RalphHenry's stats
- Review count338
- Helpfulness votes463
- First reviewMay 28, 2015
- Last reviewOctober 7, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.9
- Review comment count24
- Helpfulness votes28
- First review commentMay 28, 2015
- Last review commentJune 30, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count61
- Helpfulness votes165
- First answerJune 30, 2015
- Last answerNovember 3, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers10
Unexpected. Unseen. Unreal. The Delta 15 AMD Advantage Edition uses the latest AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor and Radeon RX 6700M graphics. Coming in at 4.19lbs light and 0.75in thin, the Delta 15 supports SmartShift, Smart Access Memory and Wi-Fi 6E for powerful performance inside a premium chassis. Break through and set off a new standard in gaming with the Delta 15.
Customer Rating
5
Superior Laptop at This Price-point
on January 14, 2022
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
I’ll start by saying that the MSI - Delta 15.6" FHD 240hz Gaming Laptop with Ryzen R7-5800 and Radeon RX6700M, is a steal at the listed price. Human perception is hard pressed to see the difference in speed so I did rely on looking at some researched numbers and suffice to say that a gaming laptop with twice the price can perform about 1% faster based on published benchmarks using the same DDR4 memory and that was in single core performance. Multi-core results showed this machine as almost 5% faster compared to some higher priced machines with different CPU's.
As I say human perception may not note these differences. This laptop is top notch quality and the design is beautiful. Backlit keyboard is absolutely spot on with no glare yet easily seen keys – which is not always true with backlit keyboards that blast the light out or disappear when you lower the lumens; MSI engineers got it just right. Metal chassis is strong and ensures the keyboard and touchpad have a solid base – very nice. I actually felt the touchpad was the best I’ve used in terms of smoothness and the left/right clicks. Speakers were okay, but not great.
This baby is backed by 10GB GDDR6 dedicated video memory and internal 16 GB memory and a whopping 1TB SSD. Yikes great specs. The screen is gorgeous with vibrant colors and of course super fast color changes when I used several different PC games.
I did have to update to Windows 11, but it was very quick. I should mention the IPL time from off to fully operational was mere seconds. I also updated the BIOS to get everything totally up to date. I did uninstall the existing Norton and reinstalled my own Norton since the installed version was only a 2 month trial. By the way I tried to update the installed Norton with my own key but it got confused so that’s why I uninstalled the pre-installed version (in case this point helps someone).
The fan is a little loud at times. You can utilize the MSI Center Software to calibrate fan speed and more. But I let the machine find its own level since it wasn’t all that loud and I wanted to ensure the best cooling for a laptop with such a powerful CPU and GPU lineup.
The fan is a little loud at times. You can utilize the MSI Center Software to calibrate fan speed and more. But I let the machine find its own level since it wasn’t all that loud and I wanted to ensure the best cooling for a laptop with such a powerful CPU and GPU lineup.
I would highly recommend this powerhouse gamer. MSI has produced a fantastic machine at this price point.
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G535 gives you performance, freedom and comfort for all your gaming sessions. Enjoy advanced LIGHTSPEED wireless, up to 33-hour battery life, and 40 mm drivers for crystal-clear sound. Just 236 grams, an adjustable headband, and soft memory foam earpads ensure all-day comfort.
Customer Rating
5
Comfort and Quality
on December 16, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
Very nice lightweight headphones. I noticed a different design whereby there is an adjustable fabric headband underneath the plastic part that goes over your head. The headband is a soft elastic fabric that will stretch to fit your head snugly but not too tight. I was amazed at the comfort of this design, so I tip my cap to the engineers who came up with this idea – well done.
Sound is great using the included dongle to connect to a PC which I used. Very important, the earpads are super soft and large enough to fit over my older-man ears. I wear glasses and the pads accommodated my glasses with absolutely no pinching while gaming or just listening to music.
The flip up mic bar worked perfectly as well. I highly recommend these headphones as sturdy but soft with battery life that is over 40 hours per my testing; though the spec is 33 hour battery life. Great price for these quality headphones too.
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The Insignia 375 Sq. Ft. HEPA Air Purifier removes allergens, large irritants, mold, dust, pet dander, smoke and pollen with the included HEPA filter. The active carbon filter also removes odors, keeping your house smelling clean and fresh. An LED display makes it easy to check the air quality of your home and change the settings of the air purifier, such as the speed, timer or child lock. It~s ideal for a medium-sized room up to 375 sq. ft.
Customer Rating
5
Quiet and Effectively Cleans Air
on December 4, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
I first noticed how quiet this air cleaner is. It is barely audible on low speed. It does have three speeds if you want to clean the air faster, the upper speeds are louder since the fan is moving faster of course. However the sound is smooth just louder.
The air filter is very robust for the size of this unit, tip to the engineers for their design which makes the filter almost as large as the unit itself.The filter is rated for up to a 380 square foot room. You have a washable pre-filter that catches things like pet hair. The Hepa main filter has a carbon layer which is excellent for removing odors. This filter proved very effective in making the air in my open landscape main room smell better especially after cooking on an inside grill appliance - great. I did turn the fan speed temporarily up to its highest setting for that situation. Normally I leave it on low and don't hear the fan at all..
There are very good controls which allow timer settings, fan speeds, and a feature to prevent accidental setting changes. I highly recommend this unit as an excellent air purifier for your home.
The air filter is very robust for the size of this unit, tip to the engineers for their design which makes the filter almost as large as the unit itself.The filter is rated for up to a 380 square foot room. You have a washable pre-filter that catches things like pet hair. The Hepa main filter has a carbon layer which is excellent for removing odors. This filter proved very effective in making the air in my open landscape main room smell better especially after cooking on an inside grill appliance - great. I did turn the fan speed temporarily up to its highest setting for that situation. Normally I leave it on low and don't hear the fan at all..
There are very good controls which allow timer settings, fan speeds, and a feature to prevent accidental setting changes. I highly recommend this unit as an excellent air purifier for your home.
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From America's most trusted printer brand, the HP Envy Inspire 7955e is a premium multi-purpose home printer with everything families need to learn, work, and create. Loaded with features to print high-quality photos, homework, office docs and everything else. It's AI-enabled to intuitively adapt to your workflow, with wireless and security features that keep your multifunction printer up to date and secure.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Printer, Super High Quality Photos
on December 1, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
This turned out to be a fantastic multi-purpose printer. I recalled when a printer came with sprockets and paper had holes for the guide rails – wow have things improved. First of all the packaging was excellent. There was an inner box completely encased by an outer box providing double protection for the printer. The printer also had foam and cardboard providing added protection. I noticed to remove the printer from the inner box, the packaging folks at HP had come up with a sort of strong ‘strip-handle’ that you simply pulled and easily lifted the printer right out. You may recall when you had to turn the box upside down to dump out a new printer but not in this case. Tip of the cap to the engineers at HP.
I noticed the simplicity of paper size adjustments and the nicely designed printer cartridge holders. Once the various protective tape strips are removed, you plug the printer in and install the HP Smart app on your phone or computer. Just follow the directions from the app and the printer is installed in a few minutes. The app finds the printer, helps you set up wireless and away you go. Super easy.
This printer is in a little higher price point but is well worth it due to its range of functional capabilities, solid structure and excellent print quality. In short order it was installed on my laptop and on my iPad Pro. A nice feature of the install is the ability to send a link to your gmail, go to your computer and click on that link to quickly install on your computers in addition to your smart phone.
Document quality, scan quality and photo printing was great and indeed the photo printing was spectacular. I’ve included a photo with this review and the colors pop vividly.
This printer is best I’ve used and I do highly recommend it.
I noticed the simplicity of paper size adjustments and the nicely designed printer cartridge holders. Once the various protective tape strips are removed, you plug the printer in and install the HP Smart app on your phone or computer. Just follow the directions from the app and the printer is installed in a few minutes. The app finds the printer, helps you set up wireless and away you go. Super easy.
This printer is in a little higher price point but is well worth it due to its range of functional capabilities, solid structure and excellent print quality. In short order it was installed on my laptop and on my iPad Pro. A nice feature of the install is the ability to send a link to your gmail, go to your computer and click on that link to quickly install on your computers in addition to your smart phone.
Document quality, scan quality and photo printing was great and indeed the photo printing was spectacular. I’ve included a photo with this review and the colors pop vividly.
This printer is best I’ve used and I do highly recommend it.
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Create the ultimate laptop-like experience with the Brydge 12.9 MAX+. Featuring the largest native multi-touch trackpad ever included in a tablet keyboard, the 12.9 MAX+ delivers the most immersive and natural experience iPadOS has ever seen. Together with a new SnapFit~ Case designed to flawlessly match and protect your iPad, the 12.9 MAX+ creates the perfect productivity device for any environment. Brydge is critically acclaimed for their keyboard~s unmatched typing experience, and the Brydge 12.9 MAX+ is no exception. Featuring adjustable backlit keys, Instant-On~ Connectivity, shortcut keys, up to 3-month battery life and 135~ screen rotation, you~ll have confidence cranking out that paper, clearing your inbox, or tackling whatever task comes your way.
Customer Rating
5
Beautiful, Functional and Perfect Fit
on December 1, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
This keyboard is super. You do have to use the directions to pair it and if you update the firmware you will have to pair it again, but that’s about the only slight negative I saw.
The feel of the keyboard is fantastic and I am used to the top of the line keyboards for my laptops and desktops. The keys have 3 levels of lighting and I simulated lights off to varying degrees and the lighting was fantastic – easy to see keys with no glare. Will be great for plane trips.
The keypad was smooth and made my use of my new 5th generation iPad 12.9 Pro much more wonderful. I especially like the SnapFit magnetic hold that locks the iPad in place. There is some weight to the keyboard which is very solid. The weight also ensures the unit will hold the 12.9 inch iPad without letting the unit fall backwards, since this style does not have the extra ‘flap’ that some keyboards will have. When you open the combined unit, you will notice that the keyboard will in a subtle way lift the rear of the unit so the keyboard is slightly slanted – great design point and a tip of the cap to the engineers.
I enjoyed all the function keys like Microphone, Keyboard and Command keys. The keyboard will turn off when you turn off the iPad, that’s a nice feature.
There is a small user guide which will show you the gestures for the very large touchpad. Also the guide you on how to pair and update the firmware.
I do highly recommend this solid, beautiful and functional keyboard for your 12.9 iPad.
The feel of the keyboard is fantastic and I am used to the top of the line keyboards for my laptops and desktops. The keys have 3 levels of lighting and I simulated lights off to varying degrees and the lighting was fantastic – easy to see keys with no glare. Will be great for plane trips.
The keypad was smooth and made my use of my new 5th generation iPad 12.9 Pro much more wonderful. I especially like the SnapFit magnetic hold that locks the iPad in place. There is some weight to the keyboard which is very solid. The weight also ensures the unit will hold the 12.9 inch iPad without letting the unit fall backwards, since this style does not have the extra ‘flap’ that some keyboards will have. When you open the combined unit, you will notice that the keyboard will in a subtle way lift the rear of the unit so the keyboard is slightly slanted – great design point and a tip of the cap to the engineers.
I enjoyed all the function keys like Microphone, Keyboard and Command keys. The keyboard will turn off when you turn off the iPad, that’s a nice feature.
There is a small user guide which will show you the gestures for the very large touchpad. Also the guide you on how to pair and update the firmware.
I do highly recommend this solid, beautiful and functional keyboard for your 12.9 iPad.
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To have a better care to your babies, VAVA baby monitor with 5" HD display lets you see every details of babies, equiped with 4500mAh rechargeble battery, it allows 24hrs working. Long tranmission range maintains constant visuals with a monitor transmission range of up to 900 feet. Using the two-way talk to comfort your baby anytime. Meanwhile, auto-pilot mode gives you both panoramic and up-close views of your baby's.
Customer Rating
5
All the Functions Needed and Top Quality
on November 30, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
This system of camera and monitor pair up when plugged in since they arrive already paired. If you buy additional cameras there is a simple process to pair them. You may have up to 4 cameras paired. The camera and the monitor use a different power connection port so there is no chance to mix up power supplies. The camera stays plugged in but the monitor is made to be charged and removed from the charger so you can move it from room to room. This is a critical design point so that as you go through your day you will always have the ability to view the baby from wherever you go in the house. Tip of the cap to the design engineers. Both camera and monitor have a speaker and mic, so you can talk back and forth to your child. There is even a temperature sensor and it will display temperature too high or too low with displayed icons and beeps. Cameras also have night vision.
The monitor display is crystal clear plus you can zoom and pan the camera. The camera will physically move when you pan the camera. There is an optional wide angle lens option if you need, but my unit did not have one. The user guide is very well done and the camera and monitor have top-notch construction, very nice quality. This baby monitor has all the features needed, I do highly recommend this as a top quality and very functional system.
The monitor display is crystal clear plus you can zoom and pan the camera. The camera will physically move when you pan the camera. There is an optional wide angle lens option if you need, but my unit did not have one. The user guide is very well done and the camera and monitor have top-notch construction, very nice quality. This baby monitor has all the features needed, I do highly recommend this as a top quality and very functional system.
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Keep enjoying your favorite sound equipment without an expensive component update. SOUNDFORM~CONNECT Audio Adapter with~AirPlay~ 2~ turns your stereo into an AirPlay 2-enabled speaker to stream the~music that you love from iOS and Mac devices. Our adapter is equipped with optical and 3.5mm output that brings signal from~your devices to any speaker~or receiver~with an audio~input.
Customer Rating
5
Handy Device to Connect to non-Bluetooth Speakers
on November 28, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
This little gem is perfect for wirelessly connecting your audio source to speakers that do not have a Bluetooth connection. However, you do have to connect this device to the audio-output device/speakers, either with an optical cable or a 3.5mm cable. This device is powered using its USB-C port. You can connect to multiple speakers using the Belkin Soundform app (free).
I used an IPAD and the setup was simple. Once configured, you use the IOS Home app to ensure the output from the IPAD is not to the internal speakers but rather to the Belkin Soundform device. A tip you may need is: I didn’t switch the audio output from the IPAD speakers at first. After a bit of thinking I realized my error and did the correct connection. I tested both the 3.5mm jack connection type and the optical cable connection type and both worked flawlessly. It does only work with IOS devices.
I do recommend this device if you need to connect multiple speakers and/or speakers that you don’t want to have a physical wire between the audio-output source and the speakers.
I used an IPAD and the setup was simple. Once configured, you use the IOS Home app to ensure the output from the IPAD is not to the internal speakers but rather to the Belkin Soundform device. A tip you may need is: I didn’t switch the audio output from the IPAD speakers at first. After a bit of thinking I realized my error and did the correct connection. I tested both the 3.5mm jack connection type and the optical cable connection type and both worked flawlessly. It does only work with IOS devices.
I do recommend this device if you need to connect multiple speakers and/or speakers that you don’t want to have a physical wire between the audio-output source and the speakers.
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The Ninja Foodi XL Pro Grill & Griddle is the grill & griddle that sears, sizzles, and air fry crisps. With the 500F independently powered grill grate, you get direct, edge-to-edge high heat for steakhouse grilling, griddle searing, and more.
Customer Rating
5
Nice Compact Design, Fun Indoor Grilling
on November 25, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
I found this Ninja indoor grill/griddle to be fantastic. Loved its compact design and robust functionality. The first thing I tried was to make hamburgers and they came out delicious. The interface is simple and intuitive and a very helpful guide is included if needed. I also made asparagus that come out crispy and tasty – best asparagus I have ever had. I did only use the top 3 inches of the shoots and then gave them 60 seconds with butter in the microwave. Transferred to the griddle and they cooked in about 5 minutes at a 350 degree preheated temperature.
A design feature that worked nicer than I expected is that the grill opens to a height that fits under your cabinets in a typical kitchen. This is because the hinges are lower and allow the lid to keep lower when you raise it – tip of the cap to the engineers at Ninja. It was 18 5/8” from counter top to bottom of cabinets, still cleared by 2”.
I also cooked some steaks on the BBQ/Grill setting and they came out perfect medium. I did like that the grill tilts a little forward and the grease goes into a channel on the front. I have tried other indoor grills that allow the grease to go into a plastic trap under the unit; but I found these units let the grease drip onto the counter when you opened the lid. This unit moves the grease to where it is supposed to go. No smoke or flame, just tasty food. You also can air fry with the included basket and also a flat griddle for pancakes is included. When stored all the parts go right inside the unit – nice.
Cleanup is a breeze because all removeable parts are dishwasher safe and/or you can clean them in your sink very easily. I highly recommend this unit.
A design feature that worked nicer than I expected is that the grill opens to a height that fits under your cabinets in a typical kitchen. This is because the hinges are lower and allow the lid to keep lower when you raise it – tip of the cap to the engineers at Ninja. It was 18 5/8” from counter top to bottom of cabinets, still cleared by 2”.
I also cooked some steaks on the BBQ/Grill setting and they came out perfect medium. I did like that the grill tilts a little forward and the grease goes into a channel on the front. I have tried other indoor grills that allow the grease to go into a plastic trap under the unit; but I found these units let the grease drip onto the counter when you opened the lid. This unit moves the grease to where it is supposed to go. No smoke or flame, just tasty food. You also can air fry with the included basket and also a flat griddle for pancakes is included. When stored all the parts go right inside the unit – nice.
Cleanup is a breeze because all removeable parts are dishwasher safe and/or you can clean them in your sink very easily. I highly recommend this unit.
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Liberty 3 Pro are the perfect blend of high quality sound and noise cancellation. With our exclusive ACAA 2.0 technology, you~ll hear deep lows, crystal-clear highs, and very present mids. HearID ANC analyzes your ears and provides noise cancellation based on your environment. A triple-point ergonomic shape means you can wear these buds all day, comfortably. With the case, you get up to 32 hours of playtime (8 hours from the earbuds themselves) so you~ll have long-lasting listening sessions.
Customer Rating
5
Comfort, Sound and Advanced Tech
on November 19, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
Wow, best earbuds ever. Charge up quickly and last for a couple days. Stay securely in your ear while jogging and never caused ear ache which I often get. The newest technologies include better sound and better comfort. Comfort is actually most important to me since the sound of many earbuds is at least acceptable. However, I did notice more bass in these earbuds – excellent. Noise cancellation technology includes an environmental noise analysis to ‘auto-magically’ determine how the buds will handle noise cancellation. I did test in a quiet environment versus very noisy environment and this technology worked. The buds handled the noisy environment it seemed to me by providing more cancellation although the sound seemed less vibrant. I didn’t check noise cancellation other than no noise and lots of noise but I was convinced the technology worked fine.
These buds came with 6 different size ‘ear cushions’ and six different ‘ear wings’; so you are sure to find the best fit for every ear size. The case which provides added charging when you are on the go, doesn’t flip up but rather slides open; I felt this was a very smooth touch to add to the package. These buds can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. Also if you remove one earbud, the music pauses, like you may do when you meet someone on the street. I admire the technology in these buds a great deal. Bluetooth pairing is faster than I have ever seen either with a computer or via a cell phone. Even the Quick Start Guide is more robust than normally seen and clearly describes all the functions including firmware updates and resets. I strongly recommend these earbuds. Well done Soundcore engineers.
These buds came with 6 different size ‘ear cushions’ and six different ‘ear wings’; so you are sure to find the best fit for every ear size. The case which provides added charging when you are on the go, doesn’t flip up but rather slides open; I felt this was a very smooth touch to add to the package. These buds can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. Also if you remove one earbud, the music pauses, like you may do when you meet someone on the street. I admire the technology in these buds a great deal. Bluetooth pairing is faster than I have ever seen either with a computer or via a cell phone. Even the Quick Start Guide is more robust than normally seen and clearly describes all the functions including firmware updates and resets. I strongly recommend these earbuds. Well done Soundcore engineers.
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The entire Meta Portal family is video calling designed to bring people closer.Portal Go makes the best of Portal portable, so you~re free to see where the conversation takes you. Whether you~re chasing a toddler or just want a change of scenery, Portal Go~s built-in battery and integrated carry handle help keep the conversation going as you move from room to room. Connect to anyone~even if they don~t have a Portal~with Messenger, WhatsApp, Zoom and more. Portal~s Smart Camera will pan and zoom to keep you in frame so you can move and talk naturally, whatever the task at hand. High fidelity audio fills any room with sound whether you~re on a call, watching entertainment, listening to music with Spotify, Pandora or Tidal, or even using Portal Go as a portable Bluetooth speaker around the home. You can take your office anywhere with a dedicated calling screen to free up your laptop with screen sharing, calendars and conference calling on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, or Workplace. An ever-expanding AR library lets you blur backgrounds or add effects to liven up calls, while StoryTime uses AR, animation and music to let you tell immersive bedtime stories to loved ones anywhere in the world. Portal Go brings the good times to any room in your house even when it~s not in use with an HD display showing all your favorite photos from Instagram, Facebook or uploaded from your phone via the Portal app. You can explore with Portal~s browser or enjoy entertainment via a range of apps. And with Alexa Built-in, you can ditch the remote and control your smart home and connected devices with the sound of your voice. When you~re done, simply set your Portal Go on its Charging Dock until you need it next. Portal~s simple privacy settings mean you can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the with the camera cover. All Messenger and WhatsApp calls are encrypted.
Customer Rating
5
Nice Device for Facebook Users
on November 11, 2021
Posted by: RalphHenry
from New Smyrna Beach, FL
The Facebook Portal Go will please a lot of people who use Facebook. If you normally use your cell phone to contact people you may find the capabilities lacking. This device uses the contacts from Facebook primarily. However you can load the Whatsapp app on your cell phone and it will call anyone in your phone contact list who also has Whatsapp installed. I think if the device simply gave you the option of calling any contact in your cell phone, in a simple way, it would be a big improvement. You can link your cell phone via Bluetooth to your Portal Go, however then any request for info for example when you talk to your phone will send the audio to the Portal Go; you may not want this. So that are a few cautions up front, but you can work around them.
Installation was very easy. The sound from this device is top notch. I loaded ‘iHeart Radio’ and this provided me with a very nice selection of songs that I can bring up just by using the ‘Hey Portal’ voice command. Facebook users will love the ability to establish a video call easily to other Facebook users. The Portal Go has a very clever camera system that will follow the user around and keep putting the user in the frame. Another useful and important feature is the ability to carry the Portal Go from room to room using the molded in handle. You should return it to its charging base from time to time. The construction is excellent and the soft durable fabric surface is a nice touch.
You can ask the Portal Go for weather and some other simple requests, however it gets lost if you request fairly simple requests that you would expect other ‘voice search methods’ would handle. This is where you need to understand that you can use the built-in Alexa. Now instead of saying ‘Hey Portal’ you just say ‘Alexa’ and you will be fine with any request. In a similar way you can use the built-in browser to investigate anything. An improvement would be to put the smarts in the device so you would just use the same voice-awake command all the time i.e. ‘Hey Portal’ and it would internally use Alexa or the browser to get you a response as needed.
There are other features such as StoryTime that are geared toward family/friend usage, and this is a very nice special feature. You can utilize other features to see your Facebook photos, upload your cell photos or even get your photos from Instagram. You can use other apps like Zoom, WebEx and GoToMeeting. It is fun to explore the versatility of this unit, but you do need to do some homework to understand the details. A nice upgrade in the future would be an interactive interface with an index to facilitate all the options. But this unit is an excellent interface for Facebook users.
I found this particular device to be a nice add-on to other types of voice command devices and of course this is focused on Facebook and your friends there. I enjoy keeping it right beside my TV and can easily check weather without pulling out my cell phone for example. Since Alexa is built-in you end up with quite a versatile unit with excellent audio output. I do highly recommend this unit.
Installation was very easy. The sound from this device is top notch. I loaded ‘iHeart Radio’ and this provided me with a very nice selection of songs that I can bring up just by using the ‘Hey Portal’ voice command. Facebook users will love the ability to establish a video call easily to other Facebook users. The Portal Go has a very clever camera system that will follow the user around and keep putting the user in the frame. Another useful and important feature is the ability to carry the Portal Go from room to room using the molded in handle. You should return it to its charging base from time to time. The construction is excellent and the soft durable fabric surface is a nice touch.
You can ask the Portal Go for weather and some other simple requests, however it gets lost if you request fairly simple requests that you would expect other ‘voice search methods’ would handle. This is where you need to understand that you can use the built-in Alexa. Now instead of saying ‘Hey Portal’ you just say ‘Alexa’ and you will be fine with any request. In a similar way you can use the built-in browser to investigate anything. An improvement would be to put the smarts in the device so you would just use the same voice-awake command all the time i.e. ‘Hey Portal’ and it would internally use Alexa or the browser to get you a response as needed.
There are other features such as StoryTime that are geared toward family/friend usage, and this is a very nice special feature. You can utilize other features to see your Facebook photos, upload your cell photos or even get your photos from Instagram. You can use other apps like Zoom, WebEx and GoToMeeting. It is fun to explore the versatility of this unit, but you do need to do some homework to understand the details. A nice upgrade in the future would be an interactive interface with an index to facilitate all the options. But this unit is an excellent interface for Facebook users.
I found this particular device to be a nice add-on to other types of voice command devices and of course this is focused on Facebook and your friends there. I enjoy keeping it right beside my TV and can easily check weather without pulling out my cell phone for example. Since Alexa is built-in you end up with quite a versatile unit with excellent audio output. I do highly recommend this unit.
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Stream instant content easily with this LG BP550 Blu-ray player. To build a complete 3D home theater system, we recommend you purchase a 3D TV, 3D glasses designed for the TV, high-speed HDMI cable and an A/V receiver that is compatible with 3D products.
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5Great Blu-Ray DVD Player for the money
By JulieAS
After buying this product, I am both pleased yet a little disappointed! I needed another player to replace my 5 year old Sony 3-D player (also bought at BB) because it was no longer compatible with YouTube. Since my TV is an LG, I decided to buy an LG player.
The LG BP550 is smaller than my older Sony (another reason I chose it) and has fewer apps but I really didn't care about that as long as YouTube worked and that it also had Netflix and HuluPlus apps. Hooking it up and installing it was quick and easy and completing the system update was also a breeze! Already on sale, I saw it was also available as an Open-Box item so I thought I could save even more buying it at that option...NOT!
Advertised as 'Open-Box Excellent Condition' I ordered it on May 13th and it arrived on the 15th - without the remote! Maybe I shouldn't have assumed that an item labeled as "Returned, used as display model in store, or opened due to packaging damage but remains in like-new condition" meant or means that all accessories, cables, manuals, remotes, etc. are included.
Fortunately, my TV remote was able to do some of the basic stuff for installing and some playback features but that's it. So I make a call to BB and learn that the 4-yr Protection Plan I paid for would not cover this missing remote and was then advised to call LG for a 'free' replacement.
Customer service at LG then directed me to call their authorized parts dealer for my time zone. Of course, they were closed on Saturday and Sunday!
I called the parts dealer today (18th) and was told to contact the retailer since I'd "recently purchased the item and it should be returnable/replaceable under warranty". I explained that I had been informed that it was not and that I was told to call them by both BB and LG!
Subsequently, I was given the part number and price for a replacement remote!
Well it looks as if buying Open-Box didn't save me much, if anything, after all since the replacement remote has to be paid for out of my pocket!
I may be better off returning this player and buying a NEW one instead!
I may be better off returning this player and buying a NEW one instead!
However, I must say that I do like the player for what features I have been able to access while using my TV remote! I look forward to obtaining the full benefits and features when using the actual remote control for the BP550!
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Remote Replacement
May 28, 2015
It's not ideal but if you are missing a remote and/or lose or break it, you can easily download a smartphone app to run it. You could also program a multi device remote like the Harmony 650 which I did. So nowadays a missing remote is not a show stopper but I agree it should have not been missing.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5Great box - poor fonts
By Jasonrn
I purchased this with great excitement. I mostly do everyday things, with an evergrowing photo collection. I bought Adobe creative cloud and was ready to go. Fired it up and was shocked at how bad the text looks. I have tried many different settings. I don't know if it is a scaling thing? I love everything else about the unit. Photos look great. I dont game.
The text issue is varies. Some apps, it looks fine... others - terrible. Also, some apps don't scale well at all on the 4K screen.
May return the unit and get a laptop I can plug a second monitor in for my photo work.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Fix for fonts didn't install
November 3, 2015
The expert pointed to a download and it did not install. I'm glad since I think you just need to go to settings and find the 'cleartype text' setting and run through it to make fonts great. Also I see many of the apps will fix drivers and so forth so there is a learning curve now to see how to run these machines.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Tips For Better Text on AIO 700
November 4, 2015
I've played with the font's and you may also want to scale text or make it bold for example if you use Windows Live (you can do that within Display Settings). The other tip is that the text is very clear but small so you may find that enlarging text by hitting Ctrl and + (together) once or twice will make some things easier to read. You hit Ctrl and - together to reduce. I didn't use those commands as often on other machines, but it is beautiful to use at times on this machine. By the way videos are wonderful if you use something like Amazon Prime video etc WOW
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Lenovo Fix for AIO 700 24ISH
November 5, 2015
Jason, I did think ClearType helped a little but the scaling and putting 'bold' on helped more. I did see the fix that Lenovo posted. First I flashed the BIOS which they also posted as of 9/10/15. However when I tried their special fix for the font scaling it is an .rar file and I had to load WinZip (free version for now) but it did unpack it. However I never saw it run successfully as it always returned an error code. I am going to call Lenovo on that but the text looks pretty good so maybe it actually ran. I'll post an update on that. By the way the support at Lenovo is abysmal.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall2 out of 5
2 out of 5Disappointed
By Brandon
It worked for a few hours right out of the box. Then I noticed the screen flashing and the graphics cards crashing. After a reset it freezes after 5 minutes of use. Not sure if it's the pc itself or driver issues with Windows 10, either way it's not worth the trouble. If they can fix these issues then it is absolutely worth the price.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Try Driver Updates & Flash BIOS
November 5, 2015
If you still have it and if it will stay up long enough, I'd say go to Lenovo's web site and download the newest BIOS, it's easy to update BIOS now. Then go into Device Manager and update both Display drivers. If you bought an open box, I'd also try to reload the whole machine to the factory settings (or BestBuy should do that for you). But if you go to the apps, the app called Lenovo Rescue System will do it for you pretty easily. Then do the stuff I mentioned above.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Checked on Font Scaling Fix
November 5, 2015
I couldn't get the download from Lenovo's website to install. I downloaded and unpacked the fix, but it returned an error code when I ran it. I spent 40 minutes with Lenovo 1st and 2nd level support. They pretty much had no info on this fix. They didn't open a problem ticket 8005969635. Also their website said you should post a request online to have them call you back, but their process was broken in that area also. Full disclosure: even without this fix, the screen looks awesome to me.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Successful Adjustments for FONTS
November 5, 2015
Lots of people had problems with the fonts on this 4K hi-def screen. Lenovo support was useless but Geek Squad fixed me right up via remote connection. It might be something others know, but judging by the reviews most people including me just didn't really understand. There are lots of modifications to DISPLAY parameters but what most people should do if they are using this screen for apps like Windows Live is to change the screen resolution to 1920x1080 and change the scaling to 125%. Now everything is beautiful. If you do want to watch a movie in high def, then put it back to 3840x2160 and set scaling to 200%. What is confusing is that there is a choice for 2560x1600 but this is not the same ratio as the screen size so you get bars on each side which you probably don't want - I should have seen this but the Geek Squad enlightened me. Now as to the patch from Lenovo for font scaling, you probably don't need it nor would it do much I am sure. So kudos to the Geek Squad and thanks. It is an awesome machine and in fact even the lower resolution is more than any other PC I have ever had.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Thanks for Posting Info on Font Patch from Lenovo
November 6, 2015
JasoninNJ, thanks for posting your comment that installing the Lenovo patch to help font scaling toasted the machine. I won't try again to install it. As I mentioned I don't think it is needed. There will be more ultra HD computer screens and I'm guessing they will add automated switching to show videos in HD but do the rest of your PC work with the lower resolution which is excellent when viewing text.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Text Display Improvement
November 16, 2015
After playing with various settings I have some hopefully helpful feedback. First of all don't use the 3840x2160 unless you are streaming video, it makes text bad. Also don't use 2560x1600 since it is not a multiple of the 3840x2160 i.e. you'll get bars on both sides of the screen. Do use the 1920x1080 which is also hi-def and fits this screen dimensions properly. Now if you want text a little bigger then go to 'set custom scaling level' and use 110% or 115%; this makes nice readable text. Now here's a quirk I see lots of people having and not just on this PC or brand for Windows 10. You may see occasional video card errors and once in a while the machine may not IPL (just power off and try again it will come up). I think the problem is the video card doesn't get back fast enough to the CPU, and the video card crashes but does recover. Not a problem unless you are playing PC high powered games. So I don't recommend this machine for games, but video streaming and apps like Corel Photoshop are great. Now what you can do to minimize or eliminate the video card crashes (remember it happens on lots of machines with Windows 10, so there will be a fix soon I think). Anyway go to Control Panel and search for 'visual effects', then click on adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. Then select 'Custom' and click the box next to 'smooth edges of screen fonts'. If you optimize for 'best appearance' entirely or for let 'windows choose'... that's when the video card may not keep up I think. If you optimize for 'best'performance' the text looks horrible. Anyway the 'custom' settings work for me to give me nice text and no crashes. This is a stretch but I think the engineers knew there could be a problem, that's why they tried to put in the super high powered video cards, but not good enough for now, I do think this will get fixed by Windows 10 OS soon. This machine for it's price is tremendous and I think worth this minor glitch.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel~ RealSense~ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Good News to Add
December 8, 2015
I wanted to update my review to indicate that a frequent display driver error that said "...Intel Video adapter stopped working but recovered...", has stopped occurring after about 1 week ago when a pretty big Windows 10 update came out. It was never a killer for me since I don't play games but when I googled it, I did see that it was fairly common on many PC's - that's good since it appears Microsoft fixed it. Note there are two video adapters in this machine but the Nvidia one was not failing.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
RalphHenry's Questions
RalphHenry has not submitted any questions.
Stream instant content easily with this LG BP550 Blu-ray player. To build a complete 3D home theater system, we recommend you purchase a 3D TV, 3D glasses designed for the TV, high-speed HDMI cable and an A/V receiver that is compatible with 3D products.
Streaming Apps
Does this unit get Amazon Prime videos?
Yes it has Prime Instant Video and lot more stuff like Hulu, YouTube etc. It works great. It kind of made my older TV a Smart TV !
10 years, 3 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC