Wraith's stats
- Review count224
- Helpfulness votes2,091
- First reviewAugust 18, 2014
- Last reviewSeptember 8, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentSeptember 25, 2016
- Last review commentSeptember 25, 2016
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- Answer count27
- Helpfulness votes28
- First answerAugust 18, 2014
- Last answerDecember 13, 2021
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- Best answers3
Sear, brown, saut~, and slow cook all in one pot for maximum flavor with the Calphalon Digital Saut~ Slow Cooker. The cooking pot removes and can be placed on electric, gas, or induction cooktops to brown or sear ingredients before slow cooking. The LCD digital display provides intuitive control of multiple cooking modes, for tender pulled pork, curry chicken, paella, and more. The nonstick ceramic coating is easy to clean and delivers 11x more durability* than standard nonstick surfaces, plus it~s PTFE- and PFOA-free. The Calphalon slow cooker is perfect for one-pot family dinners with its 5.3-quart capacity. The cooking pot is also oven safe for further heating, cooking, and warming options. Gorgeous dark stainless steel will enhance any kitchen~s countertop and metal construction provides long-lasting durability.
Customer Rating
5
Stylish, Smart, and Versatile. Cooks Well Too!
on November 27, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
How much for a slow-cooker?!? If that is the first thing you ask yourself when you see this Calphalon slow cooker, I'm sure you will be in good company. I know it was the first thing I thought. The second was, 'Wow, that's a really nice slow-cooker.' And my thought after using it for Thanksgiving was, 'OK, maybe it actually is worth that.'
If you just need a slow cooker to keep queso warm, or to warm up Swedish meatballs, this is not the slow-cooker for you. You can find a ton of them for $30 and they will be fine. If you are in the market for a new slow-cooker to use for what I see as a bit of a slow-cooker renaissance (there are some fantastic new recipes that are easy, delicious, and even elegant), then this is most definitely the slow-cooker for you.
I have to say that the defining feature of this Calphalon slow-cooker is the cooking pot being able to go from stove to slow-cooker. Some other slow-cookers may have had that in the past, but if so, they sure didn't make a big deal about it. This is an outstanding feature and really elevates the game when using a slow-cooker.
It was just the wife and I this Thanksgiving and we didn't want to do the whole Turkey and sides thing just for us. We instead decided to try a new yankee pot roast recipe that I had been dying to try. The key to this particular recipe was the searing of the roast prior with some herbs. Now normally, you would have to do this in a separate pan, you would get fat/oil splatters everywhere, and then you would have to transfer it the slow cooker. With this slow cooker, I was able to do everything in the cooking pot on the stove and the high sides kept all the splatters in. I then was able to just pick up the whole thing and drop it into the main cooker and let it go along with the veggies. It was the best roast I have ever done (and I'm a pretty good cook). I also had a lot less items to clean, which is always a plus. What cleanup that I did do (the cooking pot), was incredibly easy. Even with my old slow cooker and the bags that I would use to supposedly keep me from having to clean, they always would leak and I would have to clean the pot anyway.
I liked this so much that this weekend I decided to do my famous slow-cooker chili but this time, instead of browning the meat and onions in a separate pan and then doing the transfer, I did it all again in the cooking pot. While it did take a little longer because the cooking surface of this pan isn't is big as the pan I would normally use, it wasn't that much longer. And again, it was all in one pot which made clean-up a breeze.
I have liked cooking with this thing so much that I have been on the hunt for new and interesting recipes to try out. One of the things I have always loved about slow-cooking is the fact that it makes the whole house smell great as it's cooking (though it also makes you really hungry as it gets closer and closer to being done, hence the hangry wife, she is small but fierce; kinda like a badger).
The Calphalon slow-cooker is also really easy to set and leave. It also looks great on the counter just doing its thing. We have a really nice kitchen and it goes nicely with the decor. Oh, I almost forgot. One of my favorite things about this cooker is the silicone/rubber rim around the lid that makes it so nice and quiet and gives it a nice solid connection to the pot.
So, in a nut-shell, is this slow-cooker expensive? Yes it is. Is is worth it? To me, yes it is, and I think you will agree as well once you give it a try. I have lots of cooking tools that have far cheaper equivalents, but you do get what you pay for (for the most part). I mean, if all I cared about was price, I'd just have hot-plate on the counter, or heck just cook over an open fire. If you are looking to up your cooking game and make your life a little bit easier in the process, you should really give this slow-cooker a try.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
5of 7voted this as helpful.
Make media more fun with this HP Spectre Folio convertible laptop. Three possible screen positions let you watch videos or edit photos in comfort, and its powerful Intel Core i7 processor is ideal for gaming. This HP Spectre Folio convertible laptop has a 256GB M.2 solid-state drive, ensuring speed and ample storage.
Customer Rating
5
Brains, Beauty, Style, & Grace! OUTSTANDING 2in1
on November 14, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have never really cared for 2-in-1 designs. I always felt that the tradeoff for the switch-ability between tablet and laptop always kneecapped one or both of the modes. Now I have had a few work computers that were 2-in-1s but I never used their tablet mode. The HP Spectre Folio is the absolute first where I've used both modes, and feel that both of them are an outstanding experience.
First, let me start off by saying that you will be spending A LOT of time showing this thing off to people when they see it. The Folio makes a statement and people are digging this computer. I have had computers where people have said, 'Hey, that's a nice computer.' but this is the first where people have wanted to touch it and play around with its different configurations. If I were single, I would say that it would be almost effective as having a cute dog in starting conversations with women! If you are anti-social or an introvert, this may cause you some discomfort if you take it out in public.
Ok, with that out of the way, how is the Spectre Folio in use? It is an outstanding laptop and 2-in-1. I won't be playing any games on it so I really don't care that it only has a 2-core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM. I plan on using this mostly for writing and research and it has been a stellar experience doing both. Typing on this things is so nice because the keyboard is almost absolutely silent and it is so nice to have your palms resting on the leather instead of cold aluminum or plastic. The trackpad may be small but it is incredibly responsive and easy to use. In tablet mode, it covers the keyboard instead of just flipping the screen around and having the keyboard on the back. Yeah, I know that those other 2-in-1s deactivate the keyboard when you do this, but I always thought it looked silly and quite frankly, I didn't like the knocks that the keyboard deck would take when used that way. With the screen folded over, it makes it so nice to use the pen in landscape mode to sketch out ideas with the really great pen that HP gives you, but in portrait mode it REALLY shines. Scrolling through web pages is so great this way because you can see so much of the page in this tall mode and the way it is folded over makes one side thicker than the other so it is kind of like holding a folded back magazine and not just some big slab of computer. It is even great using while standing up and walking around because it is so easy to cradle in the crook of your arm and writing with your other hand on the screen. I've NEVER felt that that was a great way to use a computer but I've already done it twice and it just feels right.
I won't probably ever be using it for watching videos, I've done that before and invariably the person in front of me will recline their seat and then I have the keyboard jabbing me in the gut in order to see the screen properly. This is the first computer where I might try again on my next flight. Its 'tented' mode puts the screen at a perfect viewing angle and leaves the trackpad available to control playback.
Look, I can gush all over this thing for a ton more column inches but here is the bottom line: if you want a stylish computer that is as equally easy and nice to use in both tablet as well as laptop forms, just go get the Spectre Folio!
I have only two things I would like HP to address in subsequent iterations of the Folio:
1: Make it so the pen holder can go on either side. There is a slight indent on the back of the right side of the screen but not one on the left. Another way me and my left-handed people are spit upon.
2 - HP FINALLY made a nice brick for a laptop (it is just like my favorite from Dell) but they insist on pairing it with a long outlet plug. Please add an attachment that can go onto the brick that adds the plug in a fold in/out configuration. I've added an aftermarket plug adapter to make it more compact but it doesn't have to be this way. The Folio is so stylish and slick, and they went about 3/4ths of the way with this power brick design but the actual plug could be better.
You will notice that neither of the two concerns/issues revolves around the leather. That is because I think this stuff is going to be virtually indestructible. I mean, I have had a ton of metal computers get scratched up and I expect this one to be no different but this auto-grade leather seems super tough to me and it might 'weather' to a really cool distressed look.
If you want an extremely nice computer that is quiet, functional, and stylish, I can't think of another 2-in-1 that fits that bill. I can't see anyone being disappointed in this computer. If you are seriously considering the HP Spectre Folio, just pull the trigger and get it, you have shown already that you have style and taste just by considering it. Show that you have the brains too by buying it!
(BTW, in the pictures I forgot to put the USB-C to USB-A dongle in the photo, but HP does give you one.)
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+16points
20of 24voted this as helpful.
Stream your favorite media on the go with this HP Chromebook touchscreen laptop. The notebook has 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i3 processor so it's easy to use Google Play apps for everyday productivity. This HP Chromebook touchscreen laptop has a modern 360-degree design and 13-hour, 30-minute battery life for work on the go.
Customer Rating
5
A PERFECT Student Laptop! Heck For Anyone Really.
on November 8, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have been using Chromebooks since the originals came out in 2011. I used them personally and my students used them as their school computers (I'm a High School teacher). I have always been on the fence about them. They are great for research and collaboration, but early on the lack of anything really beyond the suite of Google programs kind of boxed them in. They also tended to be wildly underpowered to do much of any multi-tasking (heck, some were even brought to their knees by multi-tabbing in Chrome).
I've been really excited to see the push towards more powerful Chromebooks with better processors, screens, build-quality, and software. Google's Pixelbook was and is a phenomenal machine but was priced a bit too high. Other companies like HP have done an outstanding job of dialing back the price but still maintaining a phenomenal quality level.
While this x360 only has a Core i3, that is like an i7 for a Windows box. That and the 8gb of DDR4 RAM, make this thing a beast when it comes to general everyday work and some fun video watching as well. The keyboard is great, with a really nice feel while typing. I have a little two-line blurb that I always use to test out whether or not I like a keyboard and depending on how many typos I make, I can usually get a good feel if I will like it in the long run. Only had one typo on this keyboard which is outstanding because I type incredibly fast and one or two typos happens on the best keyboards! The trackpad is spacious and responsive, though I still hate trackpads and I have a bluetooth mouse that I use with this and it works great.
As for software, now that Chrome has MS Office apps and other non-Google offerings, this is an incredibly versatile computer. While the Google suite is great for collaboration, Microsoft has also made great strides in boosting the ability to collaborate through Office and I much prefer my students to do presentations and such in PowerPoint than in Slides. I think MS Office is much more versatile (though the Google apps are getting better), and I think MS Office skills are an important skill for students to learn. Students nowadays may be incredibly skilled in social media but you would be surprised at how lacking they are in actually using many mainstream programs. I absolutely blow their minds when I show them how Word can do a bibliography for them.
The number of ports is great with a USB-C port on either side that can also be used as the power port. This is actually one of my favorite things about the move to USB-C is that more and more manufacturers make it easy to have the power cord go to either side. I wouldn't buy a computer in the past that had the power plug on the right since it typically interfered with my mouse usage. I know lefties that don't like it on the right since they often have notebooks or other things on that side of the computer. I'm a lefty too but I don't write anymore (my handwriting is atrocious and I have since learned just to type things up really, really fast). The HP x360 also has a USB-A plug which makes it easy to use thumb-drives and other peripherals. Also included in a micro-SD slot which makes storage a non issue for this computer. While it has 64gb of eMMC storage, I have all my files either in the cloud or on my SD card (typically both). 128gb micro-SD cards are incredibly cheap nowadays and so storage is virtually unlimited for this thing.
I have only two complaints for this as a student laptop:
1 - It is a lot heavier than the basic Chromebooks. Not ridiculously so, but when you are already lugging a ton of books, every little bit counts. That being said, it is because this thing is built so well that it is as hefty as it is. I would much rather it be built well and weigh more than it be made of plastic and break easily. If this computer is mostly going to stay stationary on a desk, this becomes a non-issue as well.
2 - The lid of this thing is white and beautiful with a really nice texture to it. It is also going to get dirty beyond belief. I haven't gotten it dirty yet, so I don't know how easy it will be to clean and I don't feel like testing it out just to see. I would have been happy with the Cloud Blue all over, though the white lid and cloud blue deck is really nice.
If you have a student that needs a great computer that is going to be able to handle pretty much anything you throw at it (short of games of course), this is an outstanding choice. If you are just a casual computer user and just want a nice laptop with a really good keyboard that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, the HP x360 is a great choice. Kuddos to HP for making a Chromebook that I can unequivocally endorse for my students.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+236points
253of 270voted this as helpful.
Grill, bake, roast or broil with this Delonghi Livenza 0.5 cu. ft. digital compact convection oven. This compact oven saves space while providing enough capacity to save the hassle, heat and cost of using your full-size oven. This Delonghi Livenza 0.5 cu. ft. digital compact convection oven has toasting _and warming functions for maximum flexibility.
Customer Rating
5
A Toaster Oven You'll Be Proud To Show Off!
on October 29, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I already had a pretty nice toaster oven from another well-respected brand and I used it all the time (if I could use it instead of the main oven, I did). Was it the prettiest or most feature packed toaster oven, no, but it worked and it worked well. It wasn't cheap either.
The DeLonghi has more features, works better (which I didn't really think was possible), and and does it all in a package that you would be proud to have on your counter. I'm typically a substance over style guy and while I don't want something ugly on the counter, I care more about how it works. My previous toaster oven have the prime virtue of being consistent. It worked well, it worked every time, with consistent results. Now you might ask yourself 'why the ode to the previous toaster?' Well, I wanted to make clear that I really liked my older one and didn't see any way that the DeLonghi could out-do it on any measure but style (which it does in spades). I will freely admit that I was wrong. I don't do that often.
Both my wife and I work long hours and when we get home we are both usually starving and we both dislike microwaved food except in emergencies. Over the years we have found dinners that cook up well in a toaster oven and those our our go-to's when we both work late. Well, over the last week or so, we have both been slammed at work and the DeLonghi got a lot of use. All of our standards got tried in the oven and in EVERY case, the food either cooked up faster (a plus when you have a wife about to rip your face off because she is hangry), or cooked more evenly, but usually it was both.
The true test was throwing the leftovers from our favorite local pizza joint in the oven. Reheating good quality pizza (especially the New York style pies that we love), is almost always a losing proposition. The DeLonghi is the first oven to make the leftovers taste almost as good as when we had it the night before when it was fresh. Now we are not talking miracles here, it was still reheated pizza but it was piping hot without the cheese turning plastic like, the toppings all getting soggy (or alternatively, scorched), and the crust was crisp but not dry. In my most important (and demanding) test, the DeLonghi passed with flying colors.
Now this oven has a pan for pizzas and an arc'ed back to accommodate the pan which is really nice, though too small for the takeout pizzas we get. I just baked up my wife's slices first (being the gentleman I am and rightly fearful of her righteous hanger - she is tiny but terrifying when she is hungry) and then did my own using the rectangular pan with the slices alternating direction to better fit. That is why I am really happy with the speed in which the oven baked up the pizza because it got her eating and then me eating much quicker than normal. Usually, we do fire up the big oven and bake them all at once when we get this pizza, but I wanted to test the DeLonghi to see how it would do, and the pizza came out better from it than the full sized oven. The pizza tray that the oven comes with is probably more for frozen pizza and I have not had a chance to try that yet.
I have only one complaint about the oven. It is so stylish and well built I was surprised that the bottom dial (which acts as a multi-function dial to select everything from the cook time, to temperature, type of food), feels so cheap. The selector dial above has a nice solid feel when moving between selections, while the bottom dial feels cheap and 'plastic-y' when turning. It is a constant turn dial, meaning that it has no stop on either end so that it can dial in all of the different values on the fly, and I was expecting a nice solid dial with a smooth turn but instead it feels cheap and doesn't turn as smoothly as I would expect. Does it change how much I really like this oven, no, not at all but it was a disappointment when I encountered it. The oven is so well built and beautiful otherwise, I just thought it a strange oversight on their part. Oh well, still love this oven.
If you don't think that there is much of a difference between toaster ovens, you're wrong, the DeLonghi beat the heck out of my previous oven. Is this oven more expensive than a lot of other ovens, yes, but you get what you pay for and with as much as we use this thing, it is completely worth it.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+20points
26of 32voted this as helpful.
One solution for your family across all your devices. With Office 365 Family, you and your family get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Work anywhere with apps that are always updated with the latest features. 12-month automatically renewing subscription for up to 6 people including 1TB OneDrive cloud storage for each person.
Customer Rating
5
Resistance Is Futile, Go With The Subscription!
on October 16, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have been using MS Office programs since Word 1.0 (and WordStar before that) and I have always owned my software and have been resisting the subscription service model for the longest time. Fortunately I went back for a Master's and taught for years so I could always get the education edition but now I can't.
That being said, I have finally come around to the benefits of the Office 365 subscription. Microsoft has added on a bunch of benefits in addition to their dominant Office suite (sorry, the free stuff just doesn't cover it). The online storage and now the multiple accounts with multiple installs across platforms makes this a no-brainer. I would upgrade my software usually every other major revision and when I broke down the price it ended up being either the same as the subscription (at least early on) but now would actually be more expensive. More so if you include all the new benefits that the legacy suites didn't have. That, and always having the latest and greatest version is also very nice.
There are still some software subscription packages that I think are still a rip-off but I no longer think the Office suite is one of them. You get a phenomenal amount of value out of all the programs and online storage. It is just my wife and I and I consider it a great value, if you have a few kids as well, this is an even better deal.
Resistance is futile, but now I don't even want to resist. Microsoft made the deal so good, I'm running for it.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Sustain productivity almost anywhere with this 13.9-inch Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop. Its 12GB of RAM and Intel Core i7 processor handle bandwidth-intensive tasks, and it has a built-in pen garage to discreetly secure and charge a compatible stylus. Store and run programs efficiently on the 256GB solid-state drive of this Lenovo Yoga convertible laptop.Learn more.
Customer Rating
4
Some Initial Squirreliness, Sorted Out & Now Great
on October 15, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
First off, the star rating should probably be 4.5 not 4 but I don't have that option. Like the title/summary says, there were a couple of issues right out of the box but Lenovo support was awesome and straightened things out faster than I've ever seen a tech support do pretty much anything!
I'm really digging the new Yoga's style. Sharp, elegant, and solid. It is a nice looking piece of equipment. It isn't flashy but it isn't boring either. I've already gotten a few compliments at work on it, mostly just saying 'That's a NICE computer.' To be clear, the Yoga 930 IS a nice computer. Lenovo also does a great job setting the 'tone' right upon opening the box. I really wish I could post a video here, but I knew I was in for something special when, upon taking off the box lid, I saw two covering 'wings' that I then found were magnetically attached to the box and when opened, caused the computer to kind of rise up out of the box. I really feel that Lenovo missed the chance to do something like those birthday cards with sound and had something like the Indiana Jones theme playing because it felt like I was having some treasure being offered up to me. I'm just glad my face didn't melt off! If you don't get the reference, shame on you, and go watch Raiders of the Lost Ark you philistine!
I tried to fire up this beauty and that is where I ran into my first problem, it wouldn't start. I've never had an electronic device delivered without any charge, especially upon launch, but I assumed that had to be the case. I plugged it in, (with the reasonably sized brick) but I will ask computer manufacturers again, to please emulate Apple or Dell and make better AC bricks, it can be done and should be! After being plugged in, the computer fired right up and I went through the start up process and it was a breeze (or at least as much of a breeze as Microsoft and Cortana will let it be). I kind of wish that Microsoft would give you an initial option of "I Know What I'm Doing" or "Please Help" on initial setup and tailor the process appropriately from there, but I know I'm dreaming.
Anyway, after set-up was done, this is when I noticed my first issue, the battery was NOT dead (it was at about 80%). Now my initial impression was that perhaps this is a new thing manufacturers were doing to make sure the computer was on power during start up so that installation and updates could happen with no problems. If that was the intent, I agree that it is a good idea, but perhaps they should put a sticker on the lid to tell you to plug in first. I asked the support tech later if this was intended but they said no.
So I continue to set up the computer and I'm doing so unplugged now because once I saw it was 80% I unplugged it so I could work untethered. I check the battery status and I'm at 75% but the 'timer' says that I only have about 30 minutes of operational time left! Thus begins a few hours of trying to figure out why a computer that isn't even 'breathing hard' at this point would blow through a 75% charge in 30 minutes. I ran diagnostics to see if the charge capacity of the battery was degraded (nope), and then I checked what exactly was running, and it was minimal. The fans had yet to come on so it wasn't under load but also didn't know if those were messed up and I was quietly taxing the system and slowly frying it!
Got on the Lenovo website for some research but this model is so new there wasn't much on it and my questions weren't covered on the previous models (at least as far as I could find). So I chatted with tech support and we ran through some options and checks again, that I had already done, and then they recommended a BIOS update and reinstalling the battery system drivers. I decided to hold off a bit and continue to work, It is under warranty and if it is going to 'hard break' I want to find out now and get it replaced. After a couple of days of use and a full charging, it finally settled down and began to show more reasonable numbers, and now has finally resolved itself and seems to be running right. I've never had a laptop have such a weird battery/power issue before. Perhaps I've been insanely lucky since I have had a bunch of laptops over the years from many different manufacturers. I've had battery issues before but it was typically much later in the life of the computer and it was kind of expected (batteries degrade).
All that being said, while I was initially concerned, those concerns are now gone and part of that is because of Lenovo tech support which kept in contact over the past week and made sure everything was running correctly. The fact that they did so without being obnoxious about it and spamming me with emails, is a further testament to their professionalism.
Whew... sorry if I spent a bit too much time on that but I didn't want to give the wrong impression on the computer and also wanted to make sure if other users encountered the same problem they were forewarned and would know just to let it run its course.
As to how the computer runs, it runs beautifully. It has all the power I need to run graphics heavy tasks such as the Adobe Creative Suite despite not having a discrete graphics card, and all my other work (mostly with MS Office) goes without a hitch. The pen is really nice though lacking a 'mouse click' button like my last laptop which I didn't use much, but I did use. I'm not often in tablet mode but that feature on a pen can save quite a few steps sometimes. Not a dealbreaker especially since the computer does everything else so well.
Trackpad and the keyboard are both nice and responsive (my favorite laptop keyboard has always been the one on my old ThinkPad back in the IBM days). I appreciate that while the ports are limited to one USB A type and two USB C types, I at least get two types and not just C versions that I've seen on a few other manufacturers (*cough* APPLE *cough*). I don't have to replace all of my cables and accessories if I don't want to which is always nice. All of the ports are on the left (port! ha!) side which leaves just the power button on the right side and the pen 'garage' on the back behind the power button. If I had one request to make for this computer it would be to have at least a micro-SD card reader on the right side, or the left, I don't care. While 256GB is plenty of space for most day to day work, I like having the ability to reserve that for all the programs I have and will eventually put on this thing and to keep many if not most of my files off on a high speed card. I did get a new USB C external drive that is ridiculously small and wickedly fast so I don't feel so bad about it but if you couldn't tell from before, I like my laptops to be as cord and dongle free as possible.
Bottom Line: This is an outstanding computer which gave me a few headaches and worries early on but blasted through those rather quickly and it has become a beautiful workhorse. I'm proud to whip out this computer at meetings and would put it toe-to-toe with any of the other types and manufacturers that my colleagues have (especially all the other Windows ones). Again, this is a great computer and does it all with style, do not hesitate to buy it if it is anywhere on your list of potential laptop choices. It will not disappoint!
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+12points
18of 24voted this as helpful.
Let nothing hold you back with these BackBeat FIT 3100 wireless sport earbuds. Always Aware ear tips maintain an audible level of outside noise to keep you conscious of your surroundings, and the soft, flexible ear hooks ensure a secure, comfortable fit. The charging case of these water-resistant BackBeat FIT 3100 wireless sport earbuds provides 10 hours of additional battery life.
Customer Rating
5
Workout AirPods! Just What I Wanted!
on October 3, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have needed a version of AirPods that will definitively stay in my ear when hiking, biking, and doing yard work. Yeah I know you can get those silly wings to go on them but then you always have to take them off to charge them.
I've tried a few different pairs of true-wireless headphones, most of which stay in your ear via a rather invasive earpiece which I absolutely hate. Primarily I hate them because since I have kind of narrow ear canals, they always end up hurting relatively quickly despite having XS tips or being made out of ultra-soft silicone. Then many of them double down on this ear pain by making me jam them in my ears even more in order to advance a track, answer a call, or change the volume. My final complaint about many of these other in-ears is that they block way too much noise. Now this may be great for you if you primarily workout in a gym, but I hate the smelly, loud places; I'd rather be outside. With being outside though it can be a tad dangerous to block out all the noise (biker coming up behind you on a trail, or a car on the road, or the rattlesnake on the trail - not kidding, didn't notice it until after I had gone by and it moved - no bueno).
The BackBeat Fit 3100 solve all my issues (at least the ones around headphones). They fit in my ears without being painful, they let in some ambient noise so I'm aware of my surroundings, despite the lack of a seal they still sound great (not audiophile quality, but if you are working out so lightly that you can tell the difference, I'm not sure you are really working out), and they don't move a millimeter despite me shaking my head like a wet dog.
The BackBeat Fit 3100's also sync up seamlessly with my iPhone, have a nice compact case, and controlling them doesn't require such a hard push to activate that has me pushing them deep into my ear canal. The battery life on these is also great. Straight out of the box I ran them through my 4 hour and 10 minute headphone check playlist and they played the whole time straight without any loss of 'oomph'. I have no doubt they would last the rated 5 hour time. I've already charged them up 1 and a half times since that first playing and the case still has two lights out of four left on the indicator, so again, don't have any reason to doubt the 10 hour charge capacity of the case.
On top of all this goodness the headphones are IP57 rated which means they are dust protected and can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. I sweat a lot but not that much.
I have but one complaint on these and it's not about the headphones themselves, it's about the charging cable. It is short, like really, really short. Maybe 3 inches. It's great because it fits in the case and you can always have it with you but I'm just thinking of the case hanging from the wall on this short cord. I might save it for emergencies and just use one of my regular micro-USBs at home. I was also disappointed in the sound at the start of my headphone playlist because it runs through all the frequency sweeps and other detail tests and they weren't doing so hot but when I got to the test tracks I use, they sounded MUCH better.
I am extremely happy with these headphones. They are exactly what I had hoped they would be, workout AirPods. I absolutely love my AirPods and now I absolutely love these BackBeat Fit 3100s. My wife really likes them as well and I will be going out and getting her a pair next time I'm at Best Buy.
Pros:
+ Don't budge from your ears at all, ear tip and over-ear hook keep it locked down.
+ Don't hurt like many in-ears do.
+ Seamless Bluetooth connection and really good range (like other side of my house from my phone and no lost connection).
+ Strong battery life.
+ Nice, compact case with an extra 10 hours of charge available.
+ Easy controls without making you jam them in your ears even more.
+ Outstanding dust and liquid protection.
+ Nice sounding music.
+ Don't budge from your ears at all, ear tip and over-ear hook keep it locked down.
+ Don't hurt like many in-ears do.
+ Seamless Bluetooth connection and really good range (like other side of my house from my phone and no lost connection).
+ Strong battery life.
+ Nice, compact case with an extra 10 hours of charge available.
+ Easy controls without making you jam them in your ears even more.
+ Outstanding dust and liquid protection.
+ Nice sounding music.
Pro/Con:
+/- Very little sound isolation. Great for situational awareness when outside, perhaps not as good in a gym.
+/- Very little sound isolation. Great for situational awareness when outside, perhaps not as good in a gym.
Con:
- Weirdly short recharge cable. But it does fit in the case so it will always be there.
- Weirdly short recharge cable. But it does fit in the case so it will always be there.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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7of 7voted this as helpful.
Take your playlist with you by using these noise-cancelling Sony headphones. Their 40mm drivers with liquid crystal polymer diaphragms fill your ears with booming audio to immerse you in songs, and they're ergonomically designed to provide comfort during extended listening sessions. These Sony headphones have a proprietary noise-cancelling processor, so you can immerse yourself in the music.Industry Leading Noise Cancellation. *As of August 30, 2018. According to research by Sony Corporation measured using JEITA-compliant guidelines. In headband-style of wireless noise-canceling headphones market.
Customer Rating
5
How do you improve perfect? Sony shows us how.
on September 13, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I'm not going to waste any time comparing the Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones to any other Noise Canceling (NC) headphone because it would be like a football linebacker getting into a fight with a middle schooler. I have the XM2 version of this headphone and now am the proud owner of the XM3 model. You can read my review of the XM2 from 10 months ago, it is usually towards the top of the review lists. Like I said there and I'll say again here... Sony makes the best NC headphones. Period. Full Stop.
I have used my XM2s in the office, at home, on trains, airplanes, on a cruise ship, and they have never let me down. I love them as much now, if not more, than I did when I wrote that previous review. The have held on to their awesome battery life, sound, and are still in perfect shape (I do baby them though). So how do you improve perfection? Well, this is the first time I have ever owned two generations of the same headphone, so I was able to A-B test them using my 92 track, 4 hour & 10 minute headphone testing playlist (no joke), and I have used them both extensively over the last week. I just wish I had them prior to my trip two weeks ago so I could have tested them in flight, my XM2s went though and did a beautiful job on the 11 hour flight to London I was on.
So what did I learn over the last week about improving perfection? I learned that it is all about the little things. To be fair though, I personally don't feel that all of the tweaks that were made were for the better but that is just my thought on it.
I'm going to start with this, if you are looking for the best NC headphone on the market, it is a no-brainer. Get the XM3s or the XM2s. Either way, you are going to be extremely happy with them. I'm going to list out the changes I've noticed and tell you what I think about that change. Here we go....
- The XM3 is much more comfortable than the XM2s and I thought the XM2s were great but the positioning of the ear cups, the extra curvature to the headband, and the extra cushioning make the XM3s incredibly easy to wear for long periods of time.
- The XM3s are lighter due to the removal of some of the metal elements from the XM2s. That helps with their comfort, and they don't seem any less solid so I don't have a problem with this.
- Really like the new case. I like that it is almost a denim fabric kind of feel and they listened to me and made a dedicated spot inside of the case for all the cords. The only thing I don't like about the new case is that it got rid of the snap closure for the loop so you can't secure it to anything, and they changed the outside pouch to a mesh instead of the XM2s neoprene. I really wish they would just get rid of the outer pouch especially now that there is room inside for the cables.
- Went to USB-C for charging cable. I have a ton of micro-USB cords so it was never hard for me to find one, but this is the wave of the future so I guess that's nice. It is a really short cable though, like really short. 6 inches at best.
- The wired connection cable is not as nice as the old one. Granted these are supposed to be used wirelessly most of the time but when you are on an airplane, you are going to need it. The XM2 cable was much thicker, had better plugs, and WAY better strain relief. I guess Sony had to cut costs somewhere to keep these at the same price point.
- The buttons to turn on the headphones and change the NC settings are much nicer on the XM3s. On the XM2s they are flush with the headphone with just a small raised area, the XM3 buttons are fully raised and much easier to use.
- The texture of the ear cups have changed from a rougher leather-like material to a satin-smooth finish. They have also made the touch control area on the ear cup slightly bigger. As for the texture change, I don't have much of an opinion either way. I will say though that I have had a lot of trouble using the touch controls on the new XM3s. I don't know if Sony changed the sensitivity or the active areas but where I could always reliably adjust the volume or change the tracks on my XM2s, it takes multiple tries to change the track on the XM3s. I'm always getting a volume change instead of a track change. I may just need to get use to them more.
- The noise cancelling on the XM3s is better in every area I tested them in. The XM2s were awesome at this but the improvement is there and it is noticeable.
- The bass is more pronounced on the XM3s. They are not bass heavy but it comes out when you play tracks with a nice bass groove. I'm actually not a huge fan of this change, because I thought the XM2s were just about perfect sonically.
- Finally, and this is super nit-picky, the presentation when opening the box isn't as nice as the XM2s. Again, gotta save some money somewhere, and the box is as good of place as any (and way better than taking it out of the headphones themselves).
So that's it. You can buy either and be a very happy person. I would only differentiate them in this way. If you are going to be using these in more of an office type setting where you might notice your music a little more and don't have to drown out as much noise, go for the XM2s. If you want these headphones primarily for travel and will be wearing them for long periods of time, go with the XM3s. That is how I'm going to use these. My XM2s are going to live at the office now, and the XM3s go in my carry-on bag for travel. I'm all set!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+20points
25of 30voted this as helpful.
Listen to your favorite songs, get immersed in your favorite video game, and even interact with your classmates/coworkers over video chat with the V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless CODEX headphones. The durable metal-core headband provides all-day wearable comfort, and the 50mm dual-diaphragm drivers deliver a wide soundstage with balanced sound signature. Lastly, experience up to 14 hours of wireless freedom in CD quality audio, and unlimited playback in wired mode to fuel your creativity. Gaming System compatibility: Xbox Series X|S (wired), Xbox One (wired), Playstation 4 (wired), Playstation 5 (wired), Nintendo Switch (wired), PC and Mac
Customer Rating
5
A New Favorite! New Bass Tech Really Works!
on August 29, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I owned a pair of V-Modas when they first came out years ago and while the build quality and style of V-Moda headphones have always been spot on, sound quality was just not there for me. I consider myself an audio enthusiast. I won't call myself an audiophile anymore because I got out of that expensive racket a while ago (I still love great sound but I realized that there is a good in-between nowadays). That being said, I still have a test playlist that I run new 'cans' through but that is just so I can decide if I can live with the sound signature or not. I would list the songs here but I have done it in another headphone review here on Best Buy. If you really are interested, comment on the review and I will at least put up some of the highlights.
V-Moda has come a LONG way in the sound department since they started in 2004. To me they were the original Beats. They were too heavy on the bass, and it was a 'flabby' bass at that and bled into all the other frequencies and totally colored the music in a way I did not appreciate. They still had the points though for build and style, while Beats don't even have that going for them and are still junk.
I was skeptical about these new dual-diaphragm drivers, but darn it, they actually deliver. The bass is much tighter and controlled and is distinct from the mids and highs. Are they audiophile quality? I'd have to say no but then again I was known to drop $1000 plus on headphones and there really is no comparison between ANY mainstream headphones and the ones that are up at the pinnacle of art. Are they REALLY good for their price point, yes and very much so. Again, this is because in addition to the great sound, they are also extremely well built and styled very well. With the new customizable plates you can really turn these into a masterpiece. You can also tack on quite a bit of money to them depending on your choice of material. I had hoped the plates I had ordered would arrive before I had to write this but I'm still waiting on mine. I got some laser cut out fiber plates that are going to look incredible on these.
Oh, I should also say that these are not reference headphones either. They have a definite bass-forward sound signature, but it is controlled well enough that virtually every genre of music I threw at it sounded good. I have a pretty wide range of music too. I have everything from Mozart to Metallica and Elvis to Eazy-E. All of them have sounded great.
I only have one quibble with these headphones. One of the side-effects of having such a rigorous build on their headphones is that V-Modas have always had a pretty tight clamping feel on the head. If you have an exceptionally large head, you may not enjoy these for long periods. I'm ok with them anywhere in the sub-two hour range but that is about it without a break. I also find that it isn't the clamping that gets to me, it is the lack of any swivel to the ear cups. I think they would be a lot more comfortable if they were able to adjust more to the angle of my ears on my head. That would create a pretty big fail point for the headphones though (it is where a lot of headphones can break when they are totally made out of plastic), and I understand why V-Moda perhaps didn't take that route.
In the past, V-Modas would never have been anywhere in my top 10 for headphone recommendations but now I feel that they have earned a place perhaps even in my top 5 (again, I have removed the stratospheric headphones from that list now). The Crossfade 2s are a great set of headphones that sound super, look fantastic, and are built like a tank. These are such a better choice than the current market leader.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Replenish the battery life of an Apple or Android device with this 10W Belkin wireless charger. It provides fast charging speeds to save time in your busy day, and it minimizes electromagnetic noise to ensure full device functionality. This white Belkin wireless charger is compatible with phones that have plastic cases up to 3mm thick.
Customer Rating
4
For Android a Yes But For iPhone a No
on June 27, 2018
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I was really excited to see Apple finally support wireless charging and even more so when they bumped it to support 7.5W of charging. At work I am always running to meetings (and burning a ton of battery) and then coming back to my desk to work and charge up. There has been more than one occasion when I jumped up from my desk to help stomp out a fire somewhere in the office and forget that I was plugged in and be yanked back by the lightning cable. I thought the Belkin BOOST-Up would make it easier to just grab and go and it does do that. The last several days have been super easy to remember my phone and keep it charged.
I will say though, that even though this is a 10W charge pad and the phone supports 7.5W, it is still super slow compared to the 12W charger that I had been using (and will be again). In a couple of hours (the most I am ever sitting at my desk at a stretch) It would add about 40-45% to the battery. When plugged in, I could almost be full up from being on vapors. Now that is completely respectable and I rarely blast through the battery that much between charges, but if needed, you should definitely keep a brick and cord available.
I also tried this out with my colleagues' latest model Samsung and it charged faster than my iPhone but it wasn't a major blow out. So if they aren't so different, why the yes for Android and the no for iPhone? Well, I had been looking into potentials for this to get better in future generations of iPhones (which it will but probably slowly), but I came across a research article looking at wireless charging and battery wear. It would seem that wireless charging taxes the battery on your phone more so than it does when plugged in, and with the fact that iPhones are a much bigger investment and typically have higher repair/replacement costs, I'm not sure I want to put that extra wear on my battery.
I like the ease and simplicity of the wireless charging and the Belkin Charge-Up is a beautiful and solid charger but I think I'm going to stick with a wire for speed and battery wear. If you are one of those who upgrades your iPhone every year and don't care, please do yourself a favor and get this charge pad, you will be quite happy with it and won't have any battery worries, if you aren't so fortunate, you might want to think about it some more. BTW, I'm going to check that yes I would recommend this product because many of my colleagues have Android phones and loved this device and a couple are looking to get their own.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
4of 6voted this as helpful.
Wraith's Review Comments
Make driving routines more enjoyable with this OverDryve car system. Its voice assistant capabilities let you read and send text messages by command and also play music in your car without taking your hands off the wheel. The built-in dash cam of this OverDryve car system lets you record trips and capture every moment on the road.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5No-Brainer If You Want A Great All-In-One System
By Wraith
I wondered about creating a GPS system nowadays with so many people having their smartphones with their own GPS functionality or with most cars coming with some kind of infotainment system, but after using the OverDryve 7 for the last two weeks, I think it is a great system and is a no-brainer for anyone looking to add GPS functionality to their car.
First off, my favorite thing about this device is the mounting bracket. I kid you not. One of the things I always hated about car GPS systems was having to lock it in place and reconnect the power and such. In the process of doing that I would invariably mess with my carefully set up positioning and would have to do it all over again. The Overdryve has an awesome bracket that you keep set up in your car and plugged in to everything and the Overdryve unit itself links via magnets and the connections are made through little contacts on the back. Easy-peasy. On top of that, the basestation also has an additional GPS antenna to improve location accuracy. Now I have rarely had problems with previous GPS devices and but the additional antenna could probably help when you are in the 'canyons' of the city, though I haven't gone downtown to try it yet.
The GPS system is great. While my car has one built in, it acts a bit too much like my mother and won't let me input anything if I am not at a complete stop. My wife can't even do it from the passenger seat because if we are moving at all it completely locks out the GPS controls. I understand why, but it would be nice for some kind of override. With the Overdryve, we don't have to worry about that. She just plucks the device from the mount, types in the destination and clicks it back into place. The guidance voice is kind of grating but so is my wife yelling directions at me from her phone!
I played around with the handsfree and entertainment applications and they are fine, but my car handles that pretty seamlessly, so I don't think I will be using that function of the Overdryve. The voice commands are much more responsive than those for my car system so I will give it that. The other thing I don't have to worry about is the backup camera or tire pressure monitor, because my car already has that, but if your car doesn't, this is a really cool feature. While each of those systems is an add-on, they are both only about $150 each and I guarantee I paid more for that functionality from the auto maker.
As for the Overdryve also being an Android tablet, and can be used off the mount like any other tablet, it is true that it can do so, but it is a little bulky for that and it is an Android tablet with all that entails. Sorry, I have an iPad and I can't really see myself ever using this as just a regular tablet, but perhaps if you forgot yours and you have a fussy kid in the back and want to send it to the back seat to quiet them down, this could be a lifesaver.
Now for my few quibbles with the device. I had a little trouble syncing it to my phone for the first few tries but after I did a phone restart I didn't have a problem and it had maintained the sync no problem, so it could have been my phone and not the Overdryve. My only other problem is the name. Seriously, Overdryve?! I realize that Overdrive was probably taken but I kind of feel like some hipster should be on TV telling me how 'swaggy' this thing is. Every time I have had to type Overdryve into this review, I have had to roll my eyes and they are getting tired.
In summary, if you want a great functioning GPS system, and that is all, this is a phenomenal GPS and it costs about the same as other 7-inch GPS systems. If you need the functionality of an infotainment system, and want the ability to add safety features like a back-up camera and tire pressure monitoring, this is a no-brainer because you get all of that for the price of a basic 7" GPS. On top of all that, you get a fully functional Android tablet! I really can't see why anyone would buy any other standalone car GPS system now that this is out. Even if you don't need the other functions, they are nice to have and Rand McNally has created the best GPS device I have ever used, for the same price as other systems. Seriously, this is the unit to get.
Wraith
Rochester Hills, MI
Dash Cam!
September 25, 2016
I totally forgot about the dash cam function of this. Yet another feature that makes this a no-brainer. I have not had much experience with dash cams but this one works well. Now let's just hope I don't end up on one of those dash cam compilation videos on YouTube!
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Wraith's Questions
Wraith has not submitted any questions.
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
Will these head phones need to be connected tot he phone to use the noise cancelling function or can they operate as noise cancelling headphones whithout having to be connected to anything?
They DO NOT need to be connected to a phone for the noise cancelling feature to work. You can just have them on to give yourself some peace and quiet.
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Wraith
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
Really wanna buy these headphones, but does the ANC from these (Sony) create an undesirable pressure to the eardrums? Tried the Bose, they hurt my ears after a while...
NO! I'm with you on that. I have always wanted a pair of NC headphones but couldn't stand that pressure after more than 30 minutes. I have listened to these for almost six hours straight and no pressure. It is fabulous!
7 years, 10 months ago
by
Wraith
Create gorgeous hairstyles quickly with this high-velocity Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. The rapid air flow and a temperature gauge that monitors the heat level 20 times per second ensure efficient drying without overheating tresses. The motor of this Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is in the handle for better balance and reduced arm fatigue during use.
Hello does the Supetsonic blow dryer sold at Best Buy come with the leather case?
No, that is only for the dryers bought directly from Dyson. I know, stinks. I'm attaching a photo of what is in the box.
8 years, 9 months ago
by
Wraith
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
I have a 1400 sq ft home and an RV parked on the side. My current Router plus an add on won't do it for the RV. Will this cover the home and the RV?
I have a 3200 sq ft home that has walls like a fort and I can get a great signal from all throughout the house and my entire yard (which is admittedly not in proportion with the house). If you put the main base station in your home and the satellite system in the RV, the system will tell you if you have a good signal (which you should), and then you will be bathed in glorious wi-fi.
8 years, 11 months ago
by
Wraith
Only at Best BuyTote entertainment options with you via this HP Spectre x360 laptop. The 13.3-inch touch screen lets you navigate tablet-style for casual app gaming, and a flip-and-fold design lets you set this computer on a table to enjoy streamed entertainment while multitasking. This HP Spectre x360 laptop weighs just over 3 lbs. for easy portability.
Finally! so glad i seen this before i bought!!! when can i get it? i've asked everywhere.
I have seen it in every Best Buy store I have been in to over that last two weeks (four in total), so check your Best Buy, it is probably there.
9 years, 3 months ago
by
Wraith
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
I ordered this laptop from a friend to buy it for me. I live in Europe (Macedonia) so we have 220v electricity + other kind of power plugs. Will it damage the laptop if i use it constantly with an adapter to change the socket to fit our plugs ?
You should not have any problems doing this. The power supply clearly states that it can handle all the way up to 240v and convert it to what the computer needs. All you should have to do is get the plug adaptor.
9 years, 3 months ago
by
Wraith
Learn more about Magnolia Premium Installation These Sennheiser HD650 stereo headphones provide balanced and transparent sound for audio with minimal distortion. The headphones feature an over-the-ear design with an innovative elliptical shape adapted to the shape of ears.
Which headphone amplifiers would you suggest for the HD650 and would a headphone amplifer help add a deeper bass to the sound??
I use mine with a Schiit Magni (and Modi for the DAC), and I have no problems with the bass. If the music is supposed to have bass, you will get it. It won't be thumping bass but there is only a small segment of the music spectrum that really needs that emphasized. Cheap headphones bump up the bass to cover up how bad they are.
11 years ago
by
Wraith
Rochester Hills, MI