havanajoe8's stats
- Review count68
- Helpfulness votes468
- First reviewOctober 21, 2009
- Last reviewAugust 4, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
- Review comment count12
- Helpfulness votes4
- First review commentDecember 7, 2013
- Last review commentJuly 22, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count40
- Helpfulness votes69
- First answerDecember 1, 2010
- Last answerJune 5, 2017
- Featured answers0
- Best answers16
Delve into the world of DSLRs with the Nikon D3400. This lightweight camera gives you outstanding control even in low-light conditions, letting you explore, play with and customize your images to produce exactly the effect you want. Explore lighting levels, long shutter speeds and even tripod-mounted shots with the Nikon D3400.Memory card sold separately.
Customer Rating
4
Good starter kit!
on December 18, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I've been using a mirrorless system (Samsung NX300) for the last few years and I like it, but now that it appears that Samsung has discontinued the line I wanted to get back into Nikon. I used to have a D40 and some lenses, which I sold a few years ago, and I miss it. This is a very good bundle for someone starting out- you get the camera and two lenses to start! The camera works well, focus is fast, quality is quite good, and it's easy to learn. My only complaint is that there is no sensor cleaning built in, which is important, because over time your sensor WILL get dusty, especially if you change lenses a lot. Four stars for the camera!
The 18-55 kit lens is excellent, It's small and light and covers a very usable range, and the pictures I took with it came out excellent. Five stars for this lens!
The 70-300 lens is a bit of a disappointment as it does NOT have Vibration Reduction (VR). Unless you use a big flash or take pictures outside in bright sunlight you will need a tripod to avoid blur. With a flash and tripod the picture quality is very good. It's extra disappointing because at 70mm it makes a good portrait lens with good bokah, but a tripod is a must which cuts down on usability. Three stars for this lens.
Overall four stars for the kit, it's a good starting point for the new photographer at a great price, but the 70-300 lens probably won't get a lot of use and the lack of sensor cleaning is a concern.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+126points
150of 174voted this as helpful.
Create archives of your favorite media with ease using this LG Ultra Slim SP80NB60 external DVD±RW/CD-RW Drive, which offers up to 8x DVD±R write speeds. Jamless play skips damaged parts of the disc to ensure smooth, uninterrupted playback.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I bought this because the drive in my laptop stopped working and it's not worth replacing, but I still like to have some backups on CD and DVD. Unit is small and light, feels a little cheap but seems to work pretty good. Software took about 20 minutes to install, including updates and patches. Unit is quiet while burning but loud when it spins up and winds down. Included cable is rather short and does not have a Y adapter, but my powered USB hub is powerful enough for it to work. Burned a CD RW and a DVD RW, no problems at all. I had no problems at all with plug-and-play on Windows 10. Overall I'm happy with this unit.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I have an OtterBox for my iPhone 6 so getting one with my new iPad Mini 2 was a no-brainer. It was a little hard to take apart initially, the silicone wrap was very hard to take off, but that's ok, now that it's on the iPad I'm confident it won't come off. I LOVE that it has a stand built into the back case and that you can position the iPad multiple ways- very handy! It does add a bit of bulk but I usually just take the back case off when I'm using the iPad and snap it on when I'm done. It's very well made, all the little port covers line up perfectly and the whole thing feels very secure. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
iPad® mini 2 has a stunning 7.9-inch Retina display with over 3.1 million pixels. It also comes with the A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, ultrafast wireless, iSight and FaceTime HD cameras, powerful apps, and up to 10 hours of battery life.1 Yet it still fits easily in one hand.
Customer Rating
4
Great overall!
on September 10, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I'm a huge fan of my iPhone 6 and when I saw this iPad on sale I decided to grab one. Overall it's great, there are a few minor things that aren't perfect, but overall it's a great product. The screen is beautiful, but I found pictures and videos to be just a little dark and skin tones to be a little warm, but most people probably wouldn't even notice. Sound is adequate, but the two speakers next to each other don't give you any kind of stereo separation, I wish it had a single larger mono speaker and save the stereo for headphones and Bluetooth. The icons are a little too small, there is enough room to make them bigger and still have the same number on each page. WiFi speed is excellent, I have a 100mbps plan and I'm getting 89mbps through WiFi which is as good as one can hope for. Camera is not so great, it's a bit dark and grainy, especially compared to my iPhone 6 camera. There was no calculator app included, which is something I use quite often. I coughed up the 99 cents to get a good ad-free one, but I'm very surprised such a basic app was left out. Battery charging is slower than expected, my iPhone 6 charges more than twice as fast. I understand the iPad battery is larger and so it takes longer to charge, but even taking that into account it's slow. There is about a 20 second delay getting email and message notifications on the iPad from when they appear on the iPhone, but that's probably from having them synced for text messaging. Bluetooth seems to be weak, when connected to my stereo about 15 feet away sometimes it cuts out, especially if you walk between them- this doesn't happen with my iPhone 6. When I setup the iPad via sync with iCloud all apps carried over except Chrome. I know Apple wants you to use Safari but not carrying over Chrome was a bit of weak sauce, it took me maybe two minutes to reinstall it on the iPad but still- weak sauce there Apple! All these complaints are minor, overall I'm quite happy with this iPad and it's a great deal when you can get it on sale!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
The high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor of this Canon PowerShot SX530 HS digital camera combine to form the HS SYSTEM, which helps enhance quality in low-light conditions, so you can capture the shot you want, wherever you are. .
Customer Rating
3
Great telephoto, ok picture quality
on August 29, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I generally use a Samsung NX300 as the picture quality is outstanding, especially with the 45mm lens, and I also have a Canon SX170 for times when I want something smaller to carry around, but neither give me much of a telephoto range for taking long-distance pictures. I was asked to take some pictures of a charity event at a local golf course so I used that as an excuse to shop for a super-zoom. I liked the look and smallish size of the SX530 so I picked one up at my local Best Buy.
I’m generally pleased with this camera; there is no question that the 50X zoom got me some pictures that I would not have got with either of my other cameras. The image stabilization is very helpful at the long end, but you still need a steady hand to avoid blur. Picture quality overall is not quite as good as I had hoped- I found that the best pictures came from using Program mode with -1/3 exposure compensation and vivid colors, but the camera still has a tendency to overexpose in bright light, and colors appear to be slightly off, especially greens which look slightly yellow. The picture quality is not terrible, and I DID manage to get some good pictures, but nothing exceptional. Unfortunately this is to be expected with a small sensor, nothing beats a large sensor for getting accurate colors.
Image quality aside, the camera is quite easy to use. I found the settings and menu to be logical and almost identical to my Canon SX170. WI-Fi is a great feature but was a bit tricky to setup initially. I had to refer to the manual and it took me a few tries to get the settings right, but now it’s a breeze to save pictures to my PC. I also paired this camera with my iPhone and I can use the iPhone to control the camera and take pictures, as well as save pictures from the camera to my iPhone. It’s a bit of a gimmick as obviously the iPhone can’t move the camera, only move the lens, but it’s still fun. I can see using it to take pictures of the moon if using a tripod, maybe, but beyond that it’s just for fun.
Overall I’d say this camera is great IF you find that you need the zoom range, and are willing to accept pictures that can be good but rarely great; it’s a good option for a second camera for vacation or sightseeing, but would not be a good option for a primary camera.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+15points
17of 19voted this as helpful.
SmartLens 8X Zoom Clip-On Camera Lens: Just attach this lens to your smartphone or tablet using the Quick Clip System and bring far-away subjects into clear view with 8x zoom and Simple Twist Focus. The carrying bag defends your lens from damage while you're out and about.
Customer Rating
2
Does not fit iPhone 6 with Otter Box
on April 23, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I kept seeing this on a display in the checkout area of my local Best Buy and finally decided to pick one up. I have an iPhone 6 with an Otter Box case and it simply doesn't fit due to the thickness of the case. I took the iPhone out of the case and it worked, just barely. The image was distorted and had noticeable distortion no matter how I readjusted the lens. The only reason I kept it is because it actually makes a decent little telescope if you hold it up to your eye, and I happened to be in the market for a cheap pair of low-power binoculars so I do have an alternate use for this item. I'm going to drill out the lens cap, reverse it and glue it to the piece as an eye cup.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyAmplify your computer's sound with these 2.0 powered speakers that feature controls on the unit and a headphone jack for private listening.
Customer Rating
4
Good speakers for small TV
on February 17, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I recently bought the Insignia 19" TV for my kitchen and I'm happy with it other than the sound being a little lacking, as stated in my review of that item. I bought these speakers because they are basic and I figured that they'd be an improvement. These are very basic speakers, no bass or treble adjustments so you'll need to use your computer to make adjustments if you use them as computer speakers. I dislike the blue LED on the front of the right speaker, why can't manufacturers put these on the back of items that are going to be in your field of vision? A black marker and a small piece of electrical tape solved this problem. Sound is ok but lacking both bass and treble. For my use as TV speakers this is fine as I listen to the news in my kitchen on this TV and voices are mostly midrange, so they sound fine; however, if you plan on using these for music you'd probably be happier with a 2.1 system with a subwoofer. I could not locate a power rating for these speakers either in the box or on the manual, I'm guessing 10W max but probably a little less. Overall I am happy with these speakers as TV speakers.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Watch your favorite shows with this 19-inch Insignia LED TV. It has a resolution of 720p for HDTV viewing, and its two 2.5W speakers provide high-quality sound to enhance your viewing experience. Connect your camera or smartphone to this Insignia LED TV through its USB port to view photos on the screen.
Customer Rating
4
GREAT Kitchen TV
on February 1, 2016
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I've been using a 7 inch portable TV as a kitchen TV for the last few years but decided I needed something bigger. I like to have the news on in the background while drinking coffee in the morning or cooking dinner at night. This 19" TV is the perfect size! Overall I am happy with the performance and would recommend it, but it's not perfect. The picture quality is very good but not exceptional; I spent about 30 minutes adjusting the settings but just couldn't get it to be realistic. I ended up using the "Movie" setting which seems to give a warm look to skin tones and colors that aren't overly saturated, although there is still a very bright backlight on black images. The TV seems to be angled a bit forward, it looks like the top is leaning forward more than the bottom. My major gripe is the sound; it's loud enough for the kitchen but at higher volumes there is a noticeable buzz and vibrations, and the sound settings are useless. No matter which setting I choose (movie, news, standard, etc.) the sound is basically the same but maybe a little higher or lower pitched. The speakers are on the bottom of the TV and that seems to detract from the quality and overall volume. I wish the speakers faced forwards instead. I'm using the TV connected to an amplified antenna and I'm getting a lot of over-the-air channels. There are also a good selection of alternative connection options, such as cable, RCA, composite, USB and HDMI. Overall this is an excellent kitchen TV and I'm very happy with it!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Easily reach a variety of locations with help from this TomTom VIA 1415M 1EN4.052.10 GPS, which features preloaded base maps of the U.S., Canada and Mexico and provides text-to-speech and turn-by-turn directions to simplify your travels.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
I bought this to replace an old Insignia GPS which no longer had map updates. The MyDrive software worked very poorly; it would show that it was downloading an update and then switch to an error message. I found that to check the status I had to close the window but the update would still run in the background, so I'd re-launch it and see the status for a few seconds before the error message. It took almost 90 minutes to download and install the map updates, but they did install. On the other hand, once updated the unit actually works quite well, I had no issues with actually using it, other than the menu system being a bit awkward to navigate. Too bad the update system is so bad, I had considered returning it but now that it's updated I'll hang on to it.
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
2of 4voted this as helpful.
iPhone 6 isn't just bigger — it's better in every way. Larger yet thinner. More powerful, yet power efficient. It's a new generation of iPhone.
Posted by: havanajoe8
from Mansfield, MA
Finally upgraded from a dumb phone to a real phone- love it, so fast and such a beautiful screen!
My Best Buy number: 2159931860
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
2of 4voted this as helpful.
Enjoy a DSLR-like body and sensor with a fixed lens with this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera. Powerful zoom ensures you get close up to your subject, and you can also film at up to 4K resolutions. Ultra-powerful intelligent autofocus and heavy-duty image processing ensure this Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 III camera captures the images you want..
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Small sensor
By BusStop
Bitter sweet, good zoom but small sensor will not give you the professional looking photos of a full frame camera.
Good for traveling anyway.
Good for traveling anyway.
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Hmmm...
July 3, 2017
You really can't compare a camera with a 1" sensor to a full-frame... APS-C would be a closer comparison, but even still, you won't get a 600mm equivalent lens @ 4.0 for less than $12k even with an APS-C camera, and the quality on this camera is about 80% of an APS-C...
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Great Sound and Bass
By mmcdon
Good overall purchase but the only feature lacking is a shuffle feature if you have a usb connected.
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA
Random
July 22, 2017
Press the "repeat" button until the display says "random". I think it's four or five clicks. You have to do this each time you turn the system on, but it works.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
havanajoe8's Questions
havanajoe8 has not submitted any questions.
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
Are the Audio Outputs (R + L) fixed or variable (controlled by unit/remote)?
Bring the party wherever you go with the LG X-Boom speaker cube. Wirelessly stream music from a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone or tablet, or use dual USB ports for playback or recording when connected to a USB device. Download the free LG Remote app from the Google Playstore to control the LG X-Boom speaker cube from any Android device.
I don't seem to be able to turn off the lighting affect. The instructions say it's button 8 , I press this but nothing seems to change ? Am I doing something wrong ?
You can't change the lighting from the remote, only the big red button on the unit itself, on the right side of the unit
6 years, 11 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Carry your Nikon digital SLR camera in style with this bag. The rugged nylon construction and padded shoulder strap combine for comfortable portability.
Does this bag have more than 1 pocket to hold mutiple lenses?
Yes, inside the case there are some dividers that Velcro in place. I was able to fit my D3400 with the 35mm mounted in the main compartment, and the 18-15 and 70-300 in smaller compartments to the right. There is also a large outside zipper pocket which I'm using for my external flash but it's big enough to hold another lens the size of the 70-300 or a few smaller lenses. Hope this helps!
7 years, 4 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Will it fit a iPad mini 4
No, the iPad Mini 4 is a slightly different size and will need a different case
7 years, 8 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Does it provide splash or dunk protection? If not, what does?
Safeguard your Apple iPad mini with help from this OtterBox Defender Series 77-50972 case, which features durable construction and a built-in screen protector that work together to protect your device from wear and tear.
Are you able to take pictures with the camera both forward and rear facing without taking off the case?
Yes, both cameras work fine with the case in place
7 years, 8 months ago
by
havanajoe8
The high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor of this Canon PowerShot SX530 HS digital camera combine to form the HS SYSTEM, which helps enhance quality in low-light conditions, so you can capture the shot you want, wherever you are. .
I do not want to use the wifi. I don't see a cord in the package to connect to my laptop. Will it use cord from older PowerShot ? I want to edit in Photos on my Mac Book Pro.
The WI-FI feature is quite handy, you should try it; it will use the cord from your older camera or you can take the card out and put it in a reader
7 years, 8 months ago
by
havanajoe8
The high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4+ image processor of this Canon PowerShot SX530 HS digital camera combine to form the HS SYSTEM, which helps enhance quality in low-light conditions, so you can capture the shot you want, wherever you are. .
Does the camera take good quality zoom in pictures?
I found the picture quality to be a bit poor at longer zooms but ok in mid range zooming
7 years, 8 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Play back audio from a wide range of sources with this Insignia™ NS-SH513 compact shelf system, which features Bluetooth technology, a USB port and a CD player for flexible use. The FM tuner features 30 presets for simple station recall.
how do you set or turn off timer unit shuts down consistently after 10:00 minutes in auxiliary mode when using tv as source.
It will turn off if there is no sound for 10 minutes, no way to bypass this.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Easily reach a variety of locations with help from this TomTom VIA 1415M 1EN4.052.10 GPS, which features preloaded base maps of the U.S., Canada and Mexico and provides text-to-speech and turn-by-turn directions to simplify your travels.
I see a question asking about the charger. Does it have to be a usb plug in the vehicle or does it have a plugin to Fit the 12 volt outlets.
It comes with a 12v cigarette lighter type plug which the USB cable then plugs into.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
havanajoe8
Mansfield, MA