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TechyTart
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- Review count6
- Helpfulness votes201
- First reviewJanuary 9, 2014
- Last reviewOctober 18, 2016
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.8
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- First answerJanuary 9, 2014
- Last answerOctober 9, 2014
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TechyTart's Reviews
Upgrade data speed with this 500GB Western Digital Blue solid-state drive. It delivers transfer speeds of up to 545MB/sec. and has an MTBF rating of over 1.75 million hours, ensuring a long service life. This Western Digital Blue solid state-drive comes in a compact 2.5-inch form factor to fit in computers or laptops.
Customer Rating
4
Nice boost for 4 year old Sony Vaio laptop
on October 18, 2016
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
I installed this in my sluggish Sony after cloning the existing 5400rpm drive using FREE Macrium Reflect software. (You can also go to the WD website to download Acronis WD version for cloning and the WD SSD dashboard software.) .
The drive ships with no spacer, screws, software or instructions for installation and you will need a USB 3.0 to SATA cable or enclosure to clone your existing drive to the SSD.
Speed estimates up to 550mb/s are optimistic. I was able to get in the 450-480 range though for read/write.
For the price, this is a good drive. It made my old laptop 'new' again without any boost in memory or other adjustments. I now have a i5, 1.6Ghz, 8GB memory with a SSD running Windows 8.1 that boots in less than 20 seconds and speeds through everything from opening programs to streaming video from Kodi.
Overall, I'm pleased with this drive. It's great for an upgrade on a budget, and general computing use. Those who have never used a SSD drive before will be blown away by what a vast improvement it is over the traditional hard drives.
FYI... SSDs do not need to be defragmented. In fact, that will reduce the drive's lifespan so don't do it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
Amazon Fire TV Stick connects to your TV's HDMI port. Just grab and go to enjoy Netflix, Prime Instant Video, Hulu Plus, YouTube.com, music, and much more.
Customer Rating
5
Inexpensive & Powerful Entertainment
on November 23, 2014
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
I received this item via Amazon's first offering to Prime members and I'm really, really impressed with the build quality and performance of this streaming device.
I own an Apple TV, Roku 3, Chromecast, smart TV and other streaming media devices, but the Amazon Fire TV Stick is quickly becoming a favorite. It's small, highly portable, is easy to install and use, and zips right along, especially when accessing Amazon's app.
It has game apps, but this is where it's less appealing. The remote is the real issue. I didn't get it for gaming, so it's not a big deal to me. I use Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon, Pluto TV and other video streaming apps without issue. They open quickly on my home network (60 Mbps) and there's no buffering, which is great!
I am a cord cutter (meaning I don't have cable or satellite TV), so streaming media supplements the over air TV I get with my Mohu Leaf 50 antenna. (I wrote a Kindle book to help others cut the cord: Simple Guide to Over-the-Air Free TV .) The Amazon Fire TV Stick works well and could easily be used by cord cutters to supplement their OTA TV entertainment with streaming media.
It works on a HDTV or PC monitor with a HDMI connection and has to have a AC plug nearby as the Stick is powered. A HDMI extension cable is included with the Fire TV Stick and AC power adapter in the box.
When you consider how much this thing can do, how quickly it does it with a dual core processor, the simple user interface, the help videos in Settings, the ability to get a voice activated remote (as with the Fire TV) and/or a game controller for it, and the ability to use it to mirror what's on your Kindle to your HDTV - you've got a winner!
Even non-techy types will love this thing. You'll love it even more if you have Amazon Prime membership at $99 a year. Your Photos and Videos that you've uploaded to the Amazon Cloud (unlimited space for Prime members) can be accessed by the Fire TV Stick to be shared on your HDTV. You also get access to all that great Prime programming.
There's also an Android app for this thing that gives you voice activation - a remote for your smartphone. There's not yet one for iOS, but I"m sure they are working on it.
The only app that is missing (popular ones anyway...) is HBO GO. Not sure why?
You can setup this Stick on a motel HDTV on the road. You just need the motel's Wifi network and password (setup in Settings) to link up. Once you get this thing and register it, you input your Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon info. If you don't have Netflix - you can get a 1 month free trial. If you don't have Hulu Plus - a free 7 day trial is offered.
Amazon Prime members also enjoy Prime Music (their library is accessed from the Amazon Cloud via the device), Pandora, Spotify and other music media.
Apps are downloaded onto the device which has limited memory, but can be removed to make more space if needed. Photos and Music from Amazon remain on the Cloud, and do not take up space on the device.
I'm just really sold on this thing at this low price point, with this great performance out of the box.
I think it would be the perfect gift for college students, travelers, cord cutters, or anyone who wants to enjoy streaming media cheaply, but with quality hardware and ease of use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+106points
113of 120voted this as helpful.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Router, with breakthrough Tri-Band WiFi 5 delivers multiple bands for homes with many WiFi devices. WiFi speed up to 3.2Gbps and 6 high performance antennas provide maximum speed and range. Smart Connect allows you to game, stream, and download mega-sized files without lags.
Customer Rating
1
Dead in 3 Months - Poor Customer Service
on October 9, 2014
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
I purchased this item to upgrade my home network for multiple wireless devices and to stream media. I'm a cord cutter (using over the air TV and streaming media for my entertainment), thus fast, stable wireless and wired connectivity is very important to me. I also work from home using the internet for my work every day.
The Nighthawk setup was quick and easy, and the Netgear Genie interface easy to use for an intermediate to advanced user.
When the Nighthawk worked, it was very fast, but never stable; needed a reset every 48 hours or so.
After 3 months of this type of performance, it would no longer maintain a connection.
I contacted Netgear Customer support and tried 5 different possible fixes they offered for the problems I was experiencing. Thankfully I'm a techy-type and understood how to do all those fixes that were offered. I thought at the time that someone with less experience or someone who was afraid to try the tech fixes, would be in real trouble; feeling stuck and helpless.
When it was determined it was a hardware failure, I was given a RMA number and asked to ship the unit with tracking (at MY cost) to them.
In 7 business days I received a replacement unit. I had sent them mine in excellent condition with no nicks or scratches, in the original box. The replacement I received had a chunk out of the antenna and scuffs all over it. It was packaged very poorly; loosely wrapped in bubble wrap in a basic brown box, with the antennas rolling around the box.
The refurbished replacement unit worked for a few weeks and then it too began having issues dropping connectivity, and needing frequent resets.
I also bought the R7000 model and had a similar experience.
Since I had this experience with (3) Netgear Nighthawk routers in 6 months and now am using a TP-Link Archer 8 without incident and achieving faster download speeds and stable signal quality, I believe the Nighthawk series may have some serious software and hardware issues.
Considering the high price on this item, you may want to consider similar products from TP-Link, Asus and D-Link before you grab this one - even on sale. Save yourself the potential headache of dealing with connectivity issues and lack of quality customer service after the sale.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+48points
57of 66voted this as helpful.
Sharp AQUOS Q Series LC-60EQ10U HDTV: This Sharp AQUOS Q Series TV's Quattron technology ensures you experience vibrant details and bright yellows, deep blues and rich golds. SmartCentral 3.0 and built-in Wi-Fi let you wirelessly stream movies, TV shows and music.
Customer Rating
4
Stellar Picture, with a Few Issues
on June 2, 2014
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
Internet Connectable?Yes
Connected to the Internet:Yes
This TV was a major upgrade for me from a seven year old 42" plasma, and admittedly, my expectations were big for this TV.
For the most part, I'm very happy with it, but I have had no luck getting it to connect wirelessly and thus had to use the Ethernet port on the device to hard wire it to receive internet service to the TV. I have approximately 15 devices on my wireless network and am no novice to setting up electronics, so this issue is a frustration.
Another frustration is the omission of the Amazon Instant Video app on this TV. Why leave that off? I hope with future software updates (automatically done per the settings) that one appears. For now, I use my Sony Blu-ray player or Roku 3 for Amazon media.
Sound reproduction on this TV is definitely lacking, but most users will add a sound bar, sound plate or AV receiver powered speakers (5.1/7.1) anyway. If you had not planned on that, but are purchasing this TV, consider the sound - otherwise it's probably not a big issue.
I did note some gray blotchiness when the screen is black (transitioning from one channel to another while watching TV), as well as some dark 'bleed' from the corners of the screen when the background is very light colored. Nothing dramatic, but it's there.
I picked up the Disney WOW Blu-ray disc to calibrate the picture on this TV, and it made a nice difference even after a basic, beginner calibration. The set wasn't too far off, but out of the box the colors were too vibrant (seems odd to type that, but it's true...) for my tastes. Using the calibration disc helped a lot!
Despite these things, it's still a very good HDTV for the price when you consider the smart features and HD picture quality. The up to 240Hz refresh rate is great for action movies, gaming and sports, but for the most part I keep the Advanced Motion Enhancement set to 'off' or Low 120, otherwise the 'soap opera affect' takes over. (Google it to see what it is if you don't already know.) Going into Advanced settings after turning that 'off' you will want the 'Advanced' to zero and then 'Standard' to eliminate this on your TV.)
I love that it has 4 HDMI, older composite and component hookups, in addition to VGA, optical audio, (2) USB and a Ethernet port. The bezel is super thin and there's virtually no edge to the screen thus the screen size is maximized.
Side viewing is less enjoyable than straight on, and the screen appears somewhat washed out if you are past about 45 degrees. The plasma is much better in that respect.
Setup once it was turned on was simple to follow and other than the wifi issue - done with ease. I did receive the wrong screws to mount the base to the TV, which required a trip to a local store and a guess as to the right screws. (#5 metric 1" if you need to know.)
The remote control isn't back lit, which would be great, and some of the buttons are smaller than I think they should be. There's a huge Netflix button and the numbers are remarkably large, but the Channels, Volume, Input and Menu buttons are all kinda small.
I do like the Smart Guide, which once you put in your zip code and how you're receiving your content (Netflix, Hulu Plus, cable tv...) will populate an on screen guide and show you at a glance what's on at that moment. I use over-the-air TV so I chose 'local' as my input option for TV. The set was able to scan for channels, and quickly and accurately capture them. When the channels are displayed you get helpful info such as the audio source (whether surround is there...) and video (480i, 720p, 1080p...).
I'm a cord cutter (no cable or satellite TV) and wrote a book on it entitled: Simple Guide to Over-the-Air Free TV which is available as a Kindle book on Amazon.
This smart TV is a very nice way for those who want to cut the cord to supplement their over air TV with streaming media, and a media PC (I have my laptop connected via HDMI and I use XBMC media center). I'm not happy that this TV lacks Amazon's app, and a few others, but it does have more good than bad in this area. The dual core processor opens apps quickly and they all seem to work well.
While this TV has issues, it's still a very good buy at this screen size with these features. I'd suggest taking a look at your needs and considering how you'll be using your TV. That should help you decide if this TV and it's stellar picture quality overrides its shortcomings for you.
Internet content most enjoyed: Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video
What's great about it: HD Picture Definition and Clarity, Wired Internet Connection, Color Saturation, Netflix, Web Browser, Smart Guide
What's not so great: Sound, WiFi Connectivity Issues, Viewing Angle Issues, Auto Light Adjustment, Poor Included User's Manual & Setup Guide
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Sound Quality
3
Features
4
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+5points
6of 7voted this as helpful.
Samsung UN22F5000AFXZA LED HDTV: View your favorite movies and TV shows in crisp 1080p resolution with this Samsung HDTV. The slim 1-3/4" profile makes the TV ideal for placement in a bedroom or dorm room.
Customer Rating
5
HDTV capable of being PC monitor
on January 20, 2014
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
Internet Connectable?No
Purchased to go into our home gym to replace a 23 year old 'box' type TV, this Samsung was a good purchase. I was hesitant to buy this size screen as there are many 32" screens that now are around this price point, however the 1080p resolution with the ability to increase the refresh rate for sports, as well as the Samsung brand made me choose this model.
Features I like about this HDTV/Monior include (2) HDMI ports, (1) USB port, VGA port, optical input (to add an AV receiver or sound bar), and composite in for older (VCR) inputs. I found many HDTVs at this price were lacking in one or more of these ports.
The picture quality is excellent when the input is 720p or higher. If you are playing an old VHS tape at 480i, you will notice a degradation of the quality of video, but that should be expected with any TV.
Sound quality is OK for a TV with 2 (3W) speakers, and tweaks in the on screen menu to bring out voice, amplify or otherwise enhance the sound are somewhat helpful. I will be adding a sound bar to ours.
Being able to use this as a monitor via HDMI or VGA is great. Text looks sharp and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one for this use in the future.
I toyed with the idea of a Smart TV (this is not a Smart TV...), but chose this one in favor of it, adding a Roku box to it for Netflix and Hulu Plus.
I have an over-air antenna (Winegard Amped FlatWave) attached to the cable in port. It pulls in all our local over-air broadcasts (HD and analog) and works well with this TV. After attaching the antenna, I did an auto search for channels - found in the Menu, this is the first step to setting up your TV whether you use an antenna or cable box. There is a 'Plug n' Play' option in the menu too, which makes it even easier to set-up your TV.
I like how many options the Menu gives you to dial in subtle picture and sound changes. Most TVs at this size lack that ability. Particularly the ability to increase the refresh rate for sports, and the ability to change the picture for viewing angles such as seated and standing.
Firmware updates may be available for this HDTV/Monitor, and can be downloaded to a USB flash drive and then put into the USB port on the TV for updating. You do have to go to the Samsung site and look up this info in the Support area though.
Having both the tuner and the monitor capabilities, you could conceivably have it hooked up to your PC and switch back and forth via the Source button on the remote.
You can add things like a DVD player, Roku, and VCR, changing the names of these inputs in your Menu, and easily switching between the two using the Source button on the remote.
I think this HDTV is an excellent choice for a small bedroom, office, or similar. While it's a smaller screen size, the quality and features make up for it.
What's great about it: Excellent picture quality, easy set-up and use, use as monitor and/or 1080p HDTV
What's not so great: Sound could be better
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
5
Sound Quality
4
Features
5
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
HP ENVY Sleekbook m6-k012dx Laptop: With touch-screen capabilities and ample hard drive space, this HP ENVY Sleekbook is a great option for students or business professionals looking for quick access to multiple documents, movies, music and more.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Customer Rating
4
Snagged at a budget price, I'm happy
on January 9, 2014
Posted by: TechyTart
from Southern Oregon
Purchased at just under four hundred on New Years Day, I was thrilled to get a laptop with these specs. USB 3.0, HDMI, media reader, touchscreen, enhanced graphics, back lit full-sized keyboard, Bluetooth and 1TB hard drive were all attractive to me, and while the AMD A10 processor gave me pause, I jumped on the deal.
What I've found after a bit of use is that after unboxing, running Windows Update and then updating to Windows 8.1 for free via the Microsoft site, I like this quick, mid-range laptop a lot. I got a heck of a buy for the price I paid, but if I'd paid more, I'm not sure I'd feel this way.
The Windows performance Index is a 5.8 on this PC, with graphics being the lowest score. 7.1 and 6.8 were memory and processor respectively. (7.1 was the highest score.)
The PC's fan runs a lot and it heats up quickly. I put a laptop fan underneath it which meant more fan noise, but it did take the CPU temp down. This is an ultra-thin notebook, and I had hopes of traveling with it, but in all honesty I'd need the laptop fan with me too, to feel like I wasn't potentially harming the PC with the heat it generates.
Beats Audio was disappointing. The PC has a built-in subwoofer in the bottom, and two speakers up top. The sound can be adjusted via the Beats software and that helps, but it's still not the 'ta-da' I had hoped for when I saw 'Beats Audio' on the box. Perhaps I was just expecting too much?
I paired the PC with my Creative Bluetooth headset. It connected easily, but sounded terrible. Again, maybe an issue with the drivers for the headset or a software setting. A wired headset sounded fine.
Pairing with a cheap Bluetooth speaker was easy, and gave me the best quality sound thus far from this laptop. I enjoy listening to iTunes Radio this way, and it worked well.
The webcam is OK. A bit grainy, but fun avatars and effects. Easy to upload photos and video to Facebook too.
The PC doesn't have a CD/DVD player, but the 3 USB ports make it easy to add an external one if you need it. They are only about thirty bucks so I'll probably pick one up to have on hand.
The touchscreen needs to be calibrated , but once you do, it's great. Crisp and clear, 15.6" screen. The keyboard is responsive and backlighting can be turned on and off on the keyboard. Touchpad too is responsive.
Moving through multiple tasks quickly is no problem for this PC. Nothing bogs down. Netflix and Hulu Plus look great, and photo editing was a breeze. I can't speak to gaming, as I don't do much of that, but I suspect it would be fine for most online games.
Overall, I'm very pleased with this HP as for me it was a budget price with mid-level features.
What's great about it: Bluetooth, touchscreen, back lit full-sized keyboard, zippy performance, ultrathin
What's not so great: Runs hot, Beats Audio, HP bloatware
I would recommend this to a friend!
Display
4
Performance
4
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+15points
15of 15voted this as helpful.
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TechyTart's Answers
Add a smart router to your connected home. With technology to prioritize which tasks get the most bandwidth, your entire household will be able to work and play online at the same time.
Range
I bought this router to replace a 2011 Netgear N600 that went out. The wireless range of the Netgear reached my detached office and upstairs bedroom. This router does not.. The Best Buy Salesman said this router should have significantly better range. I am seeing far less range. Is there something I can try to fix the range issue before I return it? If I do return this one, any suggestions on what I should get to improve the range compared to the old Netgear?
When this one works - it has great range, however I've had terrible luck with Netgear Nighthawk routers dropping their signals and needing frequent resets. Their customer service requires you to send hardware failure routers back to them at your cost , and they send you back a refurb router that may or may not be in good shape.
I prefer the TP-Link Archer C8. It seems like its range on paper should be less, but it's actually faster, about the same range, and much more stable. It's also got a 2 year warranty.
I prefer the TP-Link Archer C8. It seems like its range on paper should be less, but it's actually faster, about the same range, and much more stable. It's also got a 2 year warranty.
9 years, 6 months ago
by
TechyTart
Southern Oregon
Samsung UN22F5000AFXZA LED HDTV: View your favorite movies and TV shows in crisp 1080p resolution with this Samsung HDTV. The slim 1-3/4" profile makes the TV ideal for placement in a bedroom or dorm room.
RVU compatible
Does this item have RVU built in?
What is a DIRECTV Ready TV and how does it work?
A DIRECTV Ready TV has a technology called RVU built in that lets you enjoy DIRECTV service and full HD DVR functionality without a receiver when it’s used as an additional TV in a Genie HD DVR setup. With TVs that are not DIRECTV Ready, a small device called Genie Mini is required to allow them to access the Genie HD DVR.
**According to the DirectTV site, only the following Samsung models have RVU: D6000, D6400, D6420, ES6100, 6150, 6500, 6550, 6580, 6900, 7100, 7150, 7500, 7550, 8000, 9000, F5100, 6100, 6300, 6350, 6400, 6800, 7100, 7500, 7550, 8000, 9000, 9500.
A DIRECTV Ready TV has a technology called RVU built in that lets you enjoy DIRECTV service and full HD DVR functionality without a receiver when it’s used as an additional TV in a Genie HD DVR setup. With TVs that are not DIRECTV Ready, a small device called Genie Mini is required to allow them to access the Genie HD DVR.
**According to the DirectTV site, only the following Samsung models have RVU: D6000, D6400, D6420, ES6100, 6150, 6500, 6550, 6580, 6900, 7100, 7150, 7500, 7550, 8000, 9000, F5100, 6100, 6300, 6350, 6400, 6800, 7100, 7500, 7550, 8000, 9000, 9500.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
TechyTart
Southern Oregon
HP ENVY Sleekbook m6-k012dx Laptop: With touch-screen capabilities and ample hard drive space, this HP ENVY Sleekbook is a great option for students or business professionals looking for quick access to multiple documents, movies, music and more.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Finger Scanner
I currently have the HP Envy, and wanted to know if this one comes with the finger scanner? The one that I currently have does, but I do not see it in this picture. Also, does it have a backlit keyboard?
Yes - it has a backlit keyboard (navigational button to turn it on and off is at the top of the keyboard). No - it doesn't have a finger scanner.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
TechyTart
Southern Oregon
Samsung UN22F5000AFXZA LED HDTV: View your favorite movies and TV shows in crisp 1080p resolution with this Samsung HDTV. The slim 1-3/4" profile makes the TV ideal for placement in a bedroom or dorm room.
can you adjust backlight/contrast on usb video mode?
just got this tv, but i can't adjust the backlight levels or contrast when im watching a video from a usb using Connectshare. I have a large Samsung that lets you adjust the contrast on usb mode. can this tv do that? do i need software update perhaps?
You can adjust backlight levels in the Menu - Picture.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
TechyTart
Southern Oregon
HP ENVY Sleekbook m6-k012dx Laptop: With touch-screen capabilities and ample hard drive space, this HP ENVY Sleekbook is a great option for students or business professionals looking for quick access to multiple documents, movies, music and more.Learn more about the New Windows ›
I really want to buy this, but it's unavailable at all the Best Buys near me, and sold out online. What should I do?
Watch and wait on Best Buy - they are Clearance stock now. Ebay also has them.
10 years, 3 months ago
by
TechyTart
Southern Oregon