stirfry
stirfry's Stats
- Review Count37
- Helpfulness Votes101
- First ReviewOctober 27, 2019
- Last ReviewNovember 5, 2024
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.5
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Questions
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- Answer Count2
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- First AnswerDecember 21, 2019
- Last AnswerOctober 21, 2021
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This wireless Apple CarPlay adapter will take your driving, convenience, and productivity to the next level. If you own an iPhone and drive a vehicle with built-in Apple CarPlay, a wireless CarPlay adapter is a powerful tool that makes your commute safer and your favorite media more accessible. Enjoy quick auto pairing, stable bluetooth connection, and wireless hands-free media streaming/voice control.
Easy Installation, Reliable Connection, No Lag
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on June 5, 2023
I have a 2020 Ford Bronco Sport that has wired Apple CarPlay. The OEM system works well, but the extra time it takes to hook up the cable between my phone and the console (and limited sight lines--especially in the dark) can become frustrating. So I see where the idea of wireless CarPlay originated. I use CarPlay mostly for navigation and listening to and responding to text messages, but I did evaluate some of the other functions--including music library playback and use of the SiriusXM app.
This system works extremely well, is reliable, and flexible.
Setting up the system in my Bronco Sport required me to eliminate the Bluetooth pairing between my phone and the vehicle (I did this on both the vehicle and the phone), and I also eliminated the recognition of the phone for Apple CarPlay (on both the vehicle and the phone). So note that the OEM Bluetooth functions between your phone and vehicle will no longer work, which is OK because Apple CarPlay tends to do all the OEM phone functions and more. I was up and running in well under 10 minutes.
The way the system works is that the car recognizes the Rexing device as an Appe CarPlay device through the wired USB connection, and then your phone pairs through Bluetooth to the Rexing device. It is nothing more than a daisychain. My vehicle shows the Rexing device as the only connected device, and my phone shows the Rexing device as its only connected device. The understanding of this daisychaining is extremely important, as I will discuss a bit later.
My Bronco Sport takes a few seconds to recognize the Rexing device, and then another few seconds for my phone to pair with the Rexing device. So I am up and running with CarPlay about 10 seconds after starting my vehicle. In the CarPlay settings, you can have the system default to the OEM screen, or you can have the CarPlay screen come up immediately.
All of the phone and texting functions worked exactly as it did as if I had wired CarPlay. All my steering wheel functions for audio (volume, track changes, etc.) worked perfectly and without any lag. In addition, screen presses for function were also without lag. Very impressive.
My SiriusXM app worked just as well. Mapping functions equally as good. I was able to dictate addresses to the system without any lag or issue, and Siri also functioned exactly as expected. It is if my vehicle had the wirelss CarPlay as stock equipment.
I am curious to know how the system will function when I have my wife in the vehicle with me, where her phone will connect to the vehicle and mine will connect to the Rexing device. Only the voice button on the steering wheel would likely be affected--would it trigger Siri or the OEM functions for climate control, etc.? If it triggers the OEM functions, no big deal--I would just summon Siri by voice instead of using the steering wheel voice button.
The size of the device is small enough to keep tucked away and the unit is shiped with both a USB-A and USB-C connector. Therefore, the installation is flexible depending on which CarPlay USB port you have in your vehicle and/or which one you prefer to use. I can use the additional USB ports in my center console to charge my phone while connected to the wireless CarPlay.
Here's where I love the flexibility. I wrote Rexing a question regarding the transportability of their device between vehicles, and their answer was as expected. Because of the daisychaining I described earlier, you can move this device from one vehicle to another without hassle. For example, I can move the Rexing device from my Bronco Sport to my F-150 (which also has wired CarPlay). The F-150 will then recognize the Rexing device, and then my phone will still pair with the Rexing device. In other words, my phone only cares that it sees the Rexing device, not what vehicle the Rexing device is in. So now with the one Rexing device I can make all of my wired CarPlay vehicles wireless with only the one Rexing device. Super!
Note that on Rexing's website, it states that their device will not work in any BMW vehicle.
Overall, this is a well-designed and capable device!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Turn your content into immersive experiences with enhanced audio features and versatile modes on the new Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop
Great Features and Value With Flexibility
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on June 2, 2023
Before this Dell 2-in-1 computer, I had another brand's 2-in-1 that was about three years old. That system had a 10th gen Intel i7 with integrated graphics, 12GB RAM and 512 GB SSD, along with a 13" OLED screen. It was a great system, but for what I was using it for, it was a bit too slow, especially for video processing, and the SSD was getting full. However, the screen was nothing short of amazing.
This Dell moved me up to Intel's 13th gen i7 with 10 cores, also with integrated graphics. 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB SSD, and 2 thunderbolt 4.0 / USB-C ports (data & charging) also were upgrades, but I did have some concern about the 14" WUXGA LED screen, at just 250 nits (my previous system's OLED is 600 nits). There is also a card reader, a full-size HDMI port, a standard USB port, and a headphone jack. Having charging USB-C ports is nice because you can link the system with a docking station.
Enough with the specs, let me talk about how the system performs! I'll start with overall design. The case feels quite solid and there is minimal screen flex when opening the lid. The drop hinges allow the keyboard to be slightly raised when used as a laptop, but the curved shape of the case does not allow the system to look as sleek as others with sharp-edged cases when in tablet mode. However, the system still does fold perfectly in half. The keyboard has full-sized keys (with backlighting and great haptics), but no number pad. I use a USB number pad for data entry with this system. The overall weight of the system plus the power brick is 4 lb, 2 oz, which is not horrible, but is nearly 1 lb heavier than my previous 2-in-1. Indoors, I am able to keep the screen at about 60% brightness, and visibility is good. The screen itself is crisp and evenly backlit. The built-in cover for the excellent camera is a nice plus, and the system overall is reasonably quiet and does not run hot.
File speed transfers were impressive. Using a Samsung T7 external SSD in the USB/C ports, I was able to achieve 450 Mbps from the drive to the system and then 700 Mbps from the system back to the drive. Very fast!
Battery life is good--I was able to get about 6-7 hours of computing before it needed to be plugged in. I do use the Windows Subsystem for Android to play some games. Performance is very good, but it does drain the battery a bit faster--it does on my other systems, too. I do not play any high-intensity games.
Video encoding was equally impressive. Taking a 2-hour DVD quality video file and converting it to mp4, Handbrake was able to achieve that in just under 10 minutes (my previous 2-in-1 took nearly 30 minutes), and a similar BluRay video file finished in under 40 minutes (compared to about 70 minutes). I keep up on tech quite closely, and since Intel's 11th generation of chips, the integrated graphics have been much improved. There were smaller steps forward with the 12th and 13th gen chipsets, but Intel is finally on par or better than AMD with this latest generation of chipsets.
Let's talk a little more about the screen. In past vintages of this system, there were a lot of complaints about the screen not being bright enough. As I stated before, indoors, 60% brightness was plenty for me to work with the system well. I am writing this review sitting outside on my deck. It is a sunny morning and while I'm not in direct sunlight, it is bright out and I can see the display just fine with the brightness turned up to about 80%. The touch screen has a good response--I use it mostly for games and reading eBooks and eMagazines through the Libby app. The text and graphics for the books and magazines is very good and easy to read. Do I like my OLED screen better--yes, but there is nothing to complain about with this display--especially at this price point.
This is probably the largest system I would want for a 2-in-1. Portability is a big deal for me, and this system is on the cusp of being too large and heavy to serve well as a 2-in-1. But I still find it very acceptable. I carry the system around in a backpack on my motorcycle and use it when travelling for work. The nice thing is that during takeoff and landing, the airlines don't make you power down the system when you are using it in 2-in-1 mode.
Overall, this Dell 2-in-1 is a good performer and a really nice value. The latest gen i7 chipset, 16 GB RAM, large (and fast) 1 TB SSD, and 2-in-1 flexibility make the system very responsive and nice to use--especially if you don't want to carry around two devices (a tablet and a computer). While ideally I would have desired an OLED screen with all the other great features of this system, I know that is not possible in the price point of this system. I would easily recommend this Dell to someone looking for a great value in a very capable and flexible system.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sharp - 2.2 cu ft Stainless Family Size Countertop Microwave with Sensor cooking and Inverter Technology. - Siver
Sharp 2.2 cu ft Stainless XL Family-Size Countertop Microwave, 1200 watts, Inverter Technology, Sensor Cook, LED Interior Lighting, Auto Cook Functions, Weight and Time Defrost.
Packed With Features; Intuitive to Use
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on May 5, 2023
This microwave has a lot of useful features for an active family kitchen. Multi-Stage cooking, sensor cooking (for popular items), auto defrost, and melt/softening are just some of the useful features for those that use their microwave for more than just reheating last night’s leftovers.
The unit is attractive, with stainless steel accents, a black case, and black glass. The digital display is bright and large enough to read from across the room. The inside is a charcoal gray, which prevents the unit from showing every bit of splatter from heating. The lights inside of the unit are bright LEDs, which provide great visibility of the inside contents.
Overall, this microwave was easy to set up. Setting clock was intuitive. However, be aware that the depth of the unit (nearly 20 inches plus additional depth for the power cord) leaves very little counter space directly in front of the unit. This can make it difficult to remove very hot dishes from the microwave and set them quickly on the counter. We placed the microwave oblique in a corner so we have more room in front of it. This was not a big deal for us since that is where we had the unit we replaced.
Heating in the unit was very fast and even—expected because of the power output. The power level can be set independently for each heating event, or a “multi-stage” program can be used with varying power outputs. Programming the microwave for these tasks is intuitive and quick to master. We thought it was innovative for the unit to have “memory” settings for frequently used one- or two-stage programs.
We don’t use the sensor cooking that often, but it is available for popular items like potatoes, vegetables, frozen entrees, and (of course) popcorn. We tried it for some frozen vegetables and the results were good—so we will try some of the other presets and see if they work just as well, as the need arises.
The melt/soften function was the one function we found a bit confusing at first. There is a large difference between melting and softening, but there are only four settings for this function—butter (1), chocolate (2), ice cream (3) and cheese (4)—and each setting is for a specific weight of that item. It turns out that the first weight in the table is for melting and the second weight is for softening. For butter, I would have preferred the units in “sticks” instead of weight. And clarification on “cheese” as either “cream cheese” or “block cheese” would also be helpful.
The Auto defrost comes in handy for frozen foods like chicken, beef and fish. Indicate the weight of the item through multiple button presses and let the microwave do the work. We have frozen chicken more than the other proteins, and the function worked well.
We really appreciate that there is the ability to silence the microwave beeps. This feature is absent in a lot of microwaves. When one member of a household is up early or late, others will appreciate no microwave beeps!
The instruction manual also provides some nice guides on utensils, containers, and dishes that are appropriate for the microwave, as well as cooking techniques, defrosting guides, reheating guides, and cooking instructions for fresh and frozen vegetables. All of these guides are useful to novice microwave users (and even those who are more seasoned, as every microwave cooks a bit differently). The guides are based on what is being heated and the weight of what is being heated.
The one slight complaint I have about this unit is that there is an annoying rattle on the right side of the microwave when closing the door. It almost sounds like there is something loose behind the access panel on the right side of the interior of the unit. Perhaps I will remove the access door and see if I can figure out what the source is.
This is a nice unit that has found a good home in our kitchen. The fast heating, programmability, quick heat settings, and intuitive use make it a unit we would recommend to others.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Achieve high-quality visuals on every play with this Panasonic Ultra HD Blu-ray player DP-UB154P-K. Deep color HDMI output and 4K upscaling delivers immersive enjoyment of your favorite movie titles, showing images at their very best. Featuring Dolby Atmos and HDR10+ compatibility, this Panasonic UHD Blu-ray player immerses you both in lifelike sound and images.
Excellent Sound and Upscaling - Wonderful Player
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on April 16, 2023
First, let me admit that the Blu-Ray player I replaced was well over 10 years old. I really should have replaced it sooner, because this new Panasonic player made the experience of every movie I watched over the last few days unbelievably better than my old player.
I’ll start with the setup, as there are a few important notes. The player itself has a small footprint, does not have a front display, and has a front USB input, a rear HDMI out port, and a LAN port. There is a power button and a tray eject button on the top of the player, and the unit does not support wireless networking, nor does it have any smart features. The remote easily fits the hand, has all the usual buttons, but does not light up in the dark. The player was very easy to set up with my 4K ready TV, but I just needed to make sure that the HDMI in port I used on the TV accepted a 4K signal. Note that many TVs only have select ports that will accept a 4K signal, and it is indicated in the reference manual for the TV. For example, one of my TVs has only two of the four HDMI ports that support 4K, while my other TV has all three ports supporting 4K. I use an optical cable between my TV and my surround sound system—which was unchanged from my last Blu-Ray player. Overall, I was up and ready to go in about 15 minutes, after an initial start-up screen that was easy to follow and complete.
I decided to test the video quality (including 4K upscaling) and audio quality of this player with four titles to begin with. The first two were Blu-Ray releases about 10 years old—"The Hobbit” and “Star Trek Into Darkness;” the third was the remastered “James Bond Moonraker” on Blu-Ray, and the fourth was the epic mini-series “Pacific” on DVD.
The first in the player was “The Hobbit,” and I appreciated the fact that the player indicated the playback was in 4K. (The player does not indicate when the playback is not in 4K per se—but if there is no 4K indicator upon the start of playback, then it is not upscaling. There were some previews and splash screens on all the titles I played were I noticed the playback switched from 4K to non-4K, but the indicator always popped up on the screen when there was a change). I was absolutely stunned by the picture—color and crispness—as well as the fullness of the sound coming through all my speakers. This movie never sounded or looked so good in my home theater. But I was not convinced yet, as a lot of the scenes in “The Hobbit” that are most impressive are computer generated images. “Star Trek Into Darkness” continued to impress with incredible contrast and sound. This is where I started to notice the richness of the sound and the deeper, crisper bass. “James Bond Moonraker” was simply unbelievable—I was speechless through most of the opening scene of the movie—it looked so much better than on my old player. But where I was most impressed was with “Pacific.” I had just finished watching this series on DVD with my teenage son and so I invited him to re-watch the first episode on this new player. He could not stop commenting on how much fuller the sound was—with deep bass and great surround—and also how much better the picture was than on the old player. Both of us are rather picky about the quality of a picture and sound, and we were both super impressed.
I was able to jump, fast forward, and rewind through the movies easily with the remote, and the picture updates on the TV as this is done, which is helpful if you are looking for a specific scene.
Since the unit is not wireless, firmware needs to be updated by ethernet—not a horrible inconvenience, but other players offer wireless (at an additional cost). I also miss the backlit remote, but there are usually only a few buttons I use on the remote anyway, and once I know where they are, it’s OK. I use all the smart features through my TV, so I really don’t need the duplicate of the smart features on the Blu-Ray player. I do miss not having a front display to show how far I am into a movie, but I can use a button on the remote to show that, which I will get used to.
Overall, I was really impressed with this Blu-Ray player. It delivers where it counts (in sound and picture). While there are some minor features missing, I really didn't mind them being missing after just a few days with the player.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Brother MFC-J6555DW INKvestment Tank color inkjet all-in-one printer handles high-volume color and black and white print jobs with ease. You can INK BIG with up to 1 year of ink in-box(1). It handles high-volume color and black and white print jobs with ease, delivering uniform, professional quality color printing makes it easy to create smart-looking reports and documents, with clear images and sharp lines… helping make your business look sharp too! Offers versatile connectivity, with options to print wired via USB, built-in dual band wireless (2.4GHz / 5GHz)(2), or even on the go with the Brother Mobile Connect App(3). Work where you want, when you want. Print, copy, scan, and fax functions are easy to manage from a computer, mobile device, or using the intuitive 3.5” LCD color touch screen. Built to last and designed for exceptional ease of use right out of the box, this Brother INKvestment Tank printers is the simple, economical, and professional choice for your home office or small business.
Outstanding Small Office Printer, Fast & Capable
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on January 6, 2023
The Brother MFC-J6555DW INKvestment multi-function printer should be heralded for its versatility, functionality and value.
SETUP:
The printer was well-packaged and included everything needed to get the printer up and running in about 15 minutes. If you are going to connect the printer directly to a computer with a USB cable, you will need to buy that cable separately. I did not have any issues connecting the printer to my wireless network using the provided instructions. There are some software applications that are optional installs—iPrint and Scan and Paperport. I was not overly impressed with iPrint and Scan, but Paperport was required to get some advanced scanning functions of the printer to work well—like 2-sided to 2-sided copying. The auto document feeder, along with the larger scanning glass and paper trays gives the printer a rather large footprint, but the construction looks and feels solid.
The printer was well-packaged and included everything needed to get the printer up and running in about 15 minutes. If you are going to connect the printer directly to a computer with a USB cable, you will need to buy that cable separately. I did not have any issues connecting the printer to my wireless network using the provided instructions. There are some software applications that are optional installs—iPrint and Scan and Paperport. I was not overly impressed with iPrint and Scan, but Paperport was required to get some advanced scanning functions of the printer to work well—like 2-sided to 2-sided copying. The auto document feeder, along with the larger scanning glass and paper trays gives the printer a rather large footprint, but the construction looks and feels solid.
NORMAL PRINTING:
Printing from all applications is incredibly fast. Typical office output (e-mails, color presentations, etc.) look absolutely fantastic. Type is dark and crisp; graphics are true to color. The bottom paper tray holds a decent amount of paper, as does the rear tray. There are clear markings as to how to adjust the trays for each paper size, and how to make sure the printable side is facing the correct way. One of the great strengths of this printer is the ability to handle paper sizes up to 11”X17”—and not just for printing, but for scanning, copying and faxing as well.
Printing from all applications is incredibly fast. Typical office output (e-mails, color presentations, etc.) look absolutely fantastic. Type is dark and crisp; graphics are true to color. The bottom paper tray holds a decent amount of paper, as does the rear tray. There are clear markings as to how to adjust the trays for each paper size, and how to make sure the printable side is facing the correct way. One of the great strengths of this printer is the ability to handle paper sizes up to 11”X17”—and not just for printing, but for scanning, copying and faxing as well.
SCANNING AND COPYING:
Scanning and copying are also blazingly fast. The auto document feeder (ADF) makes the process even faster, as it can handle about 50 sheets of paper. One annoying shortfall is that the ADF does not support 2-sided to 2-sided copying from the printer touch screen. However, you can use PaperPort to scan 2-sided documents by feeding it through the ADF twice; then print the resultant scan as a 2-sided document. (Paperport arranges the page images correctly in the final PDF.) The Paperport software also supports scanning to multiple file types, including searchable PDFs. The iPrint and Scan software does not support 2-sided scanning, saves each page individually as a JPG, and does not support saving as a PDF. Though Paperport is a bit clunky, it does its job well—especially if you have demands that are above the very basic tasks handled by iPrint and Scan.
Scanning and copying are also blazingly fast. The auto document feeder (ADF) makes the process even faster, as it can handle about 50 sheets of paper. One annoying shortfall is that the ADF does not support 2-sided to 2-sided copying from the printer touch screen. However, you can use PaperPort to scan 2-sided documents by feeding it through the ADF twice; then print the resultant scan as a 2-sided document. (Paperport arranges the page images correctly in the final PDF.) The Paperport software also supports scanning to multiple file types, including searchable PDFs. The iPrint and Scan software does not support 2-sided scanning, saves each page individually as a JPG, and does not support saving as a PDF. Though Paperport is a bit clunky, it does its job well—especially if you have demands that are above the very basic tasks handled by iPrint and Scan.
PHOTO PRINTING:
Photo printing was good, but not great. The photos have good color replication, but the prints are not as glossy as one might expect—they are slightly more matte. This was regardless of the paper used for photo printing. When there were solid colors at the bottom of the photos, there was some slight banding, about 1/4" wide about 1/4" from the bottom of the photo. This was also regardless of the photo paper used or the tray used. Brother Technical Support was very helpful and suggested nozzle cleaning. However, that did not resolve the problem. I sent Brother the photos and perhaps their technical team will find a solution. In addition, the iPrint and Scan software does not have much functionality for photo editing—you need to rely on aftermarket software for that, resave the photos, and then use the iPrint and Scan for printing. For me, I will use another printer for photo printing.
Photo printing was good, but not great. The photos have good color replication, but the prints are not as glossy as one might expect—they are slightly more matte. This was regardless of the paper used for photo printing. When there were solid colors at the bottom of the photos, there was some slight banding, about 1/4" wide about 1/4" from the bottom of the photo. This was also regardless of the photo paper used or the tray used. Brother Technical Support was very helpful and suggested nozzle cleaning. However, that did not resolve the problem. I sent Brother the photos and perhaps their technical team will find a solution. In addition, the iPrint and Scan software does not have much functionality for photo editing—you need to rely on aftermarket software for that, resave the photos, and then use the iPrint and Scan for printing. For me, I will use another printer for photo printing.
USABILITY:
The touch LCD screen on the printer is fabulous. The menu structure is well laid out, and the screen is large and vibrant. It is very responsive using normal touch pressure and can be tilted in and out for better visibility. Having this type of screen is so much better than similar printers that have much smaller monochrome screens that can be so hard to read in poor lighting or when there are shadows.
The touch LCD screen on the printer is fabulous. The menu structure is well laid out, and the screen is large and vibrant. It is very responsive using normal touch pressure and can be tilted in and out for better visibility. Having this type of screen is so much better than similar printers that have much smaller monochrome screens that can be so hard to read in poor lighting or when there are shadows.
INK REPLACEMENT:
Replacing all four ink tanks costs about $100. While that cost is significantly less than replacing smaller cartridges, the cost is quite a bit more than other all-in-ones that use tanks that can be refilled with bottled ink.
Replacing all four ink tanks costs about $100. While that cost is significantly less than replacing smaller cartridges, the cost is quite a bit more than other all-in-ones that use tanks that can be refilled with bottled ink.
SUMMARY:
There are so many things to like about the Brother MFC-J6555DW printer. Being able to handle larger paper sizes, an auto document feeder, super fast printing and scanning, plus a large and readable touch screen—all at a very good price—make this an absolutely wonderful multi-function printer for anyone who works at home or has a small business that has above-average printing needs. Photo printing is not a forte of this printer, nor is 2-sided to 2-sided copying. If your business does not have these needs, this is the perfect printer for you.
There are so many things to like about the Brother MFC-J6555DW printer. Being able to handle larger paper sizes, an auto document feeder, super fast printing and scanning, plus a large and readable touch screen—all at a very good price—make this an absolutely wonderful multi-function printer for anyone who works at home or has a small business that has above-average printing needs. Photo printing is not a forte of this printer, nor is 2-sided to 2-sided copying. If your business does not have these needs, this is the perfect printer for you.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ASUS - A3402T 24'' Touch-Screen All-In-One - Intel I5-1235U - 8GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive - Black
ASUS AIO is a precision-crafted masterpiece inspired by the spirit of future. It combines the simplicity of pure aluminum with the sophistication of advanced technology to create timeless yet practical beauty for your home.
Nice Compact System--Great For Everyday and More
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on December 16, 2022
If it’s been a while since your last computer upgrade and you’re looking for the compactness and cable-neatness of an all-in-one, the ASUS A3403T would be a good choice. My last all-in-one was only about three years old, but had Intel’s 10th generation processor. Even with an i7 and 16GB of RAM, the not-so-old system struggled with multitasking and any video-related task—mainly because the integrated graphics with the 10th generation processor was so inadequate. All that changed with Intel’s 11th generation processors, and the improvement continues with the 12th generation processor, which is what this ASUS all-in-one is equipped with. The ASUS system—with an i5, Intel’s integrated Iris XE graphics and 8GB of RAM—outperforms my last all-in-one by very large leaps and bounds.
Scrolling through websites on the internet is smooth; video editing takes 1/3 the time (I am achieving over 300 frames per second in DVD-quality processing), and running multiple tasks simultaneously is absolutely no issue. Applications load very quickly, and file transfer rates are fast—be sure to use the high-speed USB ports. I was able to run several Office applications, have several browser tabs open, and run Minitab all simultaneously--no sweat.
The screen, which has touch capability, is responsive, and is not hard on the eyes. The screen image is sharp and has nice contrast. The included MyASUS app has some really nice video customization features, including blue light reduction. The screen itself has tilt adjustment, but no height adjustment. However, on a standard height desk, the top of the monitor is at eye level, which is the recommended height for comfortable computing.
The included Bluetooth keyboard and mouse are not the best, but they work well and have decent feel. Preferences for keyboards and mice are very personal, so what I don’t like might be great for you, and vice versa.
The 256GB drive may be considered too small, but only if you plan to have a lot of video and/or gaming files on the computer. Speaking of which, gaming was much better than expected—being able to run higher frame rates and resolutions than I thought. At a later date, I will try to replace the SSD with a larger on by opening up the system. I might increase the RAM while I’m at it to create a monster system.
I appreciate the USB port that is on the underside of the system, which allows one device with easier access than with the (plentiful) USB ports on the rear of the system. However, when plugging in a USB device on this underside port, you’ll need to hold the top of the system for stability. I actually leave a USB extension cable plugged in to avoid that.
Another feature which is fabulous is the mode button, which switches the system between the computer and the HDMI input. The button is easy to feel and locate on the underside of the system. It allows me to run my work laptop through the ASUS all-in-one screen, and I can seamlessly switch back and forth between my home computer and my work laptop. The camera is 720p, which is fine for video meetings. Sound from the speakers is full and crisp, plus there is a headphone jack for more private listening.
ASUS really makes nice computer systems. I’ve owned ASUS laptops in the past and have been very happy with them. This ASUS all-in-one is working great thus far, and I would recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Skullcandy - Mod True Wireless Earbuds - Black
Meet Mod – the premium earbud with high-end features and a mid-level price. Mod lets you customize your button setting and EQs, adjust outside noise levels with Stay-Aware Mode and connect to multiple devices at once. Plus, a Clear Voice Smart Mic in each bud reduces background noise for crystal-clear calls.
Nice Features and Performance - Great Value
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on December 15, 2022
I’ll start off by saying I’m really happy so far with these earbuds. The features and performance at this price point make an excellent value. My typical use is for work (connected to both a computer and phone simultaneously through the multi-pairing feature) and then while walking / running / cycling (only connected to my phone).
Upon first putting the earbuds in my ears, I was quite impressed with how secure the fit was. Normally for athletic use, I will only use earbuds that have some type of security loop over the top of my ear. I was able to run and cycle with these earbuds in and there was absolutely no risk of them falling out—a big win in my book.
I paired the earbuds to my phone first, and then followed the instructions for multi-pairing to my computer. The process was easy and quick. The earbuds do a good job and switching back and forth between the devices. For example, if I am on the computer and my phone rings, the earbuds switch over to the phone. When I am finished with the phone call, the earbuds switch back to the computer. The function is not perfect—for example, if I am listening to a podcast through my phone and I am clicking through Windows Explorer on the computer, my podcast audio will get interrupted by the mouse clicks through the file structure. A minor annoyance.
Downloading the Skullcandy app on my phone, I was able to perform some more advanced features and access a very detailed user guide. The app allows custom or preset sound equalization, custom button press assignments, and activating the “stay aware” feature. The “stay aware” feature works well in an office or home setting, but not in any athletic mode. When walking / running / cycling outside, the wind noise amplification with the “stay aware” on is nothing short of deafening. However, the app does make it easy to turn on and off. I was able to custom assign a button press sequence to activate Siri, which I do at times while cycling to respond to a text message. I think this is better than the “Hey Skullcandy” feature of previous model earbuds.
The buttons on both earbuds are rather easy to locate and activate with bare fingers or with lighter gloves, such as cycling gloves. This makes it easy to advance tracks, pause, resume, and complete other functions on the ear buds.
Podcasts, newscasts, and voice calls come through crystal clear. The microphone also works well, and I have not gotten any complaints during phone calls that my voice was distorted or faded. I did not have the chance to test the noise reduction on phone calls while on a walk on a breezy day, but it would be a pleasant surprise if these earbuds perform better at that task than other earbuds I’ve owned in the past that were dismal at it.
With music, you’re not going to get thumpy bass, but it is adequate enough for casual listening while outdoors walking, running, or on the bike. Because the earbuds don’t stick out of my ears as much as other brands, the wind noise while cycling is not as bad as other brands. Overall, music sound quality is good.
The charging case is compact and provides a quick charge for 2 hours of use in about 10 minutes. With a full charge, I was able to wear the earbuds on and off during a full day of work on a single charge.
Overall, the features and performance of these earbuds is super for the price, making them a great value. The secure fit, multi-pairing, button customization, and sound quality are all very positive.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Samsung Jet 60 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum features a lightweight and maneuverable design plus a removable battery for extended cleaning time up to 40 minutes. The mini motorized tool is perfect for cleaning up pet dander and allergens. Compatible with the Samsung Clean Station.
Under-Delivers in Many Ways
Customer Rating
2.0
Posted by: stirfry
on September 27, 2022
The Samsung Jet 60 Pet Cordless Stick vacuum has many shortcomings that prevent me from recommending it to those looking for this type of vacuum. We own another vacuum in a similar class and it is far superior to this one.
First, the vacuum does not run very long on a charge--maybe 15-20 minutes at the most. Put it on high power, and the run time is even less. Charging the battery takes a few hours, so if the job you want done is more than just a quick pickup, you might have to come back hours later to finish the job.
Next, the vacuum is somewhat awkward to maneuver. It looks like the head will rotate easily and freely with the appearance of the head and because the vacuum is so light, but when vacuuming around furniture or near corners, I found myself constantly needing to pick up the vacuum unit because the head would not maneuver the way I wanted it to.
Third, while the unit is wall-mountable, it is not easy to wall-mount in my residence. The unit needs to be wall-mounted close to an electrical outlet. So if you want the vacuum in a closet or laundry room, where outlets are non-existent or already used for other purposes, you'll need to find another place, likely in a more visible part of the house. In addition, the wall-mount unit is heavy, so be sure to anchor it to a stud; mounting just through the drywall with the provided mollys will probably have the wall mount pulling away from the wall after some time. We chose to fully charge the battery and then store the vacuum in the closet without the wall-mount. The vacuum would not stand up on its own. Even when vacuuming and needing to set the vacuum upright while moving something out of the way, the vacuum will not stand up on it's own--you have to lean it against something or in a corner. This is the most annoying thing about this vacuum.
Now let me touch on the actual function of the vacuum, which is not that great. While the unit works reasonably well on hardwood floors, tile and rugs with no or minimal pile, any carpet with more than minimal pile overwhelms this vacuum. The brush stops spinning and all you get is suction--even on the higher power. The "lines" left on the piled carpet are not left with the forward motion of the vacuum, but rather from pulling it back towards you, meaning that you are not getting a good and powerful vacuum stroke. Therefore, the unit does a poor job at cleaning carpet with any type of pile. If your residence has all hard surfaces and no piled carpet, it will probably be OK.
I also used the vacuum on furniture and as a car vacuum with the different attachments and taking advantage of the modularity of the unit. The unit worked adequately on fabric furniture (with several passes), but as a car vacuum, the unit was difficult to maneuver (even in its smallest configuration) and did not have enough power to clean the floor mats without several passes. However, getting the unit configured multiple ways was quite simple, as all the push buttons were logically located and easy to actuate.
The unit does not have a good battery indicator--it only has four bars on the battery. I would prefer a percentage indicator, which is much more informational.
The last shortfall of this unit is that the instruction guide is completely pictorial--no words. Some of the illustrations are not very clear, and that made learning about the unit and its features easier to accomplish by experimenting with the unit rather than looking through the guide.
As a household vacuum (with piled carpet) or a car vacuum, this unit is quite sub-par. However, as an apartment owner or a homeowner with only hard surfaces, the unit would be adequate. Storage requires some planning, as the wall mount needs to be near an outlet and the vacuum itself does not stand on its own. Run time is more than disappointing, and the instruction manual needs work.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Acer - Nitro 5 - 15.6" FHD Gaming Laptop – Intel Core i5 – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti - 16GB DDR4 - 512GB Gen 4 SSD - Black - Obsidian Black
Fire it up then go full throttle faster and more effectively than ever with Acer's next evolution of its Nitro 5 gaming laptop. The new Nitro 5 soars to new levels of performance for gamers and creators, courtesy of its 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics—powered by Ampere™ NVIDIA's RTX architecture! Next, toss in the vivid, crystal-clear 15.6” Full HD display with a 144Hz IPS panel, ample cooling and a 4-zone RGB keyboard and you can see why the Nitro 5 is a knockout hit for gamers of every level!
Very Nice Gaming Laptop, Also Excels as Office PC
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: stirfry
on August 11, 2022
Laptop shopping nowadays comes down to making sure the system you are buying has the components and configuration that will best suit how the laptop will be used. For example, more cores in the CPU means more applications can run simultaneously (and switching between them is more seamless), more memory means components can talk to each other more efficiently (this also helps with gaming), and dedicated graphics (instead of integrated graphics) means all the calculation-intense graphics are handled by a dedicated processing unit (GPU) and dedicated RAM (instead of sharing with the system’s main CPU and RAM). Then there are all the other considerations like ports, screen size and resolution, battery life, weight, keyboard and track pad, etc. Clearly, a system for gaming may not be good for general office computing and vice-versa. However, there is no exception that a good or great gaming laptop must have a dedicated GPU, and that GPU should also be equipped with a good amount of dedicated RAM for the GPU. Skimp too much on this one feature for a gaming system and you’re certain to be disappointed.
So where does the Acer Nitro 5 stand? The Nitro 5 is marketed as a gaming laptop, but offers more performance than just gaming. A 12th gen Intel i5 CPU (12 cores and 3.1 GHz speed) powers the system. With this number of cores, a lot of applications can run well simultaneously. Next is the 16GB of onboard memory, which makes those processes work efficiently and helps boost frame rates for gaming. Finally, there is the dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti graphics card with 4GB of dedicated RAM, which delivers great performance for moderate gaming, ample performance for advanced gaming, and great performance for video editing. Couple this with the 512 GB SSD, (4) USB ports (1 of which is USB-C / Thunderbolt and 1 of which offers power-off charging), an HDMI out, a headphone jack, and an ethernet jack, and this is one value-packed laptop.
Gaming performance, whether it’s a desktop or laptop, will differ based on the game and the system you’re playing it on. In order to enjoy some of the most stunning graphics with the highest frame rates and without stutter—well, you may need to sink some major bucks into the dedicated GPU. The Nitro 5 has a very impressive price / performance balanced GPU in the RTX 3050 Ti, so you can play just about every game out there, but perhaps not at the highest resolution and highest frame rates. However, I did not run across a game I couldn’t play at least at moderate resolution and very acceptable frame rates, without stutter (most of the games I’m playing are racing games). Some of the racing games have dynamic resolution scaling, which helps, too.
Besides gaming, I also tried this laptop with general office computing and video editing / processing for the heck of it. Video editing / processing uses the GPU in many similar ways as gaming, but gaming does tax the GPU much more at higher graphics settings, especially in some of the newer games. For video processing, I evaluated two other laptops in comparison to the Nitro 5 for mp4 to mkv video conversion using Handbrake and a one-hour 1080p video. This comparison showcases how different laptop configurations affects performance and why choosing the right specs makes a big difference. Laptop 1 is a 10th gen i7 (4 cores) with 16GB memory and integrated graphics. This laptop averaged 33 frames per second (FPS) during the conversion and the process took nearly one hour. Laptop 2 is a Ryzen 5500U (6 cores) with 8GB memory and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics card (a low-end dedicated GPU). This laptop averaged 70 FPS during the conversion and took about 25 minutes—a marked improvement over laptop 1. The Nitro 5 completed the task in 10 minutes at an average of 133 FPS. Wow, what a difference!
General computing applications like Microsoft Office ran very smoothly, and even calculation-intense applications like Minitab and Tableau were very responsive. The fans are mostly whisper quiet with general computing, but do get a bit noisier when the GPU is working hard. Within the NitroSense app (which can be quickly launched with a dedicated hotkey on the keyboard), I took the fans up to the maximum 7500 RPM and it was quite loud, but also understood the fans will rarely run at this speed.
The screen offers Full HD and a 144Hz refresh rate, which was appreciated while gaming. Nothing stinks more than having a great GPU paired with a really poor screen. While the screen is acceptably bright and crisp, it does not offer the exceptional brightness and crispness of an OLED or QLED screen. However, at this price point, you’re not going to get everything. The screen is fine.
I did appreciate the customization of the keyboard lighting within NitroSense (many colors to choose from), but that customization only takes effect once Windows is fully up and running. The default red keyboard lighting (which is also part of the boot sequence) makes me feel like I’m piloting a Klingon Bird of Prey. Cool for looks, but a bit annoying on the eyes. There are four “zones” on the keyboard, and each can be their own color, if you like. The keyboard does have good feel, and for gamers, important keys have a distinct outline for easy and quick identification. The trackpad is an ample size and works well. The camera, although only 720p, is adequate for video conferencing. The audio is definitely nice for a laptop—crisp, rich, and with decent bass. It compliments well for gaming.
The Nitro 5 is bulky and quite heavy, and the power supply is large. In addition, the laptop looks a bit retro with its larger screen bezel. The laptop ships with a SATA hard drive expansion cable and fasteners. This is likely because the stock 512GB SSD will not hold as many games as some might like (this is the biggest limiter to this laptop), and there is a free expansion bay for a SATA drive. The memory slots (2) can each hold up to 16GB, but the laptop comes with (2) 8GB bars, so the memory can be expanded but you’ll need to replace both memory bars. Lastly, with general computing, battery life was just about 4 hours. With graphics processing and moderate gaming, that life dropped to just over 2 hours, so portability is not the greatest. For general computing the laptop runs nice and cool, but when the GPU is being taxed for gaming and video processing, the laptop can get a bit hot to be sitting on your lap.
Overall, I think the Nitro 5 offers a really good option for gamers on a budget. In addition, the laptop is more than decent as a general office use laptop. The large number of cores in the CPU, ample memory, and value-packed dedicated graphics card allow this flexibility. The biggest limitation is the hard drive size, but there is room for expansion (and the cables / fasteners are included).
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Charm Holiday - 7' Frasier Fir Tree with Color Change Starry Lights - Green
Decorate your home with this beautiful 7' Frasier Fir LED Prelit Artificial Christmas Tree from Charm Holiday. This 7' tree features 600 LED starry lights, 7 lighting functions switching between warm white and multicolor, and a remote control. 1,610 tips are from durable PVC construction. Plug in adaptor with 16ft cord.
An Overall Nice Christmas Tree
Customer Rating
4.0
Posted by: stirfry
from Detroit, MI
on December 3, 2021
Images for this Review
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The Charm Frasier Fir is, overall, a nice Christmas tree with several options for lighting. Construction is of good quality, the tree looks full, and the light density is appropriate.
This Christmas tree measures seven feet tall and about 40 inches in diameter at the bottom. The smaller diameter bottom allows it to fit in tighter places. In addition, the lowest branches are a little bit higher off the floor than most artificial trees. Out of the box, the instructions were easy to follow and are the same as for most artificial trees. I found the stand to be a little bit wobbly, but it is certainly not unstable by any means. I've just seen better designs. The bottom and middle sections of the tree have retractable arm branches. When they extend down, they often to not find their final resting spot automatically and need to be slightly coaxed. Again, not extremely bothersome, but I've seen better. The top section of the tree does not have such arms, as is typical for artificial trees, and must be pulled into place manually.
Naturally, the first time out of the box, the branches require significant "fluffing" and adjustment. I really thought there was no way the tree was going to fill out and it was going to look barren. Quite the opposite! The tree looks quite full, and there was not a lot of shedding. The connectors for the lights between sections are very secure, but I've seen other trees where the connector is built into the stem of the tree. That is a better design, in my opinion.
The LED lights are bright and are "tip" lights. They are vibrant (red, yellow, green, blue, and purple) and are of good density up and down and around the entire tree. I think the density is a little bit higher on the lower section of the tree, but you need to look closely to notice. I am not a fan of blinking lights on a tree; therefore, I only use the solid white and solid color options with the foot pedal. I do wish the foot pedal had a dedicated on/off switch instead of having to cycle through all seven options before turning the light off. For me, I just put the tree on a timer to avoid that.
Overall, this artificial Christmas tree is quite nice. The vibrant colors and relatively easy setup make it a good choice for your Christmas celebration.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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BISSELL - Perfect Sweep Turbo Cordless Rechargeable Sweeper - Gray
The BISSELL® Perfect Sweep TURBO® Cordless Hard Floor and Carpet Sweeper is a quick and easy option when it comes to picking up daily dirt and unexpected messes between routine vacuum cleaning. Did the dog leave a trail of hair on the rug, or maybe the cat spilled her dry food in the kitchen? No matter the dry mess, the Perfect Sweep TURBO® can handle it. It’s small and lightweight, making it a good compliment to your regular cordless stick vacuum, plus the powerful battery provides up to 60 minutes of cordless cleaning. Did we mention it works on area rugs, carpet and hard floors? That means it doubles as a carpet vac and a hard floor vac. Plus, when you’re done cleaning, dumping the debris in the trash is quick and easy with the easy-to-empty dirt bin.
Can this vacuum dust under the bed . How high is it?
Definitely. Detach the canister and the vacuum will go almost completely flat.
3 years ago
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stirfry
Dell - Inspiron 24" Touch-Screen All-In-One - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 512GB SSD
Unleash your creativity with this all-in-one Dell Inspiron desktop computer. The 23.8-inch Full HD capacitive display delivers detailed visuals and offers smooth touch operation, while the 512GB SSD minimizes load times, letting you jump into work sessions quickly. This Dell Inspiron desktop computer has a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM for running multiple programs simultaneously.
is there a plugin for speakers?
Yes, or you can use the Bluettooth as a connection.
4 years, 10 months ago
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stirfry