lambda100's stats
- Review count106
- Helpfulness votes1,311
- First reviewDecember 20, 2014
- Last reviewJune 3, 2025
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- Average rating4.7
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- Answer count20
- Helpfulness votes115
- First answerJune 29, 2015
- Last answerDecember 1, 2021
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Start your system in seconds, store up to 2TB of your irreplaceable files, and upgrade with a drive you can count on. Improve your system with the Crucial® MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD, an SSD built on quality, speed, and security that’s all backed by helpful service and support. It’s worth it.
Customer Rating
5
Fast Drive and Easy to Install
on January 28, 2021
Posted by: lambda100
Boot up time and software load times were just sluggish on my seven year old laptop with a spinner drive. I decided to finally swap out the spinner drive with a Crucial MX500 2.5” internal SSD. Now that I have an SSD, I wished I had changed out my spinner years ago. The boot time with my old spinning drive was nearly a minute. With the Crucial MX500, the boot time went down to ten seconds. Programs also loaded much faster. It was like the SSD breathed new life into my aging laptop. Upgrading to an SSD made this laptop fun to use again!
Crucial makes the process of installing the SSD drive as easy and painless as possible. Recognizing that there are some of us who are new to this, the Crucial website: crucial.com/support/ssd provides the step-by-step guide to install the drive. What is nice is that it basically holds your hand every step of the way. Crucial partnered with Acronis to provide the cloning software needed to migrate all the data and operating system from your old spinning drive to the MX500. The only additional cable you’ll need to purchase, if you don’t already have it, is a SATA-to-USB cable to perform the migration of data during the cloning process. Once you have your SSD up and running, Crucial also provides an additional free software to download called the Storage Executive which helps optimize the performance of the MX500. With the Storage Executive, it can monitor the drive’s temperature, download the latest firmware, provide diagnostic data such as the number of hours the drive has been used, and even enable a performance boost to the drive via Crucial’s Momentum Cache feature. Additionally, Crucial stands behind its drive with a five year limited warranty.
This is really an excellent SSD to get. It’s got plenty of storage at 1tb and the reduction in boot time and program load times will astound you. Without a doubt, I highly recommend the MX500.
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The same BBQ taste and authentic char-grilled flavor on steaks, chicken, ribs, veggies and much more right on your countertop with this electric smokeless indoor grill by PowerXL.
Customer Rating
5
Great Grill Flavor, None of the Smoke, Easy to Use
on November 25, 2020
Posted by: lambda100
I love grilling, the only problem is that I live in a condo with absolutely zero outdoor space. I’ve always been envious of all my friends in their single family homes with a backyard sporting those fancy outdoor grills. I didn’t need anything fancy, I just wanted to be able to experience the sumptuous grill flavor indoors. When I heard that the Power XL Smokeless Grill Pro allowed me to do just that, I knew I had to try it out for myself.
The Power XL Smokeless Grill delivers on everything that is great about grilling, but without the smoke filled air. Over the course of the week that I tried the grill, I grilled hot dogs, burgers, salmon, steak, and veggies. They all tasted great with the same great grill flavor as if they were cooked on an outdoor grill. And the food even has the grill marks to show for it! All the oil is collected in a container below the grill. The actual grill plate measures approximately 13” x 8”. Measuring in food quantity, you’ll be able to grill 6 burger patties at once, an 8” salmon filet, or 8-12 chicken drumsticks depending on size.
The grill is also very easy to use. You just pour 2 cups of water in the water tray, turn on the grill, set the temperature, and you’re ready to grill. Can’t get any easier than that. No propane or charcoal to deal with.
I enjoy using the grill, but like all kitchen appliances, I did not like cleaning up the grill. The easiest thing to clean is the grill plate since it is coated with a non-stick surface. You’ll also need to wash the glass lid, drip tray, and water tray, and also wipe around the grill for oil splatter.
Here are some other things about the grill. The power cord is about 40” in length. You’ll need to position the grill close to an outlet. I just wished the cord was closer to 6’ to allow me greater freedom to place the grill on the kitchen countertop. The grill is also kind of heavy, weighing in about 13 pounds. It’s not something you’ll want to be moving around much.
All in all, I think this is a fantastic grill. It does what it claims. It gives you the same great grill flavor without the smoke. Definitely thumbs up from me!
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Sit back, relax and watch movies with this Epson video projector. It offers 3,300 lumens of color & white brightness to ensure vibrant, accurate colors, and its HD resolution delivers crisp image quality at 1080p. This Epson video projector lets you connect a Blu-ray player or gaming console via an HDMI input for smooth streaming of your favorite media.
Customer Rating
5
An Excellent Projector Without the High Price Tag!
on November 21, 2020
Posted by: lambda100
I love going to the movie theater, but that is no longer a viable option lately with the pandemic. When I heard Epson was releasing its latest entry level 1080p projector, I jumped at the opportunity to bring the cinema experience to the comfort and safety of my living room.
The Epson Home Cinema (HC) 880 is simply awesome! It has just enough of the big features you’d want in a projector without the hefty price tag, and that makes this a value winning projector. I love the fact that it is rated at 3,300 lumens of color and white brightness. What that means for me is that I can watch my favorite movies without turning out the lights. I tried the projector during the day with the blinds and curtains open, letting in plenty of ambient natural light, and the projector image was still bright and sharp without any washout. And during the night I had my living room lights on, the Epson 880 continued to display a bright and clear image. The projector’s lamp brightness is a little dimmer in ECO mode when compared to Normal mode, but both modes still work well in ambient lighting.
I use a large white wall in my living as the projector screen. The projector’s image colors are true to life, sharp, bright, and have plenty of contrast. I was only able to project up to 8’ before I ran out of wall space, but Epson claims that the projector can display up to 386”.
Another feature I like is that the Epson HC 880 comes with an audio jack. I know in the past Epson did not include an audio jack for its older model entry level projectors, but I’m glad Epson finally included this feature. I can now connect my external speakers for a better home cinema audio experience. However, the built in 2 watt mono speaker works well, too. It gets plenty loud to overcome the projector’s fan noise. Speaking of fan noise, the Epson HC 880 isn’t too loud. In ECO mode, the fan barely makes a noise. Once you turn it to Normal mode, the fan does become more audible, but nothing to the point that it becomes a distraction.
One of the best things about this projector is that it is so easy to set up and use. You could mount it on the ceiling, but I simply set it on a table, plugged it in, leveled it by adjusting the height of the rear feet and front foot, adjusted the image for squareness, plugged my laptop into the hdmi connection, focused the image, and I was ready to enjoy a good movie with some popcorn in less than five minutes. The projector allows you to easily adjust for image squareness with the automatic vertical keystone correction, manual horizontal keystone correction, and Quick Corner setting. And there are plenty of image settings just like you would find on a television such as adjustments to color saturation, brightness, contrast, sharpness, tint, and so on. The remote control is easy to use and the onscreen menus are intuitive.
Although it is marketed as a home cinema projector, the HC 800 can also perform well as a business projector. After all, it can reach 3,300 lumens of brightness which is plenty to overcome the ambient lighting of a conference room. And it weighs only 6 lbs which is considered lightweight for a full size projector, making it easy to tote around.
I couldn’t find anything bad to nit pick with the projector. Some folks might be turned off by the limited number of connections. It only has 1 hdmi, 1 usb-type a, 1 usb-type b, and an audio jack as its interfaces. I don’t mind though, because I only use the hdmi connection. I can connect my google chromecast to the hdmi and power it with the usb-type a connection on the projector. This turns the HC 880 into a streaming machine.
Things that I wished were featured on the HC 880 would be a backlit remote control for the times when I’m using the projector in the dark, and also if Epson could include a soft carrying case for the projector. Other than that, for the value price and extraordinary image quality and features, the Epson HC 880 is a perfect entry level projector meeting the needs for a fun family movie night. I totally recommend this projector!
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Jabra Elite 85t true wireless earbuds have been engineered for a calls and music experience like never before, with fully adjustable Jabra advanced Active Noise Cancellation™, 12mm speakers for big sound, up to 25 hours of battery (ANC on), and 6-mic technology with wind protection for amazing calls. And because it’s Jabra tech, it’s all crammed into a really tiny body. Because ANC doesn’t only stand for Active Noise Cancellation… Jabra Elite 85t: Accept No Compromise.
Customer Rating
5
Big Features in Such a Small Package
on November 6, 2020
Posted by: lambda100
The Jabra Elite 85t proves that good things indeed come in small packages. With a lightweight comfortable fit, good audio quality, a splendidly useful app, and strong active noise cancellation, the audio engineers crafted truly wireless earbuds that are a joy to experience.
What you get in the Box.
-Elite 85t wireless earbuds
-Charging case
-Type C to Type A charging cable
-3 different size pairs of ear gels
-warranty sheet
-Elite 85t wireless earbuds
-Charging case
-Type C to Type A charging cable
-3 different size pairs of ear gels
-warranty sheet
Here are some of the things that I really like about the Elite 85t:
**Comfortable Earbuds**
The Jabra Elite 85t is by far the most comfortable earbuds I have used. A lot of the earbuds are uncomfortable and put a lot of pressure on my ear, much like how ear plugs feel. With the open design of the Elite 85t, I don’t feel any of the pressure. In fact they feel very lightweight and after leaving them in my ears for several hours, I didn’t feel any ear fatigue. The oval ear gels are also soft and provide just the right amount of seal without feeling tight. They also never once felt like they were going to fall off. Even vigorously shaking my head back and off, the earbuds stayed firmly in my ears.
**Excellent Sound+ app**
I recommend that you download the Sound+ app before you do anything else. Jabra developed a feature rich, highly useful app making it an essential complement to the user experience. Once you download the app and take the earbuds out of the magnetic case, the app will initiate the MySound feature to optimize the audio experience based on your personal hearing profile. Much like a hearing test, the app will have you put an earbud in each ear one at a time and play tones of various volumes to gather your hearing profile. The Sound+ app is the brains of the earbuds. Using the app, you’ll be able to perform a number of customizations such as adjusting the intensity of active noise cancellation (ANC), adjusting the amount of ambient sound that comes through the earbuds (Jabra calls this Hear Through), adjusting the user customizable five band equalizer, configuring the buttons on the earbuds to your specific liking, adjusting the Soundtone feature to allow you to hear your own voice while on calls, saving three different listening profiles (My Moment, Commute, Focus), and even playing sounds to mask the noise around you such as white noise and nature sounds.
The Jabra Elite 85t is by far the most comfortable earbuds I have used. A lot of the earbuds are uncomfortable and put a lot of pressure on my ear, much like how ear plugs feel. With the open design of the Elite 85t, I don’t feel any of the pressure. In fact they feel very lightweight and after leaving them in my ears for several hours, I didn’t feel any ear fatigue. The oval ear gels are also soft and provide just the right amount of seal without feeling tight. They also never once felt like they were going to fall off. Even vigorously shaking my head back and off, the earbuds stayed firmly in my ears.
**Excellent Sound+ app**
I recommend that you download the Sound+ app before you do anything else. Jabra developed a feature rich, highly useful app making it an essential complement to the user experience. Once you download the app and take the earbuds out of the magnetic case, the app will initiate the MySound feature to optimize the audio experience based on your personal hearing profile. Much like a hearing test, the app will have you put an earbud in each ear one at a time and play tones of various volumes to gather your hearing profile. The Sound+ app is the brains of the earbuds. Using the app, you’ll be able to perform a number of customizations such as adjusting the intensity of active noise cancellation (ANC), adjusting the amount of ambient sound that comes through the earbuds (Jabra calls this Hear Through), adjusting the user customizable five band equalizer, configuring the buttons on the earbuds to your specific liking, adjusting the Soundtone feature to allow you to hear your own voice while on calls, saving three different listening profiles (My Moment, Commute, Focus), and even playing sounds to mask the noise around you such as white noise and nature sounds.
**Splendid ANC**
I’ve tried various ANC truly wireless earbuds from various manufacturers and I have to say that the ANC on the Jabra Elite 85t is remarkably good. The noisy humming of my bedroom fan disappeared and my family’s dialogue became nothing more than a whisper and sounded distantly far away. The ANC does its job best with lower frequency sounds and ambient sounds become significantly muted at mid and higher frequencies. In other words, the Jabra Elite 85t does a darn good job at keeping unwanted noise out. You can vary the intensity of the ANC through five levels with a slider via the app.
I’ve tried various ANC truly wireless earbuds from various manufacturers and I have to say that the ANC on the Jabra Elite 85t is remarkably good. The noisy humming of my bedroom fan disappeared and my family’s dialogue became nothing more than a whisper and sounded distantly far away. The ANC does its job best with lower frequency sounds and ambient sounds become significantly muted at mid and higher frequencies. In other words, the Jabra Elite 85t does a darn good job at keeping unwanted noise out. You can vary the intensity of the ANC through five levels with a slider via the app.
On the opposite end, sometimes it is not desirable to have ANC, and you may want to allow some ambient noise to come through the earbuds such as when you need to be aware of your surroundings. Well, the Elite 85t has you covered here with its Here Through feature. The microphones pick up the ambient noises allowing them to be heard and amplified through the earbuds. Just like the ANC feature, there is a five point slider that varies the intensity of the ambient noise to be heard.
**Great Audio Quality**
The audio experience is highly subjective. It’s a good thing the app has a five band equalizer to enable customization of the audio to each individual’s specific audio taste. The audio from the earbuds sound pretty good to me. I think it is well balanced. However, I would have liked to have a little bit more crispness and sparkle and a wider soundstage. It has plenty of low end energy when needed, without bringing down the rest of the audio spectrum. I listened to several bass test audio on youtube and was surprised at the amount of bass that rumbled through the earbuds.
The audio experience is highly subjective. It’s a good thing the app has a five band equalizer to enable customization of the audio to each individual’s specific audio taste. The audio from the earbuds sound pretty good to me. I think it is well balanced. However, I would have liked to have a little bit more crispness and sparkle and a wider soundstage. It has plenty of low end energy when needed, without bringing down the rest of the audio spectrum. I listened to several bass test audio on youtube and was surprised at the amount of bass that rumbled through the earbuds.
**Negligible Audio Latency**
I love watching videos on my phone and pc while using bluetooth headphones but just hate it when there is a visible lag in audio compared to the video. The Elite 85t did not show any noticeable audio latency. Big thumbs up from me.
I love watching videos on my phone and pc while using bluetooth headphones but just hate it when there is a visible lag in audio compared to the video. The Elite 85t did not show any noticeable audio latency. Big thumbs up from me.
**Robust Bluetooth Connection**
With the Elite 85t I did not experience any dropouts, stuttering, or loss of connection between the right and left earbuds. The wireless connection was robust whether I was 30 feet away from my phone or had my phone in my pants back pocket.
With the Elite 85t I did not experience any dropouts, stuttering, or loss of connection between the right and left earbuds. The wireless connection was robust whether I was 30 feet away from my phone or had my phone in my pants back pocket.
**Crystal Clear Call Quality**
The folks on the other side of my business phone calls have told me that my voice sounds clear.
The folks on the other side of my business phone calls have told me that my voice sounds clear.
**Ability to Connect to Two Bluetooth Sources Simultaneously**
Jabra calls it Multi-connect, the ability to be paired to two devices at once. So if you happen to have two mobile phones for instance, you’ll be able to accept calls from either device.
Jabra calls it Multi-connect, the ability to be paired to two devices at once. So if you happen to have two mobile phones for instance, you’ll be able to accept calls from either device.
**Wireless Qi Charging or Wired Charging. It’s up to you.**
When you need to recharge the earbuds, just place them in the case and either charge them wirelessly with a Qi-certified charger or use the included USB-C cable.
When you need to recharge the earbuds, just place them in the case and either charge them wirelessly with a Qi-certified charger or use the included USB-C cable.
The Elite 85t are a great set of wireless earbuds. They’re not perfect though, and there were some things which I wished they could improve upon.
--Battery Life is Ok--
According to Jabra, the battery will last up to 5.5 hrs with ANC (up to 25 hrs with charging case) and 7 hrs with ANC off (up to 31 hrs with charging case). That’s decent but I’ve seen other truly wireless earbuds that will last longer than 7 hrs between charges.
According to Jabra, the battery will last up to 5.5 hrs with ANC (up to 25 hrs with charging case) and 7 hrs with ANC off (up to 31 hrs with charging case). That’s decent but I’ve seen other truly wireless earbuds that will last longer than 7 hrs between charges.
The Sound+ app shows three different battery meters. One each for the left and right ear buds and one for the charging case. It bothered me that the right ear bud drained between 10%-15% faster than the left earbud. I guess it makes sense that the right ear bud drains faster since it is the master earbud that receives the bluetooth signal from the source device and also must route the signal over to the left earbud. Nevertheless, I wished the two earbuds would drain more uniformly.
--Mono Earbud Mode: Right earbud Only--
The left earbud won’t work on its own for music or for calls. Only the right earbud will.
The left earbud won’t work on its own for music or for calls. Only the right earbud will.
Conclusion:
The Elite 85t just seems like the right choice. There’s a lot to like about these earbuds from the comfortable fit to the excellent ANC and the really good audio and voice quality. If anything, it should be on your short list of truly wireless earbuds to audition.
The Elite 85t just seems like the right choice. There’s a lot to like about these earbuds from the comfortable fit to the excellent ANC and the really good audio and voice quality. If anything, it should be on your short list of truly wireless earbuds to audition.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make the most of every day with the sleek style, performance, and all-day battery life² you need in the lightest Surface Laptop, all at an exceptional value. Ultra-light and portable profile, the apps* you use every day, premium materials, and a choice of must-have colors will make this your go-to laptop. ²Up to 13 hours of battery life based on typical Surface device usage. Testing conducted by Microsoft in September 2020 using preproduction software and preproduction configurations of Surface Laptop Go Testing consisted of full battery discharge with a mixture of active use and modern standby. The active use portion consists of (1) a web browsing test accessing 8 popular websites over multiple open tabs, (2) a productivity test utilizing Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook, and (3) a portion of time with the device in use with idle applications. All settings were default except screen brightness was set to 150nits with Auto-Brightness disabled. Wi-Fi was connected to a network. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage and other factors.
Customer Rating
4
A Good Ultraportable Laptop
on October 24, 2020
Posted by: lambda100
Microsoft broadened its line up of Surface computers with the latest Surface Laptop Go designed with form, function, and value in mind. It’s biggest features are its portability and modern style that eschews the traditional ultrabook widescreen for a more boxy 3:2 aspect ratio that works to separate itself from the crowded field of ultrabooks. The Surface Go succeeds in its sleek looks, attractive new colors, and its featherweight body, but gives up some to its competition in terms of features.
Before I continue further, I would like to state that I am part of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network program and received the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go from Best Buy in exchange for my honest, unbiased, review of the product. All the opinions and experiences are my own.
Here are some of the positive features of the Surface Laptop Go:
+Attractive Style and Colors: If this was a beauty contest, the Surface Laptop Go would win. Microsoft crafted the laptop with a smooth aluminum frame at the top and the edges, and soft curves at the corners and edges that feel comfortable to hold. The bottom of the laptop is plastic, but it doesn’t feel out of place and blends in nicely with the overall appeal of the laptop. It comes in three different color options Ice blue, Platinum, and Sandstone. I received the Sandstone colored one which has a hint of pink to it and attract a lot of positive attention.
+Featherweight and Portable: The Surface Laptop Go seems to almost defy gravity, weighing in at a mere 2.45 lbs. This is lighter than many ultraportables. Not only that, it measures only 8.10”x10.95” in width and length, smaller dimensions than a letter sized paper. The laptop is only around ⅝” in thickness. It is easy to throw in a bag and take it with you wherever you want.
+Good, but not outstanding battery life: Microsoft touts a single fully charged battery can power the laptop up to 13 hours of use. I never believe these claims and neither should you. 13 hours of battery is only achieved under certain conditions, settings, and usage. If you’re like me who uses the laptop continuously during a full 9 hour plus work or school day where you’re browsing the web with multiple tabs opened, conducting online meetings using the webcam and audio, using word processing documents and spreadsheets, and maybe even connected to a bluetooth device, then expect anywhere from 6-8 hour maximum of usage because that is what I got out of the battery depending on how I used the laptop. Keep that ac adapter close by.
+Quick boot up time: Goes without saying that laptops with solid state drives boot up fairly fast. It took less than 15 seconds for the Surface Laptop Go to boot up.
+Windows Hello Fingerprint reader on the power button: I really like signing into the laptop using the fingerprint reader which is ingeniously placed on the power button. You can register more than one fingerprint, say for example you want to log into the laptop using both the left or right index fingerprints.
+Screen is plenty bright: I couldn’t find on Microsoft’s technical specs how many nits of brightness the screen can get, so I did the next best thing and took the laptop outside in the bright midday sunlight and qualitatively tested it for everybody who read this far in the review. I turned the laptop to the brightest display setting and was relieved that I was able to still see the contents on the display clearly and with plenty of color in the bright sunlight. So for those of you who like to work with the laptop outdoors, rest assured you’ll be able to still see the contents on the display. It’s not the brightness that should concern you. It’s the amount of glare that will be reflecting off of the Surface Laptop Go’s glossy screen that you need to worry about when working outdoors.
+Touchscreen: Good to see that the Surface Laptop Go is equipped with a touchscreen for those times when I feel like I need to leave my fingerprints on it.
+10th gen Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, integrated graphics: This is plenty for office type work, web browsing, and video streaming. Folks who are into gaming, do a lot of video or photo editing shouldn’t be looking at this laptop for those exclusive uses, but it doesn’t hurt for this community to consider this as a second laptop for the other uses when they don’t want to lug around a monster gaming machine.
+Fully dockable: Although it is marketed as a ultraportable laptop, don’t forget that you can also hook it up to a docking station with dual monitors. That is what I did, and the Surface Laptop Go runs perfectly fine. Increased my productivity and the laptop didn’t even slow down a bit running dual monitors, external keyboard/mouse, and other peripherals attached to the docking station.
+keyboard and trackpad: The keys are well spaced and have just the right amount of travel and feedback. I type a lot and didn’t get any fatigue from long hours of typing using the Surface Laptop Go keyboard. Same goes with the trackpad. The trackpad is large enough that I never felt like I needed more space, and my fingers glided smoothly across the trackpad surface. Tapping is also very responsive.
+720p webcam: I never bothered with webcams until the pandemic hit. Now having a webcam is essential for all those online video meetings. The webcam on the Surface Laptop Go is plenty clear and bright. The indicator lights up when the webcam is in use.
+720p webcam: I never bothered with webcams until the pandemic hit. Now having a webcam is essential for all those online video meetings. The webcam on the Surface Laptop Go is plenty clear and bright. The indicator lights up when the webcam is in use.
Here are some Cons of the Surface Laptop Go:
-Windows 10 in S Mode: The laptop is shipped with Windows 10 in S mode. I did not want to be tied down to using apps available only from the Microsoft Apps Store. The first thing I did was switch to Windows 10 Home. This is a personal choice.
-When the laptop is turned off and charging, there is no way to tell when it is fully charged. On many laptops there is usually an indicator light along the edge that either turns off or changes color when the laptop is fully charged. There is no battery charge indicator light on the Surface Laptop Go to notify me that it is fully charged. I don’t know whether to leave the laptop connected to the ac adapter or not.
-No back lit keyboard
-Screen resolution is less than 1080p.
-Proprietary Surface Connect charge port. Microsoft should use usb-c port for charging.
-The only available ports are 1 usb-c and 1 usb-a.
-No micro SD card slot.
-No path for upgrading the laptop. You’re stuck with 256gb of storage and 8GB of RAM. But, to be fair, most ultraportables these days are not upgradeable.
-Bottom of laptop gets very warm when the processor is performing intensive tasks. The fan will also kick in to cool the laptop internals. Just a warning, if you have the Surface Laptop Go resting on your lap, you may be bothered by the heat generated from the bottom of the laptop.
-When the laptop is turned off and charging, there is no way to tell when it is fully charged. On many laptops there is usually an indicator light along the edge that either turns off or changes color when the laptop is fully charged. There is no battery charge indicator light on the Surface Laptop Go to notify me that it is fully charged. I don’t know whether to leave the laptop connected to the ac adapter or not.
-No back lit keyboard
-Screen resolution is less than 1080p.
-Proprietary Surface Connect charge port. Microsoft should use usb-c port for charging.
-The only available ports are 1 usb-c and 1 usb-a.
-No micro SD card slot.
-No path for upgrading the laptop. You’re stuck with 256gb of storage and 8GB of RAM. But, to be fair, most ultraportables these days are not upgradeable.
-Bottom of laptop gets very warm when the processor is performing intensive tasks. The fan will also kick in to cool the laptop internals. Just a warning, if you have the Surface Laptop Go resting on your lap, you may be bothered by the heat generated from the bottom of the laptop.
Do I recommend the Surface Laptop Go? This laptop is a solid performer for your everyday office, web, and video streaming needs. On one hand, its ultra portability, lightweight, and good looks make it an easy choice for consideration for those who only scratch the surface. On the other hand, Microsoft omitted features I listed in the Cons section of my review such as not having a backlit keyboard, no micro SD slot, no additional ports beyond one usb-c and one usb-a, and less than full HD screen which are included features in competitor models within the same price point. So, while the aesthetics makes it a clear choice, a closer look from a value perspective makes it more difficult to give a full recommendation. Overall, I would give it a lukewarm recommendation.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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6of 6voted this as helpful.
Meet Pixel 4a, the helpful Google phone at a helpful price. It comes packed with all the things you want in a phone, for a lot less than you’d expect.
Customer Rating
5
The Pixel 4a Delivers Without Draining Your Wallet
on August 26, 2020
Posted by: lambda100
With the Pixel 4a, Google proves you can get a lot of phone without having to buy the top of the line flagships. Sure it’s not as sleek as the premium phones and doesn’t include features such as waterproofing, 5G, and wireless charging, but at the mid-range price that Google is charging for this phone, it still packs a ton of features and is the perfect phone for the value conscious consumer.
Having used so many larger, heavier phones that stuck out of my back pocket, I have forgotten how well a small 5.8” screen phone feels in one hand. The phone is very light, but the weight is well balanced and it is easy to steady and touch the screen on one hand. The screen itself is bright and the colors on the display are vibrant. At its brightest setting, I was easily able to see the contents of the screen in bright sunlight.
I really enjoy the Google line of phones, such as this Pixel 4a, because of the pure android experience. No third party bloatware apps and no third party user interfaces to bog down the system. It doesn’t have the powerful processors like the more expensive phones, but I don’t feel the average consumer needs it. This phone handles all the typical tasks with ease. Apps open nearly instantaneously and swiping is smooth and dynamic. I also love the fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone. The sensor does a fantastic job recognizing my fingerprint and unlocks quickly.
Perhaps the best feature of the pixel 4a is the camera. What google has done with the combination of camera hardware and software is nothing short of astonishing. Pictures in daylight and low light are just gorgeous and sharp. Even when zooming into the photo and pixel peeping, you are able to see details. Photos are bright, with plenty of contrast, natural color, and dynamic range. With Portrait mode, you can adjust the background blur as though you had taken the picture with a DSLR with an expensive lens. The camera also handles challenging lighting conditions with ease. I love the Night Sight feature on the camera. It basically allows you to take a photo with very little available light and makes it look like it was taken in a more well lit environment. It’s just amazing what the software can do. Adding to that is the astrophotography feature within Night Sight which allows pictures to be taken of the stars by taking long exposure shots. You’ll need to mount the camera on a tripod to do this though. For video, the camera can shoot in 1080p (30fps, 60fps) and also in 4k. It also features slow motion, time lapse, panorama shots, and photo sphere. The camera on the pixel 4a shows you that you can get some impressive pictures and videos without having to resort to using a DSLR.
And let us not forget about the Google Assistant on the phone. This is a new Google Assistant which allows it to have more interaction with your apps such as sending texts, searching photos, and getting directions.
I fiddled with apps, streamed movies and music, browsed the web, and made phone calls throughout the day and the battery kept up with me. Unless you are a heavy user, I don’t see why the phone shouldn’t be able to last a day between charges.
One feature that brought a smile to my face is that Google kept the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the pixel 4a for those times we still need a wired connection to our legacy audio devices.
In summary, you’d be hard pressed not to consider the pixel 4a on your short list of mid-range phones. It is comfortable to hold with one hand, performs exceptionally well, has a battery that can last the day, has a top of the line camera, and even retains the headphone jack! With the pixel 4a you also get a guaranteed minimum three years of operating system and security updates. A lot of phone manufacturers won’t update beyond the installed OS, so there is real value here with the pixel 4a. I highly recommend the phone.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make vegetable and fruit juices with this Oster JusSimple easy juicer. The wide feeding chute fits vgetables and whole fruits, while the two-speed juicer lets you prepare fresh juice quickly. This Oster JusSimple easy juicer features a Rinse 'n Ready filter and a detachable, dishwasher-safe blade for easy cleanup.
Customer Rating
5
Skip the Store Bought Juice; Buy this Instead
on May 9, 2020
Posted by: lambda100
The Oster Juice Extractor is an easy to use, no frills juicer that does a fantastic job getting every last drop of juice out of the pulp. Using the juice extractor, I juiced carrots, apples, pineapples, pears, grapes, spinach,and kale. The juicer performed flawlessly.
Here are some of the things I like about it.
Pros:
Easy assembly: Once you get the hang of it, it’ll take less than a minute to put all the pieces back together after cleaning.
Easy assembly: Once you get the hang of it, it’ll take less than a minute to put all the pieces back together after cleaning.
Simple to Use: A single knob controls the juicer. Turn the knob to the right and it spins at high speed; turn it to the left and it spins at low speed; and turn it back to the neutral position switches the juicer off. Can’t get any easier to use than that. You only have two speed options: high and low, nothing in between. High speed for hard fruits and veggies and low speed for soft fruits and veggies.
Efficient: I expected the pulp that was collected in the pulp container to be wet with residual juice, but was pleasantly surprised by how dry the pulp was. The juicer does a fantastic job extracting as much of the juice as possible. To get any more juice from the pulp, you would need to upgrade to the pricier masticating juicers.
Large 32 oz pitcher: The container is large enough to hold 4 cups of juice. You can even put your own glass underneath the spout by attaching the juice nozzle to prevent splashing.
Con:
The only thing I did not enjoy about the juicer is the clean up. I washed the parts by hand, but they are dishwasher safe. There are six pieces to wash. That’s a lot to clean. However, they all wash off very quickly except for the filter basket. I wash all the parts immediately after juicing so that nothing sticks to the juicer parts. Cleaning the filter basket is not as easy as the “Rinse N’ Ready” that the Oster marketing claims it to be. Pulp is clinging to the fine mesh filter basket and must be dislodged. You can’t simply run it under the faucet to remove the pulp. What makes this a bit precarious is that the cutting blade sits at the bottom of the filter basket, so you will have to be extra careful not to cut your fingers as you’re washing the filter basket. What worked for me when cleaning the filter basket was to use a soft bristle toothbrush. The bristles easily dislodged the pulp from the filter under running water and I did not have to risk cutting my fingers on the cutting blade.
The only thing I did not enjoy about the juicer is the clean up. I washed the parts by hand, but they are dishwasher safe. There are six pieces to wash. That’s a lot to clean. However, they all wash off very quickly except for the filter basket. I wash all the parts immediately after juicing so that nothing sticks to the juicer parts. Cleaning the filter basket is not as easy as the “Rinse N’ Ready” that the Oster marketing claims it to be. Pulp is clinging to the fine mesh filter basket and must be dislodged. You can’t simply run it under the faucet to remove the pulp. What makes this a bit precarious is that the cutting blade sits at the bottom of the filter basket, so you will have to be extra careful not to cut your fingers as you’re washing the filter basket. What worked for me when cleaning the filter basket was to use a soft bristle toothbrush. The bristles easily dislodged the pulp from the filter under running water and I did not have to risk cutting my fingers on the cutting blade.
Finally, I want to mention the Extra Wide Food Chute. Oster claims that the Food Chute fits whole fruits and veggies, even a whole apple. Well, the truth is that the diameter of the food chute is just a hair over 2.75”. Most apples, pears, and oranges are larger than 2.75.” Therefore, plan on cutting the fruits down to size before feeding it into the chute.
Verdict: The juicer works so well and is so simple to use that I can forgive Oster for the marketing claims. I would definitely recommend the Oster Juice Extractor for those looking to promote healthy living.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Catch memorable moments in 4K quality with this Canon M6 EOS Mark II camera kit. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality enable easy sharing of your 32.5MP photos, while the 14 fps burst mode and AF/AE tracking keep up with the demands of high-speed shooting. This Canon EOS M6 Mark II camera kit includes a 15-45mm lens for stunning close-ups..
Customer Rating
5
This is the Canon Mirrorless to Get
on December 23, 2019
Posted by: lambda100
**Summary**
Equipped with a class leading 32.5 Megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor, excellent image quality, a precise and accurate dual pixel auto focusing (AF) system, and high speed continuous shooting all crammed into a compact, lightweight body, Canon engineered a remarkably high performing mirrorless camera to capture life’s precious moments and test your creativity . That in a nutshell are the Canon M6 mark II’s (M6ii) hallmark features and what it aims to deliver; And boy does this camera deliver!
Equipped with a class leading 32.5 Megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor, excellent image quality, a precise and accurate dual pixel auto focusing (AF) system, and high speed continuous shooting all crammed into a compact, lightweight body, Canon engineered a remarkably high performing mirrorless camera to capture life’s precious moments and test your creativity . That in a nutshell are the Canon M6 mark II’s (M6ii) hallmark features and what it aims to deliver; And boy does this camera deliver!
**Styling**
The M6ii I received is the graphite black capped with a silver top and bottom. This gives the camera a classic, vintage-retro look which I just adore. I was taking some photos the other day with it and a friend was wondering why I was still using an old film camera. Really liking the look of this camera!
The M6ii I received is the graphite black capped with a silver top and bottom. This gives the camera a classic, vintage-retro look which I just adore. I was taking some photos the other day with it and a friend was wondering why I was still using an old film camera. Really liking the look of this camera!
**Touchscreen**
The 3 inch touchscreen can be tilted 180 degrees up for vlogging and selfies, and 45 degrees downward to get some of those above the head shots. While the tilt screen is good, I wished the M6ii had the more familiar vari-angle flip screen allowing for greater flexibility for those tough angle compositions.
The 3 inch touchscreen can be tilted 180 degrees up for vlogging and selfies, and 45 degrees downward to get some of those above the head shots. While the tilt screen is good, I wished the M6ii had the more familiar vari-angle flip screen allowing for greater flexibility for those tough angle compositions.
**Performance**
The M6ii is an amazing performer limited only by the lens you put on it. The dual pixel CMOS AF system is lightning quick, precise, and accurate. Enabling continuous AF with face and eye detection, I was able to take sharp portraits of my kids who have a hard time standing or sitting still. With AI Servo AF tracking turned on, the camera captures action shots with ease and with a high percentage of keepers. Add to that a 14 frames per second (fps) high speed continuous shooting with AF and auto exposure (AE) tracking and you won’t be missing any of the action. Canon also boasts RAW mode shooting of up to 30 fps with 0.5 seconds of pre-shooting images to capture the perfect moment. I was amazed at the sharpness of the photos and the speed of the AF system after reviewing the photos I took of my kids running around.
The M6ii is an amazing performer limited only by the lens you put on it. The dual pixel CMOS AF system is lightning quick, precise, and accurate. Enabling continuous AF with face and eye detection, I was able to take sharp portraits of my kids who have a hard time standing or sitting still. With AI Servo AF tracking turned on, the camera captures action shots with ease and with a high percentage of keepers. Add to that a 14 frames per second (fps) high speed continuous shooting with AF and auto exposure (AE) tracking and you won’t be missing any of the action. Canon also boasts RAW mode shooting of up to 30 fps with 0.5 seconds of pre-shooting images to capture the perfect moment. I was amazed at the sharpness of the photos and the speed of the AF system after reviewing the photos I took of my kids running around.
**The Kit Lens is Forgettable**
Of course how the camera performs and the quality of images you get depend on the lens you outfit with the camera. And this brings me to the weak link of the package - the included 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens. The kit lens is a good introduction to the M6ii, but that’s about it. It’ll give you acceptable image quality for static subjects and may work for moving subjects in good lighting conditions, but will not showcase the outstanding DIGIC 8 image processor or the CMOS sensor. For this you’ll want some of Canon’s native fast primes for its EF-M mirrorless mount system such as the 22mm f/2 STM and the 32 mm f/1.4 STM. (Sigma, a third party manufacturer has come up with their f/1.4 “mirrorless trio” of fast glass that should be on any serious shooter’s wish list.).
Of course how the camera performs and the quality of images you get depend on the lens you outfit with the camera. And this brings me to the weak link of the package - the included 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM kit lens. The kit lens is a good introduction to the M6ii, but that’s about it. It’ll give you acceptable image quality for static subjects and may work for moving subjects in good lighting conditions, but will not showcase the outstanding DIGIC 8 image processor or the CMOS sensor. For this you’ll want some of Canon’s native fast primes for its EF-M mirrorless mount system such as the 22mm f/2 STM and the 32 mm f/1.4 STM. (Sigma, a third party manufacturer has come up with their f/1.4 “mirrorless trio” of fast glass that should be on any serious shooter’s wish list.).
Even Canon thinks the 15-45mm kit lens is forgettable. On Canon’s own product webpage for the M6ii with kit lens, it provides three sample pictures taken with the camera, none of which were taken with the 15-45mm kit lens. Tells you how much Canon thinks about the image quality of this lens.
**Get the EF EOS M Mount Adapter**
You’ll also be able to take advantage of Canon’s entire universe of EF and EF-S lenses with the EF EOS M Mount Adapter. I purchased this separately and am glad I did. I have a small collection of Canon EF-S and EF lenses along with several third party Sigma lenses. The lenses I attached to the M6ii via the M Mount adapter are as follows: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (non STM version), Canon 18-135mm IS nano USM, Canon 55-250mm IS STM, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS (the generation right before the release of the Sport badge), Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (the generation before the Art badge), and Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. And guess what the results were when I tested all these lenses? They all performed flawlessly on the M6ii as though they are natively EF/EF-S mounted. Autofocus speed, accuracy, precision, focus tracking, and image stabilization are just the same as if they performed on my Canon 70D. Didn’t matter if it is a Sigma lens. Nothing was lost in the communication between the Sigma lens to the Canon M6ii. And on the M6ii with its 32.5 megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 8 image processor, and ultra accurate and lightning auto focus, I had a larger percentage of action shot keepers. As a bonus, the sensor and processor of the M6ii resolved the image with more detail, clarity, and sharpness than on my 70D. I am sure that if you have the Canon L series lenses attached to the M6ii via the EF EOS M Mount Adapter, you’ll be even more pleased with the results.
You’ll also be able to take advantage of Canon’s entire universe of EF and EF-S lenses with the EF EOS M Mount Adapter. I purchased this separately and am glad I did. I have a small collection of Canon EF-S and EF lenses along with several third party Sigma lenses. The lenses I attached to the M6ii via the M Mount adapter are as follows: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (non STM version), Canon 18-135mm IS nano USM, Canon 55-250mm IS STM, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 OS (the generation right before the release of the Sport badge), Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (the generation before the Art badge), and Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5. And guess what the results were when I tested all these lenses? They all performed flawlessly on the M6ii as though they are natively EF/EF-S mounted. Autofocus speed, accuracy, precision, focus tracking, and image stabilization are just the same as if they performed on my Canon 70D. Didn’t matter if it is a Sigma lens. Nothing was lost in the communication between the Sigma lens to the Canon M6ii. And on the M6ii with its 32.5 megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 8 image processor, and ultra accurate and lightning auto focus, I had a larger percentage of action shot keepers. As a bonus, the sensor and processor of the M6ii resolved the image with more detail, clarity, and sharpness than on my 70D. I am sure that if you have the Canon L series lenses attached to the M6ii via the EF EOS M Mount Adapter, you’ll be even more pleased with the results.
**Video**
And let’s not forget about motion pictures. The Canon M6ii is a competent video camera. Vloggers and content creators have the option to record in uncropped 4K UHD 30fps, FHD at 30fps or 60fps, and HD at 60fps. The camera can also produce slow motion capture in FHD at 120fps. It can also create some neat time lapse video as well. There is a microphone jack to attach an external mic. Perhaps the only disappointment observed by the video community is that the M6ii lacks recording at 24fps which is the standard for cinematographers. Canon has issued a response via its web product page stating that there will be a firmware update in 2020 to include 24fps.
And let’s not forget about motion pictures. The Canon M6ii is a competent video camera. Vloggers and content creators have the option to record in uncropped 4K UHD 30fps, FHD at 30fps or 60fps, and HD at 60fps. The camera can also produce slow motion capture in FHD at 120fps. It can also create some neat time lapse video as well. There is a microphone jack to attach an external mic. Perhaps the only disappointment observed by the video community is that the M6ii lacks recording at 24fps which is the standard for cinematographers. Canon has issued a response via its web product page stating that there will be a firmware update in 2020 to include 24fps.
**Other Notable Features**
+Even at 12,800 ISO, images are surprisingly acceptable when the noise reduction is turned to the High setting.
+The camera comes with the detachable electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is a great addition to have when you’re out in bright sunlight or if you’re so used to a viewfinder like myself that you cannot live without it. You can view everything in the EVF as though you were looking at the touchscreen.
+Touch and drag AF is a great feature. With it enabled, while peering through the EVF, the touch screen turns into a touch pad where you can use your finger to move the auto focus point to the desired location, and you can see it move in the EVF.
+The mechanical shutter is limited up to 1/4000 sec, but the electronic shutter can shoot up to 1/16000 sec.
+The electronic shutter is a silent shutter. This means you can shoot discreetly during a performance or event that cannot be disturbed (e.g. music recital)
+It’s a compact and discreet camera. People on the streets are often times turned off by a big dslr with an equally big lens. However, with the M6ii paired with an EOS M fast prime, it is perfect for street photography.
+With the included bulb mode, you can shoot some awesome star trail shots just like the pros.
+Interval shooting is a nice feature if you want to piece together your own time lapse using other video software.
+Button customization. Canon makes it easy to reassign the physical buttons and dials on the camera to the way you like to use your camera. One thing I always do is to assign a back button focus and eliminate the half press shutter focus.
+Take advantage and take the time to learn to connect the M6ii wirelessly via bluetooth and wifi. You will be glad you did. I tried it, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to taking the memory card out of my camera to insert into the computer. You’ll be able to magically transfer photos directly to your smartphone, PC/laptop, or to a cloud service. If you have a studio set up with a PC, you can control the camera functions and take photos with the Canon EOS Utilities software. Install the Camera Connect app on your smartphone and view and download all the pictures and videos from your M6ii to your phone. Better yet, use this same app connected via bluetooth/wifi to remotely activate the shutter for that perfect group shot with yourself included. No need to have a 10 sec or 2 sec timer tripping over the tripod to get yourself into that group shot.
+Even at 12,800 ISO, images are surprisingly acceptable when the noise reduction is turned to the High setting.
+The camera comes with the detachable electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is a great addition to have when you’re out in bright sunlight or if you’re so used to a viewfinder like myself that you cannot live without it. You can view everything in the EVF as though you were looking at the touchscreen.
+Touch and drag AF is a great feature. With it enabled, while peering through the EVF, the touch screen turns into a touch pad where you can use your finger to move the auto focus point to the desired location, and you can see it move in the EVF.
+The mechanical shutter is limited up to 1/4000 sec, but the electronic shutter can shoot up to 1/16000 sec.
+The electronic shutter is a silent shutter. This means you can shoot discreetly during a performance or event that cannot be disturbed (e.g. music recital)
+It’s a compact and discreet camera. People on the streets are often times turned off by a big dslr with an equally big lens. However, with the M6ii paired with an EOS M fast prime, it is perfect for street photography.
+With the included bulb mode, you can shoot some awesome star trail shots just like the pros.
+Interval shooting is a nice feature if you want to piece together your own time lapse using other video software.
+Button customization. Canon makes it easy to reassign the physical buttons and dials on the camera to the way you like to use your camera. One thing I always do is to assign a back button focus and eliminate the half press shutter focus.
+Take advantage and take the time to learn to connect the M6ii wirelessly via bluetooth and wifi. You will be glad you did. I tried it, and I don’t think I’ll ever go back to taking the memory card out of my camera to insert into the computer. You’ll be able to magically transfer photos directly to your smartphone, PC/laptop, or to a cloud service. If you have a studio set up with a PC, you can control the camera functions and take photos with the Canon EOS Utilities software. Install the Camera Connect app on your smartphone and view and download all the pictures and videos from your M6ii to your phone. Better yet, use this same app connected via bluetooth/wifi to remotely activate the shutter for that perfect group shot with yourself included. No need to have a 10 sec or 2 sec timer tripping over the tripod to get yourself into that group shot.
**Some Minor Gripes**
-The EVF attaches to the hot shoe. For someone like myself who likes using a viewfinder to compose shots and also use an external flash for indoor flash bounce, this becomes a problem. I cannot use the EVF and external flash simultaneously.
-Similar scenario for videographers who like to attach an external microphone to the hot shoe. You won’t be able to use the EVF simultaneously.
-Because the EVF is detachable, it can easily be misplaced.
-Mediocre battery life. According to the specs, the battery lasts for approximately 305 shots using the touchscreen, 250 shots thru the EVF, and around 410 when in ECO mode. That’s not much. Plan on getting an extra battery if you plan to shoot a lot for the day.
-The camera body is not weather sealed (but neither are the lenses I own). Don’t take the camera out in the rain.
-The EVF attaches to the hot shoe. For someone like myself who likes using a viewfinder to compose shots and also use an external flash for indoor flash bounce, this becomes a problem. I cannot use the EVF and external flash simultaneously.
-Similar scenario for videographers who like to attach an external microphone to the hot shoe. You won’t be able to use the EVF simultaneously.
-Because the EVF is detachable, it can easily be misplaced.
-Mediocre battery life. According to the specs, the battery lasts for approximately 305 shots using the touchscreen, 250 shots thru the EVF, and around 410 when in ECO mode. That’s not much. Plan on getting an extra battery if you plan to shoot a lot for the day.
-The camera body is not weather sealed (but neither are the lenses I own). Don’t take the camera out in the rain.
**Conclusion**
The M6ii is a compelling camera that is compact and lightweight, but is big on features, rivaling some of the best enthusiast cameras on the market today. It takes excellent photos, focuses quickly to capture the most fleeting action shots, and has very high speed continuous shooting. With all the advanced features built into the camera, one would think it is geared for advanced amateurs to enthusiasts. That is not totally the case since Canon integrates fully automatic and scene modes to aid beginners. This is definitely a camera that a novice can grow with. As for the advanced amateurs and enthusiasts, they will feel at home with the advanced feature set in the M6ii. Even professional photographers will find some interest in the M6ii as a secondary camera when they don’t need to carry around the bulk.
The M6ii is a compelling camera that is compact and lightweight, but is big on features, rivaling some of the best enthusiast cameras on the market today. It takes excellent photos, focuses quickly to capture the most fleeting action shots, and has very high speed continuous shooting. With all the advanced features built into the camera, one would think it is geared for advanced amateurs to enthusiasts. That is not totally the case since Canon integrates fully automatic and scene modes to aid beginners. This is definitely a camera that a novice can grow with. As for the advanced amateurs and enthusiasts, they will feel at home with the advanced feature set in the M6ii. Even professional photographers will find some interest in the M6ii as a secondary camera when they don’t need to carry around the bulk.
I have decided to retire my 70D after using the M6ii.
I highly recommend that you put the M6ii on your short list of cameras to consider.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Smart. Portable. Powerful. The Bose portable smart speaker is a wireless home speaker, a portable Bluetooth speaker, and a voice-controlled speaker, all in one. And no matter what you listen to or where, you'll hear it all in 360 degrees of astonishing Bose sound.
Customer Rating
5
Alexa, Buy the Bose Portable Home Speaker
on October 3, 2019
Posted by: lambda100
Featuring a combination of excellent audio quality with integrated voice assistant, Bose has crafted an incredible smart speaker that’s ready to get out of the home and provide the soundtrack to your life wherever you go.
~~Pros~~
+360 degree rich, lively, immersive audio. The audio is well balanced. There is even crispness and sparkle in the treble frequencies which is a pleasant surprise since Bose’s signature sound is known for its richness and warmth. The speaker spreads sound evenly in all directions with no dead spots. Placing it near the corner of walls allows the audio to reflect off the walls to create a wider spatial feel to the sound. The bass is powerful and punches deep. (For comparison, the bass competes well against my Sony XB41, and that is one bassy speaker.) Audio from this speaker can easily fill a mid size room with no distortion when turning up the volume.
+360 degree rich, lively, immersive audio. The audio is well balanced. There is even crispness and sparkle in the treble frequencies which is a pleasant surprise since Bose’s signature sound is known for its richness and warmth. The speaker spreads sound evenly in all directions with no dead spots. Placing it near the corner of walls allows the audio to reflect off the walls to create a wider spatial feel to the sound. The bass is powerful and punches deep. (For comparison, the bass competes well against my Sony XB41, and that is one bassy speaker.) Audio from this speaker can easily fill a mid size room with no distortion when turning up the volume.
Not enough bass or treble? Feel free to adjust both the bass and the treble via the Bose Music app. You can go from -100 to +100 in increments of 10. Bose didn’t used to allow the user to custom adjust the Bose signature sound, figuring that the factory tuned audio quality was good enough for all types of music. How wrong that was. Some music genres benefit with more bass, others with less. And similarly, some can use more or less treble. Bose seems to now recognize this with the series of smart home audio products (e.g. bose 700 soundbar) that the company is introducing as of late with the ability to adjust both bass and treble.
+Choice of Alexa or the Google assistant with the option to switch between the two whenever you feel like it. Some days you want to listen to Alexa’s voice and other days you might want to converse with the Google Assistant. At least now you can have two virtual friends to talk to, but you can’t get them to both work simultaneously. Simply switch between voice assistants in the Bose Music app. I think it’s great that Bose was able to get both assistants on a single smart speaker. Other smart speaker manufacturers only offer Alexa or Google Assistant, but not both. Kudos to Bose for allowing the option to switch. This obviously helps to increase sales.
The microphones work well. Even with music playing loudly, the mics are able to pick up my voice from across the room to activate the voice assistant.
+wifi audio streaming using pandora, iheart radio, amazon music, spotify, siriusXM, tune in, and deezer. Wifi streaming quality is superior to bluetooth. So whenever, wifi audio streaming is available, you should choose that option.
+Wifi or bluetooth, its up to you. It’s a wifi and bluetooth speaker all in one. When you are away from wifi, simply connect and listen to music thru bluetooth.
+Bose Music app - Easy to use and feature rich. Save preset stations, adjust bass and treble, group Bose’s smart home audio speakers, adjust volume, select one of the aforementioned wifi streaming services. You’ll need to install the Bose Music app and create an account to perform the initial set up for the speaker.
+usb c charging. I list it as a pro, even though many devices today have already shifted to the usb c charging as a standard.
The Bose portable home speaker isn’t perfect by any means though. Some wonderful features from the good ole dumb bluetooth speaker days didn’t make the cut into the latest modern smart speaker devices. These notable omissions as well as other things are listed here as Cons.
~~Cons~~
-The Bose portable home speaker does not come with the charging cradle which allows you to simply place the speaker on top of it without having to plug it in to charge. It is available to purchase separately for another $30. For the price Bose is charging for the speaker, you would think they could throw in the charging cradle.
-The Bose portable home speaker does not come with the charging cradle which allows you to simply place the speaker on top of it without having to plug it in to charge. It is available to purchase separately for another $30. For the price Bose is charging for the speaker, you would think they could throw in the charging cradle.
-The 3.5mm audio jack has gone the way of the dodo bird. Bose has simply done away with it. Most of us probably wouldn’t use it anymore, but it would have been nice to include just for completeness sake so you can tell this generation of youth that in the old days (errr..last year) you had to use a wire to connect to audio devices.
-No speakerphone ability. It’s a smart home speaker, but not smart enough to allow you to use it as a speakerphone. It has sophisticated microphones that pick up your voice from across a room only to allow you to speak commands to your voice assistant, but not speak with a real person. Go figure. For this reason, I can’t part with my Bose Soundlink Mini II which, even though it is a dumb speaker, is smart enough to allow me to use it as a speakerphone.
-Portable is relative. Sure this Bose smart speaker is portable, but it’s bigger and heftier than, say the Bose Revolve Plus, Bose Revolve, or my favorite Bose Soundlink Mini II. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of owning or using the Bose Soundlink Mini I or II, you will know how compact and low profile the speaker is. It’s always advertised with a photo of the speaker sitting on the palm of your hand. That is a portable speaker that I can easily throw into a bag. Not so much with the Bose portable home speaker. It is portable, but you’ll need a bigger bag.
-You can take it out of the home, but it’s not as rugged as other portable bluetooth speakers. The Bose portable home speaker shares the same cylindrical lantern design as the Bose Revolve speakers, but those have rubber bumpers at the top and bottom of the speakers to protect them during an impact. Bose clearly designed the portable home speaker to have a more aesthetic appeal to blend with indoor furnishing rather than for the outdoor ruggedness.
With an IPx4 rating, the Bose portable home speaker is water resistant, meaning it can withstand splashes of water, but can’t be submerged like other portable speakers rated with IPx7 waterproof ratings.
Here are some other observations:
*You can only use the voice assistant as long as the speaker is connected through wifi. The voice controls will not work when you’re no longer within wifi range.
*You can only use the voice assistant as long as the speaker is connected through wifi. The voice controls will not work when you’re no longer within wifi range.
*For the occasions when you don’t want Amazon or Google listening to your conversation, you can simply turn off the microphone by pushing the mic on/off button at the top of the speaker.
*Although they look physically similar, the Bose portable home speaker does not have a tripod mount like the Bose Revolve speakers.
*It takes approximately 4 hrs to fully recharge the battery. Bose states the speaker can play up to 12 hrs. I was using the speaker at 50% volume and it has lasted well over 12 hrs.
~~Should you buy it?~~
This is one of those products where I would not hesitate recommending. The cons I listed are minor niggles that should not discourage you from putting the Bose portable home speaker at the top of your list to audition. Although it is on the pricier side, Bose has engineered an outstanding speaker with superb audio qualities that will bring a smile to your face when you listen to it.
This is one of those products where I would not hesitate recommending. The cons I listed are minor niggles that should not discourage you from putting the Bose portable home speaker at the top of your list to audition. Although it is on the pricier side, Bose has engineered an outstanding speaker with superb audio qualities that will bring a smile to your face when you listen to it.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+26points
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Step up to high-speed USB 3.0 speeds and transfer your videos, photos and files up to ten times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives. SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive takes the wait out of moving, sharing or backing up big files - now you can transfer a full length movie from your laptop to your flash drive in less than a minute. Password protection lets you keep your private files private, while still allowing you to share generously with family and friends. And with a sleek, sturdy SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive in your pocket, you won’t need an internet connection to access those photos and videos anyplace and anytime you want. For more than 25 years, SanDisk has been known for quality and reliability all around the world.
Customer Rating
4
A Flash Drive with Cloud BackUp
on March 20, 2019
Posted by: lambda100
I really like that the Sandisk USB 3.0 256gb flash drive has plenty of space for all of my music files, videos, and documents. Even though it is stated as 256gb drive, actual available storage space is 233gb. Build quality on the drive is poor. The all plastic enclosure is loose and wobbly and it gives the impression that it can break off if inserted or removed with force. You’ll need to handle this drive with care.
I performed a non-scientific test of write speed. I transferred 27 gb of music files to the flash drive and it took 27 minutes, so 1gb/min. The drive does become warm during file transfer, but the amount of heat generated appears normal.
The flash drive comes with two useful software to enable file security and access. The first is Sandisk’s Secure Access Vault which is a file encryption software. You simply create a password and encrypt your files by dropping them into the Sandisk Vault. They are then electronically locked or encrypted. Nobody will be able to access your files without the decryption password. The only way to access the files is to enter your password in the Vault.
The flash drive comes with two useful software to enable file security and access. The first is Sandisk’s Secure Access Vault which is a file encryption software. You simply create a password and encrypt your files by dropping them into the Sandisk Vault. They are then electronically locked or encrypted. Nobody will be able to access your files without the decryption password. The only way to access the files is to enter your password in the Vault.
Another handy tool is Sandisk Flashback. Flashback automates the backup process by transferring the entire contents in the flash drive to Sandisk’s Cloud. You’ll be able to view and download the contents in the flash drive online without having the flash drive physically present. This becomes handy if you either left your flash drive at home or, worse, lost your flash drive entirely. You can recover all of your backed up content online. You can also share files with anyone by simply sending them a link to access the files in your Sandisk Cloud without having to attach large files onto an e-mail.
In order for all of this to function, Flashback software needs to be installed locally on your desktop or laptop computer to upload files to Sandisk’s Cloud server. You’ll also need to create an account on the Sandisk Flashback website to access your files in Sandisk’s Cloud server. Flashback is free for the 1st year, after that you’ll need to pay an annual subscription fee to continue access to your backed up files in the Sandisk Cloud. I’ve attached a picture showing the subscription pricing at the time of my review.
One limitation of the cloud backup feature is that backing up to the Sandisk cloud only works if you have the flash drive connected to a computer that has the Flashback software installed. In practice, there are numerous instances where you’ll be using the drive at a workstation, say at work computer or a friend’s computer, where the Flashback software isn’t installed. The flash drive becomes a regular, run of the mill storage drive. There’s nothing wrong with this, you just simply need to be aware that no Cloud back up is being performed until you plug the flash drive back into your computer that has the Flashback software installed.
Another limitation is that if you have files encrypted in the Sandisk Vault, those encrypted files will naturally remain encrypted, as they should, when backed up to the Sandisk Cloud. However, there is no way for you to access the encrypted files online in the Sandisk Cloud website since you won’t be able to decrypt the files without the Sandisk Vault. The encrypted files can only be decrypted locally from within the flashdrive.
All in all, this is a decent high capacity flash drive with some extra bonus features for securing your files and automatically backing up your flash drive to the cloud. I would recommend the flash drive.
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Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
Are this headphones are waterproof ?
No, the headphones are not waterproof. The Sony 1000XM2 are not advertised with an IPX rating.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
lambda100
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
The earmuffs can help to reduce more noises than ANC maybe can't do (high frequencies)? How is the passive noise reduction compared with QC35?
I have both the Bose QC35 and the Sony 1000XM2. I qualitatively tested the passive noise reduction for both, and can conclude that passive noise reduction is similar on both. The Sony headphones press tighter onto my ears and gives the perception that they offer better passive noise reduction, but they really do not.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
lambda100
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
I read that the ANC technology don't works well to cancell the high frequency noises (fireguns, fireworks). However, these headphones they have a passive isolation around the ear. The passive isolation, ANC and music combination can help to reduce it?
The passive isolation on the 1000XM2 and all audio headphones on the market for that matter are insufficient at effectively reducing high frequency noises. Of course, if you turn on the volume loud enough, you will be able to block out most of the noise at the expense of your hearing. With that said, please use proper, dedicated earmuffs rated for firearm and industrial use for your specific purpose.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
lambda100
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
What walkman are compatible with these headphones?
The Sony 1000XM2 comes with a standard 3.5mm audio cable. These headphones will work with any walkman that has the standard 3.5mm audio input.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
lambda100
Immerse yourself in rich, vibrant sound with this 2.1-channel Sony sound bar. It has a two-way wireless subwoofer that delivers booming bass and an S-Force PRO front surround for a theater-like audio experience. This Sony sound bar uses Bluetooth connectivity to pair easily with home theater and other audio devices.
Is this entire sound bar wireless or are there any cords to attach to the TV? What's the sound output?
The connection between the soundbar and the subwoofer is wireless. Listening devices can also be connected wirelessly via bluetooth. The soundbar is attached to the TV via HDMI arc or optical cable. The optical cable is included in the packaging. Sound output is rated at 300 watts.
8 years, 1 month ago
by
lambda100
Immerse yourself in rich, vibrant sound with this 2.1-channel Sony sound bar. It has a two-way wireless subwoofer that delivers booming bass and an S-Force PRO front surround for a theater-like audio experience. This Sony sound bar uses Bluetooth connectivity to pair easily with home theater and other audio devices.
how big is the sub woofer on this set
The sub woofer on the Sony HT-CT290 measures 6 3/4" wide x 13 1/2" high x 14 3/8" deep.
8 years, 1 month ago
by
lambda100
Make hands-free calls and listen to music with these Sony wireless in-ear sport headphones. The wireless design frees your range of motion, and the microphone makes conversations more convenient. Listen to music for over 8 hours on a single charge with these Sony wireless in-ear sport headphones, which are moisture-resistant for use during strenuous workouts.
Can you skip songs on Android phones with these?
Yes, you can skip songs on Android phones with the Sony MDR-XB50BS headphones by pressing and holding down the volume button for two seconds. The volume button is located on the right side of the headphone.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
lambda100
Make hands-free calls and listen to music with these Sony wireless in-ear sport headphones. The wireless design frees your range of motion, and the microphone makes conversations more convenient. Listen to music for over 8 hours on a single charge with these Sony wireless in-ear sport headphones, which are moisture-resistant for use during strenuous workouts.
Do these have a blinking light on them while in use?
Yes, there is a blue blinking light when in use.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
lambda100
Clearly view your favorite movies or look at photos using this Lenovo G50 - 80E30181US laptop, which features a 15.6" display that offers visuals in high-definition. A 500GB hard drive provides serviceable storage for your files.
Does this have a touch screen?
Clearly view your favorite movies or look at photos using this Lenovo G50 - 80E30181US laptop, which features a 15.6" display that offers visuals in high-definition. A 500GB hard drive provides serviceable storage for your files.
Is the battery removable?
Yes, the battery is easily removable by sliding two tabs underneath the laptop.
10 years ago
by
lambda100