BobinVA's stats
- Review count128
- Helpfulness votes435
- First reviewDecember 19, 2014
- Last reviewMay 31, 2024
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- Average rating4
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- Answer count28
- Helpfulness votes23
- First answerAugust 12, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 22, 2022
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![The Greatest Showman [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2017]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/6176/6176426_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
It was over before I knew it!
on June 24, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
Verified Purchase:Yes
Let me start by saying I'm not a fan of musicals. I watch them because my wife likes them, but in general I would not choose to watch a musical if I can help it. I wasn't sure I wanted to see "The Greatest Showman" because of that, but with all the buzz, and the fact that my wife wanted to see it, I decided to take a chance on it. I'm so glad I did!
I was a bit nervous about another Hugh Jackman musical, since I thought "Les Miserables" was terrible. What a pleasant surprise this movie was! Jackman does a fantastic job and sounds great. The cast is excellent, and the musical score is expertly put together. You'll be tapping your feet throughout.
Some have criticized this movie for not being historically accurate. As long as you're not expecting to get a history lesson from watching this, you can ignore that and just have a good time. The movie is very stylized and has that "magical" quality that just makes it a fun ride.
When the movie ended, I was gearing up for the next chapter. That's how enjoyable it was. For a fun break from everyday life, do yourself a favor and watch this one!
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Run programs on this 12.3-inch HP Chromebook convertible laptop. Its detachable touch-screen display lets you enjoy brilliant 2K content, and you can write and draw on it with the included Active Pen. This HP Chromebook convertible laptop has 32GB of storage, and its Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of RAM provide smooth performance.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Chromebook and "real" tablet in one!
on June 20, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
The promise of the new HP X2 Chromebook is great: a single device that is at the same time a really good laptop and a really good tablet. After being curious for a long time, I got my first Chromebook last year, the Acer 15, and really liked it, but was always attracted to Chromebooks with a different form factor, like the 2-in-1s from Asus and Samsung. When I heard about the new X2 Chromebook from HP, I wondered if this could be the one I’ve been waiting for, so I decided to find out.
The first thing I noticed when opening the box was that the X2 feels solid. Everything about it shouts quality. Just like other Chromebooks, getting it set up and ready to use is a breeze. Once you’re connected to the internet, all your apps and settings are automatically downloaded. This is one of the great things about Chromebooks!
The first thing I wanted to experience was the keyboard and trackpad. These are your interface with the machine, so they can make or break the experience. I’m happy to report that the keyboard is a pleasure to type on, and the trackpad is excellent! There is a good amount of key travel, and even though it’s the same size as the Chromebook Pro, the keys are spaced better and it doesn’t feel as cramped. The surface of the keyboard is covered in a material that’s made to look and feel like leather, and it’s really nice. It feels great and makes typing more comfortable. And no, it's not backlit. Unless you absolutely need this, I don't think it's a deal breaker.
Another crucial component is the screen. The X2 uses the same panel as the one in the Google Pixelbook, and it’s beautiful. It’s plenty bright, and you’ll be shocked at the resolution when you crank it all the way up. In fact, it makes things too small to see. This is an excellent screen. Along the edges of the screen, HP has hidden the speakers. This is great because they fire toward you, which makes them sound so much better. I was impressed with the sound level and quality, and I think these are probably better than those I’ve heard on other Chromebooks.
HP includes an active stylus with the X2, and the keyboard features a pen loop to hold it. That is a nice touch, since you have to pay extra for the stylus for the Pixelbook or iPad. That also made me think that HP wants to change the way we think about Chromebooks. Obviously, they’re pushing toward more tablet functionality (I’ll get to that in a bit), and part of that is the use of a stylus. The gold standard in that area is the Apple Pencil. This is one of those things that Apple really got right—it just works! I was hoping for something similar here, if not exactly up to the same standard. HP includes a drawing program that shows off the capabilities of the stylus, but I was more interested in handwriting. Here’s where I was disappointed. Most apps, including MS OneNote, suffer from terrible lag, making the stylus almost unusable. Finally, I found Squid, which deftly supports the HP stylus and provides a top-notch handwriting experience. I don’t know if this issue is the fault of the apps, Chrome OS or HP, but it’s pretty disappointing to find support for the active stylus only partway there. Perhaps we’ll see this improve as Chrome OS improves, but right now I see this as a partial miss. Overall, the Samsung S pen works better in the apps that aren’t yet optimized for styli. I hope this will be an area of great improvement in the days ahead.
The thing that really sets this Chromebook apart is the fact that it's a detachable. If you just want a regular laptop-style Chromebook, you probably won't like the hinge on this one that protrudes a bit out the back. That hinge is what allows this Chromebook to truly be on your lap if you want, but also allows you to detach the screen and use it as a tablet. The hinge is strong enough to hold the screen at the correct angle. When you're ready to use it as a tablet, just pull it off the keyboard. It's held by a magnet and guided by plastic tabs on each side of the screen. Without the keyboard, the tablet is only 1.6 pounds, which makes it light enough to hold and use for extended periods. HP has thoughtfully put the buttons and ports in the right places so as not to get in your way when using it as a tablet.
Should you buy the X2? I think that depends on how you plan to use it. If you like the idea of having a tablet without adding another device, I think you'll love this one. The fast processor, great build quality and excellent keyboard/trackpad all work together to make this one of the best Chromebooks available today. Even if you're not going to use it as a tablet a lot, this configuration gives you a lot of freedom to use it the way you want.
We'll see if the stylus support improves as ChromeOS improves. As for the finish on this Chromebook, I think it looks great, but the ceramic white on the back of the screen seems like it's going to show scuffs too easily. This is a premium Chromebook that is a joy to use. If having a detachable tablet appeals to you, you can't really go wrong with this one!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+12points
13of 14voted this as helpful.
Create, learn, work, and play like never before. Featuring an immersive 9.7-inch Multi-Touch Retina display,¹ powerful A10 Fusion chip, and now supports Apple Pencil,² there's nothing else quite like iPad.
Customer Rating
4
A great iPad just got even better
on May 27, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
Verified Purchase:Yes
When Apple came out with the 2017 model iPad at a reasonable price, it was enough to convince me to buy it. I thought it was great, but I always wished it had support for the Apple Pencil. I bought a passive stylus that was actually quite good, but it wasn't the Pencil. So, when the 2018 model came out and included support for the Pencil, I was back again! I took the plunge and bought the new model, as well as the Pencil. In short? I love it!
Should you go out and buy this new model and get the Pencil? That depends. I was interested in doing a lot more handwriting, and maybe a little drawing. For handwriting, you can get results almost as good as the Pencil by using a good passive stylus such as the Adonit Jot, together with the great app Goodnotes 4. If all you do is handwriting, I'm not sure it would be worth it to spend the money for the new iPad and Pencil. If, however, your iPad is a couple generations old or you want to do some serious digital drawing, then this is a great option at a much better price than you'd get buying the iPad Pro.
The iPad 2018 sports the A10 processor, which is just a bit slower than the A10X in the Pro, but you really won't notice the difference. Also, don't be swayed by those who act like the non-laminated screen is a deal-breaker. It isn't. Yes, a laminated screen is definitely better, but it's not worth spending hundreds more. And unless you're a serious artist, you probably won't miss the real time color calibrations of the iPad Pro. If that matters to you, you probably need to buy the Pro anyway.
I think Apple has given us a fantastic tablet at a price that makes sense. Those who criticize Apple's use of the older form factor seem to miss the fact that this is the very reason why it's available at such a good price. This strategy got me to buy, and if they keep this up, I plan to be an iPad customer for years to come!
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+94points
113of 132voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyEnter the RPG arena with this Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop. It has 1TB of storage, and its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card loads dynamic in-game visuals and Full HD movies smoothly. The quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM let this Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop perform efficiently.
Customer Rating
4
Affordable gaming laptop
on May 1, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
I’ve always loved gaming, but wouldn’t consider myself a “serious” gamer. Nonetheless, it’s always annoying when a laptop’s fan can’t keep up with the heat generated by a lengthy gaming session. With a limited budget, the best I could usually do was to get one of those cooling pads with built-in fans to put underneath the laptop, but even that was hit or miss.
Enter the Nitro 5. At $799, this is not a high-end gaming rig, but it’s a reasonable price for one that sports dedicated video memory for its GPU and other touches to enhance gaming performance. In other words, it allows people who are willing to spend some but not a lot to get better performance for their gaming time.
Set up was pretty typical for a Windows machine. It’s got the usual amount of bloatware on it, but I wish that more manufacturers would forgo doing that. Whenever I get a new machine, I always take the time to create recovery media before I install anything. When you need to start from scratch and your hard drive is toast, this is a life-saver. The recovery media creator doesn’t seem to limit the number of times you can run it (unlike some others), but it was probably the slowest recovery media creation process I’ve ever encountered. It doesn’t allow media creation on DVDs (not that I could find), but instead requires a USB flash drive. Once that was done, I was ready to get to some gaming.
I decided to start with an F1 racing game to see how it would do. The Nitro5 handled it with ease. There were no glitches, and it was just as good full-screen as it was in a window. I turned on Nitro Sense and was pleasantly surprised. It monitored CPU and GPU utilization, and showed the ambient temperature for each. With Cool Boost on, the fan would run at a higher level, and didn’t allow the temperature to get above 80 degrees. I was impressed with how well it handled the temperature, and the extra fan power really did a good job cooling things down.
From an aesthetic perspective, the Nitro 5 looks pretty great. It’s black and red, with a red light backlit keyboard that looks great. It also includes a double row of number and function keys, which is a nice touch. The keys have good travel and feel good when typing, but they don’t offer a lot of tactile feedback when gaming. Nonetheless, I didn’t find that to be a problem. The speakers are plenty loud, with average sound quality. It sports a good-looking screen that is more than adequate for gaming and productivity work.
The Nitro5 sports the usual complement of ports, including one USB-C port, and still has an Ethernet port. Those have become increasingly rare, but you would expect one on a gaming rig. Overall, I’m pleased with this machine and I’m looking forward to many hours of gaming fun. For a gaming laptop that won’t break the bank, you should give this one a look.
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
Amp up your workouts with these JLab Epic Sport wireless earbuds. Memory Wire ear hooks keep them securely in place during activity, and their six tip options and interchangeable Cush Fins let you make custom adjustments for an ideal fit. These JLab Epic Sport wireless earbuds have a 12-hour battery life for uninterrupted listening during long training sessions.
Customer Rating
4
Good option for active lifestyles
on April 15, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
A few years ago, I got a pair of no-name Bluetooth earbuds, just to try them out. I wasn't convinced that Bluetooth could reliably deliver good quality sound and provide decent battery life in such a small package. Well, I was wrong, and those cheap buds are still going strong. So, when it came time to get a new pair, they would be the benchmark against which any new buds would be compared.
The JLab Epic Sport came nicely packaged, with lots of extra tips in different sizes, as well as a nice zippered case, which turned out to be a bit of a hassle to use. They also included different sizes of "cush fins". More on these later.
The Epic Sport buds are marketed to active people, so one of the main features is that they stay in your ears during activities. There's nothing more annoying that having to repeatedly push your ear buds back in, so I was anxious to see how these would measure up. They accomplish this through the use of "memory wires" that go around behind your ears. These can be bent to fit the shape of your ears. I really like this idea, but it doesn't play out as well as I'd like. The wire is more difficult to position than I would like and trying to get it to the right shape while on my ears caused my ears to get irritated. Eventually, I got it to where I liked it, but taking them off and putting them back on seems to bend the wires away from the shape I set. So, I generally just go for "close enough".
Using other buds while running often resulted in a weird sort of air-pressure percussion sound in my ears, which was pretty unpleasant and distracting. This happens when the buds form a seal in the ear canal. As you run, air pushes out, creating this sound. This is a bit of a catch-22, because a good seal is necessary to get any kind of bass response from your ear buds, but it is that seal that causes the problem. The Epic Sport buds are held by the wires at a particular angle, preventing you from pushing them far enough into your ear canals to get such a seal. Again, this is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that, without a tight seal, you don't have to deal with that annoying sound. The curse is that this prevents these buds from having any good bass sound.
Speaking of the seal, it's vitally important that ear buds provide a good seal in the ear canal or you won't be happy with the sound. Fortunately, JLab provides lots of tips, and even a couple different styles. Because they're held a little farther up the ear canal, I needed to use the largest tips to get decent results. The cush fins I mentioned earlier perform the same sort of function, but in the outer ear instead of the ear canal. These are very important to get a good fit, so don't ignore them, thinking they're just decorations.
These ear buds do a good job of handling ambient wind noise, and they do indeed stay put while running. There is a small control bar that dangles just behind your right ear, and this contains the on/off/pause button, as well as volume up/down buttons, which also serve to allow you to skip forward and backward in the track listing. A thin wire connects to the other ear bud, and it seems to work best to put the wire around the back of your neck. I was impressed with how this wire stays out of your way and does not become a distraction. They did a really good job with this. I think the thinness of the wire is crucial—larger or flat wires just get in the way.
Battery life is quite good, and a quick rinse in the shower after a run was easily handled by these buds. They're pretty comfortable and wearing them for several hours straight was no problem. All in all, I think these did a very good job at fulfilling their intended purpose.
I definitely liked the JLab Epic Sport ear buds, but there were two areas that, if improved, would put these over the top: I wish they were just a little more comfortable, and I'd like to see the overall sound signature be a little better. They're a little light on bass, and that makes a big difference. Experimenting with the rubber tips and cush fins helped somewhat, but I could never get it quite "right". For most uses, I think you'll be pleased with these, but if you have the opportunity, compare them to some others, especially those who approach the way they fit in a different manner.
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Enjoy your favorite songs with this Bluetooth Sony speaker. Its multicolored line lights and flashing strobe turn any gathering into a party, and the 12 hours battery keeps the music playing all night long. This portable Sony speaker is resistant to water, dust and rust, so you can supply the tunes for any adventure.
Customer Rating
4
A great addition to a crowded BT speaker market
on March 29, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
Much like the heyday of mp3 players several years ago, I think we’re in a “golden age” for Bluetooth speakers today. The market is flooded with them, and it can be hard to figure out which one to buy. I’ve been using a Sharkk wireless speaker for several years now, and I love it, so it is my benchmark for other speakers, at least in the sub-$100 category.
The Sony SRS-XB21 is different right out of the box. It is covered with a unique, water and dust-resistant fabric that rinses easily and looks very good. In the box you’ll find the speaker, a charging cable, and some sparse instructions in many languages, as is typical of Sony.
Connecting a device via Bluetooth is easy. A musical chime lets you know you’ve successfully connected. After that, just start playing music. The sound is rich and full, and very loud for the size of the speaker. Sony provides 3 sound modes: standard, extra bass, and live sound. Extra bass is what you’d expect, and it really does provide added punch to the lower end. Live sound tries to mimic the sound of a large room, to make the soundstage seem bigger than it really is. It works quite well, but I’m not really a fan of it. To use live sound, you’ll need to install the Sony Music Center app (more on that in a moment).
Compared to my older Sharkk, the Sony has fuller and richer sound, even in standard mode. I was quite surprised by this, as I’m a big fan of the big sound I get from my Sharkk. On top of the speaker are buttons for play/pause and volume up/down, as well as the power/Bluetooth pairing button. Conspicuously missing are buttons for skipping tracks (you’ll have to use your device for that). This thing can easily fill a good-sized room with sound and would be great at parties.
Sony is trying to differentiate itself with some additional features. There are two thin white lines around the speaker, and these are actually lights. The lights can pulse with the music if you want. In addition, you can turn on “party mode” and produce sounds by hitting the speaker with your hand in different places to the beat of the music. Different sounds are produced in different spots. The idea is to hold the speaker one hand and tap it with the other. While this may be fun for a while, I really didn’t see the value in it. It’s a gimmick that will garner some laughs at a party, but I doubt this’ll be a go-to feature for most people.
The Music Center app allows you to control the lights and turn party mode on and off. It will also link to your iTunes library (for iOS) and allow you to both control your speaker and choose music from the same app. The app provides the ability to tailor the sound a bit, and even includes a rudimentary equalizer. This is a nice touch, and I found it to work well, in spite of the many complaints you’ll find online about this software. The app isn’t just for the speaker, it’ll also control other Sony devices you may have.
If you have more than one speaker, or if your friends also have them, you can link them together and use them to play the same music together. This is another example of Sony’s desire for these speakers to be the “life of the party”.
If a call comes in while you’re listening to the speaker, it automatically converts to a speakerphone, although I thought this feature was a bit lackluster. This is very handy, and is pretty standard on Bluetooth speakers. Overall, I think this is a really great speaker. It is dustproof and waterproof, so it can go wherever you go, and the battery life is fantastic. For me, it is my new go-to wireless speaker. You would do well to include it on your short list.
If a call comes in while you’re listening to the speaker, it automatically converts to a speakerphone, although I thought this feature was a bit lackluster. This is very handy, and is pretty standard on Bluetooth speakers. Overall, I think this is a really great speaker. It is dustproof and waterproof, so it can go wherever you go, and the battery life is fantastic. For me, it is my new go-to wireless speaker. You would do well to include it on your short list.
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-1point
0of 1voted this as helpful.
Make your smart home digitally secure with this Bitdefender BOX 2 cybersecurity hub. It protects your connected home and your family from hackers and privacy intruders. You get complete, multilayered cybersecurity for an unlimited number of internet-connected devices. Bitdefender BOX 2 is 100 percent compatible with your home network and lets you control all your connected devices from a single app.
Customer Rating
4
Good, but make sure your router can support it
on March 12, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
When I first heard about the Bitdefender Box 2, I was very excited to get one. Here was a device that promised to protect not just my computers, but any device in my house that connects to the internet. So, I decided to get one.
The Box is a nice-looking piece of hardware. To set it up, you must download an app for your phone, you can't set it up using a computer. No problem. Once in the app, you simply set up an account using your email address and a new password that you make up, and you're ready to go.
Once you power up the Box, it will boot up and begin broadcasting its own wifi signal. Join the new "network" that it just created, and you're ready to continue setting up the box. Setting up the Box is a breeze, but here's where I ran into an unanticipated problem.
The preferred configuration is to use the Box with your existing router. To do that, you must put the router in bridge mode. On a dual-band router, this dedicates one of the frequencies to the Box. On a single-band router, this turns your router into an access point. This makes sense, since you're going to be sending all your wifi traffic through the Box. Unfortunately, my router does not allow me to put it into bridge mode. It's simply not an option. So, I sadly realized that the only way I could use the Box would be to use it as a standalone router.
I continued the setup to use the Box as my router. This is very simple—just create a name for the new network and give it a password. Your devices join the new network just like they would any other. The signal strength was good, but not great, and network traffic seemed to flow just fine.
Adding devices to your secure network is easy as well. From the Bitdefender Central app, send an email to yourself for the proper platform (Android, Windows, Mac, iOS). Go to that device, open up the email, and install the Bitdefender software on your device. It's really a very easy process, and it seems to work pretty well.
For me, though, the inability to use my router really makes this a deal-breaker. The Box is not marketed as a replacement for your router like other products are, which I like. But that means that if I use the Box as my router, then I have to forgo the high-end capabilities of my router. Now, if you're coming from a fairly middle of the road router and you were ready for a replacement anyway, you might find that the Box is a more than capable router in its own right. I think it's a pretty good performer. But for me, I've got a really good router already, so I'm not interested in putting it aside. As a result, I didn't get to fully experience what the Bitdefender Box 2 can do for me.
If you're in the market for a new anti-malware solution, the $99 subscription that comes with the Box 2 certainly makes this a very good deal overall. But unless you can use it as intended, be aware of its limitations, or just use it as a standalone router.
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Stay active with this Suunto Spartan Trainer watch. It has 24/7 activity tracking with a heart rate monitor to keep track of goals and target zones, and its sport-specific training modes help you get the most from your workout. The integrated GPS on this Suunto Spartan Trainer watch lets you trace your steps.
Customer Rating
4
Great watch at a competitive price!
on February 25, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
Although my trusty Garmin 305 is still working, I began thinking it might be time for an upgrade when a friend asked if that was a tablet strapped to my wrist! OK, so maybe it’s not that big, but there are smaller options available today.
One such option is the Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR. In a much more reasonably sized package, I get all of the functionality of my previous sports watch and more.
Right out of the box, the Spartan is charged and ready to go. What I thought was a very thorough user’s manual turned out to be about 5 pages of instructions repeated over and over in just about any language you can think of. No problem, I’ll find instructions on the web.
The first thing I did was to download the Suunto Movescount software and check for a firmware update for my watch. This is a simple process and it goes quickly. Anxious to try out the watch, I disconnected and decided to give it a try. The watch comes pre-loaded with a number of “sport modes” that are already configured with the metrics that are most important for a particular exercise. For example, my main sport is running, so the basic setup for the running sport mode includes pace, heart rate, distance, duration, and more. There are 4 different screens for each exercise. The first question I had was “how do I configure these screens to display what I want to display in the order that I want to see them?”. On my Garmin, I was able to configure those screens right on the watch, but the Suunto doesn’t allow that. Instead, you have to go to the movescount web site. This is where you can change the settings on the watch, and then you synch those settings to the watch using the Suunto Link app. Once I learned that, I set up a custom sport mode with the metrics I wanted to see, in the layout that I prefer. I also deleted the sport modes that I wouldn’t be using.
Using the Spartan is a breeze. One thing I really appreciate about the newer watches is that they don’t make you wait while they acquire a satellite signal for the GPS. You can simply choose your exercise, press start, and take off. As you complete each mile, the watch vibrates to let you know. It also has a heart rate monitor built in, which uses light to measure the heart rate right on your wrist. It’s not as accurate as using a separate chest strap, but it’s a whole lot more convenient. I did some running wearing both my old and new watches to compare them. The Suunto seemed to consistently track my runs as being longer distances than the Garmin, but I think that may change over time. Each time I synch the Suunto, it tells me it is optimizing the GPS, so I expect that to get better over time. Even so, it’s not a drastic difference, and who’s to say that the Garmin is right?
The Spartan is thicker than a standard watch, but not largely so, and that means you can wear the watch all day long, not just when you’re exercising. It has the features of a fitness tracker, so it keeps track of your steps, stairs climbed, heart rate, etc. all throughout the day. You can even use it to track your sleep patterns, but I did not do that, since I can’t stand having something on my wrist while I’m sleeping. Maybe one of these days I’ll give it a try. It features several watch faces from which you can choose, but none of them are anything to write home about, and I didn’t see any way to import watch faces from other sources.
The Spartan is thicker than a standard watch, but not largely so, and that means you can wear the watch all day long, not just when you’re exercising. It has the features of a fitness tracker, so it keeps track of your steps, stairs climbed, heart rate, etc. all throughout the day. You can even use it to track your sleep patterns, but I did not do that, since I can’t stand having something on my wrist while I’m sleeping. Maybe one of these days I’ll give it a try. It features several watch faces from which you can choose, but none of them are anything to write home about, and I didn’t see any way to import watch faces from other sources.
While the Spartan is not a “smart watch”, it does connect to your phone via Bluetooth, and you can receive notifications from your phone for things like texts and news headlines. Although you can’t interact with the notifications from the watch, it’s actually a nice feature to have. I’ve never been able to see the value of the high-end smart watches, but I’ll admit that I do like being able to check a notification easily while driving without having to pick up the phone (which I shouldn’t be doing anyway, right?).
Battery life is good, and I can get about 4 days out of a charge, using the GPS every day for about 45 minutes. Charging doesn’t take long, and it’s easy to connect it to the computer, synch my information, and charge it at the same time.
The Spartan features lots of screens to help you keep track of your fitness. You can see a weekly summary of key metrics like distance run, average heart rate and average pace on a daily basis. That’s pretty cool, but it’s even better when you upload the data to movescount or other apps such as Map My Run. There, you can easily see your trends and keep track of your fitness over time.
Overall, I’m very impressed with this watch. This is a tough category, and you have decide if buy in at a price point like the spot where the Spartan is, or do you go further and get a full smart watch such as the Apple Watch. At $279, this is a pretty good bargain, and you get a lot for the money. You don’t get a touch screen at this price, but I think that’s a reasonable trade-off. The buttons are responsive, and I prefer physical buttons when everything is sweaty or otherwise wet, so I would definitely not pay more for a touch screen. I’m very happy with this watch and am looking forward to getting a lot more use out of it. If you’re in the market for a GPS watch, you should definitely include this one on your short list!
Overall, I’m very impressed with this watch. This is a tough category, and you have decide if buy in at a price point like the spot where the Spartan is, or do you go further and get a full smart watch such as the Apple Watch. At $279, this is a pretty good bargain, and you get a lot for the money. You don’t get a touch screen at this price, but I think that’s a reasonable trade-off. The buttons are responsive, and I prefer physical buttons when everything is sweaty or otherwise wet, so I would definitely not pay more for a touch screen. I’m very happy with this watch and am looking forward to getting a lot more use out of it. If you’re in the market for a GPS watch, you should definitely include this one on your short list!
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
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Enhance your listening experience with these Plantronics headphones. They wirelessly connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device to eliminate the hassle of traditional corded models, and they work with Siri, Cortana and other virtual assistants for convenient control. A single charge lasts up to 18 hours, so you can listen to your Plantronics headphones worry-free all day long.
Customer Rating
3
Good, but there are better options
on January 21, 2018
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a pair of headphones, either on-ear or over-ear, so I was looking forward to these headphones from Plantronics. With recent advances in Bluetooth technology, I was hoping that the sound quality would be better than some of the early offerings for wireless headphones that I’ve tried. How did they measure up? Read on…
The first thing I noticed was that the build quality is very nice. The padding on the ear pieces is soft, and has a premium feel. The headband is of a high quality as well, and seems like it’ll stand up well over time.
As an on-ear model, my first concern was comfort. Unfortunately, the 505s did not deliver on comfort. I have a large head, and lots of hair, so if I put the headband at the crown of my head, it made for a very tight and uncomfortable fit. To make them moderately comfortable, I had to tip the headband toward the back of my head, but this would make them more likely to fall off during exercise. They felt pretty good on my ears, but after about 30 minutes or so, I needed to adjust them, as they were beginning to hurt. Not too much, but enough to tell me that using these for long hours would take some getting used to.
Pairing the 505s with my phone couldn’t have been easier. Within seconds, I was ready to go. A nice touch is that you can pair with a second device, but I didn’t try that. I’ve done that with Bluetooth speakers, and it’s annoying when they try to connect to multiple devices at once. Because of that, I haven’t yet tried out this feature.
The sound quality was good, but not great. I was impressed with the overall clean sound that I got in these headphones. They have a lot of bass, and the good news is that it is not muddy or distorted. The bad news is that it comes at the expense of the mids and highs. The mids and highs are there, but it’s like they’re a bit “deemphasized”. I especially prefer to hear crisp highs, but they are a bit lacking here. Overall, the sound is rich and full, and I think that most people will really enjoy it. I do, but just wish for a bit more at the high end.
I wondered how they would perform as a set of corded headphones. This is a great option to have, in case your battery runs out and you can’t take time out to charge them. I plugged them in to my old Cowon mp3 player (which I love), but was pretty disappointed with the sound. They seemed to do much better connected by Bluetooth, but I can’t be sure if that’s because my mp3 player is just too old to drive these. So, I plugged them in to my home stereo, which has much more power. As I suspected, this was much better, but the lacking mids and highs were still noticeable to me. As a comparison, I plugged in my son’s Audio Technica ATH-M40x. These had much better sound overall (though not as much bass), and the comfort was excellent, even for my big head.
I wondered how they would perform as a set of corded headphones. This is a great option to have, in case your battery runs out and you can’t take time out to charge them. I plugged them in to my old Cowon mp3 player (which I love), but was pretty disappointed with the sound. They seemed to do much better connected by Bluetooth, but I can’t be sure if that’s because my mp3 player is just too old to drive these. So, I plugged them in to my home stereo, which has much more power. As I suspected, this was much better, but the lacking mids and highs were still noticeable to me. As a comparison, I plugged in my son’s Audio Technica ATH-M40x. These had much better sound overall (though not as much bass), and the comfort was excellent, even for my big head.
I took the 505s with me on a neighborhood walk, to see if I would notice anything else, and I did. A slight breeze was very audible whistling through the cups, which I found to be annoying. I’m not talking about a windy night, just a gentle breeze. It was distracting, to say the least. I’m not sure which design element causes this, but if you’re going to use these while running and listening to audio books, it may be a factor for you. The built-in mic for calls worked very well, and the person on the other end said they had no trouble hearing me. That’s no small feat, since there is no visible microphone, and nothing protruding from the cups.
The on-ear controls are nice and work very well. One thing I found quite annoying, however, was the way they implemented the female voice telling you that the volume is at maximum. As you would expect, she announces “volume maximum” when you first turn it up, but then this same announcement comes across between each track! I can’t think of any reason why this would be a desirable feature. I turned the volume down 1 click and that took care of it, but I shouldn’t have to do that. This is something that needs to be corrected.
All in all, I liked these headphones, but for the money, I think I’d prefer to buy a pair of the Audio Technica ATH-M40x headphones. They’re over-ear, so they were much more comfortable for me, and the headband was big enough to accommodate my head size. If you really prefer the on-ear style (and it is better with glasses), I think you’ll be happy with these 505s, but make sure you try them on first.
All in all, I liked these headphones, but for the money, I think I’d prefer to buy a pair of the Audio Technica ATH-M40x headphones. They’re over-ear, so they were much more comfortable for me, and the headband was big enough to accommodate my head size. If you really prefer the on-ear style (and it is better with glasses), I think you’ll be happy with these 505s, but make sure you try them on first.
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Type on anything with Logitech K480 Wireless Multi-Device Keyboard - a unique compact computer keyboard that also works with your tablet and smartphone. Easily switch between 3 connected Bluetooth devices by turning the EASY-SWITCH dial. Type in comfort with the familiar keyboard layout, with all the shortcut keys you use the most, whether you're typing on a Windows, Mac or Chrome computer, or an Android or iOS tablet or smartphone. Plus, this multi-device keyboard features an integrated cradle that holds your phone or tablet at just the right angle for you to read while you type.
Customer Rating
3
Good, but not great keyboard
on December 25, 2017
Posted by: BobinVA
from Lynchburg, VA
Verified Purchase:Yes
I was looking for a keyboard that could easily switch between devices. I've been using a Microsoft BT keyboard for years, and I still love it, but it's a pain to re-pair every time I want to use it on a different device. Enter the Logitech K480.
This keyboard switches easily between devices, and the slot is handy for when you need to stand your phone or tablet up. My biggest complaint is the way that typing feels on this keyboard. The keys are a good size, but the way they travel just doesn't lend itself to fast touch typing. It's not horrible, and I know I'll get used to it, but it's just not great. In addition to the feel, it's a bit loud, and sounds cheap.
Also keep in mind that this keyboard isn't a great traveling option, if you're carrying it around. It's heavy, as it needs to be in order to not topple over when you're using it to prop up your tablet. This is better for a desk setup where you have multiple devices and just want to have a single keyboard. In that case, it will probably work well for you, provided you don't mind the drawbacks I mentioned.
For a better traveling keyboard, get the Logitech Keys to Go keyboard. That one is very thin and light, and surprisingly, typing on it feels pretty good. I love that keyboard!
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
My Best Buy number: 0052986086
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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MX Master 3 is instant precision and infinite potential. Designed for designers and engineered for coders, it’s our most advanced Master Series mouse yet. App-specific button customizations speed up your workflow in the apps you use most and the electromagnetic MagSpeed wheel enables fast noiseless scrolling. Your hand rests perfectly on the sculpted form and allows you to work comfortably for hours across multiple computers and operating systems in one fluid workflow. Ready for video calls - predefined settings for Microsoft Teams and Zoom let you instantly mute and Start/Stop your video call. With MX Master 3, you can truly master what you make.
Bluetooth is turned off on our work computers. Will this operate as a wired mouse with the USB cable attached or is it strictly for charging
Yes, it will operate as a wired mouse that way, but that is really defeating its purpose. Can you use the unified receiver instead? I'm doing that instead of bluetooth, and it works very well.
4 years, 7 months ago
by
BobinVA
Multitask comfortably using this HP Pavilion 32-inch monitor. The QHD resolution provides immersive visuals for gaming and a spacious work space. Enjoy consistent clarity and color from multiple positions thanks to the 178-degree viewing angle. This HP Pavilion 32-inch monitor features an anti-glare panel for better visibility in bright conditions, while the Low Blue Light mode reduces eyestrain.
Wall mountable - yes How can this be wall mounted? Please suggest a wall mount for this monitor.
The monitor comes with a bracket that you can attach to the back of the monitor. This will allow you to attach it to a mount. I'd suggest a full-motion wall mount that has the square center bracket, as this will match up with the bracket on the monitor itself. I don't think the monitor conforms to the VESA standard for mounting brackets, but I'm not sure. I'm not mounting my monitor, so these are just some thoughts after having just setting mine up. Good luck!
4 years, 11 months ago
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BobinVA
Protect your home or business with this Swann 1080p Wi-Fi floodlight security camera. The Full HD resolution lets you review captured footage in stunning detail, while the floodlight ensures that subjects are illuminated. This Swann 1080p Wi-Fi floodlight security camera includes a siren and two-way audio for scaring off trespassers and potential intruders.
How good is the motion detection really? I have purchased several cams and the motion detection is awful. Thanks
I've found it to be quite good. Sometimes it seems to pick up the motion of swaying tree branches. I'm still trying to figure out the optimal sensitivity setting.
4 years, 11 months ago
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BobinVA
Protect your home or business with this Swann 1080p Wi-Fi floodlight security camera. The Full HD resolution lets you review captured footage in stunning detail, while the floodlight ensures that subjects are illuminated. This Swann 1080p Wi-Fi floodlight security camera includes a siren and two-way audio for scaring off trespassers and potential intruders.
How long are the recorded clips? Do the clips start before motion is detected?
I think the clips are about 30 seconds. They do seem to start before motion is detected, which results in complete clips of the action.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
BobinVA
Protect your home or business with this Swann 1080p Wi-Fi floodlight security camera. The Full HD resolution lets you review captured footage in stunning detail, while the floodlight ensures that subjects are illuminated. This Swann 1080p Wi-Fi floodlight security camera includes a siren and two-way audio for scaring off trespassers and potential intruders.
Can the floodlight be wired and howlong do the battery last
I'm not sure if there are other models, but mine is wired only. There is no option for it to be battery powered. Given how bright the lights are, and how often they're likely to be tripped, I would think that batteries would go dead pretty often. If you have the choice, hard wire it.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
BobinVA
Meet Bose Frames. Bluetooth sunglasses with a soundtrack. The first audio sunglasses with built-in Bose speakers for an immersive audio experience unlike any other. A revolutionary personal audio experience hidden inside two classic designs, each enriched with premium accents and materials. Play music, take calls, and enjoy the sun with UVA/UVB protection. Bose Frames Alto feature a classic angular lenses, available in small and large size.
How long does the battery last?
Unlock new potential for your wireless headphones with this Airfly headphone accessory. It plugs into any conventional headphone jack to enhance your listening experience and can pair with in-flight entertainment systems for added convenience. This Airfly headphone accessory has an eight-hour battery life and recharges through USB, so it's easy to take anywhere.
Can you plug wired headphones into this to make them wireless?
No, this is a wireless transmitter, not a wireless receiver. The headphone jack in the AirFly is for the source of the sound, and it then sends it out to headphones that are able to receive the signal.
5 years ago
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BobinVA
Study or work hard on this HP Envy convertible laptop, which features a large 15-inch screen. The laptop opens up easily to create a tablet for note-taking, while an AMD Ryzen processor supports Windows 10 Home and other applications effortlessly. The reliable128GB solid-state hard drive on this HP Envy convertible laptop stores lots of files and programs.Learn more.
Can this device connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi?
Run programs on this 12.3-inch HP Chromebook convertible laptop. Its detachable touch-screen display lets you enjoy brilliant 2K content, and you can write and draw on it with the included Active Pen. This HP Chromebook convertible laptop has 32GB of storage, and its Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of RAM provide smooth performance.
Does this computer have a camera in which I can use Skype?
It has both front and rear-facing cameras. However, I don't think there's a version of Skype that will work with Chrome OS. If this is a deal breaker for you, you should research that to find out.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
BobinVA
Run programs on this 12.3-inch HP Chromebook convertible laptop. Its detachable touch-screen display lets you enjoy brilliant 2K content, and you can write and draw on it with the included Active Pen. This HP Chromebook convertible laptop has 32GB of storage, and its Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of RAM provide smooth performance.