BobinVA's stats
- Review count145
- Helpfulness votes445
- First reviewDecember 19, 2014
- Last reviewJune 30, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
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- Answer count28
- Helpfulness votes23
- First answerAugust 12, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 22, 2022
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eufy eufyCam 2, 2-Camera Surveillance System: See everything that happens around your home in 1080p HD with this eufy eufyCam 2 kit. Quick and easy to set up, two wireless cameras and a home base provide all that you need to get started, while smart integration ensures you can easily connect to other smart devices. This eufy eufyCam 2 kit provides 365 days of use from a single charge for continuous observation.
Customer Rating
4
Great way to add security cameras to your house
on November 14, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
There are a lot of choices if you’re interested in putting up security cameras in or around your home. With so many options available, there were two features of the Eufy Cam 2 system that stood out for me: a completely wireless setup, and no requirement to pay for a monthly storage or monitoring fee.
Anker is really coming on strong lately with their products, quickly becoming a solid alternative in several categories. The Eufy Cam 2 system is nicely packaged, showing thoughtfulness and giving off an air of quality. The build quality of the cameras is top-notch, and the base station is not bad looking. The idea of the system is that you set up a wireless network just for the cameras, using the base station to tie them together. You do need an open ethernet port that the base station will use to communicate over the internet, as well as to receive firmware updates to the cameras. All recorded video is stored on an SD card in the base station, giving you full control. Using an app on your phone, you simply find the locations that have a strong signal and put the cameras there. For extended range, you can use your own wifi network, but I did like the idea of having the cameras on their own “network”. Even when the app said I didn’t have a strong signal, the cameras still worked very well. Your mileage may vary.
Included in the package are indoor and outdoor mounts. The indoor mounts look like rubber door stoppers, until you touch them and realize that they’re made of steel. That’s one of the things that I think is pretty cool about these cameras: they have strong magnets on the back that mate with the half-spheres of the indoor mounts, making for a very elegant and easy to use mounting solution. The outdoor mount screws into the back of the camera for a slightly more secure mount that might be stronger in high winds. Either way, it’s a simple matter to screw the mount into the mounting location. Once that’s done, just attach the camera and you’re good to go!
The system does a good job of detecting motion and recording video. The default video length is 20 seconds, which is good enough for most things, but can be increased if desired, at the cost of additional storage. You can limit motion detection to only humans, which greatly reduces false alarms, and I really appreciate that. The cameras feature audio and video, which allows you to converse with people via the app. I found the microphones to be merely adequate, but not great.
The Eufy app allows you to control the cameras and view video right on your phone. Setup is incredibly easy, and the system notifies you when human motion is detected. At least it’s supposed to do that. I found the notifications to be spotty--sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn’t. I think that’s a pretty serious deficiency, since you’re probably using the cameras to help you keep watch on your property. If you’re not notified, can you really consider it a security system? That alone is worth a star, in my opinion. Hopefully, the app can be improved in future versions.
I’m very impressed with the overall performance and ease of setup of the system. If you’re looking for a system that doesn’t require you to depend on a remote server to store your video, this is the one. Anker really pushes this as a feature, and I agree, but I do wonder whether my videos are streamed through their servers anyway. Sure, they’re not the main storage point, but I think this dilutes the message a bit. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding how it all works, but that is a small question in my mind. Not having to run wires of any kind was a big plus, and hopefully the battery life on the cameras will live up to the marketing claims. This is a great way to get a high-quality system at a good price, without annoying fees and privacy concerns. If nothing else, now I can check in to see if my long-awaited package has been delivered yet.
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The TRX FIT Suspension Trainer is the ultimate travel-ready, total-body home workout method for all levels and goals. Ultra-portable, it’s perfect for training indoors, outdoors, or on the go. Plus, get the full gym experience with exclusive access to the TRX Training Club℠ fitness app.
Customer Rating
3
An ingenious way to exercise
on November 6, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
I enjoy staying fit and working out, but as I’ve gotten older, it can be a challenge finding time to keep up with my fitness goals. I’ve always been a pretty traditional guy when it comes to working out, preferring free weights over most everything else, but this just isn’t practical for me anymore. I’m a fan of the old Soloflex, but even that requires a dedicated space in a room where you can go for a workout. Given all that, I was curious to know whether the TRX Fit system could provide a good alternative workout.
The first thing you notice when you open the box is that it all fits into a pretty small bag that’s inside the box. It’s obvious that this thing is meant to go with you, so if you do a lot of traveling, you’ll appreciate being able to stick to your fitness regimen no matter where you go.
The system is basically just two straps, each with foam handles and foot straps at the bottom of each strap, connected at a single point where it connects to an anchor. You can anchor it to the ceiling (assuming you have an unfinished ceiling available) or to any door that will close and latch. It uses a pretty ingenious system to anchor to the door, and I found this to be plenty strong for my 190 pounds.
The system is basically just two straps, each with foam handles and foot straps at the bottom of each strap, connected at a single point where it connects to an anchor. You can anchor it to the ceiling (assuming you have an unfinished ceiling available) or to any door that will close and latch. It uses a pretty ingenious system to anchor to the door, and I found this to be plenty strong for my 190 pounds.
Once anchored to the door, you simply adjust the strap length and you’re ready to go! You can do a number of different exercises aimed at core strength, flexibility, or upper body. The biggest thing you’ll notice about this system is that it relies heavily on your balance. That makes each exercise much harder as you have to balance yourself in addition to whatever the exercise itself is calling on you to do.
To be honest, I found some of the exercises to be a little forced in the way they made you move. Bicep and pectoral exercises (curls and bench press) were perhaps the most awkward and didn’t feel close to those same exercises on other equipment. Trying to work your pectoral muscles is pretty awkward when anchored to a door. I suspect that this exercise especially could benefit from being anchored to the ceiling overhead.
TRX offers a few free videos to get you started, and these are indeed helpful. It’s good to see someone else setting up and using the system. You can, in fact, get a pretty good workout, and you’ll definitely work up a sweat. Perhaps I’ll change my mind as I use it more, but I couldn’t help but wonder if this way of working out is truly better than more traditional approaches. The good thing is that it goes wherever you go and sets up in minutes.
If you decide to buy one of these, make sure you also pick up a foam exercise mat. You’ll definitely need it for exercises when your elbow is on the floor. I liked the TRX Fit System, but if you’re already a disciplined individual, you might be able to find other ways to perform these exercises. For an overall fitness improvement tool, this one is lightweight and very easy to use. Since it comes at a decent price, it might be worth checking it out.
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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.
Customer Rating
5
Tweaking a good mouse to make it even better
on October 23, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
The new MX Master 3 mouse is the latest entry in the MX Master series of mice. I’ve been using the original MX Master for the last few years, so I was excited to see what the new one brings to the table.
The shape and feel of the mouse is nearly identical to its predecessor. I actually think the materials used and subtle copper and black colors of the original are superior to the new all-black look of the MX3, but that has no bearing on the function of the mouse.
Logitech has brought some small improvements to this version of the mouse: the scroll wheel is magnetic now, which makes it operate more smoothly than before. The wheel can either be free-spinning or line-by-line, and there’s a button that allows easy switching between the two. They’ve retained the feature that allows you to use line-by-line mode and then automatically switch to free-spinning when you spin the wheel quickly to move almost instantly to the bottom of the page. Due to the use of a magnetic wheel, the scroll wheel is smoother than ever and silent in free-spinning mode.
There’s also another wheel, right next to your thumb. This wheel is for side-to-side scrolling. I found this wheel to be not as smooth as I wanted, but the new version remedies that very well. The new version is smooth and responsive. Just under this wheel are the forward and back buttons, which have been repositioned from the original version. This was one of the things I really disliked about the original, as the positioning of these buttons was not convenient at all, making them difficult to use, and thus I rarely used them. The latest version makes them easy to find by feel, and they’re now something you’ll use all the time. I’ve used many mice over the years, and I love the forward and back buttons, so I’m thrilled that they’re usable again.
Logitech makes a big deal over its Flow software, which allows you to move the cursor from one computer to another and even copy/paste from one to the other, but I don’t have multiple computers on which to try out this feature. It does seem like a great idea, but I couldn’t test it.
As before, the ability to use this mouse with multiple devices is wonderful. I use it with my PC and Logitech unifying receiver, while I connect to my Chromebooks using bluetooth. Switching among them is easy with just the touch of a button on the underside of the mouse. This is one of those features that just works flawlessly, and you’ll wonder why you used separate mice for separate devices as long as you did.
Logitech includes its venerable LogiOptions software, which allows you to configure all of your Logitech peripherals in one place. Interestingly, the new mouse did not work with the old version of the software, but I had to figure that out on my own. I had to uninstall the old software, then install the new version, and I was then able to configure my mouse. To be honest, I’m pretty happy with the default behavior of the buttons, but I do appreciate knowing that I have the ability to configure it however I want, if I want.
If you’re using the original MX Master, I’m not sure there’s enough here to spend the full price again. The MX3 brings subtle improvements to a number of things, making a great mouse even better. If you’re in the market for a new mouse, however, you’d be doing yourself a favor by getting the MX Master 3. It’s a great all-around mouse that is comfortable to use and gets the job done without drawing attention to itself, which is what you want a mouse to be.
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Introducing MX Keys, an advanced wireless illuminated keyboard crafted for efficiency, stability, and precision. Perfect Stroke keys are shaped for your fingertips and increased key stability reduces noise while optimizing responsiveness. Tactile reference for hand positioning makes it easy to stay oriented and in your flow. The backlit keys light up the moment your hands approach, and automatically adjust to suit changing lighting conditions. With MX Keys you can truly master what you make.
Customer Rating
5
My new favorite bluetooth keyboard
on October 22, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
Many computer users don’t think about their keyboard and just use whatever comes with their desktop or laptop machine. In reality, however, the keyboard (and to a lesser extent, the mouse) is the most important interface you’ll have with your computer. Because of that, I’m always on the lookout for a better keyboard.
Before there were wireless keyboards, I was a big fan of Microsoft’s Natural keyboard, and still use that today at work. At home, however, I got interested in wireless keyboards that would eliminate the hassle of wires. My first was also a Microsoft product, their first bluetooth keyboard. It was my favorite keyboard, and had great key travel, making fast typing effortless. The problem was that it was stuck on an older version of bluetooth while technology moved on.
Logitech makes a lot of great keyboards, so I started with the K480, a small, heavy multi-device keyboard with a slot to hold a tablet. It’s not a bad keyboard, but the keys never felt right, and sometimes felt a little “sticky”, making fast typing difficult. Since that wasn’t the answer, my next Logitech product was the K780. This was a vast improvement over K480, and included a numeric keypad, which I loved. The K780 has round keys, which is a little different, but not really a problem. The best part is that the key travel was better, so the typing experience was vastly improved. I probably would have been happy to stay with the K780, but then I saw the new MX Keys.
I had seen the Logitech Craft keyboard, and in my mind that was best keyboard on the market. However, there’s no way I’d pay $200 for a keyboard, so I figured the K780 was as good as it would get for me. The MX Keys keyboard is basically the Craft keyboard without the dial, so I was excited to try it out. What I found is that it’s even better than the K780, and has a typing experience that’s just as good as my old MS keyboard.
The MX has a backlit keyboard, which is the first time I’ve seen this on any wireless keyboards. This is one of those features that you don’t think you need, until you do. The backlight is “smart”, meaning that it’s off until it senses your hands are near the keyboard. Then it lights up and adjusts its brightness to match the ambient light in the room. What a great feature!
The MX Keys is truly a full-sized keyboard, which means that there are dedicated keys for cursor movement and things like insert, home, delete, etc. I love this! I didn’t realize how much I missed dedicated keys until I had to keep guessing as to whether the numlock was on or not. Minor quibble, but nice to not have to worry about that.
The MX Keys is also a multi-function keyboard, like the K780. The main difference is that the K780 has a “groove” that can hold your tablet at the right angle, while the MX keys does not have that. To be honest, I miss that groove, but the MX does look better without it.
Speaking of looks, the MX Keys is a very nice-looking keyboard. The back is aluminum, and there’s a weighted bar across the top which adds weight and heft to the keyboard, and that keeps it planted wherever you put it on your table or desk. This keyboard is not going to slide around. I like the weight of the keyboard, but I suppose that might be a negative if you’re planning to carry it around in your backpack.
This is my new favorite keyboard! Assuming that there aren’t any updates in technology that change that, I plan to use this one for many years to come.
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Whisk or beat ingredients with ease during meal prep by using this 270W Oster five-speed hand mixer. The HeatSoft technology delivers a gentle burst of heat to soften cold items quickly, while turbo boost adds more power to your selected speed setting. This Oster five-speed hand mixer features full-size beaters for faster mixing results.
Customer Rating
4
Softens butter while you mix!
on October 16, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
The Oster hand mixer with HeatSoft technology fills a gap that we’ve all faced at one time or another: the need to soften or melt butter for a recipe, but not remembering that fact until the butter is in the middle of the baking mix. The Oster hand mixer addresses that by including the ability to blow heated air into the mixing bowl, softening things like butter without the mess that sometimes happens when using a microwave for that purpose. This is actually a pretty ingenious idea--if you’re having trouble thinking of how it works, think of a hair dryer that can also whip up mashed potatoes.
Perhaps my favorite part of this mixer is the magnetically attached splatter shield, or nozzle as Oster calls it. This is the plastic piece on the front of the mixer that also includes the holes where the beaters are inserted. It’s common for this area to get splattered, and it can be a pain to clean up. Not with this mixer! The nozzle pops right off for easy cleanup and access to the plastic casing behind it. This is another example of smart thinking that improves the tool in a way that you probably wouldn’t think of.
As for the mixing functions, this mixer performs as you would expect. A nice touch is the turbo button, which allows for a quick burst of speed without having to change the overall speed setting. This is good for those times when you just need to break up a large lump, but don’t want to mix everything faster for very long.
This is a great mixer at a good price point. My only gripe is that it doesn’t include dough hooks for this price. Oster does offer a higher level package which includes a storage container, dough hooks and a whisk for double the price at $100, but that seems excessive for what you get.
Compared to other mixers in this same price range, I think the Oster is a better value, offering thoughtful features not found elsewhere, with a sturdy build that I hope will last for many years to come.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Big machine suction power* but with cord-free versatility. The Cyclone V10 Animal Pro bagless cordless pet stick vacuum has a 40% bigger bin than the previous V8 Absolute model and up to 40 minutes of fade-free power with the soft roller cleaner head (in Suction mode 1). The new torque drive cleaner head removes more dust from carpets. The soft roller cleaner head removes fine dust and large debris from hard floors. The Cyclone V10 Animal Pro cord-free vacuum quickly transforms to a handheld vacuum for quick cleanups, spot cleaning, and cleaning difficult places.* Suction tested to ASTM F558 at the flexible inlet.
Customer Rating
4
Great replacement for an old canister vac
on September 11, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
I’ve been using my current canister vacuum cleaner for decades and it still runs, so why did I get the new Dyson Animal? Well, if you’ve used a canister, you know that it can get old very quickly dragging the canister around behind you. It does have advantages over an upright--mainly that it does make the beater brush head more compact and easier to push around. Nonetheless, I was excited to try a new, more modern vacuum--one that was light and easy to use, had all the accessories I wanted, and was cordless. The Dyson Animal checks all of those boxes.
We have a husky and a long-haired cat in our house, so there are always “fur tumbleweeds” present on our hardwood floors, and sometimes it’s hard to tell which one is shedding: our couch or our dog. When I heard about the extra power to handle animal fur, I wanted to give the Dyson a try. I wasn’t disappointed.
The Dyson sports a very modern-looking design, and it’s one of those “stick” vacuum cleaners. That makes it thin and light and easy to carry around. The model I got has a torque drive beater head for carpet, a soft, fluffy rotating head for hardwood, and several attachments, such as brushes, a crevice tool, and very small beater brush head for use in cars.
The motor sounds like a futuristic jet engine, but it has lots of great suction power and turns on/off very quickly. I was impressed with how well it did on our carpets and picked up lots of dog hair. The clear dust bin features a sliding switch that automatically opens the lid when you hold it over a trash receptacle, allowing you to empty it without touching it. At least that’s the idea. Most of the time that works, but when you’re picking up lots of pet hair, especially Husky hair, it gets spun around inside the bin by the cyclone action and is then hard to get out without pulling it out yourself. That defeats the whole purpose, but it’s not the end of the world. That is one of those times when you realize why a vacuum bag is actually better, although it does cost you in decreased suction.
Being able to quickly detach the motor and clean up high with one of the attachments is great! It’s so easy to go from floor to ceiling, and the light weight of the main unit makes it no problem at all to clean all sorts of areas throughout the house. You just have to remember to keep the attachments nearby.
The hanging bracket is great and has spots to store 2 attachments. Dyson has cleverly designed the bracket to accommodate the power supply, turning the bracket into a hanging charger. It’s great to be able to keep the vacuum easily accessible in a nearby closet.
The Dyson Animal proved to up for any task I threw at it. It easily cleaned all of the types of floors in my home, as well as cleaning up cat hair from the futon using the small beater brush attachment that also works well on stairs and car upholstery. I think this will be a capable replacement for my trusty canister vac, assuming that the rechargeable battery is up to the task. My only gripe is with the need to manually dig out the mess of pet hairs that quickly accumulate in the dust bin. Apart from that, this is a fantastic tool!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ninja Foodi Grill. The grill that sears, sizzles, and air fry crisps. With Cyclonic Grilling Technology, super hot 500F air delivers Surround Searing, while the 500F high-density grill grate creates char-grilled marks and flavors virtually smoke-free.
Customer Rating
4
Versatile indoor cooking
on August 31, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
I’ve been a longtime fan of our aging Foreman Grill, but cleaning it has always been the worst part of using it. Mine is one of the older ones, so its grill plates are not removable, and cleaning up makes an even bigger mess. So, I began to consider newer models, but then I came across this Foodi grill from Ninja. I already had a Ninja bullet blender that I really like, so I decided to give the Foodi a try.
The Foodi calls itself a grill, but it’s really much more than that. It has a heating element like that which you’d find in an oven, along with a fan that circulates the hot air to provide fast, even cooking. And best of all, it’s easy to clean!
The first thing you’ll notice is that the Foodi is pretty large. If you don’t have a place to store it out of sight, it will take up some significant counter space. Coming from the old-fashioned Foreman grill, this thing seemed huge. Inside, it has a very different-looking grill plate where you put the food while grilling. The grill plate is inside of a deep pan which lines the inside of the unit and catches any grease or liquids during cooking. Everything is coated with a nice non-stick coating and removes for easy cleaning. The Foodi also comes with a basket for air-frying.
Grilling is straightforward. Just press the grill button, choose your heat level (low-max), and set the time. The unit preheats, then beeps and shows “add food” when it’s ready to cook. Then, just open it up and lay the food on the grill plate. Unlike the Foreman grill, it does not have top and bottom plates, so you’re not cooking both sides of the food at once. Just like any cooking appliance, you’ll have to get used to how fast it cooks different foods, but I was impressed with how well it did, and there was no smoke at all. It did equally well with chicken, salmon and burgers, and the large size is actually good when you’re trying to cook food for the whole family. If you want to peek at the food during cooking, you can open the lid and the timer will pause--this is a thoughtful feature.
Having never tried an air fryer before, I was anxious to try this one. I pressed the “air crisp” button, chose my temperature and time (based on an included chart), and dumped a bag of fries in the non-stick basket. It did a nice job, and cooked up crispy fries in less time than my oven. They were a little chewier than I’m used to, but maybe that’s something I’ll have to perfect as I use it more.
The Foodi is a versatile appliance that does a great job without heating up the whole kitchen or filling it with smoke. If you just want a grill, there are more compact options out there, but if you want something that’ll grill, air fry, roast and bake (additional pan not included), this might be what you’re looking for. In our house, it has replaced the veritable Foreman grill and a couple other smaller appliances, so I’m happy with the upgrade.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep friends and family safe by installing this Onelink smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm in your home. The backup battery lets protection continue even when the primary battery runs out of power. This Onelink smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm uses voice alerts to notify you of the type of danger and its location.
Customer Rating
3
Good smoke detector, but not great
on August 22, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
After repainting my ceiling, my old smoke detector, which was no longer white, stood out like a sore thumb, so I decided it was time for a new one. The Onelink combination smoke and CO detector from First Alert looked like a good option, so I decided to try it.
I found installation to be very easy. I’ve seen a number of other reviewers who said they had a lot of difficulty getting the unit to synch up with their wi-fi, but I did not experience that at all. Setup requires that you create an account with First Alert and do the setup using their app. Once my account was complete, the app paired with the smoke detector and then automatically connected with wi-fi. I don’t think I even had to input the wi-fi password, which I assume was handled by the app. There aren’t a lot of options you have to set, so the overall process is pretty quick and painless.
As for the physical connection, I’m one of the lucky ones who was able to use my existing connection without needing to do any rewiring. Even though my old smoke detector was almost 20 years old, the connector was still good, and allowed the new detector to be included in the existing set of linked smoke detectors. The Onelink comes with 3 different sets of wiring harnesses, which I think is excellent: 2 of them have connectors to plug into an existing modular setup, and the third has bare wires on one end in case you need to wire it in yourself. In my case, I didn’t need any of those, I just plugged in the new detector and I was good to go.
One concern I had was the sensitivity of the Onelink. I was replacing a smoke detector in the kitchen, where it’s too close to the stove, but unfortunately, moving it is not an option. So, I was hoping it wouldn’t be super sensitive to smoke from cooking. So far, that hasn’t been the case. The smoke detector part is photoelectric, which makes it a little less sensitive than the chemical type, as I understand it. In my tests with real smoke, it didn’t set off the alarm right away. I can’t tell if that’s good or bad, and I’m hoping that the whole room doesn’t have to fill with smoke before it’ll go off. I was honestly surprised at how long it took before it detected the smoke, but maybe that’s good to reduce the number of false alarms. Only time will tell on that one, but hopefully it’ll do its job when we need it most.
When the alarm did go off due to smoke, I did not receive a notification from the app. Others have had the same experience, and if that’s the case, then having a wi-fi connected smoke detector is useless. I’m not sure if there’s anything I can do to troubleshoot the notifications, but I’ll update my review if I learn more. For a smoke detector that costs more than $100, that’s not acceptable.
One small nice touch is that there is a night light built in to the unit. It’s not too bright, but you don’t want it to be too bright for helping you see in the middle of the night. The only downside is that you can’t specify to have it come on only after dark, and instead it stays on 24/7. Hopefully they’ll provide that option in a future update.
I like the Onelink, but I think it is hurt by the way the notifications fail to work properly, and I’m still deciding whether the photoelectrical sensitivity is enough. At this price point, it’s good, but I would suggest comparing to other options on the market before you decide.
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No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 deliver everything you expect from Bluetooth headphones – and some things you never imagined possible. It’s no surprise PC Magazine called them “The best active noise cancellation you can buy.” Eleven levels of noise cancellation feature a range of options to choose from. You can totally eliminate distractions or minimize noise cancelling to hear everything around you. Or choose from nine other levels in between. Active noise cancelling technology in Bose Headphones 700 monitors the sounds around you and instantly cancels out unwanted noise to let your music shine through. At the same time, the acoustic space inside the earcups is maximized to give your music depth and detail. With these noise cancelling headphones, it’s not just your music that’s clear, so are your calls. The unrivaled microphone system uses a series of microphones to adapt in real time to noisy and windy environments so voices sound crystal clear on calls. Voice commands are also captured with unprecedented accuracy. The stunning new design of Bose Headphones 700 features a streamlined stainless-steel headband and a lightweight, comfortable fit that’s perfect for all-day listening. With these wireless headphones you get up to 20 hours of battery life and time-based power information per charge. Bose Headphones 700. The wireless headphones everyone is talking about.
Customer Rating
4
Great sound, with fantastic noise cancellation
on July 19, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
While I have amassed a collection of wireless earbuds, I have not ever ventured into the territory of over-ear headphones, and I’ve never had any experience with active noise cancelling headphones, so I was excited to get the latest Bose offering in this space.
The first thing I noticed was the build quality. These are very well-built. The use of metal in the headband gives a feeling of confidence, that these will not easily break. It does add a bit of weight, but not too much, and I think it’s an acceptable trade-off. The style is modern and very sharp looking. You don’t have to hope that no one will notice you’re wearing them like some of the boxier styles currently available.
Bose included a very nice zippered case to hold the headphones. One of the neatest things about it is that it has a compartment inside where you can store the charging cable and audio cable that you can use for a wired connection. The cover for the compartment is secured by a magnet, making for a nice setup.
Pairing the headphones was very easy, but Bose does require you to download an app to get the process started. The app is unfortunately not completely done, as it does not include any ability to set custom EQ settings, but it does work for its intended purpose. There is basically no documentation included with the headphones, unless you count a couple simple graphics and a book full of safety warnings in multiple languages. There is a manual available online, but I wish Bose had included it in the package, especially for this price. Once you’re paired, you really don’t need the app anymore, unless you want to explore their audio augmented reality offerings. I’ve explored these before and wrote about them in another of my Bose reviews. In short, they didn’t offer much for me, but if you’re in one of the cities with full service, you might like them.
For me, the most important element for a pair of headphones is how they sound when listening to music. Other reviews have been critical of the sound of these headphones, but I think they sound great. If you’ve listened to Bose headphones before, you know that “clean” is a good descriptor of their sound signature. They aren’t heavy on bass, but what there is comes through as very clean. Other headphones have muddy bass lines, but not these. I’d rather have that than head-thumping bass that sounds muddy. The highs are sharp, but not overly so. Overall, the sound is balanced and clear, and quite enjoyable.
So, what about the noise cancellation? Having never used it before, I didn’t know what to expect. As others have said, it’s pretty amazing. Noise cancellation isn’t just for the person wearing the headphones, it even works with your voice for the person on the other end of a call. I put my head near a dehumidifier that was running while I was talking to my wife, and she said she couldn’t hear the noise at all. While listening to a podcast during an outdoor walk, the noise cancellation got rid of the loud noise of the cicadas in the trees and even cancelled out the effects of a light breeze blowing across the headphones. I’m impressed! The level of cancellation is selectable, and there’s even a button to pause the music and turn off the noise cancellation so that you can talk to another person. That’s a nice touch.
The controls on these headphones are very nice. There are a few physical buttons: power/bluetooth pairing, voice assistant, and ANC level/pause. Unfortunately, these buttons are placed such that you’ll accidentally push them while taking the headphones off/on. That is annoying, but you can avoid it by holding the ear cups differently. On the right cup, touch controls allow you to play/pause, change volume and change tracks. Once you get the hang of how they work, they’re actually quite good.
I do wish that call volume was louder, but I’m very pleased with these headphones. They are comfortable for wearing over long periods of time, and I was thrilled that they have a big enough headband for a big head like mine. I would recommend them if you’re looking for a pair of nicer headphones, but you’ll have to decide how you feel about them at this price point. Personally, I’m not a fan of how the whole headphone/earbud segment has reached premium price points for anything worthwhile. If you’re looking for a great way to listen to music in a noisy environment, these might be the headphones for you.
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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.
Customer Rating
4
Extra large high-resolution monitor
on June 23, 2019
Posted by: BobinVA
from Forest
Coming from a 27” FHD monitor, I didn’t think I needed another monitor, but I couldn’t help myself when I had the opportunity to pick up the HP - Pavilion 32" LED QHD monitor. I wasn’t necessarily going for a bigger size, but I was hoping that the higher resolution would make a difference, and it does.
My old monitor was nice, but I noticed that FHD resolution doesn’t quite cut it when you’re sitting close to the monitor. I noticed a faint bit of fuzziness, but I didn’t think much of it. This new QHD monitor takes care of that issue, and everything is sharp and crisp, even when I get close to the screen to check it out. The difference in size between 27 and 32 inches is quite noticeable! The new monitor barely fits in the space on my desk, but it’s a joy to use.
Going with the bigger screen gives the ability to have two full-size documents side by side, which is great. In fairness, the 27” can do pretty well at that also, but the extra size is really nice, and with the better resolution, those documents look great.
There’s not much to do to start using this monitor with Windows 10. It is detected as a plug and play monitor and you’re good to go. You can, of course, adjust the resolution and other settings, but mine came with the maximum resolution set as the default, so that’s where I left it. With a monitor this size, Windows defaults to a 150% magnification setting, but I thought that was too much and reduced it. Beyond that, I didn’t have a need to fiddle with other settings. If you’re a graphic artist, you’ll probably want to do that, but for general use, I found it to be acceptable out of the box.
You may wonder how QHD compares to 4K, and I encourage you to read up on that if that’s something you’re interested in understanding. This monitor is a step below 4K, but for me that’s not a bad thing. My middle of the road laptop does not have a graphics card capable of driving a 4K monitor, so QHD provides a very good option that is vastly better than FHD. This monitor has a refresh rate of 60 Hz, which was fine for everything I tried, but I wonder how that would work on a graphically intense video game with a high frame rate. For my needs, it works wonderfully and is a joy to use for everything from productivity work to moderate video games to movies and videos. Now that I have it, I’m glad that I got it. There are a number of monitors available at this price point, so I’d suggest you check them out before making a decision. I’m not sure if this one is a refresh of the existing HP Pavilion 32 QHD monitor, as it’s not easy to get a grasp of the full lineup and why each one exists.
As for ports, this one comes with a full complement of connections. Included are a display port, HDMI, USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as a 3.5 mm connector for hooking up the monitor to an external sound system (which is necessary with an HDMI connection).
I’m very happy with this monitor, and I think it’ll meet my needs for years to come, at least until I get a bigger desk!
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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.
Can I buy this without service to a wireless carrier for the same price?
The WiFi only model for $329 does not include cellular service with a wireless carrier, and is the cheapest price available (other than sales).
7 years, 1 month ago
by
BobinVA
Enjoy up to 10 hours of wireless audio with these Sony noise-canceling headphones. They produce rich sound by playing at audio frequencies of 3-40,000Hz and have a closed-back design that blocks outside noise for a better listening experience. These Sony noise-canceling headphones sit comfortably behind the neck and work with or without the 1m wire.
Can you mute while on a call. I want to take some conference calls on my way to work and need to mute myself. Is there a way to mute while on the call from the headphone. I know i can always mute from the phone. Thanks.
Yes, you can mute by pushing the volume up and down buttons simultaneously, but that's a little tricky, so it might be easier to mute from the phone.
7 years, 5 months ago
by
BobinVA
Keep your Wi-Fi connection strong anywhere in the house with this NETGEAR router. Monitor your network with the NETGEAR genie app, keep track of your kids with parental controls, and use multiple devices simultaneously for downloading, gaming and more
Is there a monthly charge for this netgear wireless router? Or does it just need an outlet and from there your off and running?
No monthly charge, you just need a modem to provide a signal, and you'll be good to go!
7 years, 9 months ago
by
BobinVA
Type on your terms with Keys-To-Go, the super-slim, super-light Bluetooth keyboard for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV that fits anywhere and goes everywhere. The durable, spill-proof Keys-To-Go helps you escape the cramped on-screen keyboard and turn any space into a workspace whether you’re in the backyard, the kitchen, or the park. Keys-To-Go has comfortable, soft keys that type silently so you and people around you can focus without distractions. Plus, a full row of iOS shortcut keys provide one-tap access to your most-used functions including volume and media controls.
Is this compatible with an iPad pro
Yes, but don't expect it to take the place of the Apple Smart Keyboard. This is a great keyboard, but it will connect via blue tooth, not using the new smart connector.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
BobinVA
Type on your terms with Keys-To-Go, the super-slim, super-light Bluetooth keyboard for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV that fits anywhere and goes everywhere. The durable, spill-proof Keys-To-Go helps you escape the cramped on-screen keyboard and turn any space into a workspace whether you’re in the backyard, the kitchen, or the park. Keys-To-Go has comfortable, soft keys that type silently so you and people around you can focus without distractions. Plus, a full row of iOS shortcut keys provide one-tap access to your most-used functions including volume and media controls.
Will this work with the new IPad 5th generation (2017)?
It'll work with any blue tooth enabled computer.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
BobinVA
View files or videos in custom positions with this HP Envy x360 laptop. The hinge lets you lay the computer flat, fold it for use as a tablet or prop the screen at angles to enhance your viewing experience. When you aren't streaming videos on this HP Envy x360 laptop, convert it to a traditional position for standard keyboarding action.
How do you turn on the keyboard backlite ?
View files or videos in custom positions with this HP Envy x360 laptop. The hinge lets you lay the computer flat, fold it for use as a tablet or prop the screen at angles to enhance your viewing experience. When you aren't streaming videos on this HP Envy x360 laptop, convert it to a traditional position for standard keyboarding action.
does this computer come with windows 10 or.........
Yes, it's Windows 10, the November, 2015 build.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
BobinVA
View files or videos in custom positions with this HP Envy x360 laptop. The hinge lets you lay the computer flat, fold it for use as a tablet or prop the screen at angles to enhance your viewing experience. When you aren't streaming videos on this HP Envy x360 laptop, convert it to a traditional position for standard keyboarding action.
have msata ssd socket inside ?
I'm not sure about what's inside, as this laptop really isn't built to make it easy to open up. It's quite thin, so I doubt there's an extra slot in there. Sorry that I don't know for sure.
8 years, 10 months ago
by
BobinVA