button on the left earbud or via the app. Similarly, the touch-sensitive button on the right earbud allows you to enable voice assistance. The buttons also allows you to control playback and phone call functions with single (play/pause, answer call), double (skip forward, end call), or triple presses (skip backward). Another stand-out feature of these headphones is the intuitive detection sensors that put the earphones on standby or reconnect them depending upon whether they are removed or put back on. The PI5s come with a sturdy and attractive charging case for charging the earbuds when not in use. The case is equipped with two 350mAh rechargeable batteries. Each earbud has a rechargeable battery which provides up to 4 hours of wireless playback. Including the charging case, the PI5 can provide up to 12 hours of continuous playback.
Is there an App to set the equalizer?
App version 3.1.3 does not have EQ functions.
4 years, 1 month ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
Alienware - m15 R4 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Dark Side of the Moon
With the 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors enabling up to 8-cores and 16-threads of multi-threaded performance, the latest generation of Alienware m17 goes beyond its predecessor. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with Ultimate performance for gamers and creators. Realistic ray-traced graphics and AI-accelerated DLSS. Our latest thermal technology, Advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, is an engineering approach where an Alienware system’s gaming performance is never compromised by means of electrical and mechanical methods while maintaining system stability during the highest performance states.
Is this a per-key RGB keyboard or a 4 zone?
Alienware - m15 R4 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Dark Side of the Moon
With the 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors enabling up to 8-cores and 16-threads of multi-threaded performance, the latest generation of Alienware m17 goes beyond its predecessor. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with Ultimate performance for gamers and creators. Realistic ray-traced graphics and AI-accelerated DLSS. Our latest thermal technology, Advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, is an engineering approach where an Alienware system’s gaming performance is never compromised by means of electrical and mechanical methods while maintaining system stability during the highest performance states.
Is the display having G-Sync?
For the 300Hz screen:
From Alienware's site:
"15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) 300Hz 3ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut"
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-m15-r4-laptop?~ck=mn
I do not see any indication of G-Sync on/off in the nVidia driver settings.
From Alienware's site:
"15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) 300Hz 3ms 300-nits 100% sRGB color gamut"
https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/cty/pdp/spd/alienware-m15-r4-laptop?~ck=mn
I do not see any indication of G-Sync on/off in the nVidia driver settings.
4 years, 2 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
Alienware - m15 R4 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 - 512GB Solid State Drive - Dark Side of the Moon
With the 10th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors enabling up to 8-cores and 16-threads of multi-threaded performance, the latest generation of Alienware m17 goes beyond its predecessor. Featuring the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with Ultimate performance for gamers and creators. Realistic ray-traced graphics and AI-accelerated DLSS. Our latest thermal technology, Advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech, is an engineering approach where an Alienware system’s gaming performance is never compromised by means of electrical and mechanical methods while maintaining system stability during the highest performance states.
Is the ram upgradable?
From Alienware's user's guide:
Onboard system memory
NOTE: The memory is integrated to the system board and
cannot be upgraded after purchase.
You can find the user's guide on Alienware's support site.
Onboard system memory
NOTE: The memory is integrated to the system board and
cannot be upgraded after purchase.
You can find the user's guide on Alienware's support site.
4 years, 2 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB SSD - Mica Silver
HP OMEN Gaming Laptop: A thin and light premium gaming experience in an elevated design so you can play everyday. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics and cooled by OmenTempest Cooling, it makes you think how it all fits into such a tiny little package."
Can this output 144Hz over hdmi?
Yes it can. I am using the HP Omen X 25f over HDMI as an external monitor.
Just be sure to use a HDMI 2.0 or newer cable.
Just be sure to use a HDMI 2.0 or newer cable.
Images for this Answer
(click to see full-size image)
4 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB SSD - Mica Silver
HP OMEN Gaming Laptop: A thin and light premium gaming experience in an elevated design so you can play everyday. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics and cooled by OmenTempest Cooling, it makes you think how it all fits into such a tiny little package."
Does it have Gsync?
This is not a Gsync monitor. At least I cannot find any information online or in the system drivers that tell me otherwise.
You can connect the laptop to a Gsync monitor and take advantage of all the features of Gsync with that monitor.
You can connect the laptop to a Gsync monitor and take advantage of all the features of Gsync with that monitor.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 physical cores. This processor does not support 16-way multitasking.
6 years ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
Is there a gtx 1660ti installed or not? What size pwr supply?
It says in the name that it is a GTX 1660ti. I can confirm that the video card is exactly as described. It is the 6gb version of the card. The Power Supply is 500Watts.
6 years ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
Does this computer have a memory card reader built in?
HP OMEN - Gaming Desktop - Intel Core i7-9700 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti - 1TB Hard Drive + 256GB SSD
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
What is the operating system for the pc, and does it come with a virus protection app
Windows 10 standard. It ships with 30 days of McAfee.
6 years ago
by
Posted by:
ITJim