Trobadour
Top 50 Contributor
Trobadour's Stats
- Review Count280
- Helpfulness Votes1,579
- First ReviewJanuary 27, 2012
- Last ReviewSeptember 3, 2024
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.4
Reviews Comments
- Review Comment Count2
- Helpfulness Votes1
- First Review CommentNovember 3, 2015
- Last Review CommentSeptember 21, 2016
- Featured Review Comments0
Questions
- Question Count0
- Helpfulness Votes0
- First QuestionNone
- Last QuestionNone
- Featured Questions0
- Answer Count42
- Helpfulness Votes137
- First AnswerMay 24, 2015
- Last AnswerJune 26, 2021
- Featured Answers0
- Best Answers12
De'Longhi - Livenza All-Day Electric Grill - Black/Polished Chrome
Prepare a wide variety of foods with this nonstick DeLonghi Livenza digital grill. It includes grill and griddle plates that can be switched out depending on the type of food being cooked. This 14.5-inch DeLonghi Livenza digital grill has a hinged top so you can make delicious panini, and it pairs with a digital cookbook app.
Great Grill for Small Enclosures
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on June 10, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The DeLonghi - Livenza All-Day Electric Grill is mpressive, both visually and functionally. After using it to cook multiple meals, I can see how this can quickly replace many of my pans and even my stove top.
To begin with, the electric grill feels like it's worth its cost. Every thing about it's construction feels sturdy. It comes with the flat pan-like panels installed which is ideal for eggs, tortillas, and other things you'd normally make in pans. I swapped those out to test the grill panels, which are included. There is a third option of panels to make waffles, but those do not come with this unit and are sold separately.
There is a recommended free phone app that is a companion to the unit. It is not necessary but in an effort to test everything touted about the unit, I downloaded it. It's mainly suggestions to set a timer for the various foods you can cook with the grill. I followed those suggestion and made the following: 2 sirloin 3 inch thick hamburger patties and 1 sausage link (5 inches); 1 frozen chicken breast and 1 sausage link (5 inches).
The first time I made the burgers, the meat was done as expected. I set the timer exactly as it was suggested in the app, 6 minutes for two patties. The meals cook quicker because both, the top and bottom panels heat up independently. The instructions on the app said: Set temperature on both panels to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Push the seat button and wait for a beep. Temperature will remain at 450 for the duration of the timer.
Because I added a sausage link, my meat needed an extra minute and a half, but it was well done all around and inside. The chicken breast was also thoroughly cooked and from a frozen state.
If you plan on using this daily (perfect for college students), then cleaning can easily be done with the included grease scraping tool and a napkin. Eventually, however, the panels will need cleaning. A simple press of a button makes the panels removable and you can hand wash them over a sink.
A great feature of this grill is that the top panel can lie completely horizontal to the table, doubling up your cooking space and simulating a stove top.
My reason for deducting one star is as follows: the top of the grill has an option to make paninis. A gentle push from the bottom of the top panel unlocks part of the top lid so that it swings and doesn't press down on sandwiches so as to not make them super flat. That feature is a little to sensitive and in my use, the lid turned into the panini mode without me wanting to. I tried finding something on the unit to make it more secure, but I couldn't find anything. It's not a big issue for what is otherwise a great product, as it fixes itself upon closing of the panels to cook.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
Mobile Submission: True
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
LifeProof - AQUAPHONICS AQ10 Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Obsidian sand
Take your tunes anywhere with this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker. This floating waterproof device is submersible in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes, and it deflects damage from snow, ice and dirt. Pair this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker with up to eight Bluetooth devices, and use the included dry box for storing keys and cards.
Buoyancy Audio Problems Solved
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on May 11, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for LifeProof Aquaphonics AQ10 Portable Bluetooth Speaker is extremely easy for people who’ve connected bluetooth devices before. If you haven’t, then there is a simple-to-follow instruction booklet that will get you up and running in less than 2 minutes. As soon as you turn on the speaker, it will start searching for a device to pair. I paired it with my iPhone 7 and it took a little under 1 minute.
The key feature of this bluetooth speaker is that it is waterproof, not just splash proof. Waterproof means it can be submerged underwater and still remain functional. I am glad to report that this key feature works as expected. I tested it daily, using it in the shower/bath room and I even submerged it. The speaker is still functional, just like out of the box. Another small but useful feature is the ability to lock the speaker’s buttons. With a small switch near the “on” button, you can lock all other buttons so that you don’t accidentally change songs or pause the music unwillingly. Also, 4 lights will show you the charge level of your speaker. Similar lights lite up all other buttons, making it great for use in the dark.
The performance of this bluetooth speaker is great. It definitely competes with similarly priced items with the added bonus of it being waterproof. I own at least 8 bluetooth speakers of varying price ranges. As mentioned above, I tested this in the shower/bath room. I placed it in multiple locations to test it’s loudness. I first started on the wall furthest from my bathtub, which was the best test I could think of for daily use. The previous bluetooth speaker I was using in the shower/bathroom is not waterproof and regularly priced at 49.99. Though it’s loud, the audio would drown out (no pun intended) by the running water of the tub. The priciest bluetooth speaker I own is regularly priced at 449.99. That one, I don’t dare put it near the shower/bathroom because of it’s price, but I can hear it over the water while it is in another room. This Lifeproof Aquaphonics doesn’t get drowned out being a good 15 feet away from my running tub. The next test was to let it play with me inside the shower on a high rack. Again, it worked fine, and of course, the audio was louder because it was closer to me. Lastly, I filled the tub with enough water to submerge it. I did so reluctantly, as I know that tech and water usually don’t mix well. However, like a band-aid, I just dropped it in and to my surprise, it floated. It started to spin around in the water, fully functioning. However, the sound becomes inaudible while underwater and it isn’t stable enough to face the direction you want to face it. I forced it to submerge underwater but it kept floating back up.
This soundbar meets and exceeds my expectations. With it’s decent loudness and survivability of various weather conditions, it’s hard not to recommend this. As an added bonus, if you are planning on using it in the shower, you can accept phone calls and speak through the speaker using the integrated microphone. I had a friend call me to test it out and he didn’t know I was talking to him via the bluetooth speaker until I brought it up to him. On his end, he could hear me clear as day and on my end, I had no trouble understanding what he was saying. We actually spoke for about 2 hours, and that’s because I hadn’t charged the device after taking it out of the box. That speaks volumes (again, no pun intended) about the battery.
This soundbar meets and exceeds my expectations. With it’s decent loudness and survivability of various weather conditions, it’s hard not to recommend this. As an added bonus, if you are planning on using it in the shower, you can accept phone calls and speak through the speaker using the integrated microphone. I had a friend call me to test it out and he didn’t know I was talking to him via the bluetooth speaker until I brought it up to him. On his end, he could hear me clear as day and on my end, I had no trouble understanding what he was saying. We actually spoke for about 2 hours, and that’s because I hadn’t charged the device after taking it out of the box. That speaks volumes (again, no pun intended) about the battery.
The price for the speaker in terms of value is more than reasonable if you consider that other similarly priced speakers don’t offer the feature of it being submergible for 1 meter up to 30 minutes. Other lesser known features are the dry box, which is a small space storage area perfect for credit cards and the regular sized iPhones (5.5 inches) and the fact that it can charge your cellphone with your own USB cable in within that drybox area, making it an ideal beach bluetooth speaker.
I highly recommend this product for people who plan on using it daily in a shower/bathroom, as it won’t be affected by condensation. Also, people who own a swimming pool may want to purchase one, seeing as how accidentally dropping it in the pool won’t affect it much. Lastly, if you plan on traveling to the beach this would be a wise investment.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+3points
3out of 3found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Linksys - Max-Stream™ AC4000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router
Meet your large household’s high-bandwidth requirements with this tri-band Linksys Max-Stream Wi-Fi router. It performs at up to 4 Gbps for high-speed Internet access, and its MU-MIMO technology lets everyone at home enjoy smooth, simultaneous gaming and media streaming on multiple devices. This Linksys Max-Stream Wi-Fi router has six adjustable external antennas for maximum area coverage
Link me up, Best Buy!
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on May 11, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for the Linksys EA9300 Max-Stream AC4000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router was rather simple. Compared to a previous router from Linksys that I own and uses antennas, this one was already pre-assembled, which always simplifies the installation process and was greatly appreciated. I was surprised by the size of it, though, as it is rather large. I have a 15 inch Macbook Pro and it’s just slightly smaller in width. Also, this unit uses an AC adapter that, on one end connects to the router and on the other end to the wall outlet with a two-prong plug. The AC adapter ends up in the middle of the cable which can be cumbersome when deciding where to install it. Also, I was unsuccessful in trying to install this product using just my phone, which other Linksys routers allowed me to do so with ease. It kept failing to do an update on the router that way but after I connected it straight to a computer, I had no problems.
One of the features of this router is the ability set time limits for usage. Using the free Linksys app, you can easily identify what devices are on the network, rename them so that you know which device you are working with, and set internet time limits. This is perfect for a family who has a gamer/social media enthusiast in their lives that needs restrictions on their devices. I was able to find and rename my gaming PC and I named it “Gaming Rig,” on the network. Then, I set myself a timer so that the internet to that device cut off at 10:00 PM. I had forgotten about the timer, but while I was surfing the net, I was cut off at the appropriate time and it worked as intended.
The performance of this router was great. It provided me lightning speed over WiFi, fast enough to stream 4K content. I did a test on my wireless devices to see the speed it clocked. My internet provider told me that I was paying for 100 Mbps down and 10 Mbps up. To stream 4K, according to an article from Netflix, you need a minimum of 25 megabits per second or higher. Over WiFi, I was clocking 117.09 Mbps download and 11.71 Mbps upload. That’s impressive.
This router meets my expectations, performance wise. However, that AC adapter being in the middle of the cable does limit how I want the cable to run to hide it. Though it doesn’t affect the performance of the router, it’s a bit of an eye-sore and thought I should mention it to those who enjoy aesthetically pleasing environments.
This router meets my expectations, performance wise. However, that AC adapter being in the middle of the cable does limit how I want the cable to run to hide it. Though it doesn’t affect the performance of the router, it’s a bit of an eye-sore and thought I should mention it to those who enjoy aesthetically pleasing environments.
The price for the router, in terms of value, is reasonable compared to the other routers in the market making similar claims. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, I trust Linksys with my download and upload needs. I upstream content weekly and download content daily and I’ve yet to see any performance degradation on their hardware.
I highly recommend this product for people who need fast WiFi in their homes with highly customizable, yet accessible features. After purchasing this product, the next thing you want to do is install the Linksys app (free) that allows you to customize your router settings. From time-limits on devices to parental locks, they seem to have thought of it all. This product earns 4 stars because of the failed phone installation attempts and the AC adapter making it cumbersome to choose an installation location. If those two things don’t bother you, you will enjoy a tremendous router that can handle anything you throw at it. Just remember that you can only get speeds as fast as your internet plan provides.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Sony - 2.1-Channel Soundbar System with 4.72" Wireless Subwoofer and Digital Amplifier - Charcoal black
Add an audio home theater experience to favorite programs with this 2.1-channel Sony sound bar. Its S-Force PRO Front Surround technology adds a cinematic feel to movie sounds, and it provides wireless control from your Bluetooth device via the SongPal app. Set the wireless subwoofer of this Sony sound bar on sofa mode to optimize bass details in under-the-couch setups.
Loud, Small, and Fun for All
Customer Rating
4.0
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
Review Date: 5-4-2017
The setup for the Sony 2.1CH COMPACT SOUNDBAR WITH BLUETOOTH® TECHNOLOGY is easy for people who have ever connected soundbars before. If you haven’t, there are very easy to understand diagrams of how to plug everything in. I only needed to use two cables to the soundbar itself, an optical cable and the power supply cable (both detachable and included). The only other non-detachable cable that comes in the box is attached to the subwoofer and that is a power supply.
One of the features of this bluetooth speaker is the ability to put the subwoofer under furniture such as a sofa (or in my case, a bed). You have to change some settings for this to work adequately using the provided instructions in the manual. That section of the manual is highly recommended that you save, in case you change the location of your subwoofer. I’m sure the documents are available online in case you misplace them, though.
The performance of this bluetooth speaker is, without a doubt, one of the best I have tried. I own 2 other soundbars and this one gets surprisingly loud compared to the other two. I say it is surprising because in terms of length, it is much shorter than the ones I currently own. Yet even though it is short, the booming sound of the sound bar with the included subwoofer makes any room in the house feel like a theatre. If your concern is it being too loud, then there is a nocturnal option which reduces the necessary levels so that it’s still pleasant to hear without being too loud.
This soundbar meets my expectations but there is one minor drawback that I find slightly lacking and that is the fact that the sound bar doesn’t have any display of any kind. Another brand of comparable price that I own does have an LCD display. On the Sony one (the one I am reviewing), you have to memorize the functions you are doing based on the number of blinking lights that its control causes it to do. It won’t be a big problem for most people, and it won’t be a big problem for me either, as after the initial settings, I don’t plan on messing around much with the soundbar other than to higher or lower the volume.
This soundbar meets my expectations but there is one minor drawback that I find slightly lacking and that is the fact that the sound bar doesn’t have any display of any kind. Another brand of comparable price that I own does have an LCD display. On the Sony one (the one I am reviewing), you have to memorize the functions you are doing based on the number of blinking lights that its control causes it to do. It won’t be a big problem for most people, and it won’t be a big problem for me either, as after the initial settings, I don’t plan on messing around much with the soundbar other than to higher or lower the volume.
The price for the speaker in terms of value is reasonable if your reason for buying its ease of use. This soundbar will be replacing my living room soundbar as the primary use for the family. The simple interface of the remote makes it easy for any family member to use without getting confused.
I highly recommend this product for people who want a soundbar that occupies minimum space as the size of the soundbar itself (50 cm/19.7in) and the subwoofer (9.5cm/3.74 in) make it ideal for that. Another reason to buy it is it’s ease of installation and use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+18points
21out of 24found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Polk Audio - BOOM Bit Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Sport blue
Experience high-quality sound anywhere with this Polk Audio BOOM Bit wearable Bluetooth speaker. Its steel spring clip attaches it securely to your clothing, providing great audio without blocking out noise from the surroundings. The 3-hour battery life of this compact Polk Audio BOOM Bit wearable Bluetooth speaker keeps the tunes coming on any adventure.
Portable but not Powerful
Customer Rating
3.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on April 24, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for the Polk - Bit Portable Bluetooth Speaker is easy. There are only two buttons, a + and a - sign. By pushing both of these at the same time, the device will turn on and automatically put itself on pairing mode. Have your bluetooth device on the ready to pair it up. To turn it on or off, you hold these two buttons down for about 3 seconds.
One of the features of this bluetooth speaker is it’s portability. It has a clip on the back that holds firm to anything that you clip it to. I wore it all day at my workplace on the left side of my jacket. I forgot that I had it and took my jacket off. When I put it back on, it was still there and didn’t fall off. Most people didn’t notice I was even wearing it, though a few did and were curious about the device. A second feature that I loved was the USB charging. A cover protects the USB component of this device and it was easy to charge it from any USB port. It is thicker than other devices, so you will probably have to disconnect other USB cables around the port to recharge this one.
The performance of this bluetooth speaker is not on par with other equally priced, larger speakers. Today’s market is flooded with bluetooth speakers from many brands and many prices. I own well over 10 different bluetooth speakers, so I was able to test it against a few on par with the price. It will definitely be louder than your phone speaker but not louder than most desk bluetooth speakers. The loudness will often be muffled in a loud environment such as a shower running, vacuum cleaning, or exercising near traffic. I found it most useful when I was cleaning up my classroom while it was empty, doing chores around the house (but not vacuuming) listening to podcasts or music, and when exercising in a park that doesn’t see much vehicle traffic.
The Polk - Bit Portable Speaker meets my expectations but does not exceed them. It’s portability is the reason to get one but not its power. When I looked at the item, I had my doubts about its loudness and my thoughts were confirmed upon using it several times.
The Polk - Bit Portable Speaker meets my expectations but does not exceed them. It’s portability is the reason to get one but not its power. When I looked at the item, I had my doubts about its loudness and my thoughts were confirmed upon using it several times.
The price for the speaker in terms of value is reasonable if your reason for buying it is it’s portability and ease of use. Though this won’t be my primary speaker, I can see how it will get used often if I leave it clipped onto my backpack that I carry with me, as it’s easy to just leave there and have at the ready.
I highly recommend this product for people who do a lot of walking in quiet environments. I would not recommend this for gym use or to replace table-top bluetooth speakers. This Pole bluetooth speaker is meant to stay close to your ear at all times when in use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Dyson - Ball Multifloor 2 Upright Vacuum - Yellow/Iron
Deep clean your carpets with this practical Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum, which comes with a self-adjusting cleaner head for great results on a range of floors. With a generous 30-foot cord length, this unit easily travels through large rooms and up stairs. The Dyson Ball Multi Floor vacuum’s HEPA filtration system makes it ideal for commercial or residential use.
Suction Power Like No Other
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on March 19, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for the Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 took about 10 minutes thanks to a quick read manual that was attached to one of the handles showing how to assemble the vacuum. There are three main components that you have to connect to one another: The brush that will touch the floor must be connected to the ball, the handle must be inserted through a hose, and a canister that will hold the dirt. The canister is already inserted, but you must unmount it prior to use to remove some tape holding components in place.
One of the features of this vacuum is its maneuverability. True to its word, I didn’t struggle at all moving the vacuum around the house. I started in the upstairs area of the house and made my way downstairs. There is a slight learning curve to using the extra connectors, such as the stairs cleaner, but a quick read at the manual clarified what I was doing wrong and I was able to memorize the steps required so that I didn’t need to refer to the manual again. This vacuum also features a bagless canister, substituting the bag for a filter. The filter needs to be washed with cold water at least once a month, rinsed, and sun dried for 24 hours prior to its next use. Seems like a great trade off instead of having to buy vacuum bags consistently.
The performance of this vacuum was beyond impressive. This is my first Dyson vacuum, so I have no other Dyson to compare it to. I have multiple pets and a closet that is reserved for them to sleep in when the weather outside isn’t suitable for them. My pets sleep there at night and I release them in the morning. I tested the vacuum in the room. The amount of dirt and animal hair it picked up wasn’t discernible to my eye until I could see it in the canister.
The Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 exceeds my expectations. Its ease of transitions for the tools (after learning how) is simple enough that I can see myself not cheating when cleaning and actually cleaning hard to reach areas thanks to these tools. Cleaning up after my pets will now be easier and actually worth it, based on the results of my first use.
The price for the vacuum in terms of value is adequate. It is true what they say, you get what you pay for. In this case, you get a quality product that has set the bar of vacuums so high, it will be hard to want to try another brand.
I highly recommend this product for people who are in the market to upgrading their existing vacuum or looking to make their first purchase. The removable canister and washable filter will make cleaning less of a hassle. Anyone can learn to use this vacuum, as all the features are easily accessible.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Meet Spotlight. A game-changing presentation remote. Spotlight allows you to simply navigate slides and interact with on-screen content from up to 100 feet away. The customizable timer sends vibration alerts directly to hand – and the advanced pointer system allows you to highlight and magnify areas of focus in pixel-perfect detail.
Presenters Must Own Tool
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on March 19, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for the Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote was a breeze. After downloading the software from Logitech, the installer shows you how to remove the bluetooth adapter and insert the charging cable into the remote. It uses a USB C type plug that goes into the controller and a regular USB 2.0 on the other end. It wastes no time in showing you one of it’s greatest features: the 1 minute charge.
The key feature of this presentation remote is to ability to charge in under a minute. Sure as it sounds, when you plug in the USB cable to the computer during the installation, it starts counting the one minute in front of you and tells you that the device is now charged for up to 3 hours of presentation. Very impressive start. Other features that this product excels in are the ability to point anywhere on the screen of your presentation with a simple click and a customizable timer. On top of that, the buttons can be customizable via the app that gets installed. A nice bonus touch included in the remote is that it can work via bluetooth. I didn’t even have to use the included receiver, as I use my Macbook Pro’s own bluetooth to have the remote work.
The performance of this presentation remote is bar none. I am an educator that presents daily. After testing this product for a week, I was amazed at how less frequent I needed to be near my computer and was able to stand closer to my students for faster assistance when required. The focus feature allows me to click wherever I need. I customized the forward button to raise and lower the volume when I hold it. The way it works is that, after I hold the button, if I need to raise the volume, I just raise my hand. If I need to lower the volume, I lower my hand. I got a low of, “Ooo’s and Aww's,” from the students as soon as I used the feature the first time. There was no delay when I used it and a 1 minute charge (up to 3 hours of use) was more than enough to last me the entire week.
The Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote exceeds my expectations. I didn’t expect for this remote to be any different than other clicker remotes that are sold. However, after using this product, I fell in love with it.
The Logitech Spotlight Presentation Remote exceeds my expectations. I didn’t expect for this remote to be any different than other clicker remotes that are sold. However, after using this product, I fell in love with it.
The price for the presentation remote is worth it’s value for the person who presents daily or very often. Educators can get great use out of this remote, especially with its customizable options. Non-educators, for example, traveling vendors or public speakers, can make great use of the magnification and spotlight options that the remote allows.
I highly recommend this all public speakers who want to tether themselves from being next to the computer and want to make a more impactful presentation by being closer to the public and attend to their needs.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Ninja - Coffee Bar 10-Cup Coffee Maker - Black/Stainless
Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
Coffee Lovers Rejoice
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on January 15, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for Ninja - Coffee Bar 10-cup Coffeemaker - Black/stainless was a breeze. When I took it out of the box, and even from the commercials and advertisings, it looked intimidating, to be honest. However, once it’s in your home, taking everything out seems pretty self explanatory. I still read the manual just to double check I didn’t do anything wrong, but I hadn’t.
The key feature of this coffee bar is the ability to make 10 cups of coffee in one go, or a carafe. The manual suggests using purified water, and I didn’t intend on using anything but that. It took 3 12 oz. bottles of water to fill up the reservoir. I was able to make a full carafe in about 10 minutes, from the moment you turn it on (takes 3 minutes to heat up the water) to the moment it stops dripping into the pot. You can schedule a timer to automatically make a single cup, all the way to the full carafe at any time of day that you want. As a bonus, a frother is included with the machine. Now, the frother won’t heat up your milk, but it will definitely froth cold milk. It is suggested that if you want hot frothed milk, you can heat up your milk in the microwave. That is actually easier that using a separate frothing machine, which I own and will be putting that away permanently.
The performance of this Ninja Coffee bar is up to par with my other Ninja products. It doesn’t use the coffee pods like its biggest competitor. Instead, it has a permanent reusable metal filter where you can put grounded coffee. A scoop is provided on the side of the machine that gives you suggestions as to how much to put into the filter to make the specific quantity of coffee you want. The filter is easy to use and clean. If you prefer using paper filters, you can do that too. The ability to schedule a timer for the machine to make coffee and the hotplate where the carafe stands make it ideal for anyone to have coffee, whether on a rush on at your own pace.
The Ninja Coffee Bar meets my expectations. It is easy to make coffee for a large group and the aroma that emits from the machine is reminiscent of your favorite local coffee shop. The only thing I can say against it applies to people with big hands. The water receptacle is a little tight for whoever may end up washing it. Just a side note to keep in mind.
The price for coffee bar offers a lot of value for the person who constantly buys coffee on the go. With this machine, if you make and froth your own coffee at home, the savings from buying coffee on the go will add up and it will pay for itself soon enough.
I highly recommend this to coffee lovers and coffee connoisseurs. Having the ability to choose what you want to brew, the quantity, and the added bonus of frothing cold or hot milk will make you the favorite person to visit anytime.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+5points
8out of 11found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Linksys - Velop AC2200 Tri-Band Mesh Wi-Fi 5 System (3-pack) - White
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
It's worth every penny.
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on January 15, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for the Linksys Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi System was so easy that I feel even non-tech savvy people can quickly and easily be up an running in less than 15 minutes. After taking the items out of the box, a card said to download the Linksys APP to my phone and that it was, “that easy.” After I downloaded the app, I signed in and it asked me what I wanted to set up, with the Velop system being the number one choice. After that, all the steps were laid out to me in easy to see images. You even have an option if you previously had another router that you are trying to replace, so that it isn’t as confusing for those who don’t mess around too much with routers.
The key feature of this product is the ability to extend your WiFi network all over your home. My home is 3/4s of an acre and I need a system like this. After plugging in the first of the three provided nodes (little white towers), the app will recognize it and you will be asked to set up the name of your wireless network and your password. From there, you are given instructions to connect other nodes that you want. Another feature that I enjoyed was the ease of prioritizing the devices that connect to the system. Imagine a world where the device you use the most gets the internet priority versus other home inhabitants who may also be on your network but don’t necessarily depend on the internet. With the app, it’s easy to assign specific devices to take over the network vs. other devices.
The performance of Velop system was better than expected. I connected the main one upstairs, which is where my router is. The next one was plugged downstairs in the main living room, and the third one was installed in my kitchen. The kitchen one had trouble picking up the signal, so the app told me the first time that I needed to move it closer to another node. After I moved it just a few feet, the app said that the Kitchen node was picking up signal, but that it was weak. It asked me to leave it there if I wanted to or it recommended moving it to an even closer location. To be honest, the kitchen is blocked by a bunch thick walls, since it was made after the home was completed as an addition to the house, so it made sense. I moved it a third time and everything worked.
The Linksys Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi System meets my expectations. My kitchen, the most difficult room in the house to get Wi-Fi signal and I was able to stream my shows at that location in HD at full speed.
The price for this system can be hefty but the value that they provide is insurmountable for homes where every family member or guest expects WiFi around the home.
I highly recommend this to people who have a high speed internet system and a home where certain areas have a weak WiFi signal. The features from the product make it ideal to manage devices for the younger ones and for the household breadwinner, you can prioritize your internet needs by device. Overall, it’s a good investment. I can foresee me keeping this sytem for over 5 years, making the price per year seem more than affordable.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Enjoy nonstop music while charging your iPhone with this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter. It keeps your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus fully functional while plugged in, and it's compatible with Apple MFi-certified cables and headphones. The 12W power pass-through of this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter provides optimal charging speed for compatible devices.
Plug and play at its best.
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: Trobadour
from Pharr, TX
on January 12, 2017
Images for this Review
(click to see full-size image)
The setup for this device was plug and play, meaning that no additional software was required for it to work. My wife and I both have cars with bluetooth, which alleviates having to connect an auxiliary cord to our new iPhones that no longer have that option. However, when we travel together, only one of us can use the bluetooth while she uses her headphones and that’s where this device came in handy.
One of the features of this product is the ability to charge your cellphone while listening to music. While I enjoy listening to podcasts, my wife listens to music. Being in the same vehicle, she can’t be charging her cellphone and using her headphones at the same time. With this dongle, while I listen to my podcast with bluetooth to the car, she is charging her phone and listening to music. A second great feature that was a bit of a welcome surprise was that with the dongle, two people can connect their headphones at the same time to one phone. We attempted doing that for watching a TV show and it worked as advertised.
The performance of the dongle was as expected. It worked right out of the box, didn’t require much of a setup, and everything was self-explanatory for people who are looking to get this kind of device.
This Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar meets my expectations. Any product where a non-tech person can take out from the box and start using it without much research is a welcome addition to our family.
I highly recommend this to people whose vehicles may not have bluetooth and are looking to charge their newest iPhone while using the auxiliary port of their car or for people who want to share their listening experience with someone else, as having two ports allows you to connect two headphones (with the headphone adapter that came with your iPhone). Each person would just need their own individual adapter.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0113448447
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Share this review:
Trobadour's Questions
Trobadour has not submitted any questions.
Turtle Beach - Ear Force Headset - Multi
Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Get blown away by your games AND movies in Dolby Digital Surround Sound with the Turtle Beach Ear Force PX4. With up to 15 hours of uninterrupted, crystal clear wireless play, the PX4 not only dominates for PlayStation 4 games, but lets you experience Netflix or Blu-Ray Disc movies in cinematic surround sound. Don't settle for less; get the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage today.
Would these work with a Windows laptop with Bluetooth?
I don't own a Windows laptop, but I did successfully connect them to my MAC via bluetooth. Both, the MAC and my ELGATO HD60 recognized the microphone input and allows me to wirelessly chat.
9 years, 4 months ago
by
Posted by:
Trobadour
from
Rio Grande Valley (RGV)
Turtle Beach - Ear Force Headset - Multi
Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Get blown away by your games AND movies in Dolby Digital Surround Sound with the Turtle Beach Ear Force PX4. With up to 15 hours of uninterrupted, crystal clear wireless play, the PX4 not only dominates for PlayStation 4 games, but lets you experience Netflix or Blu-Ray Disc movies in cinematic surround sound. Don't settle for less; get the Turtle Beach Audio Advantage today.
Can I use the PX4 as a wireless headset for my iPad?
Though I haven't tried using it specifically to game on my iPad, the front of the box says it's wireless for mobile devices. I did successfully connect them to my MAC and they work like a charm.
9 years, 4 months ago
by
Posted by:
Trobadour
from
Rio Grande Valley (RGV)