VADarkstar's stats
- Review count222
- Helpfulness votes833
- First reviewAugust 22, 2014
- Last reviewMay 12, 2024
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- Average rating4
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With fast print speeds and precision two-sided printing, the HP LaserJet M209dwe is perfect for small businesses printing black & white forms, reports and business documents. It includes the HP+ Smart Printing System that keeps itself up to date, secure, and ready to print from virtually anywhere at any time. As part of the connected HP+ system, this printer only works with Original HP Toner and requires an HP account and internet connection.
Customer Rating
5
A Compact But Bare-Bones Laser Printer
on May 7, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The HP LaserJet M209dwe is a very compact laser printer (measuring about 8"x9"x14" excluding the paper tray). The printer is easy to configure for wireless printing from computer and from a smart phone - and wireless printing is pretty fast. It allows for two-sided printing but has few other features. It is truly a bare-bones system (I don't believe it claims to be more).
But to be clear: this is a wireless black-and-white laser printer with no additional ports to use for printing from other media and it has no scan/copy/fax capabilities.
But it is a fine laser printer - with very crisp text and surprisingly good graphics printing.
And with HP+ and HP's Instant Ink program, this can be an economical printer as well (I really dislike this same program for ink cartridges). By registering online, you get an extra year of HP warranty and (an optional) six free months of a subscription for Instant Ink (meaning toner cartridges) - so for the six months of the trial, they allow you up to 1500 printed pages per month and will replace your cartridge when needed. After six months, you segue into one of their five printing subscriptions. And, yes, you need to sign up using a credit card (but can cancel at any time).
A standard toner cartridge for this printer (W1340A) is just under $50 and lasts for an estimated 1100 pages - just under 4.5¢ per page. Their cheapest subscription plan is about $2/month for up to 50 pages which would be 4¢ a page - they allow up to 10 additional pages for a dollar and allow you to keep a cumulative rollover of up to 100 unused pages per month.
The other plans are about $4/month (100 pages), $14/month (400 pages), $20/month (800 pages), and $26/month (1500 pages). All plans allow you to keep a cumulative rollover of up to 2x the monthly page limit. And at maximum usage, the $26/month plan drops the printing price to about 1.7¢ per page.
As a dedicated printer, this can be a very economical choice.
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The HP OfficeJet Pro 8025e delivers increased productivity with fast speeds and custom mobile shortcuts. It includes the optional HP+ Smart Printing System that keeps itself up to date, secure, and ready to print from virtually anywhere at any time. Optional HP+ system requires an HP account, internet connection, and use of only Original HP Ink for the life of the printer.
Customer Rating
1
A Clumsy Vending Machine For Ink Cartridges
on April 17, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
Everything about this printer is an embarrassment for HP.
Physically, it is noticeably larger than HP printers with similar printing capabilities from years ago.
The paper tray is quite small (especially for business printing) and HP has redesigned how you load papers into the tray - it is wholly unintuitive.
Above the paper tray is an extending plastic platform designed to automatically reach out to catch your printed pages so that they don't shoot out onto your floor. Even when I printed the initial alignment page, this mechanism failed to engage.
There are no ports on this model for memory cards to print from. Admittedly, this is not being marketed as one of their photo printers but I don't understand how documents from memory cards are not part of office printing necessities.
During setup, this model immediately identified the included ink cartridges as official HP ink cartridges. A little bit of research alerted me that this printer will only accept genuine HP ink cartridges.
It will not allow you to print in black ink alone if your color cartridges are empty or are not installed.
Scanning, faxing, copying, and printing times are average. Nothing stellar. Document printing and color printing (including photo printing) are average. Nothing stellar.
What does work? Their instant ink program - an ink subscription service (their "Ink Of The Month" club). Everything about their service is well defined and clear.
But in an new printer era where they will need to compete with other printers with HUGE non-cartridge ink reservoirs, please take a look at the size of the cyan cartridge that fits this printer in the attached picture below.
For a machine that is clearly being marketed as a source of ink cartridge sales, you can find other models with more or better features for WAY less money.
There is no way that this can be an economical purchase for home or office.
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Whether you’re streaming your favorite show, watching movies, or listening to your favorite music – do it all from one device. Take movie night to the next level and with full HD, built-in wifi and fast, high-definition streaming. Get started in seconds with an included HDMI cable for seamless setup.
Customer Rating
5
A Compact Swiss Army Blu-ray DVD Player
on April 15, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
Not only is this the first Blu-ray disk player that I have owned, it is actually the first opportunity I have had to view a movie from a Blu-ray disk. Ever. And for anyone out there who is considering the purchase of a Blu-ray player, the difference is astounding.
Prices are dropping on HD 1080P players now that a new breed of 4K ULTRA HD Blu-ray players is out on the market. And that's great for a well-established player like this one.
The image quality I have experienced is truly amazing (the processing of the Universal logo alone is stunning - and everything that followed exceeded that).
The accompanying literature claims that standard definition DVDs are upscaled to improve their resolution, but my TV does that as well so I can't really determine how well that works here.
This is a very compact little unit (less than 9" wide). It plays Blu-ray and standard and burned DVDs (yes, the +'s, the -'s, and the RW's), commercial and burned CDs, and can play a huge number of video and music files (from disk or from USB input on the back of the unit). It can also understand JPEG, PNG, GIF, and BMP photo files. Every format that I tested was processed beautifully.
Personal note: Blu-ray DVDs with a menu are, I guess, interactive DVDs and take a long time to initialize. Full access time for me here was close to 20 seconds. I thought this was a crazy long time, but it turns out that this is actually a pretty impressive access time.
This unit is Wi-Fi enabled which means you can access some streaming content like YouTube and Netflix, although I'm not sure who would benefit from this. There is screen mirroring available for Xperia devices (not my smartphone).
I have only two complaints: (1) the remote control is arguably the most unintuitive remote I have ever owned - I am convinced that some of the buttons just do nothing at all, & (2) the user interface is really confusing and poorly designed (at least from the point of view of someone who is really just wanting disk content). Sony should be capable of so much better.
Check your box carefully to see if your model comes with an HDMI cable or not - the BDP-S3700 does not include a cable - the BDP-BX370 includes a cable. There is no good reason that a new Blu-ray player should not include a HDMI cable.
But for size and performance, this is clearly a five-star player.
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The NutriBullet Smart Touch Blender Combo's high-performance 1500-watt motor can turn the toughest of ingredients into the smoothest results. Whether using single-serve cups or its high-capacity pitcher, this blender is smart enough to know the difference. Its sleek touchscreen display lights up with custom intelligent programs to deliver perfect blends of all sizes at the touch of a button. Or, take charge with 3 blending speeds and pulse control - the choice is yours!
Customer Rating
5
Powerful and Well Designed
on April 5, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
The NutriBullet® Smart Touch Blender™ is actually a suite of blending tools. The heavy base contains a powerful 1500W motor with intuitive controls. There is a 64 oz blending pitcher, their 32 oz cup (the actual "bullet" of the NutriBullet® system), a smaller 20 oz travel cup, two lids (for the two cups), and s separate blending base for the cups.
The blending mechanisms are metallic and solid and the locking mechanisms are tight and secure. The foot design on the base is simple and very effective in preventing movement - there are two textured feet and two feet that are more like suction cups (see picture).
The larger blending pitcher allows for safe processing of hot foods (like soups) with a lid that locks in place with a very strong seal around the perimeter - and the blender will not operate without the lid secured on the pitcher.
A very welcome inclusion here is a tamping rod that allows you to mix and press items through the top of the blending pitcher.
The base for the blender recognizes whether you have the larger pitcher attached or one of the cups and presents you with options on the display that are suitable for each attachment.
The motor is strong enough to handle every task I threw at the blender - purees, frozen drinks, smoothies (all standard blender tasks). The only thing negative that I have to say about the blender is that the blending attachments don't brake after a pulse - the blender speed just tapers off (when pulsing, I would prefer that the blades come to a stop more quickly - maybe just a personal preference).
Comes with a recipe guide that is simple but effective - mostly introduces the features of the NutriBullet® by way of examples of recipes that are immediately recognizable.
This is a totally solid blender system. Highly recommended.
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Take outdoor entertainment to the next level with this 2.1 rock speaker system by Sonance. These durable rock-like speakers are weather-resistant and hold up to heat, wind, rain, snow, and UV rays. They resemble large rocks, so they blend in perfectly with the landscaping in any backyard or garden. Two satellite rock speakers and one 10” rock woofer deliver amazing high-quality sound with crystal clear highs and full-bodied bass that blends in among the landscape.
Customer Rating
5
Incredible Sound for Outdoor Speakers
on March 14, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
These speakers are incredible outdoor speakers with a couple caveats. It is difficult to review them straightforwardly, so I will separate my observations.
(1) Physicality.
These are bulky and heavy. The three pieces weigh nearly 60 lbs - 30 lbs. for the huge woofer and about 13 lbs. each for the satellite speakers. But the weight here contributes to some amazing sound production.
And, just to be clear, these speakers are not "rock-like" and do not "resemble large rocks." They look like large gray volcanic rocks built from paper mâché.
The exteriors are durable and surely weather-resistant beyond most sensible expectations. Speaker cone compositions are of polypropylene and polyurethane. Satellite speakers are intended to be connected to the central woofer by six foot speaker wire that extends from the satellites shrouded in silicone caulk (in fact, the attached backing plate and the attaching screws are all covered in silicone - see photo).
The satellite speakers extend from the woofer - your receiver output is connected directly to the woofer with the sound distribution (crossover) handled there. Speaker wire to connect your receiver output to the woofer is not included.
All three speakers are designed so that they face out to their audience.
(2) Setup and Driving.
Setup could not be any simpler. Connect your amplifier/receiver to the central woofer (using your own wiring), and connect the satellite speakers back to the woofer. None of these are powered speakers, so they do not require any external power.
Driving the speakers might be complicated, but I don't think any of that is attributable to the speakers.
I began testing my speakers inside and attached to my primary receiver. But my receiver is designed to attach to my powered subwoofer and it sends out signals to my speakers that are equalized accordingly. So, right from the start I wasn't hearing great sound.
But I knew that was going to be a problem upfront.
Sonance addresses that problem by recommending their Sonamp SR 2-125 Amplifier - with all kinds of equalization presets - and, of course, they say it happens to be a perfect driver for this speaker system. I'll address it more simply by suggesting that an older amp or receiver with simple bass and treble controls might be the best companion for these speakers (and a midrange control would be even better).
(3) Sound.
Directly out of their packaging and connected to my receiver, these speakers sounded very good indoors - and I was fully aware that they were designed to project sound outdoors. I made some basic adjustments on my receiver and then took them outdoors (within IR range of my receiver).
I need to repeat here that my receiver was not set up to drive a speaker configuration like this - so I had to scroll through quite a few options to change the way it processed music to my speakers.
I scrolled through eight or ten music samples as I scrolled through settings on my receiver. And then I hit that magic setting where it felt like music suddenly flew out of my yard to visit my whole neighborhood.
Inside and outside, there was never a question that the satellite speakers project a clear and strong spectrum of sound (1" dome tweeter with a 6.5" cone midrange-woofer). And there was never a question that the woofer (a 10" cone) could push-out clean low notes. My problem was getting a sound balance for these speakers from my specific receiver.
But once I got that balance, I felt like I could light my whole neighborhood up with my music (but I'm not that guy - their loss).
I wanted to go into all this detail to make a point. In my case, and with my equipment, it took me a while to drive these speakers effectively. Oddly enough, I think that simpler receivers/amplifiers might be way easier to use with this speaker system. But once I got everything dialed-in, these speakers produced music outside that I didn't think was possible.
The best indicator of a great indoor sound system is found in its ability to reproduce clear and balanced bass, midrange, and treble sounds at all volumes - but ESPECIALLY at low volumes. This is the only outdoor system that I have ever heard that approaches that. The bass here is incredibly clean and clear without any of that distorted thumping sound of a cheap car subwoofer.
(4) Summary.
Heavy and don't really look like rocks.
Literally plug and play. But you need your own wire out to the speakers.
Consider what you're planning to drive these with - but the speakers, themselves, are capable of amazing feats of music reproduction.
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Now that quality you've come to love from GE is available right on your countertop, thanks to GE Appliances blenders, available in both Standard and Immersion designs. Our immersion blenders are ideal for one-handed operation, and available whisk and chopping attachments make whipping up family meals a cinch. You can even take it with you to help make kitchen magic on the go. GE Appliances standard blenders are the perfect addition to any kitchen and have the power to blend through tough ingredients to make delicious shakes, sauces and purées. The available personal blending cups are perfect for your morning smoothie and help make clean-up a snap. Make your blending experience a snap with help from GE Appliances, a brand you trust.
Customer Rating
4
Fine New Immersion Blender From GE
on February 9, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
More and more companies are making immersion blenders now and GE's new blender is a very capable addition to the field. Well-balanced with easy two-speed operation by way of two buttons at the top of the device. It is powerful enough to drive through even tough jobs like milkshakes and root vegetable purees.
The whisk attachment is a little flimsy and would be useless if bent - and the chopping attachment is just odd (blade spins to fast for most chopping tasks and the container is small - don't really understand how it might be used constructively). It would have been smarter to include an appropriately fitting blending cup (which, of course, is something sold separately). If they had gone all-in on the immersion blender aspect of the device instead of including two different unrelated attachments, this would have gotten five stars.
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Protect provides 24/7 protection against viruses and bacteria.¹ Designed for maximum performance, quiet, clean air delivery, energy efficiency, and smart features. AHAM verifide for a Clean Air Delivery Rate of 435 CFM smoke, 435 CFM pollen, and >400 CFM dust. Completely filters extra-large family rooms and open concept areas about every 12.5 minutes (approx. 4.8x an hour at 674 ft²) on high. HEPASilent Ultra™ technology filters 99.97% airborne particles, like viruses, bacteria,² and dust, then kills 99%³ of the germs caught in the filter.⁴ GermShield™ technology proactively monitors and activates to kill germs and prevent growth on the filter.⁴ View particles, VOCs, and more from the premium LCD interface, and enjoy app features like Clean air ETA and SmartFilter tracking. 24/7 protection refers to the key function of GermShield™ technology, activated when the unit is in standby mode. Tested on Staphylococcus Albus & MS2 bacteriophage. Third-party tests of airborne viruses & bacteria (H1N1, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli) using GB/T18801-2015 standards. Deactivation of bacteria (Staphylococcus Albus) & virus (MS2 bacteriophage) Tested on natural flora (bacteria only - excluding viruses) on filter media under normal temperature & humidity conditions.
Customer Rating
5
A Serious Commitment to Improved Air Quality
on January 19, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
In the heart of any air purifier is a filter and the filter here is an impressive beast that is designed to remove particles and gasses (specifically volatile organic compounds). What really separates this device from generic HEPA filter fans is the wealth of feedback you receive and level of control you have over the operation.
The unit has wi-fi connectivity to communicate your information to the Blueair app which basically replicates the information and controls you get on the display panel. The app is not required to operate the device.
Because this device is neither small nor light, it is a nice feature that there are two very functional wheels on the bottom that allow you to tilt it back and roll it effortlessly (it would be awkward to move otherwise for most people).
Operation, in my case, was as simple and straightforward as turning the device on and selecting the automatic mode. Manual selections include toggles for airflow speed, for GermShield (which they claim kills viruses and bacteria on the filter), and for wi-fi.
The air quality information panel has scrollable information on temperature, relative humidity, filter life, size/prevalence of particulate matter, and an indication of prevalence of volatile organic compounds. The critical information on particulate matter and gasses is also intuitively color-coded in a bar along the base of the panel so you can know at a glance what the recent status of your air quality has been - you can see it from very far away from the device itself.
At the highest possible fan speed, the purifier is noisy but unless there is a constant influx of gasses or particles (paint fumes, pollens, cigarette smoke, etc.), I find that the fan stays on the lowest speed or is off and operation is very quiet even in close proximity.
While the room I have this in is less than 684 square feet in floor space, its ability to move air makes me confident that their claim is not an exaggeration.
Note: Blueair purifiers are not tested against coronavirus.
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BISSELL CleanView Allergen Pet Lift-Off is designed to give pet parents a quick, lightweight and convenient way to keep up with pet hair on multiple surfaces in their home. The innovative Lift-Off Technology boasts a removable canister that lets you easily clean pet hair anywhere. It's also packed with pet cleanup features, like a HEPA Sealed Allergen System, Tangle-Free Brush Roll, One Touch Easy Empty, and pet tools that store right on the vacuum. And this machine doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too! BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We’re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
Customer Rating
4
Good Price, Pretty Good Vacuum
on January 8, 2021
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
As vacuums go, there aren't really any surprises here - this is a corded upright vacuum marketed to pet owners. It provides a lower cost alternative to Bissell's pricier models. Their only new-ish selling point here is the claim that the brushes on the beater bar don't get tangled in pet hair.
Setup and assembly were extremely intuitive - from closed box to use took less than five minutes.
Suction is adequate but not terribly strong - this certainly contributed to a real problem with edge cleaning (especially when moving along walls). The beater bar was powerful enough to help clean well in the direct path of the vacuum, but I found that the brushes on the beater bar did actually crate tangles of pet hair (see picture below).
Also, the debris separator above the collection canister has an internal ridge that is a magnet for pet hair - easy enough to clean by removing two screws but that seems like a design flaw.
Comes with two standard attachments - a combined crevice/brush tool and a smaller head with a motorized beater brush. The canister lifts off the base so you can carry it with you while you use the attachments.
Probably best for smaller house or apartment. There are always compromises with lower priced vacuums.
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No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Dumbbells are made with heavy-duty rubber heads to minimize noise, mitigate typical wear & tear to the equipment and your floor. Rubber hex design prevents the dumbbell from rolling and chrome plated handles are ergonomically fit for any grip or hand type. 35mm diameter handle.
Customer Rating
5
Nice Design - Nothing Groundbreaking
on December 11, 2020
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
Probably the greatest selling point for these dumbbells is the heavy rubberized coating that minimizes noise (and possibly floor damage) during use. Other than that, they are fairly standard dumbbells that are comfortable in the hands ("ergonomically fit" is a little excessive).
My only negative comment is that the pair of 20 lb. dumbbells I received do no weigh exactly the same (one registers at 19.6 lbs. and the other one registers at 20.2 lbs.) - how is that possible. That's not enough of a difference to make them feel unbalanced during use, but it seemed kinda strange to me.
Aside from that odd observation, I really love these.
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Display work or school presentations on this Epson projector. It produces 3300 lumens of white and color brightness for vivid images, and its easy setup lets you customize specifications in minimum time. This Epson projector is equipped with an HDMI port, so you can connect it to your computer or HD device
Customer Rating
5
Immediately Impressive
on November 29, 2020
Posted by: VADarkstar
from Portsmouth, VA
Many years ago, a monitor with 1024x768 resolution was the best thing in the world but we expect everything to be 4K now. But Epson's VS260 is immediately impressive.
Hookup through HDMI was literally plug-and-play (there are USB and VGA inputs as well). The projector is controlled from a remote (batteries included) - zooming is controlled through the remote but focus is controlled by rotating a lens focusing ring on the front of the projector.
And while older technology projectors might be passable in meetings where content is printed (documents/spreadsheets) or graphs/charts, content with vivid colors can be very unsatisfying. Their projection technology here, though, gives incredibly bright and faithful colors that set this Epson apart from older projectors. It is very well suited for movie projections (even in a room flooded with sunlight).
It is small and light and easy enough to transport but it does not include a carrying case.
The only two drawbacks are likely to be unavoidable with this technology - the projector generates considerable heat and the hardworking cooling fan is <ahem> noticeably loud. But there is no way to produce a projecting light this bright without quite a bit of heat - so I don't think of it as a flaw but it should be a consideration.
Especially for the price, I don't know how anyone would fail to be impressed.
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