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ChrisS
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- Review count132
- Helpfulness votes88
- First reviewJuly 19, 2013
- Last reviewApril 11, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.7
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- First answerJanuary 10, 2015
- Last answerJanuary 10, 2015
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Add color to your decorative lighting with this Philips Hue LED candelabra bulb. Its E12 profile fits chandeliers and accent lamps, and it pairs with a Hue Bridge device for integrated wireless control with your smart home system. Set a desired white light brightness or color ambience on this Philips Hue LED candelabra bulb via the Philips Hue app.
Customer Rating
5
Very Fun and Cool Light
on December 21, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
Who knew a light could be so fun! This decorative light can somehow change to any color you can imagine. There isn't much else to say about the light except that it works great. The only thing I would change would be the base - would rather see it in a standard base instead of candelabra. I purchased an adapter so I could plug my light in on the ceiling where we all hang out (for great ambience).
The most difficult part about using a smart light is that you have to have a bridge installed to use it - it won't connect directly to any apps without a bridge. With a Philips Hue Bridge you can set programs and put on some pretty cool light shows. Instead of installing a Hue Bridge, I set my lights up with the Amazon Echo Plus, which has a built in bridge. Just in case you are interested, I thought I would share my thoughts on this. The really cool thing about using the Echo Plus is that you can tell Alexa to turn the light on, turn to whatever color you like, and to whatever brightness percent you like. The downside is that Alexa doesn't have an app that can program the light to create effects (like a sunrise for example). The only way to change the light color is to do it with voice. The Philips Hue app won't recognize the bridge on the Echo Plus, which I am hoping that changes in the future. My guess is that Philips wants you to buy their bridge instead of using the Echo bridge. Since it is still a new device, I am hoping that Philips changes their app or that Alexa adds one.
Overall, no matter how you hook it up this light is a definite buy and almost enough reason to get your smart home started!
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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.
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
Overall this is a solid TV with lots of options, versatility and good picture quality. There are a few quirks that I've run into that keep me from giving it five stars and I'll mention them below.
On the plus side, the TV has good picture quality, but be sure to adjust the picture settings because out of the box the picture was a little dull. You can easily change the picture by simply hitting the picture button on the remote. Some of the settings are much brighter and crisp than others. The sound quality is also pretty good and really high volume if you need it. The smart TV functions are also integrated nicely and easy to get to. There is a button on the remote to go directly to some of the top apps like Netflix and YouTube. When connected to smart devices (we use Fire Stick, Dish Hopper, and ChromeCast) the TV usually turns itself on when the device is activated. I also like how fast the TV turns on. There is hardly any wait at all or warm up time. And finally, the overall design of the TV is sleek and slim (much thinner than many other TVs), which is especially nice if you are mounting it to a wall.
On the negative side, there were a few quirks that I ran into. First, there was a sound issue that every time I paused, forwarded or did anything with my DVR there was a scratchy noise on the TV. This didn't happen with any of my other 4 TVs so it bothered me at first. After a while, I was able to get rid of it by turning the Sound Leveling feature off on my DVR. After that, the sound was really loud even at low levels (like 10 out of 100), but seems to work fine. Another quirk was with the YouTube app. Our family had a difficult time connecting more than one device at a time. Eventually we got it to work but not consistently. I am hoping it is a software glitch than will remedy itself in an update. And finally, I had trouble connecting Bluetooth headphones to the TV. I was able to connect them but the sound volume was so low (even on max) that I could barely hear the TV. Since the Bluetooth settings are under "network" options, perhaps Bluetooth isn't intended to connect to headphones. My Bluetooth speaker seemed to work fine.
Overall, while there were a few quirks, this TV is a solid purchase and does all the important things a TV should do very well. I would recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Arlo Pro 2 keeps an eye on your home while you're away, in brilliant 1080p HD quality. Put the 100% wire-free, weather-resistant camera anywhere, indoors or out. Then, power it with the included rechargeable battery or plugged it in (when indoors) to access activity zones and 24/7 Continuous Video Recording upgrades. Use 2-way audio or remotely sound a 100+ device siren while catching every moment with night vision and advanced motion detection. You'll even get motion and sound-activated alerts and 7 days of free cloud video recordings. Arlo Pro 2 works with Amazon Alexa to make your smart home security even more simple and effective.
Customer Rating
5
DIY Home Security with Lots of Functionality
on November 13, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
While I am new to the home security market, I really like this system because it is easy to setup, easy to use, and works well. Below are the pros and cons as I see them.
Pros
Picture quality. The picture quality is stated at 1080p and most of the time it is very clear. It also has night vision built into the cameras that allows you to see video stream while in the dark. While the video is not like watching a movie in 1080p, it is as good as I expected for a wireless camera.
Picture quality. The picture quality is stated at 1080p and most of the time it is very clear. It also has night vision built into the cameras that allows you to see video stream while in the dark. While the video is not like watching a movie in 1080p, it is as good as I expected for a wireless camera.
Ease of Setup and Use. The system is very easy to setup and use. I had it up and running in less than an hour and most of the interface on the app was easy to setup. Setting up the interface with Alexa and the Fire Stick was a little more complicated but went as planned. While the app is easy to use, there is a delay before the video will start playing. Only a few seconds but sometimes enough to feel slow.
Wireless. I really like that the cameras can be easily moved around without having to plug them in. However, I would also like to point out that the cameras are wireless but not WiFi. In other words, they do not connect to your WiFi system but rather to the Arlo base system. The base system then connects to your WiFi.
Activity Zones. The cameras only record when they sense movement. The sensitivity for movement can be set by adding activity zones that focus on movement only in specific areas of the camera, and for particular distances from the camera. I tried setting up these zones but it is unclear whether I was successful. I think I need to watch more recordings to see if they are doing what I set them up for. The zones are easy to setup but it is difficult to stop the cameras from recording such things as a blowing tree branch. You should think of this before you place the camera.
Free Storage. While you can record the video snippets on an external USB drive in your house, the Arlo package allows you to store the past 7 days onto the cloud. This is important if your house is broken into and your security camera is stolen. Arlo give you a free subscription to their basic cloud storage.
Cons
Software. I am hoping that because this product is so new that the software will be upgraded several more times. A few things that I disliked about the software could likely be fixed with upgrades. For example, there is no option to send alerts via text message. The alerts are part of the app and if I leave the app on all the time then the battery on my phone goes dead much quicker. Also, while you can record snippets to your own USB drive, I could not figure out how to record the full video stream to my hard drive. And finally, there is a delay when you want to watch the video stream that feels a little longer than it should.
Software. I am hoping that because this product is so new that the software will be upgraded several more times. A few things that I disliked about the software could likely be fixed with upgrades. For example, there is no option to send alerts via text message. The alerts are part of the app and if I leave the app on all the time then the battery on my phone goes dead much quicker. Also, while you can record snippets to your own USB drive, I could not figure out how to record the full video stream to my hard drive. And finally, there is a delay when you want to watch the video stream that feels a little longer than it should.
Need to Plugin for Full Functionality. Some of the functionality of the cameras only works when plugged into an electrical outlet. For example, there is a setting that allows you to record 3 seconds before any movement is detected. Because movement is not always detected right away, this is an important feature. Unless the camera is plugged in, you cannot turn on this option.
Overall, I still have a lot to learn about this system but I really like it. I also hope NetGear continues to work on the software to make the functionality even better. Assuming the software will be improved, I can give this product a five star rating.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy clear audio without distraction while wearing these Plantronics BackBeat FIT wireless earbuds. They have a sweat-resistant coating and lightweight design that's comfortable to wear and stays in place as you exercise or lounge. These Plantronics BackBeat FIT wireless earbuds come with interchangeable tips in different sizes, providing a secure, noise-blocking fit.
Customer Rating
5
A Solid Pair of Wireless Headphones
on November 13, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
These headphones are good quality and most importantly they work just as expected. They were easy to charge, connect and find the right fit for my ears. Also, I like that there aren't a lot of bells and whistles that can often detract from performance and battery life.
The sound quality is good but not amazing, but exactly what I expected from headphones in this price range. Also, because the headphones are sweat proof you don't have to worry about them shorting out from your workouts or even from running in the rain (I've had this happen).
Overall, I have no negatives to say about these headphones and would recommend them to anyone looking for a solid pair of wireless headphones.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Clean fur, dust and dander quickly with this Hoover REACT cordless pet vacuum. Integrated sensors automatically adjust the level of suction and the brush roll speed to handle different floor types. This Hoover REACT cordless pet vacuum uses a long-lasting lithium battery, so you can clean the whole room without a recharge.
Customer Rating
5
Convenient and Versatile Vacuum
on November 10, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
I was a little hesitant to believe that a cordless vacuum could work as well as a plug-in version, but I have been proven wrong. Not only does this battery powered vacuum provide good suction but the battery lasts long enough to vacuum our entire 3 story home.
Other positives about this vacuum include its versatility and convenience. The convenience of having a cordless vacuum means you don't have to roll out, plug-in and carry around a heavy vacuum. It is also easy to carry up and down the stairs, or out to the boat or car for cleaning.
The versatility of the vacuum is also spectacular. Because it is hand held you can easily maneuver it through tight spaces. It also comes with several attachments that you can use to get into hard to reach places. And finally, the ability to "react" to hard floors versus carpet make it so easy to use, and it actually does react to the different floor types.
As far as the negatives go, the only two things I would mention are the rather small size of the cleaning brushes and that there are more tools that come with the vacuum than can be stored on the mounting rack (at least as far as I could figure out so far). Regarding the brush size, it is really not a negative because I've noticed most other new vacuums also have smaller brushes than they used to. Also, the smaller brush does make it easier to carry and maneuver.
Overall, I am impressed with this cordless vacuum and would highly recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Tune out the world and lose yourself in music with these Sony 1000X wireless noise-cancelling headphones. Equipped with SENSE ENGINE technology, these earbuds make it easy to adjust sound modes with a single touch, so you control what you hear. Compact and intuitive, these Sony 1000X wireless noise-cancelling headphones stay comfortable for hours.
Customer Rating
5
Good Design, Good Bass
on October 23, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
These headphones are designed well and provide good sound quality. There are several things that go into creating a good pair of bluetooth headphones. These headphones rank well in all categories, as detailed below:
Fit. The headphones are light and small enough to sit in your ear without discomfort and without falling out. When fitted, I cannot dislodge them by shaking my head. Also, there are 3 or 4 other size earbuds that are sure to fit any ear size. After wearing for an hour I did not have any discomfort.
Sound. The sound quality on these headphones is much better than average. They have large sound drivers that create sound with good bass. While many headphones this size create tinny noise, these headphones do not. Furthermore, with the Sony mobile app, you can change the equalizer to have better bass or treble. I tried the deep bass setting and the bass was deeper but the overall volume dropped significantly so I went back to no equalizer setting.
Design and Quality. Overall the design of these headphones are nice. The buds are small, the fit is good, and just the overall quality feels high. You can tell that these are not cheaply made and that a lot of thought has gone into building them. The fact that there is no wire connecting the two buds (like many wireless headphones) is also a nice design feature.
Convenience, Ease of Use. These headphones are easy to use. The portable case works great for both storing and charging the headphones. The case also carries an extra charge so you can charge the headphones without being near a power source. The Bluetooth connections worked quickly and connected to several devices the first time.
Noise Cancelation. I have never used noise cancelation headphones before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't have a chance to try them on a plane or other location with steady background noise, but I did turn the noise canceling on and off several times while on a long walk with background traffic noise. I couldn't tell the difference between when it was on and off.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Control access to your garage with this Chamberlain MyQ Garage smart hub. It connects to your Wi-Fi router and lets you remotely control guest access for your existing garage door opener via the MyQ app. This Chamberlain MyQ Garage smart hub pairs with devices for seamless integration with lighting and security cameras.
Customer Rating
5
A Smart Garage Door Opener
on October 23, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
I really like this product because it turned my old fashioned garage door opener into part of my smart house. By installing this hub, I can check the status of my garage door, as well as open or close it from an app on my phone. More importantly, I setup alerts so that if the door is open late at night I will get an alert so that I can close it. This is great since our door has been left open overnight on multiple occasions this year.
I wasn't sure exactly how the product worked at first, but it was easy to figure out once I worked through the few steps. Also, if you use with iOS, you'll need to do a special setup (instructions are included separately in the packaging). The product was fairly easy to install, but I did have to put some screws into the tall ceiling in my garage. Once the hardware is installed, the app will program the sensor in the hub to control the garage door. There is also a sensor on the door that confirms whether the door is open or closed. It is really quite simple but very useful product. I would recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make smoothies, sauces or purees with this 1500W Ninja blender. It has 10 preset programs to ensure ingredients are properly blended, and 10 manual mode speeds give you complete control when blending tough ingredients. This Ninja blender holds up to 72 ounces.
Customer Rating
5
Blender with Function Over Form
on October 17, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
This blender works much better than any other blenders I have used. Hence, the functionality of the blender is fantastic. On the other hand, what makes the blender work so great also has associated negatives - mainly the large size and the noise. Here are the pros and cons as I see them.
The best thing about this blender is just how well it works. I have used it to make shakes and smoothies and have already learned that it mixes better than most blenders. For example, I made a smoothie with mostly fruit (very little liquid). Other blenders would require much more liquid in order to get the ingredients swirling and finely blended. This blender, because the base is so wide, can move the ingredients around without much liquid. In fact, the smoothie ended up almost like a sorbet, and had no chunks in it. This is important because my youngest son will not eat chunky smoothies. Another example is how we used the blender to make a shake. The first shake we added a lot of milk and it was kind of runny. The second time, I literally just added ice cream and cookies and the blender was able to blend it together in very little time without having to add any milk. Pretty impressive. Another nice thing about the blender is how large the pitcher is. It can hold and process a lot at once, which is great for making soups or processing vegetables from the garden.
On the negative side, the only things I would say that I don't like about this blender are its size and the amount of noise it makes. First, the size of the blender is pretty large. That means it takes up a lot of storage and is too big to be left on our counter when not using. With that said, the reason it is large is because it is very stable (suctions to counter), has a powerful motor, and because it can hold a large amount of ingredients. The second negative is the sound. While using the blender, my wife and kids started using hearing protection. My wife mentioned that it sounded like a jet engine. While I agree that it is louder than other blenders I used, I wouldn't say that it is that much louder. Plus, I assume some of the noise is generated because it has a more powerful motor.
Overall, the blender works great despite the size of the base and noise. If you are also looking for function over form, then I would highly recommend this blender.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get ready to rumble with this Dell laptop. A 15.6-inch full HD display makes it easy to see your programs, apps and files, and an Intel Core i5 processor powers through any task you have on the screen. A long-lasting 42Wh battery keeps your Dell laptop on for long periods so that you can complete the day's work.
Customer Rating
5
Laptop with Great Performance and Style
on October 13, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
This laptop has everything I need and offers great performance. What I like about this laptop is that it meets all my needs but is still rather simple, compact, easy to use, and fast. After unpacking, it takes an hour or two to do the first time setup and install all the recent windows updates. I had no problems connecting to the Internet or to my Bluetooth mouse. The computer is small and thin, which I like a lot, but the keyboard is still plenty big. The screen is very clear and bright and the sound quality is good for a laptop this small. Also, it is easy to connect to external devices with Bluetooth as well as from the USB and HDMI ports. I compared the performance on a graphic intensive game to a computer that had an i7 chip (this laptop has an i5) and a high end graphics card (this laptop has an integrated chipset) and this laptop was just as fast if not faster. I would call that pretty impressive performance.
There are a few things that I didn't like about this laptop. The first is that it doesn't have a number keypad. This is mostly preference, but because I work a lot with spreadsheets and am used to using the numbers on the right, it took a little getting used to. The second issue I had was with the graphics card. It has an integrated graphics card which seemed to work well (see comments above). However, the game I ran didn't recognize the graphics driver and I had to set it up manually. This could very well be because it is a new computer and the game provider hasn't installed the exact driver yet, but I thought I would mention it anyway.
Overall, this laptop is basic but yet impressive and I would highly recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Demanding workouts demand SoundSport Free truly wireless in-ear headphones. They're completely free of wires, so you'll enjoy complete freedom of movement. They're sweat and weather resistant, too. Bose StayHear+ Sport tips are designed to stay secure and comfortable all workout long. And the earbuds are packed full of technology that makes your music sound so clear and powerful, you'll push past your limits.
Customer Rating
5
High Quality, Great Sound, and Great Fit
on October 5, 2017
Posted by: ChrisS
from Madison WI
These Bose headphones are absolutely the best headphones I have ever used, and I am not one to give high praise to many products. As background, I have had six pair of Bluetooth sport headphones over the past 2 years and have been disappointed with the sound quality and volume of nearly all the high end earbuds. These Bose headphones are light years better than the rest in both sound quality and design. After using them for a few days, here are the things I like and dislike about them.
First of all, the headphones have great sound quality. The sound quality is absolutely stunning for such small earbuds. The bass reaches levels that I haven't heard since using over the ear headphones. And the volume reaches the levels needed to drown out all exterior noises and really let you rock out. The second great thing about these is the fit. The headphones have no wire connecting the earbuds so all of the batteries and chips are in the earbuds that go into your ears. At first they feel like they are going to fall out, and of course I worried about losing one since they are not attached with a wire. However, they stayed in perfectly, even after swinging my head around and hitting one side like I was trying to get water out of my ear. Also, although I didn't turn it on, there is an app to locate a lost earbud, just in case one were to get knocked out while exercising / putting glasses on / by a bike helmet etc. With the wireless headphones that have a cord between the earbuds I find that I don't like turning my head to look for cars because it pulls on the other ear. With these, it is much easier to look backwards (important when you are running or walking with them#.
The next cool thing about these headphones is the case. The case is a hard case that is used to secure, protect and charge the earbuds. The battery life is relatively short at 5 hours, but I think that is because the sound is so good. When the earbuds lose charge, you can charge them twice using the carrying case - even if it is not plugged in. In other words, the case carries 10 hours of charge in it. One last positive about these headphones is that they worked very well when taking a call. Despite the microphone being located on the earbud, the caller could hear my voice crystal clear, even when outside in the wind.
Now for what I don't like about the headphones. To be honest, there isn't anything I don't like about these except that maybe the size #they are a little bigger than some others), but that is partially to make up for not having a wire connection and also to produce the awesome sound quality and bass. Also, I would note that I have had trouble with the left earbud staying connected. I am going through Bose support to have it replaced, and am not going to let it affect this review.
Overall, as I'm sure you can tell, I am impressed with these headphones and highly recommend them.
My Best Buy number: 0202150459
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best BuyThis Modal MD-PD6MF2BP folio case features a form-fitting design and a magnet that help keep your Apple iPad Air 2 protected and secure. PU material ensures durability to help promote lasting use.
case
does the iPad Air case fit the iPad air 2
Yes, This case fit our iPad Air 2.
9 years, 3 months ago
by
ChrisS
Madison, WI