RandallFlagg's stats
- Review count318
- Helpfulness votes398
- First reviewMarch 14, 2014
- Last reviewSeptember 28, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count45
- Helpfulness votes54
- First answerNovember 3, 2015
- Last answerNovember 11, 2021
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Brew coffee at your leisure with this Breville Vertuo Next Classic espresso machine. Centrifusion technology with spin rates of up to 7000 rpm ensure thorough coffee extraction, and the included 12 Vertuo coffee capsules introduce you to a variety of coffee flavors. This Breville Vertuo Next Classic espresso machine is Bluetooth-enabled for easy updates, installation and synchronizing with the Nespresso mobile app.
Customer Rating
4
Great machine, pods might get expensive
on September 1, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
So, my impression of the Breville/Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee/Espresso Machine. Well, it comes in a recyclable box that’s 95% recycled material, so that’s a good thing…right? The machine itself is made from 54% recycled plastic, again good for the planet. Lastly, they will send you a prepaid envelope/bag to return your used pods to them for recycling.
The box is rather neat, it folds open with the front face dropping down to expose the machine. Just take it out and tada, ready for the counter. I used hot water and dish soap to wash the water reservoir and then followed the direction, running the unit without a pod which took about 5 minutes and used about 2/3 of the water. I place a decent size pot under the spout to make sure the hot water didn’t overflow. Once that was done, the unit was ready to make coffee. My first dilemma, I’m not a caffeine coffee drinker, I do decaffeinated. The sample box of 12 only has one decaffeinated pod, so do I use it first and see what happens or use a caffeinated one and take a few sips. I chose the latter, saving the decaffeinated one for a time when I want to enjoy it. Making a cup is easy as can be. I have a couple of machines that use pods and like those, I just make sure there’s water in the reservoir and a pod in the chamber. Lock the lid and press the button. I chose an espresso and brewed a swig. By swig, I mean just that. It barely covered the bottom of the cup, but man it packed a punch. I had to add cream and stevia so I could enjoy a few sips. That first sip straight was powerful. That said, I’m sure coffee drinkers would love the swig. It was nice a foamy/frothy and if it were brewed in a proper glass, I’m sure it would look like it was bought at the corner café.
Next the pods…both good and bad. The good, well the one I tried taste great. They are available in 5 sizes from Espresso, Double Espresso, Gran Lungo, Coffee/mug/café, and Alto. Basically, glass sizes, shot, double shot, coffee cup, large coffee cup/mug, and one of those tall travel cups with a lid. The box states 40ml to 414ml. Oh wait, the email I received shows sizes in ounces for those of us that never learned the metric system! They are espresso shot and double shot, 5, 8, 14, and 18oz. What’s bad about the pods. Well, the machine is new, and you can’t find any locally. They have a mail order deal, but who wants that. Consumers are bombarded with monthly pay programs and no one I know wants another deal to be locked into. The question I have is the pods are barcoded. Does that mean they’re going to be like inkjet cartridges and no 3rd party pods are going to work and if someone does come out with one, are we the users going to have to trick the machine into recognizing it? If so and the cost of pods stays over a buck, I’m going to have a very heavy doorstop. Speaking of heavy or large. The unit is hefty and does take up a bit of real estate on my limited kitchen counter.
Finally, there is an app for Nespresso, but it’s for future upgrades so I registered and downloaded the app but was told in advance that it wasn’t ready for use because the unit is fully updated. I don’t hold that against them on the review. The Bluetooth feature isn’t ready, and they were upfront about that.
To sum it up, the unit performs excellently and does what I expect it to do. I’d like the ability to purchase a reusable pod that I could fill with decaf or a lower-priced option for decaf. I’d also like to see other decaf varieties. I know real coffee drinkers drink leaded, but I don’t enjoy buzzing around for hours on end. I just enjoy a hot beverage now and then. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys a shot of caffeine or a travel cup of joe when they head out to work. Just know that for the near future, choices of coffee blends are limited, and you have to use the service to purchase more pods.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Malwarebytes Premium protects against malware, including viruses, ransomware, and spyware, without slowing you down. It removes any existing infections and proactively prevents future ones. It also defends against phishing scams, fake or malicious websites, infected ads, credit card skimmers and credential stealers. Expand your protection to your other devices (computers, smartphones, or tablets).
Customer Rating
5
Did a great scan on the first try
on August 31, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
I currently use a couple of different premium services to protect my devices. I have an I5 pc that was running Windows Security because I ran out of subscriptions to send to that pc and I don't use it very often. It was my main PC a couple of years ago when I was finishing my BS degree. I don't want to erase it since it has a lot of my work on it from that period. So, what better than to install Malwarebytes Premium on it. I've run the online checker a few times and it did the job that Windows fails to do, but not like this. I downloaded and installed the software. Entering the license key was simple and worked as it should. The software did an update and was ready to go. I ran a scan and I figured it would find something because like I said, I used it for research and school. I visited many websites looking for information and some might not have been the most secure sites. What I didn't expect was it found 36 backdoors. They were all in my user roaming file and so with one click, I quarantined them. Windows Security never popped up one of those trojans/back doors so to say I'm happy with Malwarebytes is an understatement. I now have a clean backup machine and 2 unused device keys I can use since this is a 3 device subscription. I have a couple of laptops from the same period and don't remember if I'm running Windows Security or a competitor's suite. If I find I'm not satisfied with what they are running, you can bet I'll install Malwarebytes’s based on my experience with the I5 desktop. I'd recommend this to a friend if they are looking for peace of mind on a device.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Monitor your surroundings with this Night Owl 16-channel DVR security system. The four Full HD cameras feature L2 Color Boost technology to maintain footage clarity in low-light conditions, while the single sign-on two-step verification ensures secure access. This Night Owl 16-channel DVR security system features a 1TB HDD for ample storage.
Customer Rating
5
Nice system w/ plenty of channels to add more cams
on August 13, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
Opening the box: It contains the DVR (w/ 1tb hard drive), HDMI cable, (4) 1080p cameras w/ 60’ video/power cables, USB mouse, 6’ ethernet cable, (2) power adapters for DVR and cameras, mounting hardware and power splitters (4). The only needed accessories are a tv or monitor and a nic/ethernet port near your DVR.
First impression. I immediately plugged in the DVR. I have a 4k DVR system from another manufacturer and it makes way too much fan noise. I wanted to see if this 1080p Night Owl DVR did the same thing. I’m happy to write that so far, it is nice and quiet. I’ve since modified my 4k DVR and stopped the whirl fan noise. I’ll know what to do if this unit ever starts doing the same. For now, my number one concern isn’t a concern at all!
The rest of the install is straight forward. Choosing a camera location for 4 cameras and running or fishing the power/video cables through the attic. If you have a basement, that would be awesome, but my home is on a slab, so overhead it is. I’m writing this review in August, so yeah, not a great time to do attic work. I was able to fish most of the lines from the camera location to the attic assess door and then it’s just an arm’s reach to the hole above the DVR’s. Plugging the HDMI cable (supplied) to my 46” tv monitor I use for the other system, I’m able to use one of the empty HDMI ports and view the 4 cameras.
Next, I downloaded the app from the app store (android for me) and it was pretty much the same as installing my older system. Open the app, create an account, and then use an app to zap the QR code on the side of the DVR. From there you add equipment until you are finished and tada, a working security system. I love the fact that I can add plenty of additional cameras to the 16 channels (12 free as of now). I could just add the 1080p cameras to my 4k DVR, but it only has 8 channels and a 2tb hard drive. I feel it’s best to leave that system as is since 4k will fill that drive up rather quickly. The 1tb on this 1080p DVR should be enough for the 4 cameras installed and even a couple more should I find the need to add some.
I guess lastly is the quality of the video. I can see a difference between 4k and 1080p, but both are good enough in my opinion to record facial images and much of what’s going on around my home. I can see the mailbox across the street and down a house or two. I can see a few neighbor’s properties, so I’m pretty happy with the system and I’d have no reason not to recommend it to a friend or neighbor that wants to have some added security. Oh yeah, it comes with a large and small window warning decal if you choose to use them.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Hear all your games in high-quality sound with this JLab Play wireless gaming headset. With an increased mid to high frequency response and super-low 60 ms latency, this headset is able to deliver clear vocals and enhance spatial awareness without lag. JLab’s Play wireless gaming headset delivers over 22 hours of playtime and compatibility with PCs, consoles and mobile devices to handle every session.
Customer Rating
4
Great inexpensive headset
on July 29, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
So I was expecting a black/blue headset, but the one I received was black with grey console logos on the ear and head pads. It looks nice, so no complaint, just not what I expected.
Opening up the box I found the headset, a wired cable if I wish to use it that way, and a charging micro USB cable. The unit must have had a charge as it didn't take very long to get to full power. Using my Moto G7 Play's bluetooth, the JLab Play was one of the easiest units I've had to connect. It just worked, no issues. That said, the headset is a little small, better yet, my head is too big. I have it fully open and it barely covers my ears. They are fully covered, but it feels like the tops are squished. Another click and I think it would feel better, more even across the whole ear. The retractable mic is on a flexible cable and really short. It doesn't even reach the corner of my mouth (maybe this is made for a child???) but it's there and works as it should. I used the MicTest app from the play store to record my voice and even with the mic next to my cheek (fully extended) it had no issue recording what I said clearly. Nice!
I fired up Google Music and one of my MP3's on the phone and it sounds really good, especially for this price point. Side note: I just looked up the item to see it's MSRP and the one I received is a kid's unit. Maybe JLab's will see this review and send the correct one. Anyway, for a kid's unit it's pretty killer. The bass is there, not intense or so soft that you won't use them for music. Being a kid's unit must be why these have a high volume limiter (85db), if I remember correctly from reading the box or manual.
So, I recommend them for kids and even teens. I probably look weird being a old dude, but they work and that's better than some more expensive ones I have that lack any bass, have too high treble and are only good for gaming or normal voice listening. I'd say I'm happy with them and wish I had the opportunity to try the adult size ones I thought I was getting.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Safeguard your Apple iPhone 11 with this LifeProof WAKE phone case. The sturdy plastic construction offers durability and withstands drops of up to 6 feet, while the ultra-thin one-piece design ensures easy application and removal. This LifeProof WAKE phone case features a wave pattern that adds a touch of upscale style.
Customer Rating
3
The feel is too smooth for my taste
on July 14, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
Looking at the Lifeproof Wake case in the package looks like many other dropproof cases I've owned. I can see the serrated inside lip, which I’m guessing helps reduce shock to the phone if it’s dropped. I can also see that the left buttons aren’t molded with the case like the ones I’ve used, but they are red and stand out nicely. Pressing on them I can tell they will operate once the phone is inserted as they are fixed in place when the case is empty. Reading the box, I see that the case is made with recycled ocean plastic and that Lifeproof gives back with each purchase.
Taking the case out of the box, I’m a bit disappointed. The plastic is hard, but that’s okay. It’s the slippery feel to the case or is it the plastic? I flip the case and see the wave pattern is embossed and looks great, but again, it just feels like it wants to slide out of my hand. If it’s the plastic, Lifeproof should add a rougher texture to the sides and a bit on the back so it feels more secure in my grip. The low spaces (trough) on the back look textured, but at least to me, they don’t feel textured. The top of the waves (crest) appears smooth. I think if they put an aggressive texture on the crest, the sides, and the top and bottom, the case would suit me much better.
As for fit and function. It works great. It fits the phone. The camera opening, the mute opening, and the buttons all work. The mute buttonhole is small, so those with large fingers might need a pencil eraser or something to stick in there. That might be bothersome if you fit that category and need to mute your phone several times during the day. The lip on the front protrudes the phone face, but if you have a screen protector on it, they are about flush and that could cause an individual to replace a few protectors if they have butterfingers. Compared to my Android phone and case, the Lifeproof case would seem to benefit from a little taller lip so that if dropped and it lands flat, the protector might not make contact with the ground and break.
What else is there? Well, the bottom lip is open sans the rounded edges. That allows for easy access to the ports, yet there’s still some protection should it land on a corner first. It’s a one-piece unit, so it’s as easy to use and putting on one sock. Just slip in the left side first and pop in the right, top, and bottom. Tada!
Overall, it’s well constructed, but I wouldn’t recommend this case because for me it’s just too slippery. If a user is looking for a case with little to no grip (I’m not sure why) this would be an awesome case for that user. I like items I hold to have a gritty tactile feel.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Connect an extra display to your workstation with this black Belkin USB-C to VGA charge adapter. The plug-and-play design offers fast connection of devices, while the pass-through USB-C power delivery allows convenient charging. This 60W Belkin USB-C to VGA charge adapter supports Full HD resolution for quality videos and pictures.
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
So in the box is the adapter and an information leaflet. No, I didn't read it, lol. I did what everyone does, I plugged it into my Ryzen 7 desktop. I know the USB-c port on this PC is limited, so I wanted to see if I got the Windows warning. Yup, this adapter may be limited. So, I try in on my Surface Book 3. Yeah, I know the laptop doesn't support Thunderbolt 3 and I figure it won't work either, but no warning. I just booted up the laptop, so I remove the adapter and give it a chance to fully boot. I then plug the Belkin adapter back in the USB-c slot and again, no warning. Awesome. Let me go get the projector. I have a Epson EX7260 and I'm crammed in my office, so no space to shoot the screen. I make it really small, but in focus and shoot it on a white closet door. I attach a standard VGA cable from the Belkin adapter to the projector and tada, I have the desktop. I can see the cursor mirror the laptop on the closet door, so I go to YouTube and start watching music videos. It does exactly what I expected it to do, mirror the videos on the closet door in focus and nice and brilliant. The blacks are black and the whites are white as it should be! Not really anything else to say except that it was as simple to install as plugging it in. Getting the projector and finding a VGA cable took longer.
I'd recommend this to a friend and anyone that needs to use a projector for presentations. Just make sure your laptop USB-c can support the adapter. I think it's either yes or no. It either works or doesn't. In my case, the laptop did and the desktop didn't. Just to be sure, I reconnected it to the desktop and it searches for a computer, but it stays blue and says no signal found. Moving it back to the laptop and Windows chimes and the desktop signal works again.
Honestly, I can't think of an easier way to connect a projector to a PC. This adapter is definitely going in the projector bag along with the VGA cable, power cord and USB-A cable. It's a necessity now in my accessory arsenal.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Performance meets versatility. From intensive video and graphics files to high-octane gaming, the most powerful Surface laptop yet combines speed, graphics, and long battery life with the versatility of a laptop, tablet, and portable studio. Tackle your biggest demands with quadcore powered 10th Gen Intel Core processors, blazing NVIDIA graphics, and high-resolution PixelSense Display designed for Surface Pen* and touch.
Customer Rating
5
Just as good as my Ryzen 7 desktop
on July 9, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
“Reviewers in this invitation-only program are provided products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased reviews.” The model I’m reviewing is the 13.5” Intel 10th edition i7-1065G7 @130GHz w/ 32GB memory, and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 4GB w/ Max-Q Design.
Opening box: Opening the well-constructed box includes the Surface 3 laptop and the power cable. The charging cable includes a brick, but it’s very small when compared to other current laptops that I own or have looked at. It’s also magnetic, so it’s easy to connect, but also easy to pop off. I do like this option though because it’s not like the connection of old where it’s possible to snap the connector. I’ll gladly reconnect the cord rather than having to buy a replacement or fix the charging port down the road.
The brick is fairly light and measures 4 3/8” w x 2 1/8” h x 1 1/8” thick. That said, the laptop itself feels stout and heavy. Stated weight on Microsoft’s webpage is 2.79 lbs. If so, it’s a solid 2.79…not that I’m complaining. It feels well built, so I’m not afraid of using it as it should be used and not having to baby it. The casing is magnesium alloy or is it aluminum? I’ve read both and I’m not sure, but the color is platinum if that helps, lol.
Turning it on for the first time is exactly what I expected, except for the lack of bloatware (thank you Microsoft). After going through the initial setup and getting my Wi-Fi network connected, I expect to go to the Apps settings and start the tedious task of removing unwanted programs. But I only removed Office 365 setup because I already have an existing account. I may have removed an anti-virus program, but if I did, it was so quick that I don’t really remember. I immediately installed Bitdefender which I use on my desktop PC, Mac mini, and my Android phone. I had one install left, so I emailed myself a link and setup was uneventful. I also installed Bitdefender’s VPN which I also have an account for. After that, I installed Office 365 and the applications my account is signed up for. Obviously, Microsoft Word was needed to work on this review, and it works as it should. Once I signed into my Microsoft account, all my shared documents were available to me and I was able to work on this review from any of my PCs, which is so handy. Oh, did I mention it has facial recognition software for signing in? It worked well until I installed Bitdefender and clicked to fast to let it control the camera. Now I need to go find out how to disable that, so I don’t need to use my pin or password to log in. Edit: I found the camera/mic settings in Bitdefender and a simple click to allow Windows access and a restart got it working properly. Did I mention it has a camera on each side of the tablet? I’m guessing they are considered front facing since the tablet can be used either way, normal, or in the 2 in 1 mode.
So, what to install to test out this Surface Book 3. I’ll start with Photoshop. Installation was simple and it has no issues loading. I added a few filters to the application, but no brushes yet. I clicked on a CR2/raw file and the Surface Book 3 w/ Windows 10 loaded the application and photo into Camera Raw in 15 seconds. To compare, my Ryzen 7 2700 Eight-Core 3.2GHz with 16GB memory and a Radeon RX580 took 78 seconds to load the same raw photo into Camera Raw. I then chose a black and white filter and tried them on both machines. The desktop took 22 seconds to process the filter and the laptop took 27. That’s great considering it’s a laptop vs. a desktop. Also, the Surface is a quad-core and the desktop is eight (4 core plus 4 virtual vs 8 core plus 8 virtual) and it loads faster and almost performs as well! Then I just used the Surface Book 3 and tested what I feel is Photoshop's most demanding included filter, liquify. The Surface Book 3 can process the filter with little to no problem if the strokes aren’t very large. After about 3-4 swirls, the process hesitates as it tries to keep up. The lag is very short and acceptable. As I said, it’s a pretty demanding filter/process. All the user needs to do is watch the cursor. It will stay an arrow as it’s processing and then revert to the Photoshop circle to begin the next task. I wanted to try a game that uses a lot of resources. I chose Civilization VI because my desktop fan whirls when I play a long game. I installed the game on the Surface Book 3 via the Epic Games app and copied my latest save to the My Games folder in Documents. I opened the city which is on the largest map, I already won, and I’m finished with all tech upgrades. I just like playing to see how much of the map I can take once the game is over. The Surface Book 3 had no issues running the game. It appears to have the same wait time between turns, and I didn’t notice any hesitation or stutter in any of the movements such as the light spinning in the lighthouse. Except for the size of the playfield (not the 13.5 screens fault) the game is totally playable. I just prefer it on a larger monitor, yeah, I’m old!
Windows Update is amazingly fast installing system updates. Downloading was fast too via my Wi-Fi home network. It took 2 restarts to complete the needed updates including the windows 1909 update.
Speakers…well laptops aren’t the best when it comes to speakers and the Surface Book 3 lives up to that. The speakers do what they need to do and that’s about it. I listened to a few mp3’s and they sounded clear but lack any kind of bass. I wouldn’t say tinny, but like I forgot to turn on the subwoofer on my 5.1 home theater. Still, for doing daily tasks that require sound, the spoken voice should be above acceptable in my opinion. The Surface Book 3 does include Dolby Atmos for both the speakers and headphones, but it only offers on/off in the sound settings. No other options or app is installed. I did check full-range speaker option, but whether that did anything could be up for debate. I think it helped a bit, so it stays checked for now. Using a good set of headphones (I used a wired Rig set) through the port on the tablet and it sounded much better. Adding that bit of bass worked. I imagine it would be the same for gaming. I’ll add it in once I install and play a game on the laptop.
Reading Epub’s and PDFs: Reading Epub’s on the tablet works great. If you have the screen attached, you can use the arrow keys in Calibre to scroll pages back and forth. You get a two-page view like a dead tree version. I tried getting Windows to default to Edge for reading Epub’s, but it wasn’t a listed app and I couldn’t locate the right .exe file in the Windows system app folder, so Calibre it is. It works very well for a 3rd party app. Also, if the screen is attached or detached, you can swipe or touch to turn pages, just like an e-reader. Page turns are nice and fast with no lag. For whatever reason, Edge was still the default PDF reader (I guess I clicked make Calibre the default for Epub’s) and it works. It only shows single page view and I haven’t figured out if I can change that to a two-page view. It is very snappy with page turns and looks great like a PDF should. Edge does give me the option to stretch the PDF to full page width, thus making it easier to read and enjoy the pictures.
The detachable tablet has an awesome connection between the keyboard and the tablet. Very sturdy and the release key with the green notice on screen makes it very simple. This is the first detachable tablet/laptop I’ve had, and it works great. I wondered if Windows would work just as if it were docked/attached. Yup, I inserted a USB stick to see if it would show up in explorer and tada, no problem. Windows worked as it should. Edit: I read after typing this that Microsoft engineered everything except the batteries and GPU into the tablet, that’s why Windows 10 can operate with all its functions. It makes a great e-reader also. I have a paperwhite e-reader and several other e-ink readers and using this is nice and big.
What else? Well, the unit I was sent has 2 USB-A ports, an SD card reader, a USB-c port, and a headphone jack. It’s a bummer it doesn’t support thunderbolt USB-c, but from what I read, Microsoft feels Thunderbolt has security issues that haven’t been fully fixed or addressed. Battery life seems good. I’ve had this on and off all day doing this review, installing and running apps and it still has 51% life with 77% on battery 1 and 42% on battery 2. My battery setting is leaning towards best battery life, but not all the way to the left. Maybe about 60/40.
What else? Well, the unit I was sent has 2 USB-A ports, an SD card reader, a USB-c port, and a headphone jack. It’s a bummer it doesn’t support thunderbolt USB-c, but from what I read, Microsoft feels Thunderbolt has security issues that haven’t been fully fixed or addressed. Battery life seems good. I’ve had this on and off all day doing this review, installing and running apps and it still has 51% life with 77% on battery 1 and 42% on battery 2. My battery setting is leaning towards best battery life, but not all the way to the left. Maybe about 60/40.
So overall impression. This 2 in 1 has several pros, including the reversible tablet when attached to the keyboard. Better yet, being able to use the tablet stand-alone with Windows 10 fully operational. The connection between the keyboard and the tablet is solid and doesn’t feel like I need to worry about it falling off. The green disconnect/attached popup is a welcome sight for new convertible tablet users like me. The charging cable is a 2 prong (nice) lightweight cord with a small brick making it nice and portable. The lack of bloatware was an unexpected and welcome surprise. The speakers being hidden behind the bezel and up on the tablet make for a better laptop listening experience, but with no subwoofer, the sound is less than ideal for any type of music. As for watching videos, presentations, or other spoken-word uses, they are up to the task. Nice that they didn’t put the speakers under the keyboard. I guess that wouldn’t work well with the tablet unless the keyboard was in the same area as the user. I do wish it could use Thunderbolt 3 so I could try out some of my adapters, such as additional ports or USB-c to projector, but I get that security issues must take precedence. If left to a short answer, I’d recommend the Surface Book 3 to my friends, especially the creative types, ones who need a touch screen or pen for work or school or those who f
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Reliability meets modern multitasking with the HP DeskJet Plus 4155 all-in-one printer. Designed to save you time, this all-in-one printer helps you quickly tackle print, scan, and copy jobs with the 35-page automatic document feeder. Send secure faxes from virtually anywhere with your smartphone. With HP Instant Ink, this wireless printer automatically orders ink and delivers it straight to your door with up to 50% savings on ink (subscription required). Get better range and fast, reliable connections using dual-band Wi-Fi with self-reset. Set up your color printer in a few easy steps, then connect, and print from any device using the HP Smart app. The HP Smart app also lets you scan and share your documents to Dropbox, Google Drive, e-mail, or the cloud.
Customer Rating
5
Great all-in-one for small home office or student
on June 25, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
Opening the HP 4100 All-in-one printer and you'll find 2 ink cartridges (black and tri-color), power cord, and the printer. My unit didn't include a USB cable, so if you want to connect yours to your PC through a USB port, you'll want to have a male USB A to male USB B cable available.
After unpacking the unit, removing the plastic protective wrap, tape and cardboard, you have the choice to connect via USB as stated above or by wireless. If you choose wireless, you can go to the HP website and download the software or use the HP Smart app on your iPhone or Android phone. I already have the HP Smart app on my Android and it hasn't failed to make an install easy yet. So I just follow the prompts and tada, easy as before. The instructions tell you to make sure you use the latest version of the app, I always update my Google Play apps so I should be good.
So the printer, it's your basic all-in-one printer with all the latest features needed to do daily tasks. The HP Smart app can set up printing, scanning, copying, sharing and even help troubleshoot the printer. Just open the HP Smart app on your Windows 10 machine and you'll see the printer and any other HP printers you have connected that use the app. I have the Smart Tank Plus 550 connected. Below that you'll see options such as getting supplies, scanning, settings, printing and more. The app is well laid out and easy to use. It doesn't offer a landline connection (does anyone use a landline...I do, lol), but it does offer mobile fax from your phone or PC.
Other useful items are sleep mode and quiet mode. If the printer is inactive for 5 minutes it goes into sleep mode and if you enable quiet mode (off by default), it will print slower at a better quality with less noise. I'n not sure if this unit has auto-off, I didn't wait 2 hours to see if it powered down, but if it does it is turned on by default and will help save energy. You just use the power switch to turn it back on.
HP offers what they call Instant Ink. You pick a plan and they will send you ink. They claim a 50% savings. I for one am tired of every company wanting to set me up with a rotating bill. It feels like those old cassette tape memberships from the 80s-90s. I'll pass, but I can see where it would be useful to someone that has a lot on their plate and wants to forget about having to purchase ink before running out. It all depends on how you look at it and what your needs are. Just throwing that out there so reader's know their options.
Lastly it states on the box that it works with Apple Airprint. I'm guessing that's an iPhone thing and I'm a long time Android user, so just FYI. My opinion is like I stated, it's a good inexpensive all-in-on printer. It does what you need it to do and would be great for a home office or a student. I have no problem recommending HP products to my friends. I'm currently using an HP Ryzen 7 desktop with (2) 27f monitors. I've had good luck with their products.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+19points
29of 39voted this as helpful.
Keep your kids safe online with this Circle Home Plus monitoring setup. The included device uses your router to manage every device on your network, and Circle App makes it simple to limit screen time, filter content, and check browsing histories. This Circle Home Plus monitoring setup is easy to set up and lets you create custom settings for each family member.
Customer Rating
3
Too many items require monthly subscriptions!
on June 15, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
What included in the box: The circle home plus module, USB-c cable with power adapter, ethernet cable, start here manual, and a three-month subscription to premium services. Personally, I start negatively to anything that requires a monthly payment. It’s the main reason I rate this three stars, YMMV. I like paying for items upfront and then I own them until I choose not to use them, or they break. This product is no exception to that. It’s capable of many actions, but if you choose not to pay for the premium service, you lose the bulk of them. For free, you still get the ability to filter users, track their usage and history…but that’s it. You are locked out of being able to pause the internet for all or any users, bedtime scheduling, rewards for good behavior, and time limits.
The device is available with a three-month, 1 year or lifetime subscription, but the price tag is pretty hefty. With so many devices having a short end of life, a lifetime subscription may not last all that long. It’s really a crapshoot when you choose to make that kind of investment. The device I received to evaluate has the three-month subscription and I was unable to see where on the website I can purchase the lifetime or 1-year extension, so I’m unable to say whether it’s a good value compared to buying the unit with those subscriptions upfront. I think that most users would prefer to have a lifetime subscription and if it lasts long enough to cover the child/teen years, they would be happy. I do believe that it’s overpriced and should be reevaluated.
Now for what I think about it other than cost. It’s great. It was extremely easy to install compared to other network devices. I powered it up, connected it to an open port on one of my switches, and installed the Android app. Following directions on the phone was a bit redundant, but that’s good so noobs don’t miss a step. After connecting it to the LAN, it asks to connect to Wi-Fi. Once connected you can add users and filters. Then you’re done. No struggles (at least for me) and it just worked. I do have one negative comment. Why put a rubber ring over the nic port if you’re going to use it permanently? It seems silly. Now I just have this rubber ring resting on the ethernet cable???
So, will I use it? Yes, but not the premium features. I’ll let the three-month subscription run and then just leave it connected. Being able to see history and usage will be useful to me. If they list a price for premium services and they are what I consider reasonable, I may purchase a lifetime subscription, but I highly doubt. I'd recommend the item to a friend, but I'd make sure to let them know they would have a monthly bill if any of the premium features are useful to them.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
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Record and view impressive video with this powerful security system, providing 4K Ultra HD resolution with superior definition and detail. This system also features Smart Motion Detection on all channels, so you only receive notifications that are important to you. Smart search technology allows you to quickly and easily filter motion events, saving time when reviewing footage. With convenient voice control and smart home compatibility, 4K Ultra HD resolution, and Smart Motion Detection, this security system has everything you need to start protecting what's important to you.
Customer Rating
4
Great system, but the fan noise needs addressing
on June 5, 2020
Posted by: RandallFlagg
from Hi Desert, CA
Opening the box, I was excited to see how well this security system was going to perform. It includes the DVR unit with 8 available channels and a 2 TB hard drive, 4 cameras, HDMI cable, power adapter, 4 60’ camera cables and a mouse for maneuvering the setup screen. It is a complete kit and I didn’t need to buy or find any additional items to install the system.
So, the first thing I did was set up the unit in my den with my 55” 4k tv. The manual states to connect everything and ensure it works before setting it up in its permanent spot. Once connected, everything was working great except the DVR fan is really loud. In fact, it’s so loud I thought it was defective. I went online and Googled Lorex loud fan and there were a lot of links and videos available. Apparently, this is a common problem with many of the models. Some recommend taking the housing off and others are trying different 40mm fans. Sorry to go on a bit with it, but it’s the only con I found and the reason for the 4 stars. It required me to pick a different location to install the DVR and that’s in a cabinet in the garage. I ended up running Cat 6e through the wall and into a 5-port switch just for the system. Okay, enough of that, now the good stuff.
The software just works. I set it up when I first installed it in the den. Once it was connected in the garage, all I needed to do was log in. I also downloaded the Android app and it too works as I expected it to. You can view each camera independently in portrait or landscape mode and a quick swipe of the finger left or right takes you to the next camera. Once the DVR was connected to the tv I ran the camera cables down the garage to decide on their placement. If you have a partner, it makes this easier as they can watch the big screen while you’re up on the ladder. I used the phone app and a number of trips up and down the ladder to decide on the placement. The picture looks really good on the tv and phone. I have a two-car driveway and I’m able to see my truck on the far side as well as the walkway up to the door with one camera. My mailbox is across the street and 3 houses up. I can’t see it very well, but it is visible it the top left corner. I’ve had a few mailbox thefts and at least this would show the type of vehicle used. I live on a corner lot so one of the other cameras might get a better shot of the car as will my existing Arlo setup. Once all the cameras were positioned, then the hard part of drilling and fishing the cables through the attic began. Luckily when I remodeled some parts of the house, I have wall chases that don’t have obstructions in them, so I can just use a short fish to pull the cables to the DVR. I also have a long HDMI cable that I ran to the den 4K tv if I want to view it there. Otherwise the 1080P in the garage will do just fine. Now that it’s connected and up and running, I’m very pleased with the system. Again, my only complaint is the fan noise. I have a chest freezer and a refrigerator in the garage and this DVR is louder than either of them. I’m sure I’ll be looking for a fix in the near future. I’ll also be in the market for additional cameras. I’d like to get a dome cam to mount by the front door. It’s nice the DVR has 4 additional channels to allow for expansion.
So that about sums it up for me. The software was easy to use, the instructions both part 1 for install and part 2 for the Android app were very informative and the system performs as well as I expected such a system to perform. If you can live with the loud noise or you are technically able to try and reduce it, I’d definitely recommend the Lorex line of security cams.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
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Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
Does this have an automatic shut off after a period of time?
The manual states that the hot plate will auto shut down in 2 hours if you don't turn it off with the button.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
RandallFlagg
Add high-end performance to your everyday life with the Google Pixel XL. A quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch LED screen and 32GB of memory ensure this phone is able to handle daily life, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen. Easy cloud storage ensures you never run out of space on the Google Pixel XL.
The phones that are sold as "Verizon" phones. Do they have Verizon branding on them?
I received the unit as a reviewer, so I got it before the release...I believe. I can say the the unit I have doesn't have any Verizon logos on the phone front or back. The only logo on mine is the Google "G" on the back. Hope that helps.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
RandallFlagg
Keep carpets clean with this Shark upright vacuum. It has anti-allergen technology and a HEPA filter to trap and contain 99.9 percent of particles, and it comes with pet tools for efficient removal of hair from floors and upholstery. This Shark upright vacuum has a motorized brush that you can use for heavy-duty jobs.
Does it has Brushroll Shutoff feature?
Yes, the power switch has two settings. One for bare floors with the roller brush stopped and the second setting for carpet with the roller brush spinning.
8 years, 2 months ago
by
RandallFlagg
.Audio 355 Stereo Headset is ideal for games, music, Internet talk, video conferencing, and PC voice applications with bass-boosting, full-range stereo resonance. The feather-light, flexible headband and soft, swivel-mounted ear cushions deliver acoustic precision and ensure all-day listening and gaming comfort. A noise-canceling microphone enhances speech recognition, while the Quick Adjust telescoping, bendable boom assures ideal microphone placement. Convenient in-line volume and mute give you full control over your listening and speaking experience. Compatible with popular PC sound cards for plug-and-play ease.
Can I plug this into myHP desktop computer to watch Webinars?
As long as you have the green mini jack on the front, top or back of your desktop you can. The headset isn't USB, it has a pink and green mini plug, the pink for microphone and the green for headset. Windows 10 switched it over from my Creative speakers to the headset automatically. If not you would right click on the speaker icon in the lower right of your screen and pick playback, scroll down to Headphones and chose it for default. Then when you are finished you might have to go back and switch default back to your speakers. Most likely Windows will do it all for you when you plug in the green jack. Good Luck.
8 years, 5 months ago
by
RandallFlagg
Hi Desert, CA
Complete a variety of office tasks with this Brother MFC-J4620DW all-in-one printer that lets you print, copy, scan and fax documents and images for versatility. Built-in Wi-Fi allows direct printing and scanning from select devices and Cloud services.
can you scan 11 x 17 docs? or is the scanning bed smaller than the printer?
No, the scanner is a standard 8.5 x 11
8 years, 7 months ago
by
RandallFlagg
Hi Desert, CA