PhilGA's stats
- Review count129
- Helpfulness votes339
- First reviewJanuary 19, 2013
- Last reviewFebruary 20, 2024
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- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count24
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- First answerDecember 24, 2014
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Browse the internet or play your favorite apps on this Acer tablet. It runs on an Android operating system and is powered by a quad-core 64-bit processor for full functionality. Google Mobile Services and Microsoft Office Suite are preloaded on this Acer tablet for out-of-the-box work or play capabilities, and DTS-HD Premium Sound lets you enjoy videos.
Customer Rating
1
Simply save your money for a better tablet
on October 6, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
As noted by one of the icons associated with this review, I am part of the Best Buy Technical Insiders Network. I was freely given this product in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. And a brutally honest review is what I'm about to give.
Admittedly, I am an Apple fanboy, and while we have plenty of PCs/laptops in the house, we are also very much an iOS-driven household. When this particular model came open, I was really excited in that I'm relatively unfamiliar with the Android platform and originally thought this would give me a chance to check out what non-Apple folks have raved about.
Further, keep in mind that I really don't have anything negative to say about the Android platform; what little I've had a chance to interact with it, it's a reasonable OS to navigate. What I want to address is Acer's rendition of the physical device.
Out of the box, this product simply feels cheap. The back is a slab of hard plastic, similar to what I'd find on a kid's toy. The front screen is less than what you'd find on even the current, cheapest iPad or iPad Mini.
But what's worse is not even the physical aspects of the device -- it's in the performance. Even when going into Google Chrome -- repeat, Google Chrome, Google's own browser on their own OS platform -- and pulling up various tech blogs, especially those with lots of graphics and media associated with a given post, the device simply slows down to the point that it becomes unusable. Frankly, if your device can't handle what's otherwise simple web surfing, then it won't handle anything beyond that at all. And this was using the device straight out of the box.
I really wanted to say something positive about this device, and I suppose what I can say is I'm glad I didn't personally invest the retail value of $150 into it. I would have immediately returned it because it is physically way underpowered even for the simplest tasks. Seriously, this isn't the budget device you want to buy.
Please, don't invest in this particular Android device. I'm really surprised Acer let this one get out the door in such a supremely underpowered device, because I don't think Acer is otherwise a bad brand in the slightest.
Instead, save your money and buy something at least twice or three times more powerful than this device. This Android tablet has made me glad our family has invested in Apple devices. Maybe a more powerful Android tablet could deliver better results, but this one is not it.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-8points
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Listen to music uninterrupted with these Sony stereo headphones. Adaptive noise cancellation features ensure you only hear the music and not ambient sounds, while a powerful battery delivers up to 20 hours of listening pleasure. These Sony stereo headphones are wireless so that you can listen in comfort to the high-resolution audio that delivers incredible bass and trebles.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent full spectrum headset
on September 28, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Off the top, as a member of Best Buy's invite-only Technical Insider Network program, I received these headphones without charge in return for an objective review. And an objective review is what you're going to get.
I've had a particular affinity to sound for my entire life. Very early on, in discovering that I have perfect tonal memory (which is not to be confused with an outstanding ability to sing -- I've done better in supporting roles!), my brain is one of those weird ones wired to be able to figure out what instruments or sources are included in almost any sound board mix. Therefore, writing such a review for headphones is particularly interesting to me.
From the outset, this was the first serious set of noise-cancelling headphones that I've ever worn, at least from a consumer standpoint. And while there are caveats to keep in mind, they really are outstanding.
The noice cancellation is quite advanced. In my home office, I have a white noise maker which was always on in the background when I tested the headphones. When noise cancellation turns on (which it always does, by default, when you press and hold the power button for about 2 seconds), you are greeted by a female voice (of Japanese descent) that the headphones have turned on and that noise cancellation is on. What's nice about such cancellation is that there's another Ambient Sound button (accompanied with same female voice) that allows for ambient noise in, or -- in the case of airports and like areas -- voice sounds in (likely separating the typical human voice frequencies from others).
Regarding noice cancellation, while you can take your right hand and touch and hold on top of the right earmuff, this does temporarily suspend cancellation, but it does not pause any music you might be listening to.
As a crazy preorderer for the iPhone 7 Plus, I did get the phone in time to be able to test on the earphones. Pairing was nearly flawless and completely seamless; turn iPhone Bluetooth on, go under Bluetooth in Settings, select the aptly-named set of headphones, and you're connected. From that point forward, simply turn iPhone Bluetooth on, turn on headset, and you're paired in under 3 seconds. On top of this, when you're connected over iOS 10 on iPhone 7, the Bluetooth icon includes its own power meter next to it, so you're able to see at a glance how much power you have in the headset (the female voice mentions the power level at power off on the headset as well).
Now on to the actual sound itself.
Anyone who knows what they're talking about in the sound industry will tell you that, when it comes to sound, you have to either be born with the gift of hearing frequencies or you have to learn how to deal with different frequencies so that you know how to best operate something like a sound board or post-production mixer. As a semi-professional volunteer camera director for one of the top 10 churches in America, I'm surrounded by production folks, so I get this. For those strictly in the consumer space who have no idea what I'm talking about, there's really no need to read further; they are great headsets and you won't go wrong with them. For those who can't stand your sound mix being screwed up, read on.
On the negative, this is distinctly a Sony headset. Their sound field is all over this headset. Personally, I prefer Infinity speakers over any other type; they simply reproduce the truest sound to my ears. Having said this, this headset is fully Sony, so if you're a Sony connoisseur, these are for you.
In my head, the Sony sound field is biased towards the lower end of the frequency range. There is no way that I've found to change this -- maybe giving higher frequencies a bit more prominence in the sound field. However, the overall sound is well put together, and neither high nor low tones damage the efficacy of the reproduction in any way. In fact, I do appreciate the lowest frequency reproduction; I can almost feel the vibrations in my head when it comes to things such as dubstep!
On the positive side, Sony has more than adequately reproduced the full sound spectrum with this headset. While I'm sure this has everything to do with noice cancellation (remember, these are my first consumer set of noise-cancelling headphones), I was able to pick up on nuances in songs that I already knew that I hadn't picked up before. Very nice stuff.
Also, regarding volume and track control, it's literally as simple as swiping a finger vertically up or down (volume) or horizontally front or back (track) on the right earmuff (iPhone confirms changes).
At the time of this review, I haven't had a chance to check out dealing with phone calls, but expect that to be just as intuitive.
Bottom line? In spite of the fact that I have a personal sound field preference to another speaker maker, this Sony headset has instantly become my new, go-to headset for my iPhone and other devices. It does include a standard USB charger as well as a 3.5 inch jack in those cases that Bluetooth isn't available (such as that new iPhone 7!). I definitely recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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3of 4voted this as helpful.
Tackle the biggest messes with this Bissell Crosswave all-in-one multi-surface cleaner. A dual-action roller scrubs and picks up debris at the same time to reduce the number of passes you need to make, and the convenient fingertip controls let you switch functions quickly and easily. This Bissell Crosswave all-in-one multi-surface cleaner has swivel steering for increased control.
Customer Rating
4
Reasonable general mopper
on September 15, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
This review is based on my receiving a unit from Best Buy at no cost to me.
Overall, this is a reasonable product. Starting with the shipping carton, I appreciated that when opening from the top that there was a diagram of all included parts. There weren't many parts, and it was easy to get the device together.
Now, I like Pine-Sol, and while this usage isn't strictly supported, I did it anyway. It actually worked well. In fact, the only issue was in making sure the feeder reservoir didn't clog the intake with too much foam. Other than that, the mopping worked well.
Essentially, this is a mini Shop-Vac, in that it sucks up both dry and wet simultaneously. I really liked the fact that there was virtually no standing water on my floors after use.
So far, I've only had one run with it, but believe it's a keeper, and super-simple to mop.
Frankly, I wouldn't pay $250 for the machine; I'd recommend something south of $200. But, all in all, it's a reasonable machine, even light enough to do stairs.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+16points
19of 22voted this as helpful.
Print stunning borderless photos and bold documents using this HP ENVY 7640 printer, which features an optimized color resolution of up to 4800 x 1200 dpi and a rendered black resolution of up to 1200 x 1200 dpi to ensure crisp text and vibrant images.
Customer Rating
5
Fantastic inkjet printer
on September 13, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Over the years, my wife and I have had various makes of printers. What really got us going with this printer were a few things. First, my wife sent me a blog article regarding HP Instant Ink. Secondly, Best Buy had this particular model on sale (it's the top of the ENVY line).
Let's first consider HP Instant Ink. We already knew we were running out of ink from our last printer (it is a Canon PIXMA printer, not bad in its own right), so we knew that we were going to have to spend on the order of $15 - $35 per cartridge (the Canon took 5 separate cartridges, whereas this HP takes only two). Having to get most of those replaced equalled the cost of this printer on sale. Seriously. It also put into perspective how much we were spending on ink. Even if you only replace cartridges two or three times a year, that's a minimum $45 up to $80 per change out.
So, how does HP Instant Ink fit into all of this? For as little as $2.99/month, you pay for a set number of pages (some of which can roll over to the next month), not for a set number of cartridges. We actually opted for the $4.99/month option (with a current deal to get three months free). And given this line of printers, it is actually an "Internet of Things" device, in that it has its own internal router, so it directly communicates with HP as to when ink levels are low, thereby ordering the cartridges on its own. Essentially, you only know when you're low on ink when the cartridges show up at your door!
Secondly, as I mentioned, this particular unit was on sale at Best Buy. Fantastic deal on a $300 printer. As mentioned, it can create its own wifi network and includes NFC communications, plus its ePrint designation basically allows you to print to this printer from anywhere outside of your home's wifi presence.
Regarding coloration, when the retail box marketing claims that it produces lab-quality prints, HP isn't kidding (though since printing is becoming such a commodity, this isn't a terribly high bar to cross). The results are really good. We'll be putting this feature to the test once we receive our pre-ordered iPhone 7 Pluses and see how good printed pics turn out.
The printer is fantastic. The ability to auto-order ink at a substantially reduced priced compared to buying cartridges piecemeal is simply a game changer by itself (that's why we bought the printer). And if you can't quite budget for this model, consider another ENVY model, or certainly any other model that supports HP Instant Ink.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect favorite peripherals to this Acer Aspire laptop. Four USB ports let you connect accessories, transfer files or charge a cellphone while you work, and HDMI outputs make dual-screen functionality possible. Access nearby wireless networks with this Acer Aspire laptop and stream videos or upload your own images captured with the built-in HD webcam.
Customer Rating
4
Great, overall utilitarian laptop
on July 12, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Off the top, Acer ships the laptop in a low-profile cardboard shipper; the outer box is thin but does the job (the inside packaging is more than sufficient to keep the device, power supply and cord well-protected).
While the power brick itself is rather small, I appreciated that Acer included a resealable Ziplock-style bag for the rest of the power cord. It's a tidy way to keep the cabling together with the laptop. The only thing I would have added would have been a Velcro strap attached in order to more easily tie up the cord.
The initial anti-static/scratch bag is very nice to ship the laptop in. It's the equivalent of putting the machine in an envelope, versus an unwieldy bag that others might use (and could become dislodged in shipping).
Getting the machine going: per the Setup Guide, I plugged in the power cord and then powered on the laptop. For the power cord, it's on the left side and it slides in easily but then requires reasonable force to "click" fully in (I suppose it would be good to not try tripping on the cord, because that "click" puts it pretty solidly in place). For the power button, it's on the right side versus being somewhere on the same plane as the keyboard or on the front (I've never had a 2-in-1 laptop before, so perhaps the power button placement is good depending on screen orientation).
In opening the laptop to begin the setup process, I really appreciated that the marketing stickers were both only on the edge of the screen and were very easy to peel off (anyone who's dealt with PCs for any length of time can tell you horror stories of trying to get the stickiest of labels off their devices!). This might seem simplistic to some, but it's a nice way that Acer stays out of the user's way.
The touchpad is nearly centered to the spacebar versus centered to the keyboard; this is a nice engineering touch to help minimize "fat-fingering" mouse movements when you don't want them. It is nice and matte-smooth; it isn't too slick. It does not require a complete depress to select items. It also allows for single taps to select and a dual-finger scrolling ability (such as going through setup options).
A few keyboard notes:
- LED backlit
- Separate but narrow dedicated keypad
- Soft-touch keys
- Brightness and Volume adjustments are Fn-based on the arrow keys
- Enter and backslash keys are quasi-molded together, though they operate separately (interesting engineering choice)
- Separate but narrow dedicated keypad
- Soft-touch keys
- Brightness and Volume adjustments are Fn-based on the arrow keys
- Enter and backslash keys are quasi-molded together, though they operate separately (interesting engineering choice)
While setup is typical Windows 10, you can tell this is a non-SSD (Solid-State Drive), likely a 5400-rpm drive. It's reasonably fast, but it does take a few minutes to get through initial Windows updates (the included 8GB RAM really helps later speeding through previously-loaded applications). Speaking of drives, there is conspicuously no hard drive LED light to let you know that the drive is being accessed. That's a strange departure from the norm to me. Maybe that goes with this being a 2-in-1 laptop -- in spite of the fact that there are separate power and battery LEDs on the front of the keyboard.
The cooling fan is located directly on the center-bottom of the machine. I don't know that I like that, especially in laptop mode where air would be forced into my lap.
All in all, the setup process wasn't too bad. And moving around the system is more than reasonable, even with an i5 processor and basic hard drive.
The 802.11ac MIMO wifi is blazing fast and beats most other devices in the house. As these new wifi standards continue to evolve, and as more and more routers take advantage of them, wifi continues to remove itself as a point of contention when it comes to wireless throughput.
The 15-inch IPS multi-touch LCD displays appears quite clear and sharp for this class of laptop. There were no obvious bad pixels in this unit.
Regarding the battery, after being plugged in and the battery showed 100% charged, when unplugged the percentage dropped to 96% with somewhere between 5 - 7 hours remaining -- clearly depending on how many applications you have open as well as any other usage going on. It's kind of funny: when the laptop goes idle, you'll see closer to 11 - 12 hours of battery left.
Coming out of Sleep mode is pretty painless -- I'm guessing less than 3 seconds from touching a keyboard key to getting to the initial sign-on screen.
Overall, I'd say this laptop would make a great utilitarian device. While it's not business class (simply replacing the default hard drive with a SSD would suffice for a business user), it's quite solid for any general purpose use. And weighing in at roughly 4 pounds, it won't wear you out handling it, either.
Disclaimer: I was provided this device in exchange for an honest review of it.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Your household wants to play, stream and work online all at once. With this Linksys router, you can do it all without buffering or other interruptions. Use the Smart Wi-Fi app to get started, control, and monitor your home network from anywhere.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent product for any wireless need
on February 4, 2016
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Let me first start by saying that we happen to have a Netgear cable modem/router for our "main" wifi experience in the house, but it doesn't do well in projecting signals to our upstairs office and bedrooms. Therefore, this device was specifically being used as a wireless bridge for both wireless and wired connections upstairs; this review will reflect that experience.
Upon receiving the product, it appeared to be packaged very well with good use of internal box space. One concern I had regarding marketing materials was the statement, "Up to 12 devices." In reality, this isn't some sort of DHCP restriction; instead, this means that it will act like a switch and support up to 12 devices with the full throughput available of, say, your Internet connection, simultaneously. Off the top, this is a major advantage for this device over other products on the market that are more like hubs -- all devices are parceled a certain amount of bandwidth.
The only knock on packaging was the fact that the three antennae were in plastic wrappers that could have been easier to open. I thought that part of the packaging was a bit over-engineered.
Speaking of the antennae, when attaching them to the device, don't bend the terminators into their final positions until after attaching each. It's easier to turn each antenna without the bend, waiting to place them when all three are attached.
The device has a separate on/off switch, so it doesn't automatically turn on when power is plugged in. No user guide is included (presumably this could be found online), and it includes a CD (for those who still have such drives) and a quick-start guide that conveniently includes the SSID and general router password. This is good for those of us who are DIYers.
One of the best features of this router is that initial setup doesn't require having a separate computer physically plug into the router, make static IP changes on that computer, and then proceed with setup. This Linksys device can be configured wirelessly, which is exactly how I proceeded.
The router was booted up and I set my laptop's wifi to the router's SSID. I received an initial page that had me choose to either go through their setup or configure the router manually. Since I am a DIYer, and I knew I wanted a wireless bridge configuration, and I initially didn't have Internet access configured, I decided to set up manually. When going this route, be aware that the admin password is admin (which I subsequently changed), and that's not printed anywhere.
The web server on the router allowed me a slightly different wireless bridge configuration than I'm used to (e.g.: having to get main access point's MAC address, use only WEP security, etc.). I simply had to provide my main wifi SSID, choose which Ghz band, allowed WPA-2 Personal security, and the SSID's password. On reboot it threw a validation dialog saying that it was having to use my particular connection for upstream connectivity and another for downstream -- in other words, it was going to disconnect me prior to reboot.
The router came back up after reboot. I rejoined the router's SSID. Even though it was now in wireless bridge mode, I went ahead and created a Linksys Smart Wi-Fi account, though that's beside the point for this mode. In wireless bridge mode, I'm now fully accessing my overall network and Internet. Two separate speed tests show that this mode does not sacrifice speed at all.
Total setup time minus account creation took less than 10 minutes. Very impressive and excellent experience. And while I didn't go through a full-fledged router setup using this device as my only wifi router, the menus and screens are significantly intuitive enough to where this is suitable for most folks wanting to get into an advanced device for their networking needs.
Highly recommended.
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
What's great about it: Fantastic wireless bridge, super range, doesn't sacrifice bandwidth
What's not so great: Three external antennae restrict physical placement
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Power your home theater with this Insignia™ NS-SB515 2.1-channel soundbar, which features Bluetooth technology for easy wireless streaming. The 6.5" subwoofer produces quality low-end sound to enhance your favorite films.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent sound system for general audience
on November 24, 2015
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Since my ideal system includes separate Infinity speakers for each sound channel all married to a well-balanced subwoofer (these types of speakers have always sounded great to me), I have a relatively high standard for audio reproduction. Nothing distracts and annoys me more than poorly-designed speakers or audio that is too tinny in the tweeter ranges or not enough thump in the bass ranges.
The good news for this Insignia NS-SB515 2.1-channel soundbar is that it actually impresses, even though it's minimalistic in both design as well as input sourcing/audio tuning.
In terms of packaging, everything was well thought-out. Insignia included a wall-mount template (reasonably heavy-stock paper) with pictoral level that could be rolled out to the length of the sound bar (this is especially important for the crucial sound field, covered shortly). Instructions (of which it takes about four actual steps to set up) come in a resealable ziplock-style bag, which is really convenient. Overall, the product packaging was well thought-out to maximize space use for the vertical bar without too much waste with cardboard boxing surrounding the subwoofer.
The sound bar was packed in both sleeve foam as well as plastic wrap. I appreciate Insignia putting rubber feet at opposite ends to prevent movement once the bar is placed in the desired location. The subwoofer was similarly wrapped in sleeve foam.
For this package, the sound bar is powered via a separate and included power adapter that plugs in to the rear indent of the bar. This crevice includes ample room for power, optical audio in and RCA left/right in. There is no HDMI pass-through on this model; it's possible a more expensive model might have this functionality. The subwoofer plugs in via an integrated power cord and wirelessly communicates with the sound bar.
Following the instructions, I hooked up the sound bar to an Insignia TV via RCA cables (there was no optical audio out for this TV) and plugged it in. I then plugged in the subwoofer. Also, pairing an iPhone 6+ was very simple as well.
The sound was really surprising; it will have no issues filling a room and might come close to being a media room's primary audio source (assuming you only have two audio input sources). The virtual integrated stereo settings do allow for the sense of surround sound -- and that is rather a full audio sound, unlike other systems that seem "obvious" they're pushing the audio around the room.
Once I adjusted the volume for the sound bar (containing mid- and high-range frequencies) and separate volume control for subwoofer, I was able to reproduce a really nice, balanced sound per the following audio references. The remote control included with the system allows for separate volume controls for bar and subwoofer, three sound stages ("Standard," "Theater" and "News" -- I preferred "Theater"), inputs for optical, RCA and Bluetooth, and a power button.
Since I'm very particular about my audio references, here's a listing of audio sources used to test the system:
- Star Trek: The Next Generation - Main Title (Dennis McCarthy -- Star Trek: The Next Generation: Encounter at Farpoint (Original TV Soundtrack))
-- This is my absolute baseline sound reference for any speaker system I ever consider. My tonal memory imprint knows how the sound "should" be reproduced, and any system is judged to be "good" or "bad" based on its respective audio reproduction
-- via Bluetooth from iPhone 6+
-- This is my absolute baseline sound reference for any speaker system I ever consider. My tonal memory imprint knows how the sound "should" be reproduced, and any system is judged to be "good" or "bad" based on its respective audio reproduction
-- via Bluetooth from iPhone 6+
- Bugler's Dream and Olympic Fanfare Medley (Boston Pops Orchestra -- NBC Presents Summon the Heroes)
-- via Bluetooth from iPhone 6+
-- via Bluetooth from iPhone 6+
- Main Title (From "Star Wars") [Instrumental] (John Williams - Greatest Hits (1969 - 1999))
-- via Bluetooth from iPhone 6+
-- via Bluetooth from iPhone 6+
- 2015 American Music Awards -- Star Wars segment featuring Pentatonix
-- via DirecTV HD recording by way of Insignia RCA inputs
-- via DirecTV HD recording by way of Insignia RCA inputs
- Various HD and news programs
-- via live DirecTV HD receiver by way of Insignia RCA inputs
-- via live DirecTV HD receiver by way of Insignia RCA inputs
Three key caveats with this system:
- When turning the TV off, even though there is no direct link from the TV to the sound bar (outside of the RCA cables), since the sound bar senses the audio signal stopping, the sound bar similarly turns off. Therefore, if you are switching from, say, turning off the TV and going to Bluetooth, you will have to power the bar back on and then press the Bluetooth source button.
- Don't lose the remote! If you do, there is no other way that I know to perform any of the system's activities.
- You'll need to be on relatively the same level as the sound bar to be within range of sound. Any movement vertically above or below the sound bar will impact the quality of audio reproduction (hence why there are instructions for actually mounting the bar underneath a TV on a wall).
Overall, this is a very nice system. It will definitely be used for our secondary TV setup. Because it lacks HDMI pass-through (something that our more expensive Sony system includes), I wouldn't use it for our primary TV setup, as our other system allows switching between more inputs. However, if it did allow such pass-through, I wouldn't hesitate to switch out systems -- the sound really is that good, given that there's no granular fine-tuning of audio frequencies inherent with the system.
My Best Buy number: 1006544055
What's great about it: Fast set up, very good sound
What's not so great: No HDMI pass-thru; powering on/off TV impacts sound bar sources
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
5
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14of 26voted this as helpful.
The NETGEAR Dual-Band AC1750 Router with 16 x 4 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem provides very fast cable speeds with an AC1750 WiFi router and integrated DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, up to 680 Mbps. Compatible with cable Internet providers such as XFINITY from Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, Cablevision, and more.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent modem replacement for Xfinity Internet
on December 24, 2014
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
We just bought this modem/router from Best Buy on Christmas Eve.
Previously, we had a Technicolor TC8305C Comcast-leased modem that seemed to work fairly well with our Blast! Plus 50MBbps service. However, the Netgear C6300 certainly surpasses what I believe to be a more than reasonable Technicolor modem/router.
This device is geared towards the 802.11ac standard -- essentially the latest and greatest, speed-wise. It also has 3x3 MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) wifi capability along with excellent 5GHz connectivity. In other words, the wifi range is some of the best I've seen in various routers throughout the years and the 802.11ac standard at 5GHz is officially the fastest I've ever had my or my wife's iPhones/iPads operate in the house.
Activation via Comcast was very much of a breeze; within 10 minutes of beginning the web-based activation process, the modem was online and ready to go.
Regarding the firmware, while it appears that it can be manually upgraded to some extent, my understanding is that CableLabs -- the folks who deal with the DOCSIS standard (of which this modem is at the 3.0 level) -- currently maintain that all such modems (not sure if this applies to routers) are not to be automatically upgraded. Not sure how true that is, but it would explain the relative difficulty of attempting to find an explicit option in the menu system to do such an upgrade.
As far as navigating the internal router pages is concerned, while it is somewhat slow (typically takes approximately 5 seconds or so for a given page to render), it isn't horrendous, and I was able to get basic password changes performed in a couple of minutes.
While the device is a tad on the pricey side, so far, the device has been operating for us flawlessly and, more importantly, seems to be an excellent means of getting rid of the Xfinity modem fee (which I heard from other tech blogs some months ago that Comcast makes somewhere around $1 billion/year on).
My Best Buy number: 2578284226
I would recommend this to a friend!
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32of 32voted this as helpful.
Safeguard your iPad mini, iPad mini 2 or iPad mini 3 while on the go with this Incase Book Jacket CL60297 case that features polyurethane material and suede lining for durable protection.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent case for multiple uses and transport
on January 19, 2013
Posted by: PhilGA
from Atlanta, GA
Verified Purchase:Yes
While the typical cost of the case isn't the cheapest, this is an exceptionally functional and protective case. Allows access to all iPad mini ports, buttons and both cameras. Easily held in both portrait and landscape modes, and there are stops in the cover that allow the device to stand at an angle for watching videos.
Materials are sufficient to handle normal wear and tear. There is also a wide elastic band that can be used to hold the cover flap firmly over the device, though I rarely use this feature.
I would purchase again without hesitation.
What's great about it: Handy and protective
What's not so great: Nothing!
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, 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.
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, 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.
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, 5 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, 2 months ago
by
PhilGA