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- First reviewJune 28, 2014
- Last reviewMay 4, 2024
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- Answer count39
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- First answerJune 16, 2015
- Last answerAugust 21, 2021
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Surface Pro 9 gives you the tablet flexibility you want and the laptop performance and battery life¹ you need to move through your day — all in one ultra-portable device. Now with powerful new processors, and choice of vibrant colors.
Posted by: Reddog
This is the second Surface Pro I have owned. I think mine was one of the first Surface laptops and it came with an Intel Atom processor. That processor was not really much of a performer but I really liked that overall package. Almost ten years later mobile CPUs have gotten much better for both performance and battery life. I had to retire that Surface laptop this year as the battery finally gave up. Still it was one of my favorite computers. The Surface Pro 9 is much the same. This formfactor has held up well over the years and it’s a pleasure to use the Surface 9. This model is equipped with the new Intel 12th Gen i5. And it runs everything I need just great. It has 10 total CPU cores. That is divided into 2 performance cores and 8 efficient cores. This is similar to the desktop CPUs that Intel is doing very well with. What this means is you are getting desktop-like performance with great battery life. And in this small package it works very well. In very real world use, with constant web browsing and watching videos I got six hours of battery life and still had 20% left. This was using the out of box defaults with just a bit higher brightness for the display. I never really got where I felt the battery life was a problem. But the good news is that with the efficient performance of this new mobile processor I never felt it slow down even with 12 browser tabs active. Not bad with only 8GBs of ram. That’s one of the great stories of these newer processors and Windows. Even though more ram is better for most use cases it’s not really needed. If you are doing more enterprise level work getting a model with more ram is a good idea, but for basic lite use and office tasks it's not necessary. Also for me I find the 256 SSD to be plenty of storage for my use case. If this is your only computer you might benefit from a bigger SSD. The display is crisp and clear which is typically of the Surface family. The Sapphire color is quite nice and adds a touch of class that my older gray aluminum Surface can’t match. But my favorite feature here is the addition of two USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 ports. This adds a ton of options for connectivity that to me is a game changer in such a small device. USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 allows high speed connections to a world of devices and is part of the Intel Evo branding. I am typing this review on a 4K monitor, using a full size keyboard and mouse. I am connected to a single USB Type C hub that has two HDMI connections, ethernet and USB type A. The hub is sending power to the Surface so I am charging all while connected using only one cable. I can just disconnect the one USB Type C cable and walk away with the Surface laptop. Just a great package for full on desktop use and sitting on the couch all in this small package. As with my first Surface the build quality is very good and I expect to get years of service. If you are doing heavier work loads then you might look for a bit more ram and SSD storage. But if you're doing lighter office work and the typical web browsing this package is just fine the way it’s currently specked. The Windows 11 home install found here is just fine for all but the enterprise folks. But if your needs include connecting to a network domain or you have to access this computer using a remote desktop, upgrading to Windows 11 professional is very easy. This is a competitive market but the Surface family still stands out for the formfactor and overall quality of this laptop. It's a pleasure to use and carry about and with the addition of the 12th Gen Intel CPU and USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 it is now a true desktop replacement for most users with the added benefit of being one of the most portable laptops available.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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9 out of 10 people in the world breathe unsafe air according to WHO guidelines. With View Plus, you can keep your family safe from air pollutants: radon, particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide (CO2), humidity, temperature, airborne chemicals (VOCs), and air pressure. When there is so much that is out of your control-pollution, asthma, allergies, wildfire, virus-you have more control than you think when it comes to indoor air quality with View Plus. View series products are: battery operated or use USB plug; wireless and WiFi-connected; work as a hub; include a customizable display; connected to an app (iOS/Android) and online dashboard with full data and reporting.
Customer Rating
5
New to air monitoring
on November 5, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
Last winter here in Texas we had a major power outage. Our power was out for three days and it was terribly cold. I have a gas fireplace but we had never used it before. The valve to turn on the gas was very tight and in the end I never got it working when I needed it. I decided I needed to make sure it was working for the next time something like this happens. And along with unsticking the gas valve I wanted to be sure we didn’t have excess carbon dioxide levels while using it. This was a very big concern for my wife who has never been around a gas fireplace. That experience led me to the Airthings View Plus. However I know very little about air quality and even less about monitoring air quality. But this device has made monitoring very simple and along with the Airthings phone app I have learned quite a bit about the many types of air quality this device can monitor. The hardware is attractive and feels very well built. It can be put almost anywhere you want. It comes with 3M tape so you can wall mount it without drilling screw holes in your wall. It can also just sit on a table or shelf. The display is black and while and is very easy to read. Setting it up is as simple as pulling a plastic tab to connect the two year battery and installing the Airthings app. For me the Airthings app is found on the Google Play store and there is an Apple version in their store. The reviews of the app for Android were not very encouraging. My experience was much better than those reviews. I found the app very easy to setup and use. There is quite a bit of information in the app and it links to even more details. Some like for Radon are quite detailed. Other subjects might only give you general information. But overall it is very helpful. Being a newbie I appreciate both the simplicity of the app and its efforts to educate me. One standout feature is the Radonmapp which is an interactive map of sensors from around the world. Although CO2 monitoring might have been my main adjective, the other air quality monitored for the View Plus is Radon gas, Particulate Matter, Humidity and Temperature. The app is very well laid out and I especially like the trends over time. I have had the device report that my air quality is bad but as you gather more trend information it will help you to know if there is something you need to be concerned about or just a temporary issue. My experience so far for the Airthings View Plus is very positive. I am learning more about the air quality in my home, what might be a cause for concern and maybe the best part is my increased awareness of the air we breathe. Both my wife and I are now working fulltime from home so this is more important than ever.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Your office chair should be nothing but comfortable. With the Insignia NS-OCP3 High Back Executive Ergonomic Chair with Adjustable Headrest, feel free to sit back and work away. With an adjustable seat, armrest and headrest, as well as a swivel and tilt mechanism, adjust the chair to your liking for optimum comfort and support. This chair also has reinforced lumbar support, alleviating unnecessary strain on your lower back. It has a 5-pointed star base with wheels and a black, mesh design, giving it a modern look that will look great with any office décor. Choose comfort and support and upgrade your chair to one that offers it all.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent value for a professional ergonomic task
on November 1, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
It is easy to like this Insignia Ergonomic chair. It has a ton of adjustment features and great build quality for the price. It looks great and will give your home or office a very professional look. It comes with polished aluminum on the arms and back frame, an adjustable headrest, seat and arm adjustments along with excellent back support you just don’t find at this price level. It is really hard not to recommend this chair. It was very easy to assemble although it is a heavy chair so some caution is in order unpacking it. And I do admit that cutting up the big box for recycling wasn't much fun. But the effort is well worth it for the value found here. My older chair was a Herman Miller Embody that served me very well for quite a long time. But the price for that Herman Miller chair is almost three times the Insignia ergonomic chair. Judging from the quality I am pretty certain I will also get many years of service with this Insignia chair. But like any chair how it fits will be unique to the individual. I am 5’9” and with the chair set at the lowest seat height my feet are flat on the floor. But my wife who is closer to 5’3” is too short for this chair at the lowest setting and her feet don’t touch the floor. I also wish the headrest would tilt forward as I have to lean back to make more use of it. It also feels a bit hard on the seat and back which is ok and it might loosen up a bit overtime. But I do prefer the stiffer back feel as it makes for better support. But for her being a smaller person it was just too stiff. This is a big chair so I think it is a much better fit for the larger folks among us. That is the one thing I think you could consider when looking at this chair. Other than that I think this is well worth the value you get especially for the long term. When shopping for an office chair many of us will not want to spend the few extra dollars for the better ergonomic chair we might want. When shopping it can be easy to forget how long you really have to sit while we work. I am on the side of your office chair being a long term investment in both your productivity and health. This Best Buy Insignia Ergonomic Chair is a winner and I highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Upgrade your current gaming rig with this iBUYPOWER Desktop. It’s 8GB of RAM and Intel i3-12100 processor lets you run multiple programs at once, and its Intel Arc A380 graphics card renders fast-paced action smoothly without screen tearing. This iBUYPOWER desktop also has a 500GB NVME solid state drive for a faster start up and data acesss.
Customer Rating
4
Is this a gaming computer, yes but be informed
on October 23, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
As with all computers the first question is alway what do you want it to do. That should determine if this iBUYPOWER - SlateHAKO Gaming Desktop is right for you. The answer will always be different for everyone. I can recommend this gaming computer if you're gaming at 1080p, with most game graphic settings at low or close to that. You will find that the Intel Arch A380 graphic card is going to hold you back for much beyond that. Your mileage will vary for fast shooters but for most other games you should be fine. But that is not the end of the story. If you keep your expectations in check you can play lots of great games with this computer. As for the whole package. I was pleasantly surprised and also somewhat disappointed. The Intel i3-1210 CPU here is just fine for budget gaming. And since it uses the LGA1700 CPU socket it can easily be upgraded if you want all the way to the new Intel® Core™ i9‑13900K, if you are so inclined. So I think this is a good choice of CPU at this price. The 500GB NVMe SSD isn’t the fastest but it's not bad and would have been thought of as very fast not too long ago. The computer came packaged very well, it was easy to setup. It ran cool and quiet throughout my testing. The wire management was done fine and the RGB case lighting looked good and is easy to control. The CPU heatsink is fine for the i3 and there is plenty of room in the case for adding an AIO water cooler if you want in a future upgrade. The case has good airflow and is easy to work in. You can add more SATA HDDs or onboard NVMe storage.There is enough here for a good starter gaming PC with room for upgrades in the future. Now the problem, this SlateHAKO Gaming Desktop only has one stick of 8GB DDR4 Memory. If you are just surfing the web and using office apps this will work. But it really is not a good idea for any gaming computer that uses DDR4 ram. You will get a good boost in performance if you use two identical sticks of ram over the one stick found here. I think this is a must upgrade and will be worth doing. The choice of power supply found here might be ok but it is not a highlight. It's a 600 watt Gold power supply and fine for this system but that's another part that might need to be replaced in the future if you do a CPU or GPU upgrade. You do not have to upgrade anything here just to game. If your plan here is using this as a foundation for the future keep in mind I do recommend the ram be upgraded and the power supply too if your upgrade includes a CPU or GPU
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing Pixel 7 Pro, Google’s best-of-everything phone. Powered by Google Tensor G2, it’s fast and secure, with an immersive display and amazing battery life. The best Pixel camera yet includes a telephoto lens and pro-level features like Macro Focus. And with the certified Titan M2 security chip and a built-in VPN, Pixel helps protect your personal data.₁
Posted by: Reddog
I am having a problem with the new Pixel 7 phone. It’s not that it's not a good phone but I find it sorta underwhelming. Part of the problem is I don’t use a camera all that much. And it's the camera that almost defines this phone. If you're a person that needs a great camera on your phone then you don’t need to look much further. For the price you can get this phone it would have to be on your list. To get a camera that completes with the Pixel line you will have to spend much more. But for me this phone just doesn’t bring anything new to the table. I used to look forward to Google phones because they set the standard for what an Android phone should be. A clean version of Android without the bloat that many other Android phones like Samsung for example are notorious for. But now I find Google's version of Android to be a bit boring. And with microSD cards and headphone jacks being a thing of the past there’s nothing new here for me to get excited about. It also used to be that only Google provided three years of upgrades but even that's not true anymore. I do think this is a nice upgrade from the earlier Pixel phones but even then not enough to upgrade if you are fine with the Pixel phone you might already have. At the mid price level this is a great phone for a lot of people. And it is now a fully mature phone that earlier Pixel phones really weren’t. This might not be a phone for me but it is a very good phone especially if you're a person who uses their camera a lot. Its technical specs are very good at this price and it feels great in the hand. I am a bit on the fence of how the back of the phone rises for the camera but that probably won't be an issue once I find a case for it. I can recommend this phone as the pluses do outweigh the few negatives I have and it is a very good overall value.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The critically acclaimed wireless RIG 800 Series is back in PRO form with an all-new base station. Designed for Xbox the RIG 800 PRO HX takes it to the next level with a new multi-function base station which provides wireless connection and seamless charging for the headset. The removable USB wireless adapter can also plug directly into your Xbox allowing the stand to be placed anywhere for headset charging convenience. Equipped with an impressive 60 hours of battery life in a single charge, the RIG 800 PRO HX delivers extreme wireless comfort in a lightweight design. Signature lightweight headband with self-adjusting head strap and dual-material ear cushions let you game in comfort for hours. Precision 40 mm drivers with bass enhancers are engineered to produce accurate 3D audio. Dolby Atmos for Headphones is included* so you can now react faster and more accurately detecting the precise distance and direction of your threats.
Customer Rating
5
A solid wireless gaming headset
on September 8, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
RIG - 800 Pro HX Wireless Headset and Base Station with Dolby Atmos for Xbox one, Xbox Series X|S
I recently got hold of the Xbox Series X\S and my current wireless headset is for the PC only. I use the Xbox connected to a PC monitor at my desk. So I needed a more compatible headset that would play games on both devices. I also wanted the Dolby Atmos support since I think it's currently the best implementation of surround sound you can get in a headset. A big plus of the Rig 800 Pro HX is the charging base station. It worked great and I had no charging or connection issues. There is no denying its utility. This should be a required feature of all wireless headsets in this price range. The head strap fit me well right away and along with the lite weight makes this a very comfortable headset. The earpads have a good seal and are soft and also feel good. I like the look of this headset. It is unique without being over the top and I have started using it as my main headset during the workday. Having this long battery life makes it much easier to use all day and still be ready for gaming in the evening. The microphone is nice and can be placed pretty much wherever you want. It has no problem passing the chat test or while in Teams. I typically don’t mix my mic for monitoring but it's a nice feature to have. There is a lot to like with the RIG - 800 and it should be on any gamers short list. It is easy to switch between the PC and Xbox. The base station is a huge plus as is the Dolby Atmos support. The sound is balanced and helps round out the whole package. Along with the comfort it ticks all of the boxes.
I recently got hold of the Xbox Series X\S and my current wireless headset is for the PC only. I use the Xbox connected to a PC monitor at my desk. So I needed a more compatible headset that would play games on both devices. I also wanted the Dolby Atmos support since I think it's currently the best implementation of surround sound you can get in a headset. A big plus of the Rig 800 Pro HX is the charging base station. It worked great and I had no charging or connection issues. There is no denying its utility. This should be a required feature of all wireless headsets in this price range. The head strap fit me well right away and along with the lite weight makes this a very comfortable headset. The earpads have a good seal and are soft and also feel good. I like the look of this headset. It is unique without being over the top and I have started using it as my main headset during the workday. Having this long battery life makes it much easier to use all day and still be ready for gaming in the evening. The microphone is nice and can be placed pretty much wherever you want. It has no problem passing the chat test or while in Teams. I typically don’t mix my mic for monitoring but it's a nice feature to have. There is a lot to like with the RIG - 800 and it should be on any gamers short list. It is easy to switch between the PC and Xbox. The base station is a huge plus as is the Dolby Atmos support. The sound is balanced and helps round out the whole package. Along with the comfort it ticks all of the boxes.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The G705 Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse from The Aurora Collection is a compact wireless mouse designed to put the power of play in your hands with a contoured fit, soft RGB lighting, and gaming-grade tech. The sculpted design of the G705 makes the perfect companion for all-day, all-out play. This small wireless mouse is purpose-built for smaller hands and welcomes the palm, claw grip and fingertips of all kinds of players. Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse lets you escape to anywhere, from everywhere, with a USB-C rechargeable, 40-hr battery life (while gaming with full lighting), LIGHTSPEED wireless, and Bluetooth connectivity.
Customer Rating
5
An elegant looking gaming mouse for smaller hands
on September 1, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
Logitech - G705 Aurora Collection Wireless Optical Gaming Mouse with Customizable LIGHTSYNC RGB Lighting - White Mist
Of all of the computer mice I have used over the years Logitech has been the most consistent brand. It's been the most compatible with all my hardware and no matter how good the competition is a Logitech mouse always seems to be the one I go back to. I have been using a Logitech G900 as my daily mouse. I had hoped to move the G900 to a different computer then my primary workstation/gaming computer but the last two mice I have used failed so it was back to the G900. The G705 is another very nice mouse from Logitech and I would make it my daily driver but unfortunately it's just a bit too small for my hands. Logitech describes the G705 as a compact design. I would say my hand is of average size so saying this is a compact mouse is correct. I could be happy using this mouse each day but my wife said she wants it so that's that. But keep in mind it is intended for smaller hands. She also has a white computer so it's a natural fit for her. The G705 is a very attractive mouse. It has a classy look which benefits from the LED lighting it uses. The lighting is diffused on the rear of the mouse and has a very elegant look. It uses the GHUB software to manage the lighting, buttons and a few other settings including any custom macros you might setup. You can also turn the lighting off completely if you are concerned about the battery life. I have used the mouse for around two weeks of full business days and several evening gaming sessions and have yet to need a recharge. That was using the wireless dongle. My experience is that Logitech mice tend to have great battery life and I would expect that to be the case here. The G705 uses a USB Type C port for data and charging. And it can also connect using the included wireless dongle and Bluetooth. I would recommend using the dongle for most cases. I use Bluetooth to connect to my notebook so it's nice you have all of the connection options. I like the buttons and overall it is a very easy mouse to use. It is really hard to fault this mouse. The DPI settings for gaming are very easy to change or setup your own settings. The included USB cable is of nice quality and has an adapter for the wireless dongle. I also used the G705 on my KVM switch which worked just fine. I want to give Logitech a shoutout on the packaging. It is all cardboard with the only plastic being the tape. There is just no reason to do it any other way. Finally my only concern about this mouse is the way the top plastic parts have so many edges. They seem ready to trap dirt and grease. Also being white won’t help here. It is a minor thing and with a bit of attention now and then you can keep it looking new. I am going to have to give up this mouse to my wife. But I am sure she is going to really enjoy it. It will look great as a replacement to her Dell mouse and give her All-In-One the look and feel it should have had. Now we need to look at the Logitech keyboards in the Aurora collection as a perfect match.
Of all of the computer mice I have used over the years Logitech has been the most consistent brand. It's been the most compatible with all my hardware and no matter how good the competition is a Logitech mouse always seems to be the one I go back to. I have been using a Logitech G900 as my daily mouse. I had hoped to move the G900 to a different computer then my primary workstation/gaming computer but the last two mice I have used failed so it was back to the G900. The G705 is another very nice mouse from Logitech and I would make it my daily driver but unfortunately it's just a bit too small for my hands. Logitech describes the G705 as a compact design. I would say my hand is of average size so saying this is a compact mouse is correct. I could be happy using this mouse each day but my wife said she wants it so that's that. But keep in mind it is intended for smaller hands. She also has a white computer so it's a natural fit for her. The G705 is a very attractive mouse. It has a classy look which benefits from the LED lighting it uses. The lighting is diffused on the rear of the mouse and has a very elegant look. It uses the GHUB software to manage the lighting, buttons and a few other settings including any custom macros you might setup. You can also turn the lighting off completely if you are concerned about the battery life. I have used the mouse for around two weeks of full business days and several evening gaming sessions and have yet to need a recharge. That was using the wireless dongle. My experience is that Logitech mice tend to have great battery life and I would expect that to be the case here. The G705 uses a USB Type C port for data and charging. And it can also connect using the included wireless dongle and Bluetooth. I would recommend using the dongle for most cases. I use Bluetooth to connect to my notebook so it's nice you have all of the connection options. I like the buttons and overall it is a very easy mouse to use. It is really hard to fault this mouse. The DPI settings for gaming are very easy to change or setup your own settings. The included USB cable is of nice quality and has an adapter for the wireless dongle. I also used the G705 on my KVM switch which worked just fine. I want to give Logitech a shoutout on the packaging. It is all cardboard with the only plastic being the tape. There is just no reason to do it any other way. Finally my only concern about this mouse is the way the top plastic parts have so many edges. They seem ready to trap dirt and grease. Also being white won’t help here. It is a minor thing and with a bit of attention now and then you can keep it looking new. I am going to have to give up this mouse to my wife. But I am sure she is going to really enjoy it. It will look great as a replacement to her Dell mouse and give her All-In-One the look and feel it should have had. Now we need to look at the Logitech keyboards in the Aurora collection as a perfect match.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum is the ultra-powerful, ultra-intelligent answer to whole-home cordless deep cleaning. Clean Sense IQ uses infrared sensors to detect dirt you can’t see and automatically boosts power for up to 50% better* dirt pickup (vs. Shark Stratos Cordless in ECO Mode). Packed with power, Stratos offers the most suction of any Shark Cordless for up to 60 minutes runtime (In ECO mode, measured at the hand vacuum). Clean above the floor and in every crevice with the 2 included accessories: Duster Crevice Tool and Anti-Allergen Brush. Shark's MultiFLEX technology lets you bend the wand to reach under furniture or fold over for easy storage. No cordless vacuum picks up hair better* with the DuoClean PowerFins HairPro system- two brushrolls that dig deep into carpets, directly engages hard floors, and picks up dirt, debris, and hair in every pass. It features an LED display with real-time readouts to monitor battery, select suction levels, and engage Clean Sense IQ. Anti-Allergen Complete Seal with HEPA Filtration captures and traps over 99.9% of dust, allergens, and odor, keeping them out of the air you breathe. (*From floor to dust cup, third party tested on human/pet hair). Plus, Shark's new Odor Neutralizer Technology guards against bad odors inside your vacuum, for a fresh-smelling home.
Customer Rating
4
A full size vacuum in every way
on August 28, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
Shark - Stratos Cordless with Clean Sense IQ - Ash Purple
This is a full size vacuum in every way. It cleans well, and comes with a useful selection of attachments. It is relatively easy to use and has a very solid build quality. The self-cleaning brushroll seems to work very well and the debris bin is easy to empty. The LED display is easy to read and informative. The LED lighting is bright and done well. The Stratos has a ton of flexibility in how you can break it down and use the attachments or tuck it away for storage. It has three operation modes from full on boost mode to eco mode. I ran it only in the default Clean Sense IQ mode and I did not install the Odor Neutralizer as I wanted to be sure it worked well without this consumable. In the Clean Sense IQ mode the vacuum claims to be sensing the debris and adjusting the suction. There is a clean indicator on the roller head that has an LED status indicator showing when the floor is clean. My house is a bit over 1,800 SqFt. I have wood floors on the bottom floor and carpets on the stairs and second story. With a full charge running in the Clean Sense IQ mode I got 37 minutes of battery life in this mixed use. In my house I am unable to do a full cleaning. I typically run out of battery with about half of the stairs left undone. I would actually rate this battery life as very good in comparison to the only other cordless vacuum in this price class that I have owned. That other vacuum is only able to do the bottom wooden floors on its battery running in its high mode. The cleaning on the Shark is far superior. But it's not all good news. The Stratos Cordless is a big heavy vacuum. I was a bit surprised at how tall and heavy this vacuum is. And that is my biggest problem. The vacuum with the standard brush head is right at 9lbs. That may not seem like much but it's heavy at the handle. And you feel this weight in your hand. On wood floors where there is not much resistance it's not too bad. But transition to carpet or a rug and you will feel it right away. This makes this a very uncomfortable vacuum to actually use. Using the included attachments can also be painful. I would not use it for any over the head cleaning or if I do, not for very long. It's just too heavy and unbalanced. And for those of a smaller stature I would stay away unless you know what you are getting into. Also Shark should include a real user manual. The quick guide is ok but you have to go to their website to download a real manual. And you will want to get one because there is a lot of missing information about how to clean and maintain this vacuum. This is a full size vacuum so if you expect a cordless to be lightweight, this vacuum is not that. Because of this I can only recommend this vacuum to those who are fine with that. Shark makes some great products and I expect it to be reliable and as a full size vacuum it does perform well. If you have a larger house you might also want to look into getting a charging adapter and spare battery.
This is a full size vacuum in every way. It cleans well, and comes with a useful selection of attachments. It is relatively easy to use and has a very solid build quality. The self-cleaning brushroll seems to work very well and the debris bin is easy to empty. The LED display is easy to read and informative. The LED lighting is bright and done well. The Stratos has a ton of flexibility in how you can break it down and use the attachments or tuck it away for storage. It has three operation modes from full on boost mode to eco mode. I ran it only in the default Clean Sense IQ mode and I did not install the Odor Neutralizer as I wanted to be sure it worked well without this consumable. In the Clean Sense IQ mode the vacuum claims to be sensing the debris and adjusting the suction. There is a clean indicator on the roller head that has an LED status indicator showing when the floor is clean. My house is a bit over 1,800 SqFt. I have wood floors on the bottom floor and carpets on the stairs and second story. With a full charge running in the Clean Sense IQ mode I got 37 minutes of battery life in this mixed use. In my house I am unable to do a full cleaning. I typically run out of battery with about half of the stairs left undone. I would actually rate this battery life as very good in comparison to the only other cordless vacuum in this price class that I have owned. That other vacuum is only able to do the bottom wooden floors on its battery running in its high mode. The cleaning on the Shark is far superior. But it's not all good news. The Stratos Cordless is a big heavy vacuum. I was a bit surprised at how tall and heavy this vacuum is. And that is my biggest problem. The vacuum with the standard brush head is right at 9lbs. That may not seem like much but it's heavy at the handle. And you feel this weight in your hand. On wood floors where there is not much resistance it's not too bad. But transition to carpet or a rug and you will feel it right away. This makes this a very uncomfortable vacuum to actually use. Using the included attachments can also be painful. I would not use it for any over the head cleaning or if I do, not for very long. It's just too heavy and unbalanced. And for those of a smaller stature I would stay away unless you know what you are getting into. Also Shark should include a real user manual. The quick guide is ok but you have to go to their website to download a real manual. And you will want to get one because there is a lot of missing information about how to clean and maintain this vacuum. This is a full size vacuum so if you expect a cordless to be lightweight, this vacuum is not that. Because of this I can only recommend this vacuum to those who are fine with that. Shark makes some great products and I expect it to be reliable and as a full size vacuum it does perform well. If you have a larger house you might also want to look into getting a charging adapter and spare battery.
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Meet the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill, the smart XL indoor grill that sears, sizzles, and air fry crisps. This 2nd generation grill has 6-in-1 functionality, now with a new sleek design. Smart Cook System helps you achieve the perfect doneness, from rare to well-done, at the touch of a button without the guesswork. With an XL capacity, grill large family meals or air fry crisp guilt-free fried favorites.
Customer Rating
5
Cooking with the Foodi is just cool!
on August 10, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
Ninja - Foodi Smart XL 6-in-1 Countertop Indoor Grill with Smart Cook System, 4-quart Air Fryer
I will just come out and say it, I am not a chef. Going a bit farther I can barely make my way around cooking. And because of that I keep my cooking to a select few essentials and seldom deviate from that. It was always my dream to have a simple cooking system so even I can make a real tasty meal without messing it up. I cooked a grilled chicken with the Foodi for my first test that was better than I ever had before. It was with no stress and it cooked correctly, quickly and boy was it juicy. I followed that up with fish, pork and I will be trying a steak next. For many people that's an everyday event, not for me. For me to be comfortable cooking and getting the results I did was amazing. The included cookbook is great and I will tackle some of those recipes later but for now I am impressed. It’s nice to have a temperature probe to assure me all along the way that I was doing ok. And having the Foodi know what temps my food should be and when to flip until completed is great. I have always wanted a grill like this. I have been using an infrared grill and I was mostly satisfied with it but now I know what I was missing. I made the switch and I am glad I did. There are just so many options now with the Foodi for me to try and expect to get a great meal. Another great feature is there are tons of videos available that can help anyone to get the same great results I have gotten. I also feel better about using more electricity and less gas to cook each day. The grill looks perfect in my mostly stainless kitchen and so far it looks to be quite easy to keep clean. I also love how simple the controls are to use. Once you use them a few times they are very easy to understand. When you use the thermometer it shows you the cooking temperature in realtime, very nice. I have found the temperature reported seems about 5 degrees higher than the food measures with my handheld thermometer. But that's easy to compensate for as you use it more. I also like that you can just cook by time and temp and check your progress with the thermometer at any time. And for me the pre-set cooking settings are perfect. Cooking with the Foodi is just cool. The front grill buttons are almost flush so that helps in the cleaning. And most everything is dishwater safe. The Foodi does take up a bit more counter space than I expected. And I have to have it close to the edge of the counter for cooking so I get better circulation around or need the lid open. I was also surprised at how loud it seemed when I first used it. Now after a few times I hardly even notice. I am really looking forward to cooking a lot with the Foodi and having more fun with it.
I will just come out and say it, I am not a chef. Going a bit farther I can barely make my way around cooking. And because of that I keep my cooking to a select few essentials and seldom deviate from that. It was always my dream to have a simple cooking system so even I can make a real tasty meal without messing it up. I cooked a grilled chicken with the Foodi for my first test that was better than I ever had before. It was with no stress and it cooked correctly, quickly and boy was it juicy. I followed that up with fish, pork and I will be trying a steak next. For many people that's an everyday event, not for me. For me to be comfortable cooking and getting the results I did was amazing. The included cookbook is great and I will tackle some of those recipes later but for now I am impressed. It’s nice to have a temperature probe to assure me all along the way that I was doing ok. And having the Foodi know what temps my food should be and when to flip until completed is great. I have always wanted a grill like this. I have been using an infrared grill and I was mostly satisfied with it but now I know what I was missing. I made the switch and I am glad I did. There are just so many options now with the Foodi for me to try and expect to get a great meal. Another great feature is there are tons of videos available that can help anyone to get the same great results I have gotten. I also feel better about using more electricity and less gas to cook each day. The grill looks perfect in my mostly stainless kitchen and so far it looks to be quite easy to keep clean. I also love how simple the controls are to use. Once you use them a few times they are very easy to understand. When you use the thermometer it shows you the cooking temperature in realtime, very nice. I have found the temperature reported seems about 5 degrees higher than the food measures with my handheld thermometer. But that's easy to compensate for as you use it more. I also like that you can just cook by time and temp and check your progress with the thermometer at any time. And for me the pre-set cooking settings are perfect. Cooking with the Foodi is just cool. The front grill buttons are almost flush so that helps in the cleaning. And most everything is dishwater safe. The Foodi does take up a bit more counter space than I expected. And I have to have it close to the edge of the counter for cooking so I get better circulation around or need the lid open. I was also surprised at how loud it seemed when I first used it. Now after a few times I hardly even notice. I am really looking forward to cooking a lot with the Foodi and having more fun with it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the latest Inspiron 27 All-in-One Desktop with a TV-inspired design and a display which features ComfortView Plus to help reduce harmful blue light and a flicker free panel optimizing eye comfort. Redesigning the front screen experience with a narrow 4-sided border with touch option for a clean look and feel. Stay up to date with the latest processors up to Intel 12th Gen Processors. Take it to the next level and experience seamless and smooth navigating with NVIDIA® GeForce® MX550 discrete graphics for better performance and your entertainment needs.
Customer Rating
5
Capable and fast daily computer for everyday use
on August 3, 2022
Posted by: Reddog
Dell - Inspiron 27" Touch screen All-In-One - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce MX550 - 1TB SSD. It's nice to see Dell release their Inspiron 27 with the new 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1255U processor on board. The Inspiron All-In-One series is a perfect place for this new 10 core 12 thread processor. This mobile processor has 2 high performance cores and 8 efficient-cores along with a max clock speed of 4.70 GHz. This packs quite a punch for an All-In-One and along with 1TB, M.2, PCIe NVME SSD you get very nice performance in a compact package. All-In-Ones like the Inspiron are perfect for those that don’t want or need a full workstation or gaming computer. The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 found here can be used for lite gaming. But is more helpful for daily graphics such as video playback, game streaming and photo editing. You also get a good selection of USB and HDMI in/out ports. Unfortunately all of the Type-A USB ports are on the back of the chassis and the only USB Type-C port on the right side. I wish Dell would have also added another USB Type-C port to the back. The side port can be inconvenient if you're putting this computer in a hutch type desk like I do. Type-C ports are the future so it would be good to have more than one available. For most people none of that will be a problem and for those needing more ports adding a USB hub for easier access is always an option. Simple things like the computer audio is ok, nothing special but for online video and editing duty it is fine. The 1080p touch display is colorful, clear and bright and looks good at this 27” size. The computer is good looking in white. Sadly Dell’s included mouse and keyboard are just not good. The keyboard is spongy and the mouse just feels cheap. Which is too bad because I think they do a dis-service for how nice this computer is. But overall the good outweighs the bad and if you are looking for a compact little powerhouse computer that is simple to setup, is a pleasure to use, wakes up and goes to sleep whenever you want, it's right here.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Grill and brown food to tasty perfection all-year-round with virtually no smoke thanks to the Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill. Advanced infrared technology and special reflectors guide heat to the grid for delicious, evenly grilled food. The drip tray underneath remains cool so there is up to 80% less smoke and minimal splattering when cooking.
did it char like an outdoor grill? Thinking about getting this since we can no longer have outdoor grills in our complex.
You could burn your food with this grill. But it less likely than an outdoor grill. Since it has one temperature you learn how not to to burn your food. There is no flame and since the grill is used inside its probably right next to you as your making the rest of the meal. That helps to keep track of the cooking unlike an outside grill.
6 years, 9 months ago
by
Reddog
Upgrade your home theater system with this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console. It lets you stream 4K HDR movies and TV shows and play hundreds of PC-quality games via GeForce NOW or Android streaming. The 16GB of internal memory stores your favorite multimedia files, and the voice search feature of this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console lets you access content immediately.
I will be sending it to South Korea, should there be any issues?
It should work. It's just a streaming HDMI device with is a world standard. I don't know about the power supply but it probably works with right adapter for the plug format in that country.
7 years ago
by
Reddog
Upgrade your home theater system with this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console. It lets you stream 4K HDR movies and TV shows and play hundreds of PC-quality games via GeForce NOW or Android streaming. The 16GB of internal memory stores your favorite multimedia files, and the voice search feature of this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console lets you access content immediately.
Can I use tasker app on shild?
It is not available on the play store for Android TV but you maybe able to side load it. If you don't know what side loading is than using Tasker might be a bigger challenge. Anyway it can't hurt to try and a little research on the net should answer your question in more detail.
7 years ago
by
Reddog
Upgrade your home theater system with this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console. It lets you stream 4K HDR movies and TV shows and play hundreds of PC-quality games via GeForce NOW or Android streaming. The 16GB of internal memory stores your favorite multimedia files, and the voice search feature of this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console lets you access content immediately.
This looks a lot like a console, is it efficient with games like World of Warcraft, League of Legends, or Hearthstone?
You can stream these games directly from your PC if you have a good home network and your PC has a newer Nvidia video card.
7 years ago
by
Reddog
Upgrade your home theater system with this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console. It lets you stream 4K HDR movies and TV shows and play hundreds of PC-quality games via GeForce NOW or Android streaming. The 16GB of internal memory stores your favorite multimedia files, and the voice search feature of this NVIDIA SHIELD Android console lets you access content immediately.
Does this device play all android market games, or is it limited to certain types? Specifically Walking War Robots?
There are games in the Google play store that are just for the Android TV. On the Shield Nvidia also has a play store with many older and some new games. Finally you can stream PC games directly to your Shield if you also have an Nvidia video card. So there are many options but except for streaming from the PC don't expect to play the latest AAA titles.
7 years ago
by
Reddog
With the integrated Kickstand, the ability to run desktop software and touch apps, and a full-size USB port, Surface 3 is a perfect mix of innovation and practicality. As thin and light as it is, you'll be amazed at all you can achieve with this device.Now for a limited time, Surface 3 tablets include 1 year of Microsoft Office 365 Personal (a $69.99 value) plus OneDrive cloud storage. Office activation required within 6 months of Windows activation date. Offer valid while supplies last.
Which is better for me, a surface 2 or 3 tablet, or a 2 in 1 Surface 3?
I have studied so many different options in the Microsoft surface and microsoft surface pro line and am still confused. My main objective is to effortlessly handle powerpoint presentations professionally without having to stand near a computer. I would also like to take family pictures or videos. Lastly, I would like to handle emails, do business research, store files for my small business, and work while I'm on the go on airplanes and in hotels.
I have a regular PC and an old laptop at home with Windows 7 operating system, and I have an IPhone. I own Microsoft Office 365, so I do not have to have a computer that has all the Office programs already installed. I am trying to save money, but I do not want to cut myself short for creating, storing and presenting all my PowerPoint presentations. I may even start making webinars. Please help.
I have a regular PC and an old laptop at home with Windows 7 operating system, and I have an IPhone. I own Microsoft Office 365, so I do not have to have a computer that has all the Office programs already installed. I am trying to save money, but I do not want to cut myself short for creating, storing and presenting all my PowerPoint presentations. I may even start making webinars. Please help.
The Surface Pro 3 is probably your better choice. You won't have any issues with it doing any office tasks. The Surface 3 would also work but for a business environment I think the Pro is a better choice. It also has Win 8 pro which can support encryption if you think that might be useful to you. It also has a bigger hard drive option then the Surface 3.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Reddog
Tomball, TX
With the integrated Kickstand, the ability to run desktop software and touch apps, and a full-size USB port, Surface 3 is a perfect mix of innovation and practicality. As thin and light as it is, you'll be amazed at all you can achieve with this device.Now for a limited time, Surface 3 tablets include 1 year of Microsoft Office 365 Personal (a $69.99 value) plus OneDrive cloud storage. Office activation required within 6 months of Windows activation date. Offer valid while supplies last.
Can I watch Dish anywhere on a Surface 3 128GB
As long as you have a good enough connection and an active account with Dish it should work.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Reddog
Tomball, TX
With the integrated Kickstand, the ability to run desktop software and touch apps, and a full-size USB port, Surface 3 is a perfect mix of innovation and practicality. As thin and light as it is, you'll be amazed at all you can achieve with this device.Now for a limited time, Surface 3 tablets include 1 year of Microsoft Office 365 Personal (a $69.99 value) plus OneDrive cloud storage. Office activation required within 6 months of Windows activation date. Offer valid while supplies last.
I want to use the surface 3 to work from home. Can I connect dual monitors? If so, how?
Since it has a micro display port I think you could daisy change other display port monitors. I know it does work with my 4K monitor at full resolution but at 30hz.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Reddog
Tomball, TX
With the integrated Kickstand, the ability to run desktop software and touch apps, and a full-size USB port, Surface 3 is a perfect mix of innovation and practicality. As thin and light as it is, you'll be amazed at all you can achieve with this device.Now for a limited time, Surface 3 tablets include 1 year of Microsoft Office 365 Personal (a $69.99 value) plus OneDrive cloud storage. Office activation required within 6 months of Windows activation date. Offer valid while supplies last.
Can I use 4G on it?
Is it ready for 4G? If not can I do or buy anything so I can use 4G.
I think there will be a 4G version in the future. But you can always get a USB modem or use a separate hotspot device which is what I do. You connect to the hotspot with the wireless networking and it can work on any other device that supports a wireless connection.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Reddog
Tomball, TX