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- Review count29
- Helpfulness votes315
- First reviewNovember 6, 2015
- Last reviewMay 30, 2018
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.9
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- Last answerMay 30, 2018
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TiVo Mini TCDA93000: Enjoy TV shows and movies from your existing TiVo DVR on any TV in the house with TiVo Mini. Easily stream online entertainment, manage your settings and watch live or recorded programming for smooth TiVo integration.
Customer Rating
5
Seamless Extension of TiVo Roamio
on December 17, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
Finally replaced my cable box in the bedroom with a TiVo Mini. If you have a TiVo Premier, Roamio, or Bolt, setup should be relatively painless. Here's my experience:
SETUP:
- I installed a MoCA filter where the cable enters my apartment. This is highly recommended if you live in an apartment/condo building. Even if you live in a single-family house, you should install this filter to eliminate the possibility of interference with your neighbors' cable system.
- If your house is wired with ethernet, you can use that instead of MoCA (assuming both your main TiVo box and the Mini can reach an ethernet port).
- If you use MoCA: you'll have to connect your main TiVo box directly to your router with an ethernet cable (you cannot use wireless). Go into the TiVo settings, enable MoCA in the network settings, and you're good to go.
- Connect the Mini to a cable outlet, plug it in, and follow the setup instructions.
- I installed a MoCA filter where the cable enters my apartment. This is highly recommended if you live in an apartment/condo building. Even if you live in a single-family house, you should install this filter to eliminate the possibility of interference with your neighbors' cable system.
- If your house is wired with ethernet, you can use that instead of MoCA (assuming both your main TiVo box and the Mini can reach an ethernet port).
- If you use MoCA: you'll have to connect your main TiVo box directly to your router with an ethernet cable (you cannot use wireless). Go into the TiVo settings, enable MoCA in the network settings, and you're good to go.
- Connect the Mini to a cable outlet, plug it in, and follow the setup instructions.
Once that's done, the experience is seamless. The Mini is just as fast as my Roamio Plus and can view live TV and recordings with no issues. The guide, menus, remote control functions, etc. are all identical to the Roamio. I love that the remote is also RF-based like the Roamio, so no direct line-of-sight is required.
If you want to extend the TiVo experience to another TV without buying another costly box with service fees, the TiVo Mini is perfect.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
With a fully adjustable stand and HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, this Dell UltraSharp U2415 PVJVW monitor enables a flexible dual-monitor setup for enhanced functionality. The vivid IPS display with 1920 x 1200 resolution offers bright, clear images.
Customer Rating
5
Incredible Monitor
on November 21, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
Thin bezels, crisp resolution, anti-glare screen, and a 16:10 aspect ratio -- it's everything I need in a monitor. I love how easy it is to adjust the height and angle of the monitor. Love that it has HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. This is a solid monitor for anyone.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
Keep in touch with this AT&T EL52203 expandable cordless phone system, which includes a base station, 2 cordless handsets and a cradle and features DECT 6.0 digital technology for clear communication. The extra-large LCD and backlit keypad simplify use.
Customer Rating
5
Great Phone System for Small Homes
on November 21, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
My new cable package includes phone service, so I needed a solid phone system that wouldn't break the bank. This fits the bill perfectly. Easy setup, stylish design, and excellent wireless range in my small apartment. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
Customer Rating
4
Beautiful, But Thinner Is Not Always Better
on May 26, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
I'll start off by saying that this laptop is an absolute work of art. The aluminum construction along with the brown and gold colors are truly eye-catching. The machine is incredibly light and thin, leaving you amazed at just how HP was able to pack such powerful hardware into such a small space. If you're looking for the smallest, thinnest, and most portable laptop without compromising much power, this could be for you. But the form factor of this machine comes at a cost which many users may not be willing to accept.
GOOD:
- Beautiful design, as mentioned above. There will be no doubt by anyone that this is a premium product. Co-workers have stopped at my desk after noticing how sleek and thin this computer is.
- Great keyboard. For such a thin machine, the keys have a surprising amount of travel and are nicely spaced out.
- Nice, sharp screen. Sure, it's not a super high resolution, but text and images look very crisp. It gets quite bright and produces great black levels and viewing angles.
- This thing is powerful. With an i7 and 8GB of RAM, you should have no problems running any type of software.
- Comes with a nice leather carrying sleeve that is a perfect fit for the laptop.
- Beautiful design, as mentioned above. There will be no doubt by anyone that this is a premium product. Co-workers have stopped at my desk after noticing how sleek and thin this computer is.
- Great keyboard. For such a thin machine, the keys have a surprising amount of travel and are nicely spaced out.
- Nice, sharp screen. Sure, it's not a super high resolution, but text and images look very crisp. It gets quite bright and produces great black levels and viewing angles.
- This thing is powerful. With an i7 and 8GB of RAM, you should have no problems running any type of software.
- Comes with a nice leather carrying sleeve that is a perfect fit for the laptop.
COULD BE BETTER:
- Battery. HP claims 9 hours of battery life, but after a few days of use, I have yet to get more than 6 hours with normal use and half screen brightness. It's not bad, but it's not amazing. With a laptop this thin, it's hard to expect anything more.
- The trackpad works nicely, but I find it to be a little too small. It's not tall enough to allow for long scrolls through webpages or Word documents.
- The screen is crazy glossy. I usually don't mind glossy screens, but this one is essentially unusable outdoors or with direct overhead lighting.
- This thing is a fingerprint magnet. If you like to keep your devices clean and perfect, this might drive you nuts.
- Battery. HP claims 9 hours of battery life, but after a few days of use, I have yet to get more than 6 hours with normal use and half screen brightness. It's not bad, but it's not amazing. With a laptop this thin, it's hard to expect anything more.
- The trackpad works nicely, but I find it to be a little too small. It's not tall enough to allow for long scrolls through webpages or Word documents.
- The screen is crazy glossy. I usually don't mind glossy screens, but this one is essentially unusable outdoors or with direct overhead lighting.
- This thing is a fingerprint magnet. If you like to keep your devices clean and perfect, this might drive you nuts.
BAD:
- The noise. It's awful. The fans seem like they spin up to full blast if you simply touch the trackpad or open a web browser. The fans are basically ALWAYS on. Even worse, my unit makes a horrible "chirping" or "sqeaking" sound whenever the power adapter is plugged in. As soon as I unplug the power cord from the back of the laptop, the noise goes away. Maybe I got a defective laptop, but this doesn't seem normal to me.
- The cable for the power adapter is just ridiculously long. It must be at least 12 feet long, which sort of defeats the purpose of an ultra-portable laptop. All of the space that you save with the thinness of the laptop is used up by the huge power cord.
- USB-C ports are the only option. There are no standard USB 3.0 ports, nor is there an SD card slot. For now, you will need an adapter for pretty much any accessory that you want to plug in. Luckily, HP includes one USB-C to USB 3.0 adapter in the box. I'm sure USB-C will eventually take over, but for the time being, it's more of an annoyance than a convenience.
- The noise. It's awful. The fans seem like they spin up to full blast if you simply touch the trackpad or open a web browser. The fans are basically ALWAYS on. Even worse, my unit makes a horrible "chirping" or "sqeaking" sound whenever the power adapter is plugged in. As soon as I unplug the power cord from the back of the laptop, the noise goes away. Maybe I got a defective laptop, but this doesn't seem normal to me.
- The cable for the power adapter is just ridiculously long. It must be at least 12 feet long, which sort of defeats the purpose of an ultra-portable laptop. All of the space that you save with the thinness of the laptop is used up by the huge power cord.
- USB-C ports are the only option. There are no standard USB 3.0 ports, nor is there an SD card slot. For now, you will need an adapter for pretty much any accessory that you want to plug in. Luckily, HP includes one USB-C to USB 3.0 adapter in the box. I'm sure USB-C will eventually take over, but for the time being, it's more of an annoyance than a convenience.
OVERALL:
This laptop is highly-functional and competitively priced. However, some users might not like the trade-offs in battery life, screen real estate, and fan noise that are a result of this ultra-thin design. If none of that really matters, and you just want a super-thin and super-light laptop, give this a look. Just remember to leave some extra space in your bag for the power cord and USB adapters.
This laptop is highly-functional and competitively priced. However, some users might not like the trade-offs in battery life, screen real estate, and fan noise that are a result of this ultra-thin design. If none of that really matters, and you just want a super-thin and super-light laptop, give this a look. Just remember to leave some extra space in your bag for the power cord and USB adapters.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+48points
50of 52voted this as helpful.
Dyson AM07 Tower Fan: Cool the whole room with this bladeless tower fan that features high-velocity airflow. The included remote lets you control airflow settings from a distance.
Customer Rating
5
Pricey, but amazingly powerful
on May 5, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
I live in a westward facing apartment in the middle of the desert, so I need as much airflow as I can get. The Dyson AM07 has been a great addition to my home. The bladeless design is truly a work of art that looks great in any room. The fan is quiet at most settings, but as you approach the higher settings, it definitely becomes noticeable. However, I've found that even the lower settings are more than adequate for most rooms. I leave the fan on setting 6 in my bedroom at night, and I've been able to sleep perfectly with a pleasant breeze cooling the room.
My favorite feature of the AM07 is the way it distributes air evenly rather than forcing it all in one direction (like standard tower fans). Air feels as if it is contouring around my body rather than blowing right in my face. You don't even have to be directly in front of the fan to feel the air moving -- the fan seems to swirl air around the entire room.
My only gripe is that the remote is rather small and the buttons on it are very hard to see (especially on the white model). I also wish there were control buttons on the fan itself, rather than always needing the remote to make adjustments. These minor gripes aside, this is an amazingly powerful fan that is certainly worth the price.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+25points
29of 33voted this as helpful.
Experience powerful, finely tuned sound in your home with this black Sonos Play:5 wireless speaker. The three mid-woofers and three tweeters produce deep, crisp audio for complete immersion in a world of music, while the humidity-resistant design allows use near a bathroom or kitchen counter. This Sonos Play:5 wireless speaker has Wi-Fi connectivity, letting you stream your best tunes wirelessly.
Customer Rating
5
Changed the way I listen to music
on February 2, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
I certainly don't consider myself an audiophile. I knew I wanted a nice-sounding wireless speaker, but more importantly, I wanted one that was easy and fun to use. The Play:5 goes above and beyond, delivering some of the best sound I've ever heard in my home. Setup is incredibly easy: just plug in the speaker, download an app to your phone, and connect to a Wi-Fi network. The integration with my iTunes music, Spotify, and Pandora is seamless. The speaker is very portable and re-establishes its wireless connection very quickly after being plugged in. The price may be intimidating, but the quality and simplicity of this speaker is unbeatable. Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
The ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 is a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem with 32 downstream x 8 upstream bonded channels, making it a perfect addition to your home network. The SB6190 is best for cable internet speed plans up to 800 Mbps.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for Top-Tier Internet Speeds
on February 1, 2016
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
I had no problems installing and activating this modem with Cox. I subscribe to the Premier Internet package (100 mbps down; 10 mbps up). I upgraded from the SB6141, which only bonds 8 downstream channels. With the SB6141, I saw download speeds of about 105 mbps. After installing the SB6190, my download speeds have increased to nearly 130 mbps. I didn't upgrade my Internet package. Rather, the additional bonded channels provided by the SB6190 provided a noticeable boost in speed.
As such, I would highly recommend this modem to any cable subscriber on a plan with download speeds of at least 100 mbps, especially if you are using a modem that bonds less than 16 downstream channels (such as older SURFboard modems).
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+39points
44of 49voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyInsignia™ Portable Bluetooth Stereo Speaker: Take the music with you with this speaker, which features Bluetooth connectivity for easy music streaming. The speakerphone feature allows you to make and take hands-free calls.
Customer Rating
4
Decent Sound; Good Value
on November 11, 2015
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
Full disclosure: I received this item for free via a coupon provided by Best Buy. I've been using it in my office for the past week to stream radio stations and Spotify from my iPhone. I keep the volume rather low so as to not disturb my co-workers. For that purpose, it does the job well and provides nice background music. Its compact size makes it ultra-portable with a surprisingly decent battery life.
However, at higher volumes, distortion becomes very evident. Overall bass is lacking and sound is rather hollow or "tinny." This definitely isn't a premium sound experience -- and Best Buy certainly isn't targeting that market with this product. But if you're just looking for a speaker to fill the silence with no bells and whistles, this is a good contender.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
The new Apple TV delivers an all-new experience with Touch andSiri, powerful new hardware, and great content, games, and more on the App Store. The Touch surface on the new Siri Remote offers innovative ways to interact with your TV, creating a connected experience with a screen that's across the room. With Siri, finding something to watch is as easy as just asking. And with apps, Apple TV allows you to customize your TV for personal and shared experiences in the living room.
Customer Rating
4
It's the Future... But it's Not Here Just Yet
on November 6, 2015
Posted by: Ryan
Verified Purchase:Yes
My old Apple TV was looking a little long in the tooth, so I figured that this new model would be a major overhaul and change the way I watch and interact with TV content. It doesn't quite live up to my hopes, at least not yet. Below are my thoughts on the biggest changes in this new model: the Siri Remote and App Store.
Siri Remote
I was expecting the remote to be quite simple and intuitive, but there is a definite learning curve. Prepare to give your thumbs a workout. I often find myself swiping too far and overshooting the item I wanted to select. Also, it's not immediately obvious that you can simply tap on the trackpad (rather than click) and use the edges as directional pointers, just like the previous Apple TV remote. My biggest gripe with the remote has to be the way that Apple has laid out the on-screen keyboard (a completely horizontal line in alphabet order). After logging into and authenticating all of your apps, your thumb is going to hate you. On the plus side, Siri works very well and understands my voice with almost complete accuracy. However, there just isn't much that Siri can do on the Apple TV right now besides search iTunes and Netflix. I'm sure more features will be added over time.
I was expecting the remote to be quite simple and intuitive, but there is a definite learning curve. Prepare to give your thumbs a workout. I often find myself swiping too far and overshooting the item I wanted to select. Also, it's not immediately obvious that you can simply tap on the trackpad (rather than click) and use the edges as directional pointers, just like the previous Apple TV remote. My biggest gripe with the remote has to be the way that Apple has laid out the on-screen keyboard (a completely horizontal line in alphabet order). After logging into and authenticating all of your apps, your thumb is going to hate you. On the plus side, Siri works very well and understands my voice with almost complete accuracy. However, there just isn't much that Siri can do on the Apple TV right now besides search iTunes and Netflix. I'm sure more features will be added over time.
App Store
There just aren't enough apps available yet (besides the plethora of cheap games that will surely keep your kids occupied for at least a few hours). It's obvious that Apple wanted to release this new model in time for the holiday season, but it did so without giving developers enough time to make meaningful apps. The potential is huge and developers now have a great canvas to build amazing experiences, but it's going to take at least another 6-12 months for consumers to see any real benefit.
There just aren't enough apps available yet (besides the plethora of cheap games that will surely keep your kids occupied for at least a few hours). It's obvious that Apple wanted to release this new model in time for the holiday season, but it did so without giving developers enough time to make meaningful apps. The potential is huge and developers now have a great canvas to build amazing experiences, but it's going to take at least another 6-12 months for consumers to see any real benefit.
Other Thoughts
As it stands, I don't think this is the product that is going to change TV forever, as some may have hoped. It's a nice upgrade from the previous Apple TV, but right now, it just feels half-baked. Most streaming apps still require a paid cable/satellite TV subscription, and you have to log in and authenticate every single one of those apps. If Apple can figure out a way to let users log in with their cable subscription just once -- and have that apply to all necessary apps -- that would be a major advancement in user experience. In the meantime, I'm hoping that apps like TiVo, Amazon, Infuse, Vudu, and others make their way to Apple TV. But as it stands now, the new Apple TV is more like a faster, prettier version of its predecessor. If you're a first-time Apple TV buyer, buy it without hesitation. If you have an older Apple TV, I'd hold off for at least another few months. Apple has laid the groundwork for its vision of TV, and its now up to developers and content providers to get on board.
As it stands, I don't think this is the product that is going to change TV forever, as some may have hoped. It's a nice upgrade from the previous Apple TV, but right now, it just feels half-baked. Most streaming apps still require a paid cable/satellite TV subscription, and you have to log in and authenticate every single one of those apps. If Apple can figure out a way to let users log in with their cable subscription just once -- and have that apply to all necessary apps -- that would be a major advancement in user experience. In the meantime, I'm hoping that apps like TiVo, Amazon, Infuse, Vudu, and others make their way to Apple TV. But as it stands now, the new Apple TV is more like a faster, prettier version of its predecessor. If you're a first-time Apple TV buyer, buy it without hesitation. If you have an older Apple TV, I'd hold off for at least another few months. Apple has laid the groundwork for its vision of TV, and its now up to developers and content providers to get on board.
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
My Best Buy number: 0961954923
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+122points
143of 164voted this as helpful.
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Travel in confidence and keep your devices charged with this Platinum all-in-one travel adapter. Universal in design, this adapter is compatible with UK, EU, Australian and North American sockets and converts 240 to 120 for efficient charging. Two USB ports on this Platinum all-in-one travel adapter let you charge a phone and tablet at the same time.