BillFromKC's stats
- Review count196
- Helpfulness votes763
- First reviewJune 27, 2012
- Last reviewJune 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
- Review comment count8
- Helpfulness votes10
- First review commentAugust 27, 2015
- Last review commentFebruary 19, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count68
- Helpfulness votes38
- First answerJanuary 9, 2014
- Last answerNovember 5, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers9
The WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ gives your Xbox the tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. With up to 5TB* of storage capacity, the WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ is a top-tier external HDD built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their Xbox so they can drive their game the way they choose. Included with your purchase is a 1-month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with access to 100+ games on consoles and PC, plus online console multiplayer.
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
The WD Black P10 Game Drive for Xbox is a fast way to backup games on a Series X or Series S system, and is also fast enough to play games off of on an Xbox One, One S, or One X.
Setup on the Xbox is super easy - just plug in and follow the on-screen prompts. Once it's set up, you can use the drive to store games.
It's fairly quick, too, especially for a traditional hard drive. I did connect the P10 to a Windows PC and got 125 megabyte per second read speeds and 120 megabyte per second write speeds on large files. For sake of comparison to other hard drives, small files were read between 512 kilobytes (half a megabyte) and 2.5 megabytes per second, and written between 512 kilobytes and 24.5 megabytes per second. Because speed claims are always based on longer file reads and writes, I'll give WD credit on this drive living up to its speed claims.
There are a few areas this drive does fall short for me, however. First, it uses the USB Micro B connector instead of USB-C, so if you break the cable or need a longer cable, it's not as readily available. Second, white the white indicator light was a nice touch, the rest of the aesthetics are bad; the drive should have been a solid color (black, white, or Xbox Green). Third, my drive got warm while copying Master Chief Collection (150GB) from the Xbox to the P10; ventilation should have been a thing on this. Finally, and again, why didn't this drive get a USB-C port instead of the USB Micro B port?
So as far as recommending this goes, it'll all in what your needs are. Do you need extra space on your Xbox One, One S, or One X device? Go for it. Do you want to be able to quickly move games on and off a backup for when you want to play them on your Series S or Series X? This is perfect for you. Are you not concerned about speed and money's tight? You could save some money with a less expensive external drive at the same capacity. For the performance, however, it's a good value.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Take control of your acoustic experience with Logitech Zone 900, the wireless headset specifically designed to enhance focus and productivity at home. Connect to your smartphone and computer, and seamlessly switch between them to experience great audio, suitable for conference calls and immersive music. Active noise cancelation blocks out the noise around you. With comfort, simple controls, and wireless Qi charging, Zone 900 helps you define your workplace soundscape and stay in your zone. Logitech Unifying technology connects up to six compatible devices with one receiver. Stay focused, stay connected, and stay in your zone no matter where you work.
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. Also, at the time of this review, Logi Tune for iOS (and probably Android as well, but I didn't test that) is not compatible with this headset, but Logi Tune for Windows is; however, this did not affect scoring as Logitech informed me the Tune app would be updated to support this headset when I reached out to them.
TL;DR - The Logitech Zone 900 wireless headset excels as a communication headset. It's comfortable to wear for extended periods. The mic is clear. The active noise cancelling is able to drown out a lot of background noise, though it doesn't totally silence everything. Audio quality for phone calls and teleconferencing apps is great, but is merely okay for music, movies, and gaming due to bass extension and clipping issues. The battery life is terrific - it'll make it through a full workday with ease. The Qi charging capability of the headset is awesome, as is the USB-C charge port (though, for the price, Logitech should have included both a USB-A to C and a USB-C to C charge cable in the package). Integration with Logitech's Unifying ecosystem is great - if you already have Logitech Unifying keyboards, mice, and other devices, they can integrate with the dongle that comes with this headset. Overall, I highly recommend this for teleworkers who spend a lot of their day on the phone or on Zoom/Teams/WebEx conferences.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Unboxing and initial impressions:
Unboxing and initial impressions:
The Zone 900 is packaged nicely in a slip-off cardboard box (note that the seals are on the bottom of the box). Inside the packaging, you'll find the Zone 900 headset, the Unifying Audio dongle, a USB-C to A adapter, a USB-A to C cable, a storage sack, and warranty literature. Pictogram instructions are printed on the inner box's inside.
The headset is nicely made. The headband is metal, covered in plastic across the top, the slide adjustments are incredibly smooth. The headband itself has a rubber-like material for padding between it and your head. The the drivers are enclosed in plastic that feels really nice and soft leatherette flat pads that are extremely pliable and soft. The wires running from the drivers through the headband are covered in a paracord-like material, much like the cable of a good gaming mouse is. A USB-C port is on the left cup, as is the rotatable microphone. The buttons feel solid and are easy to find without looking.
Setup for the computer is simple. You attach the Unifying Audio dongle to your computer in either an open USB-A port or with the included USB-C to A adapter, power the headset on, and you're ready to go. You can download the optional Logi Tune software for Windows if you want additional control over headset functionality, including controlling what buttons do and EQ settings.
Setup for a phone is every bit as easy. You put the headset into pairing mode by holding the power button, then connect it using your phone's Bluetooth settings. In the future, the Logi Tune app will allow you to change EQ settings and other features from your phone.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Usage:
Usage:
Charging is easy. You either connect the USB--C cable or you place the headset on its right earcup on a Qi-compatible charging pad.
The rotatable mic works as a mute switch. This is super handy for those moments when you don't want someone listening in on you mumbling while you're on the phone. You also get the mute switch on the mic itself if you don't want to rotate it for mute.
You can press the button on the left ear cup to answer calls. The volume buttons are on top and bottom of it, and are shaped in such a way that you can tell what they are by feel.
It's all-day comfortable. The headband doesn't put too much pressure on top of your head and doesn't squeeze too hard against your ears. It does squeeze hard enough that the headset isn't going anywhere, however, unless you're going for a run or headbanging.
You can use the headset with two devices simultaneously, but there's one caveat to this - one device needs to be connected with the Unifying Audio dongle. This means that your computer - Windows or Mac - will transfer audio using the dongle while your phone or tablet will transfer audio over Bluetooth. You can connect two devices over Bluetooth simultaneously, but I couldn't get audio out of both devices at the same time this way.
Audio quality is both great and could be better, depending on what you're doing. For calls, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, and anything without a lot of bass extension, it's fine. In fact, these have been my favorite headphones for listening to podcasts out of everything I've used.
However, anything with serious bass extension will have some clipping and distortion on the low end. Games with lots of explosions, hip-hop, modern country, modern hard rock, and pop, and movies with explosive scenes all caused clipping at higher volume levels. Adjusting your EQ to cut the bass helps. In fact, this is the only problem I've had with this headset.
One nice feature in the Desktop software is it'll help you pair other Unifying devices to the Unifying Audio dongle.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Closing:
Closing:
The Logitech Zone 900 is a great headset for what it's meant for and is almost the perfect headset for everything. With a little improvement to bass response, this headset could be perfect for everything. Also, being able to run two Bluetooth devices at once would be handy for road warriors. Otherwise, this is worth the price if you spend all day on the phone at work.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Expertly shape your brows with Tweezermans classic, award-winning slant tip tweezer. A staple to your beauty routine and famous for its precision, the Slant Tweezer features perfectly aligned, hand-filed tips that grab every hair, every time.
Customer Rating
5
Great tweezers for the price.
on June 25, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
Short and sweet - good tweezers make life easy. I used these to pluck splinters and an ingrown hair, it made cakewalk of both tasks. Versus cheap drug store/grocery store brand tweezers, these were much easier to use and have far superior grip.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen4 SSD for next-level computing. 980 PRO delivers 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0, while maintaining compatibility with PCIe 3.0.¹ ¹The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.* Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs. PS5 compatible with heatsink as recommended by Sony; heatsink sold separately.
Customer Rating
5
Beefy. Make sure you use with PCIe 4.0+ NVMe
on June 13, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
If you want fast storage that’s reliable, the Samsung 980 Pro Series is it.
Using a Ryzen 5800X on a B550 motherboard with PCIe 4.0 NVMe compatibility, I got reads a little better than 7100 MBps and writes at nearly 5300 MBps. It does get a little warm while being pushed to this limit, however, so make sure you use a heat sink of some kind with it. I also tried it out in my Ryzen 5500u-powered laptop, which used Zen 2 architecture and PCIe 3.0 NVMe, I pegged reads and writes at 3600 MBps each.
Samsung’s software also makes firmware updates on this drive easy.
Recommended? Yes, as long as you either have or plan on upgrading to something with PCIe 4.0, as the cost isn’t justified in a PCIe 3.0 system.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Capture HD photos and videos at night or during the day with Rexing Woodlens H1 Blackhawk trail camera. Less than 0.2s ultra-fast trigger is paired with an LED flash for split-second shooting when motion is detected, while a 2.4" built-in LCD screen lets you preview and navigate through photos and videos. The Rexing Woodlens H1 Blackhawk trail camera features password protection to guard against unwanted access.
Customer Rating
3
Bad value holds back an otherwise good trail cam
on June 7, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
TL-DR - The Rexing H1 Blackhawk Train Camera is a decent device overall but is held back by the device's firmware and the overall value of the package. Compared to other non-cellular trail cameras in this price range, you don't get included batteries or an included SD card. The unit itself is at least well-made and I found it to be very water resistant (it withstood being sprayed by a garden hose). Pictures and video shot by the camera - both in daylight and at night - is mostly clear with some artifacting from the camera itself, a good tradeoff for the high sensitivity of the sensor. The mounting hardware it comes with is also well-made and easy to use - the belt easily wraps around medium-sized trees and the hard mount goes together easily and securely. Besides the value proposition, the firmware is the other problem with this camera - it doesn't allow for higher compression of images and video, it causes the IR sensor to be too sensitive at even its lowest setting, and the menu system is just very dated in how it looks and works. It's worth considering if you're looking for a trail camera, but you can do better based on value.
------------------------------------------------------
Unboxing and first impressions:
Unboxing and first impressions:
The H1 Blackhawk Trail Camera is packaged in a relatively plain cardboard box. Items inside of the box are packaged in plastic - this is one case where I'd prefer to see the packaging be all paper, as there's just as much chance someone would be setting this up out in the field as they would be at home, meaning you have to deal with packaging waste properly. Inside the box is the trail camera itself, a mounting belt (meant to go around trees or posts), a hard mount (meant to be screwed into a board, pole, or bolted to a t-post with a nut and bolt you can get at any hardware store), a typical Mini USB cable (which I'm surprised is still a thing in 2021, but I’m not knocking it because it’s easier to plug in correctly the first time than Micro USB ever was), and instructions for usage.
What I didn't find in the box were a SD card and AA batteries, both necessary for use. Considering that other trail cameras this competes with come with those items at lower prices, I was disappointed about this.
The camera itself is built well. The plastic exterior is tough enough where it survived a fall onto a cement floor without a scratch. It has a 3 lens motion sensor, 40 IR LEDs in all, LEDs to indicate power and recording, belt and cable loops on the back side of the unit, and both a hard mount and a passthrough to the DC in port on the bottom. the unit latches together with two snaps and the rubber gasket protecting the electronics inside. There's a small hole so you can lock or zip tie the unit closed.
The electronics package has the battery storage on one side of the unit and a small screen and controls on the other. At the bottom of the controls are a full-sized SD card slot, a Mini USB port (for those of you who don't have a SD card reader), and the DC in port. The controls are clicky but somewhat mushy and the screen is clear but too small to be useful outside of device setup.
------------------------------------------------------
Setup and usage:
Setup and usage:
The belt is nylon with a plastic clip buckle and holds securely. The hard mount is simple to assemble and use - you'll just need a socket and a wrench to initially pit it together. For my testing, I chose to go with the belt clip because of placing the camera on a tree.
Inserting batteries is easy enough. You only need 4 batteries to power it on, but you can add 8 batteries so the camera has double the available power and battery life. Note that NiMH and NiCD rechargeable batteries won’t work properly in this device; I tried a set (because science) and got 30 seconds of run time out of the H1 Blackhawk in setup mode. In addition to Alkaline and Lithium disposable batteries, you can also obtain alternative ways to power the camera - either a 6 volt transformer or a third party battery pack with 6 volt output.
Configuring the camera is easy enough, once you get used to a somewhat archaic menu system on the camera. You get options for video and/or photo mode, what resolution the pictures and video will be shot in, time lapse recording, sensitivity of the motion sensor, whether it uses the side motion sensors or not, sound recording, and a few other system settings. Photo and video quality are not options in the setup, however, so you can’t set the camera to tie up around 4MB per picture file and around 100MB per 15 seconds of video recording when set to full resolution; because of this, you’ll find that a 32GB SD card will fill up very quickly. The reason I say photo and video quality should be adjustable is I did compress several pictures to between 1/5 and 1/6th of their original size using macOS’s Preview app and saw no discernible difference in picture quality (photos went from around 4MB each to 650-800KB each).
I also found the motion sensors to be very sensitive, even at the low setting. My 32GB SD card I tested with filled in a matter of hours and the 8 AA batteries are already about 50% depleted over two days of being deployed at different spots because of this (set to record video at 1080p while taking pictures at 16mp).
The picture quality was good overall, though while zoomed in, even the 16mb images tended to look "softened" around the edges; zoomed out, everything looked sharp while being viewed on a 1440p 27" monitor. While images do have some artifacting from the camera sensor being set to high sensitivity, the tradeoff is better low-light photos. The artifacting improved with lower resolutions. IR photos and videos were crisp, clear monochrome and only had artifacts in the darkest portions of the images and video.
Inserting and removing the SD card can be a little difficult; I found that I needed a pencil to engage and disengage the locking mechanism. Note that it also uses standard SD cards so you can feel free to push a little harder to engage and disengage the locking mechanism without fear of destroying your memory card. My 32GB SDXC card worked perfectly, and the device claims compatibility with up to 128GB SD cards.
You’ll want to set it up to test your chosen settings before you deploy it for “field research”. Once you have it configured and working the way you want it working, you can deploy it to the hunting grounds and check it every few days for new content. Keep in mind the small screen viewer isn’t particularly great, so you may want to invest in an OTG SD card reader (Android) or the Camera Connection Kit (Apple) so you can view photos on your phone.
------------------------------------------------------
Issues:
Issues:
So I think I’ve covered them all, but to reiterate:
1 - file sizes of pictures and video are huge so you should get a large capacity SD card to go with this camera
2 - the camera does not come with a SD card or batteries in the box, a big omission since competing products include these things and cost less
3 - the archaic menu feels cumbersome until you get used to it
4 - overly sensitive motion sensor
5 - soft edges while zoomed in on photos, including high megapixel images.
6 - just a bad value proposition compared to competition
2 - the camera does not come with a SD card or batteries in the box, a big omission since competing products include these things and cost less
3 - the archaic menu feels cumbersome until you get used to it
4 - overly sensitive motion sensor
5 - soft edges while zoomed in on photos, including high megapixel images.
6 - just a bad value proposition compared to competition
The sensitivity and image compression issues might be fixable with a firmware update, as would be the menu system. If the camera were less expensive, the omission of batteries and the SD card would be more acceptable; personally, I’d rather see batteries and a 32GB SD card included, but either a price drop or inclusion of those two things would fix the value proposition for me as the camera is a little better with image quality than similarly-priced competing products.
------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The Rexing H1 Blackhawk, by all measures, is a pretty decent trail camera. It’s dragged down, however, by poor design decisions in the firmware (menu system and image compression) and being a bad value proposition compared to competing products. For many people, image and video quality won’t outweigh a lack of storage and batteries as pack-in extras, but even with the bad value proposition versus competing products in that regard, it’s still worth considering as it does the job well, but you can do better based on value. Because it does what it needs to do well, however, I can recommend this.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Soundcore Partycast is a portable Bluetooth Party Speaker with 80 watts of power, an 18-hour playtime, and a party-starting light show. Using our exclusive partycast technology, you can link over 100 partycast speakers together for synchronized music and lights to create the ultimate experience. IPX7 Waterproofing means you won’t need to worry about liquid getting on it, and with its USB charge-out capabilities your phone will stay charged no matter how long the party lasts.
Customer Rating
5
Packs a far bigger punch than you'd expect
on May 31, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
TL;DR - The Anker Soundcore Rave Partycast speaker is a surprisingly loud speaker for its size. Audio is customizable, as is the lighting, with the Soundcore app, and all music sounds terrific over Bluetooth or the aux input. Battery life is amazing, and it's a steal for the price.
-------------------------------------
Unboxing, setup, and first impressions:
Unboxing, setup, and first impressions:
The Soundcore Rave Partycast isn't a tiny speaker, but isn't a monster either. The handle on top makes it easy to lug around, and you're given options on how to stand it up - verically, horizontally, or you can mount it on a stand. The unit feels high-quality with soft touch controls and a metal speaker grill. The charging port, USB port, and aux port are located behind a soft-touch flap on the backside of the speaker.
You'll want to charge it, like anything else with a lithium battery, before use. This took my unit about 30 minutes, but your mileage might vary. Once charged, powering on is simple and the power button also doubles as the battery life indicator.
Pairing Bluetooth is easy enough. You'll press and hold the Bluetooth button on the speaker until a tone plays, then you'll connect your phone or other device to Rave Partycast. With iOS, iPadOS, and Android devices, you'll also want to download the Anker Soundcore app so you can customize the lights and EQ setting for the speaker. All told, you'll go from powered up to ready to use in about 2 minutes flat.
-------------------------------------
Usage:
Usage:
Before discovering the EQ settings in the Soundcore app, I thought the audio from the Rave Partycast was loud, but rather bass-heavy at the bottom at shallow at the top. While this was good for hip-hop, pop, rock, and modern country, it wasn't good for blues, jazz, classical, oldies, and classic country. After playing with the EQ, however, I was able to bring life back into the music that fell flat. So yeah, YOU NEED THE APP for this speaker.
Overall, the speaker has a good sound after tuning it to your preferences. While it's not the best speaker for quieter genres, it's great for what most people will listen to - music with a strong beat and a driving bass line.
The app also allowed for changing the colors of the lights around the midrange/tweeter drivers of the speaker. While it would have been nice to pick my own colors, the options given look pretty good over all.
I did use it without the power adapter after initial charging and, after 10 hours, it was about halfway down on battery life as indicated by both my iPhone 11 and the power indicator on the unit. I was also able to charge my phone using the USB port on the back of the speaker while it was powered on.
-------------------------------------
Drawbacks:
Drawbacks:
Like I stated earlier, the only thing is YOU NEED THE APP to get the most out of the Soundcore Rave Partycast. Once you adjust the EQ to your liking, it'll sound terrific. Also, it was designed to be loud first and give you high-quality audio second. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, don't expect audio quality that matches a $500 speaker or a $1500 audio system that gets permanently installed in your back yard.
-------------------------------------
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
If you want a loud speaker for gatherings outside or just poolside by yourself, you can't go wrong with the Anker Soundcore Rave Partycast. It's easy to use and a terrific value for what you get.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Circadian Optics is a maker of bright light therapy lamps that mimic daylight. Our designer lamps allow you to get the light you need, right at your desk. Symmetrical and minimalist, Lumine’s versatile design fits as well in a home as it does in an office. It’s perfectly square top-to-bottom light panel and integrated stand create a bold, modern aesthetic.
Customer Rating
5
Lamp is great, but get medical advice before use
on May 25, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
(I’ve received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. Also - and I cannot emphasize this enough - please talk to your doctor before using any medical device. Because of this, I’m only reviewing the product and not it’s effects on me as, with any medical device, your milage may vary.)
The Circadian Optics Lumine light therapy lamp is the equivalent of bottled sunshine. It’s easy to set up, easy to use, and solidly constructed. Thanks to its LED light source, it stays relatively cool and draws little power, especially for as bright as it is.
Setup is simple - pop open the box, place the tabs for the base in the back of the light panel, and connect the power supply. Usage is also simple - aim it at your face from an angle so the light will enter your eyes but not blind you, then use the touch-sensitive power/brightness button to set the light to your desired brightness. Once your therapy session is done, turn it off.
Is there anything I would change with this lamp? Yes, but they’re not serious flaws. I’d like to see the panel mountable to a height-adjustable stand, and the ability to track therapy time and adjust brightness via an app would be nice; even better would be that the app connects with your doctor or therapist’s office and you can get adjustments as needed between visits on brightness and therapy length. However, I realize these things would only make the device more expensive, so maybe in a future higher-end model?
Otherwise, the Lumine is a great little light therapy lamp. Circadian Optics did well with this device in every regard, including price.
Do I recommend this? Yes, but make sure you get a recommendation to use light therapy from a medical professional first.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The ROCCAT® Kone Pro Lightweight Optical Ergonomic Performance Gaming Mouse with RGB Lighting is the result of over 14 years of devoted craftmanship and is the most advanced gaming mouse we’ve ever created. After meticulous global research into hand sizes and grip styles, the result is one shape to fit any hand. It’s the iconic Kone shape, perfected. Providing supreme comfort without compromising on performance, the feeling of using the Kone Pro is unrivalled. It seamlessly fuses with your hand, virtually disappearing, keeping you focused and immersed. The Kone Pro utilizes our Titan Switch Optical. With a satisfying and responsive tactile click, it’s reliable, fast and durable. No double-click issues and no learning curve. Thanks to advancements in our extreme lightweight engineering, the Kone Pro weighs in at just 66g. The ROCCAT Bionic Shell keeps the weight down and provides a comfortable and consistent surface, whilst keeping dust and dirt out. It transitions into a beautiful translucent finish on the main buttons, allowing vivid AIMO 16.8 million color lighting to shine through, creating the signature look. The Kone Pro features our state-of-the-art 19K DPI Owl-Eye Sensor which delivers world-leading responsiveness and precision. It also features the ROCCAT® PhantomFlex™ cable, creating a near-wireless experience with a cable that virtually disappears – no friction, no distractions. Everything rests on our best-in-class pure PTFE heat-treated skates. They offer sublime glide right out of the box, with a spare pair thrown in for good measure.
Customer Rating
5
Interesting name for a great mouse
on May 20, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
After using it for a few days, the Roccat Kone Pro is my new favorite mouse for gaming. The lightweight design and the button layout fit not only my hand perfectly, but my son’s hand as well, and proved to be comfortable during extended gameplay.
The lighting is subtle, but I wish there was a little more of it and it was more customizable than it is. Tracking is nothing short of excellent on most any surface and the glides move very smoothly; it even comes with an extra set of glides should the preinstalled pair wear out.
The cable is sleeved and doesn’t get caught on bare MDF board edges. It’s also long enough for those who keep their computer on the floor or have a multi-monitor setup that necessitates a longer mouse cable.
Performance and ergonomics are both terrific. My kid tested with Minecraft and didn’t have a sore hand after 3 hours of crafting. I had a marathon gaming session with Halo MCE, Portal II, and Doom64; all were enjoyable with the mouse as it worked exactly how I wanted it to.
If you’re familiar with Roccat Hive, then you’ll know how to manage firmware updates, macros, and tweaking settings on the Kone Pro. It’s a quick download and is constantly updated. Also, unlike some other peripheral management software, Hive seems particularly lightweight and loads quickly.
So to conclude, this is a great gaming mouse.
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
eufy Security Outdoor Cam Pro 2K is a wired 2K Wi-Fi surveillance camera that is completely free of the bounds of an external system hub- instead storing all the information locally in the 32gb SD card that comes with it. Check your high-quality, encrypted, 2K footage whenever you need to via the eufy Security app and only be alerted of the things that matter with AI Human and Pet detection. Outdoor Cam Pro is not compatible with eufy HomeBase. The USB adapter is not waterproof, a cover is required for outdoor use.
Customer Rating
5
Terrific value for all the features you get
on May 17, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
TL;DR - If Eufy isn't on your list of security products to consider purchasing, why not? High-quality cameras, software for your phone that works well, and unexpected features are just some of the reasons to consider Eufy's products. For the Outdoor Cam Pro, they hit one out of the park. It's super easy to set up, either with double-sided tape or a single screw and one thing to plug in. Video quality is great, it can stand up to a pounding Missouri rainstorm, and nighttime visuals work very well. The MicroSD card is easy to change out and the device comes with a name-brand 32GB MicroSD card, but supports up to a 128GB MicroSD card. The only negative is that this uses USB for power (Micro for the power cable to camera pigtail and standard A for the power cable to AC adapter) and the AC to USB adapter it comes with doesn't easily fit inside a covered outlet, but this is easily remedied with using a smaller AC to USB adapter; I would have preferred to see a barrel plug with a wire coming directly out of the AC adapter. Other than the one issue, I can definitely recommend this camera.
------------------------------------------------------------
Unboxing and initial setup:
Unboxing and initial setup:
This comes well-packaged in a compact box. You'll find the Outdoor Cam Pro 2k, the magnetic mount, the well mount with a cable clip, two screws with retainers, a single piece of double-sided tape formed to match the wall mount with cable clip, a very long USB power cable, and a USB adapter.
I chose to tape mine to the siding, but you can install this under the eaves, on a door frame, in an outdoor ceiling, or elsewhere as long as you have nearby (and constant) power within about 15 feet. Make sure that you run the power cable under the cable clip so it doesn't accidentally get pulled from the camera, and after you connect the power, that you wiggle the water-tight connection cover over the USB connection. It's also usable indoors and you can use a shorter USB cable for power if you want to to.
Adding it to the Eufy app was easy, and the app guides you through this process. You'll undo a water-tight flap which contains the setup/reset button and a slot for the included SD card, which you'll want to go ahead and insert at this point. Once the SD card is installed, press and hold the button to enter setup mode. Enter a couple of things in the Eufy app, and the camera connects to your WiFi and displays video on your phone. This camera also streams to Chromecast-enabled TVs, Google Nest displays, and Alexa Show devices by way of asking Google Assistant or Alexa to display the camera on those devices.
Another terrific feature this camera has, and one I was not able to test out unfortunately, is the ability to send video to RTSP-capable network video recorders. The app walks you through enabling this feature on the camera, and it's suggested that you make a static IP address for the camera if you decide to do this via DHCP address reservation in your router.
The only real negative was the choice for USB power. The pigtail coming off of the camera uses Micro USB, and the AC to USB adapter uses standard USB. The AC to USB adapter was also a longer unit, meaning that the USB cable plugged into it wouldn't easily fit under a standard in-use outlet cover. I was able to remedy this myself by using an AC to USB adapter that came with a phone I had. Just remember the camera requires a power adapter putting out 5 volts at 1 amp. As stated earlier, I would have preferred to see a barrel plug and an AC adapter with the cord coming straight out of it as this would be a more robust design.
------------------------------------------------------------
Usage:
Usage:
After configuring, the camera just goes and goes on its own. You can configure it to alert you when it "sees" people, pets, and any other motion. Eufy's software is good at detecting both people and pets - it would catch my family as we came and went from the house over the weekend, it would let me know if my neighbors' cats were in my back yard or by my house, and it picked up on coyotes being in my back yard. It did not trigger alerts for squirrels, deer, a rabbit, and the hawk that decided to eat lunch on my back porch.
The night vision of this camera is terrific, with a vast range before it loses focus on things in the back yard. I live on 4 a narrow 4 acres and I'm able to see past some large trees in my back yard at night, about 75 feet or so from the camera. It's even helped the sensitivity of another camera improve somewhat because of how bright the IR LEDs are. There's also a small spotlight on the camera with about the same brightness as your smartphone's flashlight LED, which is good for those moments your brighter motion lights aren't working but you want to see what's outside in color or let an uninvited guest know you're watching. The softer light is also good for when you're on your back porch at night and want something a little stronger than citronella torches but not blindingly bright.
The app is what pulls everything together for this camera. It's thoughtfully laid out and easy to use, including saving clips to your phone of things that go past it.
So for the reason you've read everything so far - how good is the camera? Well, in a word, terrific. It's a 2560x1440-capable sensor and the video it captures is crystal-clear. Colors look great and nighttime mode is perfectly clear. Audio is also recorded by this camera and it's some of the best I've heard from any outdoor camera or doorbell.
------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion and final thoughts:
Conclusion and final thoughts:
The Eufy Outdoor Cam Pro is a terrific value proposition. 2k recording, excellent night vision, motion sensing that doesn't trigger on everything (unless you want it to), and a little built-in spotlight along with the RTSP recording feature that surprised me by being there make this a camera worth seriously considering. The USB power might be a turn-off for some, but you can work around it.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
The Inspiron range of laptops and 2-in1s are thoughtfully designed so you can stay connected wherever you are with long-lasting battery life. Equipped with the latest processors, graphics, and thermal solutions; your PC runs quickly and smoothly as you connect with confidence. Optimized with technology that simplifies your life, Inspiron laptops and 2-in-1s offer a range of easy-to-use features all packaged in a minimalist and modern design. A newly designed and ergonomically positioned lift hinge increases comfort for a better typing experience when on chat, writing lengthy emails or connecting to your world. Rest assured that your privacy is secure with the mechanical privacy camera shutter. Also, the single sign on (SSO) fingerprint reader on the power button provides a more personal, more secure instant access login experience. And that’s not all, your Inspiron, is now environmentally conscious – The Inspiron compliments not just your style but also your values.
Customer Rating
4
Solid, premium-feeling laptop at a good price
on May 7, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this laptop in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
The quick review:
The Dell Inspiron 7415 is a midrange laptop with a premium build quality, premium features, and only a few minor and easily-overcome issues. The 14 inch touchscreen is very crisp and clear. The backlit keyboard and large touchpad feel great, and the computer features a fingerprint sensor that's as good as any in a smartphone. The design of the hinge is very smart; when sitting in laptop mode, it sits up far enough that the computer can breathe.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5500u processor is an absolute beast when it comes to power computing on the go, and the Radeon graphics are powerful enough for some light gaming on the go . The battery life is nothing short of amazing, easily surpassing 10 hours on a charge - enough to get you through a full day. With two USB A-type and one USB C-type ports, along with a HDMI port, MicroSD card slot, and an analog headphone port. The laptop also supports WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.
The USB C port is also used as a charging port, which is a blessing and a curse - you'll need a USB C hub capable of passing through charging if you want to use USB-C devices and charge the laptop at the same time. The power brick also has a permenantly attached USB cable, unlike what some other manufacturers provide with their power bricks, but any 65 watt or better USB C charger should work with this laptop (just make sure you have a compliant USB C to USB C cable that supports the USB Power Delivery standard). The SSD in this laptop is also smallish at 256GB, but any NVMe SSD will work as an upgrade. The power button is in the upper right corner of the keyboard; while it's not easily pressed down with normal typing, I do recommend setting the option for "do nothing" in case you accidentally press it too hard. Finally, there is bloatware on this laptop just like you'd find with most Windows laptops, but everything you don't need that comes installed is easily removed.
All in all, it's another winner from Dell.
----------------------------------------------------------
The more in-depth review:
Unboxing and initial setup -
When I opened the box for the Inspiron 7415, I wasn't expecting the build quality it has, since my experience with all but the highest-end Dell laptops (Alienware and Precision) has always been an underwheling plasticy feeling. With the 7415, however, the screen and palmrest are aluminum with a smooth, satin-like finish. The bottom is still plastic, but it doesn't feel like cheap plastic at least.
The hinge for the display is a masterclass in engineering. It smoothly moves from the closed position to the standard laptop position and is designed to lift the botton of the unit off the surface you place it on, helping to keep it cool while operating. Pushing it even further back is still extremely smooth; while there is a noticable stop as the display gets to the 180 degree point, the motion continues smoothly all the way back as you keep pushing. While this laptop is not as light as a dedicated tablet is, it's still not bad to hold in tablet mode.
Seeing a pair of USB A-type ports along with the single USB C-type, HDMI, headphone jack, and MicroSD card slot was definitely a nice surprise. It's a little disappointing there's only one USB C port, however, considering the number of devices now coming with C to C cables or that natively use the USB C port; this means you'll need to purchase a dongle to use a USB C-only device while charging the laptop. While you can get around this with USB A to C adapters or cables in some instances, you can't plug the majority of native USB C to video adapters into a USB A port as these adapters take advantage of some special USB C features.
Usage -
Powering on the 7415 leads to a near-instant loading of Windows 10, thanks in part to the Ryzen 5 5500u processor and the NVMe SSD. Setting up Windows 10 is the typical affair for the most part - it does ask to scan your fingerprint, however, which is done on the power button. The fingerprint sensor is as quick and accurate as any smartphone or tablet and enables one-touch login. I'm not going to bore you with benchmark numbers, as you can find those elsewhere, but I will say this - the Ryzen 5 5500u is no slouch when it comes to heavy-duty tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, or code compiling. It'll give many current desktops a run for their money.
WiFi is particularly snappy in this laptop thanks to the 802.11ax-capable card installed. Network transfers from SSD-equpped desktop computers were fast over the WiFi connection, averaging somewhere between 85 and 100 megabytes per second, or 680 to 800 megabits. Compared to WiFi 5 laptops I have, the connection was about 40% faster overall.
Bluetooth works as it should. Headphones, gaming controllers, keyboards, and mice all easily connect and sound great.
The SSD is good but it's not great. 256GB is small, and even though it's an NVMe device, it didn't test much faster than older SATA3-based SSDs. The good news is this can be upgraded, and various manufacturers make NVMe SSDs that offer nearly limitless lightning-fast storage compared to the hard drives of yesteryear.
The battery life is amazing. While editing video, 3D design work, and gaming will kill the battery within a couple of hours, normal usage (surfing the web, streaming movies, using productivity software) will give you incredible battery life. I've seen well over 10 hours while surfing the web and watching things on Disney+.
8GB of RAM is usable for most people, but this is also easily upgradable using DDR4 SODIMMs.
The keyboard is an absolute joy to type on. While there are two laptop keyboards I'll immediately prefer over this one, Dell's keyboards have come a long way in 4 years. The trackpad is also quite nice, very large, and the chrome-finished edge makes it easy to see in the dark (though I would prefer it to have a backlit edge as well. The touch screen, like every other Dell touch screen I've owned, is also quality with a bright, detailed picture and terrific accuracy.
The webcam is okay. Not the most clear thing I've used, but far from the worst. The manual shutter on it is a nice feature, perfect for an added sense of security.
The other part of this laptop worth talking about is graphics performance. It has a Radeon 7 core integrated graphics processor. While this won't play every single game at ultra graphics in 4k resolution, it's fast enough for the casual gamer to enjoy pretty much any title available today at reduced graphical settings. As an example, Tetris Effect: Connected from XBox Game Pass, which is a moderately demanding title, ran at 1080p 60 fps with medium settings.
Downsides -
So there was some software that came with the 7415 I either have a long-seeded disdain for or I could find no functional reason for it to be there. The good news is this software was easily removed without the need to reinstall Windows 10.
I already mentioned that this laptop charges via USB C. This could lead to problems if your USB C port dies, since there isn't another USB C port on this laptop. I personally would have preferred to see a second USB C port instead of a second USB A port. This is the biggest reason I rated the laptop 4 stars instead of 5.
Speaking of the USB C charging, the included USB C charger's cable is integrated. I personally believe that this should use a connector like other laptops using USB C to charge, as this would potentially save you money should the charger fail (cables are cheaper than chargers, after all). Being this is USB-C and not proprietary, however, you can replace it with another brand of USB-C charger.
Finally, the SSD is on the small side. While I know some things had to be cut to make this laptop hit its price point, a 512GB SSD doesn't cost much more than a 256GB SSD these days. If you buy this laptop, this will probably be your first upgrade; the good news is it's an easy one.
Final Thoughts -
Out of the box, the Inspiron 7415 2-in-1 is a great choice for anyone looking for a midrange laptop that performs well. You get premium build quality, terrific performance, and some of the latest and greatest technology of today. It can go from work to play without a problem. You might be uninstalling some bloatware right away, but otherwise it's good to go from the moment you turn it on for the first time. If you do pick this up, consider getting a USB C hub to go with it if you have anything you plan on connecting that uses USB C.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
BillFromKC's Review Comments
Westinghouse HDTV: Enjoy your favorite movies, shows, games and sporting events in realistic 1080p resolution on this Westinghouse HDTV's LED panel. Ensure fast-moving scenes remain clear with a 60Hz refresh rate that minimizes blurring and ghosting.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5No HD tuner
By Westingtonhouse
I can not imagine that tv in today time do not have digiter tuner. I bought 6 now I have to return them since i use cable straight from wall for tv from COX
BillFromKC
KCMO
This TV has an ATSC tuner.
August 27, 2015
There's no guarantee that ATSC tuners will work with ClearQAM cable channels, and even so, the greater majority of cable providers now scramble all cable channels. Including OTA channels. Because the FCC changed the rules and they're allowed to do this now.
+6points
6of 6voted this comment as helpful.
Sony XBR55X850C LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Experience your favorite movies, TV shows and video clips in a new way with incredible 4K upscaling. Advanced features from Android TV and Playstation Now allow you to browse sites, stream games and perform voice searches.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Big Time 3-D problems
By Mike
I am writing to review the “XBR-55X850C”. HOWEVER, I have read multiple web pages that state this problem is happening with all Sony 3-D televisions, in the United States AND Europe, and that customers are not receiving ANY customer service, or any help from Sony whatsoever.
I have called 3 times and have been hung up on each time.
So, if you are looking for a great 3-D experience and excellent SONY customer service, LOOK ELSEWHERE. Sony rolled out an update for this television at the end of November of 2015. After the update, when viewing 3-D content, the display mode function of the current screen is continuously showing the current screen mode of the television. ALL THE TIME. Coming in and out up to 7 times a minute.
So, while watching a 3-D movie, every 5 to 60 seconds, the words “Wide Mode Full” flashes on the screen in the lower left hand corner. It NEVER stops. Sony is aware of this problem, unfortunately, Sony customer service is rude & unhelpful with this issue. They claim that “Sony is aware of this and is working on an update”. When I asked when the update would be released, Sony representatives claim they do not know when this update will be available.
Every Sony representative has hung up on me after not being able to satisfactorily answer the simplest of questions.
Anyone looking for a great 3-D experience, look elsewhere. Sony does not care about this problem. After all, they already have our money.
If you think this is the same old Sony with great products, high standards, and great customer service, THINK AGAIN! This is not your father’s Sony. This is the new, corporate Sony that just wants your money.
Everyone out there looking for a good 3-D T.V. should stick with Samsung. I wish I did. I thought I was “upgrading” from Samsung to Sony.
BillFromKC
KCMO
Customer service people are never told when...
January 2, 2016
...things get fixed after they get broken. I have this TV as well, and customer service people have no idea when Android Marshmallow will hit this TV set, let alone any of the other 2015 Sony TVs. Considering the Google Nexus Player got borked by the update though, that's probably a good thing the update hasn't hit yet.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Sony XBR55X850C LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Experience your favorite movies, TV shows and video clips in a new way with incredible 4K upscaling. Advanced features from Android TV and Playstation Now allow you to browse sites, stream games and perform voice searches.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5tv is great support is non-existent
By ohno
I have been trying to get some confirmation on the hdr xtended dynamic range on the 850b but support on phone sent me unrelated information and online say it is but no documentation to confirm
BillFromKC
KCMO
850b doesn't have HDR support
January 14, 2016
but the 850c (this TV) does.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
BISSELL SmartClean Robot Vacuum: Easily rid your floors of dirt and debris with this vacuum that uses Opticlean optical sensors and a Triple-Action Cleaning System to tackle your floors. Invisible Wall technology lets you target specific areas.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Hard To Program
By FortFun2
from Illinois
Found it is difficult, not intuitive, to program. Others have said if you loose power all your programming is lost, but we haven't lost power yet so can't confirm. I just wanted it to run when I left the house without a set program and contacting Bissell just led to more confusion. But, once I got it working I was impressed with the amount of pet hair it removed.
BillFromKC
KCMO
I can attest to this.
September 16, 2016
Sometimes, I have to plug mine directly into the charger to get it to charge because the battery is overly drained. Because of this, I don't even bother programming it anymore.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
The new MacBook Pro is faster and more powerful than before, yet remarkably thinner and lighter.¹ It has the brightest, most colorful display ever on a Mac notebook. And it features up to 10 hours of battery life.² It’s a notebook built for the work you do every day. Ready to go anywhere a great idea takes you.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Terrible
By Joel
I purchased this one month ago and it has a faulty display. Best Buy takes no responsibility and will not exchange it for a good one. I have left voicemails for a district manager to call me and no one has called. I will never shop at Best Buy again.
BillFromKC
KCMO
Yep, take it to Apple.
January 13, 2017
If Best Buy is doing you wrong, just take it to your nearest Apple location and they'll set you up with a fix or a new one.
+4points
4of 4voted this comment as helpful.
![The Secret Life of Pets [DVD] [2016]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5431/5431203_sa.jpg)
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Bootleg Copy of Secret Life of Pets
By Disappointed
About 15 minutes into the movie the volume became muted and a message came on the TV that this was a bootleg movie. An unauthorized copy. Be very careful purchasing DVD's or Blu Ray movies from Best Buy. They just may leave you and your grand children very disappointed as it did our family.
BillFromKC
KCMO
This could very well be your DVD or Blu-Ray player
January 20, 2017
causing your issues. The Film Industry (MPAA and associated groups) are known for their draconian DRM systems, first with DVD and now with Blu-Ray and 4k Blu-Ray.
if your Blu-Ray player isn't connected to the internet, connect it to the internet and update its firmware. That should fix all your issues.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5This is the future of WiFi
By neio11
I threw (recycled) away my wifi extenders plus I am now able connect a device with an ethernet cable without having to run cables through the walls because each node has 2 ethernet ports. So for instance, I have one node connected to my modem and an ethernet switch. My 2nd node in another room is connected to an NVR for my security cameras. The speed through the nodes is surprisingly fast. The NVR is capturing HD videos from 3 cameras and it seems to capture fine. The 3rd node is in my living room area. The whole house is covered! Please put a password on your wifi otherwise you'll be supplying FREE wifi for your neighbors. I can have full internet access from 3-4 houses away from my house. I thought installation would be a pain considering you have to setup each node. Well, I shouldn't say "have to" because you don't have to use all 3 nodes. You can use only 1 or 2 and give the 3rd to me. haha. No but setup is a breeze! The only thing is that you have to use a smart device such as a tablet or phone, to do the setup. Velop currently doesn't support PC-based setup but I hope Linksys changes that especially for us "techies"!!! It works with Alexa. You can ask #Alexa what the wifi password is... so they say. I haven't had much success with it yet. It looks clean and neat. It doesn't all those antennas sticking out of it which makes it aesthetically pleasing.
I'm loving so far!
BillFromKC
KCMO
The setup process basically forces you to put a...
February 19, 2017
...password on your WiFi network. In fact, it's one of three things it asks when you set up the parent node, the other two being "Do you connect directly to the internet or through a modem/router device provided by your ISP?" and what to call your wireless network.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Blazing Speed, Best In Class Performance!
By gadgetguy11
The Linksys - Velop Tri-Band Whole Home Wi-Fi System (3-pack) is packaged in a beautiful & functional box with magnetic closure - it exudes quality! Each Node is protected individually. Just looking at the box, you expect a premium, esoteric product... & Linksys delivers that & more in spades! The shapely Nodes are beautiful & blend with any decorating style.
Simple set-up via the Linksys iOS or Android App. Within minutes, you are ready to go online.
As shown in attached photo, I have 90 wireless devices utilized over 5,000 sq feet / 3 floors: this is a challenging application for high speed Wi-Fi that includes: connected major appliances; BAS ceiling fans & Haiku Wi-Fi connected lights; Wi-Fi Thermostats; Netatmo Wi-Fi Weather Station; 65 Hue Lights; Connected exterior door locks; Wink Wi-Fi connected devices; connected iDevices, Nest & Arlo cameras; iPads; iPhones & computers. Finally, Streaming from 4) Apple TV's; Nixplay Wi-Fi Photo Frames.
And now the Results:
Velop delivers the fastest Wi-Fi speed I have ever experienced and does so consistently! The attached screen capture shows 349 Mbps Download / 23 Mbps Upload. These are WIRELESS speeds!! I pay for 300 Mbps Download / 30 Mbps Upload & our internet service provider generally delivers 300 - 360 Download & 22 - 32 Upload.
Velop is the only Wi-Fi System I have found to date that actually delivers this sustainable speed and does not randomly disconnect the many devices.
High power Wi-Fi requires a high current source. Each of the 3) square white power supplies produce 12 Volt, 2 Amp output! 24VA (Volt Amps) is the highest output of any router I have tested. Better yet, the cable that plugs into each Velop is perfectly angled at the plug so the wire routs neatly through the cable management feature at the base. Brilliant design!
PRO's:
1- Fastest Wi-Fi Speed
2- Easy approximate 10 minute Set-up per hub
3- Velop Nodes are very attractive & blend with any architecture
4- Robust infrastructure yields dependable performance
5- 24/7 Support
6- 3-Year Warranty
7- Easy to use App with great diagnostics
8- Wire Management at the base is excellent & offers a wire free appearance.
9- Three Velop Nodes establish fast Wi-Fi speed across the house on any floor.
10- Expandable: Add an additional Node any time you prefer.
1- Fastest Wi-Fi Speed
2- Easy approximate 10 minute Set-up per hub
3- Velop Nodes are very attractive & blend with any architecture
4- Robust infrastructure yields dependable performance
5- 24/7 Support
6- 3-Year Warranty
7- Easy to use App with great diagnostics
8- Wire Management at the base is excellent & offers a wire free appearance.
9- Three Velop Nodes establish fast Wi-Fi speed across the house on any floor.
10- Expandable: Add an additional Node any time you prefer.
CON's:
1- IP Address range cannot be changed from: 192.***. My 2) existing Apple Time Capsule / Routers had IP addresses of 10.***, but they can be set to different ranges. A different IP Address range requires individually resetting a few devices that previously connected to the other range. For example, each Nixplay connected frame had to manually "Forget" the old Wi-Fi name of the previous SSID, then set up the same name with Velop, even though the Wi-Fi name and password are the same. On 13) Apple Airport Express devices, I had to power down each device to reset it from 10.*** to 192.***
2- IPv6 is not supported as of product release. This is surprising, as my three year old Apple Time Capsule / Router supported IPv6.
3- The first unit set up in under 10 minutes; however the remaining two hubs froze at the same exact place midway every time during set-up. After 6 failed attempts, I held each Node horizontally and kept my hand around it. Surprisingly, this procedure resulted in a virtually immediate set-up! Then I set each Node vertically & it continued to work great.
4- Only one Node can connect to the internet via ethernet. The other Nodes connect to the first Node via wireless mesh connection. I would prefer the option of connecting each Node to a wired ethernet connection. Linksys Technical Support indicated this may be added later as a software update. This would prove beneficial because the Nodes must be located fairly close together (my tests showed less than 40 feet apart at most).
1- IP Address range cannot be changed from: 192.***. My 2) existing Apple Time Capsule / Routers had IP addresses of 10.***, but they can be set to different ranges. A different IP Address range requires individually resetting a few devices that previously connected to the other range. For example, each Nixplay connected frame had to manually "Forget" the old Wi-Fi name of the previous SSID, then set up the same name with Velop, even though the Wi-Fi name and password are the same. On 13) Apple Airport Express devices, I had to power down each device to reset it from 10.*** to 192.***
2- IPv6 is not supported as of product release. This is surprising, as my three year old Apple Time Capsule / Router supported IPv6.
3- The first unit set up in under 10 minutes; however the remaining two hubs froze at the same exact place midway every time during set-up. After 6 failed attempts, I held each Node horizontally and kept my hand around it. Surprisingly, this procedure resulted in a virtually immediate set-up! Then I set each Node vertically & it continued to work great.
4- Only one Node can connect to the internet via ethernet. The other Nodes connect to the first Node via wireless mesh connection. I would prefer the option of connecting each Node to a wired ethernet connection. Linksys Technical Support indicated this may be added later as a software update. This would prove beneficial because the Nodes must be located fairly close together (my tests showed less than 40 feet apart at most).
CONCLUSION: My search for the "Ideal" Whole Home Wi-Fi System that consistently delivers 300 Mbps over 5,000 square feet with 90 devices ends here!! I am THRILLED with Velop & give it my highest recommendation!! It has proven to be the BEST ROUTER available for 2017!
BillFromKC
KCMO
Mine gave me IPv6 OOB
February 19, 2017
and even so, there was a firmware update it applied immediate after setup. I agree that the IP address range thing is annoying though, especially when you're moving from an existing network with static IP devices (NAS, printers, etc.)
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
BillFromKC's Questions
BillFromKC has not submitted any questions.
The WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ gives your Xbox the tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. With up to 5TB* of storage capacity, the WD_Black™ P10 Game Drive for Xbox™ is a top-tier external HDD built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their Xbox so they can drive their game the way they choose. Included with your purchase is a 1-month membership of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, with access to 100+ games on consoles and PC, plus online console multiplayer.
Can x/s games that require speed (normally needed to be the Normally on the internal drive) able to be installed and played on this drive?
No. You'll be able to back those games up to this drive, however, so you don't have to deal with downloading those games off of the internet. This is useful for both slower internet connections. (200mbps or slower) and capped internet connections (AT&T, Comcast, and others).
2 years, 10 months ago
by
BillFromKC
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen4 SSD for next-level computing. 980 PRO delivers 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0, while maintaining compatibility with PCIe 3.0.¹ ¹The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.* Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs. PS5 compatible with heatsink as recommended by Sony; heatsink sold separately.
Has anyone noticed it being hot? Not quite sure if it would be ok for my laptop.
Unless your laptop has PCIe 4.0, it’ll be alright. I used it in a Ryzen 5500u laptop, which is Zen 2 architecture and PCI3 3.0, and it never got hotter than 42℃ under load.
3 years ago
by
BillFromKC
Stream audio from your TV wirelessly with this Bluetooth audio transmitter and receiver. You can stream to one Bluetooth headset or two headsets and/or Airpods simultaneously. Enjoy the freedom to walk around while listening to theTV up to 100 feet away. Receiver function allows you to bluetooth enable an audio device and stream to that device from a bluetooth phone, tablet, PC. Features include digital and analog audio inputs for compatibility with a variety of TVs and other devices, dual headphone / speaker connectivity, and Qualcomm aptX Low Latency technology for high-fidelity audio with no lip-sync delay.
hood up and have bluetooth connected but no sound from Tv.
If your TV doesn't support Bluetooth audio transmitting, you'll need another way to connect between the TV and the sound bar. There's the included optical cable, or you can use an aux cable between your TV's headphone port and sound bar's analog input, or you can connect an HDMI cable if your TV supports HDMI ARC.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The sound bar for those with small spaces or minimalistic tendencies. The compact Yamaha SR-C20 sound bar fits easily in whatever space is available and can be wall-mounted for even more possibilities. Setup is easy with a simple connection to your TV while Bluetooth lets you stream wirelessly from your mobile devices.
Is this capable of connecting wirelessly by Bluetooth to a Yamaha 7.2 receiver ?
If the receiver can connect to external devices via Bluetooth, or if you added a Bluetooth audio transmitter, then yes. If you have a MusicCast-capable receiver with multi-zone capability, then you'd need a Bluetooth transmitter as this sound bar doesn't natively support MusicCast. Keep in mind you'll need the proper cable to connect the transmitter to the receiver if the transmitter is necessary.
Products from my answer
Aluratek - Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver for TVs - Black
(394)
3 years, 6 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The sound bar for those with small spaces or minimalistic tendencies. The compact Yamaha SR-C20 sound bar fits easily in whatever space is available and can be wall-mounted for even more possibilities. Setup is easy with a simple connection to your TV while Bluetooth lets you stream wirelessly from your mobile devices.
Does this have the clear voice
It does have the clear voice. And it lives up to the name clear voice.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The sound bar for those with small spaces or minimalistic tendencies. The compact Yamaha SR-C20 sound bar fits easily in whatever space is available and can be wall-mounted for even more possibilities. Setup is easy with a simple connection to your TV while Bluetooth lets you stream wirelessly from your mobile devices.
What is the rated voltage for this product?
Input into the AC adapter is 120VAC 1A, output is 20VDC 2.1A 42 watts.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
BillFromKC
eufy Security Wired 2K Video Doorbell. 2K Resolution, 5-Day Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on Secure Local Storage, No Monthly Fees, Human Detection, 2-way Audio, and Free Wireless Chime included.
Hello, does this have night vision? Does it have the 3 second preview before the video is recorded like the other 2k hardwired? I don't see this on Eufy's website. Is it new?
It does have nightvision and it just records video either continuously or when its motion detection is triggered, no clip preview that I know of.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
BillFromKC
eufy Security Wired 2K Video Doorbell. 2K Resolution, 5-Day Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on Secure Local Storage, No Monthly Fees, Human Detection, 2-way Audio, and Free Wireless Chime included.
I know the battery operated version of this doorbell works with existing mechanical chimes. Does this new wired version support existing mechanical chimes? I can't find this doorbell on the Eufy website, is this for Best Buy only?
I can't answer the Best Buy exclusivity question, but I can tell you it does not work with mechanical chimes. Or at least I've found no way for it to do so.
It does, however, come with an electronic chime that connects wirelessly and plugs into any standard electrical outlet.
It does, however, come with an electronic chime that connects wirelessly and plugs into any standard electrical outlet.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
BillFromKC
eufy Security Wired 2K Video Doorbell. 2K Resolution, 5-Day Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on Secure Local Storage, No Monthly Fees, Human Detection, 2-way Audio, and Free Wireless Chime included.
Does this use 5Ghz band Wi-Fi? Or just 2.4Ghz
I believe it's 2.4GHz only, which isn't a huge problem unless you have interference issues on your 2.4GHz band.
Reason being that 2.4GHz has a wider range of where the signal's strong.
Reason being that 2.4GHz has a wider range of where the signal's strong.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
BillFromKC
Offering the ultimate true-wireless experience for any fitness-loving audiophile, JLab Epic Air Sport ANC offers customized sound and active noise canceling plus industry-leading 70+ hours playtime. Transition from gym to calls, work to a run effortlessly with features like wear-detect, movie mode, wireless charging and more.
1. Does leaving the buds in the charging case for long periods of time degrade the battery? 2. Is any operating system specific apps or drivers needed for use? My use case is running it off a Linux laptop without Windows installed
As an addendum to my answer for #2, keep in mind that you'll need the Epic Air ANC app for Android or iPhone to adjust eq, ANC/BeAware, and side button functionality. I'm not sure if this would work in BlueStacks or other Android emulators for Linux; for the Windows and Mac people out there, I highly doubt it would work in BlueStacks for those platforms.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
BillFromKC