PhilGA's stats
- Review count129
- Helpfulness votes339
- First reviewJanuary 19, 2013
- Last reviewFebruary 20, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count24
- Helpfulness votes144
- First answerDecember 24, 2014
- Last answerApril 27, 2021
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Showcase video adventures in Full HD with this 24.5-inch HP Omen gaming display. Its 144Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time let you play fast-action games seamlessly, and it has HDMI, DisplayPort and USB 3.0 ports for versatile connectivity. This HP Omen gaming display has a built-in headphone hook for easy organization.
Customer Rating
5
Overall great widescreen monitor for HD viewing
on June 21, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Per a nearby label, I was provided a free unit in exchange for an unbiased review of the product.
As the Review Summary states, this is an all-around good monitor for both gaming and productivity needs. It is an HD monitor (not 4k), and the pixel density is such that most should have no problems viewing text, and the 1 millisecond refresh rate makes most gaming quite enjoyable.
Before getting into details, the only downside I have with this monitor is the fact that elevation cannot be adjusted. While the included monitor stand is reasonable enough, if you need more than two inches clearance between the bottom bezel and desk, you'll have to find some other way to elevate the unit. On the other hand, it has a more than reasonable, five-to-ten degree (don't quote me on that) tilt, so at least some viewing adjustments are manageable.
On to the specifics:
There are a line of buttons -- including for power -- that are lined up on the back, bottom-right-side of the monitor. You wouldn't know that on-screen adjustments -- or even the power button -- were there unless you actually saw them there. Monitor manufacturers seem to put their buttons/joysticks at all sorts of places on their monitors, and this is simply something to be aware of, especially if you use the VESA mount on a wall. Fortunately, the rear-middle of the screen juts out enough to where button access would never be a problem.
Speaking of the rear-middle, the monitor provides several I/O options, and all connectors are downward-facing, so there is no worry about flush mounting the monitor. Going from left to right (when viewing from the rear), the monitor contains a lock insert (presumably to tie down the monitor), two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, a USB hub port, two HDMI ports, and a DisplayPort port. The only "missing" port would be for USB-C (which can double as many logical interface types, such as DisplayPort capability), but that's more than what most people will need for this class of monitor.
However, what's included is what I really applaud HP over with this unit. They give you one HDMI cable, one DisplayPort cable, and one USB-to-hub cable (I think this is where you plug the standard terminator USB into your PC and then the "squared" connector to the back of the monitor so that the monitor's two USB ports can be "daisy-chained" and made active). All cables appear to be six footers, typical for this application; some manufacturers make you pay for your own, which can sometimes be $50 or more, just for cabling.
If you're looking for a solid widescreen (not ultra-wide) monitor that will effectively future-proof your display needs in terms of I/O (outside of 4k), this could be the monitor for you.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Samsung - POWERbot™ Wi-Fi Connected Pet Plus Robot Vacuum with FullView Sensor™ 2.0 - Satin Titanium
Take care of all floor work with this Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum. Its CycloneForce separation technology provides 40 times stronger suction than conventional vacuums for more efficient cleaning while preventing clogging. The Wi-Fi connectivity and Alexa compatibility of this Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum let you operate it remotely from your smartphone or via voice command.
Customer Rating
4
Good vacuuming robot with a promising future
on June 17, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
As noted by the TIN label nearby, I was given this unit free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.
Let's dispense with the pleasantries right out of the gate. If you think that you're going to get a Jetsons-like robot with this vacuum (or, likely, any other present-day vacuum made by any other manufacturer), you need to tone down the expectations. Don't get me wrong -- the device does a reasonable job of cleaning, but it's in the details of a real, non-square room with folks living in the house that is at issue.
What I mean by this is that the unit uses a camera on top, essentially scanning the ceiling, for its main ability to deduce an itinerary for the room. As such, if you have an object that extends beyond the side of a wall -- such as at an angle based on the cleaning direction that the vacuum has set course -- it will interpret that object extension as a wall, per se, and may miss vacuuming an entire swath of the room in question. Therefore, for maximum floor coverage, you need to remove all objects in the room that are near walls.
Another note: with a piece of furniture in our kitchen -- a sofa -- that extends to about 1 inch off the floor, the vacuum initially had an issue with it, in that the vacuum continued to try to press forward on its itinerate path without sensing that it really couldn't go any further. We had to reset the machine's course for it to move on.
The bottom line of these negative points is that, while the vacuum does bump into objects and will reasonably well adjust its course and move on, it really needs 360 degree sensors -- maybe one on each side of the vacuum -- to really "see" what it's doing.
On the other hand, the vacuum had almost no problems at all finding its way underneath furniture -- nor at the bottoms of cabinets with enough space for it to maneuver -- and then finding its way out from under furniture. I thought that was pretty impressive.
Further, the vacuum has three speeds and was able to vacuum, per se, at least as good as any other vacuum I've used -- including certain uprights that include a ball and whose first letter begins with a "D" (not allowed to mention competitor names!) -- and reviewed.
In the event that the vacuum becomes "confused" with what it's cleaning (meaning that it's not meandering a correct path through your room), you can pause the device, lift it up, and place it in some other directionality. However, if that does happen, it will think "home" is where it was unpaused and if you press the remote button to go back home, it will do its best to return to wherever it most recently started.
I haven't yet tried the scheduling feature, so I can't comment on that -- partially because we have to have a room where our cat won't attempt to get rid of hairballs on the floor! -- and it doesn't appear that Samsung has released their iOS app to control this device, so I can't comment on that, either.
Do I think this device is worth its MSRP? Only if you first declutter whatever room you intend to run the device. Other than that, while it won't replace a human vacuuming (and certainly not mopping), it'll definitely cover a decluttered room in reasonable form in the event that you're busy doing something else and a room has to get vacuumed.
Overall, it's a good start for a device at this pricepoint, but I think that some hardware changes for sensors are definitely in order.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Using Android technology, this Sony 4K HDR TV includes an array of film, TV and app choices. This 75-inch ultra-slim design features wall mounting or tabletop display, with wires hidden cleanly behind the console. The 4K technology in this Sony 4K HDR TV produces coloring similar to natural lighting.
Customer Rating
5
Fantastic TV for 4K/upscaled viewing!
on April 22, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
As I'm writing this review, as of 4/22/2017, Best Buy has also dropped the price of this item by $200. Since my wife and I purchased this item merely days ago, Best Buy fulfilled their promise of refunding us $200 since we are within the return period on their own price drop (doesn't work with competitors after time of sale).
If you're looking for a fantastic TV for use in a typical living room, this is it, especially at this price-point. The way to go if you're going 4K is also with some semblance of HDR, and this set certainly has it. Our understanding from the sales associate was that this item has the "mid-range" for HDR, but if you've never had 4K/HDR previously, it won't disappoint (the showroom unit at 65 inches was enough to convince my wife; enough said there!).
While there are many nit-pickers out there who are concerned about light bleed and other such things who might be used to spending thousands upon thousands of dollars for a new TV, please don't worry; this unit handles blacks and low-level living room lighting with ease.
Further, the tech in the TV does a fantastic job of effectively upscaling whatever picture you give it; I've watched this happen in real time, depending on whether I throw Xfinity HD, Blu-ray or regular DVDs at the TV -- everything comes out much clearer, and 75 inches is simply larger than life. Honestly, it looks like you're looking at an LED wall, because at 75 inches, that's pretty much what this is.
Regarding heaviness, yes, I think this TV clocks in at somewhere around 75 lbs; the packaging brings that total to 100 lbs, if I recall. When getting the TV out of the box, since you can't put pressure on the front panel without potentially damaging it, you absolutely must have at least two people (preferably adults who can lift 50 lbs) pick it up out of the box and then put it onto the included stand (if it's not hanging on a wall). Also, since it is so wide and prone to sway if hit, be absolutely sure that its final destination is somewhere that it's not going to be a hit risk; this thing is massive.
This unit does does have Android TV installed in it, which it dutifully attempts to setup upon first turning the TV on. You can either delve into this aspect or simply perform the basics to get to where you change input for what you want to see and go on.
And if you're like us and have no immediate access to 4K content, simply hook up some way to get to YouTube (we have an Apple TV for this) and search on "4K" or "4K HDR." There are many videos out there that show the potential for this tech -- it'll blow your mind.
In conclusion, for ~$2,000 for a 75 inch display, this is the one to get. You can't beat the price for what is an essentially top-of-the-line, one-step-removed from state-of-the-art television. Why my remark on state-of-the-art? Because 4K is so bleeding-edge that you literally won't get on-going 4K programming for a few years, in that 4K is still being finalized on the back-end, and no local broadcast affiliate is going to be switching to the format without millions in sunk costs (it requires equipment replacement, not just a software switch on).
So, my recommendation (because we'll probably do the same thing) is to get a fantastic set like this now, and in five years when OLED sets come down in price, use this beast as a secondary TV and feast on OLED :)
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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HP OMEN by HP Desktop: Stay connected with this HP Omen desktop computer. Its Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM keep complex programs running quickly, and its 1TB hard drive has plenty of storage for photo and music files. This HP Omen desktop computer includes an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 video card for sharp graphics.
Customer Rating
4
A good overall PC
on April 18, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
As nearby labels can attest, I was given this unit in exchange for an unbiased review.
Overall, the HP OMEN Desktop 870-244 is a very good machine, but it is certainly lacking in some areas.
First, the good. With an i7-7700 Intel processor coupled with 16GB RAM, this unit will keep you ahead of the technology curve for the next few years. Other great aspects of this PC includes the latest in wireless connectivity (including Bluetooth 4.2 M.2) and the exceptional NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card that includes 8GB dedicated RAM.
Of course, for this PC, the real sell is the graphics card, itself worth at least $400. It comes with three DisplayPort ports and one HDMI port. Since I happen to have a new LG Ultrawide monitor to pair up with the PC, I must say that the graphics are simply fantastic, especially if you're a novice gamer (such as myself). For example, Star Wars: Battlefront plays very well on this card in 21:9 mode. What would you do with the other two DisplayPort ports? Connect two more monitors! There are several YouTube videos that describe how to set games up in this fashion, and while I don't have that kind of hardware to play with, it appears that the GTX 1070 would serve well in that capacity.
Regarding inputs, HP went crazy with them: the HP OMEN has 6 USB puts on the rear and 4 on the top (the top of the machine includes a large indentation for reasonable access to the USB ports, analog headset jack, and card reader). The power button is situated to the top/front of the box, as is a wifi indicator. I think that was engineered well.
On the odd side, some things really stuck out. First, there is a full-length side vent to the PC towards the front/right of the machine (when looking straight on). That means you'll want to keep some space for airflow on that side. Also, if you tilt the machine forward to reach for rear inputs, the front facade extends to the point that it stops the tilt. And while this PC might be more designed to sit on a desk than under it, do note that there are dual plastic inset light "trails" (from top to bottom) where HP has decided to include lighting that displays through the entire color gamut; aside for pure aesthetics, I don't think this provides any other functionality at all whatsoever. Also interesting -- between the lights -- there is a vertical DVD drive, so you'll have to make sure you firmly attach the disc to the actual spindle, else the disc will fall out.
Now, for the bad. This PC shipped with a 1TB 7200 RPM hard drive. I'm not sure why HP is essentially wasting a gamer's time with *not* installing either a hybrid drive or a full-on SSD (Solid State Drive), but this is definitely one of the PC's downsides out of the box. Granted, it's noticeably faster than a 5200 RPM drive, but you can definitely get the device to struggle under load (most I/O bottlenecks on PCs (or Macs, for that matter) occur at the hard drive level; replace it with an SSD drive and you effectively have near-immediate responses to everything).
Next, the included peripherals -- HP-branded mouse and keyboard. Both are extremely cheap, and the keyboard is so bad to me that I had to replace it with a Microsoft ergonomic keyboard I happened to have available. Really, HP -- you've completely slacked on the main, basic peripherals for what is otherwise a good machine.
Regardless of the above points, overall, if you want a solid PC that can also absolutely handle the latest games (and then some), the HP OMEN is definitely worth considering. However, to really make it scream, I'd recommend opting for an SSD drive as well as separate keyboard and mouse.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Clean carpets, couches and stairs easily with this adaptable Dyson Ball Animal vacuum. Various attachments, including a tangle-free turbine tool, a multi-angle brush and a stair tool make pet hair removal quick and simple. The Dyson Ball Animal vacuum comes with a generous 35-foot cord, making it ideal for larger homes.
Customer Rating
5
Dyson's best vacuum yet
on March 19, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
I was given a unit in exchange for an unbiased review.
The first Dyson vacuum that my family bought was at least 10 years ago when the company was first hitting the market for "bagless" vacuums, and that machine is still going strong to this day (and the MSRP was about the same as what this machine costs new).
Dyson has done a tremendous job with refinements over the years. The vacuum's suction certainly seems well up to the task. In fact, getting the attachments hose to stretch enough away from the base unit is a challenge, in that the suction is so strong. Further, the way in which the attachment hose is connected to the vacuum allows for significantly easier extend and reattach. I also very much appreciate that the main three attachments connect effortlessly to the turbine's side (the pet hair attachment must still be stored separately). Basically, the machine has become a minimalist device with a ball that makes the vacuum head significantly easier to maneuver.
The only downside I've seen to the machine is the fact that it has two easily removable filters that the company recommends are cleaned about every two months. On the flipside, the cleaning process couldn't be easier; remove them, run cold water over them, and allow to sit in the sun for a day (I have a mopper that recommends removing bacteria by sunlight as well).
I can't say enough about the pet hair attachment. It's at least as good as the main vacuum head in terms of removing hair and small particles from carpet-like surfaces, and it's completely suction-operated. This attachment is worth the MSRP, in my view; an exceptionally clean car is my own proof of this!
In my view, you simply can't go wrong with Dyson vacuums. They do what they claim, and if this machine is engineered like our older model (it certainly appears to be), expect many years of great usage from it. And the 5-year warranty with free shipping to/from is pretty hard to beat :)
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take control of dynamic visual aids with this Logitech Spotlight presentation remote. Its intuitive three-button interface is ideal for pointing and navigating, and it provides versatile programmable functions via the Logitech Presentation app. This Logitech Spotlight presentation remote has a wireless range up to 100 ft. with Bluetooth Smart connectivity and USB receiver compatibility.
Customer Rating
4
A 21st century "laser pointer"
on March 19, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
This review is an unbiased review that is given in exchange for having freely received this product.
Knowing that the remote is from Logitech certainly gave me visions that the product should be of high quality, and that it is. In my view, it's well-designed -- the device and buttons are minimal but responsive enough to be useable during a presentation. The fact that you can attach the remote to a PC or Mac OS via either Bluetooth or wireless is a definite advantage.
No, you don't have to point the remote directly at the presentation screen for it to work! Instead, while the remote will move the mouse cursor around on screen, when selecting the appropriate select button, the installed software "highlights" a circular area over wherever the cursor happens to be (which can be moved by moving the remote) for dramatically increased viewability by your audience.
The only reason I didn't give the remote five stars is because of the fact that you have to install the software on whatever presentation computer you're using. For the price of the remote, it would be nice if the USB dongle would include software that could stay resident in memory in the case that you have to use a computer to which you don't have administrative access.
Overall, not bad for a device that makes the standard laser pointer look obsolete :)
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent mesh networking, ISP-compatible!
on February 7, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
As denoted by a nearby label, I was provided one of these units free in exchange for an unbiased review.
I’ll discuss the good, bad and overall conclusions in this review.
First, the good. Starting with the overall package, if you don’t receive it shrink-wrapped, it comes untethered by tape on the sides or multiple tabs. Instead, there is a looped tab attached to the front side of the box that, when opened, essentially flips up and uncovers the contents inside. This package includes 3 router nodes (the towers as depicted on the box), 3 matching power transformers, and 1 flattened Ethernet cable, all white.
Incidentally, for those who don’t know, a mesh wifi network is one in which there are multiple (at least two) individual routers that connect to each other via their own “backhaul” (a term that includes a separate “channel” to allow all routers to send/receive Internet back and forth between an end-point device (such as a mobile device) and the main node directly connected to the Internet). As each node is added to the network, the wifi signal continues to amplify out, thereby allowing more devices to have a stronger signal and correspondingly fast Internet access. This is substantially different than having a bridged wireless node or having wifi repeaters — that type of network essentially halves the Internet signal for each bridged node that’s added.
The setup was surprisingly — almost shockingly so — easy to do, perhaps in contrast to what other reviewers might have experienced. And before I got into device setup, I was a bit apprehensive at first, as we have Comcast Xfinity Internet to the house and I wasn’t sure how this mesh network would play with our owned modem/router topology. Previous research turned up next to nothing.
It turns out this wouldn’t be an issue, and I’ll explain. The included paper documentation is absolutely minimal, requiring you to download the Linksys app to your smartphone (I’m using an iPhone 7 Plus in this instance). While the initial Linksys cloud account signup took some doing (and is not required to make any of this work), the first thing the app makes you do is enable Bluetooth. Then, it waits for you to confirm that a node (doesn’t matter which one; they’ll all identical) is powered on. Once that’s done and you confirm, it takes at least 30 seconds to a minute for it to configure this first node. What’s interesting is that there is a point where, once the node is online with basic settings, you have to background the Linksys app, go to Settings, select the SSID for the VELOP node, background the Settings up, foreground the Linksys app, and go on (it’s a little unintuitive, but it works). At a point it asks you to provide an admin password. Then, part of the setup includes giving the new node (really, new network) a name for its SSID, as well as a password. Once completed (and you confirm), it then asks if your Internet access is via a separate modem and router, or modem/router combo, replete with a generic diagram to illustrate (notice I didn’t say it asks who your Internet provider is, merely how your Internet access topology is configured). I went with modem/router combo. At this point, the app asked me to connect an Ethernet cable between the VELOP node and my modem/router. Once I confirmed, it then went about configuring for Internet access. Once enabled, the integrated Speedtest app confirmed accessibility. Finally, after asking if I was OK with sharing diagnostic data with Linksys, it then proceeded to check for updates (which took about 2 minutes with no status bar). It was all good!
I was pretty wow’d at this point. The VELOP node did not require my current modem/router to be bridged or anything; it simply configured itself via one of the standard Ethernet ports on my existing modem/router. This also means that, in the event the VELOP were to go down, I could still have my previous SSIDs available. For the time being, once I confirmed the VELOP mesh network was good and had devices configured for it, I simply disallowed my existing modem/router SSIDs from being broadcast.
Adding a second node to the VELOP mesh network was a joy. The app allows for a choice to add a node to an existing VELOP network, which I chose. The app once again reminded me to turn on Bluetooth and then power on the secondary mesh node. Since the app knew my choice was to add onto the existing mesh, it then went through a phase of initially configuring the node (which took about 2 - 3 minutes with a status bar on screen), and then a phase of determining location for Internet accessibility (2 - 3 minutes with a status bar). Then, it similarly checked for updates (2 - 3 minutes, no status bar). Adding the third and final node was exactly the same process.
We now have fantastic wifi access, nearly immediate DHCP for device recognition on the network, and consistently full down/up speeds (and great ping) across the nodes.
Now, for the bad, which really isn’t that bad, because it’s nothing that a few software updates couldn’t fix. As mentioned, for whatever reason, Linksys’ cloud portal has remained down for some time, so I’ve been unable to confirm that I can reach my wifi network over LTE (the product claims admin access remotely). Further, if you try to log into the cloud account and attempt to associate the VELOP mesh with it, there’s an error thrown there, too. And as a final annoyance, the login screens are very inconsistent when attempting to log in (it should always provide either cloud account or router login). If you fail to connect to the cloud account, the only way to get the router login page is to proceed as if you’re setting up a new router system, back out, and the option to go to the router login page typically appears.
In conclusion, in spite of all the above, if you have more than 2,000 square feet of area (not necessarily just in house size) that you want consistently covered with wifi, a mesh network would definitely be a fitting option for you (Linksys claims up to 6,000 square feet of coverage). The Linksys app dashboard itself is quite intuitive, allowing at-a-glance access to number of devices on the network, whether or not Internet connection is up, whether the mesh network is up, device prioritization, basic parental controls (such as defining with sites are disallowed as well as device access blocking (presumably schedules are available, but that’s via the cloud account, which I cannot access at this time)), and a Guest Access slider control, allowing ad hoc SSID/password access to a separate net outside your current mesh network. A separate menu allows for other basic access, such as wifi settings, VELOP admin, speed testing, port forwarding, MAC filters, etc. Also, if you forget the admin password to the mesh network, it can be reset via the app, but only if you’re physically local to a node; there’s a PIN that’s affixed to the inner/underside of the node that’s required to reset. Pretty slick, I thought.
While you’re not going to enjoy absolute full control over the system (such as what you’d get from a DD-WRT-enabled router), you are going to get a system painless to set up, exceptionally easy to expand, allowing enough admin functionality to enable (or disable) products/services that most folks have on their network.
We love it and definitely recommend it!
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whip up healthy drinks with the Nutri Ninja BlendMax blender. Its Total Crushing blade technology and 1600W of power grind vegetables and frozen fruits, letting you create luscious smoothies, purees and fresh juices. The Nutri Ninja BlendMax blender comes with two interchangeable pitchers, letting you mix up to 88 oz. of ingredients or extract nutritious vitamins.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent companion to bowl system
on January 23, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Nutri Ninja made a great mistake -- in my favor. In exchange for a review of the system, we received both the bowl and this blender system.
In reality, they both operate in very similar fashion and produce great results. The specific buttons on the front of the base are an excellent, general guide as to how long and to what degree that food and drink should be mixed together, with plenty of ways to customize these experiences.
As per my other review, you can't go wrong with these blenders.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy nonstop music while charging your iPhone with this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter. It keeps your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus fully functional while plugged in, and it's compatible with Apple MFi-certified cables and headphones. The 12W power pass-through of this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter provides optimal charging speed for compatible devices.
Customer Rating
5
A basic dongle for dual functionality
on January 12, 2017
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
This unbiased review was given in exchange for freely receiving this device.
In reality, there's not much to review about the device except that it does work as advertised. For those who have situations where they need to simultaneously recharge an iOS device with no standard audio jack and listen to audio, this Belkin device will do it.
On the very basic instructions included, it does show that you shouldn't plug two lightning power adapters in simultaneously, nor two audio lightning adapters. I'm not sure how the internal circuitry would have handled these configurations, and I like my iPhone 7 Plus too much to try, so I have nothing to say about that :)
Regardless, this is a good, solid device for your dual power/audio needs.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whip up more smoothies and more with this Nutri Ninja blender. Its powerful 1200W motor base blends frozen fruits and desserts in seconds, and the Pro Extractor Blades extract nutrients from fruits and vegetables. With a 4-cup bowl, this Nutri Ninja blender lets you create enough nutritious treats for your entire family.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent duo blender system
on December 23, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
This unbiased review was provided in exchange for receiving the product to test out.
In our case, we actually received two boxes of product -- one for the bowl, and the other with a main attachment of an 88oz blender container. Presumably this is what Ninja means by duo, which ends up giving you more than six separate attachments and two different bases for mixing.
We believe this product is well worth the price tag associated. In making both food and smoothies with both bases, the Ninja makes short order of pretty much anything you throw at it. Pre-programmed buttons allow for excellent timing of blending ingredients with plenty of ability to customize -- either making mixing processes longer or shorter, depending on the consistency you prefer.
Two challenges with this device:
1. With all of the attachments available, you'll be hard-pressed to find space on our countertop for everything to sit! At least both bases have exceptionally good suction cups that fasten each securely to any solid surface.
2. Don't let size fool you. They may say that the bowl serves four people, but that's also understanding the equivalent of what an 8oz glass of drink really means. For most recipes, you'll likely have to up the serving sizes, because these recommendations wouldn't be enough for most.
2. Don't let size fool you. They may say that the bowl serves four people, but that's also understanding the equivalent of what an 8oz glass of drink really means. For most recipes, you'll likely have to up the serving sizes, because these recommendations wouldn't be enough for most.
This was our first blender set. Compared to much cheaper ones we've used over the years, this is the set we wished someone would have given us as a wedding showing gift!
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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PhilGA's Review Comments
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The iFLOOR BREEZE floor washer vacuums and mops hard floors at the same time. No more vacuuming and sweeping before mopping your floors. iFLOOR BREEZE does both simultaneously, in less time, and with better results. Lightweight, cordless, and powerful, the iFLOOR BREEZE removes tough, sticky messes from floors. This 2-in-1 powerful floor washer leaves less water on floors than competitors, so floors get cleaner, dry faster, and look their best.
Does the floor breeze wet/dry cordless stick vacuum-silver model ON button stay "ON" without having to hold the button down?
Yes.
Then again, having tested several models/makers, I don't know of any manufacturer who has created a model that requires you to constantly hold the power button down. That would speak more to there being an issue with the button's functionality in that situation.
Then again, having tested several models/makers, I don't know of any manufacturer who has created a model that requires you to constantly hold the power button down. That would speak more to there being an issue with the button's functionality in that situation.
3 years ago
by
PhilGA
Nugget Ice. Pellet ice. Drive-in ice. Whatever you call it, you know it's "the good ice." Now that chewable ice is available from the convenience of your countertop with the Opal 2.0 Ice Maker. It is capable of producing up to 38 lbs. of ice in 24 hours and stores up to 3 lbs. of ice at one time. The Opal 2.0 Ice Maker has WiFi connection capability and comes with the side tank attachment for 3x more ice production.
What's the difference between the Opal 1.0 (Sold online at other retailers) and the Opal 2.0 besides design?
Here are the major differences:
- The casing corners are now rounded
- The circle LED indicator has been replaced by "touch-sensitive" buttons on the front, as well as distinct word labels stating what the appliance is doing. This includes replacing the rear slider switch for cleaning with touch-button functionality in the front
- The plastic ice bin no longer has holes along the rear-bottom; a spring-loaded hole has been added that opens only when the bin is slid all the way into the appliance, thereby preventing drips when fully removing the bin
- Overall, the appliance does appear quieter, though that's more subjective
- Biggy: when draining the water while cleaning, it completely dumps in about 30 seconds. Previous units took minutes to do this.
I hope this helps!
- The casing corners are now rounded
- The circle LED indicator has been replaced by "touch-sensitive" buttons on the front, as well as distinct word labels stating what the appliance is doing. This includes replacing the rear slider switch for cleaning with touch-button functionality in the front
- The plastic ice bin no longer has holes along the rear-bottom; a spring-loaded hole has been added that opens only when the bin is slid all the way into the appliance, thereby preventing drips when fully removing the bin
- Overall, the appliance does appear quieter, though that's more subjective
- Biggy: when draining the water while cleaning, it completely dumps in about 30 seconds. Previous units took minutes to do this.
I hope this helps!
3 years, 9 months ago
by
PhilGA
Improve your confidence with the Upright GO posture trainer. The personalized program trains your body to notice when you're slouched, while the small, lightweight design makes it unnoticeable. This Upright GO posture trainer features an app on iOS and Android for real-time progress tracking and provides instant feedback once placed on your back.
How well does it stay on? If you work an outside labor job where you sweat a decent amount will it stay connected to your back?
To me, the bigger issue is whether a device that sticks out about 1/2 to 3/4 inch from your back would work with whatever gear you're wearing or carrying.
If that kind of size isn't an issue, I'm not sure how long the adhesive will continue sticking under your conditions. There's not more than half-an-inch wide by about 1 1/2 inches of adhesive to begin with.
If that kind of size isn't an issue, I'm not sure how long the adhesive will continue sticking under your conditions. There's not more than half-an-inch wide by about 1 1/2 inches of adhesive to begin with.
4 years, 5 months ago
by
PhilGA
Velop with Intelligent Mesh™ Technology is an award-winning family mesh Wi-Fi system created to work seamlessly together. Mix and match nodes with different speeds to modify performance or interchange colors to coordinate with your home style. Regardless of shape, size, or wherever your Internet comes in, Velop can be customized to your home. Which makes it easy to add more nodes as your home and family expand. Unlike traditional routers with range extenders, each node provides a powerful Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home. It continuously self-organizes and optimizes to find the fastest path to the Internet for seamless Wi-Fi everywhere. Individual nodes may be connected wirelessly or by Ethernet for fast, reliable connection. This is an ultrasimple and powerful system that uses only one Wi-Fi network name and password to give you seamless and secure Wi-Fi. And leading-edge security lets you block content and easily pause the Internet for dinner or homework. It works with all Internet service provider supplied equipment and speeds, and its simple app-based setup will get you up and running in minutes.
Trying to find a system that works in a house over 4000 sq feet. WiFi extenders didn’t work. Have a Spectrum WiFi router. What router is compatible w/Spectrum that I can use with mesh system. Do nodes just plug in? Will be used for iPads and phones only.
I'd go with the taller Velops, as they work well with our gigabit ethernet (via Cat6 cabling in the house directly connected to our provider, Windstream).
This is a mesh system, which means that there's a backhaul channel across all three routers essentially tying them together, and then each router has two wifi bands for depending on how new or old your equipment is. Having three such channels means there's no bandwidth sharing at all -- each device has full access to all available bandwidth (unless you specifically set something up in routing differently).
I don't think you'll have a problem covering 4k square feet, unless you have a bunch of walls all over the place, and if that's the case, you'll have wifi issues no matter how you set things up.
Yes -- the nodes just plug in. All setup is controlled via the mobile app, and after you answer a couple of setup questions, the system is pretty self-managing out of the box.
This is a mesh system, which means that there's a backhaul channel across all three routers essentially tying them together, and then each router has two wifi bands for depending on how new or old your equipment is. Having three such channels means there's no bandwidth sharing at all -- each device has full access to all available bandwidth (unless you specifically set something up in routing differently).
I don't think you'll have a problem covering 4k square feet, unless you have a bunch of walls all over the place, and if that's the case, you'll have wifi issues no matter how you set things up.
Yes -- the nodes just plug in. All setup is controlled via the mobile app, and after you answer a couple of setup questions, the system is pretty self-managing out of the box.
5 years, 6 months ago
by
PhilGA
Velop with Intelligent Mesh™ Technology is an award-winning family mesh Wi-Fi system created to work seamlessly together. Mix and match nodes with different speeds to modify performance or interchange colors to coordinate with your home style. Regardless of shape, size, or wherever your Internet comes in, Velop can be customized to your home. Which makes it easy to add more nodes as your home and family expand. Unlike traditional routers with range extenders, each node provides a powerful Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home. It continuously self-organizes and optimizes to find the fastest path to the Internet for seamless Wi-Fi everywhere. Individual nodes may be connected wirelessly or by Ethernet for fast, reliable connection. This is an ultrasimple and powerful system that uses only one Wi-Fi network name and password to give you seamless and secure Wi-Fi. And leading-edge security lets you block content and easily pause the Internet for dinner or homework. It works with all Internet service provider supplied equipment and speeds, and its simple app-based setup will get you up and running in minutes.
Will this system directly plug into my century link router? Also, is the system compatible with the century link service? Thanks
In our area, we have Windstream, and we have fiber to the house at that. What happens is that we also have Cat6 ethernet cabling in the house. The only thing the tech did was make sure that the cabling that was coming from outside the house was properly terminated, and then that simply plugged into the bottom of one of my Velop nodes.
Then, we simply set up for PPPoE (username and password), and I was good to go.
It was extremely simple to set up and completely removed the need for us to use any other modem for signaling.
Then, we simply set up for PPPoE (username and password), and I was good to go.
It was extremely simple to set up and completely removed the need for us to use any other modem for signaling.
5 years, 6 months ago
by
PhilGA
Velop with Intelligent Mesh™ Technology is an award-winning family mesh Wi-Fi system created to work seamlessly together. Mix and match nodes with different speeds to modify performance or interchange colors to coordinate with your home style. Regardless of shape, size, or wherever your Internet comes in, Velop can be customized to your home. Which makes it easy to add more nodes as your home and family expand. Unlike traditional routers with range extenders, each node provides a powerful Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home. It continuously self-organizes and optimizes to find the fastest path to the Internet for seamless Wi-Fi everywhere. Individual nodes may be connected wirelessly or by Ethernet for fast, reliable connection. This is an ultrasimple and powerful system that uses only one Wi-Fi network name and password to give you seamless and secure Wi-Fi. And leading-edge security lets you block content and easily pause the Internet for dinner or homework. It works with all Internet service provider supplied equipment and speeds, and its simple app-based setup will get you up and running in minutes.
xfinity internet range extend in house?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, I did just this with my original set of taller tower Velops.
When setting up the main node that physically connects to the Internet, the app will seamlessly allow you to check whether you connect directly to the Internet or, as with any cable modem, you connect through that modem. The app takes care of all the rest of the setup from there.
You will have far better range than even with the Technicolor modems that Comcast provides.
When setting up the main node that physically connects to the Internet, the app will seamlessly allow you to check whether you connect directly to the Internet or, as with any cable modem, you connect through that modem. The app takes care of all the rest of the setup from there.
You will have far better range than even with the Technicolor modems that Comcast provides.
5 years, 6 months ago
by
PhilGA
Experience lag-free, immersive audio with this wireless Plantronics gaming headset. It has support for lifelike Dolby Atmos sound, and the sound-isolating ear cups and noise-canceling microphone keep your focus on the game. This lightweight Plantronics gaming headset has a 24-hour battery life and convenient analog adjustments for custom game audio settings.
This wireless headphones, cam I use it on a laptop and do the laptop need to be bluetooth or is there a adapter that I can plug to my laptop to make it wireless? Can you please let me know. Thanks
Yes, can be used on a laptop. In fact, I received a review unit and did just that.
Since this is not a Bluetooth-based device, it uses what I call a USB wireless bridge (small square box that's included with the headset) in order to communicate with a PC. This will require a free USB port, and the charging cable (if simultaneously charging and listening) will require a second USB port.
Since this is not a Bluetooth-based device, it uses what I call a USB wireless bridge (small square box that's included with the headset) in order to communicate with a PC. This will require a free USB port, and the charging cable (if simultaneously charging and listening) will require a second USB port.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
PhilGA
Run programs on this 12.3-inch HP Chromebook convertible laptop. Its detachable touch-screen display lets you enjoy brilliant 2K content, and you can write and draw on it with the included Active Pen. This HP Chromebook convertible laptop has 32GB of storage, and its Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of RAM provide smooth performance.
Does this computer have a camera in which I can use Skype?
Yes. In fact, there are two camera/mic combinations; one on the front and another set on the back.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
PhilGA
Showcase video adventures in Full HD with this 24.5-inch HP Omen gaming display. Its 144Hz refresh rate and 1 ms response time let you play fast-action games seamlessly, and it has HDMI, DisplayPort and USB 3.0 ports for versatile connectivity. This HP Omen gaming display has a built-in headphone hook for easy organization.
Is this a Freesync monitor? I keep getting conflicting information.
I would have to say, no. Typically, such features are advertised explicitly enough to where you'd know, but for under $300, don't count on it.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
PhilGA
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.
Can the Velop be easily integrated into a AT&T U-verse setup either to act as the router or be placed into bridge mode? I'm primarily interested if the Velop can be placed into bridge mode which would make the Velop an access point.
We have Xfinity Internet using our own modem/router combo. When setting up the VELOP system, any existing network configurations are completely separate from the VELOP mesh network. In fact, on initial node setup, all that's required is to have a physical Ethernet cable routed from the VELOP node to your existing modem/router Ethernet port (non-WAN). The Linksys app then has the VELOP node configure itself for Internet access.
Unless you really want to go the bridge route with your existing setup, the VELOP mesh network allows for its own wifi SSID setup without bothering anything currently existing.
I hope this helps!
Unless you really want to go the bridge route with your existing setup, the VELOP mesh network allows for its own wifi SSID setup without bothering anything currently existing.
I hope this helps!
7 years, 3 months ago
by
PhilGA