hobie1978
hobie1978's Stats
- Review Count10
- Helpfulness Votes134
- First ReviewMay 23, 2014
- Last ReviewSeptember 19, 2016
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.3
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count6
- Helpfulness Votes9
- First Review CommentMarch 14, 2016
- Last Review CommentMarch 6, 2017
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count15
- Helpfulness Votes10
- First AnswerFebruary 20, 2015
- Last AnswerMarch 6, 2017
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers3
hobie1978's Reviews
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
Nest Doesn't Disappoint
Customer Rating
5.0
This is my third Nest security camera. I have two indoor cameras. On top of that I have 5 Nest Protect smoke/CO alarms and a Nest Thermostat. I enjoy those products and this one is no different.
Yes, the camera's power cable is exposed, but if you follow Nest's recommendations and be smart about it, then this cable should be hard to located and cut. I don't want to have to worry about batteries. I need my camera to work 24/7 without fail.
Setup was a breeze. A lot easier than I thought. I was able to mount the camera under an eve and route the power cable neatly to the power outlet thanks to the cable clips. The strong magnets hold everything in place and allow for easy adjustment of the camera as well. Adding the Nest Cam Outdoor to my account was just as easy. I was up and running in less than an hour.
The video stream is clear. The night vision is spectacular, as it lights up my entire front yard, which is decent sized. I love the new eyesight feature, being able to scrub through the day very quickly. I also like how it detects people and shows you a thumbnail. Overall this is a great camera and adds a lot of value to my home automation system.
Yes, it costs money for 10 or 30 days of video history. I'll gladly pay the $200/year for all three of my cameras if it means the safety and security of my home and family. If you want quality service, you need to pay for it. Bottom line: if you love Nest and their indoor cameras, you will love this as well. No more pointing an indoor camera out the windows for me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+28points
62out of 96found this review helpful.
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Apple - MacBook Air® - 13.3" Display - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB Flash Storage - Silver
MacBook Air features up to 8GB of memory, a fifth-generation Intel Core processor, Thunderbolt 2, great built-in apps, and all-day battery life.1 Its thin, light, and durable enough to take everywhere you go-and powerful enough to do everything once you get there, better.
Another Great Apple Product
Customer Rating
5.0
Over the past year or so, I have begun buying Apple products again. Outside of the Airport Extreme, I have been very pleased. This laptop has not let me down. I have a Windows Laptop, but that's more for gaming, and needed something that was portable but still has good processing power. For $750 (on sale and student discount) I couldn't pass up this laptop.
Now that I'm in the Apple ecosystem, setup of this laptop was a breeze. It is very light and portable and the battery life is absolutely amazing. It is not as fast as my iMac but it still impresses me, and I have no patience for laggy laptops. It is quick enough for what I need it for, which is writing blogs, browsing the web, schoolwork, and even light video editing.
I know there are new MacBooks coming out soon, but if you are looking for a solid laptop that is light and has great battery life, then I wouldn't hesitate to pick one of these up, because it is WELL worth the money.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+26points
47out of 68found this review helpful.
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Logitech - Harmony Elite (Remote Control and Smart Hub) - Black
Designed for use with a variety home automation and entertainment devices, this Logitech Harmony Elite 915-000256 remote allows easy control through closed cabinets or walls for flexible use. The remote works with Alexa, and the Harmony mobile app supports simple on-to-go operation.
Not Impressed At All
Customer Rating
2.0
I own two other Logitech Harmony remotes and love them. When this model went on sale, I decided to take the plunge so I could integrate my Smart Home devices with my entertainment devices. Set up was pretty easy, and I was even able to transfer the settings from my other remote to this one. That's where the fun stopped. My remote would constantly sync. Every time I picked it up, it would start syncing before I could even press a button. I reset the remote and it was fine for a while, but then it would start the endless syncing again. I shouldn't have to wait 30 seconds every time I pick up the device before I can use it, especially when it's a remote control. The hub would also go off line and I had to reset that a few times. Now mind you, I only had the device for 3 days. Setting up new devices and routines via the app was slow and painful. Doing this via the Harmony App and USB cable was a little less of a hassle. The touch display on the remote was not very responsive and I often had to press the desired function several times.
Overall, this device was more of a hassle than it was worth, and for $300 I expected much better functionality. I am a tech savvy person and also work in IT, so I usually can make something work with what I already have. Unfortunately, I could not do that with this remote.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+1point
2out of 3found this review helpful.
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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 Like Apple Products, But Not All Are Great
Customer Rating
3.0
I do like Apple products, but why do they all have high ratings? These routers are not that great. I wanted to give one a shot. I actually bought this and a Time Capsule and created an extended network by connecting them together via Ethernet cable. The devices were fairly easy to set up, but I did have the AirPort Extreme crash every time I tried to rename it. So I had to leave it with the default name. Wi-fi performance was lacking, and Netflix and HBO Go would often buffer while watching. I'm an IT Pro and the lack of proper management tools doesn't really do it for me. I can see how this would be good for someone who doesn't push the limits of their networking and doesn't care about configs. This router just didn't light up my world. I went back to my Asus Router and have had zero issues. This product is def. not for everyone.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
-1point
2out of 5found this review helpful.
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Samsung - 55" Class (54.6" Diag.) - LED - 2160p - Smart - 3D - 4K Ultra HD TV
Samsung JS8500 Series UN55JS8500FXZA LED Smart 4K Ultra HDTV: This Samsung SUHD TV continues to push the envelope of high-definition picture quality, revealing brilliant colors and stunning scene lighting that goes beyond standard 4K Ultra HD. It's also capable of connecting with apps, browsing the Web and screen mirroring with smart devices over a Wi-Fi connection.
A TV That Does Everything Well
Customer Rating
5.0
I purchased a Sony Bravia 3D 4K TV last year and I never really liked it all that much. It was a good 3D and 4K TV but a really bad 1080p TV. There was a lot of light bleed, motion blur, and grey and black uniformity issues.
This Samsung TV blows the Sony right out of the water. It does well in all modes, and the 4K is absolutely stunning. I'm am used to a TV over-saturating colors and being uneven, but this one handles both of those well. Make sure you calibrate the color on your TV and you will be very pleased. The picture is very crisp and uniform and even makes the highly compressed Time Warner Cable signal look pretty good. Put in a blu ray movie and forget about... absolutely stunning! I have yet to watch a 3D movie but I am not expecting any issues.
The Samsung Smart Hub is very nice. It is responsive and the apps load rather quickly. Not perfect, but very good. A decent number of apps to download.
I've only had this TV a few days, but so far I am very happy with my purchase. It is the kind of quality I expect paying $1500 for a television.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
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650W 5.1-Channel 3D Home Theater System
Enhance all your favorite entertainment with this Yamaha YHT-4920UBL home theater speaker system, which features 5 speakers and 100W subwoofer for full, powerful sound. Bluetooth technology enables simple wireless streaming.
Solid Home Theater
Customer Rating
4.0
I've only had this system a few days, but as of right now I like this system. I like that I can upgrade the speakers in the future if I so choose. The included speakers are solid though. They all have a nice range. Set up was a little complex and the remote is just awful but that shouldn't deter you. I have yet to put it though its paces but I don't think its going to give me any problems. I have a Sony 4k 3D TV and the Bravia Sync works with the receiver. It also has 4K and 3D passthrough, so that will be nice. If you want to save money but want the option to upgrade in the future, this is the kind if HTiB you should look at.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
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ASUS - WirelessAC1900 Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless Router - Black
Easily connect your devices to your wireless network with this Asus RT-AC68P router, which features TurboQAM technology and AiRadar to provide an efficient, reliable signal with up to 1900 Mbps data transfer rates on 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands.
A Fantastic Router
Customer Rating
5.0
I've owned several wireless routers in my day, and this router is simply the best one I've ever used. I've had absolutely no issues with this device. Speed and range are fantastic. I have used almost every function of this router with no issues, such as IPv6, VPN, Port Forwarding, remote administration and others. I have an advanced smart home set up and have had no issues there either. I have a 4K TV and I stream 4K content with absolutely no issues. I know I sound like a broken record but I want everyone to know just how awesome this router is. Spend the money and get this router!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+4points
4out of 4found this review helpful.
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Apple - iPhone 6 Plus 64GB
iPhone 6 Plus isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.
A Great Phone That Just Works
Customer Rating
5.0
What I like most about the iPhone is that it just works. The marriage of hardware and software in Apple products is second to none. Yes, I've had my beefs with Apple and found some iterations of their iPhone to be lacking and boring. That's not the case with the 6 Plus. This phone is not too big, not too small, not too heavy and not to light. I like how it feels, I like the real estate, and enjoy that it's still pocket-able.
I am coming back to Apple after a quick stint with a Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy S6. Both good phones but too many issues, especially the S6. The iPhone 6 Plus is simple and works as a true smart phone should, with unified settings and other features that were way too complex to use on the S6.
Touch ID is quick and responsive and Apple Pay is the wave of the future. Even simple things like connecting to my trucks Infotainment center is easier and more reliable than the S6 was.
Battery life is absolutely amazing. I categorize myself as a light to medium daily user and I'm easily getting 3 days on one charge. Heavy users will easily have 30-40% battery left at the end of the day.
This truly is a great device, and one of the best phones I've ever owned. All because it just does what it's supposed to. Yes, customization is nice having a more open platform is wonderful (like you can with Android) but in the end, if you have to sacrifice other features or stability, it's not worth it.
I highly recommend anyone, Android or Apple users, to check out this phone if you can.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
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ASUS - Flip 2-in-1 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Black
Only at Best BuyASUS Flip Q551LN-BBI706 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Manage your e-mails, photos, music and more with this versatile laptop. The flip-and-fold design lets you choose from 4 modes to fit your needs for work or play.
Pretty Good!
Customer Rating
4.0
Overall this is a pretty good laptop. It is sleek looking, has a beautiful full HD touchscreen, and certainly has enough power. The keyboard is nice to type on and playing games on it is an absolute pleasure.
Why didn't I give it 5 stars? First, the 1TB 5400 RPM harddrive that comes stock with this laptop is a huge oversight. It really kills the laptops performance. I replaced with an SSD right away and this is now the fastest PC I've ever owned.
Secondly, the screen doesn't get very bright and there is a nasty glare from light sources. I've found ways around it, but for a $1000 laptop with such a beautiful display, it is kind of a letdown.
Lastly, it is kind of heavy and awkward. Flipping the screen to tablet mode is clunky and awkward. I've almost dropped it several times and I don't have small hands by any means.
So if you want a nice looking laptop with a beautiful HD screen and above average gaming power, this is the one for you!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+8points
8out of 8found this review helpful.
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Samsung - 40" Class (40" Diag.) - LED - 1080p - Smart - HDTV
Samsung UN40H6350AFXZA LED HDTV: Featuring built-in Wi-Fi, this Samsung HDTV allows you to wirelessly stream movies and TV shows and surf the Web. The 1080p screen and a Clear Motion Rate 240 let you enjoy fast-moving movies, games and sports with minimal blur.
Great mid-range Smart TV
Customer Rating
5.0
Picture Quality
5.0
Sound Quality
5.0
Features
5.0
What's great about it: Picture quality, energy savings, smart features,
This is a great TV for the price. The picture is absolutely amazing. Very crisp image and minimal ghosting and blurring. The sound quality is great and there is an EQ to customize it. The smart features are great, with tons of great apps. Netflix works very well. Samsung link works great to put the content from my Galaxy Note 3 on my TV.
The only "bad" thing about the TV is that the menus are a little laggy. But not a deal breaker by any means. A wonderful TV.
This product has... Useful Internet-enabled features, Easy to set up, Right number of connections
About me... Technically savvy viewer, Gamer
I would recommend this to a friend!
Internet Connectable?Yes
Connected to the Internet:Yes
Internet content most enjoyed: Netflix
My Best Buy number: 2285822032
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
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hobie1978's Questions
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LG - 55" Class - (54.6" Diag.) - OLED - Curved - 2160p - Smart - 3D - 4K Ultra HD TV - with High Dynamic Range
Enjoy cinematic color with this 55-inch LG OLED 4K smart TV. With 8.3 million pixels, the resolution is almost four times that of Full HD, and OLED HDR delivers stunning images and support for Dolby Vision content. This LG OLED 4K smart TV uses webOS 3.0 to give you an intuitive interface for streaming multimedia and accessing apps.
Is there an ethernet connection for network compatibility?
Yes
7 years, 3 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
Does this record video footage?
No video is recorded to the cloud.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
What is the viewing angle
130 degrees
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
I'm concerned that it can be easily stolen or damaged.
Any security camera can be stolen or damaged. The best part about this camera, is that it records to the cloud, so your footage is always safe. If someone tries to steal your camera, they will be caught on video first.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
Can I hook up the camera without having internet connection at all? How long are the wires? Does the camera zoom in and out? what is the area/distance that the camera can see? How long does the camera record and in what file format? I gave many questions.
You can only use this camera if you have wireless internet at your home. Otherwise it is useless.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
Does this record video footage?
Video recording is done in the cloud. You get three hours of video history for free. You can purchase 10 and 30 days histories.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
Does this come with a mounting bracket ?
Yes
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Outdoor security camera
Meet the Nest Cam Outdoor security camera. It stands watch 24/7, rain or shine. Plugs into power so you never have to worry about dead batteries. And sends an alert to your phone when it detects activity. It even lets you talk back through the Nest app. This is what an outdoor security camera should be.
Can this camera be set to only come on when motion is detected? What is the field of view and can the zoom be done remotely?
This camera, when on, records continually. It cannot be set to only come on when motion is detected. Instead, it can send you alerts when it detects motion. You can even set up motion zones. The camera shoots at a 130 degree angle. There is a certain extent of digital panning and zooming the camera can do remotely from the app. The camera does not actually move though.
7 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera
Did you shut the window? Did the baby wake up? What’s the dog getting into? Google Nest Cam helps you stay connected to things – in super clear 1080p HD video. It sends alerts to your phone when there’s motion or sound. And only takes a minute to set up. Google Nest Cam lets you see around the clock with Night Vision. And has a built-in mic and speaker so you can tell your dog to get off the couch. Think you missed something? Subscribe to Google Nest Aware + Video History and your Google Nest Cam will continuously record up to 30 days of video so you can rewind and see what happened.
Does the free service that includes live viewing, can you also use the audio features of hearing and speaking. thanks
Yes.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
hobie1978
Google - Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera
Did you shut the window? Did the baby wake up? What’s the dog getting into? Google Nest Cam helps you stay connected to things – in super clear 1080p HD video. It sends alerts to your phone when there’s motion or sound. And only takes a minute to set up. Google Nest Cam lets you see around the clock with Night Vision. And has a built-in mic and speaker so you can tell your dog to get off the couch. Think you missed something? Subscribe to Google Nest Aware + Video History and your Google Nest Cam will continuously record up to 30 days of video so you can rewind and see what happened.
Can I share the live video with say a dozen people? AND... can I later restrict their access to the video? I'm looking at using this to monitor a litter of puppies and want to share with perspective Puppy buyers but would want to restrict access later.
You can not grant access to individual people. You can either share to the world (no restriction) or share via a password. You would then have to change the password in order to restrict people that you've already given access to, and give out the new password to people you want to have access.
7 years, 10 months ago
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hobie1978