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Hikergal
Hikergal's stats
- Review count46
- Helpfulness votes236
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewNovember 29, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.2
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- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
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- Answer count4
- Helpfulness votes5
- First answerAugust 13, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 23, 2017
- Featured answers0
- Best answers0
Brew delicious coffee your way with this single-serve Ninja Coffee Bar system. It uses any ground coffee while bringing out the best flavor with advanced thermal flavor extraction technology. This versatile Ninja Coffee Bar system has a built-in frother that lets you brew, froth and drink out of one mug.
Customer Rating
4
Say "goodbye" to the little pods
on September 17, 2016
Posted by: Hikergal
For all of us who don't like those wasteful, expensive, environmental-unfriendly, variety-limiting single-serving pods, the Ninja Coffee Bar - Single Serve offers a welcome alternative. Let me confess at the outset that I do not drink coffee – I've never had a cup. What I do drink is tea, and, although I am not an expert who adheres to precise brewing times and temperatures, I am picky enough to want to use loose tea, which is different from the tea that comes in tea bags. I also like being able to take a quick break to make a single serving of tea without going through all the usual steps of brewing it. This Ninja brewer has given me what I want.
If you read Ninja’s own description of this product and substitute “tea” everywhere it says “coffee,” that’s pretty much what I have found. I can use any variety of tea, including herbal teas, and vary the amount of leaves I use. The Ninja’s different settings vary the steeping time and water temperature, so I can choose among them depending upon the type of tea I am using and whether I will be adding cream, lemon, or anything else. And, of course, an Over Ice Brew is just as useful for tea as it is for coffee.
The Ninja states on its buttons how many ounces of coffee to expect at each setting. However, tea leaves don’t absorb the same amount of water as coffee grounds, so I began by brewing at each setting into a Pyrex measuring glass. Glad I did. The Café Forte setting states “8 oz.”, but for me it was 11 ounces and would have overflowed my regular cup. I am continuing to experiment with amounts and types of tea and the various settings, but so far I have not had a bad cuppa.
One caveat: If you ever use the Ninja for coffee, you can’t go back to using it for tea unless you enjoy coffee-flavored tea or want to go through an intense cleaning process. (This is not peculiar to the Ninja, but applies to pretty much every other brewer on the market.)
If you read Ninja’s own description of this product and substitute “tea” everywhere it says “coffee,” that’s pretty much what I have found. I can use any variety of tea, including herbal teas, and vary the amount of leaves I use. The Ninja’s different settings vary the steeping time and water temperature, so I can choose among them depending upon the type of tea I am using and whether I will be adding cream, lemon, or anything else. And, of course, an Over Ice Brew is just as useful for tea as it is for coffee.
The Ninja states on its buttons how many ounces of coffee to expect at each setting. However, tea leaves don’t absorb the same amount of water as coffee grounds, so I began by brewing at each setting into a Pyrex measuring glass. Glad I did. The Café Forte setting states “8 oz.”, but for me it was 11 ounces and would have overflowed my regular cup. I am continuing to experiment with amounts and types of tea and the various settings, but so far I have not had a bad cuppa.
One caveat: If you ever use the Ninja for coffee, you can’t go back to using it for tea unless you enjoy coffee-flavored tea or want to go through an intense cleaning process. (This is not peculiar to the Ninja, but applies to pretty much every other brewer on the market.)
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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.
Customer Rating
5
Very good mouse
on August 13, 2016
Posted by: Hikergal
from Charlotte, NC
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought this to go with a new laptop computer, so I wanted a mouse that was small enough for portability, but large enough for comfort. I also like the Plug-and-Forget ease of setup and not having a cord to contend with. This mouse fits my needs and is working perfectly. I wanted a silver/grey mouse to coordinate with my laptop, but this model also comes in some jazzy colors.
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect favorite peripherals to this Acer Aspire laptop. Four USB ports let you connect accessories, transfer files or charge a cellphone while you work, and HDMI outputs make dual-screen functionality possible. Access nearby wireless networks with this Acer Aspire laptop and stream videos or upload your own images captured with the built-in HD webcam.
Posted by: Hikergal
The Acer Aspire R15 2-in-1 15.6 Touch-Screen Laptop provides very good value.
PROS:
• The Aspire R15 has a thin, attractive, sturdy, brushed aluminum case, and this old lady finds it light enough for comfort.
• The hinge operates smoothly to convert the device from a desktop to a display screen to a tablet. The device detects these changes and asks whether you want to be in desktop or tablet mode. I
• The device has a full HD-size screen in desktop orientation, which means it is proportionally taller/wider than the standard tablet. The display is excellent and as easy on my eyes as my far more expense iOS devices (important for me, because I work on a computer 12+ hours a day).
• I am looking forward to using the Aspire R15 for presentations to clients. I will be able to put it in a display mode that gives clients a good view, then quickly convert to treating it as a computer for making notes and changes.
• The keyboard is excellent. It is backlit, well-sized and well-appointed, and it has just the right amount of “touch” to make typing easy. The keyboard is functional in “tablet” mode, but there also is a nice pop-up keyboard for when you need it. As noted above, being in tablet mode allows the physical keyboard to ignore the random input that results from being against your knees when it becomes the back of the tablet.
• The Aspire R15 puts most of the functionality of a desktop into a touch screen tablet form. That means I can move things around on the screen and otherwise enjoy the intuitive functionality of a tablet with the added oomph of a desktop. I can’t count the times I have wished I could touch my desktop computer, and the Aspire R15 lets me do it!
• Set up was easy and reasonably fast. It quickly detected my Wi-Fi. There was some pre-installed bloatware, but it was easy enough to uninstall. I have been using iOS devices the past 2 years, but I found it easy to get myself back into PC mode. I especially like that I again have access to some PC-only programs, such as Microsoft Publisher (something that pleases my clients, too).
• I really like having 3 USB ports and an HDMI port. My iOS tablet has none of these, and they make the Aspire R15 more flexible.
• It’s wonderful to be able to multi-task far beyond what’s possible on your average tablet.
• No noticeable heat! I can keep the Aspire R15 on my lap without noticing any heat. That’s similar to my iOS tablet, but unlike other laptops I’ve used.
NON-CON: I have lived without a DVD writer/player for my computers for several years and have never once wished I had one. Software no longer comes that way, and in the rare instances I need to carry data, I use a USB flash drive.
CONS:
• During the first few hours of use, the Aspire R15 shut down several times for no apparent reason (i.e., I was not activating or downloading anything). This hasn’t happened since then and might be a non-issue going forward.
• I find the touch screen very “touchy,” even though I have countless hours of experience with tablets. I keep opening things when all I wanted to do was scroll. It has been like driving a new car whose brakes are far more responsive than those on your old car, and I hope I get adjusted to it in the same way.
• With its mechanical hard drive, this device makes some noise. It is not loud, just a quiet static hum. However, when the device is in folded-back tablet mode, the sound is noticeable. I am guessing that I’ll stop hearing it after a while.
• I use Pinterest in my work, and I cannot find any navigation buttons when using the Pinterest app on this device. When viewing the Pinterest website on my iOS desktop, these buttons are along the top of the display, and using the Pinterest app on my iOS tablet they are along the bottom. So, far, I can’t find any way to do anything on Pinterest on this device except look at my news feed.
• It appears that some of the apps I want are not available for the Aspire R15. For example, I haven’t found apps for the e-reader apps KOBO or NOOK. I hope I either find them or someone creates them.
OVERALL: The Acer Aspire R15 2-in-1 15.6 Touch-Screen Laptop provides most of the ease of use and productivity as a much higher priced device. I am still discovering all that it can do, but I already can see that it is going to be a very useful addition to my work.
PROS:
• The Aspire R15 has a thin, attractive, sturdy, brushed aluminum case, and this old lady finds it light enough for comfort.
• The hinge operates smoothly to convert the device from a desktop to a display screen to a tablet. The device detects these changes and asks whether you want to be in desktop or tablet mode. I
• The device has a full HD-size screen in desktop orientation, which means it is proportionally taller/wider than the standard tablet. The display is excellent and as easy on my eyes as my far more expense iOS devices (important for me, because I work on a computer 12+ hours a day).
• I am looking forward to using the Aspire R15 for presentations to clients. I will be able to put it in a display mode that gives clients a good view, then quickly convert to treating it as a computer for making notes and changes.
• The keyboard is excellent. It is backlit, well-sized and well-appointed, and it has just the right amount of “touch” to make typing easy. The keyboard is functional in “tablet” mode, but there also is a nice pop-up keyboard for when you need it. As noted above, being in tablet mode allows the physical keyboard to ignore the random input that results from being against your knees when it becomes the back of the tablet.
• The Aspire R15 puts most of the functionality of a desktop into a touch screen tablet form. That means I can move things around on the screen and otherwise enjoy the intuitive functionality of a tablet with the added oomph of a desktop. I can’t count the times I have wished I could touch my desktop computer, and the Aspire R15 lets me do it!
• Set up was easy and reasonably fast. It quickly detected my Wi-Fi. There was some pre-installed bloatware, but it was easy enough to uninstall. I have been using iOS devices the past 2 years, but I found it easy to get myself back into PC mode. I especially like that I again have access to some PC-only programs, such as Microsoft Publisher (something that pleases my clients, too).
• I really like having 3 USB ports and an HDMI port. My iOS tablet has none of these, and they make the Aspire R15 more flexible.
• It’s wonderful to be able to multi-task far beyond what’s possible on your average tablet.
• No noticeable heat! I can keep the Aspire R15 on my lap without noticing any heat. That’s similar to my iOS tablet, but unlike other laptops I’ve used.
NON-CON: I have lived without a DVD writer/player for my computers for several years and have never once wished I had one. Software no longer comes that way, and in the rare instances I need to carry data, I use a USB flash drive.
CONS:
• During the first few hours of use, the Aspire R15 shut down several times for no apparent reason (i.e., I was not activating or downloading anything). This hasn’t happened since then and might be a non-issue going forward.
• I find the touch screen very “touchy,” even though I have countless hours of experience with tablets. I keep opening things when all I wanted to do was scroll. It has been like driving a new car whose brakes are far more responsive than those on your old car, and I hope I get adjusted to it in the same way.
• With its mechanical hard drive, this device makes some noise. It is not loud, just a quiet static hum. However, when the device is in folded-back tablet mode, the sound is noticeable. I am guessing that I’ll stop hearing it after a while.
• I use Pinterest in my work, and I cannot find any navigation buttons when using the Pinterest app on this device. When viewing the Pinterest website on my iOS desktop, these buttons are along the top of the display, and using the Pinterest app on my iOS tablet they are along the bottom. So, far, I can’t find any way to do anything on Pinterest on this device except look at my news feed.
• It appears that some of the apps I want are not available for the Aspire R15. For example, I haven’t found apps for the e-reader apps KOBO or NOOK. I hope I either find them or someone creates them.
OVERALL: The Acer Aspire R15 2-in-1 15.6 Touch-Screen Laptop provides most of the ease of use and productivity as a much higher priced device. I am still discovering all that it can do, but I already can see that it is going to be a very useful addition to my work.
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
Customer Rating
3
Good tablet for child or light use
on May 21, 2016
Posted by: Hikergal
Overall, the Iconia One 8 is a nice looking, basic tablet that is priced accordingly. It looks much like its pricier competition, and although it does not have the same control buttons, its buttons are placed in the same locations as its pricier competition, making it easy for someone accustomed to that brand to begin using it right out of the box.
Although there is no manual included (manual is download, only), I found setup easy. Downloading apps is straightforward, although I would appreciate having a progress indicator. The charger has a very short cord and a "one way" device plug. That means I have to put the device close to an outlet, then put on my glasses to insert the plug into the device. There is a battery icon that gives a very rough indication of battery status, but a percentage indicator would be nice.
The display is fine - not as sharp as a high end tablet, but good for the price and quite serviceable. I've found it satisfactory for browsing the Internet and checking the weather radar. The on-screen keyboard is a good size, larger than I expected and easy to use.
It is an Android device, so I can use it with our new Sony 4K TV and probably with several other brands, as well. That means we have easily streamed live content (after installing the appropriate apps) and gotten a good picture and sound quality.
I like to read in bed and was hoping to use the Iconia One 8 for that - it's a nice size and weight - but I cannot get the display to be dim enough to prevent keeping my husband awake, even after adjusting the brightness level of the device and of the reading apps I use (Kobo and Nook), so I have gone back to using its pricier competitor. Of course, this might not be a problem for another user.
This would probably be a good choice for a child or for someone who wants to do some of the things one might do with a smartphone, but with the advantage of a larger screen.
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
The BISSELL® Perfect Sweep TURBO® Cordless Hard Floor and Carpet Sweeper is a quick and easy option when it comes to picking up daily dirt and unexpected messes between routine vacuum cleaning. Did the dog leave a trail of hair on the rug, or maybe the cat spilled her dry food in the kitchen? No matter the dry mess, the Perfect Sweep TURBO® can handle it. It’s small and lightweight, making it a good compliment to your regular cordless stick vacuum, plus the powerful battery provides up to 60 minutes of cordless cleaning. Did we mention it works on area rugs, carpet and hard floors? That means it doubles as a carpet vac and a hard floor vac. Plus, when you’re done cleaning, dumping the debris in the trash is quick and easy with the easy-to-empty dirt bin.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Charlotte, NC
Gender:Female
Age:55-64
Verified Purchase:Yes
This is an electric sweeper--not a vacuum--so it is unrealistic to expect it to perform like a vacuum. I bought it to maintain my tile kitchen floor and hardwood hallways in between more thorough cleanings. For this, it gets the job done. We have an active household, with dogs and humans tracking things in throughout the day. It is nice to be able to bring out this lightweight, maneuverable sweeper and do a quick once-over. It has no trouble picking up dust, grit, animal hair, leaves, and grass, even the occasional pebble. It holds a charge for about a week of this, then easily recharges. I empty the sweepings after each use, and that's a simple, fast chore. It does not get dirt from down inside my entryway Waterhog rug mat--which has deep crevices--but, as I said, this is a sweeper, not a vacuum. It does clean the surface of the Waterhog mat, as well as everything else I use it for, and I am very glad I bought it.
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
What's great about it: Good price, easy to use, easy handling
I would recommend this to a friend!
Quality
4
Features
4
Performance
4
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17of 17voted this as helpful.
Seagate Backup Plus, easy backup for your digital life on your computer and the cloud The Seagate® Backup Plus desktop drive simplifies backup for consumers who want to protect their entire digital life locally, in the cloud or from social networks. Via the Seagate Dashboard, use the Protect function to set up a one-click plan or customize your scheduled local backup. Keep multiple copies of your files in case disaster strikes. With the Save feature, user-generated content can be backed up from your favorite social networks. Many people now use their smartphones to capture priceless moments. While these devices are handy and readily available, storage is not their strong suit. Capture a memory, post it on a social networking site and let the Seagate Dashboard automatically back up any content posted. Even if the file gets accidentally deleted from the device, another copy can be waiting.
Posted by: Hikergal
from Charlotte, NC
Compatible with...:PC
Verified Purchase:Yes
You plug it in, then follow the setup prompts, and backup is effortless thereafter. I have it set up for continuous backup, and it does that instantly with no discernible loss of speed or function on my computer. I do some complicated digital graphics work, and I get peace of mind knowing that, at any moment, my work is being saved.
My Best Buy number: 2702011452
What's great about it: It truly is plug and play.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Performance
5
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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