Chuck's stats
- Review count115
- Helpfulness votes404
- First reviewOctober 27, 2012
- Last reviewApril 26, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count4
- Helpfulness votes4
- First answerJanuary 2, 2015
- Last answerNovember 7, 2020
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
4
Good coverage, some minor issues
on January 23, 2017
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
The Velop Whole House Mesh WiFi system is a good system. I've been using it for 2-3 weeks, and although it's doing the job it's meant to do, there are a few things that bug me about it.
I set the system up in a 3-level, 3000+ sq ft house. The whole installation process is Bluetooth driven from the Linksys app and took about 10 minutes to complete. I placed one node on each level and I had absolutely no problem with the setup. One thing that I initially noticed is that the power adapters are rather large, which means they'll probably take up more than one slot if you're plugging them into a power strip. Other than this one complaint about the physical aspects of the system, the 'towers' themselves are nice looking and very unassuming, so you don't have to try to hide them; they reminded me of stylish Bluetooth speakers.
After the physical installation, I used the app to actually set up the network. The app works well, and is well laid out, but there are several things that I didn't particularly like. For instance, there is only one SSID. I am using another Linksys dual-band router in another house that has separate SSIDs and I find the ability to see what devices are connected to each channel useful. I also couldn't find any way to edit advanced network features like DHCP and DNS, and as far as I can tell, you cannot define your own network IP address. Another odd thing I noticed when looking at attached devices is that sometimes devices showed up as connected thru 'Ethernet'. I'm not sure why this is, since none of my devices are connected thru Ethernet. Lastly, after I set up the Velop system, I was no longer able to use the app to control the Linksys router at my other house. I can still access that router through the linksyssmartwifi.com website, but it would be nice to be able to access multiple routers (locations) via the same app. I'm sure most of the issues can be addressed by Linksys with a firmware update, but it could be that this system is meant to be 'simpler'.
As far as speed and stability go, I have internet speed of about 120Mbs and the speeds are almost maxed and stable at every point in my house when using a device capable of 5Ghz connection. The older devices of course have slower speeds, but they too are stable throughout the house. I did have some small problems connecting an older laptop to the system, but after a driver update, it connected painlessly. I haven't noticed any dead zones in my house, and the system's ability to recover from a power outage was on display last week when the power went out while I was out of town. I got an email telling me the system was offline (corresponding with an alert from the power company of an outage), and then an hour later I got an email telling me the system was back up. When I got home later that night, my phone connected to the network as I drove up my driveway.
Overall, I think this system is worth a look if you have a multi-level home that a traditional router isn't handling well. Although it appears to be geared more toward the user that just wants to plug something in and connect devices and does not want to bother with advanced router settings, it's still a good solution where coverage is an issue.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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
Nice router
on January 10, 2017
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
I've been using this router for a little more than a month, and I'm quite impressed. Out of the box, I had it up and running in about 10-15 minutes. It does have a larger footprint than my old router, but I have plenty of room where it will sit. However, if space is an issue, it can be mounted on the wall. I had 6 devices connected to it in minutes, some to the 2.4Ghz channel and some to the 5Ghz, and all streaming some form of media; there was no latency or lag on any of the devices. I also noticed a significant boost in speed using either channel over my old wireless-N router. With my old router, I was maxing out around 20-30Mps. With this router's 5Ghz channel I consistently get 120Mps+, and around 50-70Mps+ on the 2.4Ghz channel. The signal strength is also much stronger than my previous router. I don't have any numeric data, but my laptop that's in the far corner of my house from the router used to show 3-4 bars for the old router while this router always shows as 5 bars. The signal outside my house is also considerably stronger, and up to about 40 ft there's little if any speed reduction on either channel.
One of the things I like most about this router is the interface for remote access. When you first set up the router, you also set up an online account that allows you to remotely access settings, etc, from anywhere, including via the downloadable app. You have access to the usual settings you'd expect, wireless configuration, security settings, etc, but there are also other handy features. There's a network map that allows you to easily see connected devices, settings for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz guest networks, parental controls for each device, media prioritization for each device, and the ability to set up external storage using a USB HD. I probably won't use all of the features, but it's nice to know they're there in case they're ever needed.
For the most part, I've had very little trouble with this router. However, during the first few weeks, I did have some issues; some devices would drop connection while other would be fine, and I sometimes would have to reboot the router to get those devices reconnected. During the same period, I would also occasionally have trouble connecting to the router's admin interface; I got a message saying the router wasn't online even though I was connected with several devices. There was an automatic firmware update that seemed to fix these problems, and since that time, I've had absolutely no issues with the router.
Overall, I think this is a very capable, stable, and feature rich router. If your current router, like mine was, is a bit older than you'd like, or if you're pushing it to the edge of it's limits, I think this router is worth a look.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Wake up to a delicious cup of java with this Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system. The 10-cup pitcher holds 50 oz. of coffee when entertaining or brews a single cup at a time, prepared at the infusion level of your choice. This Ninja Coffee Bar glass carafe system has a built-in frother for hot and cold drink creations.
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
I really like this unit; the ability to easily brew one cup or a whole carafe makes it an excellent choice for coffee lovers, in my opinion.
When I first unpacked the Ninja, I was surprised at how little it weighted; I was expecting something heavier. On top of that, there was virtually no 'assembly'; other than the frothing tool that attaches to a pivoting arm at the back of the brewer. After reading through the quick start guide, I filled the reservoir with water, ran the brewer thru two cleaning cycles, and then brewed my first cup. Setting the machine up took under 10 minutes, but the two cleaning cycles took quite while; there's a built-in timer for the cleaning cycle, so that whole process took a few hours. To compare with my current pod system, I bought a few bags of ground coffee for which I also have pods. The ground coffee had much more flavor, but the brewing options on the Ninja give you even more control over flavor and body, and the brewing time for a single cup is comparable to the pod system.
The unit doesn't have an overly large footprint; it's a bit larger than my pod system. It has a very stylish appearance that looks great with my stainless steel appliances. One of the things I liked from the start was how easy the reservoir was to grab and remove; there's a built-in 'handle', making it very easy to remove/replace the reservoir with one hand. Another nice feature is the folding platform used to hold normal sized mugs; it can be folded up and out of the way if you're brewing an oversize/travel mug/carafe. The carafe sits on a 'smart' warming plate that you can turn on to keep the coffee in the carafe warm. Another nice feature is the delayed brewing ability; you simply put your coffee in the unit, press a button, set the delay time and it will start brewing at that time. It's also nice that there's a two-sized scoop that hides nicely on the side of the unit; almost everything you need is right at your fingertips. With regard to the frothing tool, I haven't used it that much, but it does work, and if you want froth on your drink, then I'm sure you'll like it. The only thing I didn't like about it is that you have to microwave the milk separately if you want it hot. Not a huge deal, but it'd be great if they could run steam to the froth tool. The unit has a reusable filter (what I've been using), but you can use paper filters, which would result in a quicker cleanup, but even with the reusable filter, cleanup is only about 2-3 minutes.
All of the things I've mentioned above, coupled with the fact that bagged coffee is probably 3-4 times cheaper than the same coffee in pods, makes a compelling case for buying this brewing system. Yes, it takes a few minutes to scoop the coffee into the filter, and yes, cleanup takes a few minutes (less if you use paper filters), but the difference in taste is worth those extra 4-5 minutes, if you have them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep unwanted hair to a minimum with this Philips grooming tool. The waterproof design lets you use it in the shower, and eight attachments make this trimmer perfect for grooming different sections of the face. This Philips grooming tool has a turbo setting to increase cutting speed, and it charges in just one hour to reduce wait time.
Customer Rating
5
Great versatile trimmer
on November 28, 2016
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
This an excellent trimmer/groomer overall, especially for the price. So far I have very few complaints; I actually wouldn't call them complaints, more like suggestions for improvement.
The unit did not come charged, so after an hour of charging, I put it to the test by trimming my beard in the shower. It had plenty of power and although the trimmer has a turbo setting, I didn't have to use it. The adjustable combs were simple to attach and easy to adjust. Switching between the attachments was quick, and they all worked quite well. I used the body shaver to shave the area on my neck, below my beard, and it left the skin very smooth, so I would assume you could easily use it to shave your entire face if wanted. The detail trimmer was perfect for shaping and sharpening the outline of my beard. The only complaint I have with any of the attachments was with the nose/ear trimmer; it worked great, but it seemed to be at least twice as loud as any of the other attachments, which is annoying since it's the one that's used on your ears. The only other 'complaint' I have is that the trimmer became a bit slippery when my hands were soapy. If there were some rubber grips added in a few places on the trimmer, I think it would result in giving you a more secure grip when using it in the shower.
All in all, this is a great product; it's cordless, shower-proof, has plenty of power, and comes with every attachment you could want, including a nifty zippered carrying bag to keep everything together. If you're looking for a versatile trimmer, I don't think you can go wrong with this product.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Add high-end performance to your everyday life with the Google Pixel XL. A quad-core processor, a 5.5-inch LED screen and 32GB of memory ensure this phone is able to handle daily life, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protects the screen. Easy cloud storage ensures you never run out of space on the Google Pixel XL.
Customer Rating
5
Great phone, INCREDIBLE camera
on November 6, 2016
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
I've had this phone for a little more than a week and I love it. The case is very stylish, almost iPhone-ish, it's very simple to use, and the screen is gorgeous.
The most outstanding feature, at least for me, is the camera. The design of the case avoids the usual lens bump that you find on most cameras, but the first picture I took truly amazed me. The colors were much more accurate than my slightly older Samsung phone and the camera app is MUCH smoother than what I'm used to with my other phones; most noticeably the lack of shudder lag. As usual, there are tons of features/settings for the camera, but my favorite is the panoramic mode; it's extremely easy to use and the results are absolutely fantastic, so much so I'm including one for the review. The other nice thing about the phone is the clarity of the speaker phone. The first time I used the feature, the person I was talking to was unaware I had him on speaker. Compared to my other phone, he said the difference was very noticeable. The sound from the phone is good, but the odd thing is that although there are holes at the bottom of the case that appear to be speakers, only the left is an actual speaker... I assume the other one is just there for a symmetrical look. The battery life is quite good. I don't watch a ton of videos, but I do stream music quite often, and so far the battery lasts about 2 days before I have to recharge it.
Now for the things that I didn't really like. The first, there is no SD expansion slot. Why? I have no idea. The second, I didn't really care for the fact that the USB plug is not the same as my other devices... not a huge deal, but that means that I now have to carry another cable when I travel. The last thing that is that there is no physical 'home' button at the bottom of the case. There's plenty of room for it, so I'm not sure why they didn't include one. If they planned on not having one, I think they should have increased the size of the screen and made the border one the top and bottom smaller. All of these things are not big issues, so overall, I think the phone is incredible, and I would definitely recommend it for someone who is looking for a 'premium' phone.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
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Browse the internet or play your favorite apps on this Acer tablet. It runs on an Android operating system and is powered by a quad-core 64-bit processor for full functionality. Google Mobile Services and Microsoft Office Suite are preloaded on this Acer tablet for out-of-the-box work or play capabilities, and DTS-HD Premium Sound lets you enjoy videos.
Customer Rating
4
Good tablet for the money
on October 23, 2016
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
I had never given tablets a second thought until I got this one; I assumed my phone was good enough for the apps I use, and my Surface Pro 3 could handle pretty much anything else. However, since getting this tablet, I must admit I'm using it more and more.
The 10" screen is large enough to view videos more comfortably than my phone, and the speakers on either side of the tablet provide much better direct sound than either my phone or Surface. Of course pairing Bluetooth devices is fairly simple and straight-forward, and all the ones I paired, including a headset, worked flawlessly. The 10" screen is nice, but I believe the tablet would benefit from a true HD screen instead of 1280x800. This isn't really a huge issue, and it might be one of the ways the price is kept fairly low for this size tablet. As far as battery life goes, I was able to stream Mission Impossible 2 and Interstellar back to back from a full charge. That's easily 5+ hrs of video streaming and there was still a little battery left. The fact that the tablet has two micro-USB ports is very convenient, especially if the tablet needs to be charged and there's a USB device you need to connect at the same time. The micro-SD slot allows more storage for whatever you need, although the cover for the 2nd micro-USB port and micro-SD slot seems like it might break during removal. Although the tablet has 32G of ROM, it only has 1G of RAM, which seems to fill fairly quickly and sometimes slows things down (at least that's what I believe is causing it). Again, not a huge issue, but the first week I had the tablet, it locked up several times and had to be rebooted. There was a firmware update about a week ago which appears to have solved the lock up problem.
All in all, for the price, I think this is a fairly nice tablet. It's definitely changed my view on tablets in general, and I wouldn't think twice about recommending this one.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
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Brew delicious coffee your way with this single-serve Ninja Coffee Bar system. It uses any ground coffee while bringing out the best flavor with advanced thermal flavor extraction technology. This versatile Ninja Coffee Bar system has a built-in frother that lets you brew, froth and drink out of one mug.
Customer Rating
5
Great coffee maker for brewing individual cups
on September 29, 2016
Posted by: Chuck
I love coffee, but actually brewing one or two cups is often too much trouble, especially if it's a spur of the moment thing, so a few years ago I bought a pod brewing system. The Ninja Coffee Bar - Single Serve is changing that.
When I first unpacked the Ninja, I was surprised at how little it weighted; I was expecting something heavier, since it appeared to be slightly bigger than the pod machine I have. There was also virtually no 'assembly'; other than the frothing tool that attaches to a pivoting arm at the back of the brewer, the only 'assembly' required was the removal of some tape that kept various parts from shifting during shipping. After reading through the quick start guide, I filled the reservoir with water, ran the brewer thru two cleaning cycles, and then brewed my first cup. That whole process (unpacking to brewing) took about 15 minutes... and the coffee was great! To compare, I bought a few bags of ground coffee for which I also have pods. As you would expect, the ground coffee had much more flavor, but the brewing options on the Ninja give you even more control over flavor and body, and the brewing time is comparable to the pod system.
The unit doesn't have an overly large footprint, it's a bit larger than my pod system, and it has a very stylish appearance that looks great with my stainless steel appliances. One of the things I liked from the start was how easy the reservoir was to grab and remove; there's a built-in 'handle', making it very easy to remove/replace the reservoir with one hand. In comparison, the reservoir on my pod system is a bit harder to remove/replace... I'm not even sure I could do it using one hand. Another nice Ninja feature is the folding platform used to hold normal sized mugs; it can be folded up and out of the way if you're brewing an oversize/travel mug. My pod system (granted it's several years old) has a removable stand, which is kind of a pain at times because it's just sitting on the counter, beside the unit. It's also nice that there's a two-sized scoop that hides nicely on the side of the unit; almost everything you need is right at your fingertips. With regard to the frothing tool, I haven't used it that much, but it does work, and if you want froth on your drink, then I'm sure you'll like it. The only thing I didn't like about it is that you have to microwave the milk separately if you want it hot. Not a huge deal (at least for me), but it'd be great if they could run steam to the froth tool so the unit could be 'self-sufficient'. The only other thing that bugged me is that the cup-size selector is 'soft', meaning you can turn the selector infinitely in one direction or the other... it simply selects the last option. There are 'stops' that you can feel, as you turn the knob, and the current selection is lit up, so it's not like it's a free spinning knob, but it just bugs me that the switch is allowed to go past the end positions... call it a pet peeve. The unit has a reusable filter (what I've been using), but you can use paper filters, which would result in a quicker cleanup, but even with the reusable filter, cleanup is only about 2-3 minutes.
All of the things I've mentioned above, coupled with the fact that bagged coffee is probably 3-4 times cheaper than the same coffee in pods, makes a compelling case for buying this brewing system. Yes, it takes a few minutes to scoop the coffee into the filter, and yes, cleanup takes a few minutes, but the difference in taste is worth those extra 4-5 minutes, if you have them. As for now, I'm using both the Ninja and my pod system, but with time, my pod system might start collecting dust.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Cut corded contact with this Insignia Bluetooth USB adapter. This adapter lets users connect up to seven Bluetooth-enabled devices to a Bluetooth-compatible computer. It works with laptops and desktops running Microsoft Windows 10. This Insignia Bluetooth USB adapter maintains connections with devices up to 20 feet away.
Customer Rating
4
nice additional BT device
on July 22, 2016
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
Verified Purchase:Yes
I bought this to help troubleshoot a problem I was having trying to pair Bose headphones to laptop with builtin BT. After installing the drivers for this USB BT device, pairing was simple, so I disabled the laptop's onboard BT and I'm now only using this. Works well.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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QuietComfort® 35 wireless noise cancelling headphones are engineered with world-class noise cancellation that makes quiet sound quieter and music sound better. Free yourself from wires and connect easily to your devices with Bluetooth® and NFC pairing. And enjoy up to 20 hours of wireless listening per battery charge.
Customer Rating
5
Incredible sound and great noise cancellation
on July 14, 2016
Posted by: Chuck
I've had these headphones for over a month now and my first impression is "WOW!". The first time I put them on, I wore them for 3 hours straight; I actually forgot I had them on. I'd always wanted a pair of Bose QCs but I kept talking myself out of them because of the price. Now I'm kicking myself. Granted, I got these as part of a review program, but the sound is incredible and the noise cancellation is great. I recently wore them while I was working at my house with a crew of roofers on my roof. I didn't even know they were done until the foreman almost broke the door down knocking (I didn't hear him the first 4 times)... and no, I did not have the volume cranked, the noise cancellation was just doing it's thing.
Right out of the box, I effortlessly paired the Bose QC35s with my Galaxy S4 using the Bluetooth only method. I then unpaired them and had them repaired even quicker using the NFC method. When paired with my phone, the sound is absolutely great; even calls sound good, and I'm told that my voice comes through on the other end loud and clear. I then tried to pair the headphones with an ASUS G75VW laptop running Windows 7 Home Premium with builtin Bluetooth, an HP desktop running Windows 7 Home Premium with a BT4.0 USB dongle , and a Surface Pro 3 running Windows 8.1 with builtin Bluetooth. Pairing with the Surface Pro 3 was simple and the sound was great. Pairing with the laptop and desktop was about as painful as painful can be.
I am definitely not a computer novice, but for about a week, I was unable to pair the headphones with either the laptop or the desktop. After contacting both manufacturers and Bose several times with not much help, I was finally able to reach some at Bose that was at a higher level than the first level you reach when you first call Bose support. I turned control over to the CSR on the desktop remotely and after about an hour, he was able to pair the headphones with the desktop. The sound was great, until I tried to select the headphones as the recording device (using the mic). When I did so, the sound became 'tinny'. I don't blame the headphones for this, but the drivers for Win7. Similarly, when I was finally able to pair the headphones to the laptop (I did this on my own and the process is way too complicated to include here), the sound was great until I tried to use the mic portion of the headphones (eg. with a VOIP program), and then the sound became 'tinny'. Again, this is not a reflection on the headphones, but the horrible drivers and Bluetooth integration on older Windows OS's... I just thought it was important to include since Win7 is still in use.
With all of the pairing info out of the way, overall, I'll just say I love these headphones. Again, I primarily use them with my phone, and for that reason alone, I'd buy them tomorrow. I mainly use them when I'm working (I'm a developer). They are extremely light and they have never made my ears sweat. I can work in the same room with several people; their conversation nor the TV ever bother me. I've even used them when I'm mowing a 6 acre lot at my house and even then they're great although I do I have to crank the volume a bit because it's a zero-turn mower and I'm right in-front of the 26 HP motor. The volume controls and multi-function button took a little getting used to, but nothing that would stop me from recommending these to anyone.
If you're looking for a great pair of noise cancelling headphones, I don't think you could go wrong with these.
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This Hammermill 105050 paper is designed for use with most inkjet printers to produce crisp text and images for memos, forms, flyers and more. ColorLok technology increases the boldness of blacks, makes colors vivid and quickens ink drying.
Customer Rating
5
Good quality paper
on October 14, 2015
Posted by: Chuck
from DC
Verified Purchase:Yes
This paper is good quality and so far I've had zero feed problems
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
My Best Buy number: 0784233878
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Chuck's Answers
Safe and convenient fast wireless charging up to 15W.* Our fastest wireless charging pad unclutters your bedroom, office, or living room while simplifying charging—just lay your phone onto the pad and go. Qi certification ensures standard compatibility and provides peace of mind.
Is the cable permanently attached to the wireless charger or can it be detached?
The cable is just a USB-USBC cable, and it does detach
3 years, 6 months ago
by
Chuck
Safe and convenient fast wireless charging up to 15W.* Our fastest wireless charging pad unclutters your bedroom, office, or living room while simplifying charging—just lay your phone onto the pad and go. Qi certification ensures standard compatibility and provides peace of mind.
Will this charge if the phone is in its protective case?
my phone charges just fine with a protective case
3 years, 6 months ago
by
Chuck
Enjoy up to 10 hours of wireless audio with these Sony noise-canceling headphones. They produce rich sound by playing at audio frequencies of 3-40,000Hz and have a closed-back design that blocks outside noise for a better listening experience. These Sony noise-canceling headphones sit comfortably behind the neck and work with or without the 1m wire.
Do the ear buds retract or adjust in any way
They do NOT retract. There is a groove along the edge of each side of the neckband that you can push the cords into for storage or to reduce the amount of loose cord when wearing, but the cords aren't overly long, so I don't even bother with it when I'm wearing them.
6 years, 6 months ago
by
Chuck
VIZIO E-Series E480I-B2 LED HDTV: Easily stream movies, shows and more with this VIZIO E-Series HDTV's VIZIO Internet Apps Plus and built-in Wi-Fi. The 1080p display and Full-Array LED backlighting deliver crisp, clear images and optimal performance.