Share Hikergal's profile
Hikergal
Hikergal's stats
- Review count46
- Helpfulness votes236
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewNovember 29, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.2
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 count4
- Helpfulness votes5
- First answerAugust 13, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 23, 2017
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
Play games, work and browse with this Logitech wireless mouse. A 1000 dpi sensor resolution offers you precise control, and Logitech Smooth Optical Tracking delivers strong performance over a variety of surfaces. This Logitech wireless mouse offers a wireless ranger over 30 feet to let you browse and scroll from a distance.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
I really like Logitech's Design Collection Wireless Mouse with Nano Receiver. I am a graphics designer, and all day long I go back and forth between a Mac and a PC. I had never had a mouse for the PC that worked as smoothly and effortlessly as the mouse for the Mac. That meant that every time I went from the Mac to the PC, it took a little while to adapt to the difference and remember to make the appropriate adjustments in my mouse handling. Sounds picky, but when it’s something you do over and over again, that small annoyance begins to grate. So what does this mean for those of you who use only a PC? It means that this Logitech mouse is comfortable and very responsive. I need to make subtle, sensitive movements with the mouse while working on graphics, and this mouse performs smoothly and just as I need it to.
Setup was about as simple as possible: I just plugged the dongle into my PC, and it was done. Logitech promises a long battery life, which I can’t test yet, but I hope it’s true. This is now my everyday mouse for my PC. The only change I can envision making is if I want to switch from the Teal Maze look to something different.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
The award-winning CrazyCap® self-cleaning bottle ensures water is safe to drink in as little as 60 seconds with its deep UV LED purification technology. The CrazyCap 2 has been Tested and Certified by NSF International against NSF/ANSI 55 for Disinfection Performance, Class B when used in Crazy Mode. This makes consuming water safe and potable from anywhere in the world!
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
I am an avid hiker and distance walker who also has a medical condition that requires me to have water with me at all times. That same medical condition has damaged my taste buds, so that most everything tastes bitter to me, including water. I found one store-bought brand of water that I could tolerate, but I was unhappy with the cost and the wastefulness of discarding so many plastic bottles. Enter the CrazyCap (Gen 2) bottle – and problem solved!
I have not tested this bottle with water from a stream or lake, and I don’t have a way to determine that it does, in fact, kill any viruses or bacteria that are lurking in our tap water. However, I can say that the tap water I have zapped in this bottle no longer tastes bitter to me. In addition, I no longer worry that my water bottle, itself, might harbor microorganisms and endanger my health. So long as I keep the rim of the bottle clean, the UV light takes care of everything else.
The bottle is lightweight and does a decent job of keeping my water cool. There is an O-ring on the cap that helps ensure a drip-proof seal, and the package included two replacement O-rings, which I doubt I will ever need. The 17-ounce quantity is just right for me; anything larger would mean more weight than I want to carry around all day. I charged the cap before using it the first time, and after over a week of ongoing use it is still going strong. I’ll probably start charging it once a week, but it’s good to know that it can go beyond that if necessary.
Bottom line: the CrazyCap Bottle is giving me a ready supply of clean, good-tasting water without any of the guilt and wastefulness that go along with using store-bought.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Shark VACMOP Pro cordless hard floor system uses an innovative all-in-one disposable pad to vacuum and lock away debris other pads push around, and to spray mop tough messes. Pick up dry debris, then spray mop, and toss the pad with one click–never touch a dirty pad again! Features LED headlights, charger, 2 disposable pads, and a 12-oz. bottle of Shark VACMOP Multi-Surface Cleaner.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
The Shark- VacMop VM252 Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum is a decent tool for minor messes and quick touch up work, but I would not use it for anything more than that. The suction for the vacuum is sufficient, but the only place this device has to store the dust and whatever else it picks up is the pad. So, as soon as the pad is full, you must either try to clean off the pad or insert a new one. In addition, you cannot switch the device “on” but must hold down the on button to operate the vacuum function. I found that it doesn’t take very long for that to get uncomfortable, particularly for someone who has even mild arthritis. So, I will keep the VacMop around for quick spills or to tidy up a single room just before company arrives, but I won’t depend upon it for much else.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+9points
10of 11voted this as helpful.
With BPM Connect, taking your blood pressure at home has never been so convenient. The device provides medically accurate blood pressure and heart rate measurements with immediate color-coded feedback on the device. BPM Connect synchronizes seamlessly via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to the free Health Mate app, where you can see all your data history and share it with your doctor.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
I am so glad that I got the Withings BPM Connect Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor. The first thing a BP monitor needs to be is accurate, but part of being accurate is being easy to use. Of course, a BP monitor has to be well constructed and contain high quality technology. However, if you can’t get a BP monitor properly placed or it frustrates you as you’re trying to use it, your readings will be off. Everything about the Withings BPM Connect is conducive to easy, calm usage, and based upon comparisons with my previous BP monitor and the readings in my physician’s office, its readings are accurate.
The ease begins with the setup. The instructions in the packaging gave me the website address for the Health Mate app and instructions, and from there it was just a few minutes of downloading and button pushing – very intuitive and user friendly. The BPM Connect device, itself, is also very user friendly. I simply slip it onto my arm – the only thing to remember is to have the “on” button closest to my hand, not my shoulder – and snug up the band. Then I push the “on” button and wait the few seconds it takes for a reading. The reading is immediately displayed on the device, then it is accessible via the Health Mate app. The BPM Connect device also is compact, making it easy to keep in my bedside table or pack for travel.
Perhaps the best thing is the Health Mate app. I have an iPhone and 2 iPads. I have installed some other brands of health monitor apps, but none of those apps provides cross-device syncing. For example, if I enter a blood glucose reading on one device, it does not display on the others. Sounds like a small thing, but it ruins the very convenience and portability I want from this Bluetooth and Wi-Fi world. The Health Mate app solves this problem. It syncs data with the BPM Connect device via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so I can track my data history on any of my Apple devices. In addition, my physicians can download the data for their records. This works not only for the BPM Connect, but also for Withings’ other types of monitors, making it easy to track several aspects of one's health in one place. I have attached some photos from Withings’ website that shows typical readouts for someone using several types of Withings monitors.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+10points
11of 12voted this as helpful.
Enjoy quality network programming with this Terk ultra-thin HDTV antenna. Two-sided mounting tape makes wall and window installation possible, while a slim profile takes up very little space once installed. Multidirectional reception design makes adjustments unnecessary, while white and black sides allow this Terk ultra-thin HDTV antenna to fit into various decors.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
We do have cable at our house, but we wanted to add a TV to a guest bedroom without paying for an additional cable outlet. The Terk antenna has let us accomplish that. We live about equidistant from several broadcast towers, and this TV is on the second floor of our house, and it was easy to use the Terk signal finder app to select the best place to position the antenna. The drawback we have experienced is the short cords that restrict the distance the antenna can be from the TV and the power outlet. We did have some options about where to place the TV, but it would be nice not to be so restricted in our placement choices. Otherwise, the Terk antenna is doing what need it to do: provide TV access for our guest bedroom.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Turn living rooms into home theaters with this 50-inch VIZIO M-Series smart TV. A built-in Chromecast provides access to popular streaming services, and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity minimizes buffering and maximizes resolution when streaming high-definition content. This VIZIO M-Series smart TV brings out the detail in shows and movies with native 4K resolution and HDR support.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
I am not yet ready to “cut the cord” to my cable TV service, but I’m getting there. I acquired this VIZIO TV to help with that process. We have several TVs around the house, so going cable-less means having several TVs with that capability. The VIZIO is TV #2 in that lineup.
The picture quality on the VIZIO is excellent, and there are several shortcut ways to adjust it, along with a way to do custom adjustments. I have it wall-mounted on a white wall that isn’t very far from a window, so it receives a fair amount of ambient light during the day. There are preset picture settings that adjust for this ambient light that, for me, still look good at night. Things do wash out quite a bit when the TV is viewed from the side, but I have to be way to the side for that to happen. Otherwise, I see all of the movement, detail, color (including true black), and brilliance I could want.
The Wi-Fi reception has been flawless, allowing me to enjoy all of the streaming services with no jitter or lag. Mirroring also works well, helping me get closer to the days of living without cable TV.
One drawback I find to this TV is the supplied remote. This remote is almost as big as the one supplied by my cable company, but the buttons are much smaller, faintly labeled, and not backlit. There are some small raised dots on the main “up-down-left-right” buttons, but otherwise I have to turn on a light and put on my glasses to operate the remote (at least until I fully memorize their locations). In addition, I often have to click more than once to get the remote to function, even though I am using it in a direct line of sight from less than a dozen feet away. I have downloaded the VIZIO Smarcast app, but so far I have not gotten the TV to pair with any of my devices (a phone and 2 tablets) so that I can use them as the remote.
My problems with the remote are not a deal breaker for me and, overall, I am happy with my new VIZIO and hope that it lasts a good number of years.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+10points
10of 10voted this as helpful.
Step up to high-speed USB 3.0 speeds and transfer your videos, photos and files up to ten times faster than standard USB 2.0 drives. SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive takes the wait out of moving, sharing or backing up big files - now you can transfer a full length movie from your laptop to your flash drive in less than a minute. Password protection lets you keep your private files private, while still allowing you to share generously with family and friends. And with a sleek, sturdy SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive in your pocket, you won’t need an internet connection to access those photos and videos anyplace and anytime you want. For more than 25 years, SanDisk has been known for quality and reliability all around the world.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
There are several options out there for cloud storage and several brands of serviceable USB drives. However, the SanDisk Ultra 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive with Flashback combines those two functions, providing ease and flexibility.
I am a graphic designer, and I do the main part of my work on an iMac. However, some of my clients use Publisher and need me to provide things in that format. Publisher is not available for an iMac, so my office includes a PC. I have been using cloud storage to work between the two systems, which works just fine, but sometimes I want cloud storage as well as something physical that I can take with me to a client meeting or to a printer or other vendor where I either can’t or don’t want to log onto the internet and access my cloud storage. The SanDisk Ultra with Flashback fulfills that need.
Like other cloud backup services, Flashback enables me to share large files via a link, thus avoiding email size limitations or security blocks. Plus, if I make any changes to a file while I am away from my office and offline, as soon as I return and plug the drive into my office computer, those changes are automatically synched with the cloud. Very convenient.
I haven’t done any speed tests on the SanDisk Ultra 256GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive with Flashback other than simply using it. That “test” has resulted in upload and download times that are fast enough for me not to notice them.
The first year of cloud storage is free (no credit card required), although there will be a charge thereafter. That charge currently is $9.99/year for the 256 GB drive, less for a smaller capacity drive. According to my research, this is much less expensive than most (if not all) other cloud storage plans (whose free option is usually for a very small amount of data)
Bottom line: If you want portability combined with the peace of mind and flexibility that come with inexpensive, automatic cloud storage, the SanDisk Ultra Flash Drive with Flashback is a good solution.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Load up your phone's battery quickly with this Belkin BOOST UP 5W wireless charging pad. The compact design allows for easy portability, making it simple to bring this charger on trips, to work or other various places. This Belkin BOOST UP 5W wireless charging pad is convenient to use and comes in black for a sleek appearance.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
I had not used a wireless charger before this one. However, the charging port on one of my Apple devices has become unreliable – presumably through lots of use – and I didn’t want to develop the same problem with my iPhone 8. I work from home, and on days I needed to be on the iPhone a lot, I kept the charging cord attached. Now, I just put my iPhone down on the Belkin charging pad between calls, and I don’t have to bother with a cord.
The Belkin charger came with a 4-foot cord, an AC adapter, and the pad itself. Within less than a minute, I had it ready for use. I can’t comment on its charging speed other than to say it has kept my iPhone working throughout my work day and into the evening. The pad has a barely noticeable soft rubber ring on its top and more rubber on the underside, and these help prevent the charger and the phone from slipping around. My iPhone is in an OtterBox case, and that doesn’t seem to affect the charger’s performance.
I have two suggestions for improving this device: (1) a longer cord and (2) for the indicator light to change colors when charging is complete (it is a solid white during charging and remains solid white afterwards). Otherwise, I have found this to be a useful, functional product.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Take this pocket-sized DarioHealth LC WK kit on the go easily. Made to automatically record blood glucose measurements, this kit makes it simple to track important metrics for diabetes, such as carb counting, medication intake and physical activity. This DarioHealth LC WK kit only requires a tiny drop of blood and offers accurate, speedy measurements.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
I have been using a glucose meter multiple times a day since 1990, so I am not new at this. Over the years, I have used several different meters, had those meters calibrated periodically at my physician’s office, and learned how to get accurate readings — and I have become adept at switching out lancets and test strips. Over those years, I also have needed to keep my own log to document my glucose readings, food intake, activities, and other important parameters. Back when I got my first meter, I had to do that with paper and pen. Now, however, “there’s an app for that.” The app I use is free, tracks the same information as the Dario app, syncs across my various devices, and works well. Nonetheless, I thought it would be nice to have a glucose meter that could input its readings directly into its own app. So, I agreed to test the Dario system.
As it turns out, the only positive thing I can report about the Dario is that it’s small. I’ll be more explicit:
Accuracy—Dangerously inaccurate. The first job of a glucose meter is to accurately report a person’s blood glucose level. The Dario doesn’t do that, and that makes it dangerous. While testing the Dario, I have continued testing with my previous testing device, which is only a couple of months old and in that time has been calibrated twice at my physician’s office. The Dario and my other device rarely give me the same reading. A difference of a few points is to be expected; a difference of 30 or more points is not. A few days ago I sensed that my blood sugar level was really low, but also wondered if I was just getting an odd sensation from a new medication. My dog gave his alert that my blood sugar was too low, and the reading on my regular glucose meter agreed. The Dario reading said that my blood glucose was well within the normal range. Dangerous.
Lancets—Too fragile and poorly situated. All of the 80,000+ lancets I have used since 1990 have been disposable and have had the same physical design: a plastic shaft holding a needle that is covered with a protective plastic disk. All are inserted into their devices the same way: push the plastic shaft into the device, then twist off the protective plastic disk to expose the needle. The Dario lancets look the same and are inserted into the Dario device the same way. The problem begins at removing the plastic disk. The lancet is so close to the adjustment wheel and the lancet is so fragile that I been unable to remove the plastic disk without bending the needle, usually to the point that it’s unusable. After a while, I gave up and went back to using my old lancet device.
Device—Sacrifices quality and functionality to achieve small size. As I said before, the only positive thing I can report about the Dario is that it’s small. However, while achieving a small size, the designers have sacrificed the device’s quality and functionality. For each use, I have to remove or open several parts, beginning with the testing unit, which resembles a small thumb drive and gets inserted into my iPhone. To remove the testing unit, you pull back an orange rectangle that is the same color and in the same position as an orange rectangle that’s on the opposite side of the device—confusing. That second orange rectangle pops the spring on the lancet. For each use, you must remove the cap on the lancet unit to insert a new lancet, and, because everything is combined in a single unit, you need to be sure to replace that cap before doing anything else to protect yourself from an exposed lancet. Next, you remove a testing strip from the holder. That means removing an outer cap from the device, then using your thumb to open the popup lid on the test strip container. That popup lid is very hard to open, and the container itself is so small that even with my small fingers I can’t reach inside it and remove a single test strip. Instead, I have to dump several out into my hand, thus immediately contaminating those strips and contaminating the entire container of strips if I were to put them back into the container. Like many other testing units on the market, the Dario needs only a small drop of blood for testing, but—as noted above—the resulting glucose reading is undependable. That makes any record I make using the Dario app worthless.
Costs—Too high for me. My insurance company—a large, very popular one—does not cover the Dario test strips. Dario offers a subscription service that it says will provide unlimited test strips for $25 a month or $300 yearly. Under my insurance coverage, I get 100 test strips per month for $2, or $24 annually, for my very accurate and easy to use meter. I would have to use over 1,200 test strips a month (>40 a day) before the Dario test strips would be equal in cost to those for my current glucose meter.
Customer Service—Nonexistent. The day I received my Dario system, I downloaded the app and got myself registered. I soon received an email welcoming me and inviting me to click on the Customer Service link if I had any questions. So, I did click on that link and submitted an email to Customer Service that posed a couple of straightforward questions. Crickets. It has now been a couple of weeks, and I have not received a reply.
Nuisance ads—Obnoxious. Although Customer Service has never responded to my email, registering myself with Dario has resulted in a barrage of ads, offers, etc. The most puzzling ad that I get – often 2 and 3 times a day – asks me to purchase the Dario system. I would think that downloading the Dario app and registering as a user would let them know that I already own one.
Conclusion—Useless, dangerously inaccurate device. If I could give it zero stars, I would. I will continue to use my current blood glucose meter and lancing device and the free app I have for keeping a full-featured log that is accessible to me and to my physician.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Keep gadgets powered and your vehicle in check with this dual-port ROAV SmartCharge Spectrum car charger. Its built-in car locator and engine battery monitor functions relay important vehicle information on the ROAV app, and the 30W Quick Charge 3.0 and PowerIQ 2.0 USB ports provide efficient performance. Personalize this ROAV SmartCharge Spectrum car charger via its LED lighting.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Williamsburg, VA, USA
All I wanted was a car charger that had 2 ports, so that my spouse and I could both have a port to use when we are in the car together. The SmartCharge 2-Port USB Vehicle Charger has definitely filled that need, with a very speedy, quite dependable charger that provides juice to 2 devices at once without sacrificing the power going to either one. I didn’t think I would care about this charger’s other features—until I tried them.
As the “Get Started” instructions in the Owner’s Manual (included in the box) state, to begin using the special features, you just download the Roav app appropriate for your mobile device. That app then provides easy-to-follow instructions for connecting your device via Bluetooth. From there, you can set things up for locating your car, checking your car’s battery, changing the color of the charger’s LED ring, and setting a timer for a parking meter. Some folks might consider some of these features useless, but they might want to think again.
Changing the color of the LED ring — I have found that it can be helpful to have the charger emit the color I choose. Particularly after dark, some of us find some colors easier to detect than others and also find some colors more distracting than others.
The ability to set a timer for a parking meter — As someone who has had a car towed by the D.C police because it was not removed by rush hour (despite my best intentions), I really like this feature.
The vehicle location system — Some folks have found fault with the SmartCharge’s ability to locate their car when it is parked inside a parking deck. However, the locate function uses the signal provided by GPS. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, whose website reminds us that it is a “global public service brought to you by the U.S. Government” whose accuracy can be affected by such things as atmospheric conditions and signal blockage. If your SmartCharger does a good job of finding your car when it’s in a surface lot but not when it’s inside a parking deck, the problem probably arises from signal blockage.
Summary: the SmartCharge 2-Port USB Vehicle Charger is more than I thought I needed, but something I now am glad to have.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Hikergal's Review Comments
Hikergal has not submitted comments on any reviews.
Hikergal's Questions
Hikergal has not submitted any questions.
Hikergal's Answers
Complete your cleaning routine with this Shark IONFLEX vacuum. Its 2x ION power pack system includes two LiIon batteries to provide backup power and longer run time, and it bends to reach floors under low-lying furniture thanks to its MultiFLEX technology. Convert this Shark IONFLEX vacuum into a handheld vac to clean ceilings and small corners.
How do you clean the roller?
You can lift off the lid to the roller area to get access to the brush and soft rollers for cleaning them. You also can pull out the soft roller and clean it by just brushing it off or rinsing it in water (dry it thoroughly before reinserting it).
6 years, 7 months ago
by
Hikergal
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Will this product cover a 2000 sq. ft., one level house with only one (1) WiFi Name? The reason for this question is I'm currently using an extension to my router which has given the front of the house a different wifi name from the back of the house.
The Orbi router and its satellite's signal are transmitting throughout our 2,400 square foot house with only 1 Wi-Fi name.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
Hikergal
Logitech M310 Wireless Mouse is an easy-to-use, full-size mouse that feels just right. Feel comfortable for hours on end - in your right or left hand - thanks to its contoured, ambidextrous design with soft rubber side grips. M310 comes with a plug-and-forget nano USB receiver that is small enough to stay in your USB port so you won't lose it no matter where you take your laptop. Navigating on your PC or Macbook is simple, with smooth, responsive tracking and Logitech Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. For hassle-free use and extreme reliability and durability, choose M310 wireless mouse.
How do you get this to get to connect to your laptop?
This mouse comes with a small, separate USB item that plugs into a USB outlet on your laptop. It enables your laptop to communicate wirelessly with the mouse.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Hikergal
Logitech M310 Wireless Mouse is an easy-to-use, full-size mouse that feels just right. Feel comfortable for hours on end - in your right or left hand - thanks to its contoured, ambidextrous design with soft rubber side grips. M310 comes with a plug-and-forget nano USB receiver that is small enough to stay in your USB port so you won't lose it no matter where you take your laptop. Navigating on your PC or Macbook is simple, with smooth, responsive tracking and Logitech Advanced 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. For hassle-free use and extreme reliability and durability, choose M310 wireless mouse.
Most wireless computer mice show a tiny square piece that comes (usually displayed to the right) with the mouse. What is the name of this device? Can it be bought by itself? Will this piece work with any wireless mouse?
I don't know the technical name for this tiny square piece or if it is interchangeable among all wireless mice, but it is the USB item that plugs into the computer and communicates with the mouse.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Hikergal