BillFromKC's stats
- Review count192
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- First reviewJune 27, 2012
- Last reviewMay 6, 2024
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- Average rating4.5
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- First review commentAugust 27, 2015
- Last review commentFebruary 19, 2017
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- Answer count68
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- First answerJanuary 9, 2014
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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BISSELL SpinWave wet and dry robotic vacuum provides two ways to clean in a single revolutionary robot. The two tank system actively mops or powerfully vacuums with smart, structured cleaning paths. Use it in dry vacuuming mode to collect pet hair, dirt and other debris on carpet, area rugs and hard floors. When used in wet mopping mode, the mop pads and BISSELL cleaning solution work together to scrub floors clean. And, with the Soft Surface Avoidance Sensor, there's no need to worry about the robot going up on area rugs or carpets when in wet mopping mode. Plus, this product doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We're proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
Customer Rating
4
A great little robot vac+mop but missing one thing
on March 26, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
TL;DR - the Bissell SpinWave robot vacuum and mop is not only an excellent value for what it is, but it does a job comparable to machines more expensive than it is. It's quiet enough to run while on the phone or during a video conference call while vacuuming, it's almost silent while mopping, and it does an awesome job in both modes. The ONLY THING I wish it had was a virtual wall, a feature I constantly used with my older Bissell robot vacuum. Otherwise, you can spend more on a robot vacuum and a robot mop and still not have machines that can do either job as well as this one does by itself.
Initial impressions and setup:
So in the box, you'll find the SpinWave robot with the vacuum collection chamber, corner brushes, and rechargeable battery all pre-installed. You'll also find the mop module with two microfiber pads installed, a bottle of cleaning solution, the dock and charger, brush roll cleaner, extra corner brushes, microfiber pads, and instruction literature in the package.
So in the box, you'll find the SpinWave robot with the vacuum collection chamber, corner brushes, and rechargeable battery all pre-installed. You'll also find the mop module with two microfiber pads installed, a bottle of cleaning solution, the dock and charger, brush roll cleaner, extra corner brushes, microfiber pads, and instruction literature in the package.
Initial setup is straightforward. You'll want to charge the robot overnight before you proceed with setting up the connection to your WiFi, so you piece the charging dock together. Keep in mind that you'll want to make sure you have about a foot on either side of the dock at the minimum for placement. Power the robot on and set it on the dock, making sure its charging contacts touch the dock's charging contacts; when this is done properly, you'll see the power indicator and the ring of LEDs on the robot "breathe".
Make sure that you install the Bissell Connect app on your phone before you continue with your setup. You'll need to make an account with Bissell to do this part, but you get the option to not receive emails from their marketing team so that's a win at least.
Once that's installed and the SpinWave robot is fully charged, you'll use the Bissell Connect app to configure the robot's connection to your network. This is necessary for using the device outside of the very basics; as there's only a power button on the unit, you won't be able to adjust settings or set timed cleanings otherwise. Unit setup is very straightforward though - you'll find a QR code sticker on the bottom of the robot, it'll ask for your WiFi password, and you're done at that point.
As far as design goes, the SpinWave robot itself is very clean in terms of design. The interchangeable bins are simple to manipulate. The vacuum collection bin is easy to empty and the filter is easy to clean and change. The mop pads and tank assembly is easy to fill and easy to clean. The corner brushes are easy to change out. The only part of the design I could knock is the charging dock could snap together instead of how it goes together.
Usage:
The controls are very simple. When you've viewing the screen in the app for your SpinWave, you'll see a start button and a few controls at the bottom to adjust cleaning settings. For the vacuum mode, you can adjust suction and whether you want a wide area clean with the automatic mode or you want a focused clean with the spot clean mode. For the mop, you can adjust how much cleaning solution or water is used and whether you want to have it clean a wide area with auto mode or clean a small area with spot mode. While it's on, the start button is replaced with buttons for pausing the cleaning cycle and stopping the cleaning cycle so the robot can return to its base.
The controls are very simple. When you've viewing the screen in the app for your SpinWave, you'll see a start button and a few controls at the bottom to adjust cleaning settings. For the vacuum mode, you can adjust suction and whether you want a wide area clean with the automatic mode or you want a focused clean with the spot clean mode. For the mop, you can adjust how much cleaning solution or water is used and whether you want to have it clean a wide area with auto mode or clean a small area with spot mode. While it's on, the start button is replaced with buttons for pausing the cleaning cycle and stopping the cleaning cycle so the robot can return to its base.
You select the cleaning mode of the machine by inserting either the dust collection bin or the mop pad/solution tank into the SpinWave robot. While some combo robot vacuum/mops can do both in one unit, having a "one or the other" device makes it less cumbersome to empty the dust collection bin and the water tank after use.
The vacuum mode works best on hard surface floors but does a good job with short and medium pile rugs. While it won't have the same power as a plug-in upright or can vac, it was able to get a significant amount of dust out of my medium pile living room rug and my short pile bedroom carpets. My hard surfaces were nearly debris-free after a cycle, including picking up a bunch of paper bits my child left on the floor. It also does a decent job of transferring between medium pile rugs and hard floors, along with clearing transition pieces between flooring surfaces you may have. The low mode is very quiet and good at picking up debris off of hard floors but not carpet, medium is still not annoyingly loud but will do a better job at picking up debris, and max mode is loud enough where most webcams and some phones and headsets will pick up its noise in the background.
Where it shines, however - no pun intended - is moping. The SpinWave's mop pads do an excellent job at getting grime off of hardwood, ceramic tile, and vinyl. Something else the SpinWave does is stay off your carpet in mopping mode; I even tested this in my basement where I have an outdoor rug on the floor and when the robot came in contact with it, it turned away as to not get the rug wet. The only noise my unit made while mopping was wheel noise, but it's quiet enough to run late at night so it mops while you sleep.
It did an excellent job at getting sticky stuff and stuck stuff off the ceramic in my kitchen. I tried with orange juice, pizza sauce, bacon grease, and chocolate sauce, and all 4 were cleaned with ease.
One thing that the SpinWave can do while mopping is sweep up some medium-sized debris. However, there isn't very much capacity for debris to get swept into and there is no vacuum running while mopping so it won't pick up small debris like dust and sand, so make sure you vacuum first. Also, keep in mind that if you have certain other Bissell cleaning machines like the CrossWave vacuum/mop, you can use the same cleaning solutions with the SpinWave. You can also use straight water if you want to.
Setting automatic cleaning times is also simple. You tell it what days of the week you want it to run, what time, and if you want it in low, medium, or max mode. You can also set multiple schedules for cleaning.
Drawbacks:
The biggest thing I'm missing is either room mapping or a virtual wall. I have an older Bissell robot vacuum and it has the virtual wall capability; being that I want to keep this unit in my kitchen and living room instead of having it clean the entire house in a single go, I'm actually annoyed that there isn't a virtual wall available (or if there is one, that I can't find it). While I can stick a 2x2 or a heavy box in front of a doorway, that's not an ideal solution for keeping the SpinWave in one part of my house.
The biggest thing I'm missing is either room mapping or a virtual wall. I have an older Bissell robot vacuum and it has the virtual wall capability; being that I want to keep this unit in my kitchen and living room instead of having it clean the entire house in a single go, I'm actually annoyed that there isn't a virtual wall available (or if there is one, that I can't find it). While I can stick a 2x2 or a heavy box in front of a doorway, that's not an ideal solution for keeping the SpinWave in one part of my house.
The other thing I noticed today is when the SpinWave got stuck trying to figure out how to get out of a predicament it got itself into, it beeped loudly instead of sending a message to my phone. I would much rather have the unit alert my phone to problems than beep loudly, especially if it's mopping at night.
Conclusion:
For the price, you can't go wrong with the SpinWave. It's a good robot vacuum cleaner for hard surfaces and short-to-medium pile rugs and carpet, it's a great automatic mop, it's quiet, and it's easy to use. Add the virtual walls or room mapping and it would be nearly perfect for the price.
For the price, you can't go wrong with the SpinWave. It's a good robot vacuum cleaner for hard surfaces and short-to-medium pile rugs and carpet, it's a great automatic mop, it's quiet, and it's easy to use. Add the virtual walls or room mapping and it would be nearly perfect for the price.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The CORSAIR SABRE RGB PRO Gaming Mouse is designed for and tested by esports pros, weighing an ultra-light 74g and equipped with a drag-reducing flexible paracord cable for responsive, unhindered movements. CORSAIR QUICKSTRIKE Buttons ensure every click is immediate and responsive, while CORSAIR AXON hyper-processing technology delivers inputs to your PC up to 8x faster with 8,000Hz hyper-polling. The SABRE RGB PRO is equipped with an 18,000 DPI optical sensor customizable in 1 DPI steps, with a DPI button to cycle through five presets on-the-fly. Finished with high-quality materials such as 50 million click-rated OMRON switches and 100% PTFE glide pads, the SABRE RGB PRO will cut through the competition.
Customer Rating
5
A very good choice for beginners and intermediates
on March 25, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review. Tested with a Xeon e3-1246v3 (4c/8t@3.5 ghz) with 32GB DDR3-1866, Radeon RX570 8GB, and on an Asus VG248QEZ@1080p/144 hz.
TL;DR - The Corsair Saber RGB Pro Champion Series gaming mouse has a familiar feel to it, between it's large size that fits well in my meat claws, it's scroll wheel that has that "just right" amount of tension in its movement, buttons that also have that "just right" amount of tension in their switches, and a a shape that is conducive to hours of play with FPS, MMO, and strategy games. The texture does take some getting used to and those accustomed to heavier or wireless mice might find the ultra lightweight design a little off-putting at first, but you do get used to it quickly. The only thing I can knock is if your cable management solution includes holes though a MDF surface, the paracord might get stuck. Otherwise, this is a good beginner to intermediate gaming mouse.
Unboxing and first impressions:
The mouse is packaged nicely. You'll find the cable wrapped with a Velcro tab. The paracord wrapping the mouse's cable is a little looser than I expected, but that's not a bad thing; just expect it to bunch up if you move the Velcro tab toward the USB connector. Speaking of, the USB connector is fairly stout in build quality but doesn't get in the way of other ports. You'll also find instruction and warranty literature in the package.
The mouse is packaged nicely. You'll find the cable wrapped with a Velcro tab. The paracord wrapping the mouse's cable is a little looser than I expected, but that's not a bad thing; just expect it to bunch up if you move the Velcro tab toward the USB connector. Speaking of, the USB connector is fairly stout in build quality but doesn't get in the way of other ports. You'll also find instruction and warranty literature in the package.
Setup:
Of course, you start by plugging in the mouse. The RGB lights are fairly bright before you can adjust them with the Corsair iCue software.
Of course, you start by plugging in the mouse. The RGB lights are fairly bright before you can adjust them with the Corsair iCue software.
If you already have Corsair's iCue software installed, then you're halfway done. If not, it's easy to install from Corsair's website. Once installed, open it and you'll see your Saber Pro in the software's home screen. You can adjust DPI and button assignments (other than left-click, that is) including disabling the on-the-fly DPI adjustment button, adjust the DPI mode, adjust the polling speed (up to 8000 hz - more on that later), adjust lighting mode and effects, and even calibrate it to your mousing surface.
The software is very straight-forward and easy to use, a much better experience than the last time I used it. (Kudos to your programming and software design team, Corsair!)
Usage:
You could say that "All mice are mice", but that doesn't help you learn about the features that can help your game. Having said that, I enjoyed paying Portal 2, Postal 2, Doom Eternal, DOTA, Sims 3, and Minecraft with it. GTA 5, RDR II, and the old puzzle game Bejeweled 3 were all alright but it's not my preferred experience.
You could say that "All mice are mice", but that doesn't help you learn about the features that can help your game. Having said that, I enjoyed paying Portal 2, Postal 2, Doom Eternal, DOTA, Sims 3, and Minecraft with it. GTA 5, RDR II, and the old puzzle game Bejeweled 3 were all alright but it's not my preferred experience.
The on-the-fly DPI adjustment is great for both FPS games when you're using a sniper weapon and for RTS games when you're placing things and you want to make sure you're placing things accurately; conversely, it's useful when you want rapid, twitchy movements in those games because speed trumps accuracy.
This is a good spot for me to bring up it's polling speed. Many optical and laser mice might update position data around 125-250 times a second (125 to 250 hz), with some higher-end "every day" mice being able to update it at 500 hz. Gaming mice typically run around 1000 hz. The Corsair Saber Pro Champion Series can update up to 8000 hz. While I did notice differences between 500, 1000, and 2000 hz, I didn't notice any difference between 2000, 4000, and 8000 hz. There's also a warning that the 8000 hz mode can use significant system resources, so I tried the mouse out at 8000 hz mode in an older Core 2 Duo computer running Windows 10 and did observe more processor usage with 8000 hz mode, though not enough to make a significant difference in most of the games that could run on that computer.
Note that for the Mac and XBox One gamers, the fastest the mouse's polling rate can be with those systems is 1000 hz. I wasn't able to test and confirm this myself on a Mac or an XBox.
Using it as an "every day" mouse is also an alright experience, but its size can sometimes make it awkward. If you use your gaming rig for work and play, you can always run a second mouse if you find yourself in this situation.
The RGB lighting is a nice touch. You can choose from presets Corsair provides or make your own, and Corsair's iCue software can be used to control some 3rd party smart lighting systems, which is awesome for those of you who want to expand your RGB lighting beyond the computer, mouse, and keyboard.
The only thing that was an annoyance was that paracord around the cable. While it stayed out of the way, unlike most mouse cables I've used in the past, it would catch on the MDF my desk is made out of.
Final thoughts:
If you're looking for a mouse to play strategy and first-person games with, the Corsair Saber Pro RGB Champion Series mouse is a safe bet for a comfortable mouse that'll get the job done. If you're just getting into PC gaming or you're experienced but don't want to spend a lot of money on a high-end mouse, this unit has enough features at it's midrange price point to keep you satisfied until you're ready to make the plunge into the high-end.
If you're looking for a mouse to play strategy and first-person games with, the Corsair Saber Pro RGB Champion Series mouse is a safe bet for a comfortable mouse that'll get the job done. If you're just getting into PC gaming or you're experienced but don't want to spend a lot of money on a high-end mouse, this unit has enough features at it's midrange price point to keep you satisfied until you're ready to make the plunge into the high-end.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Twinkly Light Strings will add advanced technology and innovation to your home with premium decorative lighting. Getting started with Twinkly lights is easy, a quick and intuitive setup process configures your device in a matter of seconds. The Twinkly ecosystem uses a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi controller with a state-of-the-art smartphone application, bringing new levels of lighting design and creativity to customize your connected home. Like all Twinkly products, every single LED light can be controlled individually, allowing you to create and reproduce unique effects, gradients, and color animations. Twinkly Lights can be grouped together with other Twinkly devices to create larger, synchronized light installations and combined with Twinkly Music (sold separately), to offer a fully customizable light show to fit any occasion. The Festoon Light String has 20 RGB LED lights, each G45 shape measures 1.67" in diameter.
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
TL;DR - the Twinkly Festoon Lights are the ultimate café-style light for indoor or outdoor use. you can set them to use what feels like a nearly infinite number of colors, you can program them to display different patterns either independently or to the sound of your music (using the mic in your smartphone or tablet), and you can control them using your smart speaker (Google and Alexa are supported) and even Razer Chroma. If you're looking for a fun way to decorate an outdoor seating area or you're looking to add some fun to a room, I can highly recommend these.
Unboxing and setup:
If you've ever bought a set of LED café-style lights, they're packaged pretty much identically - so if you're impatient like my kid is, you're going to tangle the wires. The "bulbs" are permanently attached, so there's no replacing them unfortunately, but this shouldn't be an issue as LEDs have a long lifespan. The only difference compared to some sets is you have an inline LED controller; sets that use single-color or non-controllable RGB LEDs generally don't have the inline controller.
If you've ever bought a set of LED café-style lights, they're packaged pretty much identically - so if you're impatient like my kid is, you're going to tangle the wires. The "bulbs" are permanently attached, so there's no replacing them unfortunately, but this shouldn't be an issue as LEDs have a long lifespan. The only difference compared to some sets is you have an inline LED controller; sets that use single-color or non-controllable RGB LEDs generally don't have the inline controller.
Connecting Twinkly to your home network is cakewalk. You'll want to download the Twinkly app to your smartphone or tablet (iPhone, iPad, and Android devices released over the last 3-5 years are generally supported). Once you set up an account, connecting the Twinkly device to your home network only involves pressing and holding a button, entering your WIFI password, and letting the app run a firmware update. Optionally, you can add Twinkly to your Google Home app or as an Alexa Skill.
The final step - and you'll have to do this at night if you set Twinkly up outside - is letting the Twinkly app map your lights out. It uses your smartphone or tablet's camera to do this, so the better your camera is, the better it can discern individual lights in a strand (I used an iPhone 11 to do this step the first time, but my wife's iPhone 12 performed nearly the same). If you have other Twinkly devices (the holiday lights, for example), the app can map out tons of lights for higher-resolution displays. Even just 20 lights like what this set has is enough for some patterns to be recognizable, however.
Usage:
The app is very straight-forward. You can select patterns or make your own. You can also edit existing patterns that either come built-in or are downloaded through the app. You can also select solid colors for each light, from a single color to an entire spectrum.
The app is very straight-forward. You can select patterns or make your own. You can also edit existing patterns that either come built-in or are downloaded through the app. You can also select solid colors for each light, from a single color to an entire spectrum.
You can also use the app to set power on and power off times for the lights. This was useful for me as I installed them in my kid's room, where they function as a surprisingly calming nightlight.
I used Google Assistant to also set solid colors and power the lights on and off. While different shades of white weren't accurate (ghost white, daylight white, and bright white were cooler than I hoped for while incandescent and soft white were much more yellow), the other colors that Google Assistant recognizes for other smart lights were accurate and switching was fast.
For the gamers out there, you can also use Razer Chroma. I didn't try that, but that's nice to have as an option.
Drawbacks:
The biggest drawback is the power adapter, since it's a wall wart and not in-line or integrated into the controller. Actually, that's the only drawback I can find as it makes it more difficult to do a proper outdoor installation (most covered outlets won't have room for the AC adapter, which means you'll need a short extension cord and somewhere where the adapter and cord won't be exposed to the elements). You can, however, get larger outdoor outlet cover boxes that would fit the adapter. Changing this one thing, Twinkly would be perfect for any installation.
The biggest drawback is the power adapter, since it's a wall wart and not in-line or integrated into the controller. Actually, that's the only drawback I can find as it makes it more difficult to do a proper outdoor installation (most covered outlets won't have room for the AC adapter, which means you'll need a short extension cord and somewhere where the adapter and cord won't be exposed to the elements). You can, however, get larger outdoor outlet cover boxes that would fit the adapter. Changing this one thing, Twinkly would be perfect for any installation.
Also, the only other issue I had was needing to reconfigure the Twinkly device after performing a firmware update. It happened to me with a Plume mesh network, but with other Twinkly devices I've helped set up on single access point WiFi networks, I've not had this issue. This is very minor though since setup doesn't take very long.
All in all, the Twinkly Festoon Lights are great for what they are and something I recommend for a fun lighting alternative you can put anywhere.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Philips One by Sonicare is an ultra-portable electric toothbrush that keeps your smile bright. Always be ready to touch up your smile, no matter where the day takes you. Designed with you in mind, Philips One is a big step up from manual brushing.
Customer Rating
5
My teeth have never felt cleaner
on March 6, 2021
Posted by: BillFromKC
from KCMO
I've received this product in exchange for my fair and unbiased review.
The Philips One by Sonicare more than gets the job done - it leaves your teeth feeling as if you just left the dentist. While the high speed vibration takes some getting used to, it's worth the bit of awkwardness that you get at first. Even when you have a permanent retainer or other orthodontic work in your mouth, the One manages to get the job done amazingly well.
Considering this is a battery brush instead of a rechargeable brush, this would be terrific for travelers as you wouldn't have to deal with the plug-in charger.
The only drawback is I found it somewhat difficult to get the brush open to test battery replacement. Otherwise, it's super easy to use.
All in all, the Philips One by Sonicare is worth getting, even at full price.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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BillFromKC's Questions
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Make a smart solution to upgrade your home security to IndoorCam Mini. Never second-guess what you see in clear 2K resolution, and give yourself control with pan and tilt functions to monitor your home’s most vital areas. IndoorCam Mini features On-Device AI Human Detection, a technology that identifies humans in the frame and only sends you the notifications that matter. After returning home, you can turn on Home Privacy Mode, which turns off the camera and rotates it to your preferred privacy angle. Best of all, there’s no monthly fee after your purchase.
Can this new Indoor Cam Mini connect to the Eufy HomeBase? I would like for the IndoorDam store data on the base for easy access and control.
It stores data on the camera itself and not on a Homebase module. However, you still access the video like you would with Homebase-connected cameras - via the app.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
BillFromKC
Make a smart solution to upgrade your home security to IndoorCam Mini. Never second-guess what you see in clear 2K resolution, and give yourself control with pan and tilt functions to monitor your home’s most vital areas. IndoorCam Mini features On-Device AI Human Detection, a technology that identifies humans in the frame and only sends you the notifications that matter. After returning home, you can turn on Home Privacy Mode, which turns off the camera and rotates it to your preferred privacy angle. Best of all, there’s no monthly fee after your purchase.
Does this camera require WiFi to operate?
It can record internally to a micro SD card, but you would need WiFi to access your footage and receive motion alerts.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
BillFromKC
Meet the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 6.5qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid. The pressure cooker that steams and crisps. SmartLid slider unlocks pressure cooking, air frying, and Steamcrisping - all under one SmartLid. SteamCrisp Technology steams and crisps at the same time for faster, juicier, crispier results*. 14 one-touch programs unlock even more versatility. (*Vs. Ninja Foodi OL501 in dry mode only)
Does this model have hands free pressure release when pressure cooking timer is done, or do you have to manually release steam after pressure cooking?
The Core Innovations ANT800BAR Indoor TV Antenna Bar allows you to access HDTV channels up to 80 miles away, free of charge. The signal indicator displays reception strength for peak viewing potential, and the omni-directional bar design provides connectivity in all directions. Enjoy content in up to 4K full HD where supported.
We have a steel roof, will this antenna work for us?
As long as the signal path isn't being blocked by the roof, this should work. However, you're better off to look into an outdoor antenna system.
2 years, 7 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The Core Innovations ANT800BAR Indoor TV Antenna Bar allows you to access HDTV channels up to 80 miles away, free of charge. The signal indicator displays reception strength for peak viewing potential, and the omni-directional bar design provides connectivity in all directions. Enjoy content in up to 4K full HD where supported.
Is this antenna ATSC 3.0 capable?
All antennas that work with ATSC 1.0 work with ATSC 3.0. In fact, all TV antennas that work on the standard UHF range (which means nearly every antenna, ever) work with ATSC 3.0 receivers and TV sets.
2 years, 7 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The WD_Black P10 Game Drive gives your console or PC the performance-enhancing tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. It's a top-tier external HDD in capacities 2TB, built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their console or PC by saving their game library in an on-the-go form factor. Now, with WD_Black P10 Game Drive, you can drive your game the way you choose.
Will this work on a Xbox s and save my downloads
The WD_Black P10 Game Drive gives your console or PC the performance-enhancing tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. It's a top-tier external HDD in capacities 2TB, built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their console or PC by saving their game library in an on-the-go form factor. Now, with WD_Black P10 Game Drive, you can drive your game the way you choose.
Can this work for Mac PC
It can. You may need to format it for PC usage first, however.
2 years, 10 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The WD_Black P10 Game Drive gives your console or PC the performance-enhancing tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. It's a top-tier external HDD in capacities 2TB, built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their console or PC by saving their game library in an on-the-go form factor. Now, with WD_Black P10 Game Drive, you can drive your game the way you choose.
Can this be used with IPad Pro 10.5 inch
It can if you used a Camera Connection Kit and a Powered USB 3.x Hub. The lightning port by itself doesn't output enough power to run this drive.
For newer iPad Pros with USB-C connectors, you could just use a USB-C to USB 3.0 Micro B cable.
Either way, you'd need to format this drive using a computer first to a supported format (I believe that would be either ExFAT, HFS+, or APFS).
For newer iPad Pros with USB-C connectors, you could just use a USB-C to USB 3.0 Micro B cable.
Either way, you'd need to format this drive using a computer first to a supported format (I believe that would be either ExFAT, HFS+, or APFS).
2 years, 10 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The WD_Black P10 Game Drive gives your console or PC the performance-enhancing tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. It's a top-tier external HDD in capacities 2TB, built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their console or PC by saving their game library in an on-the-go form factor. Now, with WD_Black P10 Game Drive, you can drive your game the way you choose.
Does this need a 3.0 slot to work correctly on an xbox series x? Will it work in a usb hub on the xbox series x with only 2.0 slots available?
It can work with a USB 2.0 hub, but it will run at approximately 1/3 the speed you'd get with a USB 3.x connection (40 megabyte per second transfers on USB 2.0 versus 120 megabyte per second transfers over USB 3.x).
2 years, 10 months ago
by
BillFromKC
The WD_Black P10 Game Drive gives your console or PC the performance-enhancing tools it needs to keep your competitive edge. It's a top-tier external HDD in capacities 2TB, built specifically for gamers looking to expand the potential of their console or PC by saving their game library in an on-the-go form factor. Now, with WD_Black P10 Game Drive, you can drive your game the way you choose.
Will it work with a Xbox 360 E console?
It should, but you'd be better off with a less expensive external drive as the Xbox 360 series of devices do not have USB 3.0 connections and even the slowest of external drives currently available can saturate a USB 2.0 connection.
2 years, 10 months ago
by
BillFromKC