Balthazar2k4's stats
- Review count157
- Helpfulness votes354
- First reviewJune 13, 2014
- Last reviewMay 13, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentOctober 23, 2013
- Last review commentOctober 23, 2013
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
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- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
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- Answer count11
- Helpfulness votes8
- First answerSeptember 22, 2016
- Last answerOctober 26, 2020
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Serve nutritious and easy home-cooked meals at a fraction of the time that conventional cooking requires. Enjoy all the same benefits you love about Express Crock—one-touch settings for quick pressure-cooked meals—now with a Crisping Lid that adds a delectable crisp to chicken, ribs, and more!
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
My three kids are some of the pickiest eaters I know. The Crock-Pot Slow Cooker/Pressure Cooker/Air Fryer has changed dinnertime in this house. After unboxing the Crock-Pot and unpacking the pressure and crisping lid(s) it is pretty much ready to run. Three meals prepared and three kids satisfied. Operating the Crock-Pot is dead simple. One bank of buttons for slow cooking and another for pressure. The bottom buttons enable air frying and simmer/heat modes. There is a big display in the middle to help keep tabs on progress.
It is as easy to use as prep the food, throw it in Crock-Pot, throw the appropriate lid on and select what you are cooking. The results have been tremendous. Out of the gate we made BBQ pulled-chicken using the pressure cooker. The BBQ pulled-chicken was great and was a hit with all three kids (and the adults too). Next, we slow cooked some chili. Brown some meat, throw the other ingredients in the pot, stir and wait. Another great pot of chili made and thumbs up from everyone. Last, but not least, we tried a recipe from the included cook book, parmesan crusted chicken nuggets. Cut up a chicken breast, egg bath, roll it in a parmesan bread crumb mix, and drop it in the Crock-Pot. Throw the crisping lid on and wait. Results were a healthier, tastier chicken nugget than conventional oil frying. We decided to get crazy and give some fried pickles a whirl. Same method as the chicken minus the egg bath. Voila! Great tasting fried pickles. Resounding win for the evening. Once the meals are made and everyone is happy the clean-up of the unit is pretty easy. Pull out the cooking pot and scrub. Wipe down the lids and you are good to go.
All I can say is this Crock-Pot wields magical powers as we have never had three meals in a row that all the kids agreed on. The 8-qt Crock-Pot is now a counter fixture for the foreseeable future. The Swiss army knife of cooking and an indispensable tool in our kitchen.
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Experience action-packed gaming in real-life quality with the 23.8-inch diagonal monitor that’s built to deliver the most colorful picture.
Customer Rating
5
One and a Half Thumbs Up From A Semi-Pro Gamer
on September 30, 2020
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
I picked up the HP X24ih for my oldest son who is a competitive Rainbow Six Siege player. He was using an LG 32" QHD G-Sync monitor, but constantly complained that it was too big. He has been playing on the monitor for two weeks now and has given it a glowing review with just one caveat.
Overall, the monitor is bright, uniform, and produces outstanding color. Contrast is just average due to the nature of IPS, but more than acceptable black level for most applications. There is minimal ghosting which is always a plus for an IPS screen at this refresh rate. The unit received had zero flash-lighting or other backlight issues which is always great. The 1080p screen offers a reasonable pixel density for the size at just over 90ppi. The bezel-less display encompasses three sides, with a small 1/2" lip at the bottom. Pretty common design these days and looks great.
The only caveat with this display arises if you are using an Nvidia graphics cards as my son is. While the monitor will support G-Sync it is capped to 120Hz and will not hit the full 144Hz the display is rated for unless G-Sync is disabled. For many that might not seem much of an issue, but as I have learned from my son it does makes a difference. He loves the monitor, but has relegated it to second monitor duty due to the refresh rate issue. For most and especially those on AMD graphics cards it will be a very suitable display.
I can't really comment on the display from a productivity standpoint as it was only tested extensively with gaming. If you or someone else is looking for a 24" gaming monitor then place the HP X24ih on your short list.
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Ninja Foodi Power Blender & Processor System with Smoothie Bowl Maker and Nutrient Extractor* with smartTORQUE and Variable Speed Control to power through and never stall. Power Blender & Processor Pitcher is a Total Crushing blender, food processor, and dough mixer. Nutrient Extraction* Cup and Spout Lid for smoothies and extractions. Smoothie Bowl Maker for smoothie bowls and nut butters. 1400-peak-watts make this Ninja's Best Total Crushing Blender.
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
The Ninja Foodi Power Pitcher System is my new smoothie making go-to. The motor assembly provides plenty of torque and has zero issues chopping and blending dense loads. It also comes with suction cup feet to keep it from developing a mind of its own and walking around the counter. The large 72oz pitcher makes adding frozen fruit, fresh fruit, yogurt, and ice a cinch. The pitcher lid also has a nice flip up section to create a great pouring spout. The crushing attachment makes quick work of the iced mix and provides a super smooth fruity output. The front controls on the motor assembly make it easy to accomplish everything from blending and extracting to dough mixing. Yep, I said dough mixing. The Foodi is basically a food processor/blender/mixer in one. The unit comes with an additional 24oz cup and 14oz 'bowl' with it's own mixing paddle to help keep the food pushed down against the blades.
I have no real complaints of the unit. It is well built and easy to clean. It does quick work of everything I have thrown at it. The included recipe guide can also provide some guidance for how to make the most of this Swiss army knife of blenders. A very easy recommend from a trusted brand.
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Meet G733, a gaming headset designed to suit your style. Embrace total wireless with 2.4 GHZ LIGHTSPEED wireless, featuring up to 33 ft of range and up to 29 hours of battery life. Customize how you look and sound in G HUB with dual-zone, front-facing LIGHTSYNC RGB and Blue VO!CE real-time voice filters. G733 features advanced audio technologies, including 40 mm PRO-G audio drivers, internal acoustic chambers, and DTS Headphone:X 2.0. Play your way with four colorways to choose from and play with comfort with a comfortable, reversible headband, dual-layer memory foam earcups, and a lightweight headset that weighs just 9.8 oz.
Customer Rating
5
Great Sound For Hours
on September 7, 2020
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
I have been using the Logitech G733 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Headphones for about a week now on my PC. I find them to be lightweight and comfortable while offering great surround sound. The Logitech G Hub software brings DTS Headphone X 2.0 to the table as well. I found the overall surround positioning to be uncannily good given there are only two drivers involved. Build quality is excellent and they come equipped with some thin addressable RGB light strips on each earpiece.
Mic quality seems good. I played some Division 2 Dark Zone content to get a little multiplayer time in with the headset and the few people I played with said my audio was loud and clear. The mouthpiece is removable if you really just want to use the headset as a straight set of gaming headphones instead which is a nice touch. Only caveat I can see to that is the possibility of losing the mic as it is relatively small.
Frankly, my only real complaint and it isn't even really a complaint is that I would have like to have seen a charging base a la Astro, but at the G733 price point I understand why there isn't one. It would still be nice if it were an add on option or maybe offered as a bundled set at a higher price. The G733 does have solid battery life though. I played roughly 20 hours over a three day period and they still had about a 1/3rd of a charge left. So, 30 hours at mid volume seems pretty accurate.
I think Logitech has done a bang up job of offering a comfortable headset that provides excellent surround acoustics. They are highly recommended.
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The Back-UPS battery backup offers guaranteed power and surge protection for wireless networks, computers, gaming consoles and other electronics in your home or business. Models supply battery backup during outages and unsafe voltage fluctuations, as well as provide protection from damaging surges and spikes. They're available in 'tower' or 'floor' styles, and together with a variety of standard features, they are the perfect choice to protect your data and keep you connected.
Customer Rating
5
Great Compact UPS for Small Systems
on August 18, 2020
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
The APC Back-UPS 650VA unit is another solid product from a trusted source of quality uninterruptible power supplies. This model is effective for smaller computers using <400W power supplies. The UPS comes with a communication cable to allow the unit to talk to the MAC/PC and shutdown the computer safely should a blackout occur. The PowerChute software does a great job of controlling the UPS and also will perform periodic testing of the unit.
I am using the UPS on a Synology NAS and it works great. While the PowerChute software doesn't install on the NAS, the NAS does recognized the UPS and communicates with it directly.
Overall, a great little UPS from APC. Comes highly recommended if you have a lightweight need.
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Stream audio and video with this black Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter and charger. The USB-C port connector delivers up to 60W for ultra-fast device charging, while the plug-and-play design offers hassle-free use. This Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter and charger supports 4K resolution at 60Hz for transmitting clear, detailed visuals.
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
Tried the Belkin USB-C to HDMI adapter with my MacBook Pro 16. Provided solid 4K60 output to my 32" LG monitor. No dropouts or artifacting. Has additional USB-C passthrough with a 60W power cap. Connected a 10Gbe Thunderbolt 3 ethernet adapter to it and it worked without a hitch. Only reason I am docking the adapter a star is the build quality. It feels cheap and the housing rattles. Might just be mine, but doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about the longevity of the adapter.
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Keep your kids safe online with this Circle Home Plus monitoring setup. The included device uses your router to manage every device on your network, and Circle App makes it simple to limit screen time, filter content, and check browsing histories. This Circle Home Plus monitoring setup is easy to set up and lets you create custom settings for each family member.
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
I have been intrigued by Circle for quite a while now. With three kids in the house and a whole host of devices in the house I was curious to see what the Circle Plus could do. It's a very compact, white cube that can either plug into your router (mine is a Netgear RAX50) or operate via Wi-Fi once setup. I dropped the app on my phone and went through the painless setup. Created the home, added my kids, and selected which devices were whose. With filters on based on age and bedtimes set I let Circle Plus do its thing. For the most part the results were great. I quickly discovered the rather questionable sites my son was visiting on his PC. Circle was automatically blocking them and alerting me to it. When bedtime rolled around all of the devices that I had assigned to the kids had their internet access shutoff. Worked exactly as intended.
So why the three stars you ask? Well, for starters, most of the controls you would want to use are locked behind a paywall. So be prepared for the monthly subscription. Next, the pause button only seems to work sometimes. What's the pause button you ask? The pause button allows me to pause the internet across all devices, devices per child, or a singular device. Sounds great, right? I found it rarely worked when selecting a child's selection of devices, but fine when selecting an individual device. Additionally, it would take on a life of its own and sometimes pause a device for no apparent reason. My children kept losing access to the internet on their iPad's and at first couldn't figure out why. As soon as I would disable the Circle Plus everything would return to normal. I had not selected a pause and it wasn't their bedtime. Looks like a bug to me so their is hope it could be fixed.
As it stands, I have taken the Circle Plus out of my network. I will revisit it in a few months as I love its potential, but don't want to deal with the unintended side effects. If you have a router that doesn't have any parental controls then give the Circle Plus a look.
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Listen to music on the go with this black Sony EXTRA BASS portable Bluetooth speaker. The shockproof, dustproof, and waterproof design allows use on rugged terrain and near pools, while the rechargeable battery offers up to 12 hours of playback on a single charge. This Sony EXTRA BASS portable Bluetooth speaker has an X-balanced speaker unit for well-balanced sound.
Customer Rating
4
Good Sound, Questionable Durability
on June 14, 2020
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
The Sony SRS-XB23 is a good, all-around Bluetooth speaker. It is compact and feels very solid. Relatively lightweight and easily portable. The sound is pretty midrange heavy despite the passive radiators it employs to boost the bass. When pushed hard the electronics clearly limit the low frequency output to keep the speaker from damaging itself. The speaker does a great job in the backyard while the kids are playing with water. It is easily loud enough to hear from 30' away and being waterproof (and salt water resistant if you are heading to the beach) I don't worry about it getting soaked. It also passes MIL-standard drop test so it should be pretty durable if it were to fall off a table even onto concrete (I didn't test that). It gets great battery life (~11 hours) at modest volume levels. I am seeing around 9 hours cranked up in my backyard.
Another cool feature is the stereo pairing. I have this with my Sonos speakers and it is a great feature if you have more than one. You can spread them out and get a more traditional stereo sound. First time I have seen this on a portable, Bluetooth speaker.
My one and only real caveat to the speaker are the exposed passive radiators at the top and bottom. It is a very strange design decision on Sony's part to build this little speaker as durable as possible and then give it an Achilles heel. My concerns could be completely unfounded, but exposing them just seems like asking for trouble. One unintentional hard poke or 'perfect' drop and that might spell the end of the already somewhat anemic bass performance. Again, maybe I'm just being paranoid, but they seem a bit too fragile.
Overall, the Sony XB23 is a nice little Bluetooth speaker with respectable sound in a mostly durable package. Place it on your short list of BT speakers.
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Stream a movie or cast videos from your smartphone with this 65-inch Hisense Quantum series Android TV. The Quantum Dot technology delivers a better picture quality with lifelike color combinations, while the voice-powered remote offers more intuitive control. This Hisense Quantum series Android TV features a gaming mode, so your moves are executed instantly with minimal lag.
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
Full disclosure up front, I am a pretty die hard Sony fan when it comes to TVs so I am sure that biased my expectations of the Hisense 65" H8G. Let me just immediately put that to rest and say I was pleasantly surprised by what Hisense is offering at this price point. I have been using a Sony 950G in my bedroom for the last few months and the Hisense H8G gets shockingly close to the performance for a fraction of the price.
The full array local dimming (FALD) on the set provides great black level and contrast and blooming is minimized thanks to good zone control. Black bars on widescreen material do tend to gray out some when bright images are presented at the boundaries, but even the best FALD TVs tend to suffer from this. Color is great and not over exaggerated or 'hot' out of the box. HDR10 content has great contrast and color volume looks better than expected. I was not able to test the Dolby Vision output of the TV, but given the HDR10 performance I would expect similar results. The only real shortcoming I found in the picture was the motion control. In any setting other than off it presented either an overly smooth image or exhibited artifacting such as macro-blocking. I found simply turning off all motion control gave the best overall picture.
Sound is above average which was also a surprise. The H8G offers a fairly balanced, clear sound that is a tad thin on the bottom end. The mediocre bass performance was to be expected as most TVs today suffer from this ailment. Simply physics at work.
The H8G is AndroidTV based which means there are a plethora of apps to choose from. Overall speed is acceptable and the (assumed Mediatek?) processor exhibits minimal lag. Only real caveat I have run into with the H8G is the Wi-Fi performance. I am running the latest update from Hisense and am finding I have to reboot the TV every few days as the Wi-Fi becomes very sluggish or sometimes simply will not reconnect to the network. Not a major issue, but definitely an annoyance. If you are running an external box such as an Apple TV or Nvidia Shield this will be a non-issue.
To be honest, the H8G greatly exceeded my albeit low expectations. The big boys like Sony and Samsung need to watch their backs. Hisense has brought a terrific value to the market with the H8G that will satisfy all but the most demanding videophile. If you are in the market for a fully featured, 4K HDR/Dolby Vision capable TV then this TV should be on your shortlist. Highly recommended.
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The Apex 3 gaming keyboard was built for the needs of gamers, with water and dust resistance for protection against spills and accidents, as well as premium features like low friction whisper quiet gaming switches, 10-zone RGB customization, a premium magnetic wrist rest, multimedia controls, and gaming-grade keys.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Bang for the Buck
on March 30, 2020
Posted by: Balthazar2k4
from Fort Collins, CO
The new SteelSeries Apex 3 is a great value oriented mechanical gamer keyboard. Keys have great travel and feel. The mechanical switches are very quiet too. No rollover issues or ghosting noticed. Keyboard construction is surprisingly solid and the overall look is considerably more premium than I generally see at this price point. Lighting looks great and offers a variety of effects. Frankly, I don't think there is another keyboard at this price that is even remotely as good. SteelSeries did a great job and if you are on a budget this should be a no-brainer.
I do want to point out that the Best Buy description says it has an OLED display. It does not.
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Balthazar2k4's Review Comments
Microsoft Surface Pro 2 Tablet: More capable than your average tablet but lighter and smaller than a laptop, the Surface Pro 2 features hands-on productivity with the ability to fully support Microsoft Office (sold separately). Multitask with side-by-side apps, prop up your tablet with the built-in kickstand, or connect accessories via the USB and display ports for a work-efficient desktop setup.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Best tablet for work and play
By jb78
from Woodland Hills, CA
Microsoft shows why its preferred over mac for business and productivity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Balthazar2k4
Pointless
October 23, 2013
Thank you for the hollow, non-review of an unreleased (at the time) product.
+3points
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Balthazar2k4's Questions
Balthazar2k4 has not submitted any questions.
Serve nutritious and easy home-cooked meals at a fraction of the time that conventional cooking requires. Enjoy all the same benefits you love about Express Crock—one-touch settings for quick pressure-cooked meals—now with a Crisping Lid that adds a delectable crisp to chicken, ribs, and more!
Does it have a removable liner for washing?
Yes, the internal cooking pot is removable for easy cleaning. It is also dishwasher safe, but the manufacturer recommends hand washing to preserve the non-stick coating.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Perceive every detail of your music with this pair of JBL wireless headphones. The 10Hz to 22kHz frequency response lets you enjoy the full range of sound, while the in-line microphone provides an effortless switch to hands-free calls. Featuring 5.6mm dynamic drivers, these JBL wireless headphones supply rich, resonant bass for your enjoyment.
is the jbl free earbuds waterproof?
No. They are sweatproof which is barely on the cusp of water-resistant. In other words, if you are working out they will be fine, but don't expect to use them in a downpour outside.
5 years, 4 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Perceive every detail of your music with this pair of JBL wireless headphones. The 10Hz to 22kHz frequency response lets you enjoy the full range of sound, while the in-line microphone provides an effortless switch to hands-free calls. Featuring 5.6mm dynamic drivers, these JBL wireless headphones supply rich, resonant bass for your enjoyment.
Are these noise cancelling for gyms that play really loud music?
They do not offer active noise cancellation. They do however provide pretty decent passive noise cancellation if you can get them snug in your ears.
5 years, 4 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Get work done or play games on this 24-inch Dell monitor. Its 1920 x 1080 resolution delivers a crisp display for images and text, and its wide viewing angle provides a clear picture whether sitting or standing. This Dell monitor has HDMI connectivity for use with gaming consoles or PCs.
Which adapter would work for this monitor if I wanted to mount it to a standard Vesa stand
Pretty much any non-VESA to VESA mounting kit will work that is designed for a display this size.
5 years, 7 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Get work done or play games on this 24-inch Dell monitor. Its 1920 x 1080 resolution delivers a crisp display for images and text, and its wide viewing angle provides a clear picture whether sitting or standing. This Dell monitor has HDMI connectivity for use with gaming consoles or PCs.
can this monitor be mounted?
Get work done or play games on this 24-inch Dell monitor. Its 1920 x 1080 resolution delivers a crisp display for images and text, and its wide viewing angle provides a clear picture whether sitting or standing. This Dell monitor has HDMI connectivity for use with gaming consoles or PCs.
is this a matt or gloss finish?
Glossy with an anti-glare finish. Does a reasonable job with reflections, but is no match for a matte screen.
5 years, 7 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Make your home a more welcoming hub with this Philips Hue white ambiance A19 starter kit. Whether you desire a warm natural glow or energizing color tones, customize it just the way you like with the accompanying app. For parties, easily sync your lights to music with this Philips Hue white ambiance A19 starter kit.
Can I access lights when NOT at home
Yes. Once you create an account you will have access to remotely control your lights.
6 years, 5 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Take your tunes anywhere with this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker. This floating waterproof device is submersible in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes, and it deflects damage from snow, ice and dirt. Pair this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker with up to eight Bluetooth devices, and use the included dry box for storing keys and cards.
Does an regular iPhone 7 fits in the aq10 dry box?
No. The AQ10 dry box is pretty small. Maybe an iPhone 4 or possibly a 5.
7 years ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
I have a Comcast modem going to a apple time capsule for wifi. Can this be installed after that and still give me access to time capsule and increase speeds?
Yes, the Orbi router can be placed into Access Point mode and used to extend your existing network.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
How much are the Satlelites and are/when they available? My home is 4200 square feet. W/2000 square feet of finished basementnd I need all 3 floors covered. I know 2 cant cover 6200sqft. But one on each floor might. Also can each work being cat6 wired in
Three units (including the router itself) should have you covered assuming you can place them roughly center on each floor. Unfortunately, the satellites cannot be wired in at this time, but I do believe Netgear is looking at the situation. I am using the router and a single satellite in a ~4000sq ft home with a finished basement and it works great even with the satellite being connected wirelessly. Keep in mind the Orbi system uses a dedicated 5ghz channel as a backhaul so it does not work like a conventional router/extender combo.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
Balthazar2k4