mikeheel
Top 100 Contributor
mikeheel's Stats
- Review Count187
- Helpfulness Votes1,542
- First ReviewMarch 8, 2014
- Last ReviewOctober 31, 2023
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.5
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count4
- Helpfulness Votes9
- First Review CommentMarch 8, 2014
- Last Review CommentSeptember 20, 2016
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count10
- Helpfulness Votes10
- First AnswerMarch 8, 2014
- Last AnswerJanuary 29, 2021
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers3
Belkin - PowerHouse™ Charging Dock for iPhone and Apple Watch - White
Power your Apple devices with this Belkin charge dock. It comes with a Lightning connector that charges iPhones and an integrated magnetic charger that provides Apple watches with more juice when needed. The single built-in cable of this Belkin charge dock lets you charge both devices simultaneously, saving you the inconvenience of using multiple cords.
Handy!
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
This is a handy charging dock for iPhones that charge via a Lightning connection and Apple Watches.
First impressions matter, and Belkin has done a nice job packaging this dock.
My only complaint is that the wall charger is huge. That looks odd compared to all the smaller wall chargers we use for other devices. I included a picture so you can see what I mean.
There is a dial on the back that took me a few minutes to grasp what it does. It does not, as I first thought (b/c the simple diagrams weren't immediately obvious to me), move the charging port forward and backward or switch power between the watch and the phone. What it does do is raise and lower the height of the phone charging port in order to accommodate your phone case. It is blatantly obvious in retrospect, but I misunderstood it initially. Feel free to laugh, if you must.
Regardless, it's a handy, simple, effective charging dock for iPhones and the Apple Watch. I like the fact the phone sits vertically, so you can place it on a desk and easily reference the phone while it charges.
As a final note, it charged my devices quickly and without any excess heat. I'd call it a winner.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0963262446
+35points
42out of 49found this review helpful.
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BISSELL - Pet Hair Eraser® Upright Vacuum - Black & ChaCha Lime
Nothing puts a vacuum to the test quite like a home with pets. That's why the BISSELL® Pet Hair Eraser® was developed from the ground up by pet parents for pet parents. Whether it's shedding season for your dog or your cat tracks kitty litter all over the house, this revolutionary vacuum is designed to make cleaning up after pets and the people who love them a breeze—from beginning to end. Say goodbye to hair wrap with its Tangle-Free Brush Roll, remove embedded hair everywhere with specialized pet tools, help capture allergens and eliminate odors with the SmartSeal™ Allergen System, and when you're finished cleaning, enjoy a hands-free tank empty with our patented Cyclonic Spooling System™.BR>
Excellent Vacuum
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
As a dog owner, I was quite pleased to have the opportunity to review the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Upright Vacuum. We have two indoor dogs who love nothing more than shedding on our rugs.
Unboxing:
The vacuum cleaner is well-packaged and easy to remove from the box. The colors are quite striking when you first see them in person.
Setup:
Instructions are clear and easy to follow. A few things, like installing the multi-tool holder instead of the single holder, take so much force that you may be afraid of breaking something. Don't be. It is designed to hold tightly and to remove only with significant force.
Use:
First impression is that the vacuum is a bit heavy. That is particularly noticeable given the pivot joint at the base. The pivot makes it easy to corner, but it also takes some getting use to if you are coming from a fixed lower vacuum unit, as I was. Once you get used to it, though, the weight isn't really a factor, unless you have to lug it up or down stairs.
I appreciated the pivoting base. It made vacuuming around furniture much easier. It also allowed the top of the vacuum to get much closer to the floor than many other vacuums while the front suction area maintained contact with the floor.
I liked the fact there was one switch for suction and another switch for the floor brush. I could turn the brush off and effectively use the vacuum as a dust mop.
Suction power is adjustable and seems more than adequate.
The clever design of taking the top handle out as the hose extension is nice. It allows you to get little stuff you otherwise couldn't reach with a regular vacuum.
Features:
There is an air freshener filter built in. It is washable. At first, the scent is quite strong, but it fades over time.
The handle detaches into an extendable hose which can accept multiple attachments. This is quite handy.
The brush, which is marketed as tangle-free, has not yet gotten tangled with fur or hair.
Due to the design of the canister that collects the trash (and fur) from the floor, you can easily empty all the hair without much trouble.
Overall:
I have been very happy with this vacuum. It has become my new upright vacuum of choice.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0963262446
+42points
47out of 52found this review helpful.
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Acer - Iconia One - 10.1" Tablet - 32GB - Wi-Fi - White
Take your work and entertainment with you with this Acer Iconia One 10-inch tablet. The large screen is powered by 1GB of RAM and a quad-core 1.3 GHz processor for high efficiency, and 32GB of flash memory gives you plenty of file storage. The 5-megapixel rear camera lets you take photos using this Acer Iconia One 10-inch tablet anywhere.
Fair But Not Special
Customer Rating
3.0
I recently received the Acer Iconia One 10.1 tablet with 32gb memory. I've used a number of tablets, including prior Android, iOS, and Windows devices.
The tablet runs on Android 5.1 rather than the newest 6.0.
Some general impressions from looking at and holding the device:
-The textured plastic back of the tablet looks ok to me and helps maintain decent grip.
-For the size, the tablet feels a little heavy.
-The bezels are rather large by current standards.
-The plastic body creaks and has too much give to it.
-The textured plastic back of the tablet looks ok to me and helps maintain decent grip.
-For the size, the tablet feels a little heavy.
-The bezels are rather large by current standards.
-The plastic body creaks and has too much give to it.
Setup was relatively painless. You can skip the Acer account, if you want. I see very little benefit from setting up the Acer account.
Android flowed freely. I did notice that the onboard memory seemed challenged when I was downloading and installing a number of apps at the same time. I kept getting "memory low" warnings, but it didn't seem to slow performance, which seems fine, overall. Apps opened quickly and performed as expected.
A plus for any Android tablet is the ability to customize the experience in a variety of ways. This one is no different.
I don't tend to use cameras on tablets, but even so, I was very disappointed with the quality of the 5mp rear-facing camera. Unless you had essentially perfect lighting conditions, the image was too grainy for any normal use.
Screen resolution is a huge "meh." Images look ok. But with only 1280 x 800 pixels, the screen basically brings up the rear guard in terms of modern tablets.
The speakers seem to be improved from prior versions. They are loud but lack the depth I'm used to with better tablets.
It also has a micro-SD card slot, which I always appreciate. It is easily accessed near the power button along the top of the tablet.
At the end of the day, it's not a particularly compelling tablet, but it is a reasonable budget tablet for Android fans.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
My Best Buy number: 0963262446
+5points
5out of 5found this review helpful.
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Linksys - AC5400 Tri-Band WiFi 5 Router
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
Awesome Router
Customer Rating
5.0
I have used a variety of wireless routers (Apple, Netgear, and Linksys) in recent years, and I'm pretty picky about them. But the Linksys EA9500 really stands out. This is a beast of a router. If you don't mind the price, I wholeheartedly recommend this router..
When I consider a new router these days, there are a few things that are really important to me:
1. Of course, the basics: reliability, speed, range, security features, guest network,etc.
2. Dual band
3. AC standard.
4. MU-MIMO.
5. Beamforming (or similar) technology.
6. Print server capability
7. Reasonable port selection
2. Dual band
3. AC standard.
4. MU-MIMO.
5. Beamforming (or similar) technology.
6. Print server capability
7. Reasonable port selection
The EA-9500 has all the basics in spades. Dual band? Even better; this is tri-band. AC? Yes, but not just 1900 (like the Linksys I replaced with this one); 5400. MU-MIMO? Yes. Beamforming? Yes. Print server? Yes. Ports? Plenty; one USB 2, one USB 3, and 8 ethernet ports.
After using this router for quite a bit on my 300Mbs cable connection, I am impressed. It never sputters or strains. We use a variety of devices: two different gaming consoles, multiple laptops (Windows and Mac), desktop computers, tablets (Windows and Mac), connected home devices (Nest and such), and a variety of cell phones. But we have not experienced a single blip in signal since installing the router, and the coverage is phenomenal.
Setup is fairly typical for Linksys Smart WiFi devices, which I like in the current generation of devices (prior iterations of the portal were clumsy, but the current portal is relatively easy to use and gives lots of options for setup). One caution, when choosing your network name, it will also give your device this same name. You can change all the names later,. The network names are changed in the wireless settings, but the device name is changed via a dropdown menu in the top right of the screen (sadly, that took me a little while to find that particular menu).
However, if you've ever set up a wireless network, you'll find setup a breeze.
I have to admit, when I took this out of the box, it looked frighteningly huge. That's because it is huge. But it works beautifully. I am completely sold on this router and highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0963262446
+31points
32out of 33found this review helpful.
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Linksys - MAX-STREAM™ AC1900 Dual Band Repeater with MU-MIMO - White
Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
Bonus Wi-Fi Range
Customer Rating
4.0
The specs for this new wi-fi range extender are impressive. I appreciate the beamforming technology. It also supports all current (and prior) wi-fi standards: 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11a/g, and 802.11b.
Unboxing:
The extender is a fairly basic white box that mounts directly via plug into a power outlet. It looks fairly generic, like a carbon monoxide detector or such.
The extender is a fairly basic white box that mounts directly via plug into a power outlet. It looks fairly generic, like a carbon monoxide detector or such.
Setup:
I have a fairly new Linksys (AC1900) router. The extender is also an AC1900 device. I pressed the WPS button on the router to initiate pairing and then, per instructions, the WPS button on the extender. Failure. I went through the process several times but never could establish connection with my router from a distance of 5 feet. I then abandoned the WPS setup instructions and switched to web setup, which went smoothly for both 5Ghz and 2.4 Ghz bands.
I have a fairly new Linksys (AC1900) router. The extender is also an AC1900 device. I pressed the WPS button on the router to initiate pairing and then, per instructions, the WPS button on the extender. Failure. I went through the process several times but never could establish connection with my router from a distance of 5 feet. I then abandoned the WPS setup instructions and switched to web setup, which went smoothly for both 5Ghz and 2.4 Ghz bands.
Once it was up and running, it gave me a good analysis of the proper location via spot finder. That was helpful.
The instructions recommend giving the extended network a different name than your primary network, such as adding "ext" to the end of your network name. I actually forced it to use the same name as my primary network, since all my devices are new enough to switch seamlessly. If you have older devices, I would suggest you follow the naming directions provided with the extender.
Function:
So far, so good. As I mentioned earlier, the specs are very strong for this extender, and it lives up to my expectations. My devices connect and stay connected seamlessly. The extender offers a range of an additional 10000 square feet (roughly 100 x 100 feet, if that helps give a better idea). I'm a big fan of MI-MIMU, which seems to work well here, too. I use a ton of wireless devices - multiple streaming devices across the house, several gaming consoles, a selection of laptops, tablets, and mobile devices, and a few other connected household devices (thermostats and such). Everything works well.
So far, so good. As I mentioned earlier, the specs are very strong for this extender, and it lives up to my expectations. My devices connect and stay connected seamlessly. The extender offers a range of an additional 10000 square feet (roughly 100 x 100 feet, if that helps give a better idea). I'm a big fan of MI-MIMU, which seems to work well here, too. I use a ton of wireless devices - multiple streaming devices across the house, several gaming consoles, a selection of laptops, tablets, and mobile devices, and a few other connected household devices (thermostats and such). Everything works well.
I now have a very strong signal throughout both floors of the house (router is on top floor, extender on first floor) as well as my yard. In fact, I have decent signal just past the end of my cul-de-sac.
I should note it also includes a 1 GB ethernet port, which could be handy for certain devices.
Wrap Up:
I am pleased with the function and appearance of the device. My only gripe was that the WPS setup failed multiple times. For that reason, I can't give it 5 stars.
I am pleased with the function and appearance of the device. My only gripe was that the WPS setup failed multiple times. For that reason, I can't give it 5 stars.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 096326244
+22points
25out of 28found this review helpful.
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Roku - Streaming Stick - Purple/Black
Roku Streaming Stick: Get a hub of entertainment in one convenient, compact device. Access more than 2,000 channels and cast from Netflix, YouTube and personal media directly from your smartphone or tablet to your TV.
Portable Streamer
Customer Rating
4.0
What's great about it: Portability & channel selection
What's not so great: Speed opening apps
The Roku Streaming Stick is a good device, especially for travel or if you need to move your Roku to different devices at home. The odd thing for us is that it will not work on our 5-year-old Samsung LCD/LED television. It works on all other TVs I've tried, so I don't know what's up with that.
However, for the other TVs, it works as advertised. Setup is a bit of a pain because Roku does not import all your settings - only your channels. So, you'll have to set up all your subscriptions again.
It also is much slower than the Roku3 when it comes to opening apps, especially Netflix. But once it opens, it performs perfectly fine.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 963262446
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
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Lenovo - Miix 2 8 - 32GB - Silver
Lenovo IdeaTab Miix 2 8 Tablet: A tablet experience featuring an easy-to-navigate interface and all the right tools to be productive. Accomplish tasks on the go with Microsoft Office. And when it's time to play, kick back and surf the Web, watch a movie or read a book.
Phenomal Deal on a Small Win 8 Tab
Customer Rating
4.0
Ease of Use
4.0
Features
4.0
What's great about it: quick, resonsive, bright, color reproduction, value
What's not so great: 32gb
I have been eyeing various 8-inch Windows tablets as they have been released. I was looking for a complimentary device to go along with my Surface Pro. As usual when I am in BB, I walked by the tablet display area and was surprised to see the Miix 2 on sale for $200. After taking a day or two to mull it over, I decided the deal was too good to pass up despite the skimpy memory.
Performance is much better than I expected. The Miix responds quickly and smoothly. Apps and programs open without lag.
The screen was also a pleasant surprise. It is not 1080, so my expectations were a bit low. However, color is very good. Video and pictures render very well.
I saw some reviews that complained about touch response. I have not had any issues in several days of heavy use. I presume there was a software update that addressed that issue, but I have not confirmed that.
Several reviews here at BB seemed confused about Office. The box contains an activation key for Office. It may fool some people into thinking it is the key for Windows itself, but it is for Office. So it does include Office Home & Student for no additional cost.
I also noticed the BB site listed the Miix 2 8 as an RT device. It is not RT; it runs full Windows 8.1.
The tablet itself is attractive and feels relatively well made. I'm not a fan of the stickers on the back, but they can be easily removed. For those who wonder, it does fit in the back pocket of men's jeans or most sport coat pockets.
My only complaint is the 32gb of memory. Of course, I knew that when I purchased it, so I added a 32gb SD card, which helps. The only negative is that Windows does not give you the option to save apps on the memory card. But the combination of the SD card and OneDrive makes even 32gb palatable.
So, the Lenovo Miix 2 8 with full Win 8.1, included Office, snappy performance, and a decent display for just $200 is a solid winner.
If you are the market for a smaller tablet that runs full Windows 8.1, I strongly recommend the Lenovo Miix 2 8.
This product is... responsive touch screen, Good sound quality, easy to set up, lightning fast, Variety of apps available, A nice compact size, Sharp graphics, Easy to navigate, Great screen size, Comfortable to hold
About me... Parent with kids, Social media enthusiast, Business Professional, Comfortable with technology
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 963262446
+10points
10out of 10found this review helpful.
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mikeheel's Answers
Soundcore - by Anker Liberty Air 2 Pro Earbuds Hi-Resolution True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones - Black
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro are an incredibly advanced pair of Hi-Resolution wireless earbuds. With up to 26 hours of total play time off of one charge, you can experience your favorite music at all times of the day. Purenote technology allows for a higher quality listening experience, active noise cancelling technology cancels out up to 90% of outside noises, while HearID provides EQ customization. All three come together to make sure your listening experience is truly yours.
Do these have active noise reduction or just passive noise reduction. It isn't clear from the listing?
They have active noise canceling; it works quite well.
3 years, 4 months ago
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mikeheel
Sonos - Move Smart Portable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Speaker with Alexa and Google Assistant - Black
Play your favorite tunes anywhere with this weatherproof and drop-resistant Sonos Move portable speaker. The Trueplay automatic tuning adapts and balances the sound based on where you are and what you're listening to. This Sonos Move portable speaker incorporates built-in support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplay and the Sonos app to let you stream audio from a smart device.
I have other Sonos speakers inside the house .....when I use this speaker outside ..can I pair them all up to play the same music???
Yes, absolutely. You can pair it with any other Sonos speakers to play the same music across all them. I pair it with other speakers inside and outside the house. It works perfectly.
4 years, 7 months ago
by
Posted by:
mikeheel
Bose - Noise-masking sleepbuds - White
Sleep better. Cover unwanted noise with soothing sounds. Bose noise-masking sleepbuds™ are uniquely designed for sleep. They don’t stream music or have acoustic noise cancellation. Instead, these tiny, wireless earbuds use pre-loaded, soothing sounds to cover up unwanted noises, so you can get to sleep — and stay asleep. Plus, unlike traditional earplugs, they’re super comfortable and made to stay in place all night long, even if you sleep on your side. 1. Choose your sound, 2. Set an alarm, 3. Fall asleep without unwanted noise.
I can’t use the Bose -noise-masking-sleepbuds-white to Make phone call.
The Sleepbuds are not for music or phone calls. Their only purpose is to help mask outside noise in hopes of providing a better sleep environment.
5 years, 11 months ago
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mikeheel
Skullcandy - INK'D Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Gray/Black
Pounding bass and brilliant treble combine when you put on a pair of these Skullcandy earphones. Enjoy supreme comfort throughout the day thanks to the comfortable silicone ear gels and the flat cable that minimizes tangles. Simply connect these Skullcandy earphones to your smartphone, tablet or MP3 player using the 3.5mm jack.
Is there a mic on this earphone to answer the phone>
Yes, you can make and receive calls with the RUN.
6 years, 6 months ago
by
Posted by:
mikeheel
Dell - XPS 2-in-1 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive
Perfect portability is assured with this Dell XPS two-in-one laptop. All the data is stored on a 256GB solid-state drive for everyday security, and the 13.3-inch screen produces high-quality images and text for easy use. An Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM keep this Dell XPS two-in-one laptop running smoothly.
is there there an option of dvd?
No, there is no option for an internal DVD, but you can connect an external DVD.
7 years, 1 month ago
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mikeheel
Dell - XPS 2-in-1 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive
Perfect portability is assured with this Dell XPS two-in-one laptop. All the data is stored on a 256GB solid-state drive for everyday security, and the 13.3-inch screen produces high-quality images and text for easy use. An Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM keep this Dell XPS two-in-one laptop running smoothly.
What Windows 10 edition it comes with? Home or Professional edition?
Google - Daydream View VR Headset - Slate
Use your Daydream ready phone to experience a whole new reality with this Daydream View VR headset, which features a lightweight headset for comfortable wear. This headset has an intuitive controller for hands-on experience of your VR adventures. Featuring a soft, washable design and an easy-load system, this Daydream View VR headset immerses you in amazing views by turning on your phone.
Can you wear glasses with Daydream headset? Can you focus each eye separately?
Yes, you can wear glasses with the Daydream View VR Headset.
7 years, 3 months ago
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mikeheel
NETGEAR - Orbi AC3000 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System (2-pack) - White
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Q I am looking for1 Orbi router and 3 Orbi satellites for my big home, since Netgear is not giving the option to buy satellites individually ,will I be able to order two boxes of Orbi and be able to use one of Orbi router as a satellite ,? interchange
I saw no way to use the primary as a satellite when setting up the Orbi system. Netgear will be selling Satellites separately, though. I'd suggest waiting on that. Also, "big home" means different things to different people. I don't know if you're talking about 15,000sf or 4000sf. If closer to 4k, then the single base and satellite may be sufficient.
7 years, 8 months ago
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Posted by:
mikeheel
NETGEAR - Orbi AC3000 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System (2-pack) - White
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Will this product cover a 2000 sq. ft., one level house with only one (1) WiFi Name? The reason for this question is I'm currently using an extension to my router which has given the front of the house a different wifi name from the back of the house.
Yes, The Orbi has a primary base and a satellite, but it is one mesh network with one network name. It is not the same as a range extender (although, I should also note you can usually give a range extender the same name as your primary wifi network). However, the Orbi may be overkill for a 2000sf home.
7 years, 8 months ago
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mikeheel
Lenovo - Miix 2 8 - 32GB - Silver
Lenovo IdeaTab Miix 2 8 Tablet: A tablet experience featuring an easy-to-navigate interface and all the right tools to be productive. Accomplish tasks on the go with Microsoft Office. And when it's time to play, kick back and surf the Web, watch a movie or read a book.
Which version of Windows 8.1?
Is this Windows 8.1 Pro (Full) version or RT version?