TechEnthusiast's stats
- Review count181
- Helpfulness votes842
- First reviewAugust 16, 2014
- Last reviewMay 10, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
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- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
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- Answer count13
- Helpfulness votes17
- First answerAugust 25, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 22, 2022
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Customer Rating
4
Has great potential, but it's not quite there yet.
on September 21, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
The Orbi router is an excellent router that does an excellent job of extending WiFi range. Thanks to the satellite unit, we've managed to go from two bars to a solid five bars in the far corner of the house.
The setup started smoothly and easily with a window popping up automatically, but it crashed about a third of the way through the process. Continuing the process through the Chrome web browser using the URL included in the box allowed me to finish it, but again the browser would inexplicably give a “No connection” error and require refreshing at several points. After completing the setup, don’t be alarmed when your internet connection vanishes during the firmware update. They don’t give you any warning, but it’s supposed to do that. It should come back in a few minutes.
Both the router and the satellite have a surprisingly large number of ethernet ports on them. It seems strange that a device designed to offer an expanded wireless network would support so many wired connections, but I’m certainly not complaining. Both units also have USB ports, but the documentation on how to make use of them is non-existent.
Supposedly additional features are still being added, and hopefully a future firmware / software update will allow use of the USB ports and guest settings. At present the Netgear Genie software (downloaded separately from their site as the window prompt to install it crashed upon clicking it) just gives an overview of the network and offers a handful of administrative tools.
The Orbi is a solid router with a lot of potential. The software isn’t quite there yet, but the hardware hints at great things to come.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Nothing puts a vacuum to the test quite like a home with pets. That's why the BISSELL® Pet Hair Eraser® was developed from the ground up by pet parents for pet parents. Whether it's shedding season for your dog or your cat tracks kitty litter all over the house, this revolutionary vacuum is designed to make cleaning up after pets and the people who love them a breeze—from beginning to end. Say goodbye to hair wrap with its Tangle-Free Brush Roll, remove embedded hair everywhere with specialized pet tools, help capture allergens and eliminate odors with the SmartSeal™ Allergen System, and when you're finished cleaning, enjoy a hands-free tank empty with our patented Cyclonic Spooling System™.BR>
Customer Rating
5
Lots of brush action
on August 25, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser impressed me quite a bit.
The machine took just a bit to setup. You'll definitely want to read the instruction manual when first setting this up. I thought it was broken when I first got it because it refused to sit upright. Pushing the handle around and pivoting the machine around some managed to get it to lock into place.
The brush action on this machine is amazing. The main brush is large and touts itself as being "tangle free." It has an adjustable level knob that you can set for your floor height. On the medium setting, it leaves nice clean grooves in my carpeting.
It also comes with a handheld rotating brush attachment, and the handle has a built-in, detachable brush attachment that runs up the hose (it kind of resembles a toy blaster or water pistol). The brush on this handle piece does not move, but it does give you an option to either use it as a standard bristle brush or as a rubber toothed brush. The manual claims that the rubber bristles (really little more than nubs) are designed to get deeply embedded pet hair out of surfaces. The clip to change modes is a little hard to work on this part though. I found this tool to be very useful when cleaning upholstery.
The machine also has a lit crevasse attachment that requires separate batteries for the light. I wasn't able to test this as I didn't have this kind of hearing aid battery on hand.
The main canister is by far the biggest selling point on this machine for me. Rather than having a canister with a center piece that dirt and debris can get stuck in (requiring that you reach in with your fingers and fish things out - ick), the machine just has a single open canister that you dump out when full. There is no central column for things to get stuck in. This is absolutely huge in my mind.
The only criticisms I have are that the machine doesn't have a cord rewind, and the machine's suction is a little weak. Despite the weak suction, the machine does an incredible job cleaning. This is probably due to the previously mentioned heavy brush action.
Overall, I found this machine to be effective and impressive. I would definitely recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy a world of entertainment with Google Chromecast. Just connect to your HDTV's HDMI interface and your home Wi-Fi network to get started. You can stream your favorite apps from your compatible phone, tablet or laptop, plus use your phone as a remote to search, play and pause content.
Customer Rating
5
Simply excellent but could be technically great
on August 14, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
from Itasca, IL
Verified Purchase:Yes
At its simplest, the Chromecast is a wireless dongle that allows you to stream audio and video from a mobile device to your TV.
It lack instructions in the box, but it is fairly simple to get the device setup.
For the more technically inclined, it is possible to stream local content by typing in the file path into the chrome browser and then streaming that. No additional apps are necessary. I found this worked very well.
Streaming my entire desktop resulted in an unacceptable amount of lag. I'd played with the notion of using this to wirelessly stream games from my Windows laptop, but that isn't going to be feasible.
As an inexpensive device to add functionality to a non-smart TV, the Chromecast is a winner.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
Customer Rating
4
Gets the job done.
on May 20, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
The Linksys RE7000 range extender does exactly what the name implies: it extends your network's range. Placed at the edge of your network, it will push your WiFi range out further so that more distant devices can access your network. It also has a single Ethernet port for physically hooking up a wired device at a distance.
The initial setup is very easy and consist of pressing the WPS button on your router, followed by the WPS button on the extender. A blinking green/orange light lets you know whether or not the setup was a success. Alternate instructions are provided in the quick start guide if your router doesn't have a WPS button.
By default, the extender's network's name is the same as your main network; but it has an "EXT" at the end of it. It's possible to change the name of the network to exactly match your main network, but that does make logging into the extender to change settings more difficult. It also creates some confusion when identifying which devices are hooked up to the extended network versus your main network.
The quick start guide included with the device is very complete. It did an excellent job of walking me through the initial setup.
The device itself is surprisingly large. It tends to totally take up whatever outlet you plug it into. You should be careful to plug it in so that it's still within range of your main network. It should not be placed within the dead zone itself. Logging into the extender through a browser gives you access to a tool to help you find the best possible placement for it.
I don't have much experience with range extenders in general, but I can confidently say that this one works as advertised and gets the job done.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take your work and entertainment with you with this Acer Iconia One 10-inch tablet. The large screen is powered by 1GB of RAM and a quad-core 1.3 GHz processor for high efficiency, and 32GB of flash memory gives you plenty of file storage. The 5-megapixel rear camera lets you take photos using this Acer Iconia One 10-inch tablet anywhere.
Customer Rating
3
Not bad . . . but not all that great.
on May 19, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
The Acer Iconia One 10 isn’t a bad tablet, but it’s not a very good tablet either.
After enduring a surprisingly long setup and registration process, the tablet immediately presented me with a low memory warning.
The tablet came with a fair amount of bloatware. Included amongst this was a system monitoring program that can’t be turned off and seems to want to remind you that you’re low on RAM roughly every 20 minutes.
This is probably the most glaring flaw with this tablet.
Memory and bloatware aside, It has an excellent screen with bright colors and great viewing angles.
It has a nice set of front facing speakers. They’re lacking some in bass, but they are nice and loud.
It has a nice set of front facing speakers. They’re lacking some in bass, but they are nice and loud.
It is an excellent tablet for watching videos on or checking social media with.
Unfortunately, it also has some pretty significant shortcomings.
It doesn’t have HDMI output. While it streams video quite well, you’ll need to find another way of getting it onto a bigger screen.
The low RAM hampers its gaming performance some, and I wouldn’t want to count on this for any kind of office productivity.
It’s not a bad tablet, but don’t expect it to “wow” you either.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+3points
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Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
Customer Rating
5
Many useful features - Good for a media heavy home
on May 15, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
Let me start by saying this thing is HUGE. I'd never seen a router this large prior to this.
The Linksys EA9500 was by far the easiest router setup I've ever done. The quick start guide included in the box had me up and running with basic internet functionality within minutes.
The only hitch I ran into was when I went to try and create a Linksys account to use the app and the more advanced functionality. The e-mailed verification link did not want to work in the Chrome browser. Switching to Edge seemed to fix the issue.
The only hitch I ran into was when I went to try and create a Linksys account to use the app and the more advanced functionality. The e-mailed verification link did not want to work in the Chrome browser. Switching to Edge seemed to fix the issue.
The android app offers a lot of information and monitoring tools for your network, but it doesn't seem to give you much control over it. The website gives a lot more control with network-attached storage options, security settings, guest WiFi controls, FTP server settings, and device prioritization.
There wasn't much instruction provided on how to access devices attached to the USB ports. A quick search online revealed how to access them through Windows Explorer though.
All in all, I'm very happy with this device. It is a strong, fast router with tons of features built into it. The basic setup is a breeze. The advanced features can be a little tricky to set up, but they are well worth it.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Easily transfer photos, videos and more from your OTG (On The Go)-enabled Android smartphone or tablet to your computer with this SanDisk Ultra SDDD2-032G-A46 32GB flash drive, which features micro USB and USB 3.0 interfaces to simplify connection.
Customer Rating
4
Versatile device
on April 22, 2016
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
from Itasca, IL
Verified Purchase:Yes
This is a great little device. I hook it up to my computer to load it up with movies, and then (with a flick of a switch) I hook it up to my phone to view them.
Very useful when traveling.
I did knock it one star for the switching mechanism. It's a very simple sliding mechanism, but it slides a little too freely. Thanks to the capless design, either end could end up poking out without warning when shoving this into a pocket. Not a big deal, just annoying.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This Microsoft N9Z-00001 wireless all-in-one keyboard features an integrated multitouch trackpad that makes it simple to navigate features on your compatible PC. Customizable media hot keys let you quickly access frequently used content.
Customer Rating
3
Not what I'd hoped for
on May 9, 2015
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
from Itasca, IL
Verified Purchase:Yes
This keyboard is okay, but it's not what I hoped for.
I like the keyboard itself just fine. The keys are well spaced, visually appealing, and responsive.
The touchpad is another story entirely.
The touchpad is erratic and routinely misreads gestures. The cursor will periodically jump to the bottom of my screen for absolutely no reason. Right clicks and left clicks often get mixed up if you don't click them at their farthest edges (since both right click and left click are the same physical button).
I switched to this from a Logitech K400 keyboard. If I could take the keyboard from this device and combine it with the touchpad from the K400, I would have the perfect keyboard. As it stands, neither device really shines.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+6points
7of 8voted this as helpful.
Quickly access your favorite content with this PNY Metal Duo Link P-FDI16GOTGM-GE 16GB USB 2.0 flash drive that features compatibility with most Android cell phones, tablets, Smart TVs and car stereos to ensure versatile operation.
Customer Rating
3
Convenient device
on February 14, 2015
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
from Itasca, IL
Verified Purchase:Yes
Pros:
Small
I can use it with my tablet, my phone, my laptop, and my desktop without issue.
Solid construction
Small
I can use it with my tablet, my phone, my laptop, and my desktop without issue.
Solid construction
Cons:
It easily gets stuck in tight USB slots. The cap pops right off and leaves the drive stuck in there.
Ironically, the micro-usb side is loose and falls free a little too easily.
It easily gets stuck in tight USB slots. The cap pops right off and leaves the drive stuck in there.
Ironically, the micro-usb side is loose and falls free a little too easily.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
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Asus X551MAV-RCLN06 Laptop: This lightweight laptop is ideal for home, office and student use. It is portable and offers plenty of available space to store photos, music and videos and enough RAM for multitasking.
Customer Rating
4
Good screen, little bloatware, iffy keyboard.
on August 29, 2014
Posted by: TechEnthusiast
from Itasca, IL
Verified Purchase:Yes
This computer was a great deal for the price. The screen was great, and it comes with an optical drive (rare now of days). I also appreciate that it wasn't bogged down with a ton of bloatware.
The biggest drawback is the keyboard and trackpad. The keys are cramped and awkwardly arranged over by the number pad. Honestly, I could have done without the number pad if it had meant that they'd spaced things out better. The trackpad is highly response to touch (sometimes too responsive), but it really suffers if you're trying to drag your finger across it. Items will often arbitrarily deselect while you're in the middle of moving them. Clicking the trackpad also causes the entire palm rest to give a hollow "creak." (not the best build quality).
For the price though, this isn't a bad computer.
My Best Buy number: 2115535767
What's great about it: The screen is excellent. Good size, good picture.
What's not so great: The keyboard and trackpad are difficult to use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Display
5
Performance
3
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Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Can you use with comcast.
Yes. I'm using it with Comcast myself.
You plug the Ethernet cable from your modem to the Orbi router the same as you would any other router. The big difference between the Orbi and other routers is that it comes with a separate satellite unit to extend your wireless range. The satellite unit hooks up to the router wirelessly. Installation and pairing takes about ten - fifteen minutes to complete.
You plug the Ethernet cable from your modem to the Orbi router the same as you would any other router. The big difference between the Orbi and other routers is that it comes with a separate satellite unit to extend your wireless range. The satellite unit hooks up to the router wirelessly. Installation and pairing takes about ten - fifteen minutes to complete.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
TechEnthusiast
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
So if it comes with two, I'm assuming you have one that internet is linked to by cable and the other is used as a extender? Or do you have to have both units hooked to cable?
The router portion is connected to your modem via an Ethernet cable, but the satellite / extender unit links up to the router wirelessly. The only wire that you need to have connected to the extender is the power cord.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
TechEnthusiast
Nothing puts a vacuum to the test quite like a home with pets. That's why the BISSELL® Pet Hair Eraser® was developed from the ground up by pet parents for pet parents. Whether it's shedding season for your dog or your cat tracks kitty litter all over the house, this revolutionary vacuum is designed to make cleaning up after pets and the people who love them a breeze—from beginning to end. Say goodbye to hair wrap with its Tangle-Free Brush Roll, remove embedded hair everywhere with specialized pet tools, help capture allergens and eliminate odors with the SmartSeal™ Allergen System, and when you're finished cleaning, enjoy a hands-free tank empty with our patented Cyclonic Spooling System™.BR>
How load is it? I've used an Oreck XL upright and a Eureka Mighty Mite and would hope it's no louder as those. I prefer bagged vacuums but want to try the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser because of its claims of not getting hair tangled on the roller.
I haven't tried the two vacuums that you mentioned, but I can say that I was surprised that this vacuum wasn't terribly loud.
Given it's size and the number of vents coming out of it, I expected it to be deafening. Upon turning it on, I was surprised by just how mild the sound was. It'll definitely drown out a television or radio some, but you'll still be able to hear people talking over it.
Given it's size and the number of vents coming out of it, I expected it to be deafening. Upon turning it on, I was surprised by just how mild the sound was. It'll definitely drown out a television or radio some, but you'll still be able to hear people talking over it.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
TechEnthusiast