NAMO's stats
- Review count210
- Helpfulness votes1,248
- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewJuly 4, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count16
- Helpfulness votes13
- First answerJune 2, 2017
- Last answerDecember 9, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Holmes 45” Stack-N-Connect Digital Tower Fan #12095 is a convenient way to cool your space. This unique fan features 3 sections plus the base that can easily be assembled and dissembled with no tools and stowed away under a bed or in a closet when not in use, comes with a bonus storage bag. Features a large easy-to-read ClearRead LCD display and digital controls to easily operate the fan. Includes 4 speed options, up to 19.7 ft/sec high-speed velocity with 800 cubic ft/min output and 4 operation modes; normal, sleep, breeze, and power breeze to customize your cooling experience. This large tower fan is ideal for larger living areas where floor space is limited, such as bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and home offices and has an integrated carrying handle to easily move from one room to the next. Rest easy with the soothing sleep mode option and up to 8 hour auto-shut off timer to conveniently turn off the tower fan. Motorized 90° oscillation delivers cool airflow for wide areas and the convenient remote control lets you operate the fan from across the room. Includes a sturdy base, matte black finish and 3-year limited warranty.
Customer Rating
2
Better Options Available for Less Money
on April 16, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
ASSEMBLY
This is a unique take on a tower fan. It conveniently comes in 4 sections for easier portability or less space in storage. The 4 sections include: the base, the power supply aka bottom section, fan section, and top section which houses the remote receiver and controls. Assembly is a no-brainer and couldn’t be simpler with the pieces fitting together and turning approximately a quarter turn to lock into position. The 4 sections are not optional. All 4 pieces are required for operation, so you cannot shorten the fan or omit sections to customize the height.
This is a unique take on a tower fan. It conveniently comes in 4 sections for easier portability or less space in storage. The 4 sections include: the base, the power supply aka bottom section, fan section, and top section which houses the remote receiver and controls. Assembly is a no-brainer and couldn’t be simpler with the pieces fitting together and turning approximately a quarter turn to lock into position. The 4 sections are not optional. All 4 pieces are required for operation, so you cannot shorten the fan or omit sections to customize the height.
CONTROLS
The Holmes Stack and Connect has all the expected and needed controls. Power, Constant Speed, Breeze, Oscillation, and a Timer function. A simple array of buttons on the top of the fan controls the settings, as does the remote control. The large, easy to read, display indicates all modes and essential functions and thoughtfully turns off after 15 seconds to keep from lighting up your room at night.
The Holmes Stack and Connect has all the expected and needed controls. Power, Constant Speed, Breeze, Oscillation, and a Timer function. A simple array of buttons on the top of the fan controls the settings, as does the remote control. The large, easy to read, display indicates all modes and essential functions and thoughtfully turns off after 15 seconds to keep from lighting up your room at night.
USE
This is one of those products that are better in theory than in actual implementation for several reasons.
This is one of those products that are better in theory than in actual implementation for several reasons.
First. While the fan is touted at being 45” tall, the actual fan itself is only 16” of those 45. I measured it with a tape measure. There is too much wasted and un-utilized space. There should be more actual fan and less plastic used merely to elevate the device.
Second. The overall diffusion of air is quite narrow. The exhaust fins could use some tweaking to make the overall output of air a little wider. While the oscillation function works quite well and has a good sweep of motion, using the fan without the oscillation feature makes for a very narrow column of air.
Third. The fan does not maintain a consistent speed. All my other fans maintain the speed without fault. This fan cannot and does not. Using it on any speed setting other than max results in inconsistent sound and droning. For those that like to sleep with a fan at night, this is extremely frustrating and distracting while trying to sleep. This is not because of the having the breeze function selected either. The fan does not maintain a constant speed and the sound level and noise fluctuate while it runs.
Lastly. While the fan comes with a carrying / storage bag. I cannot see the need or the desire to take the fan apart. One, it is inconvenient and two, the plastic feels quite flimsy and brittle and I don’t think the fan will hold up for more than just a few times of breaking it down and putting it back together without breaking.
At the end of the day, there are far better fans with better features and performance.
NOT RECOMMENDED
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
AORUS 15 redefines high-end gaming laptops. Combining powerful performance and mobility with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core Processor H-Series and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs, powered by NVIDIA DLSS 3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and Max-Q Technologies. The high refresh gaming panel with a high screen-to-body ratio, enables gamers to be immersed in high-quality visuals similar to a movie theater or top-tier e-sports room.
Customer Rating
3
Frustratingly Slow For So Much Potential
on April 11, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
nVidia GTX 4050 Graphics Card with 6GB Dedicated VRAM
Display capable of 100% DCI-P3 Color Range
Intel Core i5-13500H – 12 Cores / 16 Threads
DDR5 Memory Support
Upgradeable to 64GB RAM and Larger NVMe SSD’s
nVidia GTX 4050 Graphics Card with 6GB Dedicated VRAM
Display capable of 100% DCI-P3 Color Range
Intel Core i5-13500H – 12 Cores / 16 Threads
DDR5 Memory Support
Upgradeable to 64GB RAM and Larger NVMe SSD’s
INITIAL SET-UP AND CONFIGURATION
The Aorus 15 ships with the latest edition of Windows 11 Home, 64-bit. Windows set-up and initial configuration proved trouble-free with all initial necessary drivers included. This is not a totally clean install of Windows 11, as Gigabyte throws in their share of software, they believe to be a value add. Among the included software is their Gigabyte Control Center and Realtek Dragon Network monitoring tool. The Gigabyte Control Center is supposed to be your one-stop shop for customizing the laptop and for driver updates, while the Realtek Dragon software monitors your network throughput and allows you to prioritize traffic and applications if you so choose.
The Aorus 15 ships with the latest edition of Windows 11 Home, 64-bit. Windows set-up and initial configuration proved trouble-free with all initial necessary drivers included. This is not a totally clean install of Windows 11, as Gigabyte throws in their share of software, they believe to be a value add. Among the included software is their Gigabyte Control Center and Realtek Dragon Network monitoring tool. The Gigabyte Control Center is supposed to be your one-stop shop for customizing the laptop and for driver updates, while the Realtek Dragon software monitors your network throughput and allows you to prioritize traffic and applications if you so choose.
All was going well as Windows Update ran and updated 11 as well as found any additional driver updates that occurred since manufacture and shipping. Once all was updated, I started the Gigabyte Control Center to check for any pending Bios and/or Firmware updates. The program found several updates and that is when things took a turn for the worse. While this was a VERY time-consuming process, most went without fuss (although the length of time required to make some updates was quite worrisome), some did not.
A keyboard firmware update downloaded and installed, immediately bricking my RGB lighting and keyboard. The trackpad worked and a USB mouse worked, but all the RGB lighting and keyboard were dead. This lasted quite some time. Had I not had an extra USB keyboard, I would have been dead in the water. After several restarts and yet another keyboard firmware update, things began to work properly again, but not after close to a half hour of fussing and troubleshooting.
USE
My go-to program to test CPU power is always Handbrake. Scouring through some old home videos, I found a 21:12 minute video that was recorded in 1080p and weighed in a lofty 8GB. I set up Handbrake to compress the 1080p home video to a much smaller 480p/30fps file. Using only the CPU to render the encode, the new Intel Raptor Lake CPU was able to compress the video in 2 minutes, 47 seconds, averaging 191 fps with an average CPU utilization of 40%.
My go-to program to test CPU power is always Handbrake. Scouring through some old home videos, I found a 21:12 minute video that was recorded in 1080p and weighed in a lofty 8GB. I set up Handbrake to compress the 1080p home video to a much smaller 480p/30fps file. Using only the CPU to render the encode, the new Intel Raptor Lake CPU was able to compress the video in 2 minutes, 47 seconds, averaging 191 fps with an average CPU utilization of 40%.
As a comparison, I took the same video file and performed the same compression on a 2022 gaming laptop. This laptop sports a Ryzen 7 5800X processor that has 8 physical cores and 16 threads. The Aorus’ competitor was able to match the average framerate and completed the file compression in 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Within the margin of error. What wasn’t in the margin of error, was the CPU utilization. While the Aorus kept its cool, barely breaking a sweat at 40% utilization, the Ryzen 7 used all 100% of its available resources to complete the task with the cooling fans at a much less tolerable sound level.
GAMING
Gigabyte bills this laptop as a gaming system and in theory, it is. It has the power potential to play nearly anything and everything that is out today. However, that low amount of RAM kills the overall performance. Even so, it wasn’t a total wash. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 played excellently at high settings. With a GPU utilization of 85% and a RAM utilization at 90%, I was still able to achieve 150fps on High. CoD MW2 looked great and played smoothly, free of any lags or stutters.
Gigabyte bills this laptop as a gaming system and in theory, it is. It has the power potential to play nearly anything and everything that is out today. However, that low amount of RAM kills the overall performance. Even so, it wasn’t a total wash. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 played excellently at high settings. With a GPU utilization of 85% and a RAM utilization at 90%, I was still able to achieve 150fps on High. CoD MW2 looked great and played smoothly, free of any lags or stutters.
Next up was Forza Horizon 5. Using the built-in benchmarking software, the game reported back a lackluster 72fps with only 45% GPU utilization. This was all on Low and Medium settings. What? How can that be? This is a GTX 4050. Time to manually tweak settings. I set everything to Ultra, the highest setting allowed in FH5. Manual testing revealed 95% GPU utilization, 90% RAM utilization, and 88fps. AWESOME!! Why didn’t the game pick this to begin with? I left everything as is and went straight to a race. After about 30 seconds into a race, I found out while the system had dialed itself back. Low System Resources. Forza kept producing errors and giving low resources warning. Ultra? Nope. High. Nope. Medium? So-So. Low? Yes. There just isn't enough RAM.
I encountered the same issues queuing up Microsoft Flight Simulator too. With 98% GPU utilization, I was able to achieve a best of 60fps with most time spent in the 40’s. There was just not enough overhead to allow the computer for function as it should.
CONCLUSIONS
For a laptop that has this long of a list of high-end parts, this is the most frustratingly slow laptop I’ve used in quite some time. It honestly feels like a much less powerful machine than it is. Most of this can be blamed on the limited amount of RAM installed in the system. One stick of 8GB DDR5-4800 memory is all that is installed, and it is NOT enough. After all updates and restarts were performed and the machine sitting idle, RAM usage did not drop below 42%, often hovering in the mid to high 70% range. Opening any applications or additional software immediately caused a spike and RAM usage that was not uncommon to be in the 90% range.
For a laptop that has this long of a list of high-end parts, this is the most frustratingly slow laptop I’ve used in quite some time. It honestly feels like a much less powerful machine than it is. Most of this can be blamed on the limited amount of RAM installed in the system. One stick of 8GB DDR5-4800 memory is all that is installed, and it is NOT enough. After all updates and restarts were performed and the machine sitting idle, RAM usage did not drop below 42%, often hovering in the mid to high 70% range. Opening any applications or additional software immediately caused a spike and RAM usage that was not uncommon to be in the 90% range.
As it ships from Gigabyte, I can’t give it a recommendation. There is just too much left wanting. The machine is powerhouse and can easily be brought to life, but not without additional hardware, at an additional expense. Most any gamer will find the results garnered from buying the laptop and leaving it as is, as unacceptable.
Not only is the laptop crippled by its lack of RAM, it is also frustrating to use on a day-to-day basis. Powering up the laptop from fully off takes what seems like FOREVER. I can power up the Aorus, then power up my Ryzen-based gaming laptop or my other 12th generation i7 based gaming machine and be playing Call of Duty before the Aorus even boots to the Windows login screen. Not sure what Gigabyte has done in the bios, but startup times are unacceptably slow. It is comparable to an old school machine I’ve got a spinning hard drive in. What gives? Not sure. I haven’t been able to figure out a setting to make it boot faster in the bios.
Can the laptop be fixed to perform as intended? Yes, it can. But what did it take? For me, it involved purchasing a Predator Gen 4x4 1TB NVMe drive rated at a throughput of 7000MB/s and 32GB of Crucial DDR5-5600 RAM. The extra RAM, working in dual channel configuration, was a game changer for this machine. It was a night and day type of difference. EVERYTHING was much more peppy and snappy feeling. RAM utilization went from highs in the 90’s to highs in the 40’s. It was sorely needed and should be considered an essential change, if not 32GB, then at least increase RAM to 16GB. Not only is the laptop crippled by low amount of RAM, it is also hobbled by the slowest DDR5 RAM available. The i5-13500H is capable of supporting 5200MHz RAM and my addition of 5600MHz DDR5 immediately triggered faster RAM timings and clock speeds in the system bios, matching the 5200MHz spec by Intel. Sadly, even with the additional RAM and much faster SSD, bios boot times failed to improve.
The laptop’s potential alone are the only thing earning this a 3 star rating. The addition of extra RAM and a bigger hard drive would encourage me to give a 4 star rating, but that isn’t the point. The fact of the matter is, there are better performing laptops with more accurate displays at this price point.
NOT RECOMMENDED.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+3points
8of 13voted this as helpful.
Enter the world of fully automatic espresso machines with the Philips 1200 Automatic Espresso Machine. Enjoy the delicious taste and aroma of coffee from fresh beans, brewed at the perfect temperature, thanks to the intelligent brewing system. Choose from three hot drink options: classic espresso, regular black coffee, and hot water for tea, catering to all your beverage needs. With its intuitive touch display, you can effortlessly select your preferred drink with a single touch. With the Classic Milk Frother, create specialty beverages like cappuccinos or lattes with ease, bringing the café experience to your home. The 100% ceramic grinders are hard-wearing and ultra-sharp, ensuring they bring out the full flavor of your coffee. Transform your daily coffee routine with the Philips 1200 Automatic Espresso Machine and enjoy barista-quality drinks at home.
Customer Rating
5
Coffee As Good As The Local Shops, But At Home
on April 10, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
UNIQUE FEATURES
Espresso Mode / Coffee Mode / Hot Water Mode
Milk Frother
Tons of Adjustability
Espresso Mode / Coffee Mode / Hot Water Mode
Milk Frother
Tons of Adjustability
INITIAL THOUGHTS
My parents had a basic drip coffee maker for my entire childhood and the only thing required of that machine was determining how many scoops of coffee to put in. After getting out on my own, I treated myself to the big-name pod-style coffee maker. The simplicity of the machine is absolutely on point. Pick your flavor of coffee (the variety seems nearly endless), put in your pod, pick the ounces of water you want to brew & press a button.
My parents had a basic drip coffee maker for my entire childhood and the only thing required of that machine was determining how many scoops of coffee to put in. After getting out on my own, I treated myself to the big-name pod-style coffee maker. The simplicity of the machine is absolutely on point. Pick your flavor of coffee (the variety seems nearly endless), put in your pod, pick the ounces of water you want to brew & press a button.
I’ve had a pod-style coffee maker for years now and like the system so much, I even got a pod-style coffee machine from its competitor’s more boutique-style brand. This is amazing. How could coffee get any better? Why are all these so-called coffee snobs really interested in anything but a machine like this?
FEATURES
The Philips 1200 has the bases covered for folks looking for a good-tasting coffee and espresso maker without too many extra bells and whistles. It lacks the Americano and Latte 2 Go functions of its higher end siblings but has all the other boxes checked. The machine is very customizable, ensuring that with a little trial and error, you will be able to get a perfect cup of joe. Adjustments are available for nearly every brewing parameter, including: grind size, grind amount, cup size (aka strength), water hardness, water temperature, etc. My favorite feature is the ability to switch between pre-ground coffee and whole bean coffee. I’ve never had the ability to brew whole bean coffee and the difference between it and pre-ground are amazing!
The Philips 1200 has the bases covered for folks looking for a good-tasting coffee and espresso maker without too many extra bells and whistles. It lacks the Americano and Latte 2 Go functions of its higher end siblings but has all the other boxes checked. The machine is very customizable, ensuring that with a little trial and error, you will be able to get a perfect cup of joe. Adjustments are available for nearly every brewing parameter, including: grind size, grind amount, cup size (aka strength), water hardness, water temperature, etc. My favorite feature is the ability to switch between pre-ground coffee and whole bean coffee. I’ve never had the ability to brew whole bean coffee and the difference between it and pre-ground are amazing!
USE
I will admit that I wasn’t expecting this machine to be as hard and as complicated to learn how to make a decent cup of coffee. I read the manual and while Philips tried their best to simplify it, there isn’t a lot of “schooling” or recommendations to a new owner on how to make a decent cup of coffee, other than they set the grind level from the factory to make “the perfect cup” of coffee. So, give it a few tries to let the machine get used to the brewing method.
I will admit that I wasn’t expecting this machine to be as hard and as complicated to learn how to make a decent cup of coffee. I read the manual and while Philips tried their best to simplify it, there isn’t a lot of “schooling” or recommendations to a new owner on how to make a decent cup of coffee, other than they set the grind level from the factory to make “the perfect cup” of coffee. So, give it a few tries to let the machine get used to the brewing method.
It sorely needed it. I didn’t attempt anything fancy or creative for my initial introduction to machine. I just wanted to try plain, black coffee. I picked a whole bean coffee from a coffee house that got a bunch of good reviews and off I went. What a terrible first experience with a machine. My first half-dozen or so cups of regular coffee were terrible! Some cups were so weak they were almost clear. Some were so strong, they were undrinkable. I was not impressed. The machine’s consistency was all over the place.
Having convinced myself that I got a bum unit, I turned to the interwebs to see what others were saying and look at how to start an RMA. After a little YouTubing and some searching, I didn’t give up and tried the coffee maker again and again. Consistency after a dozen or so attempts eventually started to improve. The machine got to where I could brew 10 – 12 ounces of coffee and make it consistent from cup to cup.
Same thing with espresso. After numerous failed attempts, not only did I get my technique down, but so did the machine. While I’m not a huge fan of espresso, I don’t hate it either. But those first few cups were horrendous. Much like the coffee, the machine and I came to an understanding and we both “learned” what was needed to make a good cup.
NEGATIVES
The machine is loud. The ceramic grinder makes quite a bit of noise crushing beans before a brew cycle. The brew group needs to be removed and cleaned on a regular basis, which is a huge departure from my pod style machine that requires absolutely zero maintenance. Lastly, the machine self-cleans when it turns on and right before it shuts off. This spits some water out of the brew nozzles and after a dozen or so cups of coffee, fills up the reservoir requiring frequent removal and rinsing.
The machine is loud. The ceramic grinder makes quite a bit of noise crushing beans before a brew cycle. The brew group needs to be removed and cleaned on a regular basis, which is a huge departure from my pod style machine that requires absolutely zero maintenance. Lastly, the machine self-cleans when it turns on and right before it shuts off. This spits some water out of the brew nozzles and after a dozen or so cups of coffee, fills up the reservoir requiring frequent removal and rinsing.
The manual suggests, but doesn’t require, that you use a Philips water filter in the reservoir to help reduce impurities, dirt, and minerals. I tried the machine with and without the filter and haven’t noticed any change in flavor. However, I use only distilled water in my machines to prevent potential future issues. That little Philips filter is expensive (approx. $20) and is NOT included with the machine. Luckily, it does last for up to 5000 cups of coffee, based on your water hardness levels. But, I find it an unnecessary addition.
CONCLUSIONS
What this machine won’t make, is those fancy, fru-fru drinks that seem to be all the rage at the “on every street corner” coffee shops. This is a machine that makes coffee and espressos. It doesn’t even natively make an Americano (though it can be done by using the espresso feature and the hot water feature).
What this machine won’t make, is those fancy, fru-fru drinks that seem to be all the rage at the “on every street corner” coffee shops. This is a machine that makes coffee and espressos. It doesn’t even natively make an Americano (though it can be done by using the espresso feature and the hot water feature).
I never thought anything of it, but there really is a learning curve on how to make a good cup of coffee. There are so many factors that affect the end-product, that you must commit to a lot of trial and error to get it right. If you are willing to take a little time and experimentation, the Philips 1200 will reward you with an excellent cup of coffee.
This machine can make a cup that is rich and smooth. As good as any purchased coffee and much, much better than ANY coffee I’ve ever tried in my pod-style coffee maker. So much so, that when I’m running late for work and use a pod-style coffee in the morning, I now find them nearly undrinkable. This product is well worth the effort to learn how to use it and will turn you into a coffee snob before you realize it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Experience breathtaking 8K video and immersive 3D audio with our new 7.2-channel 8K receiver. Enjoy space-filling sound from your 7.2 or 5.2.2 setup with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It’s easy to enjoy all your content with Works with SONOS, Chromecast Built-in, Apple AirPlay, and Spotify Connect—all via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Customer Rating
5
Feature Rich & Hits Above Its Weight Class
on March 25, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
Supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced
Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
HDCP 2.3 Compliant and HDMI 2.1 Compatible with ALLM & VRR for gaming.
Supports 4K and 8K Input & Output
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast, Spotify, and AirPlay Compatible
6 HDMI Inputs / 2 HDMI Outputs
1 Optical Input / 1 Coaxial Input
Supports HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, and IMAX Enhanced
Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
HDCP 2.3 Compliant and HDMI 2.1 Compatible with ALLM & VRR for gaming.
Supports 4K and 8K Input & Output
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Chromecast, Spotify, and AirPlay Compatible
6 HDMI Inputs / 2 HDMI Outputs
1 Optical Input / 1 Coaxial Input
INITIAL SET-UP
Sony has spent a lot of time during their absence in the home theater receiver market to thoroughly revamp not only their entire line-up, but also their user interface and set-up procedure. Once all your connections are made on the back of the receiver, the initial receiver set-up and calibration procedure is the easiest I’ve ever used from any manufacturer. I’ve been fortunate enough to own receivers from nearly all the major players in this field over the years and the new Sony interface, while almost generic looking, is simple and easy to master.
Sony has spent a lot of time during their absence in the home theater receiver market to thoroughly revamp not only their entire line-up, but also their user interface and set-up procedure. Once all your connections are made on the back of the receiver, the initial receiver set-up and calibration procedure is the easiest I’ve ever used from any manufacturer. I’ve been fortunate enough to own receivers from nearly all the major players in this field over the years and the new Sony interface, while almost generic looking, is simple and easy to master.
A big portion of the easy set-up should be credited to Sony and their Digital Cinema Auto Calibration program. It is a very thorough calibration process. I strongly advise getting a laser distance measurer, as you will be asked to take many different measurements throughout your room. Nothing complicated, but it is slightly time consuming. The calibration program considers many different parameters, including seating position, distance, screen height, ceiling height, etc. Any one that has used the Audyssey or Dirac room calibration programs should be pleased with the results of the Sony proprietary calibration programming. After a series of measurements and test tones, including subs, phase matching, level matching, etc. the Digital Cinema Auto Calibration will complete, and the end results are impressive.
SOUND QUALITY
This is my first Sony home theater receiver I’ve had in a long time and after initial use, it brings back old memories. My first test was using Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos encoded music from Amazon Music Unlimited. This receiver is just like the Sony receivers of old. While sound quality is always totally subjective, this receiver is no where near as warm sounding as my current receiver. I favor the warm, richer sounds of my current receiver for music playback, always have, that’s what led me to my current manufacturer. The Sony doesn’t sound bad, far from it. It just sounds more neutral, cooler, and in a sense, a little thinner. I listened to dozens of songs from all genres: country, rock, classic rock, rap, classical, etc. All exhibited the same trait. They sounded fine, just lacking that warmth and finesse my current receiver gives.
This is my first Sony home theater receiver I’ve had in a long time and after initial use, it brings back old memories. My first test was using Ultra HD and Dolby Atmos encoded music from Amazon Music Unlimited. This receiver is just like the Sony receivers of old. While sound quality is always totally subjective, this receiver is no where near as warm sounding as my current receiver. I favor the warm, richer sounds of my current receiver for music playback, always have, that’s what led me to my current manufacturer. The Sony doesn’t sound bad, far from it. It just sounds more neutral, cooler, and in a sense, a little thinner. I listened to dozens of songs from all genres: country, rock, classic rock, rap, classical, etc. All exhibited the same trait. They sounded fine, just lacking that warmth and finesse my current receiver gives.
Next up, is what you buy a home theater receiver for. Movies. The Sony Digital Cinema Auto Calibration was very comprehensive, so let’s see if the Sony can pull it off when it comes to an immersive home theater experience. Sony claims their technology can create a series of “phantom speakers” giving the user a much more enveloping sound field like you get it a movie theater. First up was a 4k, Dolby Atmos encoded movie from Amazon Prime. It sounded OK, but it left me wanting. Bass was flat and the sound track while clear, was not convincing. Next up, Top Gun: Maverick on an Ultra HD Blu-ray in my Sony 4k Blu-Ray player. Same results. OK, but not impressive. This is exactly what I expected from an entry level receiver. Fiddling with some settings, I found the Movie button on the tiny Sony remote. This allows you to toggle between different sound modes, included in those are Dolby Mode and DTS:X Mode. Do these modes make a difference? Yes, a jaw dropping difference. The little Sony came alive and so did the movies. Bass hit hard, jets were screaming all around, the little Sony became a true cinematic machine. The movie was a blast to watch again.
NEGATIVES
There is no getting around it. The remote sucks. It’s tiny, it’s hard to read, especially in a light controlled room, there is no tactile feedback with the buttons, they are all flat with no special humps, or bumps to let you know which button your finger is on and most importantly, it is not backlit. Ugh. I hate not having a backlit remote.
There is no getting around it. The remote sucks. It’s tiny, it’s hard to read, especially in a light controlled room, there is no tactile feedback with the buttons, they are all flat with no special humps, or bumps to let you know which button your finger is on and most importantly, it is not backlit. Ugh. I hate not having a backlit remote.
Because this is an entry-level receiver, there are no Pre-Amp outputs to expand the system past 7.1 and for those interested, there is also no Phono Pre-Amp.
The included stereo microphone for room calibration has too short of a cord. I sit 15’ from my screen and the included microphone is just too short. Luckily, I had a 10’ 3.5mm stereo headphone extension cable on hand so I could complete my room calibration.
While the Sony advertises Sonos compatibility, it does not have Sonos “built-in”. By compatible, it means that it works with a Sonos Port. The Port will turn the receiver on and off as well as selecting the correct input when you connect, but this receiver does not stream via the Sonos app without additional hardware.
CONCLUSION
To quote a boxing metaphor, the little Sony STR-AN1000 is a Featherweight hitting in the Welterweight class. Dollar for dollar, the Sony is bringing its A-Game to the table. There is just a lot to like about this little powerhouse. Vocals are colder than I like for music playback (this isn’t so much a negative, as a personal preference), but the Sony makes magic happen with movies. The sound is strong and enveloping. The Sony room calibration is precise and much better at speaker matching than Audyssey. Which, I found quite surprising as Audyssey is touted like it’s the gold standard. Whether it be movies or using multi-channel stereo playback of audio tracks, the sound from my speakers is much more cohesive, dynamic, and punchy than I could ever get it with my old receiver and Audyssey. Believe me I tried and tried. I tried automatic. I tried manual. I used an SPL meter. The Sony implementation and calibration is much better.
To quote a boxing metaphor, the little Sony STR-AN1000 is a Featherweight hitting in the Welterweight class. Dollar for dollar, the Sony is bringing its A-Game to the table. There is just a lot to like about this little powerhouse. Vocals are colder than I like for music playback (this isn’t so much a negative, as a personal preference), but the Sony makes magic happen with movies. The sound is strong and enveloping. The Sony room calibration is precise and much better at speaker matching than Audyssey. Which, I found quite surprising as Audyssey is touted like it’s the gold standard. Whether it be movies or using multi-channel stereo playback of audio tracks, the sound from my speakers is much more cohesive, dynamic, and punchy than I could ever get it with my old receiver and Audyssey. Believe me I tried and tried. I tried automatic. I tried manual. I used an SPL meter. The Sony implementation and calibration is much better.
Don’t let Sony’s odd-ball power rating of 165W x 1 sway you from the receiver (The sticker on the front of the receiver touts 165W x 7, but the Sony website is more accurate at 165W x 1. There is no way this receiver is 165W x 7). A majority of the power needed by speakers is for bass reproduction. Since most folks have a powered sub or two in their theaters, the lower power rating really isn’t a big issue. Coming from a receiver rated at 125W x 7, I didn’t notice any real power difference, as I use the low pass filter to let the subs do the heavy lifting, thereby freeing the receiver from power hungry bass chores. The little Sony never sounded strained or thin at higher volumes.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to this. Does the Sony bring enough to the table to replace my existing receiver that is several years old and cost more than 2x the price of this one? The answer is: Yes. The Sony won me over watching movies on it. My home theater has never sounded better and more convincing.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+27points
28of 29voted this as helpful.
Vacuuming that fits seamlessly into your life. The i8+ learns your home and navigates to where the messes are, right when they happen—so you can effortlessly keep your floors clean. Just say to Google Assistant or Alexa voice assistant, “Tell Roomba to clean under the kitchen table” and consider it done. After each cleaning, the i8+ empties itself into Dirt Disposal bags that hold up to 60 days of debris so you can forget about vacuuming for months. Personalized cleaning recommendations and seasonal suggestions help keep floors clean year-round, and 10x the Power-Lifting suction* paired with self-emptying convenience help make life a whole lot easier. *(compared to the Roomba 600 series cleaning system) *(Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com or its affiliates. Google is a trademark of Google LLC)
Customer Rating
5
Sensor Suite Is A Game Changer for Vacuums
on February 26, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Roombas have always been the standard with which other vacuums have been compared to, whether it be from their performance or because they were more or less the first major player in the market. I have sampled other Roomba vacs, namely the 694, as well as entry-level models from iRobot’s primary competitor and those devices have always left me wanting.
Roombas have always been the standard with which other vacuums have been compared to, whether it be from their performance or because they were more or less the first major player in the market. I have sampled other Roomba vacs, namely the 694, as well as entry-level models from iRobot’s primary competitor and those devices have always left me wanting.
Their aimless meandering is frustrating as they have no real set cleaning paths, often covering some areas more than once, while other parts of the floor go untouched. I’ve watched these lesser models hit the same exact spot on my baseboard a half a dozen times before finally getting a clue to move on in another direction. I had given up hope on the robot vacuums as nothing more than a fad. This i8+ is my first robot vacuum with intelligent mapping. iRobot claims the device can map areas of your house or apartment and remember those settings for future cleanings. I’ve used other vacs before, so queue my eye roll.
USE
Downloading the iRobot Home app onto my Galaxy smartphone was trouble-free. Sadly, I could not find anywhere that iRobot put a simple QR code to link to the necessary app in the Google Play store or the Apple Store. Come on iRobot, step up your game. After installing the app, adding the i8+ to my existing account was simple and painless. Pressing the 2 buttons on the top of the robot entered it into pairing mode and it synced nearly instantly to my Galaxy. Good work.
Downloading the iRobot Home app onto my Galaxy smartphone was trouble-free. Sadly, I could not find anywhere that iRobot put a simple QR code to link to the necessary app in the Google Play store or the Apple Store. Come on iRobot, step up your game. After installing the app, adding the i8+ to my existing account was simple and painless. Pressing the 2 buttons on the top of the robot entered it into pairing mode and it synced nearly instantly to my Galaxy. Good work.
The iRobot Home app includes a handy mapping feature. This feature turns off the suction of the Roomba and lets it traverse your house learning its way around. iRobot claims the i8 can map your house in as little as 2 trips, but may take up to 3 – 5 cycles to get a full and complete picture of your home and its furnishings. After about a half hour of constantly babysitting the Roomba, keeping it from crossing rugs and thresholds, the device returned to its docking station. Opening the app verified that during this half hour it found about 80% of the areas in my family room, kitchen, and breakfast nook. Not bad. Hopefully, another mapping schedule will fill in the holes.
iRobot includes a standalone device that keeps the robot from entering areas that you don’t want it to. It is a great feature. Using the slide switch, you can set it to either transmit an invisible beam to stop the Roomba from say crossing through a threshold or have it set up to transmit a barrier, approximately 2ft in diameter that the Roomba can sense and stay away from a general area, say like your pet’s water and food bowls.
Speaking of maps of your house, the Roomba can be programmed with multiple maps and the areas on the maps can be named for use with Smart Assistants. I have a map set up for my kitchen, family room, mud room, and front entry. Naming these areas in the iRobot app allows me to coordinate the iRobot app with Alexa and then have the device clean an entire area, or just parts of the house. Neat!
The i8 is my first self-emptying robot vacuum. While I had never given this feature a second thought, I now wouldn’t want a vacuum without it. The dust / dirt bins on all the robot vacuums are small. Actually, very small. It doesn’t take any time for them to fill up with pet hair. The i8 knows when its bin gets full and will go back to its docking station to empty. The docking station quietly removes the contents from the i8 into a self-contained bag and the i8 is back off to work. A handy light on the front of the docking station lets the owner know when the bag is full and needs emptied. As a bonus, iRobot includes several additional bags with the Roomba.
NEGATIVES
I wish iRobot would include another 1 or 2 of the sensors in the package. I was able to make due with one of the “Do Not Enter” sensors, but I had to keep a close eye on the device during its initial mapping run. I was constantly moving the sensor to other thresholds as the robot moved from one area to the next during its initial exploration run. Another sensor or two would have been a huge help.
I wish iRobot would include another 1 or 2 of the sensors in the package. I was able to make due with one of the “Do Not Enter” sensors, but I had to keep a close eye on the device during its initial mapping run. I was constantly moving the sensor to other thresholds as the robot moved from one area to the next during its initial exploration run. Another sensor or two would have been a huge help.
The Roomba does not like switching from surface to surface. Vacuums from Roomba’s competition negotiate these transitions much easier. The i8+ struggles as it goes from my hardwood floors to rugs. About 25% of the time, it climbs up the rug with no fuss, the other times it struggles and turns itself around. When it does manage to get up on a rug, it doesn’t appear like the brushes and cleaners have too much power. It takes almost no effort to stop the side brush from swirling and cleaning. This is something not exhibited in other competitors’ models.
Lastly, there is almost no documentation with the Roomba. I know iRobot is trying to be Eco friendly by having the manuals online instead of printed. The minimalist approach is frustrating. There were a few things I needed to reference during the initial assembly and set-up that frustrated me by having to look it up on a phone or laptop. On top of that, there is no QR code or anything else to link to the manuals, app, etc.
CONCLUSIONS
The i8+’s intelligent sensors and mapping software are game changers in the world of robotic vacuums. The Roomba’s sensors are quite impressive. The vacuum can identify hazards in its cleaning path and can sense itself approaching a wall or toe kick of a cabinet, etc. This is my first vacuum that was able to maneuver itself around a toy instead of just running into it and getting tangled up in its brushes. Furthermore, this is also the first time I’ve had a robot vacuum that can sense things in its path and slow down before touching them. My other vacs slam into chairs and baseboards without hesitation. Not the i8+. Its sensors can “see” objects and help itself work around them. It slows down before touching up against a baseboard. It “sees” around chair legs. Unlike my other robot vacuums, my Roomba i8 doesn’t get trapped under the breakfast table for 15 minutes trying to find a way out. The i8+ methodically senses the environment and can free itself in just a matter of seconds.
The i8+’s intelligent sensors and mapping software are game changers in the world of robotic vacuums. The Roomba’s sensors are quite impressive. The vacuum can identify hazards in its cleaning path and can sense itself approaching a wall or toe kick of a cabinet, etc. This is my first vacuum that was able to maneuver itself around a toy instead of just running into it and getting tangled up in its brushes. Furthermore, this is also the first time I’ve had a robot vacuum that can sense things in its path and slow down before touching them. My other vacs slam into chairs and baseboards without hesitation. Not the i8+. Its sensors can “see” objects and help itself work around them. It slows down before touching up against a baseboard. It “sees” around chair legs. Unlike my other robot vacuums, my Roomba i8 doesn’t get trapped under the breakfast table for 15 minutes trying to find a way out. The i8+ methodically senses the environment and can free itself in just a matter of seconds.
The i8 has changed my impressions of robot vacuums. I can see why they have become so popular. Now that I have the Roomba “trained” on where to go around the house, I no longer come home to a hide and go seek session of trying to find the robot vacuum that has become lodged under some random, obscure piece of furniture in the house. I can set a schedule and let it do its business while at work and come home to a freshly vacuumed house free of pet hair and kid crumbs with the Roomba back at its docking station.
If you have kids and/or pets, consider a robot vacuum for the house. They are very helpful. I would never have said this before the i8. If you are in the market for a robot vacuum, do yourself a favor and get one that has the intelligent mapping and sensor suite like the i8 offers. Even though it costs more than its entry-level twins, the added feature set of the i8+ is worth EVERY penny.
EASILY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+14points
15of 16voted this as helpful.
The LG TONE Free T90 is the world's first Dolby Atmos wireless earbuds that enhance listening experiences with Dolby Head Tracking across all your favorite entertainment like music, movies, TV shows and games. You can experience Dolby Head Tracking with your LG TONE Free T90. With Dolby Head Tracking, as you turn your head, the audio recalibrates to enable a more natural sound experience for Dolby Atmos and other entertainment content, so you're always in the center of the scene. Plus, as the first wearable with an integrated audio virtualizer by Dolby, the LG TONE Free T90 adds dimensionality and clarity to your stereo entertainment.¹ In addition, the advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) has a Voice Pickup Unit added to the microphone, which clearly discerns your voice and reduces unwanted background noise. And with Plug & Wireless+ and the TONE Free app, you can listen to your favorite shows, movies and music on devices even without Bluetooth capabilities, like inflight entertainment or on a treadmill at the gym.² And now you can even host and take a conference call, all without Bluetooth. The T90 also includes a convenient UVnano+ charging case that harnesses the power of UV-C light (also called germicidal UV) to refresh the earbuds’ eargels. It effectively kills 99.9% bacteria on the eargels of the earbuds during the powered charging cycle. In just 10 minutes, the eargels are sanitized and have power to go.³ Plus, you can do your thing in comfort with soft, hypoallergenic medical grade eargels that provide a comfortable fit and help prevent irritation.⁴
Customer Rating
3
Average Audio Quality & Dolby Tech Needs Work
on February 23, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL SET-UP
The LG Tone Free app installed easily and without issue on my Galaxy phone. The app opened and immediately recognized my ear buds, pairing them and syncing without issue. As an added bonus, the ear buds shipped needing no immediate firmware update to operate properly. This was a huge win, as I cannot remember the last time I got tech that didn't need an update before use
The LG Tone Free app installed easily and without issue on my Galaxy phone. The app opened and immediately recognized my ear buds, pairing them and syncing without issue. As an added bonus, the ear buds shipped needing no immediate firmware update to operate properly. This was a huge win, as I cannot remember the last time I got tech that didn't need an update before use
The iOS implementation of the software was lacking. Even after unpairing the buds from my phone, it took me several attempts to get my iPad to recognize and pair with the LG's. After a few attempts and and app restarts, the buds paired and I have not experienced any additional issues. One great feature of the LG Tone Free app is the ability to switch between previously paired devices from within the app. It still needs a little help getting all the bugs worked out, but it works decently and it is very convenient when it does work.
USE
The LG Tone Free T90 ear buds have a lot of built in technology compared to their competition. Some of it works better than others, so I'll start with what works well.
The LG Tone Free T90 ear buds have a lot of built in technology compared to their competition. Some of it works better than others, so I'll start with what works well.
First is the ability to charge the ear buds wirelessly or wired. I wish all manufacturers included this feature with their ear buds, the added versatility and convenience is great. LG claims a playback time of up to 9hrs with the buds and up to 27 hours including the charging case.
Speaking of charging case, the LG design is impressively small and lightweight. Smaller than any other ear bud cases I currently own. On top of that, when the case is charging with the buds inside, LG has included a UV-C light that cleans 99.99% of the bacteria that may be growing on the tips.
The Active Noise Cancellation built into the T90's works well. The LG app includes a test track to ensure proper fitment of their buds. After completing the fitment test, I found the ambient noise cancellation worked very well at drowning out most outside annoyances. They eliminated almost 100% of the ambient hotel room noise during testing, effectively drowning out the droning from the A/C from my hotel room. The T90's are impressively light and comfortable during extended use.
The T90's include audio technology engineered by Meridian. Meridian is a long established company in the audio business. LG tapped their expertise in creating custom EQ and ambience settings. Some sound better than others, but I have found the Immersive setting to be a great compromise of increased spaciousness of the sound stage without too much over exaggeration of the environment.
NEGATIVES
As much tech as the T90's have packed into them, some of it just isn't quite ready yet.
As much tech as the T90's have packed into them, some of it just isn't quite ready yet.
I'm a fan of Dolby Atmos. The ability to add height information to the audio stream is great. The added spaciousness it adds to a movie or game can take it from average to extraordinary. I use it whenever it is an available option in my home theater and during gaming sessions with a good set of headphones. The T90's include Dolby Atmos and Dolby Head Tracking technology, which should be a great addition, unfortunately, it sounds better on paper than in actual implementation. Turning on Atmos doesn't do much to improve or increase the sound stage. Worse yet is the head tracking technology. I was excited to try a set of ear buds with this feature thinking it would be an awesome experience. Less than 30 seconds into the test, I was over it. The changes to the spatial positioning are too aggressive with just a little head movement changing the sound stage too drastically. I am always searching to get that sweet spot back.
I don't know how LG got up to 9 hours of battery life. It must have been with no Active Noise Cancellation and with the sound being barely audible. I listened to 3 songs with Active Noise Cancellation turned on and my battery life had decreased from 100% to 86%. 14% in less than 15 minutes does not equate to 9 hours. Battery life is poor.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I really wanted to like the T90's. They have a lot of features packed into them and include some impressive technologies. Meridian designed audio, Dolby Atmos, ANC, wired / wireless charging, germ killing UV light, etc.
I really wanted to like the T90's. They have a lot of features packed into them and include some impressive technologies. Meridian designed audio, Dolby Atmos, ANC, wired / wireless charging, germ killing UV light, etc.
However, when it comes down to it, sound is everything. The LG's just don't have the audio quality that their competition has. I am fortunate to own headphones or earbuds from many different manufacturers from many different price points. The LG T90's fall short of the similarly priced pieces from other manufacturers. Had I not had the opportunity to audition many of the other products from LG's competitors, I may feel differently. While my other ear buds may have less than half the tech baked into them that the T90's have, they sound drastically better and much truer to the original source. Add poor battery life to the T90's mediocre sound quality and this one is a miss for now.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
The 4K60 Elite Pro USB4 Hub with MagSafe Kit expands your computer’s connectivity. Seamlessly connect peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse, or USB flash drive to this pocket-sized multi-adapter, which has two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports and one USB-C port. Data transfer is quick and easy with the included Gigabit Ethernet port to access a wired network. Transfer files from one media to another with the 10Gbps USB connections. You can use the HDMI port to connect to a 4K UHD HDTV, monitor, or projector. Equipped with a USB4 port it provides 6K60 resolution, 40Gbps data transfer, and charging up to 100W of power for charging your computer when a USB-C power adapter is connected. You can connect your headphones or speakers to the audio/mic combo jack. The MagSafe dongle is a convenient way to store your original MacBook MagSafe charger. For Intel MacBook models, the audio/mic combo jack may be removed.
Customer Rating
4
Small, Easy Way to Add Expansion Ports
on December 10, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
I had never heard of J5Create until now. Prior to this, my opinion was you had to buy a USB hub from one of the big-name suppliers or you wouldn’t get much in return. After a short time of use and getting to know the product, I can say that J5 is a legitimate option for USB hubs, that is as good, or better than the big-name brands.
I tried the J5 on its intended laptop first, a MacBook Pro. The drivers installed without issue and the hub performed flawlessly. Using the USB 4.0 port, I had no problems driving a 1440p monitor, gigabit ethernet and a USB 3.1 thumb drive. The J5 allows for up to 100W of power passthrough, more than enough to charge the Mac. While I like my Mac a lot, I hate needing to carry around various adapters. The minimalist approach of the Mac is awesome, until it isn’t. Needing adapters for USB-A, ethernet, HDMI, etc., makes me use my Windows laptop far more than the Mac. The wider selection of ports is just too convenient.
For fun, I decided to see if the J5 would work on my Windows laptop. Unfortunately, the spacing of USB-C ports is specific to the Macs, even though my HP and my Asus laptops were very close to working, the laptops’ port spacing ended up being a little too wide. I love the tiny, compact form factor of the J5 and I didn’t want to give up. It would be great just to have 1 hub between laptops when traveling. So, I ordered up a couple of 6-inch USB4 extension cables. After a little trial and error, I was able to get the J5 working perfectly with my Windows machines. Granted you need 2 separate USB4 / USB-C cables to make it work fully (on a Windows computer, 1 port will transmit data and 1 port will allow charging). Sure enough, I was able to get the hub to work perfectly with my Windows laptops just as well as it worked it the Mac, just more ungainly with the extra cables needed.
If you are a Mac person and have a compatible laptop, this would be a no-brainer. It installs effortlessly, works perfectly, and has speeds and throughput approaching the upper end of the USB4 interface. The added benefit of having a wider selection of available ports as well as allows for charging is well worth the price of admission for this hub.
If you are a Windows person, this is not your device and to be fair to J5, they don’t intend it to be either. But, if you have a newer Windows laptop that supports USB4 and a compatible Mac, this could be your one stop ticket. While not a svelte of a solution as it is with a Mac, it works, and works very well on whatever OS you pair it with.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
![McAfee - McAfee+ Premium Family (Unlimited Devices) Antivirus Software, Scam Protection (1-Year Subscription with Auto-Renewal) - Android, Apple iOS, Chrome, Mac OS, Windows [Digital]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/c49ceca8-ded1-41d3-ba59-f1072d13a406.jpg)
McAfee+ Premium — all-in-one protection for your digital life. In today’s digital world, protecting your personal info and devices from online threats is more important than ever. McAfee+ Premium is an all-in-one solution to protect you online. It gives you peace of mind because you know you’re protected from the latest scams, viruses, and identity theft. McAfee's Scam Detector identifies potential scam texts, emails, and videos to prevent financial fraud and safeguard your personal information. We’ll also monitor your personal info and let you know if anything looks suspicious, so you can take action to protect yourself. We’ll even help you get rid of your personal info from data broker sites that sell it, so you can keep your data private. Our Secure VPN will protect your online privacy by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address, so you can browse the web privately. Plus our antivirus software will protect all of your devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets, from scams, viruses, malware, and other threats. This subscription also includes Parental Controls that will help you keep your kids safer online by blocking bad content and letting you monitor their online activity.
Customer Rating
2
Comprehensive, but McAfee Website is Atrocious
on November 10, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INTRO
McAfee + Premium aims to be your 1 stop shop for any PC, any device, any browser, any location safeguard against malicious web threats. McAfee has combined all their add-ons into one comprehensive threat protection suite. Having used anti-virus software from many different manufacturers over the years, including McAfee, Microsoft, Norton, BitDefender, Avast, AVG, etc., this is the most complete and all-encompassing protection package I’ve seen to date.
McAfee + Premium aims to be your 1 stop shop for any PC, any device, any browser, any location safeguard against malicious web threats. McAfee has combined all their add-ons into one comprehensive threat protection suite. Having used anti-virus software from many different manufacturers over the years, including McAfee, Microsoft, Norton, BitDefender, Avast, AVG, etc., this is the most complete and all-encompassing protection package I’ve seen to date.
INSTALLATION
Having been a McAfee user on and off throughout the years, this was the most issue-free installation of McAfee I’ve ever used. The digital download is an installer that walks you through creating a McAfee account and getting basic antivirus protection installed and active. At first, I thought this was a letdown, with McAfee only installing its core components, but after installation and thinking about it for a while, I have decided that it is the best way to present their product. Instead of trying to bombard the user all at once with every single option that is available, McAfee wisely chooses to limit the initial installation and allows the user to customize it afterward. Not only does this make it faster for the user to get up and running, but also makes for smaller downloads and less of a chance of something going awry during installation. Taking it one step at a time is smart. Furthermore, since McAfee doesn’t provide you with unlimited licenses for all its components available in the + Premium plan, the user can install only what he or she needs and save the limited licenses for other devices.
Having been a McAfee user on and off throughout the years, this was the most issue-free installation of McAfee I’ve ever used. The digital download is an installer that walks you through creating a McAfee account and getting basic antivirus protection installed and active. At first, I thought this was a letdown, with McAfee only installing its core components, but after installation and thinking about it for a while, I have decided that it is the best way to present their product. Instead of trying to bombard the user all at once with every single option that is available, McAfee wisely chooses to limit the initial installation and allows the user to customize it afterward. Not only does this make it faster for the user to get up and running, but also makes for smaller downloads and less of a chance of something going awry during installation. Taking it one step at a time is smart. Furthermore, since McAfee doesn’t provide you with unlimited licenses for all its components available in the + Premium plan, the user can install only what he or she needs and save the limited licenses for other devices.
As I mentioned earlier, the items offered with the yearly subscription is extensive. These items include: McAfee Antivirus (of course), TrueKey (a password manager), Parental safeguards for kids, a VPN with unlimited data, Dark Web Monitoring, and Personal Data Scans. Not only are these items available for the PC, but most are also available for your mobile devices too. AWESOME!!
McAfee has done an excellent job of making the setup process as painless as they can. I would still recommend some basic knowledge, especially when setting up a password manager and a VPN, but McAfee should be commended on their ability to make the software easy enough to navigate and configure even a technologically challenged person would be able to set it up with little trouble. Good job McAfee.
McAfee has done an excellent job of making the setup process as painless as they can. I would still recommend some basic knowledge, especially when setting up a password manager and a VPN, but McAfee should be commended on their ability to make the software easy enough to navigate and configure even a technologically challenged person would be able to set it up with little trouble. Good job McAfee.
NEGATIVES
As thorough and all-encompassing as the McAfee + Premium software is, it isn’t without its faults.
As thorough and all-encompassing as the McAfee + Premium software is, it isn’t without its faults.
Negative #1 – Just the basic load of McAfee, without checking any options of VPN, child safety software, password manager, nothing, starts no less than 20 different processes running. Adding any additional software options during the download or after, will only add more items to the list. A machine that is marginally capable or starting to show its age before installation, can be brought to its knees.
Negative #2 – I find the McAfee homepage a complete mess. I absolutely hate logging in and using it. McAfee tried to make it easy on the user presenting them with just the most basic information, but each time you click on a menu item, it feels like you are going to a whole new website. There is just no cohesiveness to the design. Furthermore, the goal of making the site easy to digest is also a detriment. A user really must do some specific digging to get to the core of their software. Dark Web Monitoring is the worst. I get that McAfee is trying to make it easy for all users, but they really need to rethink their design. It’s OK to have a basic and simple landing page but give the user the ability to easily get to more detailed information from that landing page.
Negative #3 – While this is billed as a family package, understand that it may not be enough for your whole family. Take the Identity Protection homepage for example. There are numerous instances that McAfee’s “Family” package isn’t enough. Your purchase of their most comprehensive and premium product (also their most expensive) only gets you the option to monitor 1 SSN, 1 DOB, 2 Driver’s Licenses, 2 Health ID’s, 2 Passports. Hmmm. I would say 2 would be the bare minimum for a “family” plan, but only 1 SSN and 1 DOB stinks. There is more than 1 in a family. You, the spouse, but no kids? Very few “families” are without kids. Even so, the “family” package doesn’t even get you the ability to monitor a spouse’s most critical information.
FINAL THOUGHTS
McAfee threw everything, including the kitchen sink at this. I’ve said it several times before in this review, this is the most comprehensive antivirus and identity protection suite that I’ve used to date, and I’ve used a lot of them in the past.
McAfee threw everything, including the kitchen sink at this. I’ve said it several times before in this review, this is the most comprehensive antivirus and identity protection suite that I’ve used to date, and I’ve used a lot of them in the past.
Even with all it has to offer, I cannot give the product a recommendation for the following reasons:
First and foremost, as you would expect, Windows Defender. While Windows Defender is nowhere near as full-featured and comprehensive as this McAfee suite, Defender does its job and does it well. I have been a Defender user since introduction and have yet to get a virus or have malicious software compromise my system. Knock on wood. I hope I didn’t just jinx myself.
A product that bills itself as a family package should take care of the ENTIRE family. I get it, you can’t have unlimited everything, but having the ability to only monitor 1 SSN and 1 DOB isn’t family. The family part of this product is too confusing and misleading. The “Unlimited Devices” is only for antivirus. In addition to the limitations for monitoring, you only get 5 VPN installs and 5 TrueKey installs (McAfee’s Password Manager). That isn’t enough. I would let the 5 VPN’s slide, but 5 TrueKey licenses isn’t enough.
Lastly, the McAfee website stinks. It is too confusing and convoluted to find information on your product and purchases. It took me almost 5 minutes just to verify the information in my previous paragraph. That is unacceptable. There are very few websites I can say need a complete overhaul, but the McAfee website is one of the worst I’ve seen in a long time.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Sonos Roam SL allows the user to enjoy hours of music, radio, audiobooks, and more from all your favorite services thanks to the long-lasting rechargeable battery. Listen at home with WiFi and easily control the sound with the Sonos app, and stream with Bluetooth everywhere else. Add more Sonos speakers around your home for multiroom listening. Everything works together over WiFi.
Customer Rating
3
Big Sound, Awkward Bass, Better Options
on October 29, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL SET-UP
I found the initial set-up of the Roam a bit frustrating. Following the directions to the letter, I could not get the product to pair with any of my Android phones or iPads. The same applies to the included wireless charging base. The base wouldn’t charge the speaker no matter what I tried. I found it undeniably frustrating. All I wanted to try was the Bluetooth streaming quality. How could it not connect to anything I own?
I found the initial set-up of the Roam a bit frustrating. Following the directions to the letter, I could not get the product to pair with any of my Android phones or iPads. The same applies to the included wireless charging base. The base wouldn’t charge the speaker no matter what I tried. I found it undeniably frustrating. All I wanted to try was the Bluetooth streaming quality. How could it not connect to anything I own?
That’s when I figured out that you must first add it to your Sonos system and get it activated prior to using, regardless of the protocol. While the instructions did not mention the need to set-up with the Sonos app, you must go in and set it up via app. After set-up, I found I could easily connect to the Roam SL whether it was via Bluetooth or its built-in Wi-Fi, even if I didn’t have the Sonos app installed on the device I was trying to use. A clearer explanation would be much appreciated. Same with the included wireless charger. It will not function without prior set-up via the app. A charger.
USE
I like that the Roam can be incorporated into your Sonos environment just like any of their other products. The Roam can easily be used as an additional speaker, perfectly in time with any other Sonos speakers and/or soundbars. The whole Sonos ecosystem is wonderfully easy to set-up and use. A user can link their existing music services to Sonos’ app or choose to pay for the Sonos music service. Either way, music selection and playback are intuitive, simple to use, and reliable. I have never had a single instance of the app locking up or failing to select music from any streaming service I linked to it. Sonos needs to be commended for a thoughtful, well-designed app.
I like that the Roam can be incorporated into your Sonos environment just like any of their other products. The Roam can easily be used as an additional speaker, perfectly in time with any other Sonos speakers and/or soundbars. The whole Sonos ecosystem is wonderfully easy to set-up and use. A user can link their existing music services to Sonos’ app or choose to pay for the Sonos music service. Either way, music selection and playback are intuitive, simple to use, and reliable. I have never had a single instance of the app locking up or failing to select music from any streaming service I linked to it. Sonos needs to be commended for a thoughtful, well-designed app.
The Roam is very versatile for a mini speaker. It includes the ability to connect to it via Bluetooth, as I’m sure most do and are used to, as well as via Wi-Fi. The ability to connect to the product in 2 different ways is a game changer in a small, portable speaker. Ultimately, I don’t really find the need for Wi-Fi, but it is a nice addition and helps to future proof the little speaker.
Should you not like the mono audio of the Roam or need more room filling sound, you can easily pair it with a 2nd Roam speaker for a true stereo pair. The stereo performance is a much more pleasant and enjoyable experience, making the diminutive speaker feel much larger and power than it really is. The Sonos acoustics are well thought out.
SOUND QUALITY
The Roam is quite capable despite its small size. While not much bigger than a can of V-8, the Roam sports a dedicated mid bass driver and tweeter, each being driven by its own class H digital amplifier. The Roam will play quite loud and for the most part, distortion free. I did notice it getting a little thin at the very upper part of its volume limits, but comparatively speaking, the Roam was able to play louder and cleaner than many of its competitors in its weight class.
The Roam is quite capable despite its small size. While not much bigger than a can of V-8, the Roam sports a dedicated mid bass driver and tweeter, each being driven by its own class H digital amplifier. The Roam will play quite loud and for the most part, distortion free. I did notice it getting a little thin at the very upper part of its volume limits, but comparatively speaking, the Roam was able to play louder and cleaner than many of its competitors in its weight class.
NEGATIVES
The first and already most obvious negative, at least for me, is the overly complicated initial set-up process. I don’t like that you are required connect to the Sonos app just to get the speaker going for Bluetooth operation. This eliminates the ability to pick up the speaker on the way to a party, pool, or beach and bring your tunes with you. Nope, you must spend about 20 minutes to get it set-up and updated just to stream music to it via Bluetooth.
The first and already most obvious negative, at least for me, is the overly complicated initial set-up process. I don’t like that you are required connect to the Sonos app just to get the speaker going for Bluetooth operation. This eliminates the ability to pick up the speaker on the way to a party, pool, or beach and bring your tunes with you. Nope, you must spend about 20 minutes to get it set-up and updated just to stream music to it via Bluetooth.
Second is the awkward choice to eliminate the microphone and voice capabilities of the speaker. While it does save the consumer $20 over the Roam, those would be the best $20 spent on this speaker. The ability to stash your phone and just talk to the speaker via the Alexa or Google voice assistant is worth the extra $20 in my book. Not to mention, with the elimination of the microphone input, Sonos also had to eliminate their True Play tuning. The Sonos True Play tuning is much like the equivalent of acoustical magic. Using your iPad or iPhone, True Play can easily fine-tune your product’s audio output based on the listening environment. It is a super simple, fool-proof tool to help get the best audio from your Sonos product. I’ve used it with my Sonos Amp and speakers, as well as my Arc soundbar and found each time that the True Play tuning was game changing in terms of their products’ performance.
The microphone input on the normal Roam allows for real-time True Play tuning. Without it, the Roam SL has awkwardly loud and powerful bass passages. It isn’t with every song or audio source, but in my mixed testing that included movies, music, and podcasts, I found the True Play tuning would most likely have made a noticeable benefit. Those awkwardly loud, random, and unpleasant changes really detracted from an overall good product. I would be listening to a movie at a pleasant volume, when the something on screen would blare out of the speaker, enough to startle me and turn it down, only to have to turn it back up 2 seconds later to hear the dialog again.
Lastly, the SL just needs an extra button. Sonos tried to make the SL as simple as possible. 3 buttons work on top. Play, Rewind, and Skip. Then a single, multi-function button on the main body of the SL. That sole button just has too many things its supposed to do. Hold it this number of seconds for this function, this number of seconds for that function, so on and so on. How about just give me 1 more button and eliminate the need to count how long I hold the button down for?
CONCLUSION
For me, this product is a miss. If this product was significantly cheaper than the normal Roam, I might consider it. But with it being only $20 less than Roam, I wouldn’t even consider it. The Roam is easily worth the extra $20 over the SL. Money well spent.
For me, this product is a miss. If this product was significantly cheaper than the normal Roam, I might consider it. But with it being only $20 less than Roam, I wouldn’t even consider it. The Roam is easily worth the extra $20 over the SL. Money well spent.
As a portable speaker, I don’t really understand the necessity to incorporate the SL into your existing Sonos infrastructure. I have not found any instance to where I would want to put my Roam to use while listening to my other Sonos products inside the house. With that being the case, I don’t see buying the SL when I could easily get the Roam or an even better sounding and performing product from Sonos’ competitors for similar money.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
Introducing the 3-in-1 Video Smart Lock S330 - a feature-packed solution for unparalleled home protection. Experience crystal clear visibility with 2K clarity and a 160° wide field of view for easy monitoring of your doorstep. Featuring Self-Learning AI, it constantly improves fingerprint recognition accuracy ensuring fast and precise door access every time. With Person, Pet, and Vehicle Detection, only receive relevant alerts that matter to you. Dual motion sensors help reduce false alerts by 95% and can accurately detect movement up to 19 ft (6 m) away, identifying objects with 99% accuracy. Effortless control and management with the eufy Security App. Get instant notifications* when kids come home, see and communicate with visitors using 2-way audio, and unlock the door remotely – it's convenient and security when you're away. Videos and data stay protected with local storage - all with no monthly fees.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Addition to Eufy Line
on October 23, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INSTALLATION
This is now the 3rd Eufy Smart Lock installed on my house. I have used smart locks from other manufacturers and keep coming back to Eufy as my go-to and recommended replacement smart lock.
This is now the 3rd Eufy Smart Lock installed on my house. I have used smart locks from other manufacturers and keep coming back to Eufy as my go-to and recommended replacement smart lock.
The Eufy Video Smart Lock combines the functions of their previous generation of smart lock with the addition of a doorbell. This was a great idea and a must-have solution for those with awkwardly placed doorbells. It also eliminates the need of homeowners needing to purchase 2 separate products, saving time, money, and installation hassles.
For anyone contemplating buying a smart lock, but put off by the potential installation issues or troubles that may come with lock replacement, rest assured, Eufy has done a great job engineering the product. The lock is modular and is no different than replacing an ordinary keyed lock. Two screws for the dead bolt and a couple of screws for the lock assembly. The mounting bolts are even long enough to accommodate doors of different thicknesses. Aside from charging the included battery pack for several hours prior to, installation took less than 15 minutes. From start to finish, including a firmware update and product set-up with the app and fingerprint enrollment, took less than 30 minutes total. Excellent!
EUFY APP
The Eufy app has been through many revisions since its introduction and has continually been refined and updated. The app is easy to use and is quick to load and send notifications to your phone. I have the app installed on both an Android phone and an iPad and the feel and operation is consistent between either OS. The app is easy to use and simple to add new products, find recorded events, or even view live images from the device.
The Eufy app has been through many revisions since its introduction and has continually been refined and updated. The app is easy to use and is quick to load and send notifications to your phone. I have the app installed on both an Android phone and an iPad and the feel and operation is consistent between either OS. The app is easy to use and simple to add new products, find recorded events, or even view live images from the device.
That being said, the Eufy app is not without its faults. While it is quick to alert you to an event and easy to use and navigate, it often leaves you wanting when you get an alert. It is not uncommon to tap the View Event notification and there be nothing to see. While you can go to live view and it seems to work OK, it takes some time for the device to save the video and make it viewable for the owner. There are times when you view an event and you get audio, but no video. Granted the video is there, it just takes a couple of minutes to become accessible. It isn’t all the time, but it is often enough to be frustrating. This is something that could be squashed with a new app update. Older versions of the Eufy app worked more reliably than the newest versions.
PERFORMANCE
The best feature of this smart lock is the fingerprint scanner. Eufy stores fingerprints on an encrypted chip inside the lock itself. Fingerprint enrollment takes 8 – 10 separate scans of your desired finger and saves them to the lock. The Eufy lock reads a fingerprint in less than 3/10 of one second. Nearly instantaneous. The Eufy fingerprint scanner is much more reliable than my Android phone. My Android phone will get confused if my finger is damp or dry with the changing of the seasons. Not so with the Eufy scanner. It works nearly flawlessly first time, every time. Once you enroll a print in the lock and identify the person it is assigned to, the Eufy will alert you by that person’s name when unlocked via fingerprint. It works slick!
The best feature of this smart lock is the fingerprint scanner. Eufy stores fingerprints on an encrypted chip inside the lock itself. Fingerprint enrollment takes 8 – 10 separate scans of your desired finger and saves them to the lock. The Eufy lock reads a fingerprint in less than 3/10 of one second. Nearly instantaneous. The Eufy fingerprint scanner is much more reliable than my Android phone. My Android phone will get confused if my finger is damp or dry with the changing of the seasons. Not so with the Eufy scanner. It works nearly flawlessly first time, every time. Once you enroll a print in the lock and identify the person it is assigned to, the Eufy will alert you by that person’s name when unlocked via fingerprint. It works slick!
The included 10000mAh rechargeable battery has great life. All my locks get several months of use on a single charge. However, once the battery does go bad, it goes bad quickly, lasting only a couple of days at most. On top of that, the battery packs are extremely hard to come by. I have been looking for a replacement battery for one of my older Eufy locks (same battery used in this device) and have been unable to order one for several months. I can’t even find a knock-off to replace it with.
ISSUES
There are only 2 issues with this lock that I can think of:
There are only 2 issues with this lock that I can think of:
Eufy has done an excellent job at updating its products and software over the years. But, their Eufy app needs some additional bug squashing. The View Event / Live View bug is frustrating. Not only does it plague this lock, it plagues my other Eufy products too. So, it isn’t specific to the lock itself. It is a software-based issue.
Second, while not a knock against Eufy, is peoples’ expectations of a separate doorbell from the lock itself. Few people think to look at the lock for the doorbell. Some do, but you can watch most people look next to your door for the doorbell, not immediately see one and just wind-up knocking. Luckily, the Eufy motion detection algorithms are reliable, and the lock is already recording and alerting you to the person’s presence, but it is a downfall of an all-in-one product like this. Especially, if you have a multiple story house and cannot hear knocking at the front door from everywhere inside.
CONCLUSIONS
This is an excellent product. It is an excellent addition to the Eufy / Anker product offerings. Mechanically, my Eufy products have proven rugged, weather-proof, reliable and trouble free over time and I expect this lock to do the same. Images and video are clear and crisp even during the overnight hours. The Eufy algorithms work efficiently at differentiating between people in the background and people approaching your front door with minimal false alarms.
This is an excellent product. It is an excellent addition to the Eufy / Anker product offerings. Mechanically, my Eufy products have proven rugged, weather-proof, reliable and trouble free over time and I expect this lock to do the same. Images and video are clear and crisp even during the overnight hours. The Eufy algorithms work efficiently at differentiating between people in the background and people approaching your front door with minimal false alarms.
The only thing keeping the Smart Video doorbell from receiving a 5-star rating is the Eufy app. It is time for the company to squash some bugs and get their app working more reliably.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
NAMO's Review Comments
NAMO has not submitted comments on any reviews.
NAMO's Questions
NAMO has not submitted any questions.
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 Cores / 8 Threads. Intel has disabled hyper-threading on its i7 processors.
6 years ago
by
NAMO
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
The advertisement and stated processor says its a 9th gen i7-9700 however if you click on the pdf information for this computer it states that it is an 8th Gen i7-8700? Also indicates that graphics are onboard and not the GPU?
It is the 9th Generation 9700 processor with an nVidia GTX 1660Ti graphics card. I believe all the Intel processors include onboard graphics.
6 years ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
can a windows 7 computer boot from this drive ?
You should have no issues as long as your bios supports this feature.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
Is this compatible with a Surface Book?
Mine did not work correctly with a Surface Pro, even with a powered hub. It has worked perfectly with every other computer and/or laptop I've tried it with, though.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
Difference between the 2016 vs 2017 models? Any one what the pros/cons?
From my research, it appears the big differences are that the 2017 models come with LG's latest OS installed (WebOS 3.5 vs WebOS 3.0). LG has also worked some magic on the video processing too. They are now able to get more detail in the very darkest portions of an image, where the 2016 models would sign off on the darkest details earlier & just represent them as total black. Lastly, they able to tweak the light output on the panels to improve overall brightness, which was a common complaint of the 2016 models that were installed in fairly bright rooms from what I have heard.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
8 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
When is bestbuy going to sell the LG B7 65 inch model?
I don't think they will. It is my understanding that the B7 is identical to the C7, but intended for Costco and/or Sam's only.
8 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO