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- First reviewFebruary 22, 2014
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- First answerMay 23, 2016
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Connect your external wireless devices to the internet with this Linksys dual-band router. Two 5Ghz bands support both high-end gaming and low-end applications without compromising speed, and remote management lets you make adjustments from any location. This Linksys dual-band router has a sleek design that integrates easily into most workspaces.
Customer Rating
5
Linksys makes Smart WiFi easy to use
on November 1, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
A long time ago, I set up my first WiFi network in my first apartment. It was a bit of a tedious process because the idea of home wireless networking was very new. My brother insisted that I have it though because it would make my life easier. He was of course very correct in that estimation and I’ve never had a residence that didn’t have WiFi. That being said, as our Internet protocols have advanced, so has the equipment for our home networks. I’ve had routers that connect to modems, modem/router combinations, and even just direct connections to switches with a good old ethernet cable. My point is that I’ve had experiences setting up networks. So, when I was presented with the opportunity to review the Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router, I was a little hesitant because sometimes, it can just be a pain. But, as I was to find out quite quickly, the Linksys WRT 3200 is an impressive piece of hardware with an even more impressive signal output.
Before I get into the review at hand, I want to describe our current WiFi network and its settings. We have a Netgear Nighthawk C7000 WiFi Cable Modem Router combo headlining our network. While we can turn off the WiFi network from the Netgear, we have been using it. We also have a mesh network set-up for signal consistency throughout the house via the eero WiFi system. Now, we also have the Linksys set-up as yet another WiFi network signal. I mention all this because all of these systems are pulling the same signal from our Internet Provider (Time Warner) and it makes the speed test results below even more impressive.
SET-UP (ROUTER)
Set-up was very, very easy. The Linksys comes with a quick start guide that gives you 4 simple steps to get your WiFi network up and running. You connect it to power with the supplied cable, then you connect the router to your modem (in our case, the Netgear Nighthawk). Once the indicator lights on the front of the Linksys show that it is powered and receiving an Internet signal, you connect to the wireless network through your computer (or mobile device) using the default network name (Linksys00505 in our case) and provided password. For me, this part of the set-up process took about 5 minutes. It was that easy. I used a MacBook Pro (mid-2014 model) to connect to the network and it was just as easy as selecting the network name from my WiFi drop-down menu and typing in the password.
Set-up was very, very easy. The Linksys comes with a quick start guide that gives you 4 simple steps to get your WiFi network up and running. You connect it to power with the supplied cable, then you connect the router to your modem (in our case, the Netgear Nighthawk). Once the indicator lights on the front of the Linksys show that it is powered and receiving an Internet signal, you connect to the wireless network through your computer (or mobile device) using the default network name (Linksys00505 in our case) and provided password. For me, this part of the set-up process took about 5 minutes. It was that easy. I used a MacBook Pro (mid-2014 model) to connect to the network and it was just as easy as selecting the network name from my WiFi drop-down menu and typing in the password.
The last step of the set-up is to launch the Linksys Smart WiFi instructions in an Internet browser. This step includes the Linksys system updating. I would recommend that you give permission to the system to update automatically, but you can always change this later.
SET-UP (SMART WIFI)
Once you have the initial set-up complete, then you can move into the Smart WiFi aspect of the router. It’s actually quite ingenious the way the Linksys has it set-up. First of all, you can connect to the router’s settings via the web address listed above, or through the mobile app (available for iOS or Android). What’s really cool about this particular system is how easy it is to use. As I mentioned, I’ve set-up and maintained several different WiFi networks throughout my adult life and I’ve always needed assistance getting them set-up (either from a human or additional instructions online) because the admin panel is always written in gibberish (a.k.a. programmer’s speak). The interfaces are just not very friendly. Linksys got this system right with the Smart WiFi option. Anyone can get their network set-up quickly and easily when using this option.
Once you have the initial set-up complete, then you can move into the Smart WiFi aspect of the router. It’s actually quite ingenious the way the Linksys has it set-up. First of all, you can connect to the router’s settings via the web address listed above, or through the mobile app (available for iOS or Android). What’s really cool about this particular system is how easy it is to use. As I mentioned, I’ve set-up and maintained several different WiFi networks throughout my adult life and I’ve always needed assistance getting them set-up (either from a human or additional instructions online) because the admin panel is always written in gibberish (a.k.a. programmer’s speak). The interfaces are just not very friendly. Linksys got this system right with the Smart WiFi option. Anyone can get their network set-up quickly and easily when using this option.
SPEEDTEST
When it came to speed testing the WiFi signal, I used two sources - speedtest and sourceforge. Both options give the user a clear view of the network speed and what you are truly getting. We were recently upgraded to a 250-meg service when our internet provider was acquired by a new company. But, we’ve never really seen that download speed and assumed it was because we were checking it the speed at times when the provider may have been throttling the network signal (higher traffic times). As it turns out, it was the hardware we were using at home. As you will see below, I have listed the results of the speed tests. I only used sourceforge to test out the accuracy of speedtest and then I used speedtest to test each of the networks against each other.
When it came to speed testing the WiFi signal, I used two sources - speedtest and sourceforge. Both options give the user a clear view of the network speed and what you are truly getting. We were recently upgraded to a 250-meg service when our internet provider was acquired by a new company. But, we’ve never really seen that download speed and assumed it was because we were checking it the speed at times when the provider may have been throttling the network signal (higher traffic times). As it turns out, it was the hardware we were using at home. As you will see below, I have listed the results of the speed tests. I only used sourceforge to test out the accuracy of speedtest and then I used speedtest to test each of the networks against each other.
LINKSYS WRT 3200
speedtest: 231.18 Mbps (down) | 19.89 Mbps (up)
sourceforge: 228 Mbps (down) | 23 Mbps (up) (only used to test the results of speedtest)
speedtest: 231.18 Mbps (down) | 19.89 Mbps (up)
sourceforge: 228 Mbps (down) | 23 Mbps (up) (only used to test the results of speedtest)
NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK C7000
speedtest: 97.66 Mbps (down) | 15.43 Mbps (up)
speedtest: 97.66 Mbps (down) | 15.43 Mbps (up)
EERO WIFI SYSTEM
speedtest: 86.23 Mbps (down) | 19.53 Mbps (up)
speedtest: 86.23 Mbps (down) | 19.53 Mbps (up)
I ran the test several times - switching back and forth between the networks - and every time, the Linksys router won with the best download speed. We got the same results when we ran the speed test on the iPhone, too. I continue to be very impressed by the speed of the signal provided by the Linksys router.
CONCLUSIONS
The Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router is a solid piece of networking hardware. It’s very easy to set-up and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with its performance.
The Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router is a solid piece of networking hardware. It’s very easy to set-up and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with its performance.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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AppleCare+ for Apple Watch - 2 Year Plan
Customer Rating
5
The warranty you need
on October 30, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
Apple Care Plus is the warranty you need for any Apple products. When you have Apple Care you are covered for most any accidental damage for up to two times and it covers two years of phone support. Not only that the product is covered for three years total so if anything was to just randomly go wrong like the buttons stick or the screen stop working you would be all good.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Apple Watch Series 2 is a superior sports watch that measures your workouts with detailed customizable metrics. An advanced activity tracker that shows you how often you move, exercise, and stand, and lets you share your progress. A powerful health tool that helps you be more conscious of your overall well-being, starting with your heart rate. And an all-day assistant that provides instant access to the people, apps, and information you care about most. There are cases made from aluminum and stainless steel and a full range of interchangeable bands in a variety of styles, colors, and materials. All models run watchOS 3. Requires an iPhone 5 or later.
Customer Rating
5
Faster then the first Apple Watch
on October 30, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
Verified Purchase:Yes
I owned the first Apple Watch and was not a super fan of the product. It was much better than the other Smart Watch I had before but still lacked due to watchOS.
This year Apple released watchOS 3 and it improved my first Apple Watch tremendously. I knew the speed and the full waterproofing was what I needed with the Apple Watch Series 2.
So how is the design? It's the same as the first Apple Watch but slightly thicker. Not enough that you can notice. The speakers seem louder and everything runs much quicker. I love this watch. The only thing I don't like is that I did not get the edition. The porcelain Apple Watch looks hot.
One hint of advice. If you have the first Apple Watch and you upgrade, set the watch up as a new Watch. Don't try to pull your settings from iCoud down to it. I did and my new watch ran at the speed of SLOW! After doing a clean install and setting it up as new I've had no problems at all.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
Customer Rating
5
Google found a winning design with the Pixel
on October 24, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I am a die-hard iOS fan. I’ve had every iPhone since they were released and almost every major technology device I purchase is Apple. Coming from the view of someone who is iOS all the way I can tell you that my short time with the Google Pixel has been interesting. I found the phone to be very well-designed and it rivals my iPhone 7 Plus. It’s an exceptional mobile phone and it was actually a pleasure to use.
Most of the Android phones we get I pass along to others to write about because the operating system makes me jitter in my sleep. One of my big problems with Android is that the manufacturers and carriers tend to add a lot of ‘bloatware’ to the phones. And, because the carriers like to maintain control as much as possible, sometimes the OS should receive an update, but the carriers don’t allow the update through. The product designer and carrier just don’t ‘talk’ to each other. With Google, they have full over the hardware and software and the OS shows a great improvement with Nugget 7.1. Unlike any other Android phone I’ve ever used, I received an update the second day of using it. I don’t think I ever received an update while using other Android devices so it was a pleasant surprise.
Let’s start this review by looking at the build quality. I found the body of the smartphone to be very familiar. The front reminds me of an iPhone without the fingerprint scanner. The ‘chin' is still there on the front of the phone and even though some people are complaining that it’s unused space, I see the non-touch screen real estate to be a useful resting place for my fingers when flipping to landscape mode.
Google placed the fingerprint reader on the back rather than the front - this is somewhat typical of other Android-based phone designs. I was very impressed with the set-up process of the fingerprint scanner. It scanned my finger faster than the iPhone and reads my print correct the first time every time. The back of the phone is part aluminum (bottom half) and part glass (top half). Also located on the back is the camera and its flash. You will notice right off the bat that Google found a way not to have the crazy camera hump that the iPhone (and some Samsung phones) has and that makes for a smoother and cleaner look. Even though the back is sleek and smooth, Google did not attempt to hide the antenna line at the bottom of the phone. Apple took care to move the antenna line on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus so that it is less noticeable.
The underside of the smartphone has one speaker port and a USB-C port for charging and syncing. The second speaker area looks like a speaker but it’s not. The USB-C post is a nice touch for the phone. At the top, you will see the good old headphone jack everyone is missing on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Personally, I was glad to see the headphone jack removed from the iPhone design, but I know that others still want it. Those people will be happy that Google included it here.
When you hold the Pixel next to the iPhone 7 they feel and look very similar. The weight of the Pixel is (143 grams) where the iPhone 7 weighs in at only (138 grams). I found that when holding both the iPhone 7 and the Pixel that the iPhone felt like it weighed more but the specs don’t lie. The small diffidence in weight would be hard for anyone to detect.
When it came to comparing the Pixel’s speed to the iPhone, it was a close race to call. When opening YouTube, the Pixel won. Safari won for fastest Internet Browser and the iPhone won for the best Instagram experience because of how it handled video. The general camera function was pretty much a tie. I think the iPhone 7 Plus has one of the best displays in the market, but the colors on Google’s Pixel really stand out with its AMOLED display.
Speaking of displays looking, at the photos and video I’ve taken with the Pixel I find them to look beautiful. The camera takes wonderful photos and to be honest I was expecting to say the iPhone would just blow the Pixel out of the water but it really held its own. The Pixel handles backgrounds very well and takes super crisp shots. I like most of the shots I took with the Pixel and found them to show blacks much better than the iPhone, but there were some photos the Pixel overcompensated for with the colors and they look like someone added Instagram filters to them. When it comes to the camera you're getting more if you buy an iPhone 7 Plus but if you're looking for what I feel is the best camera with Android devices, the Pixel is the clear winner.
I’m impressed with this Android phone. Nugget is a solid OS and for years I’ve bashed Android. If Apple stopped selling iPhones tomorrow and Google kept on this path with the Pixel it would be my smartphone of choice at this time.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep your home dust-free with this Bissell AirRAM cordless vacuum. Its high-performance F.U.E.L. cell provides up to 30 minutes of run time, while the advanced compression technology lets it store as much dirt as typical bagless vacuums. This Bissell AirRAM cordless vacuum has a low profile for easy maneuvering around furniture.
Customer Rating
5
A great vacuum for any environment
on October 21, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
We have an indoor dog. He makes our lives complete, but he also leave a lot of hair laying around. So, we end up vacuuming the house multiple times per week. This in itself wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but trying to juggle the old of the ‘big’ vacuum along with maneuvering around various objects and obstacles. That’s where the Bissell AirRam Cordless Vacuum comes in to help.
This amazing little vacuum packs a powerful punch against dirt and debris. I don’t vacuum as much as I should because I hate hauling out the ‘big’ vacuum and dragging the cord all around the house. I have to plug it in in one room, then plug it in halfway down the hallway, and then plug it in in our front room. It’s extra steps that I don’t like taking. So, the first thing I was really happy about with the AirRam was the fact that it’s cordless. The battery holds a charge for a very long time. Out of the box (which was not a full charge), I was able to vacuum our living room, hallway, second bedroom, and office area — approximately 1000 square feet — without needing to charge it. This really impressed me. To charge it, you disconnect the battery and plug it into the wall using a power adapter. If I were to change one thing about this process, it would be to create a charging dock of sorts for the AirRam to sit and charge on. As it is, removing the battery and charging it by power adapter is still preferable to chasing around a lengthy cord that is attached to the vacuum unit.
I’ll admit that when I got this ‘stick’ vacuum, I wasn’t expecting very good results on the carpet. We have thick carpet and I really didn’t think that it would pick up much other than surface dirt. I was completely wrong! It’s a mighty mini vacuum and it pulls a lot of dirt, dust and debris out of the core of the flooring. It’s bagless and the collection cylinder easily pops out of the vacuum and even has a slider to aid you in emptying the collected dirt. The vacuum is lightweight and very flexible so you can get underneath beds and other furniture quite, quite easily. You can also use this on hard surface (wood, tile, etc.) flooring. I used it on our tile floor and was very happy with the results.
I don’t have any benchmarking tests to put the AirRam against except a comparison to our larger vacuum unit, which is a full size vacuum designed to pick up pet hair (it’s a Hoover). I would say that the AirRam works just as well as our full size unit and is perfect for ‘in between’ cleaning jobs. It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and easy to push on carpet — even thick, heavy carpet like what I have.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Listen to music uninterrupted with these Sony stereo headphones. Adaptive noise cancellation features ensure you only hear the music and not ambient sounds, while a powerful battery delivers up to 20 hours of listening pleasure. These Sony stereo headphones are wireless so that you can listen in comfort to the high-resolution audio that delivers incredible bass and trebles.
Customer Rating
5
Some of the best headphones I've ever used
on October 3, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve been a fan of Sony products as long as I can remember. Even though there are many new market leaders in technology, Sony has always been a “top of the line” manufacturer of electronics. I’ve been searching for quite some time for an awesome set of wireless noise cancelling headphones. I always seem to find decent ones, but they continue to underwhelm me in most cases. Then, I found the Sony 1000X Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones. They are sleek, functional, and, most importantly, they sound great!
For the purposes of this review, I am looking at the headphones as they work with their advertised features and not how they compare to similar models.
Out of the box, you will find the usual assortment of filler materials including the headphones, the headphone semi-hard shell case, a headphone cable, a Micro-USB cable for charging, a plug adapter for in-flight use, a quick start guide, and user manual for the 1000X headphones. It’s all carefully packaged and the headphones are secured within the storage case.
When I pulled every thing out of the box, the first thing I did was inspect the headphones. You will notice on the storage case that were is an exterior fine mesh pocket. This is meant for store your accessorizing cables in. Inside the storage case, you will find a small pouch for the in-flight adapter and a paper diagram for how the headphones should lay while they are in the case. I would recommend keeping this insert as it makes it easier to re-store the headphones after using them.
The first thing I really noticed about the headphones was the soft padding on both the headband and the earpieces. It’s probably the most comfortable material I’ve felt on headphones. The next thing I noticed was the absence of control buttons. The 1000X’s have finger-touch controls on the outside of the right can. I like this feature on wireless headphones when it works right. I’m a little skeptical of it until it does. There are three buttons on the left can - power, NC (noise cancelling), and Ambient Sound, which allows you to still hear everyday sounds, like traffic, in the background while listening to music.
Taking a look at the quick start guide, you will notice that it’s just a bunch of pictures and icons. This can be a little hard to follow, but it’s convenient for multiple country distribution. For my first test, I simply put the headphones over my ears. Even without any power turned on, the headphones work wonders in deadening the sound around you. It took a fairly quiet house (just some background noise of the A/C, dog snoring, and my typing) and turned it into a dull whisper-hum of the A/C only. I couldn’t even hear my fingers dancing around on the keyboard.
AS WIRED HEADPHONES
As I mentioned, the headphones are somewhat isolating without any powered assist from the noise cancellation feature in play. This is nice because seems as though the wireless features are not available when you plug the headphones into your computer. I am unable to verify at this time if this is user error or if this was intended as the manual doesn’t describe this scenario nor does the quick start guide. All I saw was “use the suppled headphone cable,” which I did. The sound quality was impeccable. It’s clear, crisp, and very deep. I listen to a variety of music - everything from big band era to today’s top 40 is in my ‘wheel house’. In testing these headphones out, I specifically called up Train’s “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” which has a gorgeous range of highs and lows and finely tuned rock anthem instruments. The vocals are superb and the bass is very punchy. Listening to that song, which I’ve heard 100 times before on Sony’s 1000X headphones was a treat.
As I mentioned, the headphones are somewhat isolating without any powered assist from the noise cancellation feature in play. This is nice because seems as though the wireless features are not available when you plug the headphones into your computer. I am unable to verify at this time if this is user error or if this was intended as the manual doesn’t describe this scenario nor does the quick start guide. All I saw was “use the suppled headphone cable,” which I did. The sound quality was impeccable. It’s clear, crisp, and very deep. I listen to a variety of music - everything from big band era to today’s top 40 is in my ‘wheel house’. In testing these headphones out, I specifically called up Train’s “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” which has a gorgeous range of highs and lows and finely tuned rock anthem instruments. The vocals are superb and the bass is very punchy. Listening to that song, which I’ve heard 100 times before on Sony’s 1000X headphones was a treat.
The next song I pulled up was George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” If you’ve never heard it, it’s got perhaps the most dynamic range in instrumental history. It’s an orchestral piece written with a piano as the primary focus. There are numerous instrumental voices in the piece and all of them are easily heard when you use the Sony 1000X headphones. The headphones produce a gorgeous sound and truly pull out the highs and lows to highlight the work of symphonic art that Rhapsody in Blue is.
ALL THE WIRELESS FUNCTIONS
Even though I really had a treat listening to music through the wired connection of the 1000X’s, I moved along to test out the wireless functions, which are the real star of these headphones.
Even though I really had a treat listening to music through the wired connection of the 1000X’s, I moved along to test out the wireless functions, which are the real star of these headphones.
Connecting through Bluetooth is pretty easy. I used my iPhone and the Sony’s were immediately recognized. In the hours I’ve been using these headphones, I’ve never once lost connection or found myself having to re-pair the two devices. It’s worked seamlessly.
As for the touch-controls, I had a little bit of a learning curve as I worked with them just because they are a little different, but I found the more I used them, the easier they were to use. The finger-touch operations were very responsive and the only issue I had was with the play/pause button. There were a few times that it didn’t register my touch, but that may have been my error.
I think the best/coolest feature is Quick Attention. You simply cup your hand over the right ear and the Quick Attention feature automatically lowers the volume so you can pay attention to someone talking to you or important ambient noise. I used this several times while I tested these out and I found it to be quite useful. I was amazed that the technology worked, but it did!
As for the active noise cancelling, the headphones will not only deaden the sound, but they will also do it intelligently. The Personal Noise Cancelling Optimizer will analyze how the headphones actually sit on your head to maximize the noise cancelling. It’s a very cool feature and it’s something that comes in quite handy because everyone has a different shaped head.
CONCLUSIONS
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work with many high-quality brands of headphones - Bowers & Wilkins, MONSTER, Beats, etc. - and none of them have really come close to touching the functionality and sound quality of these Sony 1000X Wireless headphones. I’ve been incredibly impressed with them, in case you can’t tell. I really didn’t expect to love these headphones as much as I do, but they have really been a great accessory for me.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work with many high-quality brands of headphones - Bowers & Wilkins, MONSTER, Beats, etc. - and none of them have really come close to touching the functionality and sound quality of these Sony 1000X Wireless headphones. I’ve been incredibly impressed with them, in case you can’t tell. I really didn’t expect to love these headphones as much as I do, but they have really been a great accessory for me.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Tackle the biggest messes with this Bissell Crosswave all-in-one multi-surface cleaner. A dual-action roller scrubs and picks up debris at the same time to reduce the number of passes you need to make, and the convenient fingertip controls let you switch functions quickly and easily. This Bissell Crosswave all-in-one multi-surface cleaner has swivel steering for increased control.
Customer Rating
5
Cleans heavy traffic areas beautifully
on September 21, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
No matter how much I try to keep our kitchen floors clean, they never seem to stay that way. It’s a constant struggle especially when you have pets and the kitchen is a main thoroughfare through the house. I’ve tried regular mops, sweeping the floor every other day, steam mops, and even simple rags with cleaning solution on the floors. While it helps for an initial cleaning, within hours of the floors drying, they are right back to needing to be cleaned. The Bissell Crosswave is truly the ultimate cleaning solution for heavily traveled floors.
The Crosswave is a mop and vacuum in one device. It comes packaged as a single unit with the handle insertion being the only assembly required. When I took the cleaner out of the box, I was able to start cleaning the floors within about 10 minutes (operator manual review included). The Crosswave comes packaged with two bottles of cleaning solution - multipurpose and wood floors. The bottles while small stretch out for a long period of time because you dilute it with warm water when you fill the cleaning solution reservoir.
The Crosswave is very sturdy. It’s a solid cleaning device and one of the most impressive parts to me is that the vacuum comes with a storage tray for it to live on. This would prevent any excess fluid from spilling onto the floor after using it for a cleaning.
So, the big question is, “how well does it clean?” My answer is very well. When I first started it up, the vacuum part of the device picked up dirt and debris right away, but it took a few minutes for me to really notice the mop part working. Because I was using it in a heavily trafficked area of our house, I knew there was a lot of dried grass that had been tracked in, dog food and hair, as well as regular dirt that had settled on the floor. It was a good testing ground for the Crosswave.
After about 5 minutes of running the Crosswave over the kitchen floor, I found that the floor felt cleaner. I was walking through the room barefoot and could actually tell the difference between the section of floor that had been cleaned, and the one that hadn’t. It was very refreshing to see a cleaning tool work so well on such a difficult area to clean.
The Bissell Crosswave works better than just a standard sweeping or steam mop will do, but every once in a while, you may still have to take a mop to the floor for the hard to scrub places.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Power your Apple devices with this Belkin charge dock. It comes with a Lightning connector that charges iPhones and an integrated magnetic charger that provides Apple watches with more juice when needed. The single built-in cable of this Belkin charge dock lets you charge both devices simultaneously, saving you the inconvenience of using multiple cords.
Customer Rating
5
The most solid Apple Watch and phone charging dock
on August 30, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
This has to be one of the most solid Apple Watch and iPhone charging docks around.
This is now my new favorite dock for my iPhone and Apple Watch. Why you might ask? Well the first of many reasons is that the Apple Watch charging puck is built in. That means no fooling around using the one from Apple and stringing it through here and there to use a third party dock. Belkin is one of the only companies so far to work with Apple on creating a dock with the puck built into the dock. Not a good enough reason for you?
How about the fact that you can use the dock with pretty much any iPhone case because Belkin designed it with a scroll wheel in the back so all you do is simply scroll left or right to raise and lower the lightning port? The gray plastic is made of a very soft material that will keep my devices from getting scratched and the body is made with lots of weight to keep it in place. Some docks slide around the desk when you connect your devices, but not this one. Why more companies don't add weight to make the user experience more enjoyable is beyond me.
Aside from the weighted base and the built-in charging puck, this Belkin dock also has a lot of style. I already mentioned the gray covering, but I didn't mention that the body is a bright white color. The combination of the two complimentary colors really make for a sleek looking dock. It's a very clean, modern look that I really like in an accessory.
Another unique feature of this dock is the charging cable. It's a fairly standard 12V power adapter except for one thing - the universal plug. The adapter comes equipped with the U.S. wall outlet installed, but the plug can be swapped out for any regional wall outlet adapter. So, if you travel a lot internationally, this would be a great option for you. The only thing is that the additional adapters are not included with the dock.
This is a wonderful dock and when I say it's my favorite I'm not just being funny. I've used lots of docks for the iPhone and Apple Watch and none of them can hold a candle to this one. It's truly awesome.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take this 11.6-inch Acer Chromebook anywhere you need to go thanks to its compact size and light weight. With its Intel Celeron N3060 dual core processor, you can enjoy fast Internet browsing and computing. The high visibility of the HD touch screen display with LED backlighting lets you use this Acer Chromebook in almost any lighting conditions.
Customer Rating
5
Great build but It takes time getting used too
on July 22, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve been working off of laptops for most of my adult life. Desktop computers have sort of become a thing of the past except for those people who need it for a specific purpose like gaming. I’ve had a variety of laptops throughout my life and really like how easy it makes working on the go. Mobile computing has been evolving for the past several years and now there are hybrid laptop/tablets like the Acer Touch-Screen Chromebook.
The Acer Touch-Screen Chromebook takes the best of the tablet and puts it into a small laptop form. It’s an 11-inch small-form laptop with a 360-degree dual-torque hinge for the screen. This allows the user to flip the screen around so that you can use it in full table form. It’s quite an interesting device and something that I’ve really enjoyed testing out. Here are some of my experiences with this Chromebook.
First Impressions
The Chromebook arrived in a simple brown cardboard box. When I opened it up, the laptop was encased in a soft cloth sleeve and was held in place by a couple of pieces of pre-formed styrofoam. Along with the computer and its packaging, there was a power cable with wall adapter and minimal paperwork. When I took the laptop out of the packaging, I found a beautiful, clean, white computer with two simple logos on the cover – Acer and Google Chrome. Lifting the lid, you will find a soft fiber/cloth keyboard/screen protector. I would suggest if you don’t keep that one in place that you find one to use with the computer so that you have little risk of damaging your screen.
The Chromebook arrived in a simple brown cardboard box. When I opened it up, the laptop was encased in a soft cloth sleeve and was held in place by a couple of pieces of pre-formed styrofoam. Along with the computer and its packaging, there was a power cable with wall adapter and minimal paperwork. When I took the laptop out of the packaging, I found a beautiful, clean, white computer with two simple logos on the cover – Acer and Google Chrome. Lifting the lid, you will find a soft fiber/cloth keyboard/screen protector. I would suggest if you don’t keep that one in place that you find one to use with the computer so that you have little risk of damaging your screen.
Before I started the laptop up for the first time, I plugged in the power adapter. I was surprised to find that this very portable Chromebook came with such a large power cable. I really expected it to have a single charging cable like most tablets do. But, Acer provided a fairly old-school, but standard AC adapter. This is one thing that I hope Acer would take note of in future updates – this computer should charge with a single cable and one that is universal like USB.
The specs for the Chromebook are quite impressive. It has an Intel Celeron quad-core processor with 1.60 GHz processor speed. The computer has 2GB memory and 32GB Flash storage. You can expand your storage by using Flash Drive or SD cards. The screen is 11.6 inches in size and features in-plane switching. The screen has a resolution of 1366 x 768 (HD). It does have 1 HDMI port and 2 USB 3.0 ports, and an SD card reader built-in. Since it’s an internet-based machine, I was impressed by how many ports for external support it has.
First Startup
There is a simple power button on the side of the computer. I would have liked to see this be a part of the keyboard instead of next to a plug port because there would be less chance that I might tap the button when I’m plugging something in. The Chromebook powered up very quickly and prompted me to enter a Google account to keep all my information synced. What was interesting to me was that the operating system, as fast it is, it is essentially just Google Chrome? Most of the activities you can participate within the OS are internet-based. All your data is stored in the cloud. This is kind of the essence of the Chromebook. While it was kind of a shock and a different experience for me since I’m primarily a Mac user, but also have quite a bit of experience with Windows. Chrome OS was new to me. It’s very minimalist, which I like.
There is a simple power button on the side of the computer. I would have liked to see this be a part of the keyboard instead of next to a plug port because there would be less chance that I might tap the button when I’m plugging something in. The Chromebook powered up very quickly and prompted me to enter a Google account to keep all my information synced. What was interesting to me was that the operating system, as fast it is, it is essentially just Google Chrome? Most of the activities you can participate within the OS are internet-based. All your data is stored in the cloud. This is kind of the essence of the Chromebook. While it was kind of a shock and a different experience for me since I’m primarily a Mac user, but also have quite a bit of experience with Windows. Chrome OS was new to me. It’s very minimalist, which I like.
So, after I entered my account information, I began working with the interface. It is fast. I think that is perhaps because the system is not cluttered or weighed down with any big files. It is simple and clean – much like the hardware itself. One of the things I like most about this laptop is the keyboard. It has very soft, quiet keys. This makes it ideal for late night work when I take my computer to bed with me. The keys are full size and spaced out very well.
The Chromebook has an impressive array of input ports, which is surprising since this laptop is supposed to be minimalist and extremely mobile. I’m not complaining. It’s very helpful to be able to connect various accessories with no trouble. The Acer Chromebook is also Bluetooth compatible. One of the first things I did was to connect a Bluetooth mouse to it so that I could manage files easier and more efficiently.
As a tablet, the Chromebook works very well. It’s a little larger than some hybrid’s I’ve seen. The touch screen is very responsive and transitioning between the two methods of computing with this device. The screen rotates very easily and it functions well as a tablet.
Testing & Benchmarks
As I mentioned above, working with Chrome OS was a bit new to me. It has a strong look and feel and it’s very intuitive. You can use “Ok Google” as a voice assistant to help you with searching for information online. I have to say that it worked remarkably well when I tested it out. I was in a noisy room and even though the microphone was picking up the other noise in the room, it still understood my command. My basic testing for performance included internet searches and browsing, composing a blog article, and reviewing the interface as a whole. I think that some people might get confused about the cloud-based, internet-only nature of the OS, but for me, I definitely see the benefit.
As I mentioned above, working with Chrome OS was a bit new to me. It has a strong look and feel and it’s very intuitive. You can use “Ok Google” as a voice assistant to help you with searching for information online. I have to say that it worked remarkably well when I tested it out. I was in a noisy room and even though the microphone was picking up the other noise in the room, it still understood my command. My basic testing for performance included internet searches and browsing, composing a blog article, and reviewing the interface as a whole. I think that some people might get confused about the cloud-based, internet-only nature of the OS, but for me, I definitely see the benefit.
As far as benchmarks go, I found that with Chrome OS you have to use a system called Octane, which measures the JavaScript engine performance. I tested the Acer Touch-Screen Chromebook three times and found that its performance level is greater than most other Chromebooks in the market.
Conclusions
The Acer Touch-Screen Chromebook is a very capable mobile computing device. I really enjoying using it, especially for light computer work. It’s great for anything internet-based, but if you need something for more than that, you may want to look elsewhere. It’s not that the hardware can’t support it, it’s that the OS isn’t built for it.
The Acer Touch-Screen Chromebook is a very capable mobile computing device. I really enjoying using it, especially for light computer work. It’s great for anything internet-based, but if you need something for more than that, you may want to look elsewhere. It’s not that the hardware can’t support it, it’s that the OS isn’t built for it.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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21of 25voted this as helpful.
Geek Squad® Certified Refurbished products are thoroughly, painstakingly and lovingly tested, so you can be sure that your device will work right, right away. Learn more about Geek Squad® Certified Refurbished products.Apple Watch is an incredibly customizable timepiece, has entirely new ways to stay in touch, and is a comprehensive health and fitness companion.
Customer Rating
5
Love the Apple Watch
on May 27, 2016
Posted by: nickcal
from Evansville
Verified Purchase:Yes
I love my Apple Watch, it's an awesome device. What do I like most about it you might ask? Well, It's the notifications.
I love not having to grab at my phone while at dinner to see if the latest text message or email is something that is of importance. I strongly dislike when people pull their phones out and stare into the screens rather than the people sitting across from them.
The second and for most people is the health option. Before the Apple Watch, I was buying all sorts of different health bands trying to find one that would track my movement and heart rate throughout my day.
Each one I would try had something great but would be strongly lacking in other areas. Needless to say, I would end up selling or returning each smart band within a few months. The Apple Watch is a different storey. I've had mine since day one of it being released. This is my second Apple Watch. Long storey on what happened to the first one and that does not matter but what matters , is that I enjoyed it so much that after a year of wearing it every day I bought a second one.
Apple might be coming out with a new one soon and that's ok. This one will hold it's value and work for me.
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
My Best Buy number: 2677435109
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
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can i download skype
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9 years, 1 month ago
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