dronedad's stats
- Review count188
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- First reviewJuly 11, 2014
- Last reviewMarch 12, 2024
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- Average rating4
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- Answer count8
- Helpfulness votes27
- First answerNovember 16, 2016
- Last answerApril 29, 2021
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Take photo editing to the next level with Photoshop and Premiere Elements 15. Install Photoshop Elements on your tablet to take advantage of touchscreen editing features, or create photo and video collages easily with Premiere Elements. Save money and enjoy professional results when you use Photoshop and Premiere Elements 15 to batch-edit photographs and footage after your next special event.
Customer Rating
3
Good for Home Use - Not User Friendly all the time
on November 28, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
This combo grabs the Elements versions of the cornerstone softwares for both Editing Photos and Editing Videos - Adobe's Photoshop and Premiere programs. Each of these are one of, if not THE best packages on the market that do what they do. The Elements line is Adobe's reach back to the home users; a nod to the little guys, a lower cost version for someone who might not use it every day or need quite as much power as the full fledged (and EXPENSIVE) versions cost. In this regard they have hit the nail right on the head. Price point is awesome and the features are all there. Where this falls down is when we install it (or if you have windows 10, try a few times before getting it installed) and then the fun begins.
Both Photoshop and Permiere are scaled down versions of the full software. It feels very much like they went in and removed advanced features, rather than built this from the ground up. They include three modes Easy, Guided, and Expert. If you find yourself seeking expert mode often, you're probably a candidate for full on Photoshop or Premiere.
The part that keeps this program from being 5 stars in my mind is hard it is to find the tools or the name of what I want to do to a photo. Because this program is fully baked in the Photoshop/Premiere world, they've named and placed almost everything where it exists in the non Elements version of the software. This is GREAT if you view the Elements versions as a gateway, a stepping stone, a next step to becoming fully immersed in the Adobe world. If you're not taking that plunge... it adds a layer of difficulty that isn't needed.
Overall this software is very good, more powerful perhaps than it needs to be, uses some guided and easy user modes to try and get you to what you want to do. It errs on the side of a little to close to the full on versions, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but makes it harder to use for a first timer.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Improve your brushing technique with this Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum toothbrush. Personalized coaching in the app provides tips on how to adjust your brushing for better results. This Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum toothbrush has three modes, three intensities and two heads, so you can customize it to your teeth and gums' needs.
Customer Rating
5
Best Toothbrush I've Ever Owned!
on November 25, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
I upgraded to this thing from a more basic model and I was stunned at how much cleaner my teeth feel.
The Included Adaptive Clean brush heads are far and away totally different than the knock off replacements I had been using for my cheaper sonicare. Since these are available separately for use on most other sonicare toothbrushes I won't say much more on them here other than they're awesome.
Having a lithium ion battery makes a huge difference as well. My drawer used to be littered with 4 cheaper electronic toothbrushes and it was a roulette game to see which one had a charge. Having this new Sonicare Platinum Connected has elevated the toothbrush for a me a little. I keep it stashed on it's stand, and thanks to the app I know far more about the usage on the brush heads than before.
The app - I was skeptical at first "really? does my toothbrush need an app too?" But I find myself referring to the metrics there more often than I thought. I don't always actively monitor my brushing sessions - aka have the app up while I'm brushing, but I do have bluetooth on and I let it connect . It divides your mouth up into 6 segments and tracks pressure and coverage over those segments. This has prompted me to become a more conscious tooth brusher again, like in elementary school when the dentist would visit and give you a new brush and you went home eager to be diligent again for a while? it's exactly like that!. The ability to track when new heads are put on is also very helpful. The adaptive clean brush heads themselves tell you when time is up, but so does the app. This is helpful for all brush heads, since others aren't that advanced. If you were to actively monitor your brushing sessions it would tell you how much time you've spent in each segment of your mouth.
Overall I love it. I thought the app was overkill but it turns out to be a useful feature that causes me to think more about how I brush. I'll be using one of these for quite some time.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep unwanted hair to a minimum with this Philips grooming tool. The waterproof design lets you use it in the shower, and eight attachments make this trimmer perfect for grooming different sections of the face. This Philips grooming tool has a turbo setting to increase cutting speed, and it charges in just one hour to reduce wait time.
Customer Rating
4
Decent trimmer, not consistent depth adjustments
on November 25, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
I usually have a beard or a goatee so facial hair trimmers like these are important to my daily routine. I was particularly excited about this one because its a significant upgrade from what I have been using. This trimmer works great for me with ONE caveat; The guide combs.
CONSTRUCTION: This trimmer is well made with a heavy plastic body. The power and turbo buttons feel solid and take more than a casual bump to press them on. The power connector is a substantial plug and doesn't come unplugged very easily. Important to note that it ONLY runs off of battery power so if the trimmer goes dead, you can't plug it in and keep going. The good news is that the battery lasts for so long, that's unlikely to happen to you. Also the charge is quite quick, so if it did go dead, you could plug in, jump in the shower, and by the time you're done there's enough charge to finish trimming. The Guides feed into a graduated plastic slot at the back of the trimmer, and the attachments/heads all rotate on and off with a very positive feel. The main cutting head and trimmers all feel very precision constructed and sharp right out of the box. This thing is SERIOUS about trimming hair.
BATTERY: I was surprised to see the battery life rated for an our, and i'll be darned if I don't get more than that out of it usually. I also would have liked a battery indicator light, but I usually end up charging it long before it goes dead.
TRIMMING: The self sharpening steel head that gets used with the guide combs is quite sharp and heavy feeling. It does an awesome job of cutting hair. I rarely need to turn on the "turbo" button which makes it cut even faster, except when I'm really mowing down the stubble. The way the head is constructed it does collect hair behind/around this head, but being as this is a wet/dry razor, I usually just rinse it.
The razor attachment is your rolled foil style, and did a decent job of shaving close for intermittent use. I don't think I would trust it to replace a regular razor however, if you're a close shave kind of guy
The ear/nose hair attachment is the side cutter kind with no pinching or nipping of my skin.
The precision cutter head is a baby version of the main cutter, with a plastic bottom and less substance to the metal teeth. It works very well for edging facial hair such as the bottom edge of my beard or my goatee.
There are three guide combs of increasing depth/thickness that are included with this trimmer, and this was where it fell down for me a little. The shortest guide comb is the "wedge" style that ratchets up or down away from the blade, but they leave the cutting edge exposed at the base of the wedge. My main complaint is that the "wedges" are't hinged, nor do they extend all the way to the blade, so it's possible to over rotate the trimmer while using them, and accidentally press the trimmer directly against your skin, or close to it. This results in an inconsistent depth of trim. This is especially important if you are someone who liked to maintain a consistent length hair like myself. Perhaps with more usage I might get better at it, but I was surprised that they had skimped on this one part of the trimmer. This doesn't happen with the two guide combs designed for longer hair, but those aren't ones that I'm likely to use.
OVERALL: This thing works really well,, cuts hair very well and has awesome battery life. I wish the guide combs were improved a little but I will keep using it, even if I have to keep my older cheaper trimmer around just to shorten my beard hair.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Philips Sonicare AdaptiveClean Brush Heads (2-Pack): Get a deep, gentle clean with help from these brush heads, which feature a flexible design that conforms to the grooves of your teeth and gums for enhanced plaque removal. When the blue bristles fade to white, it's time for a replacement.
Customer Rating
4
Cleanest I've ever had with Sonicare!
on November 21, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
Philips offers a number of different heads for their sonicare toothbrushes to offer different levels/types of cleaning, as well as different price points. These things are big. Way bigger than the DiamondClean that I have been using that I can't help but compare them to.
The brushheads themselves are large. So large that these are definitely for adult use only, and if you have a very narrow jaw you might have trouble getting these into some smaller places at the back of your mouth. I didn't have any trouble, but I was take aback by how large the head is. This is offset by the silicone sheath around the brush head that eliminates that buzzing/vibrating on your teeth if you happen to bump the back of a tooth, This also makes it easier to hold in position without having the baby it. After reading a few other reviews online I also saw some others that had problems with groups of the bristles falling out - I definitely did not experience this after almost a month of brushing with these heads.
The groups of bristles have different levels of stiffness and this makes the brush head feel a little more stiff than your average electric toothbrush head, but I enjoy the clean feeling that comes from that. Not once would I say that they have left my gums feeling sore or uncomfortable. These brush heads do also have a fading color section that is to indicate when the brush heads have reached the end of their life.
The end result is that they leave me teeth feeling cleaner and like i'm fresh from a cleaning at the dentist when I use these. My hygenist did also mention that she could tell I'd been using a different toothbrush.
I'm a little surprised at how much these cost, and that's my main reason for not scoring 5 stars is there is some value lacking in the high price, but they sure do get the job done! I will be purchasing again, and I would recommend to anyone with a Philips Sonicare.
The end result is that they leave me teeth feeling cleaner and like i'm fresh from a cleaning at the dentist when I use these. My hygenist did also mention that she could tell I'd been using a different toothbrush.
I'm a little surprised at how much these cost, and that's my main reason for not scoring 5 stars is there is some value lacking in the high price, but they sure do get the job done! I will be purchasing again, and I would recommend to anyone with a Philips Sonicare.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Customer Rating
4
Beyond a bluetooth speaker!
on November 16, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
Having seen commercials for Amazon's Alexa products, I was somewhat aware of what this could do, and I had some ideas about what I wanted to be able to do with it.
Setup:
Setup is very easy, using the Google Home app, which is available for almost any device. Similar to the Google Chromecast setup you have to connect to it directly, and then I had zero issues getting it to connect to my home network. Once it shows up on your network you can also control it and add connections to other services via the Home app.
Setup is very easy, using the Google Home app, which is available for almost any device. Similar to the Google Chromecast setup you have to connect to it directly, and then I had zero issues getting it to connect to my home network. Once it shows up on your network you can also control it and add connections to other services via the Home app.
Connectivity:
The Google home connected to my wifi with minimal fuss and seems to keep that connection well. In the Home App is also where you set the Google Home to connect to various services and devices you have around your home. In my case I connected it to other Chromecasts, Spotify, a number of other accounts, and a Nest. These were all done using authentication through those sites themselves, via the Google Home app. This was also fairly easy to accomplish.
The Google home connected to my wifi with minimal fuss and seems to keep that connection well. In the Home App is also where you set the Google Home to connect to various services and devices you have around your home. In my case I connected it to other Chromecasts, Spotify, a number of other accounts, and a Nest. These were all done using authentication through those sites themselves, via the Google Home app. This was also fairly easy to accomplish.
Use:
Once I got it all set up... I wasn't quite sure what to do. I thought right away we'd use it to play music. It didn't take but 2 tries, without opening any manuals or instructions to get it to play music from spotify. It responds to both "Hey Google' or "OK Google" similar to the Pixel/Glass/Etc. My kids, figured it out immediately, and have been having a blast playing music from it. It will tell you when you ask it to do something it recognizes, but can't yet control "I can't quite do that yet, but we're working on it". When you say OK Google it reduces the volume of anything that's already playing. It's surprisingly sensitive, responding to me from two rooms away at a conversational volume. It obviously applies some kind of noise cancelling to it's own tunes because it's able to respond to me in the same room with it playing music at almost full volume. It does struggle a little more with accuracy in that situation however.
Once I got it all set up... I wasn't quite sure what to do. I thought right away we'd use it to play music. It didn't take but 2 tries, without opening any manuals or instructions to get it to play music from spotify. It responds to both "Hey Google' or "OK Google" similar to the Pixel/Glass/Etc. My kids, figured it out immediately, and have been having a blast playing music from it. It will tell you when you ask it to do something it recognizes, but can't yet control "I can't quite do that yet, but we're working on it". When you say OK Google it reduces the volume of anything that's already playing. It's surprisingly sensitive, responding to me from two rooms away at a conversational volume. It obviously applies some kind of noise cancelling to it's own tunes because it's able to respond to me in the same room with it playing music at almost full volume. It does struggle a little more with accuracy in that situation however.
Sound Quality:
This thing is on par for similar devices on the market. It turns up way louder than anything it's size has any business putting out, similar to a jambox. It didn't' distort or drop out at any level. Stereo is a little tricky since the speakers are mounted inside in an opposing fashion and it's designed to fill the whole room, so sometimes doppler was in effect.
This thing is on par for similar devices on the market. It turns up way louder than anything it's size has any business putting out, similar to a jambox. It didn't' distort or drop out at any level. Stereo is a little tricky since the speakers are mounted inside in an opposing fashion and it's designed to fill the whole room, so sometimes doppler was in effect.
Design: The google home looks like a vase with the top chopped off. There I said it. The top is angled, and for a reason: there are LEDs under the top. You can actually use touches to accomplish different things, tapping to stop music, tapping again to play. There is a circle of LEDs that show when Google Home is listening for a command (in the same primary color array as Google Chrome) and there is also a circle of LEDs showing current volume and you can touch to turn up or down. The ability to swap out the bottom/speaker grills to match your decor is a nice touch too. Mine was a pretty good fit right out of the box.
Overall:
This thing is probably only going to become MORE useful as a smart home hub as the technology evolves and google adds more services to it. Right now you could connect MANY things to it using the IFTTT integration, but that can be a little tedious. The number of services it connects to out of the box are useful, but not plentiful. So far it's served as a glorified speaker in my home that can turn the thermostat up and down. Exploring in the Google Home app also gives you more examples of what can be done with it. Gmail and Gcalendar integration have a little ways to go as well - I'd love to see the ability to link it to more than one Google calendar and then have ti give alerts. As it is, I really dig using it, and I think for the price point it blows the Alexa out of the water, even though Alexa connects to just a few more services at this time. Four our of Five stars, would recommend to a friend!
This thing is probably only going to become MORE useful as a smart home hub as the technology evolves and google adds more services to it. Right now you could connect MANY things to it using the IFTTT integration, but that can be a little tedious. The number of services it connects to out of the box are useful, but not plentiful. So far it's served as a glorified speaker in my home that can turn the thermostat up and down. Exploring in the Google Home app also gives you more examples of what can be done with it. Gmail and Gcalendar integration have a little ways to go as well - I'd love to see the ability to link it to more than one Google calendar and then have ti give alerts. As it is, I really dig using it, and I think for the price point it blows the Alexa out of the water, even though Alexa connects to just a few more services at this time. Four our of Five stars, would recommend to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
Customer Rating
5
Blazing fast Android - Google's new Flagship!
on October 22, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
This is the fastest most solid Android phone I've ever used. In keeping with the other Google phones, the Pixel is bone stock, with no addons, which is refreshing and runs blazingly fast. The haptic feedback is snappy and useful./ Nougat is well polished and feels like Android is now enough cycles that the bugs are worked out and it can rival iOS. The phone itself is as close to an iPhone 6 clone as I can imagine, with some differences that make it unique and all Android. The placement of the fingerprint sensor on the back takes some getting used to, but once you are it's easy to unlock as you're bringing the phone up to your face. Call quality and Speakerphone are all as I would expect for a top of the line phone, and are top notch. The metal body and and glass back all feel very well assembled. I like the feel of the beveled edge in my hand, it gives the feeling of something to hold on to around the curve of the phone, in spite of it's size. The AMOLED screen is bright even in bright daylight and is pleasing to the eye. Overall this phone is a wonderful flagship for the Android brand. It's refreshing to see Android as it was meant to be used, without touchwiz or any other overlays that slow it down and make it actually harder to use. I would highly recommend this phone to anyone looking for a new device.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect your external wireless devices to the internet with this Linksys dual-band router. Two 5Ghz bands support both high-end gaming and low-end applications without compromising speed, and remote management lets you make adjustments from any location. This Linksys dual-band router has a sleek design that integrates easily into most workspaces.
Customer Rating
5
Powerful, simple to use and setup, VERY FAST
on October 20, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
I had previously had to bridge two routers together to cover my whole home. I had explored using a mesh network and had tried network extenders in the past. This thing blows all of that out of the water! Straight out of the box it was easy to setup. The size and number of antenna are a little intimidating. This router FEELS like it has some heft to it when you pick it up.
Connectivity is expected at this price point: integrated four port gigabit ethernet switch, one built in USB 3.0 port and one Combo eSATA/USB port, as well as a WAN port and a well recessed reset button.
Setup was such a breeze, with the first wireless connection redirecting me to a splash page that walked me through the setup. At the end of the process it prompted me to create a smart wifi account to manage the router through the smartphone apps and from off site. After doing this I was easily able to monitor my network from my iPhone and I started playing with media prioritization and filtering.
Smart Wifi App - this is probably more than most home users need, but for someone who's tech obsessed like me, or trying to get the most out of every gig of bandwidth you've got, this is definitely helpful. I appreciate being able to see bandwidth usage by device and chart it over time. I also want to play around with the QoS (Quality of Service/Media Prioritization) a little to see if it affects my streaming from devices at all.
Overall: So far it feels tangibly faster. Could be placebo effect right now, but I think this was exactly what I needed to convince me to turn off the Wi Fi router radio in my modem and make the switch. This also allows me to get rid of that 2nd router to cover the rest of the house and get rid of those limitations. I love this thing.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Brew delicious coffee your way with this single-serve Ninja Coffee Bar system. It uses any ground coffee while bringing out the best flavor with advanced thermal flavor extraction technology. This versatile Ninja Coffee Bar system has a built-in frother that lets you brew, froth and drink out of one mug.
Customer Rating
4
One Stop Coffee Shop on my Counter
on September 29, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
Prior to getting the NInja Coffee Bar we had both an espresso machine and a keurig single cup coffee maker taking up space, including a separate milk frother. This machine puts all that into one.
Build: the Ninja Coffee bar is built from lots of different textures of plastic, but it still feels like that... mostly plastic. There are some metal like materials, but the build quality is decent.
Controls: There is much written about the different modes that the Ninja Coffee bar can serve up, I won't regurgitate those here, but serve it to say that I have found the controls a little bit to learn but once you have them down they all make sense. There are A LOT of options here even for someone who is tech savvy.
Brew Options: The ability to make anything from espresso shots to carafes of coffee is one way that this machine replaces my others. I mostly use the single serve function, but it's nice to be able to make more or make "espresso" when you want to.
Brew Quality: Single serve turns out very similar in brew quality and taste to my existing Keurig, which is the standard that this machine needs to live up to. Carafe brews exceed what I used to expect from drip brewers. Espresso shots are sort of a caveat. It doesn't make true espresso, but I enjoyed the flavor of those brews enough to forego using my nespresso machine. The milk frother is a nice touch and works well also.
Overall: This machine has just okay build quality, but turns out decent coffee. This is what I see as the next generation of the single serve coffee makers and I'm happy to see that it does away with the pods and excess garbage.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take this 11.6-inch Acer Chromebook anywhere you need to go thanks to its compact size and light weight. With its Intel Celeron N3060 dual core processor, you can enjoy fast Internet browsing and computing. The high visibility of the HD touch screen display with LED backlighting lets you use this Acer Chromebook in almost any lighting conditions.
Customer Rating
4
Long Battery Life, Well Built Chromebook
on July 20, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
The Acer R11 Convertible Chromebook
I'll try to keep my review limited to the chromebook itself, but since it runs and is dependent UPON the ChromeOS, I'll say a few words about that as well.
Build: Very sturdy, heavier than I thought when first opening the package. The hinges are VERY well made and obviously designed to handle many many many flips of the screen. Since there's no latch and the bottom is the same thickness as the top half it IS a two handed open, if only to separate the two parts. The aluminum cover has a nice texture to it and should protect it from dings or scratches nicely when it's closed. This particular model is white and i mean WHITE. It feels like it might glow in the dark. All the plastics used are quality, but it still felt plastic-y in my hands and when toting it around. Not the solid heft of an iPad, which is ironically lighter than this thing.
Screen - bright with a surprisingly large range of brightness control. I could turn this thing way down for use in bed without disturbing my spouse. The bezel is a little on the wide side. The corning glass touch screen feels nice to touch and slide, and seems well made. The screen doesn't give or flex when you flip it, even though the materials feel a little plastic-y. It holds it's position well thanks to those hinges. Touches seemed precise and two finger scrolling of webpages was always spot on.
Keyboard and Trackpad:
The keyboard is the vogue "chicklet" style keys with more room between them than previous designs in laptops. I read other reviews that said the key travel felt short, but I thought the keys felt nice under my fingertips as I typed. The keyboard is a little cramped, and some of the usual keys are in places that will have you stabbing the wrong key in the dark. At this price point I suppose a backlit keyboard is out of the question, but it sure would be nice. I guess it's always an option to flip it around and use the onscreen keyboard in the dark as well. The sensor for deactivating the keys once the screen is rotated past center works well, and I found that I didn't make really any accidental keypresses or mouse clicks when flipping between modes. The trackpad is the new style I've come to hate that has a two level click where the first is a short, soft click and then the actual mouse click is another, farther, mechanical one. My former roommate who sought out old IBM keyboards would love it. I'm not crazy about the trackpad, but at least it didn't lead to too many incorrect clicks like some do. It's liveable. If I truly hate it, I always have the option of adding a bluetooth mouse, or using the USB ports to add an RF one.
The keyboard is the vogue "chicklet" style keys with more room between them than previous designs in laptops. I read other reviews that said the key travel felt short, but I thought the keys felt nice under my fingertips as I typed. The keyboard is a little cramped, and some of the usual keys are in places that will have you stabbing the wrong key in the dark. At this price point I suppose a backlit keyboard is out of the question, but it sure would be nice. I guess it's always an option to flip it around and use the onscreen keyboard in the dark as well. The sensor for deactivating the keys once the screen is rotated past center works well, and I found that I didn't make really any accidental keypresses or mouse clicks when flipping between modes. The trackpad is the new style I've come to hate that has a two level click where the first is a short, soft click and then the actual mouse click is another, farther, mechanical one. My former roommate who sought out old IBM keyboards would love it. I'm not crazy about the trackpad, but at least it didn't lead to too many incorrect clicks like some do. It's liveable. If I truly hate it, I always have the option of adding a bluetooth mouse, or using the USB ports to add an RF one.
Connectivity:
There aren't a lot of ports on this chromebook, but the ones that are there are essential. SD card reader comes in handy. The HDMI port is wonderful for TV hookups, and the two USBs ports are necessary to add usability to the chromebook. Wifi worked well at both my home and office, and I had no complaints about wireless connectivity. I wished that it used a little more common plug for the AC adapter instead of it's own small diameter one, but that's minor. The power port could be placed a little better for having such a small barrel plug and a right angle on it... the potential for shearing it off feels real. Battery life seems to keep that from happening though.
There aren't a lot of ports on this chromebook, but the ones that are there are essential. SD card reader comes in handy. The HDMI port is wonderful for TV hookups, and the two USBs ports are necessary to add usability to the chromebook. Wifi worked well at both my home and office, and I had no complaints about wireless connectivity. I wished that it used a little more common plug for the AC adapter instead of it's own small diameter one, but that's minor. The power port could be placed a little better for having such a small barrel plug and a right angle on it... the potential for shearing it off feels real. Battery life seems to keep that from happening though.
Battery life:
I have regularly used this chromebook for up to 10 hours per charge of websurfing and things. Watching videos obviously eats up the battery faster, but I'm very impressed with it's performance so far. When all my other gadgets are dead, this thing is going strong.
I have regularly used this chromebook for up to 10 hours per charge of websurfing and things. Watching videos obviously eats up the battery faster, but I'm very impressed with it's performance so far. When all my other gadgets are dead, this thing is going strong.
ChromeOS:
I struggled a little to decide where ChromeOS fits in the computing ecosystem. I use the Chrome browser on my work computer so I already had a few extensions and apps associated with my google account that loaded as soon as I logged in. I added a few apps, but those are mildly confusing, as they have their own icon, but simply launch another window of the chrome browser and direct you to a website. I was starting to get used to this, and looking for web services to utilize when I read that the R11 is one of the first Chromebooks to run Android apps!!! this is gamechanging. (Full disclosure I had to enable the dev channel versions of chrome and run an update to get the version that runs Android apps as of this writing. This is NOT something that is recommended) Android support being added to the chromebook opens up a whole new world of on and offline possibilities. I was a little disappointed to find a number of apps that I use on my Android tablet that reported they weren't compatible with my Chromebook, but there were many that were. For all it's limitations, chromeOS is quick and responsive. I find myself reaching for the Chromebook to do things that I might have dug my tablet out to do, since it's handy and ALWAYS has a charge.
I struggled a little to decide where ChromeOS fits in the computing ecosystem. I use the Chrome browser on my work computer so I already had a few extensions and apps associated with my google account that loaded as soon as I logged in. I added a few apps, but those are mildly confusing, as they have their own icon, but simply launch another window of the chrome browser and direct you to a website. I was starting to get used to this, and looking for web services to utilize when I read that the R11 is one of the first Chromebooks to run Android apps!!! this is gamechanging. (Full disclosure I had to enable the dev channel versions of chrome and run an update to get the version that runs Android apps as of this writing. This is NOT something that is recommended) Android support being added to the chromebook opens up a whole new world of on and offline possibilities. I was a little disappointed to find a number of apps that I use on my Android tablet that reported they weren't compatible with my Chromebook, but there were many that were. For all it's limitations, chromeOS is quick and responsive. I find myself reaching for the Chromebook to do things that I might have dug my tablet out to do, since it's handy and ALWAYS has a charge.
Final Impressions:
ChromeOS isn't for everyone, but if you spend a lot of time online and in the Chrome ecosystem, this is an excellent machine for you.
ChromeOS isn't for everyone, but if you spend a lot of time online and in the Chrome ecosystem, this is an excellent machine for you.
If you've already decided you want a chromebook the R11 is an excellent choice. Add in the convertible touch screen and the ability to run Android Apps and you have one of the best Chromebooks on the market right now with a killer battery.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
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95of 112voted this as helpful.
Store music, photos, files and more with this WD My Passport Ultra 1TB portable hard drive, which features password protection and 256-bit AES encryption to safeguard your data. WD Backup software makes it easy to back up your data to the Cloud.
Customer Rating
4
Compact, reliable
on July 11, 2016
Posted by: dronedad
from Eden Praire, MN
Verified Purchase:Yes
This portable harddrive is my go to for immediate storage. I've probably purchased 3 of them for work at this point.
Pros - USB 3.0 Speed, small size, nice sleek compact case, All in one USB 3.0 cable
Cons - Included cable is too short, no rubber feet to keep it from sliding off the desk if there is tension on the cable
As you can see, not too many complaints. I'll probably start buying the 2tb version soon, but for now I have a fleet of these in service.
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
My Best Buy number: 0320260412
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
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Featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor, powerful autonomous functions, and a compact body weighing less than 600 g, DJI Air 2S is the ultimate drone for aerial photographers on the move. Take this all-in-one aerial powerhouse along anywhere to experience and record your world in stunning detail.
While your taking video can you also take a picture at the same time?
You cannot trigger a still while actively taking video. You can grab frames from the 5.4k video after the fact, but you have to stop recording and switch modes to take stills/video.
3 years ago
by
dronedad
The Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons elevate the concept of smart lighting into a creative journey of design. A combination of smart technology and sleek ultra-thin design, the modular LED light panels open limitless possibilities for you to explore, create, and play.
Can these be easily removed from the walls? Colleges request easy movable objects
The Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagons elevate the concept of smart lighting into a creative journey of design. A combination of smart technology and sleek ultra-thin design, the modular LED light panels open limitless possibilities for you to explore, create, and play.
Can these be easily removed from the walls? Colleges request easy movable objects
Yes. They use 3M command strips that are easily removeable.
3 years, 5 months ago
by
dronedad
iPod & MP3 Players
iPod & MP3 Players
iPod connector for 2005 Volvo XC90?
One of my collegues at work mentioned that he had Best Buy install an iPod adaptor to his 2004 Volvo XC90 (problematic for most of us owners as the radio user fiber optics, MOST system). I have a 2005 XC90, but the radios are the same. He had thought it ran him about $130 when he Best Buy did it a year or two ago. I have a local Best Buy that I can bring my car to and have this done as well, but I thought I would ask the question first of Best Buy online and understand what unit they offer for this connectivity and how it's installed. Please advise! I'd like to do this within a week... I miss having iPod connectivity!! Chris
The 2005 Volvo XC90 DOES NOT have an auxiliary input, nor can you add one without an accessory like the GROM MST. That's the only way to plug in an ipod or anything to an XC90
4 years, 9 months ago
by
dronedad
Accompany your workouts with streaming tunes from these JBL Endurance PEAK Bluetooth headphones. PowerHook technology switches them on when worn, and the TwistLock and FlexSoft features ensure a lightweight, ergonomic fit for comfortable, all-day use. Manage music playback effortlessly on these wireless JBL Endurance PEAK Bluetooth headphones via touch-enabled controls.
Can you listen to just one while leaving the other in the case?
Yes actually you can. I’ve only tried it with the right side. I’m. It sure if it’s interchangeable.
5 years ago
by
dronedad
Take to the air with this Bower Sky Capture series carbon fiber propeller set. Made of durable yet lightweight carbon fiber, these propellers are pre-balanced to improve performance and keep your drone stable so that you can capture smooth videos. Install this Bower Sky Capture series carbon fiber propeller set quickly and easily to enjoy a quieter drone in minutes.
So are these actually quick release or the screw on props also are they 100% carbon or are they a blend with other materials
Display work or school presentations on this Epson projector. It produces 3200 lumens of white and color brightness for vivid images, and its easy setup lets you customize specifications in minimum time. This Epson projector is equipped with an HDMI port, so you can connect it to your computer or HD device.
how is the picture with this projector with daylight in the room?
3200 lumens is pretty bright. Epson would recommend you not have direct daylight for optimal use... I can tell you this projector works VERY well with direct overhead lighting, and it keeps up with sunlight okay. It's definitely not like the older deal breaker projectors that required the blinds closed.
6 years, 7 months ago
by
dronedad
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
I want to use HUE lights with this. Can I buy a 2nd Google Home for my 2nd floor so both floors can access Home to turn off/on lights? If my phone (synced to Home) is out of the house, will voice activation still work for the lights?
Google home will let you group and name the lights for each room. I don't believe they are intended to be used overlapping though. In fact you might confuse it with more than one connected to the same google account. The Google Home works without your phone at home, since it connects directly to the HUE account as well as the internet and wifi directly.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
dronedad