Batlacit's stats
- Review count228
- Helpfulness votes918
- First reviewFebruary 13, 2016
- Last reviewJune 23, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.5
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- Answer count55
- Helpfulness votes100
- First answerSeptember 21, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 21, 2022
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- Best answers11
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
5
Fantastic tool for small messes!
on September 30, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
Living in a house with both a dachshund, a breed of dog notorious for their selective housetraining, and a cat who as she gets older has begun to express her displeasure through urine I've gotten a fair amount of experience cleaning up accidents the old fashioned way. When I saw that someone had actually built a device for the task, I was cautiously optimistic. The best I was really expecting was something that might save me on paper towels.
As it turns out, I was wrong. Not only does it save you on paper towels, it's faster and more effective than the traditional method of using a spray bottle and a stiff brush.
The instructions are very simple. You turn it on, pull the trigger to spray a thin sheet of cleaning solution onto the carpet, use the built in brush to work it into the fibers a bit (They deserve extra points for the design of that, by the way, as the brush lets you use the weight of the unit to give you a bit of extra oomph to the scrubbing) and then pull the vacuum back and watch as it sucks up all the cleaning solution and brings the mess with it. I've tested it on urine, vomit, spilled makeup, and just plain dirt that had been tracked into the carpet, and it handled all of them, even on stains that were months old. I don't think I could have gotten any better results with a carpet cleaner.
That said, it should be pointed out that this is definitely a small appliance for small messes. The battery lasts about as long as it takes to empty the onboard tank for cleaning solution, and that tank is not very big. I emptied it out in the space of an afternoon helping a friend clean out their carpet after they moved. Also cleanup can be a little tricky at times, as the thing tends to suck up a fair bit of fur and hair as well which can get caught in the drain or the intakes. But all in all, you still spend much less time with it than you would with traditional methods, and it's certainly cheaper than a full size carpet shampooer!
I'd recommend this to anyone going through housetraining without reservation.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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15of 18voted 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
5
It's more than just style - a real gaming router!
on September 24, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
Evaluating any “gaming” hardware for PCs can be tricky. There’s a lot of products marketed exclusively at gamers which are basically just consumer level hardware with extra LEDs and more aggressive case styling. On the other extreme, you have products that are basically enterprise level solutions tweaked to essentially specialize in a few specific areas.
I’m pleased to say that the Linksys WRT32X is more of the latter than the former, but there are some caveats that you may want to know about all the same. Most of this has to do with the “Killer Networking Engine” integrated into it, a first for a router. For those of you unaware, Killer networking offers an alternative to the standard Windows TCP/IP stack, essentially performing client-side quality of service filtering to improve latency for gaming. In theory, this should offer massive gains in transmission speed. In practice, when doing quality of service at the client you’re often just racing to reach a bottleneck further down the line. As a result, real world gains provided by the tech are limited compared to what they could get in a lab, and only get more limited if you have more than one of the things on the same network.
What this router brings to the table is a way to carry forward that same prioritization being done on the client, which I will say does address the problem of multiple devices using Killer networking hardware interfering with one another and the potential bottleneck at the router quite well. The bottleneck is now the greater internet, but improving two legs of the transit does get you into the realm of noticeable improvements. But this leaves us with two questions. Is there a good router underneath the gaming enhancements? And does having these enhancements offer any advantages outside of gaming?
So, to begin with, I should note that for all intents and purposes they appear to have built the WRT32X on top of their existing WRT3200ACM – which means it’s blurring the line between consumer and enterprise grade hardware. This is ludicrous overkill for most users, but there are times that overkill is nice. In addition to all the usual bells and whistles that come with a router in its class it offers the option to replace the factory provided software with the open source WRT platform should you want to get crunchy. It also has built in support for tri-band tech first unveiled last year to produce an extreme speed channel for bandwidth hungry devices that, to the best of my knowledge, probably won’t start appearing on the market for another year yet. This thing is an absolute beast on paper, and in my tests I found that it’s just as powerful in practice.
Setup is largely automated and very painless – all in all it took me less than 10 minutes to replace my existing router with this one. Once you’re past that, the interface is very simple and functional, though I’ll admit there are just a few areas where I’d be willing to make do with a less streamlined look in exchange for more information being available at a glance. This is minor though, and for people like me who like to manually configure everything they can everything you need is still there, just hidden behind a few layers of menus. I’m also very pleased with the ability to assign three priority levels to devices on the network, as most routers I’ve worked with have only offered two. As far as range and performance goes, I had no issues using both the 2.4 and 5ghz bands throughout my home and even out into the lawn and the underground garage. And it had no issues whatsoever load balancing the 20+ WiFi devices I’ve got in my home.
Which brings us to the second question: what does having a Killer Networking Engine do for you?
Well, to start, here’s what it won’t do:
It won’t speed up your downloads.
It won’t speed up your local file transfers.
It won’t find you any more bandwidth from your modem.
It won’t make Netflix look any better.
It won’t speed up your downloads.
It won’t speed up your local file transfers.
It won’t find you any more bandwidth from your modem.
It won’t make Netflix look any better.
If your main motivation for buying this is on that list, look elsewhere. This tech is optimized for speeding up the transfer of small packets used for online gaming – not bulk file transfers or every day internet browsing. And while my tests didn’t produce results anywhere near what they advertise on the box even when it was paired with the Killer NICs that it’s optimized for, I can’t deny that there is a measurable improvement here. I was lucky enough to be able to compare the WRT32X to a WRT3200ACM, basically an identical router just without the Killer Networking Engine installed, and confirmed that I was consistently seeing an improvement in the 20% range for gaming traffic with machines using a standard NIC. With a Killer NIC, albeit a slightly older one, the improvement bumped up closer to 30%.
Now, keep in mind that we’re still talking in terms of a few milliseconds of difference here. Far less times than it takes most people to blink. It’s not something that’s going to matter for most games, and the nature of online play means that you likely will never be able to say for certain if the router ever helped you or not. But at the same time there definitely do exist people for whom a few milliseconds can make a critical and very real difference in playing a game. Gamers who routinely take part in high-level ranked or tournament play for real time strategy games, shooters, or MOBAs can tell you that oftentimes, it all comes down to reflex. And having equipment that increases the odds that the packet reporting your actions will reach the server first does bestow a real advantage. For that specific use case, I really don’t think there’s anything else on the market that can compare to this, though I imagine that other similar equipment will follow given the growing popularity of e-sports. So while there is a list of caveats a mile long, I do have to recommend this router for those who are looking to squeeze every last bit of gaming performance out of their network.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Hear everything happening in the game with this Logitech gaming headset. Low distortion and an acoustic port behind the driver combine to produce precise, realistic sound, and downloadable software lets you customize audio for each game. Play in comfort with the ultra-soft microfiber ear pads of this Logitech gaming headset.
Customer Rating
3
Stellar audio, but an uncomfortable design.
on August 10, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
This headset is somewhat difficult to form an opinion on. I've used other Logitech gaming headsets in the past, and overall I've usually found them to be some of the better ones. But for whatever reason, I just found myself less than impressed with this particular version.
It is definitely not for lack of features. The headset has just about everything you could want. Cables for USB, 3 pole mobile jacks, and paired 2 pole PC jacks, two microphone options, two sets of ear pads, an a carrying case for all of it. And taken individually, I really like the a lot of it. The audio quality is great (though as with most surround sound headsets can feel a little distant compared to plain stereo headsets) and both mics have good pickup and easy adjustment. The whole thing is also very lightweight, more so than any other headset of this size I've tried.
But these also at times feel a little like problems. The thing is so lightweight that at times I worry about it being too fragile to really take with me, which is supported by the fact that after a day of fairly light use I'd already begun to notice some cosmetic damage to some of the bits. One of the speakers also looks to have slipped out of its mountings, though it's possible that it just came like that and repair looks very straightforward. And I'm left feeling that I really preferred the older headsets that were heavier and didn't have the same bass response just because I didn't feel like they needed to be protected to keep from breaking. It also doesn't help that on my head (which admittedly has a hat size of XXL) it pinches right at the top of my jaw because there isn't enough play in the gimbal to sit flat against the sides of my head.
Now, a lot of these issues are fixable. The carrying case that it comes with is essentially just a cloth bag, but if you've got something with even a bit of padding I wouldn't really worry about portability. And with regular use, the band is slowly starting to conform better to my head. I've also had friends who have difficulty with heavier units rave about the lightweight build being infinitely more comfortable. But in the end, my own mixed experiences with it keep me from wholeheartedly endorsing it for everyone.
Basically, if you're mostly concerned with audio and weight, this is probably great for you. But if you're looking primarily for prolonged comfort (or just have a large head,) you might want to see if you can try one on before committing to the G433.
It is definitely not for lack of features. The headset has just about everything you could want. Cables for USB, 3 pole mobile jacks, and paired 2 pole PC jacks, two microphone options, two sets of ear pads, an a carrying case for all of it. And taken individually, I really like the a lot of it. The audio quality is great (though as with most surround sound headsets can feel a little distant compared to plain stereo headsets) and both mics have good pickup and easy adjustment. The whole thing is also very lightweight, more so than any other headset of this size I've tried.
But these also at times feel a little like problems. The thing is so lightweight that at times I worry about it being too fragile to really take with me, which is supported by the fact that after a day of fairly light use I'd already begun to notice some cosmetic damage to some of the bits. One of the speakers also looks to have slipped out of its mountings, though it's possible that it just came like that and repair looks very straightforward. And I'm left feeling that I really preferred the older headsets that were heavier and didn't have the same bass response just because I didn't feel like they needed to be protected to keep from breaking. It also doesn't help that on my head (which admittedly has a hat size of XXL) it pinches right at the top of my jaw because there isn't enough play in the gimbal to sit flat against the sides of my head.
Now, a lot of these issues are fixable. The carrying case that it comes with is essentially just a cloth bag, but if you've got something with even a bit of padding I wouldn't really worry about portability. And with regular use, the band is slowly starting to conform better to my head. I've also had friends who have difficulty with heavier units rave about the lightweight build being infinitely more comfortable. But in the end, my own mixed experiences with it keep me from wholeheartedly endorsing it for everyone.
Basically, if you're mostly concerned with audio and weight, this is probably great for you. But if you're looking primarily for prolonged comfort (or just have a large head,) you might want to see if you can try one on before committing to the G433.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best BuyHP OMEN by HP Laptop: Play your way to victory with this HP Omen 17-inch laptop. Built around a formidable Intel Core i7 processor and 12GB of RAM, this machine supports memory-hungry programs and blazes through graphics-intense games. This HP Omen 17-inch laptop has an advanced red backlit keyboard with dedicated macro keys to make advanced moves easier.
Customer Rating
4
Great portable desktop, but only an "okay" laptop.
on July 15, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
It was more difficult than I expected to write a review on this laptop. The Omen series is HP’s attempt to provide a budget-minded gaming laptop, which is very nearly an oxymoron. The result is a machine which exemplifies both the best and worst of what a gaming laptop is.
As a gaming platform, the Omen is impressively built. With an i7 processor and the latest Radeon GPU, it’s enough to run just about anything you throw at it with ease. It can even drive a VR headset, one of the most demanding benchmarks that a portable machine can meet. To that end it also comes with a variety of perks aimed specifically at gamers. The anti-ghosting keyboard complete with six dedicated macro keys and highlighted WASD keys is a pleasure to type on. It’s also provided with complete illumination which you can set to only highlight the keys most relevant to gaming if you’re using it in an environment with low lighting. As someone who’s admittedly a bit of a snob when it comes to gaming computers, I’m very happy with the Omen’s performance overall. And if that’s not enough for you, with the removal of a single panel at the bottom you have the option to upgrade the RAM and HDD.
The thing is that if you use it for anything other than a gaming platform, the sacrifices that HP made to provide this much functionality at this price point start to become more apparent. The battery will give you less than an hour’s gaming time on its own. In power saving mode, using it only for word processing and web browsing, I struggled to get even three hours out of it. Not that it matters that much, because the size and weight of the system is enough to make it far too bulky to regularly carry around. The heat it kicks out also makes using it on your lap to be pretty much a non-starter, even with the “CoolSense” utility that attempts to limit the amount of heat generated when it isn’t sitting on a desk. You also won’t get a lot of the features that you’d usually expect to see on a high-end Windows laptop. The webcam isn’t compatible with the facial recognition login for Windows 10, the trackpad feels rather cheap, and they’re using a single traditional hard disk drive in place of lighter and more power conscious SSDs.
What this boils down to is that the Omen is probably best described as more of a portable gaming desktop than it is as a laptop. If you’re just looking for something that will let you set up and play games wherever there’s a power outlet and space for an external mouse, I think you’ll be very hard pressed to find something better at this price point. But if you’re looking to have just a single laptop which can do everything and play your games too, this might not be the best choice for you.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+109points
118of 127voted this as helpful.
Upgrade your listening experience with these JBL Everest wireless headphones. The Bluetooth connectivity lets you stream music from compatible devices, and the ergonomic design fits the unique contours of your ears. Its built-in battery on these JBL Everest wireless headphones provides 20 hours of playing time with only 2 hours of microUSB charging.
Customer Rating
5
Great headphones with some surprises!
on July 13, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
It's kind of a given at this point that high end JBL headphones are going to have good audio quality and a plethora of supplementary perks to justify the premium price you pay for them. As a result when I first tried these out there was only one thing that I was really focused on: how comfortable would a set of headphones this size be when the padding is designed to press down on the ear instead of sit over the top of it? Much to my surprise, the answer was: great! In fact they work so well that I actually now prefer them to the larger over-the-ear design.
As it turns out, there are a few advantages to having the headphones sit like they do. One of them is the amount of noise that this thing blocks out. The first time I put them on, I actually had to go back and confirm that noise cancellation wasn't one of the features of this set. And the faux-leather padding does a great job of conducting heat away from your ears, making this a very comfortable set to wear for hours on a plane, train, or anywhere else where you're primarily interested in drowning out the ambient noise.
Another nice thing about these headphones is their ease of use. It's obvious that making this thing dead simple to use was a real priority for the engineers. While most Bluetooth devices provide feedback through tones and blinking lights, these headsets directly speak to you, providing instructions in English as to what you need to do next. This is particularly appreciated when using the ShareMe feature, which lets you pair the headset to another Bluetooth device to mirror the audio you're getting.
That feature, by the way, is another highlight of these headphones. While wired headphones have had audio splitters available for ages to allow two people to privately listen to the same source, doing the same with Bluetooth devices has always been an exercise in frustration for anyone who wasn't very tech-savvy. With these, it's dead simple. Press a dedicated button, and the Everest headphones will automatically pair with any Bluetooth headset in the vicinity - including ones from other brands!
As for the listening experience, as mentioned before the audio quality is great. The biggest factor in quality I found was which version of Bluetooth you used - while the headphones will pair with any transceiver, I definitely noticed that 1st and 2nd generation transceivers were less reliable when it came to delivering audio. Fortunately, there's always the option to plug in a wire and run them through a standard audio jack.
All in all, these are a very solid piece of hardware that I have no difficulty recommending if you're looking for high quality portable audio.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ensure maximum comfort from this Logitech mouse. The precise ergonomic design ensures you stay comfortable throughout the day even if you're a power user, and the additional side button lets you create a custom setup. Smooth gliding is assured from this Logitech mouse thanks to the low-resistance base that slips over any surface.
Customer Rating
5
My favorite mouse
on June 30, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
There are relatively few GOOD mice on the market. Most are what I'd call merely adequate - or afterthoughts to pair with a keyboard. The Logitech MX Master 2 is neither of those. It's one of the very rare great mice available to buy today.
So to start, the comfort. The hand-sculpted design is pretty much... well, sculpted for your hand. It's got just the right amount of heft, a pleasant feel, and a good texture to it. As if that wasn't enough, there are some oversized teflon pads on the bottom that make it slide right over just about anything you might need it to.
Looking at the features, it's got just about whatever you might want. Six buttons, two scroll wheels, support for both 2.4ghz and bluetooth wireless, and an option to plug it into the computer to charge while still using it! And then there's that vertical scroll wheel. Designed to easily and automatically transition between precise ratcheted scrolling and faster smooth scrolling, there really isn't anything else like it on the market. With either a flick of the finger or a tap of a dedicated button below the wheel a mechanical assemblage extends or retracts with a satisfying tactile "clack" that I'll admit sometimes has me scrolling idly just for the novelty factor.
Best of all though is the thing's portability. It can support connections with up to three different computers, and has a button that lets you clearly switch to which one you want to use. There's even a feature to let you use it for two computers simultaneously, though I'll admit to having failed to find a good use scenario for that particular bonus yet. This is a mouse that you can set up on your desk at home, bring with you to work, and take on the plane with your laptop so you never have to return to the days when you used the inferior, tiny "travel" mice of yesterday.
If there is a downside to be had, all I can offer is that the forward/back buttons are perhaps a little too small and closely spaced. But honestly that hasn't been nearly so much of a problem as I thought it would be when I first got the mouse. If you're like me and are unusually picky about your pointing devices, you owe it to yourself to at least try one of these out!
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Toss this waterproof LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker in the pool and watch it float. The crisp audio doesn't stop for snow, dirt or ice, and this Bluetooth-enabled speaker can withstand a drop from 1.2m. The battery of this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker keeps going for 15 hours, and it charges your phone while it's playing.
Customer Rating
5
Built tough without compromising on audio quality
on June 26, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
I’ve tried a few different waterproof speaker offerings in the past, and for the most part while they’ve been pretty good when it comes to being water proof I’ve been somewhat less impressed by their sound quality and ease of use. This speaker, which is quite probably the most rugged example I’ve seen so far, has impressed me most by being a surprisingly good Bluetooth speaker first that just happens to also be built like the offspring of a tank and a submarine.
As far as features go, this thing isn't going to impress anyone with an abundance of bells and whistles, going instead for minor quality of life details. You’ve got the standard features you’d expect: 15 hour estimated battery life, volume and playback controls, integrated speakerphone capabilities (which at this point seem to be standard for any Bluetooth device) and Bluetooth 4.2 compatibility are all there. But on top of that you have a pair of USB and 3.5mm inputs to allow you to forgo the Bluetooth connection entirely and charge your phone up from the massive battery within at the same time. One of the sets is even located inside the dry box, so that you can protect your phone from shocks or unexpected swims at the same time.
The build quality is also very nice on this unit. Seams are tight and the seals around the dry box are just about as sturdy as anything I’ve seen, with a lock added for extra security. The buttons are all protected by thick rubber caps which help maintain the waterproofing and the sole moving part, the button lock switch on the side, is firm and very sturdy. The sound produced is just a little heavy on the bass tones using it inside, but taking it outside where low tones are more easily lost in ambient noise you get very nice audio response.
Really, there are only a few issues I found with the speaker. The speakerphone functionality seemed fine with my phone but was annoyingly inconsistent with my other devices, for instance. I’m also a bit annoyed that the dry box is just a hair too small to let you fit the wall charger inside for travel and storage. But I’m more than willing to put up with them in exchange for having a single speaker that I can listen to music on at home and then throw in my backpack to take camping!
As far as features go, this thing isn't going to impress anyone with an abundance of bells and whistles, going instead for minor quality of life details. You’ve got the standard features you’d expect: 15 hour estimated battery life, volume and playback controls, integrated speakerphone capabilities (which at this point seem to be standard for any Bluetooth device) and Bluetooth 4.2 compatibility are all there. But on top of that you have a pair of USB and 3.5mm inputs to allow you to forgo the Bluetooth connection entirely and charge your phone up from the massive battery within at the same time. One of the sets is even located inside the dry box, so that you can protect your phone from shocks or unexpected swims at the same time.
The build quality is also very nice on this unit. Seams are tight and the seals around the dry box are just about as sturdy as anything I’ve seen, with a lock added for extra security. The buttons are all protected by thick rubber caps which help maintain the waterproofing and the sole moving part, the button lock switch on the side, is firm and very sturdy. The sound produced is just a little heavy on the bass tones using it inside, but taking it outside where low tones are more easily lost in ambient noise you get very nice audio response.
Really, there are only a few issues I found with the speaker. The speakerphone functionality seemed fine with my phone but was annoyingly inconsistent with my other devices, for instance. I’m also a bit annoyed that the dry box is just a hair too small to let you fit the wall charger inside for travel and storage. But I’m more than willing to put up with them in exchange for having a single speaker that I can listen to music on at home and then throw in my backpack to take camping!
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Concoct a variety of coffee-based beverages with this combination DeLonghi coffee maker and espresso machine. Its cappuccino system easily prepares perfectly frothed coffee, and its 24-hour programmable timer lets you make up to 10 cups of brew on your schedule. This DeLonghi coffee maker and espresso machine also makes lattes and hot chocolate.
Customer Rating
4
A coffee machine for enthusiasts
on June 15, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
The first thing I noticed about the DeLonghi 10-Cup Coffeemaker was the instructions. They're somewhat sparse, filled with lots of tiny text, and a few simple illustrations. They're not bad, per se, but they're definitely written with the expectation that you have a basic understanding of what you're doing. And that's pretty much my impression of this machine. If you know what you're doing, it's probably going to be your favorite thing ever. If you've never pulled an espresso shot before, you'll likely be a little intimidated. But this is actually a pretty good machine to learn on.
As far as the hardware itself goes, this is basically two separate appliances melded together. The drip coffee maker on the right is large and well provisioned - with a gold plated coffee permanent coffee filter, a replaceable chlorine flavor filter, and a programmable timer so you can wake up in the morning to a full carafe. It's definitely on the high end of such machines, but there's really nothing particularly remarkable about it. The real focus is on the espresso maker on the left hand side.
This is where it's most obvious that the machine is straddling the divide between a product for experts and one for the average consumer. The build quality is definitely not up to what you'd expect from a professional metal espresso maker, but it's much better than your average plastic appliance too. There's a port to allow you to install a hard water filter in the espresso reservoir. The filter handle is sturdy and almost all metal. The steam wand, on the other hand, is a mix of plastic and metal, and definitely substantially less powerful than what you'd expect on a higher end unit. And that's not entirely a bad thing. I managed to give myself a small burn the first time I tried to make a cappuccino with the unit - the fact that the pressure and output of the wand was lower than others is probably the only thing that kept it from being a large one.
And that really sums up this machine. It's just enough for you to do most of the things you'd like to do, and just shy of enough to let you mess up too badly. It's a tricky target to aim for, but they seem to have found it here.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
Listen to music hands-free with this LG wireless headset. It lets you answer or ignore a call with voice commands, and the wireless earbuds charge when they're resting inside the neckband, ensuring they're ready for use. The neckband of this LG wireless headset provides vibration alerts for incoming calls and texts, so you'll never miss a message.
Customer Rating
4
My first bluetooth headphones
on May 21, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
I've long liked the idea of cordless devices for most things, save one. For whatever reason, I've never really felt that I needed wireless headphones. I don't know why, honestly. Most headphones I've owned have died because the cord is easily tangled, fragile, and prone to getting caught on things. But it just never seemed worth the added expense.
This particular set, which is a combination of earbuds, a smart watch, and a hands free earpiece, does appeal to my love of gadgets with way more features than they really need. And I have to say they're now my go-to headphones for everyday use. But I have to say that I think there are still some bugs that need to be addressed here.
So first off, the actual headphones are really just two little nubs that pop out of the collar. At first I thought this would be a big problem for me, as I always tend to lose tiny things, but I'm actually rather impressed so far. The headphones do stick in your ears, and with how small they are there isn't much argument from gravity. When they're not in use, two latches on the collar hold them firmly in place while keeping them charged.
BUT... if I follow the fitting instructions in the box, the things are solid as a rock and have great bass response but are physically painful to wear. They can tightly nestle into the shape of your ear, but I think mine might be just a little smaller than whatever baseline they were using to design them. I just can't do it for more than a few minutes. Adjusting it slightly gives me a more comfortable fit, but at the expense of creating a slight gap which makes them less secure and cuts down their ability to deliver any bass. I feel like they could have easily fixed this just by including a larger option for the rubber ear plugs, which makes me somewhat annoyed.
This particular set, which is a combination of earbuds, a smart watch, and a hands free earpiece, does appeal to my love of gadgets with way more features than they really need. And I have to say they're now my go-to headphones for everyday use. But I have to say that I think there are still some bugs that need to be addressed here.
So first off, the actual headphones are really just two little nubs that pop out of the collar. At first I thought this would be a big problem for me, as I always tend to lose tiny things, but I'm actually rather impressed so far. The headphones do stick in your ears, and with how small they are there isn't much argument from gravity. When they're not in use, two latches on the collar hold them firmly in place while keeping them charged.
BUT... if I follow the fitting instructions in the box, the things are solid as a rock and have great bass response but are physically painful to wear. They can tightly nestle into the shape of your ear, but I think mine might be just a little smaller than whatever baseline they were using to design them. I just can't do it for more than a few minutes. Adjusting it slightly gives me a more comfortable fit, but at the expense of creating a slight gap which makes them less secure and cuts down their ability to deliver any bass. I feel like they could have easily fixed this just by including a larger option for the rubber ear plugs, which makes me somewhat annoyed.
As for the collar, that provides the option for both notifications and a bit of extra battery power. The earbuds on their own are rated for about 3 hours use (which my tests confirmed to be broadly accurate, though it seemed that the left earbud died faster) and the collar contains additional power to charge them up for 7.5 hours (my tests confirmed 7.) Pairing it up with an app on your phone allows the collar to vibrate when you've got a notification and read out notification texts on the earbuds if they're in use. It's also just the right size and shape to slip under a shirt collar, which is definitely a plus given that wearing this is not the most flattering look.
BUT... I don't know why they thought that it was a good idea to deliver messages through this big vibrating collar. Again, it works, but it's just not comfortable. The place it tends to sit is very sensitive, and the vibration is just harsh enough to make it unpleasant. I turned this feature off after the first barrage of messages made me pull the collar off, and I plan to keep it that way. Likewise, the app that you use is a somewhat clumsy design that ensures easy access to the legalese within the EULA but is rather feature poor beyond that. There are controls to turn notifications on and off, an instruction manual, and a "voice memo" feature that I've yet to find a good reason to use.
BUT... I don't know why they thought that it was a good idea to deliver messages through this big vibrating collar. Again, it works, but it's just not comfortable. The place it tends to sit is very sensitive, and the vibration is just harsh enough to make it unpleasant. I turned this feature off after the first barrage of messages made me pull the collar off, and I plan to keep it that way. Likewise, the app that you use is a somewhat clumsy design that ensures easy access to the legalese within the EULA but is rather feature poor beyond that. There are controls to turn notifications on and off, an instruction manual, and a "voice memo" feature that I've yet to find a good reason to use.
In the end, these issues aren't enough to make me dislike the headphones. For convenience alone they're worth dealing with the rough edges, and once you pair them the things work just about perfectly, automatically turning themselves on, connecting, and setting up controls for their multifunction buttons. And the collar design is, in my opinion, a far better option for a storage case/charging pod than the usual pill box designs that I've seen for this form factor. But the lack of polish does stop me from giving the product full stars, and if you're an audiophile who really cares about completely faithful sound they might not be for you.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Replace the keyboard of your Microsoft Surface Pro 7, 6, 5 or 4 with this silver Brydge keyboard. It conveniently lets you open the screen at your preferred viewing angle without a kickstand, and its backlit keys increase visibility in low light working environments. This Brydge keyboard is lightweight, so it doesn't add extra bulk to your device.
Customer Rating
5
Best surface keyboard I've used, hands down!
on May 21, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
Much of the review could be summed up with one sentence: "This thing is absolutely awesome."
I have been using Surface and Surface-like form factors as my primary portable computer for about five years now. And I've been very happy with the experience for the most part. The first one I got was motivated more by the fact that it was the best one to use with a pen than anything else, and while I was satisfied with the snap-on keyboard and kickstand support, "satisfied' is really about as far as I would go with it. As anyone who has used a kickstand based machine on a train or airplane can attest, it's often a pain to work with. The shallow travel of the keys isn't particularly satisfying to use, and the less said about the knuckle-punishing fabric keyboards that came with the first generation surface the better. And there are just an abundance of places where there isn't a good place to use the kickstand.
Well, this keyboard pretty much fixes all of that. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed being able to just set my computer on my actual lap and type anywhere until I stuck my computer into this wonderful little accessory and started working. The thing improved my productivity simply because I no longer have a lingering reluctance to pull out the computer when I don't have an optimal surface to set it up on.
Well, this keyboard pretty much fixes all of that. I hadn't realized just how much I had missed being able to just set my computer on my actual lap and type anywhere until I stuck my computer into this wonderful little accessory and started working. The thing improved my productivity simply because I no longer have a lingering reluctance to pull out the computer when I don't have an optimal surface to set it up on.
Looking beyond the concept, the product itself is just as impressive. It's got a bit of heft to it that makes it just a little heavier than the Surface itself, much of which goes to an oversized battery they advertise will work for 3 months of heavy use. Usually I feel compelled to stress test battery life claims to see what they actually are, but in this one case I'm willing to let that number stand simply for logistical reasons. The milled aluminum case is sturdy and pleasant to work with, the glass touchpad is wonderfully smooth and responsive, and the keyboard itself has great action on all the keys. It's also got plenty of nice extras including illuminated keys, dedicated function buttons, multi-touch support, and a button to quickly check that massive never-ending battery.
Now that said, there are a couple of things that could count as downsides. For a start, the fact that this thing needs an internal battery. Unlike the official Surface keyboards, this thing works on a bluetooth connection. I'm not entirely sure that's a bad thing in all cases, since it does mean you can use the keyboard in a non-laptop configuration and even with other Surface-like tablets if you want (which I confirmed do work, though they look amazingly silly.) But the downside is that you do get all the problems that typically come with bluetooth keyboards, like a slight amount of input lag at higher typing speeds (so long as you stay under 100wpm you're probably fine.) The version with an integrated SSD also has a somewhat awkward workaround for this lack of a direct connection in the form of a dangling USB cable running from the Surface USB port to the keyboard. You might also find it takes a little practice before you're able to get the thing correctly lined up with the clips that grip the Surface. And of course there's the fact that this does double the weight of the Surface, but that's pretty much a necessity in creating a stable product. I can't say that I really feel these detract from the experience for me, but they were deal breakers for a few of the other Surface users who checked out the keyboard. But if you're like me and want the traditional laptop option but don't want to spring for a Surface Book, I'd say this is probably the keyboard for you regardless of the trade-offs.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Extend your PC’s RGB lighting with the CORSAIR iCUE LT100 Smart Lighting Towers Starter Kit, part of the iCUE Smart Lighting Ecosystem. 92 RGB LEDs light up your room with ambient lighting that dynamically integrates with your games and media for a truly immersive experience. Cycle through 11 lighting profiles out of the box with push-button control or connect to CORSAIR iCUE software to synchronize your RGB lighting effects across all compatible CORSAIR devices in your system and all external iCUE Smart Lighting devices. The Starter Kit includes two lighting towers with 46 customizable LEDs each, housed in light-diffusing casing that softens and blends light. With an included removable headset holder, LT100 Smart Lighting Towers add convenient, versatile, and stunning RGB lighting to any setup.
how tall are they
Per the spec sheet they're 422mm tall - the headphone holder adds about two millimeters to whichever one you stick it to. In more practical terms, they're just about exactly as tall as a 32" LCD (not including the stand.)
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
Meet the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 6.5qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid. The pressure cooker that steams and crisps. SmartLid slider unlocks pressure cooking, air frying, and Steamcrisping - all under one SmartLid. SteamCrisp Technology steams and crisps at the same time for faster, juicier, crispier results*. 14 one-touch programs unlock even more versatility. (*Vs. Ninja Foodi OL501 in dry mode only)
Does this model have hands free pressure release when pressure cooking timer is done, or do you have to manually release steam after pressure cooking?
You do need to manually toggle the valve. That said, it's very well designed to keep your hands free of any steam that might escape in the process.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
The new Alienware x17 is super thin, extremely light laptop . Now’s your chance to game with gear that knows no boundaries. The Alienware x17 gaming laptops with advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech™ cooling defy boundaries. Introducing Element 31 thermal interface material and a Quad-Fan Design. We are incorporating more fan blades, more copper materials, and vapor chambers to deliver ample power while dissipating the heat more efficiently and allowing the fans to run less resulting in reduced noise. The x17 features five tailored power states, and grants access to thousands of games with Windows. Alienware laptops will bring your favorite games into hyper-reality with Windows DirectX 12 Ultimate. Constructed with magnesium alloy and aluminum parts gamers can experience the evolved Legend Industrial Design that reimagines the way you game. The Alienware x17 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel processors, has more storage options with dual drives featuring SSD and includes powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 30-series discrete graphics.
Can you please give me an idea of what is the most recent AAA game can this laptop play?. I'd love to get an idea of what I am going to expect when purchasing this laptop! like, can it play Deathloop? or perhaps Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart for example?.
It can play Cyberpunk 2077 on Psycho (at least while plugged in.)
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
The new Alienware x17 is super thin, extremely light laptop . Now’s your chance to game with gear that knows no boundaries. The Alienware x17 gaming laptops with advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech™ cooling defy boundaries. Introducing Element 31 thermal interface material and a Quad-Fan Design. We are incorporating more fan blades, more copper materials, and vapor chambers to deliver ample power while dissipating the heat more efficiently and allowing the fans to run less resulting in reduced noise. The x17 features five tailored power states, and grants access to thousands of games with Windows. Alienware laptops will bring your favorite games into hyper-reality with Windows DirectX 12 Ultimate. Constructed with magnesium alloy and aluminum parts gamers can experience the evolved Legend Industrial Design that reimagines the way you game. The Alienware x17 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel processors, has more storage options with dual drives featuring SSD and includes powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 30-series discrete graphics.
Please confirm if this specific model that is available for sale comes with the standard four zone RGB keyboard or the per key RGB keyboard?
The new Alienware x17 is super thin, extremely light laptop . Now’s your chance to game with gear that knows no boundaries. The Alienware x17 gaming laptops with advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech™ cooling defy boundaries. Introducing Element 31 thermal interface material and a Quad-Fan Design. We are incorporating more fan blades, more copper materials, and vapor chambers to deliver ample power while dissipating the heat more efficiently and allowing the fans to run less resulting in reduced noise. The x17 features five tailored power states, and grants access to thousands of games with Windows. Alienware laptops will bring your favorite games into hyper-reality with Windows DirectX 12 Ultimate. Constructed with magnesium alloy and aluminum parts gamers can experience the evolved Legend Industrial Design that reimagines the way you game. The Alienware x17 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel processors, has more storage options with dual drives featuring SSD and includes powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 30-series discrete graphics.
Internal disc drive or is an external needed
No internal optical drive - pretty much everyone's started phasing them out at this point.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
The new Alienware x17 is super thin, extremely light laptop . Now’s your chance to game with gear that knows no boundaries. The Alienware x17 gaming laptops with advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech™ cooling defy boundaries. Introducing Element 31 thermal interface material and a Quad-Fan Design. We are incorporating more fan blades, more copper materials, and vapor chambers to deliver ample power while dissipating the heat more efficiently and allowing the fans to run less resulting in reduced noise. The x17 features five tailored power states, and grants access to thousands of games with Windows. Alienware laptops will bring your favorite games into hyper-reality with Windows DirectX 12 Ultimate. Constructed with magnesium alloy and aluminum parts gamers can experience the evolved Legend Industrial Design that reimagines the way you game. The Alienware x17 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel processors, has more storage options with dual drives featuring SSD and includes powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 30-series discrete graphics.
Will the 1TB SSD be a Gen3 or a Gen4?
It uses PCIe 4.0. The drive that's included isn't the fastest I've seen, but it'll handily beat any of the last generation NVMe drives.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
The new Alienware x17 is super thin, extremely light laptop . Now’s your chance to game with gear that knows no boundaries. The Alienware x17 gaming laptops with advanced Alienware Cryo-Tech™ cooling defy boundaries. Introducing Element 31 thermal interface material and a Quad-Fan Design. We are incorporating more fan blades, more copper materials, and vapor chambers to deliver ample power while dissipating the heat more efficiently and allowing the fans to run less resulting in reduced noise. The x17 features five tailored power states, and grants access to thousands of games with Windows. Alienware laptops will bring your favorite games into hyper-reality with Windows DirectX 12 Ultimate. Constructed with magnesium alloy and aluminum parts gamers can experience the evolved Legend Industrial Design that reimagines the way you game. The Alienware x17 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel processors, has more storage options with dual drives featuring SSD and includes powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 30-series discrete graphics.
I recently purchased this laptop. It came with windows 10 preinstalled. The product description tells that it has windows 11. Does that mean that I have to wait for the windows 11 update. Or is there an issue with my laptop
That'll depend on what date your laptop was manufactured. As of mid-October the factories aren't set up to load Windows 11 on new units yet, so they're shipping ones with Windows 10 with the keys needed to get the free update ASAP. Windows 11 is having something of a staggered rollout, with certain models getting the upgrade ahead of others. That said the one I received on 10/12 got the option to update within a day, so you might just need to check Windows Update to confirm that you actually want it.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
Batlacit
The Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum combines powerful vacuuming with Matrix Clean Navigation, leaving no spots missed for an ultra whole-home clean. Features include: powerful Shark suction power, Matrix Clean Navigation for a deeper cleaning, HEPA 60-day capacity base for collecting and trapping dust and allergens, and CleanEdge Technology for better edge cleaning.
WOW Awesome Can you please help me with what is the actual run time. Confuse with below- Up to 120 minutes of runtime for whole-home cleaning. And with Recharge and Resume, the robot will return to the dock, recharge, and can pick up where it left off
120 minutes is how much you might be able to get under optimal conditions assuming a battery that's close to brand new, a wide open room with nothing for the robot to get stuck on, and a floor that's already clean enough that it doesn't need to ramp up the suction for targeted cleaning. In other words, it's probably more than you'll get in day to day use. I wouldn't be that concerned about it though. The biggest advantage to having a robot with active navigation like this is that it knows where it was when it ran out of battery. So when it gets low it stops, returns to its dock, then picks up where it left off once it's gotten enough charge to finish the job. So long as it doesn't end up cut off from its charging base by a closed door or the like, it can stick with a cleaning job more or less indefinitely.
3 years, 9 months ago
by
Batlacit
Stream Deck gives you 15 LCD keys to control your apps and tools. Trigger actions, launch social posts, adjust audio, play sound clips, activate lights, and much more. Get visual feedback to confirm your commands. Set Stream Deck to automatically switch key configurations as you jump between apps. It’s the ultimate workflow hack, and it’s fully customizable. Personalize your Stream Deck with custom icons, screensavers, and a growing range of interchangeable faceplates. Use the app to configure keys with ease, and hit the Stream Deck Store for app plugins, icon packs, thousands of royalty free tracks, effects, and more.
Elgato's website is pretty terrible. No real info and only list one model with no model number listed anywhere. What's different about this one versus the KAA model?
In terms of functionality it's pretty much identical. They've adopted a slightly different design for the stand which makes the whole thing look a bit more streamlined, added the option to remove and replace the faceplate for increased customization, and modernized the USB interface. I'd say it's more like a refresh of the original aimed at extending the product's lifespan than a wholly new device.
3 years, 11 months ago
by
Batlacit
Explore realistic 3D audio with sound precisely projected from above, in front, behind and to the side of you with the latest acoustic technologies.
What does this new 850A do that the 2020 year 950T cannot? Would this 850A be the big brother to the 950T or does the 950T provide a better sound experience since it it is a 9.1.4 system. I too am tossed which one to purchase.
The 950 is the next model up from the 850 - even with the 850A being newer it can't compete with a system that's got 6 additional channels to play with. You'll be better up with last year's 950 model.
4 years ago
by
Batlacit