VADarkstar's stats
- Review count222
- Helpfulness votes834
- First reviewAugust 22, 2014
- Last reviewMay 12, 2024
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- Average rating4
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Philips Norelco OneBlade Pro hybrid electric trimmer and shaver, QP6520/70 (14 length comb)
Customer Rating
4
Great Electric Razor With A Problematic Trimmer
on October 17, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The Philips Norelco OneBlade Pro Wet/Dry Trimmer is an electric razor with a different design than rotary razors (or other razors that trim whiskers using a blade against some kind of screen). It uses a replaceable shaving surface (the OneBlade) that is similar in size and shape to a multi-blade razor. But the Philips razor operates more like a little orbital sander for your whiskers (though you can’t really feel the movement of the shaving surface against your skin).
It works wet or dry - with or without shaving cream or gel. You can even use it in the shower. The top and bottom of each surface is designed for edging - the top of each “blade” drives the trimmer. Each OneBlade razor is supposed to last up to four months.
For shaving, I got the best results using just a small amount of shaving gel to insure the razor could move smoothly over the contours of my face. It gives nearly as close a shave as a blade razor but gives a better shave than any other electric razor I have ever used (no pulled whiskers and no razor burns from having to grind into difficult areas). It did, however, take me a few tries to figure out the best angle, pressure, and direction to use for the best shave - my first shave left me a little patchy but by the third day, I had things pretty well figured out.
The razor needed to be fully charged before its first use but charged very quickly. There is a display on the handle that shows you the remaining charge level when you turn the razor off. After five shaves, I still had a charge of over 90%.
The trimmer attachment secures over the OneBlade and clicks into the handle. You can then control the cut using a dial on top of the trimmer - settings allow for trimmed hair lengths between 1/32” and 13/32” (well, technically, between .4mm and 10mm since the settings are marked in metric).
The trimmer attachment works just fine but is awkward and clumsy - difficult and unintuitive to hold and use. If someone was facing you to trim your beard, the trimmer would fit naturally in their hand - but the angle you need to use to trim your own beard is cumbersome (and is uncomfortable in my hand).
Overall, I’m very impressed with the OneBlade Pro razor but I wish they had thought-through the trimmer attachment a little bit more.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
8of 15voted this as helpful.
Take control of your food prep with this Ninja food processor. Its two interchangeable attachments accomplish a wide range of kitchen tasks, including chopping nuts, slicing vegetables and pureeing fruit, and its auto spiralizer lets you make versatile vegetable noodles. This Ninja food processor has a drizzle hole lid for conveniently adding oils and other liquids.
Customer Rating
2
Good Quality But With A Bad Design
on October 11, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The Ninja Precision 4-Cup Food Processor consists of a motorized base with chambers for two types of food prep - one for "spiralizing” or shredding foods into spaghetti strands - and one that functions more like a food chopper or small food processor. Calling it a 4-cup processor is generous - the spiralizing collection chamber will functionally hold about 3-cups and the food processing chamber functions at more like a 2-cup limit. Ninja’s description suggests that this unit will also slice vegetables but there is no included or available attachment for that function.
The spiralizer is designed very poorly. The feed-in chamber is too large (partially In order to allow larger items to be processed), but the capacity of that chamber encourages vegetables to topple over and spin without being processed into the desired ribbons (pictures attached).
The chopper chamber is nice, though - it can be fitted with a sharp two-tiered blade (like the ones that come with Ninja blenders) or with a dough blade (but will only mix and knead a pretty small amount of dough). And the processor chamber has a top with a drizzle hole for making dressings and emulsified sauces.
The “Quick Assembly” guide appears to suggest that there are five spiralizing disks included with this assembly but only two are provided (I assume the others can be purchased?).
I like the base design a lot - definitely a lot more than the ones that come with other small commercial choppers/processors. The base is stabilized on the counter with four small suction cups and that works well. The motor is strong and very fast.
All the parts assemble and disassemble easily and intuitively - plus everything fits nicely into the dishwasher.
But based on the disaster I experienced with spiralizing, I don’t think this is a useful machine choice.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+9points
10of 11voted this as helpful.
Be amazed by stunning Ultra HD content with this 65-inch Hisense smart ULED TV. Its HDR support and 4K upscaler optimize your viewing experience, and its Motion Rate 480 performance delivers smooth, clear visuals. Connect high-definition components to this Hisense smart ULED TV via its four HDMI and three USB inputs.
Customer Rating
5
Bright and Clear With Great Color Reproduction
on October 11, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
It looks like Hisense has seriously upped its game this year with TVs designed to compete against the better known brands in this country. The H9D series of smart TVs all sport Hisense’s own proprietary ULED screens that are bright and colorful with strong contrast and rich blacks - all support high dynamic range (HDR) content - all have 4K UHD upscaling, dbx-tv® audio, and bluetooth 4.0 sound output. Motion rate and dimming vary by specific model and size - my 65” model is a H9D Plus with a motion rate of 480 and edge-lit local dimming (direct-lit local dimming is only available on larger models).
This unit is Netflix certified and streaming their Ultra HD 4K content is spectacular (as is their HD content). The higher motion rate on this model is supposed to insure ultra-smooth reproduction in content with significant action (e.g. sports and anything that has a spaceship or chase scene in it) - apparently the actual physical display has a 120-Hz refresh rate, but the system does some image processing and smoothing to help display rapid movement (I have read a lot of criticism of these technologies but haven’t noticed any interpolation problems here - action sequences look great). The UHD upscaler feature improves the reproduction of older (non-HD) content in the higher-resolution environment - I found that the upscaling worked surprisingly well even with terrible Youtube content.
But Netflix aside, this Hisense ULED screen is a winner in general - I think the images I’m getting are stunning. Details in low-light scenes are particularly impressive. The Hisense site suggests that their ULED technology is crucial for, among other things, a feeling of self-worth (I’m not kidding) - if you find your own self-worth through other means, I don’t think that makes this TV any less visually impressive. It’s gorgeous.
The sound is strong and clear with very little distortion but it is no match for the scope and quality of the image on this TV - you should probably consider adding an improved external sound source for the best possible experience.
The only thing that needs significant improvement is the remote control - it is almost artificially large (9” by 2”) and is clunky and unintuitive - it feels like it was designed for people who spend more time streaming content than they do watching cable TV (just in terms of how the remote fits in the hand and where the various buttons are located). The buttons on the remote are not backlit (FWIW).
The surface of the screen is a little reflective - you might have a problem if you’re planning to mount this TV opposite some windows or in a room that is going to be very brightly lit - I know this is a problem with a LOT of TVs so it’s a good idea to consider it with any TV you might be looking at (see what the reflections look like when the TV is turned off - some TVs are mega-shiny!).
Long story short, though: this Hisense H9D Plus is going to be a great addition to my home. I love it.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Get more work done on your 10.5-inch iPad Pro or iPad Air (2019) when you connect this Brydge Bluetooth keyboard. The backlit keys let you type easily in any lighting, and the battery lasts up to one year between charges for reliable performance. This Brydge Bluetooth keyboard snaps easily in place and closes over the tablet screen on a 180-degree hinge.
Customer Rating
5
Well Designed Companion For The iPad Pro 10.5
on October 10, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
This Brydge 10.5 is a bluetooth keyboard and adjustable easel for the iPad Pro 10.5. The iPad attaches to the keyboard easily with a pair of clips that cradle it - they allow you to adjust the viewing angle of your iPad - basically the pair generates an iPad laptop.
As a bluetooth keyboard, the Brydge will pair with any bluetooth device - but its dimensions mirror the exact profile of the new iPad Pro (older iPads are thicker and have a larger circumference) - so don't expect it to be compatible with older models - this was designed specifically for the iPad Pro 10.5 tablet.
The keyboard functions beautifully - the keys are a little close together but they are feel comfortable - I can type unconsciously and without error. Pairing is straightforward (as it should be).
The hinges on the clips feel strong and move smoothly - they don't feel like a point of eventual failure for the unit. Of course the keyboard is heavier than its intended iPad - otherwise the devices would be unstable.
As bluetooth keyboards go, the Brydge 10.5 is best in show as long as you know that it is designed to pair with a specific device - the iPad Pro 10.5. In terms of design and ease of use I don't think it can be beat.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
Stream your favorite tunes through these Bang & Olufsen wireless headphones. Memory foam padding and soft lambskin covers let you listen comfortably for hours, and controls on the outer metal plates let you manipulate audio with the touch of a finger. Noise-cancellation technology ensures great sound through these Bang & Olufsen wireless headphones.
Customer Rating
5
Magnificent Sound and Touch/Gesture Controls!
on October 5, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The Beoplay H9 headphones by Bang & Olufsen are nothing short of amazing. The sound is even throughout the whole audible spectrum with strong bass and sparkling highs. All the music I have listened to has had such strength and clarity and presence that it was startling.
But Bang & Olufsen took things even further by designing the exterior of the right headphone so that all functional commands are controlled by touch/gesture. Power and bluetooth are controlled using a traditional (physical) switch; starting, stopping, volume up and down, track forward and reverse, phone answering and release, and active noise cancellation are all controlled by intuitive swiping. Alas, like so many other things, these headphones are right-handed - the left headphone is not touch-sensitive.
The headphones can also be used with a mini-jack cable if you want to connect to a source without using bluetooth (or if the batteries are low on the headphones). A shortish mini-jack cable is included along with an adapter for airplane use.
Surely the noise-canceling feature of the headphones is very desirable for people who fly. Bang & Olufsen did a great job with physical isolation from external noise with soft padding on the earpieces and with the active noise canceling (ANC) feature which removes a lot of external sounds electronically from the music you hear. I used a vacuum to check the difference in sound with the ANC on/off and neglected to switch-off the vacuum because I forgot it was running.
Flawless sound combined with isolation from external noise can add a sense of intimacy with your music (e.g. in some of my recordings of piano music, you can actually hear the sound of the physical movement of the damper pedal - insane). But it can also point out recording or digitalization flaws and problems with equalization (e.g. some pop music is equalized with increased bass and treble and might sound OK on a dance floor with thumping bass but in these headphones, the missing midrange makes it sound hollow and artificial - FYI).
The only complaints I have are superficial: (1) the headphones come with a nice soft carrying pouch which would do little to protect them in a backpack or if they were dropped - I would prefer more substantial protection for this investment, & (2) I wish the shape of the earpieces was slightly more oval (not perfectly circular) - I think a longer earpiece would be a little more comfortable (but that might affect the the physical noise isolation).
Bose headphones with noise-canceling technology were always the ones to beat and these Beoplay H9 headphones by Bang & Olufsen outperform the Bose in every way. These are stellar.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
Make office presentations look vibrant with this Epson projector. Its 3600 lumens support color and white brightness in XGA resolution for greater detail and color accuracy, and its wireless configuration lets you display content from your laptop or smartphone without cords. This Epson projector has an HDMI input for audio and visual support in one connection.
Customer Rating
4
Bright And Clear Business Projector - But Slow
on September 27, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The Epson EX5260 Wireless XGA 3LCD Projector is a bright and clear projector with XGA 1024 x 768 resolution - it is amazing for presentations and text projection but probably is unsuitable for home cinema applications (the resolution here isn't 1080p).
But for business applications, the EX5260 is pretty powerful: 3600 lumens of color and white brightness so presentations are clear and beautiful even in bright sunlit rooms, the built-in speaker is loud and clear, it includes a high-speed LAN module for wireless connectivity, and it supports HDMI connectivity.
The real selling point for this projector is its brightness and clarity (especially in its color reproduction). But there are some performance and other issues that need to be addressed:
--Pairing the Epson over wifi with my smartphone and with my computer was very simple but navigation was clunky and slow - there were operational lag times that were consistently frustrating. Once an application was running, performance seemed fine - but I don't understand why the navigation was so interminably slow.
--Setting the Epson to run through a USB cable (from my laptop) was not at all intuitive and the quick setup guide was not helpful. Establishing a USB connection requires a separate utility from the larger Epson projection utility. That seems like a really poor application design. And if you establish your USB connection in such a way that your audio output is through the projector, you have to change your audio output back to your standard source after you unplug the EX5260 (my laptop didn't even revert to its own speakers after I rebooted).
--The projector will take input from a wifi connection, from HDMI, from a VGA cable, and from a USB cable - and the EX5260 came with a wifi dongle, a VGA cable, and a USB cable - but no HDMI cable. I will never understand why devices with HDMI inputs always fail to include an appropriate cable.
--The wifi capability is achieved through a dongle - there is no wifi connectivity that is actually wired INTO the projector - it is instead a separate dongle that is plugged into a USB port in the rear of the projector and locked into place with a screw-in support. But the projector cannot be carried (in its included case) with this dongle installed and it sticks out from the projector just begging to be broken-off at some point over long-term business use. I included a picture of this below.
--The utility for the EX5260 is a disaster - very unintuitive and confusing (though for the most part you probably need to get the setups done only once).
From a visual standpoint, this is a five-star projector. But I gave it four stars because I don't understand how a respected brand name company like Epson could make such sophomoric design and packaging decisions. I took away a star out of frustration.
But the boldness and clarity of the projection are unparalleled.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+12points
13of 14voted this as helpful.
Keep your home clean with this Bissell Pet Stain Eraser Bagless Cordless Carpet Cleaner. The cordless unit pulls messes out of carpet and upholstery in minutes, and the rechargeable lithium battery ensures that it stays ready for use. This Pet Stain Eraser Bagless Cordless Carpet Cleaner comes with a premixed cleaning formula to reduce setup time.
Customer Rating
4
A Well-Designed Handheld Stain Extractor
on September 27, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The description of this device is misleading - it isn't really a "Bagless Cordless Hand Vac" - it is surely bagless and cordless but it is more of a small upholstery cleaner than a vacuum - it sprays a cleaning liquid onto a carpet or fabric and then extracts the dirty fluid (and the stain).
Just like my larger Bissell upholstery cleaner, it has separate containers for clean and dirty fluids - but the smaller size makes it VERY convenient for smaller spills and stains. And although Bissell is advertising this unit as a "Pet Stain Eraser," the capacity of the reservoir for extracted fluid probably wouldn't suffice for a urine stain from a larger dog (that's why I got the larger Bissell a while back).
But the design on this smaller Bissell is great - most importantly it is incredibly easy to dismantle and clean. It charges quickly and extracts fluids very efficiently. The only thing I dislike about the unit is that it sprays the cleaning fluid from the top of the device rather than from below (I would have preferred that the cleaning spray be directed closer to the point of extraction).
I'm also not fond of Bissell hawking its "premixed cleaning formula to reduce setup time" - mixing concentrated cleaner with water isn't something that is normally eating away at my time - surely Bissell will be making a killing on the markup for their premixed solutions. I will admit, though, that the cleaning solution that came with this device has a pleasant scent that leaves fabric smelling clean but not perfumed - but I would prefer to purchase it as a concentrate.
Again: I guess this Bissell could be used as a small handheld vacuum but it is not designed to extract dirt and dust without soaking it in liquid first (the collection chamber is not designed so that you can empty solid dirt from it). This is a very useful handheld upholstery cleaner and it works quite well as such.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-1point
3of 7voted this as helpful.
Enjoy lag-free gaming with this Linksys dual-band Wi-Fi router. Its Killer prioritization engine works with Killer-enabled computers to minimize peak ping by up to 77 percent, and the 1.8GHz CPU delivers super-fast speeds with wired and wireless connections. This Linksys dual-band Wi-Fi router has a custom-built user interface that lets you manage your gaming network performance.
Customer Rating
1
Unusably Slow Router
on September 23, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
This is one of the new crop of gaming routers with a "Killer Prioritization Engine" that allows you to establish priorities for all of your connected computers so that gaming session connections aren't deteriorated by other people streaming and downloading and whatnot.
The router is attractive (and beautifully packaged!) - and setup is very intuitive. I guess that much counts for the single star in the rating. I never even got around to game testing or Netflix because my connection through the Linksys WRT32X couldn't even make web browsing bearable.
The setup screen for the router has a beautiful speed test function which showed breathtaking speeds. Every test showed download speeds nearing 200 Mbps with strong upload speeds - but, of course, there is no way to use their setup screen to test other routers.
So I did tests with WiFi Scanner (Mac) and with SpeedTest (.net) to compare the Linksys to my current setup (a Netgear Orbi) - and tests from both applications were nearly identical (check out the photos for screen shots from SpeedTest). I have a reliably fast internet connection here - and the Linksys couldn't even manage to give me 10 Mbps download speeds (SpeedTest gave me an error every time on upload speeds because they were basically undetectable - WiFi Scanner calculated the upload speed to be below .5 Mbps every time - that's POINT 5). I spent a couple hours working through different configurations on the Linksys and restarting it and I still never established a usable connection.
It is incomprehensible how a modern router like the WRT32X can be so unbearably slow.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-7points
1of 9voted this as helpful.
Take control of your oral health with this Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush. The microchip-containing brush head sends brushing data directly to your phone to ensure that each tooth in your mouth is getting proper care. This Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush even tells you when to change heads to keep your brush performing its best.
Customer Rating
5
A Very Powerful Toothbrush
on September 5, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
This new Philips Sonicare DiamondClean is quite impressive. The rechargeable handle allows you to toggle between three different power levels while the toothbrush is on - and when the toothbrush is off you can toggle between four different brushing styles. The brushing styles are designed to accompany different brush heads - and the appropriate action is initially selected automatically based on which brushing head you choose but you can change that selection manually afterward.
The toothbrush charges when you set it inside the included glass tumbler (which sits on the actual charging unit). The only complaint I have about this entire system is that the tumbler is actually made of glass and could break if it ever fell on a tile floor.
Also included is a well-designed carrying case that fits the handle and two heads. And in the interest of making everything "smart," you can pair the toothbrush with an app that literally summarizes/critiques how your brushing session goes (I was not interested).
But as soon as you turn on the toothbrush, you can tell how powerful it is - it sounds like a well-tuned little orbital sander. It isn't abusive to teeth or gums, but my teeth haven't felt this smooth since the last time I had them cleaned.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
Increase home office productivity with this HP ENVY all-in-one printer. It has a USB port and SD card slot for quick printing of colorful, borderless photos, and its dual-band Wi-Fi lets you print directly from your mobile device. The 2.7-inch touch screen of this HP ENVY all-in-one printer lets you configure options for printing, scanning, copying and faxing.
Customer Rating
5
Stunning Photos
on August 17, 2017
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
Since there are a million "all-in-one" printers on the market, it's hard to find something that rises above the competition - but this printer is pretty incredible. It has a tiny footprint (and all the paper loads from the front!!!), it prints paper documents quickly, and photo printing is borderless and extremely crisp. Setup on my smartphone was a breeze.
This printer utilizes only two cartridges - one black and one tri-color. I don't know how cost-effective that will be in the long run, but buying individual colors hasn't worked out well for me in the past.
I included a picture of me holding a printed picture of my dog - you can see that the printing is truly borderless and really clear - the image looks more like my dog is there than it looks like a picture of my dog.
My Best Buy number: 2825908561
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
12of 17voted this as helpful.
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