Batlacit's stats
- Review count195
- Helpfulness votes911
- First reviewFebruary 13, 2016
- Last reviewJune 19, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count55
- Helpfulness votes97
- First answerSeptember 21, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 21, 2022
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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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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
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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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
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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+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
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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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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+13points
14of 15voted this as helpful.
Experience high-quality sound anywhere with this Polk Audio BOOM Bit wearable Bluetooth speaker. Its steel spring clip attaches it securely to your clothing, providing great audio without blocking out noise from the surroundings. The 3-hour battery life of this compact Polk Audio BOOM Bit wearable Bluetooth speaker keeps the tunes coming on any adventure.
Customer Rating
3
Definitely a niche item.
on April 29, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
I've tried a few different bluetooth speakers/speakerphones over the years, and I've gotten used to the various tradeoffs you usually need to make with them. This one is a pretty thoroughly middle of the road one in terms of performance, though it does have a few nice features to help it stand out.
So, to start with those features, this speaker forgoes a charging port in order to just stick a full USB drive on the bottom, covered by a protective cap. As such there are no cables to worry about when it comes to charging. And the speaker does seem to be fairly waterproof based on what happened when I got unexpectedly caught in a rain storm wearing it. I'm not sure how much I'd recommend you put that to the test, but for the intended use taking it outdoors on bike rides and hikes it should be rugged enough. It also does seem to genuinely get close to 3 hours of battery life as advertised.
So, to start with those features, this speaker forgoes a charging port in order to just stick a full USB drive on the bottom, covered by a protective cap. As such there are no cables to worry about when it comes to charging. And the speaker does seem to be fairly waterproof based on what happened when I got unexpectedly caught in a rain storm wearing it. I'm not sure how much I'd recommend you put that to the test, but for the intended use taking it outdoors on bike rides and hikes it should be rugged enough. It also does seem to genuinely get close to 3 hours of battery life as advertised.
Beyond that though... There isn't much to say about this. The volume is good, but not that much better than what you can get on most phones with the volume turned up. The audio itself is definitely weighted towards giving you more bass, and this can cause some sound to be lost out in the world. And the controls are all centered around the volume buttons, meaning it's rather difficult to remember all the specific combinations of long and short presses you need to run through all the different functions. This led to some awkward moments when I thought I'd turned it off, only to have a private call suddenly broadcast to everyone in my vicinity at maximum volume.
All in all, I'd still say you're probably better off just going with a single earbud than you are a wearable speaker for listening on the go. But if that won't work for you, this is a workable compromise.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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0points
1of 2voted this as helpful.
Clean carpets, couches and stairs easily with this adaptable Dyson Ball Animal vacuum. Various attachments, including a tangle-free turbine tool, a multi-angle brush and a stair tool make pet hair removal quick and simple. The Dyson Ball Animal vacuum comes with a generous 35-foot cord, making it ideal for larger homes.
Customer Rating
4
Powerful Vacuum with just a few Weak Links
on March 28, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
So like pretty much everyone, I've heard that Dysons were good vacuums. I'd heard that they were powerful. I'd heard that they were well built. But I'd never actually tried one until this.
So when it arrived I assembled all of the parts, pulled out the cleaning wand, and turned it on.
The suction created was powerful enough to immediately collapse the extended tube leading to the wand, almost pulling the Dyson over in the process. And make no mistake - had it not quite obviously been designed to keep this from happening, it would have yanked the entire vacuum straight across the room.
The power that this thing can produce cannot be understated. And while there are plenty of other great features, that's the one I keep coming back to.
So, on those other features, the cleaning head, wand, and accessories are all very well thought out, highly modular, and in many cases built in clear plastic so that if something goes wrong, you can immediately spot where it is. The cleaning bin is very cleverly designed, with a drop out bottom that lets you simply hold it over a trash can and press a button to dump everything straight into the can. and most of the accessories are stored nearly seamlessly in the vacuum cleaner itself. Most will collapse down into more compact forms as well, and are built with 2 latches so that they can be locked in place either in their storage or use position. Even the little stabilizer wheels to keep the ball base from falling over when it's being used as a cannister vac or being stored seamlessly fold up and out of the way when you pull back on the handle, and snap back into place when you bring it back upright. At times, it kind of feels like someone took a Transformer toy and made a working version, which I'll admit does make it an unusually fun thing to use.
That said, this similarity is also where I did find a few downsides to the unit as well. They're fairly minor things that wouldn't affect normal use, but does make me worry a bit about long-term durability. Namely, just about all of these moving parts are made of plastic, and some of them seem worryingly light duty. The button which opens up the bottom of the bin, for instance, is basically a long, thin plastic plunger that will bend ominously whenever you don't press it just right. Given that this is going to be one of the most heavily worn parts not in the engine, I'm really astonished they didn't go with something more robust or, failing that, at least install some guides to keep the bending from happening. More worrying is the fact that this button also serves dual duty in keeping the bin attached to the rest of the vacuum. If the rod snapped and it just kept you from being able to open the bottom of the bin quite so cleanly, that would be annoying but not much of a problem. But I do find myself concerned at the prospect that damage to it could also potentially make it impossible to keep the bin in place.
Another thing that I found somewhat annoying is the fact that there is no place to stick one of the key accessories that makes this an Animal rated vacuum - a small tangle-free brush-head for removing fur and hair referred to as the mini turbine tool - does not have a storage space on the vacuum itself. This seems to be because apart from some internal differences, it's mostly just a standard Dyson design cast in a different color of plastic. It would have been very nice to be able to keep all the accessories in one place, particularly since the turbine tool is small, expensive, and the kind of thing one could easily lose for a prolonged period.
That said, these misgivings really only keep me from giving this thing a perfect score. The cleaning performance of the thing is fantastic - it was able to pick up a full bin of dust even on floors that are vacuumed daily. Long hair, animal fur, mud, even some wet messes didn't so much as slow it down. It's an expensive tool to be sure, but it's also one of the best.
So when it arrived I assembled all of the parts, pulled out the cleaning wand, and turned it on.
The suction created was powerful enough to immediately collapse the extended tube leading to the wand, almost pulling the Dyson over in the process. And make no mistake - had it not quite obviously been designed to keep this from happening, it would have yanked the entire vacuum straight across the room.
The power that this thing can produce cannot be understated. And while there are plenty of other great features, that's the one I keep coming back to.
So, on those other features, the cleaning head, wand, and accessories are all very well thought out, highly modular, and in many cases built in clear plastic so that if something goes wrong, you can immediately spot where it is. The cleaning bin is very cleverly designed, with a drop out bottom that lets you simply hold it over a trash can and press a button to dump everything straight into the can. and most of the accessories are stored nearly seamlessly in the vacuum cleaner itself. Most will collapse down into more compact forms as well, and are built with 2 latches so that they can be locked in place either in their storage or use position. Even the little stabilizer wheels to keep the ball base from falling over when it's being used as a cannister vac or being stored seamlessly fold up and out of the way when you pull back on the handle, and snap back into place when you bring it back upright. At times, it kind of feels like someone took a Transformer toy and made a working version, which I'll admit does make it an unusually fun thing to use.
That said, this similarity is also where I did find a few downsides to the unit as well. They're fairly minor things that wouldn't affect normal use, but does make me worry a bit about long-term durability. Namely, just about all of these moving parts are made of plastic, and some of them seem worryingly light duty. The button which opens up the bottom of the bin, for instance, is basically a long, thin plastic plunger that will bend ominously whenever you don't press it just right. Given that this is going to be one of the most heavily worn parts not in the engine, I'm really astonished they didn't go with something more robust or, failing that, at least install some guides to keep the bending from happening. More worrying is the fact that this button also serves dual duty in keeping the bin attached to the rest of the vacuum. If the rod snapped and it just kept you from being able to open the bottom of the bin quite so cleanly, that would be annoying but not much of a problem. But I do find myself concerned at the prospect that damage to it could also potentially make it impossible to keep the bin in place.
Another thing that I found somewhat annoying is the fact that there is no place to stick one of the key accessories that makes this an Animal rated vacuum - a small tangle-free brush-head for removing fur and hair referred to as the mini turbine tool - does not have a storage space on the vacuum itself. This seems to be because apart from some internal differences, it's mostly just a standard Dyson design cast in a different color of plastic. It would have been very nice to be able to keep all the accessories in one place, particularly since the turbine tool is small, expensive, and the kind of thing one could easily lose for a prolonged period.
That said, these misgivings really only keep me from giving this thing a perfect score. The cleaning performance of the thing is fantastic - it was able to pick up a full bin of dust even on floors that are vacuumed daily. Long hair, animal fur, mud, even some wet messes didn't so much as slow it down. It's an expensive tool to be sure, but it's also one of the best.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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
Flexible and powerful if you need it
on January 12, 2017
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
So first thing you need to understand is that this is very different from most consumer routers. It's an example of a mesh wi-fi setup, which for most people who don't have very large homes is complete overkill in terms of coverage. The box advertises up to 6000 square feet with some caveats. I wasn't able to really figure out what the upper limit might be in a real world setup, but I do feel pretty confident that you could probably at least hit around 5000 without too much difficulty.
But assuming that you do have that much space you absolutely need to cover with high speed Wi-Fi, this is probably one of the more user friendly systems I've seen. A big part of that is that unlike a lot of similar systems where you have a base station hooked up to your modem and a variety of satellites, this one has gone for a more generalized design. Each node contains everything it needs to serve as either a satellite or a base router. In fact I'm pretty sure you could just set these up as 3 independent routers without any difficulty. Not only does this mean you don't need to worry about sorting out which is which when you're setting it up, but it also might help with the longevity of the system as a whole. One of the biggest issues with these that I've always seen is that if you were to invest heavily in a system only to have the router break, your only option would pretty much be to buy the starter kit again or, even worse, scrap all the functional satellites and buy the latest version. As far as I can see, you wouldn't have that issue here, and it strikes me that the system might be more capable of being combined with newer node designs as a result.
As for the nodes themselves, they're attractively built pillars with good ventilation and only a single small LED at the top to illustrate status. If you're looking to determine the status of your network at a glance this isn't going to help, but for a home user the design work is quite unobtrusive while still looking suitably like something that came out of Star Trek. This is helped by a pretty good little rubber clip at one corner to help manage cables, making it very easy to hide the more technical necessities.
Speaking of those, the system is rated at AC6600, basically meaning that the system's total rated throughput is 6.6gbps. If that sounds too good to be true... well, it is. Typically the speeds for these multi-band systems is arrived at by taking the sum of the maximum speed for all 3 of the wireless transceivers supported by the router (2 5ghz and 1 2.4 ghz.) In this case, the fact that the system is actually 3 separate routers has allowed them to multiply that sum by 3, so really what you're getting is 3 nodes capable of 2200mpbs. That's still fast enough to place this in one of the higher performance tiers for AC routers, but it's still on the low end of the scale there unless your traffic is physically spread out in your environment. I don't think most users will ever actually have enough Wi-Fi devices running simultaneously to create serious network congestion with something this fast and distributed, but if you're one of those rare people who can bring a router to its knees it might be worth keeping in mind that there are a lot of added factors that go into determining just how fast this system actually is.
Going a step further in the technical details, this router takes a somewhat different approach to configuring it. Rather than requiring you to plug directly into it with a computer, as many routers do, this one handles all the setup through the Linksys app available for both iOS and Android. To provide a bit of extra security, each node comes equipped with a Bluetooth connection that the instructions encourage you to make use of. Given that the nodes are capable of independent use and designed to throw the Wi-Fi signal as far as possible, that's probably a good call. The App makes the setup process extremely user friendly. Once it's done, the Linksys app itself is actually very comprehensive, and the router has most of the advanced configuration features that you'd expect for something in this range.
Unfortunately, at this point I do need to get into a few of the things that I didn't like much about the Velop, and the biggest one actually has to do with that app. It is compulsory at this point to use the app to setup the router and administrate it. While this isn't as onerous as it once might have been these days with smartphones being nearly ubiquitous, the lack of a traditional web-based interface is very annoying, and something that I can only hope is remedied in future updates. The other issue I have with these is that in trying to make the individuals nodes small, they've only left space for 2 wired ports in each of them. This is both a blessing and a curse. A curse for anyone who set their router and modem up right at the core of a bunch of wired devices, as it pretty much requires you to either get a much less photogenic switch to plug into or place 2 nodes right next to each other just to get 3 of them tied in. And a blessing in that it does allow you to spread your wired devices out all around the house without having to worry about it. There are no USB ports for network storage or printers to be found either. These two, ultimately, are what kept me from giving the system 5 stars. While these may make things very easy for the average consumer to deal with, more advanced users may well find themselves frustrated with the lack of features that they're used to taking for granted.
All in all though, despite my issues with it, I do think the Velop might be my favorite one of these systems to work with. There are a few features that I wasn't able to test, most notably advertized integration with Amazon's Alexa AI assistant, but what I did see was a very clean, very polished product.
My Best Buy number: 2187428738
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Explore realistic 3D audio with sound precisely projected from above, in front, behind and to the side of you with the latest acoustic technologies.
I am interested in this product to go with a new Samsung - 50" Class QN90A Neo QLED 4K UHD Smart Tizen TV however the TV is going to be on a swivel bracket from the wall. Is there any way to attached the sound-bar to the bottom of the TV?
Yes. It's got a pretty standard wall mount system, and there are VESA compatible brackets you can get to let you attach it to the TV instead. That said it does need a bit of clearance between the soundbar and the bottom of the TV set to make sure you don't block the upward firing speakers at all and the case is pretty deep compared to most sound bars, so you might want to keep in mind that it's not likely to be a very clean looking setup compared to some other options that are available.
3 years 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.
Do you have to use the rear speakers when purchasing this item, and will it effect the system with the rear speakers Not in use
The rear speakers are completely optional. If you don't pair anything with them, it just reports itself as a 3.1.2 channel soundbar.
3 years ago
by
Batlacit
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen4 SSD for next-level computing. 980 PRO delivers 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0, while maintaining compatibility with PCIe 3.0.¹ ¹The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.* Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs. PS5 compatible with heatsink as recommended by Sony; heatsink sold separately.
How about adding the endurance specification to your descriptions?
Endurance is rated at 1200tbw for the 2tb model, 600 for the 1tb, and 300 for the 500gb. All of them are warrantied for 5 years.
3 years ago
by
Batlacit
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO PCIe 4.0 NVMe Gen4 SSD for next-level computing. 980 PRO delivers 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0, while maintaining compatibility with PCIe 3.0.¹ ¹The NVM Express® design mark is a registered trademark of NVM Express, Inc.* Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs. PS5 compatible with heatsink as recommended by Sony; heatsink sold separately.
Has anyone noticed it being hot? Not quite sure if it would be ok for my laptop.
Operating temps never even hit 70°c in the ASUS gaming ultrabook I tried it in, and that's not exactly a cool machine to begin with. I think it'd do fine in most laptops provided they have decent cooling, particularly since there's some onboard thermal management to help keep it from burning itself out.
3 years ago
by
Batlacit
BISSELL SpinWave wet and dry robotic vacuum provides two ways to clean in a single revolutionary robot. The two tank system actively mops or powerfully vacuums with smart, structured cleaning paths. Use it in dry vacuuming mode to collect pet hair, dirt and other debris on carpet, area rugs and hard floors. When used in wet mopping mode, the mop pads and BISSELL cleaning solution work together to scrub floors clean. And, with the Soft Surface Avoidance Sensor, there's no need to worry about the robot going up on area rugs or carpets when in wet mopping mode. Plus, this product doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We're proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
Hi, does this cleaner spray water and mop the floor?
It's not spraying water so much as it's excreting it, but yes. It's got one of the most effective mopping systems I've tried in a robot.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Batlacit
BISSELL SpinWave wet and dry robotic vacuum provides two ways to clean in a single revolutionary robot. The two tank system actively mops or powerfully vacuums with smart, structured cleaning paths. Use it in dry vacuuming mode to collect pet hair, dirt and other debris on carpet, area rugs and hard floors. When used in wet mopping mode, the mop pads and BISSELL cleaning solution work together to scrub floors clean. And, with the Soft Surface Avoidance Sensor, there's no need to worry about the robot going up on area rugs or carpets when in wet mopping mode. Plus, this product doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We're proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
Can you make a map for the robot in the app?
No. The robot really doesn't seem to have any awareness of the geometry of a room, it just follows a set pattern from its starting point until it hits something. It's less random than the old bumper vacuums which means it gets further on a charge, but it's also easier for it to miss spots.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Batlacit
BISSELL SpinWave wet and dry robotic vacuum provides two ways to clean in a single revolutionary robot. The two tank system actively mops or powerfully vacuums with smart, structured cleaning paths. Use it in dry vacuuming mode to collect pet hair, dirt and other debris on carpet, area rugs and hard floors. When used in wet mopping mode, the mop pads and BISSELL cleaning solution work together to scrub floors clean. And, with the Soft Surface Avoidance Sensor, there's no need to worry about the robot going up on area rugs or carpets when in wet mopping mode. Plus, this product doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We're proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
Does this Vacuum and mop at the same time? Or first vacuum, then mop?
In mop mode it can do a little vacuuming as the vacuum head still runs and there's a tiny (unfiltered) dustbin to hold any debris it sweeps up, but I'm pretty sure it's not going to do much to trap dust. And it can't do both carpet and hard flooring in one go, you need to swap out a module for the different floor types.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Batlacit
BISSELL SpinWave wet and dry robotic vacuum provides two ways to clean in a single revolutionary robot. The two tank system actively mops or powerfully vacuums with smart, structured cleaning paths. Use it in dry vacuuming mode to collect pet hair, dirt and other debris on carpet, area rugs and hard floors. When used in wet mopping mode, the mop pads and BISSELL cleaning solution work together to scrub floors clean. And, with the Soft Surface Avoidance Sensor, there's no need to worry about the robot going up on area rugs or carpets when in wet mopping mode. Plus, this product doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them, too. BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We're proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.
I have tile and carpet throughout home. Will it mop tile then switch to vacuum carpet? Or do I have to tell it what to do? .
It can't do both simultaneously. You need to switch modes by swapping out the standard dustbin for a motorized mophead containing a tank for cleaning fluid. In this mode it will not run if it detects that it's on carpeting.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Batlacit
Fly through the sky in ways that seem impossible. We never lost our passion for flying, and with DJI FPV, those passions have turned imagination into reality. With this immersive and intuitive aerial platform, get ready to go into the beyond. Sleek and aerodynamic, the DJI FPV aircraft delivers powerful propulsion, battery life, and wind resistance, making this system as capable as it is visually stunning.
Will this drone and all it's features work well with my Samsung Galaxy Note 10+?
The DJI Fly app will run fine on a Note 10, but it should be noted that it doesn't actually need to use the phone for nearly as much as some other drones DJI has released. Most of the vital functions are handled in the included FPV goggles.
3 years, 3 months ago
by
Batlacit
Fly through the sky in ways that seem impossible. We never lost our passion for flying, and with DJI FPV, those passions have turned imagination into reality. With this immersive and intuitive aerial platform, get ready to go into the beyond. Sleek and aerodynamic, the DJI FPV aircraft delivers powerful propulsion, battery life, and wind resistance, making this system as capable as it is visually stunning.
Does this fly more combo come with more than 1 battery?
This SKU is not for the fly more combo, and it does not come with extra batteries. The one that's included runs for about 15-20 minutes in N mode, and requires a little less than an hour to charge.
3 years, 3 months ago
by
Batlacit