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    November 16, 2016
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DonMc's Reviews
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Share HD content on a bigger screen with this LG LED projector. It produces an image size of up to 100 inches, and its wireless screen-sharing functionality lets you stream videos from a Miracast or WiDi device. Pair this LG LED projector with a Bluetooth speaker for enhanced audio output.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Not enough bang for the buck
on March 16, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
First off, I had no idea this device was so small! It is literally smaller than my hand. Which is great for transporting and storage purposes, but you sacrifice a lot for the sake of portability.
First off: the LG MiniBeam PH30 projector has only 250 lumens. That is not a lot of light, considering you can get a comparably priced projector with over 3500 lumens. You'll need a really dark room for this to be optimally effective. However, in spite of it's lack of brightness, the colors come through pretty well. It also boasts a four hour built in battery. That's a handy feature for a projector; you can run this baby practically anywhere. Did someone say backyard, summer movie night??
The projector comes with no cables; no HDMI, no USB, No VGA... It does, however, offer several methods to connect to this device (using your own cables). It has ports for HDMI, USB and USB-C. I plugged in a USB flashdrive containing video, photo and sound files, and they played beautifully from the drive. The built in speaker is just awful! It sounds tinny like a laptop from the 90's. Fortunately, you can connect your own Bluetooth speaker, whereas it will produce a decent sound. The Bluetooth, however, will NOT allow you to connect to a Bluetooth mobile device.
It connected to my Android tablet fairly easily, and I was impressed with the colors. The images could be a little sharper, though.
This device has both strong pros and cons:
Pros: Small size for transporting and storing
Four hour battery life
Decent color reproduction
Operates quietly
Cons: only 250 lumens, the images are not that bright.
No cables come with it.
Very high price point. Just not enough bang for those big bucks.
Recommendations for this product is a tough call. If you seek portability, and aren't too concerned with the lack of brightness, and aren't spooked by the price point, go for it. It definitely has its advantages, but the biggest detriment for me is the price.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Share projects and presentations with this Epson 3LCD projector. Wireless connectivity means you can place this device virtually anywhere in a conference room or classroom, while the onscreen QR code lets you quickly connect your laptop or mobile device for remote operation. Featuring 3600 lumens of equal color and bright whiteness, this Epson 3LCD projector delivers crisp, clear images to your screen.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Super bright display!
on March 13, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
I'll admit, I don't have much (read: no) experience with projectors, so for those other first time users, this will, hopefully, be relatable.
This Epson Pro EX7260 projector probably wouldn't be your first choice if you were in the market for a projector for home or casual use. This is clearly a professional-level projector, and there are a myriad of lesser priced machines out there (with fewer options). But if you have the funds, and are looking for a machine you can grow into, this may be the one. This projector has an impressive, professional look.
The projector comes with USB and VGA cables included. It baffles me that there isn't an HDMI cable included in the box. So, if you are using a computer, or other device for your presentation, and that device has an HDMI port, you'll have to buy your own cable. Either that or go scrounging through your junk drawer for one.
The projector comes encased in a padded, canvas carrying case. The padding should protect your projector from incidental bumps and bruises, but not from drops (from ANY height).
With most devices nowadays, the projector has a downloadable app, which surprisingly, isn't terrible. Not great, but not terrible. While it took no time at all to connect my computer to the projector, via the not-included HDMI cable, it was a wee bit more of a chore to get it up and running on my iPad. The Quick Setup instructions walked me through the setup pretty well, though. There was a minor time lag on the display between my iPad and the projector, but in my case, it was forgivable. The projector connected to my wireless network without a hitch, and in no time at all I was displaying internet web pages via my iPad. The projector's speaker is pedestrian, to say the least. If your presentation is heavily dependant on sound quality, you'd better connect a separate speaker.
If your projector is not directly facing the wall, and is at an angle, you'll see a trapezoid shaped image on your wall. But there is a slider switch on top of the projector that will allow you to change the aspect of the image back to a perfect rectangle. I don't know if they all do that, but I thought it was pretty neat.
All in all, I am extremely happy with the Epson Pro 7260 projector. The display is very bright and the images are clear. Setup was fairly easy.
Highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Make your smart home digitally secure with this Bitdefender BOX 2 cybersecurity hub. It protects your connected home and your family from hackers and privacy intruders. You get complete, multilayered cybersecurity for an unlimited number of internet-connected devices. Bitdefender BOX 2 is 100 percent compatible with your home network and lets you control all your connected devices from a single app.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Peace of mind in a BOX
on March 3, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
It's always comforting, knowing that your wi-fi network is safe from intrusions. This product provides that comfort. It has recently been reported that smart TVs as well as other smart home devices are vulnerable to cyber attack. This products alleges to prevent those incursions. While I can't attest to the validation of those claims, I do appreciate having the ability to monitor every device currently connected to your network. As well as the ability to remove them from it.
Setup for the Bitdefender BOX took about 10 minutes, and was relatively uneventful. The one snag I ran into was rectified without having to call customer support. While extensive network knowledge isn't prerequisite, it is good to have.
The Bitdefender apps/software are the driving force behind this device. The app allows you to connect and configure protection for your devices. I installed the app on my cell phone and tablets (I did not install the software on my laptops because I am happy with my current protection, and apparently, the two can not coexist on one machine). The apps quickly scanned my phone and tablets for vulnerabilities, and going forward, will protect them from potential attacks.
After installation, a speedtest did reveal some slight degradation in my internet speed, but the device did not appear to have any conflicts with my VPN.
The product includes one free year of protection. After that, you are required to pay for a subscription, or all of your protection ends: both software and hardware. Then you are stuck with a modern looking paperweight (although, it will still be available for use as a router. But, your current router is probably a better device than this one).
While I am not wild about the concept of forking over a pretty big chunk of change for a product, then paying more money in order to use it, this could possibly be a worthwhile product if you fear that you could be the target for a cyber attack, or prefer an extra layer of security. It's too soon to tell if it'll be worth renewing my subscription after my free year expires. In the meantime, I would tentatively recommend this product.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Slip on these Sennheiser HD 1 wireless headphones to enjoy hi-fi sound without interruptions. The NoiseGard technology keeps out background noise, and the high-definition aptX codex ensures you hear all the details in dialog or music. These Sennheiser HD 1 wireless headphones come with a built-in microphone and ear-cup controls so you can take calls from a paired device.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Umm...Whoa!
on February 28, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
Hold on a sec, please...
...ok, sorry about that, but I had to go burn all of my other headphones.
Where do I begin? Packaging? Build Quality? Design? Insane bass response? Crystal clear highs? Comfort? Noise cancellation? I could on and on (and I will..)
When I ordered these Sennheiser HD-1 Noise Canceling headphones, I told my daughter about them. Ignoring all of the potential benefits of a high quality set of headphones, her first question was, "Why do they cost so much?" I admit, the price point made me feel like I was reliving the Ice Water Challenge. However, out of the box, the Sennheiser HD-1 headphones offer amenities that can't be ignored: The headphones are housed in a very solid, hard canvas case for storage when they aren't in use (given the extent of your investment, it would make sense to take particularly good care of them). Within the hard case, they're encased in a satiny drawstring bag. They are foldable for easy storage.
The headphones paired in seconds, which is great because I couldn't wait to try them out! They also use NFC Connectivity. While they are wireless, they come with a cable you can use when your battery dies. After the first bar of music, I understood why these headphones were so expensive. The sound quality is...Amazing! The richness and tone is unlike anything I've ever heard before, and trust me, headphones are my thing, I own dozens of them. As usual, I took them through a range of music. I began with classical, which any decent set of phones should handle effortlessly. I then moved on to jazz, pop, classic rock and R&B. Same level of unparalleled excellence. My litmus test with headphones ( or speaker systems) is heavy, deep bass response. I test for distortion. So I played that deep bottom, hip-hop bass that south Florida is famous for, and try as I may, I found no amount of bass that these headphones could not handle. There was absolutely NO distortion. When you listen to the music that you've owned for years, you will hear instruments/vocals that you hadn't noticed before.
I own several sets of noise canceling headphones, and they're all adept at drowning out the steady drone of airplanes, machinery or the din of a large group of people conversing (coffeeshops). These headphones shut down everything. I had the television playing while wearing these headphones, and I could not hear it. Low quality headphones struggle with individual noise.
These headphones are very comfortable to wear, (in fact, I fell asleep in bed while wearing them).
I apologize for the length of this review, but honestly, I could have written a novella to fully extol the virtues of these headphones. The Sennheiser HD-1 Noise Cancelling headphones fully exhibit the fine tradition of German Engineering. They are expensive, but you absolutely get what you pay for. Once you experience them, the sticker shock will be cancelled, just like all of the noise around you.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Enjoy superior sound and voice quality with these Jabra Elite wireless headphones. Integrated controls let you answer calls, adjust the volume or pause music with the touch of a button, while the included carrying case doubles as a charging station. External ambient noise keeps you aware of your surroundings, while a background noise filter delivers crisp, clear voice calls. With Bluetooth connectivity, these Jabra Elite wireless headphones are easy to pair to a mobile device.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great sound. Great product
on February 12, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
I've seen wireless ear buds in stores and I was intrigued. No wires at all?? I'm in! Then I saw people walking around with those ridiculous looking, inch long white tails dangling from their ear sockets. My first thought: hipsters! Nope! Hard pass...
These Jabra - Elite 65t True Wireless Earbud Headphones are a different animal, however. First off, they're less conspicuous, because they aren't 'Hey look at me' bright white.

They were a snap to set up. Press buttons on both buds to power up, and easily pair them via Bluetooth with your desired device. Once paired, my device directed me to the Jabra Sound+ app, and I sat back and let everyone get acquainted.
In seconds the app displayed several useful features about the headphones.
The ear buds' battery level is shown on the home page of the app, and there are buttons that lead to other sub menus. These other buttons enable you to configure the buds to your needs. You can set the amount of ambient noise from your surrounding you wish to hear; helpful when you're listening to music and still want to be able to hear the phone (or significant other).
You can also adjust your equalizer settings with the app, but be warned, there are no presets, you'll have to manually adjust the EQ settings yourself to get the sound the way you like it.
You can also setup caller ID for your phone. You can have the headphones announce the caller by name if they are stored in your phone's contact list. That is a handy feature if you're busy and aren't able to screen your calls by looking at the phone.
The carrying case doubles as a charger for the buds and is ultra-portable.
It takes a few times to insert these ear buds in your ear where you aren't afraid of them falling out. Your hands will instinctively hover about your ears in case they begin to feel like they're becoming loose. Once you've mastered the art of twisting them in your ear canal to form an air vacuum, you'll have more confidence that they'll stay put. However, due to the twisting involved to get them in properly, I did notice some slight discomfort after wearing them for a half hour or so.
The sound quality of these buds is very nice. The sound isn't rich, but it wasn't a concern for me. There's very good separation, and it provides a decent bass response with minimal distortion.
The Jabra - Elite 65t True Wireless Earbud Headphones definitely pass my sound test, and the app offers some pretty nifty features. These buds carry a high price point, but there's a lot of bang for the buck here. This is a very good product.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Acer 15 Chromebook: Enjoy up to 12 hours of battery life with this 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook. Its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM load webpages quickly and provide lag-free streaming, and the 16GB of internal storage holds documents and photos. This Acer Chromebook has an HDMI port for connecting to a larger display.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great for beginner or casual users
on February 5, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
First off, if you're expecting blinding speed from this Acer Chromebook 15, you'll be sorely disappointed. This Chromebook has a Celeron processor inside, so the lack of speed shouldn't be a huge surprise or disappointment.
This would be great for a novice user, or a user on a budget. Particularly if your primary computing needs are web browsing, emailing and writing short documents. In terms of web browsing, be advised that busy web pages take a few seconds longer to load.
When I booted this Chromebook for the first time, I was up and running in hardly any time at all. This Chromebook boots quickly! Open the lid, enter your password, and you're up and running. You are spared the annoying 1 to 3 minute PC loading time.
If you have a Gmail account, as soon as you log in, all of your Google Chrome settings, browser favorites and stored passwords are automatically transferred over from any other device you've been using. I don't think it's ever taken so little time to configure a new computer.
A nice feature with Chromebooks is its built-in anti-virus software; it updates automatically every day after you've logged in, to keep your protection current. It auto updates the system every 6 weeks to keep your OS current as well. There are two USB 3.0 ports and an HDMI port. After I fully charged the battery, the power indicator informed me that I had about 12 hours of battery life available. That'll work!
Like most users, I've gotten use to touch screens. Well, you're out of luck here, folks. You'll have to use your mouse or the touchpad to navigate the screen. Also, there's no 'delete' key, which is only a minor irritant that probably only affect a small group of users. One pretty neat feature is the search key on the keyboard. When pressed, it opens a search window on the screen, with several available apps below the search input line. This Chromebook offer its own, limited version of business apps, including: Google Docs (word processor), Google Sheets (spreadsheet) and Google Slides (presentation software), and several other apps. Those productivity programs are browser-based, and relatively short on bells and whistles, but they're free, so.....
This Chromebook is definitely not for power users, but it could be just right for the sub-casual user with minimal needs or a minimal budget. It's lightweight, yet it feels pretty solid. The price point is friendly, so it'll make a nice gift; you'll look like a boss!
Taken at face value, it's decent device that should get the job done.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Produce physical copies of smartphone image files with this Bluetooth-enabled HP Sprocket Plus photo printer. Its compact form fits 10 sheets of 2.3 x 3.4-inch photo paper, and it lets you edit photos creatively via the HP Sprocket app. This portable HP Sprocket Plus photo printer also scans its printed images to quickly locate their digital sources.
 
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Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
It's Not For Everyone
on January 8, 2018
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
With today's technology, not many people print photos from their mobile devices anymore. There is no more need to develop that group photo you took at your high school reunion and snail mail everyone a copy. Printing photos at home was great for a while, until the price of ink became exponentially more expensive than gasoline (what do think a gallon of printer ink would cost you?). Now days, when you take that photo with your phone, you can just text it to whomever it in seconds. Boom, now everyone instantly has a copy of the pic.
Having said that, this sleek little printer allows you to print out pics from your phone, or mobile device, and do whatever it is you would do with a business card-sized picture. Oh, that's right, it has adhesive backing, so it makes stickers, too!! Maybe you can print out a pic for grandma. No wait, the picture is so tiny, you'll have to run and get her reading glasses so she can see the darn thing.
The picture quality is not great. Given the vastly improved camera megapixels in cellular phones these days, the quality of those great pics you've taken are underserved on this device.
This is easily the most critical review I've ever written, but the functionality of this device is lost on me; the picture quality isn't great; the pictures are tiny; it has a very high price point...sigh. You know what, it's your money...
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Navigate your desktop precisely with this Logitech wireless gaming mouse. Its sensitivity of 12,000 dpi ensures accurate movements, and it delivers up to 500 hours of nonstop gaming before needing batteries replaced. This Logitech wireless gaming mouse lets you connect to multiple devices via Bluetooth and switch between them with a push of a button.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Very Nice Mouse
on December 27, 2017
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
I've owned dozens upon dozens of computer mice during my decades of computing. It would be an accurate statement to label most of them as 'meh'. In most cases, a mouse, is a mouse, is a mouse. This Logitech G603 Wireless Gaming Mouse, however, is a cut above the rest. It glides smoothly; it has a very fast report rate; it can connect to two devices, just push the button on top to switch between the devices (if you have a need for that feature, you're doing too much...) it is just the right size for my large hands, but I surmise that it's not too big for smaller hands.
Anyone with even the slightest experience in pairing Bluetooth devices should have this mouse up and running in no time at all. And you'll need that experience because the instructions that came with it are a joke. I mean, why even bother at all; a tiny array of uncaptioned drawings on a tiny sheet of paper? Really? However, if the Bluetooth setup is too daunting for you, there is a USB dongle included.
I digress... The mouse handles smoothly and accurately. There are two buttons on the thumb side that I use to navigate web pages and desktop folders back and forth (a personal favorite feature)
This mouse does go to sleep quickly; like, in seconds of not using it. It is slightly annoying to have to move the mouse to find the cursor on the screen after a mere 15 second rest. But, the mouse does boast 500 hours of peak performance between battery changes (there were two, quality, brand name batteries included), so I assume it hits that 500 hour mark by going sleep as quickly as an octogenarian at the movies.
A Bluetooth mouse is nice primarily because it frees up a USB port without compromising performance. Overall, this is a nice mouse. The price point is a little steep, but if you want a gaming mouse that can handle heavy gameplay, here it is.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Achieve impressive sound from this JBL Link voice-activated speaker. Bluetooth technology ensures solid connectivity to your smartphone to play your favorite music, and the built-in Google Assistant provides hands-free operation on a variety of tasks. This JBL Link voice-activated speaker works with both iOS and Android devices for optimal convenience.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Outstanding, Rich Sounds!
on December 7, 2017
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
The setup for this JBL - Link 300 speaker was easy to navigate. I downloaded the Google Home app, followed the simple process, and I was up and running in a minute or two.
I was looking down at my phone, finalizing some setup details, and asked the device to play music from my music streaming service. The music came on immediately while I was still looking at my phone. When I heard the richness and quality of the music coming from that speaker, it instantly demanded my full attention. I stared at the thing for a full minute. I just could not believe how rich the sound was.
I use both the Android and iOS versions of the app. I noticed when I'm playing music from my streaming service, and I hit the home button on my iOS device, the music stops streaming. It gets annoying when I hear a streaming song I like, and press the home button on my device to see what the song is, and the internet music stops playing. Grrrr! That isn't the case when I'm playing the songs contained on my Mp3 device.
I began putting the speaker through its paces by playing a variety of music. The first track I played was a popular song with a bass boosted version. Usually I start at the high end when I test speakers, but I HAD to see how this speaker handled deep, booming bass. The bass was impressive! Booming bass was resonating off every wall in the room; I feared for my windows! However, as good as the bass was, I did hear some distortion, but not bad enough to affect my opinion of the speaker, or the rating I gave. The music quality superseded its minor flaws. It excelled at midtones, but less so with the highs. When I played jazz, the lowtones in the music definitely competed with the saxophone and the piano. That's fine for most music, not so much for jazz and classical.
Having said all that, I STILL gave this bad boy five stars. I just fell in love with the quality of music emanating from a stand alone speaker. I own other speakers that are expensive and from big name manufacturers, but this JBL - LINK 300 is the speaker I kick it with the most.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Simplify tasks with this 15.6-inch HP ENVY convertible laptop. Its Full HD touch screen lets you navigate the intuitive Windows 10 interface, and its Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM ensure demanding programs run smoothly. This HP ENVY convertible laptop has a 1TB hard drive for storing photos, videos and documents.Learn more.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
This Thing is a Beast!
on December 1, 2017
Posted by: DonMc
from Rochester, NY
When I saw the specs on this laptop, I thought the price point was a misprint. Considering everything this laptop has under the hood, I expected a higher price tag. I am not a gamer, so I can't speak to the quality of the video card as it relates to its ability to handle the rigors of intense, fast paced graphics. However, I do process a lot of video, and I was extremely impressed at the speed in which this laptop was able to process my edited videos. My former laptop did a decent job processing my work, but this this laptop shines with regard to the speed in which it completes its tasks.
RAM is a vital component when compiling videos, and the very generous 16gb really makes a significant difference. The full terabyte hard drive allows me to store several large projects on the laptop without having to use any external storage devices until my projects are complete.
Obviously all new computers are crazy fast because you haven't installed all of your software on it to slow down the boot or processing speeds, but from what I've seen so far, all the components work in concert to make this the fastest, most complete laptop I've ever owned. I'll admit that I am a little wary of the new 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8550 processor, as I recall, there were some problem with the earlier iterations of the i7 7th Gen processors. But, so far, no issues.
I recommend this laptop based on its processing power and features. It has a very solid build and a nice keyboard. I continue to be impressed at how far the sound quality has evolved with laptop speakers; gone are the tinny sounds of yesteryear, this machine has incredible sound quality (although it still doesn't handle deep bass, but that's a small matter).
I can't imagine getting more bang for your buck with this laptop.
My Best Buy number: 0054184329
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
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