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MTCowboy
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- Review count108
- Helpfulness votes125
- First reviewJanuary 20, 2014
- Last reviewApril 28, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count19
- Helpfulness votes19
- First answerFebruary 13, 2018
- Last answerDecember 29, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
Customer Rating
5
Knockout good looks with hot rod performance!
on June 2, 2016
Posted by: MTCowboy
I've always considered myself to be a "function-over-form" kind of guy but the new HP Spectre 13 kind of swept me off my feet. The experience starts from the moment you open the packaging. The notebook is packed in a black box with copper logo and lettering and everything inside is arranged to protect your new purchase. In addition to the wafer thin (.41 inches!) notebook the box includes a snug leather portfolio style slip cover, power supply and a USB-C to USB-A/B dongle.
The notebook is black with subtle copper contrasts and features a unique piston hinge design that allows the unit to be perfectly flat - there is virtually no change in thickness from the front to the back of the machine.
Upon initial power up the notebook goes through the familiar Windows 10 startup process. The 13.3" HD screen is bright and very crisp. Under the hood of this impossibly thin unit is an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD drive. The only external ports are a trio of USB-C connections and a combined headphone/microphone jack. The charger actually plugs into one of the USB-C ports.
The first thing you notice is that the unique hinge design allows limited travel - this is not a convertible design that allows you to lay the screen back flat or fold it over. Also, the screen is not touch sensitive. I actually like that but it seems that touchscreens are the expected norm with the Windows 10 OS. Finally, be aware that the unit contains only one camera and it faces the user.
The USB-C ports are the new "one-port-to-rule-them-all" technology but there are a few things you need to know. Currently there are only a small number of peripherals that support USB-C natively so you will need dongles or an external port replicator to support legacy USB devices, hardwired Ethernet or any external video (HDMI for instance). On a positive note, all of the ports can supply power to attached devices.
So far I have loaded a handful of my favorite applications and the performance of the notebook is very good. Battery life seems reasonable and I have been able to get several hours of usage per charge. One thing I noticed, and the documentation calls this out, is that the unit can get warm if you hold it on your lap while using it. That is only reasonable with an i7 processor.
In summary - if you are in the market for a premium notebook you owe it to yourself to take a look at this piece of art. The combination of razor thin design and performance won't leave you disappointed!
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
I would recommend this to a friend!
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6of 10voted this as helpful.
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
Customer Rating
4
Bleeding edge, feature-rich router!
on May 20, 2016
Posted by: MTCowboy
This router is a monster! (Both physically and "mentally"). Be prepared - this thing is at least the size of a laptop computer and with it's spider-leg antennas extended it stands at least 4 inches tall! In exchange for all of this real estate you get a router that offers every significant feature you could possibly ask for.
This is my first experience with the new 802.11ac MU-MIMO feature which allows the router to talk to more than one wireless device at the same time! AT CES 2016 they showed this bad boy streaming 4k content to multiple displays simultaneously. This is made possible by the fact that there are 3 discrete radios inside - (1) 2.4GHz and (2) 5GHz. Combined with the beam steering capability this should allow you to communicate effectively in today's interference laden environment. This should also position this router to be an effective gateway as more IoT devices begin to appear in our homes.
The unit includes an 8 port Gigabit switch and two USB ports. You can use the USB ports to attach a shared printer or even a storage device with media. It will act as a DLNA server to feed video, music and photos to DLNA certified devices.
The out-of-box experience is very good. Everything is securely packed and includes Getting Started documents. As with any advanced network device the initial setup can be daunting but Linksys has provided some automated help to get you started. If you are a networking guru you can even bypass this option and set everything up manually. An unexpected surprise is the availability of a mobile app that you can download to help you setup and manage the router.
Preliminary tests showed that throughput varied by device type, distance from the AP and the surroundings. This is not unexpected, every wireless router that I have ever used will advertise available speeds based on a pristine environment. Nonetheless, speeds were good but I have more testing to do.
All of this functionality comes with a premium price. The suggested retail price is almost $400. But, as we add more and more wireless devices in our homes and those devices demand more bandwidth and more consistent throughput the generation of sub $100 wireless routers are simply unable to deliver. If your wireless access is important to you and you want to invest in a state-of-the-art solution with future capabilities built in, then the Linksys EA9500 deserves your serious consideration.
This is my first experience with the new 802.11ac MU-MIMO feature which allows the router to talk to more than one wireless device at the same time! AT CES 2016 they showed this bad boy streaming 4k content to multiple displays simultaneously. This is made possible by the fact that there are 3 discrete radios inside - (1) 2.4GHz and (2) 5GHz. Combined with the beam steering capability this should allow you to communicate effectively in today's interference laden environment. This should also position this router to be an effective gateway as more IoT devices begin to appear in our homes.
The unit includes an 8 port Gigabit switch and two USB ports. You can use the USB ports to attach a shared printer or even a storage device with media. It will act as a DLNA server to feed video, music and photos to DLNA certified devices.
The out-of-box experience is very good. Everything is securely packed and includes Getting Started documents. As with any advanced network device the initial setup can be daunting but Linksys has provided some automated help to get you started. If you are a networking guru you can even bypass this option and set everything up manually. An unexpected surprise is the availability of a mobile app that you can download to help you setup and manage the router.
Preliminary tests showed that throughput varied by device type, distance from the AP and the surroundings. This is not unexpected, every wireless router that I have ever used will advertise available speeds based on a pristine environment. Nonetheless, speeds were good but I have more testing to do.
All of this functionality comes with a premium price. The suggested retail price is almost $400. But, as we add more and more wireless devices in our homes and those devices demand more bandwidth and more consistent throughput the generation of sub $100 wireless routers are simply unable to deliver. If your wireless access is important to you and you want to invest in a state-of-the-art solution with future capabilities built in, then the Linksys EA9500 deserves your serious consideration.
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This Insignia™ NS-PNK5011 wireless keyboard features 104 keys, including multimedia keys and a calculate key, to enable simple typing and control of your PC or Mac. The 2.4GHz wireless technology eliminates restrictive power cords.
Customer Rating
4
Great price! Good performance.
on October 19, 2015
Posted by: MTCowboy
from Great Falls, MT
Verified Purchase:Yes
Was a little cranky to get setup. Pairing with the laptop took a couple of attempts and a reboot but then everything worked. Bought this as a present to allow couch access to a laptop connected to a home theater setup. Good solution.
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Connect to the Web with this Samsung BD-H6500/ZA Blu-ray player. To build a complete 3D home theater system, we recommend you purchase a 3D TV, 3D glasses designed for the TV, high-speed HDMI cable and an A/V receiver that is compatible with 3D products.
Customer Rating
4
Great performance, decent price.
on October 19, 2015
Posted by: MTCowboy
from Great Falls, MT
Verified Purchase:Yes
Although this unit is not the lowest cost option the performance is excellent. It is easy to setup and the applets are reasonably snappy. One caveat - I could not get the unit to pass-through High-Def audio (DTS-MA or TrueHD) from a ripped source attached via USB. Also, I do not yet own a 4K set so I was not able to test the upscaling.
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy immersive movies, games and more with this Onkyo TX-NR646 home theater receiver. Includes HDMI 4K Ultra HD and 3D pass-through technologies for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles and 4K Ultra HD TVs.
Customer Rating
4
Best bang-for-the-buck AV receiver in its class.
on June 12, 2015
Posted by: MTCowboy
from Great Falls, MT
Verified Purchase:Yes
Compared this extensively to the comparable Pioneer and Sony products. If you want both ATMOS and DTS:X decoding this is currently only available on the Onkyo. It also has multiple HDMI 2.0 interfaces and supports HDCP 2.2 - critical for displaying the coming 4k content.
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
I would recommend this to a friend!
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13of 18voted this as helpful.
Guard your Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 from scrapes with this Samsung EF-BT800BBEGUJ cover that features polyurethane and polycarbonate materials for durable, encompassing protection. The screen-toggle capability turns the screen on or off automatically.
Customer Rating
4
Good cover, odd "kickstand"
on June 11, 2015
Posted by: MTCowboy
from Great Falls, MT
Verified Purchase:Yes
If you are looking for a good cover without a keyboard this product will meet your needs. Attaching the cover to the tablet requires applying a significant amount of pressure and can be kind of nerve rattling but it does make for a very secure connection. Also, the unusual "origami" method of creating the various kickstand angles takes some getting used to.
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Enjoy rich, balanced audio with these Skullcandy Titan S2TTDY-033 earbud headphones that feature Supreme Sound technology and metal housing for durability. A 1-button microphone offers in-line device control.
Posted by: MTCowboy
from Great Falls, MT
How Often Used:Less than once a week
Verified Purchase:Yes
I needed a more portable solution than my Bose Quiet Comfort cans when traveling so my son suggested the Skull Candy Titans. Best Buy had them on sale so I picked them up. I plugged them into my Toshiba Thrive tablet and was blown away! As expected the high and mid-range was great, but the bass!!! I wasn't ready for such a deep, satisfying result from an earbud. You will need to be a little careful with the jack as the outer covering will come off if you get too rough. Nonetheless - highly recommended!
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
What's great about it: Excellent sound for an in-ear product!
What's not so great: Cabling and jack are a little flimsy.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Sound Quality
5
Comfort
4
Durability
4
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iPad mini features a beautiful 7.9" display, iSight® and FaceTime camera, the A5 chip, ultrafast wireless and up to 10 hours of battery life1. And over 275,000 apps2 on the App Store made for iPad work with iPad mini. So it's an iPad in every way, shape and slightly smaller form.
Customer Rating
5
Product was a gift.
on January 20, 2014
Posted by: MTCowboy
from Great Falls, MT
Verified Purchase:Yes
Since the iPad Retina model(s) have become available there are some great bargains for the "older" technology. This is a perfect fit if you are already invested in the "iStuff" infrastructure.
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
My Best Buy number: 2521445339
What's great about it: Fits in with other Apple products.
What's not so great: Price is relatively high.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
4
Features
4
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Maintain the pristine condition of your rugs and furniture with this Hoover PowerDash GO portable carpet cleaner. The multiple attachments let you take care of stubborn stains and dirt, while the lightweight, compact design enables easy carrying. This Hoover PowerDash GO portable carpet cleaner features dual tank technology that keeps the cleaning solution and dirty water separate for effortless rinses and fills.
Does this heat the water to clean?
It does not heat the water/solution.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
MTCowboy
Maintain the pristine condition of your rugs and furniture with this Hoover PowerDash GO portable carpet cleaner. The multiple attachments let you take care of stubborn stains and dirt, while the lightweight, compact design enables easy carrying. This Hoover PowerDash GO portable carpet cleaner features dual tank technology that keeps the cleaning solution and dirty water separate for effortless rinses and fills.
Does this plug in?
Yes. It is wall powered.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
MTCowboy
Fry up tater tots, meats and other foods without oil using this BELLA Pro Series air fry combo unit. An integrated pressure cooker produces rapid results, and removable parts ensure cleanup is simple, even in the dishwasher. This BELLA Pro Series air fry combo unit has a host of preprogrammed settings, including slow-cooking, that let you cook an array of dishes conveniently.
Can you air fry after pressure cooking to get food crispy with just changing the lids or do you have to change the pots
I think it depends on what you are going for. There is a "basket" and a trivet included to get your food up so that the air can circulate around and crisp up everything. We have not tried pressure cooking with either of these already in the machine.
4 years, 3 months ago
by
MTCowboy
Improve your music-listening experience with this Insignia 2.0-Channel Mini Soundbar. The Optical (does not include cable), RCA or 3.5mm audio supports seamless connection to your television, while Bluetooth technology lets you wirelessly stream audio from a smartphone or tablet. This Insignia 2.0-Channel Mini Soundbar has a remote control for easy use, and the digital amplifier improves audio quality.
will this work with an insignia roku tv?
The unit does NOT have an HDMI input but does offer a digital optical input which your Roku TV should have. Be advised - the unit doesn't offer a lot of volume and has limited bass response. Your TV's built in speakers might sound just as good.
4 years, 7 months ago
by
MTCowboy
Make media more fun with this HP Spectre Folio convertible laptop. Three possible screen positions let you watch videos or edit photos in comfort, and its powerful Intel Core i7 processor is ideal for gaming. This HP Spectre Folio convertible laptop has a 256GB M.2 solid-state drive, ensuring speed and ample storage.
Does the pen included ?
Yes. And a leather loop for mounting the pen to the side of the laptop is also provided in the box.
5 years, 6 months ago
by
MTCowboy
Work and play harder with this Asus Zen all-in-one computer. Its 12GB of RAM and hexa-core Intel Core processor keep up with intense multitasking, and its NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics card produces stunning, dynamic visuals. This Asus Zen all-in-one computer has 1TB hard-disk and 128GB solid-state drives for ample storage, and its 23.8-inch Full HD touch display provides smooth navigation.
Does this computer have built-in wifi or do you have to add it via USB? When I saw it on display in a store, it was not online and I was told that it does not support wifi out of the box, but the online description seems to contradict that.
The Polk MagniFi MAX maximum-performance home theater sound bar and wireless subwoofer system provides bigger, more dynamic sound than traditional sound bars—and is optimized to make movies, TV, sports and music come alive. It features patented SDA surround technology for a wider, more immersive listening experience and Voice Adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue—and it’s equipped with Polk Smart Remote technology, so it works with your TV’s remote control right out of the box. Includes HDMI and optical cables for quick and easy setup. Includes Google Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth technologies let you stream all of your favorite music. Compatible with most major TV manufacturers.
Is there any other equipment needed to make this work
Probably not. The unit includes a high speed HDMI cable, optical cable and an analog audio cable with 3.5" jacks.
You will need either a mobile phone or a tablet to load the Google Home app in order to configure the soundbar.
You will need either a mobile phone or a tablet to load the Google Home app in order to configure the soundbar.
6 years, 3 months ago
by
MTCowboy
The Polk MagniFi MAX maximum-performance home theater sound bar and wireless subwoofer system provides bigger, more dynamic sound than traditional sound bars—and is optimized to make movies, TV, sports and music come alive. It features patented SDA surround technology for a wider, more immersive listening experience and Voice Adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue—and it’s equipped with Polk Smart Remote technology, so it works with your TV’s remote control right out of the box. Includes HDMI and optical cables for quick and easy setup. Includes Google Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth technologies let you stream all of your favorite music. Compatible with most major TV manufacturers.
Can this hang off a wall mounted tv, or do I need a special mount?
The unit includes wall mounting hardware and a template.
6 years, 3 months ago
by
MTCowboy
The Polk MagniFi MAX maximum-performance home theater sound bar and wireless subwoofer system provides bigger, more dynamic sound than traditional sound bars—and is optimized to make movies, TV, sports and music come alive. It features patented SDA surround technology for a wider, more immersive listening experience and Voice Adjust technology for crystal clear dialogue—and it’s equipped with Polk Smart Remote technology, so it works with your TV’s remote control right out of the box. Includes HDMI and optical cables for quick and easy setup. Includes Google Chromecast built-in and Bluetooth technologies let you stream all of your favorite music. Compatible with most major TV manufacturers.
Can you use this soundbar with an external amp or do you have to use the built in amp?
The unit has only "line level" inputs; HDMI, optical and a 3.5" audio jack. All of the amplification and DSP effects are internal. The subwoofer is also self-amplified (this is pretty common for subs).
6 years, 3 months ago
by
MTCowboy