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
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count27
- Helpfulness votes28
- First answerAugust 18, 2014
- Last answerDecember 13, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers3
Keep your floors spotless with this Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum. Its sensors and mapping system automatically adapt to the pattern of floors in the home and effectively avoid obstacles. This Alexa-compatible Samsung POWERbot Slim robot vacuum provides maximum cleaning coverage including edges and corners thanks to its sophisticated edge-cleaning technology.
Customer Rating
4
Very Good For The Right Type Of Place
on June 14, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
Let me start off by saying that I've never owned a robot vacuum before so I can not make any comparisons to others out there. I have always wanted one since I am an absolute neat freak (I have two Dysons, a steam mop, and various other cleaning implements just for floors - I may have a problem but at least it is a good one to have). Finally pulled the trigger because the Samsung POWERbot seems to hit the sweet spot of power, versatility, and most of all price.
Setting up the POWERbot was simple and while I attempted to use the iOS app, I had read from several other reviews on here that it really wasn't worth it, so when it kicked me out for the 2nd time, I just stopped. I don't really see a need to use it anyway since this is intended to be an independently running system and if I do need to interact with the POWERbot, they give you a nice remote control to use.
Ok, so now for how well it works.... It works wonderfully for the right kind of place. I live in a two-story house and one of those floors is the right kind and the other is not. My ground floor is the one that is not particularly supportive, and to be fair, I have a hard enough time with it and I'm (supposedly) a sentient being and not a rudimentary AI in a small vacuum. The majority of the floors on my ground floor are large tiles and some pretty thick rugs under the main dining table and the coffee table. In addition the furniture around the rug in the living room comes right up to the rug and while the couch, love seat, and chairs have plenty of clearance underneath, the gap where the rug and furniture meet is too narrow for the POWERbot to squeeze through. Also, the end tables and coffee tables probably look to the vacuum like they can be traversed under but there are bars further in that act as supports and probably confuse the heck out of the machine. I think my first floor is a bit too much of an obstacle course for this machine. It cleaned in many of the open places but to tell the truth, I really wanted something to make it easier to get under and around some of these things without having to move everything.
That being said, my upstairs floors are all carpet with the exception of tile in the bathrooms. It is also free of too may obstacles and has clear runs underneath furniture. Here is where the POWERbot shines. It cleans up the carpet continually and does a nice job picking up all the hair my wife leaves on the floor in the bathroom (seriously, how is that woman not bald?) and all the litter the cat seems to carry out of the litter box in the laundry room (I think he does this out of spite). This is actually probably a better use for the POWERbot than what I had originally intended and I should probably give it 4.5 stars but that is not an option. I would say that my wife and I spend 75% of our time upstairs and have the windows open almost constantly now so we get a lot more dirt and dust up there anyway. I have noticed a marked decrease in dust on the furniture upstairs and in general so the POWERbot is saving me time not only with vacuuming but also reducing my need to dust quite as often. I'd call that a win-win.
All-in-all, I'm pretty pleased with the Samsung POWERbot. I have always been very happy with Samsung products (my washer and dryer, fridge, TVs) and this is another winner in their stable of products. If you have been holding off on getting one of these but have always kind of wanted one, you really don't have much of an excuse not to get one now. Go out and get the POWERbot; it will pay for itself with all the time you will save not vacuuming/dusting!
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy clear sound produced by 40mm high performance drivers with these Master & Dynamic headphones. The ear pads are made with memory foam and lambskin to keep you comfortable during long listening sessions, and their foldable structure makes them easily portable. These Master & Dynamic headphones are made from anodized metal for durability.
Customer Rating
5
Very, Very Nice On-Ear 'Phones!
on May 25, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have owned a lot of headphones in my day. I have owned and used everything from the old cruddy earbud that came with old AM radios to top of the line planar magnetics. I was a practicing audiophile for years with all the debt that entailed but now I'm a recovering addict! I sold all my high end gear and decided that I need to just be happy with good instead of always chasing 'Oh my GOD!'. I will say, there is something sublime about listing to some artists on some top-notch gear and hearing the little breaths they take between lyrics and it sounds like they are whispering right in your ear. It is amazing and gives you goosebumps sometimes and I love it but you will go broke chasing it and the perfect rig is not very portable. In addition, modern music has been so 'perfected' and digitalized that there is very little character to discover in the spaces.
With that being said, I still appreciate a nice set of 'cans' and the Master & Dynamic are very nice in their sound quality and especially in their styling. I have the gunmetal edition and they are very sharp. They are also built like a tank. There is no plastic and the leather is real leather and not the artificial protein leather that you find on other 'phones. You know right when you open the box that you are getting something special with the leather cord case and stylish box. Now packaging can make garbage look nice but it makes a thing of beauty even nicer and lets you know the the team and M&D are taking this seriously.
If you are an audiophile or heck, even just an admirer of headphones, you will immediately think that these come from some lineage related to Grado since they look like the rich, beautiful cousin to their line of headphones. Grado is a phenomenal brand to be compared to but many of the headphones that are in the same price range as the MH30s have a ton of plastic and plain old foam earpads. The Grado similarities don't just end at aesthetics, they also are similar in comfort (at least as far as the headband goes). Both are a tad light on padding for the headband and while it isn't too bad for a relatively short listening session (less than 2 hours), I could not go all day with these without adding an aftermarket wrap-pad or some serious breaks. To be fair, I have kind of a pointy head and my natural padding (hair) has thinned significantly so take my discomfort with a grain of salt. That being said, the rest of the headphone is very nice in terms of comfort (earpads, spacing, etc.).
So now I should probably talk about what these things were intended for, listening to music. I tend to prefer a pretty neutral headphone and I would call these a neutral-warm headphone. It makes them great for acoustic, rock, country, and those kind of genres. Classical or Jazz fans may not like these and they are definitely not bass heavy so they probably would not satisfy people who like R&B, dance, or hip-hop. Fortunately my music collection spans a wide range but focuses on 60's to 90's rock and the MH30's suit that pretty well. There is not a lot of isolation but I wasn't expecting much since they are on-ear and not over-ears. Also, they are a bit 'closed' sounding, but again that was expected since they are solid backed and not open but that helps with sound leakage and a bit of extra oomph to the bass.
All-in-all, I am extremely pleased with these headphones. While many people still balk at paying this kind of money for headphones, these are actually worth it. They will probably last forever (try saying that about a pair of Beats), have replaceable parts, sound great, and are pretty comfortable. They aren't cheap but they are actually worth the price you pay and not just because they have a certain name on the headband. Something to be said about quality.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take your tunes anywhere with this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker. This floating waterproof device is submersible in up to 1m of water for 30 minutes, and it deflects damage from snow, ice and dirt. Pair this LifeProof AQUAPHONICS speaker with up to eight Bluetooth devices, and use the included dry box for storing keys and cards.
Customer Rating
3
Good If You Need It To Float, Just OK If Not
on May 18, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I was really kind of interested in what the team at LifeProof could do with a bluetooth speaker, and I have to say, they did not meet my expectations. The AQ10 is a perfectly serviceable bluetooth speaker with some really nice features such as:
- It floats!
- It's waterproof (though playing around with it though did not leave me with a good impression that it would stay that way - more on this later)
- If you hover your hand over the controls, they light up.
- It has a secret compartment that supposedly is waterproof but it wasn't for me.
- It can charge your other devices like your phone.
- It looks kinda cool.
- It floats!
- It's waterproof (though playing around with it though did not leave me with a good impression that it would stay that way - more on this later)
- If you hover your hand over the controls, they light up.
- It has a secret compartment that supposedly is waterproof but it wasn't for me.
- It can charge your other devices like your phone.
- It looks kinda cool.
Then it kneecaps the whole thing with these drawbacks:
- The price. Really? I know that LifeProof charges a premium but this is ridiculous!
- There aren't any gaskets on this and the compartment on the bottom just has a simple spring loaded toggle. Now you aren't fitting anything like a cell phone in this but whatever you do put in it is probably going to get wet. There was moisture in mine. Also when I was holding the speaker, there was quite a bit of 'give' in some areas that did not make me confident that water would stay out of other important bits. Who knows, without taking it apart I can't see if there are other seals inside.
- The sound, not bad but not great either. Bass is sorely lacking. I tried to record a video of it playing Uptown Funk (which I like to use as a test because is has some nice bass and treble to judge by), but I learned that the iPhone won't play music over bluetooth and record videos at the same time. It sounds like the bass on your stereo has been turned way down. That being said, it does get plenty loud and this is not intended to be a hi-fidelity system. It is for having out on the boat or beach.
- Has it's own wall-wart plug and not a small one either. There is no excuse for this not using USB!
- Finally, the price! Seriously, if this were $100 I could see it and it would be a good value even with some of the drawbacks but to tell you the truth, I have several other speakers that sound better for $25 bucks and I would rather they get ruined by water and have to buy another one rather than pay $200 for this one.
- The price. Really? I know that LifeProof charges a premium but this is ridiculous!
- There aren't any gaskets on this and the compartment on the bottom just has a simple spring loaded toggle. Now you aren't fitting anything like a cell phone in this but whatever you do put in it is probably going to get wet. There was moisture in mine. Also when I was holding the speaker, there was quite a bit of 'give' in some areas that did not make me confident that water would stay out of other important bits. Who knows, without taking it apart I can't see if there are other seals inside.
- The sound, not bad but not great either. Bass is sorely lacking. I tried to record a video of it playing Uptown Funk (which I like to use as a test because is has some nice bass and treble to judge by), but I learned that the iPhone won't play music over bluetooth and record videos at the same time. It sounds like the bass on your stereo has been turned way down. That being said, it does get plenty loud and this is not intended to be a hi-fidelity system. It is for having out on the boat or beach.
- Has it's own wall-wart plug and not a small one either. There is no excuse for this not using USB!
- Finally, the price! Seriously, if this were $100 I could see it and it would be a good value even with some of the drawbacks but to tell you the truth, I have several other speakers that sound better for $25 bucks and I would rather they get ruined by water and have to buy another one rather than pay $200 for this one.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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HP OMEN by HP Desktop: Stay connected with this HP Omen desktop computer. Its Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM keep complex programs running quickly, and its 1TB hard drive has plenty of storage for photo and music files. This HP Omen desktop computer includes an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 video card for sharp graphics.
Customer Rating
5
A Bad OMEN... For Your Games!
on April 14, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have been out of the gaming PC world for about a decade but I used to build, tear apart, upgrade, tweak, mod, overclock computers for years beforehand. It just got too hard (and expensive) to keep chasing that ever moving goalpost. I moved to console gaming for ease of use but always had that itch to get back in the game (both literally and figuratively). It made it easier to move away since my main genre was flight/space sims and those went away for quite some time though they have roared back to life and that has what has been calling me back.
I toyed with the idea of getting one of those small form factor PCs that you can hook into your TV since I have become used to my TV/XBox combo but the old computer geek in me craved a big case that would give me more power and room to grow.
The HP Omen is a phenomenal gaming rig, especially for the price. The latest gen Intel i7-7700 processor, combined with 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 card with 8GB of GDDR5 memory dedicated makes this computer a force to be reckoned with. Is it absolutely top spec? No, it isn't the latest or greatest card and there is only one of them, and you can ALWAYS have more RAM but despite that, this is a great machine.
Another thing I appreciate about the OMEN is that it is nicely put together inside. Cabling is nice, everything has plenty of room to breathe, and there are bays galore for upgrades down the road (like next week). Also, it is nicely designed on the outside with a simple but classy chassis (wow, that was almost poetic). I really like the port panel on the top of the machine with 4 USB ports, a headphone jack, and the SD card reader all within easy reach. You also have a ton of options for monitor connections (DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI) and I have tried out the OMEN both with an HDMI connection to a 4K TV as well as the G-SYNC monitor it will stay plug into via DisplayPort. Both are outstanding but the computer really shines with a G-Sync monitor.
I got this computer because it hit all of the recommended (not minimum) specs for X-Plane 11 and for its certification for use with all the VR systems out there. I'm dying to try out Elite: Dangerous in VR and I hoped to be able to test out the OMEN with a buddy's VR rig but he lent it to someone else for the weekend. All of the games I have loaded up have been absolutely butter smooth on this computer and I'm looking forward to really pushing this thing to the limits with X-Plane once I buy a HOTAS set-up with pedals.
If you are looking for a great gaming computer that gives you a ton of headroom to grow this is a great choice. I'm going to add in a SSD drive this weekend and move over the operating system over to it and reserve the 7200 RPM drive for game data. With how well this thing is set up, I expect that to be a very easy job. Maybe when I find the OMEN's limits I might add another GTX 1070 in SLI configuration, I hear the new SLI bridges are nice.
Since I am limited to two pictures for this review (really, Best Buy doesn't have the bandwidth to host more?), I'm going to share pictures of the inside of the machine and the back ports since that is what I want to see and often is not shown on the website.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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
5
Another Dyson Winner! Not An Animal But A Beast!
on March 18, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have owned Dyson vacuums since the very first generation and I own or have owned every type with the exception of the compact ball floor model that is like an old canister vac.
I have always been impressed with the quality of construction, but even more so with the quality of operation. I am a neat freak and I vacuum all the time. Dyson won me over the first time that I used one on my supposedly 'clean' carpets and I got out as much (if not more) stuff as my previous vacuum and they keep getting better with each iteration.
Previously I had never paid the additional cost for the Animal version of the vacuums but this time I did because our new cat seems to think leaving fur everywhere is an olympic sport and he is determined to win gold. I can't say for sure whether or not the new Animal 2 vacuums better than my previous Multi-Floor+ (at least not without doing a A/B comparison of canister contents and that just seems a bit much for a regular review on Best Buy), but what I CAN say is that the rotary Turbine Tool is worth the upgrade alone. I had always been perfectly pleased with just using the furniture attachment that the Dyson normally comes with but this cuts down the time needed and does SUCH a better job! I went all over my couches and duvet with this and it was picking up everything on the first go rather than having to do multiple passes. The duvet also has a bunch of sewn in details and the previous device never seemed to pull the stuck in fur out of those bits but the Turbine Tool does! Now I don't resent my wife nearly as much for getting an overly ornate duvet cover when I was happy with just a plain printed one (bonus points for marital bliss).
So, long review short:
+ Awesome, Turbine Tool cuts down on time spent cleaning.
+ Same great Dyson quality in both construction and operation.
+ Filters easy to clean, don't ever have to buy replacements.
+ Easy to operate and get all around the house.
+/- Pricey but worth it, especially if you actually want things clean.
+ Awesome, Turbine Tool cuts down on time spent cleaning.
+ Same great Dyson quality in both construction and operation.
+ Filters easy to clean, don't ever have to buy replacements.
+ Easy to operate and get all around the house.
+/- Pricey but worth it, especially if you actually want things clean.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet Spotlight. A game-changing presentation remote. Spotlight allows you to simply navigate slides and interact with on-screen content from up to 100 feet away. The customizable timer sends vibration alerts directly to hand ~ and the advanced pointer system allows you to highlight and magnify areas of focus in pixel-perfect detail.
Customer Rating
5
The Presentation Remote I've Been Waiting For!
on March 10, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
Seriously, you might think that the title of this review is overkill, but as someone who gives presentations to students and educators several times a week, I can tell you that it is not.
I've been giving presentations with PowerPoint and such since I was a wee Cadet in the Air Force and I remember the days of not having the choice of staying next to the computer to flip slides or having to have a colleague flip them for you in an awkward exchange of nods or exclamations of 'next slide!'. Heck, sometimes I think it was easier doing presentations with ACTUAL SLIDES in a carousel and a 'remote' with a really long cord (actually did several of those too - Air Force tech in the 90's wasn't always up to snuff especially overseas). Recent remotes have done a decent job of flipping back and forth and giving you a pointer, and I've been pretty happy with it, though I always have to go back to the computer to click a link or alt-tab to another program. NO MORE!
First off, let me just say that this is one sexy remote. I got the gunmetal gray version and it is nice, nondescript, sleek, and feels good in the hand. Button layout is perfect and it is easy to tell which of the three buttons you are on without looking down. Charging is super simple, you pull out the USB fob that you plug into your computer and then you can use the USB-C cable that comes with the device to plug it in to any USB charger or your computer. Charging is simple and fast. You get three hours of operation from one minute of charging. I did a full charge out of the box and it took less than an hour though I'm sure it had some charge already on it.
Ok, let's get down to set-up and use. Set-up is easy. Download the software from Logitech and install. The configuration of the device is very intuitive and gives you some really good options for what you want the forward-back buttons to do in their 'alternative' press and hold mode. You have everything from fast forwarding through your slides, to bringing up a blank screen, to controlling the volume, to doing a custom button press. I opted to not set up an alternate press for the main button out of fear of accidentally setting it off (not an expected fault of the remote but of mine). For the back button I set up a programed button press of Alt-Tab so that I can switch programs, and that combined with the on-screen pointer that works through magic to move on the screen, I can switch programs and start all kinds of additional programs that I can't embed in my PowerPoint. For the 'pointer', you have all kinds of options from darkening the screen with a window of light that you want people to focus on, to magnification, or just a plain Circle which I consider to be the basic-laser pointer alternative. I really like the Highlight feature. It does a much better job of focusing viewers on what you want than any pointer could ever do. You get two options though and so I have Highlight as my main option with a double click just bringing up the Circle. Either way you also have option of enabling a cursor which allows clicking on on-screen items and such. You also get an option on how big you want the circles to be, which is nice.
The way it works for highlighting is that once you press the button it brings up the highlight in the center and then seems to use a gyroscopic function to move it around from there. The great thing is that you don't have to point the remote at the screen, you can keep you hand down if you want and just move your wrist there and the cursor still moves. It's magic!
Some other options that are also embedded in the remote is a vibration warning when you are down to 5 minutes left in your established presentation time (which you set through the menu), as well as a notification when time is up. You can turn this feature off through the advanced settings. Some other advanced settings for the Spotlight remote allow you to control pointer speed, alert intensity, battery alert, and the ability to change from the USB receiver to Bluetooth if you so desire. I'm sticking with the USB receiver since it seems to have incredible range and is easy.
I don't know what more I can say about the Logitech Spotlight. This does everything I could want when I'm out there giving presentations and is going to make my life A LOT easier and I think it will make my presentations better. Yes, it may be a it on the pricey side but I have already dropped a ton of money on fancy laser pointers that don't give me a quarter of the functionality of this thing. I know my boss is going to be insanely jealous of this thing and I'm going to have to guard it with my life! If you give presentations on a routine basis, the Spotlight will be an awesome addition to your presentation toolset.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy nonstop music while charging your iPhone with this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter. It keeps your iPhone 7 or 7 Plus fully functional while plugged in, and it's compatible with Apple MFi-certified cables and headphones. The 12W power pass-through of this Belkin Lightning Audio + Charge RockStar adapter provides optimal charging speed for compatible devices.
Customer Rating
5
Works Exactly As Intended, One Omission Though...
on January 12, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
Bought this when I was expecting to use regular headphones with my iPhone 7 since there are often times that I am at my desk and have my phone charging and listen to music. Now that I received my EarPods, that is no longer such an issue. It still is for my wife though so she will be using this from now on.
It does exactly what it says it would and that is allow you to charge your phone while also listening to music through the Lightning port on your iPhone. The one thing it WILL NOT let you do is plug it into a computer to sync while listening to the music. It will charge but the phone will not show up in iTunes if you have it plugged in through the Rockstar. Belkin does not make the claim that it would do so and it is not really a big deal, but while playing around with it I noticed that it did not come up in iTunes and therefore I could not do a computer sync. Not a big deal, unplug the Rockstar for two minutes, do the sync and plug it back in.
All-in-all Belkin made an easy to use solution to a problem many people will have with the new iPhones. If you too have this problem, go out a get the Rockstar.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Arlo Pro takes the worrying out of life with the 100% Wire-Free indoor/outdoor home monitoring system. Arlo Pro includes rechargeable batteries, motion and sound-activated alerts, 2-way audio, a 100+ decibel siren, and 7 days of free cloud HD video recordings. Arlo covers every angle to help keep you safe and protected.
Customer Rating
5
Phenomenal System, WAY Easier Than Expected!
on January 10, 2017
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
I have been going back and forth on getting a camera system for the home, not so much because I live in a bad neighborhood (I don't) but more for peace of mind when traveling and for when the wife is home alone. This has been going on for about two years and I have looked at every system and read countless reviews of many of the systems out there. Finally decided to pull the trigger when I get the chance to get the Arlo Pro 2-camera system.
I am extremely tech savvy and routinely put together the computer systems and electronics for all of my friends and family but I was still expecting to have a bit of a time with this camera system mostly because it was the one device that I have never had to set up. Frankly this was one of the easiest devices I have ever had the pleasure to do. The only thing that was easier was perhaps my Netgear Orbi system which leads me to believe that the team at Netgear (which makes the Arlo as well) is doing a phenomenal job of trying to make technology as easy and seamless to use as possible. Heck, I would even bet my father, who is a notorious technophobe, could put this together and I'm sure he would have little problems. He would probably still call me though just to check. ; ^ )
Some of the things that made me really like the Arlo Pro system over the regular system were the two-way audio system and the rechargeable battery. The two-way audio was important so that my wife could communicate with someone at the front door if she were alone and wanted to either scare them off or see what a visitor needed. The rechargeable battery was important because I really did not want to string power to these and I didn't want to be burning through AA batteries like a fiend. I picked up two extra battery blocks for the camera so that they could be pre-charged and ready to swap when the camera runs out of steam. I'm thinking of picking up the two battery charger when it becomes available later in the month.
Some features I really appreciate since installing the system are the App functionality and the USB drive local storage option. Remember when setting up a network system you had to typically be hardwired into the base station and do all the configuration through a web portal? Well now you can do everything with an app on your phone without ever having to plug a cable into anything other than your modem! Now Netgear isn't the only company that is doing this, I have used the Linksys app as well for others and it is also good but the Netgear apps for both the Orbi and Arlo are phenomenal. I am able to sync, set up, calibrate, configure, schedule and monitor everything through my iPhone with absolute ease. The part that took the longest was actually installing the camera mounts, and that wasn't even that hard. The USB local drive storage is great because I can store a ton more video than comes with the free 7-day plan (though really that would have been just fine as well). It is a little extra peace of mind that I really appreciated.
I have only had two issues with setting up the Arlo system and it is a function of how my home is built/set-up and not the fault of the camera. Despite spending so much time thinking about getting a camera system, I did not put much thought into where and how I would install them! Quite a few factors went against me once I went to put this system in place. First off, I have a stucco home with very little wood available in which to mount the brackets. A neighbor installed a camera system to his outside walls and did a real number on the stucco so I was really hesitant to want to drill into mine. The other problem was that even if I did want to drill into the outside wall I do not have a really good surface with a great view of the front door that would detect motion well. The best place I could figure would be looking at someone from behind as they approached the door and that would not help much because it was going to be a pretty high view and my entry way is a relatively tight space. Also with my home being a Spanish revival, the walls are pretty stinking thick and even with the base station in a nice open location, the signal strength wasn't as high as I would have hoped. In the end though, I moved the base station closer to the front door which helped with the signal strength and I put one of the cameras indoors so I only had to worry about mounting one of them into the stucco. I did have to go out and purchase the upgraded external mount that the camera screws on to so that was an extra purchase as well. I didn't HAVE to since someone could steal the camera off of this mount as well but I wasn't going to make it as easy as just plucking off of the magnetic mount! Which by the way, you should not worry about being strong enough to hold up the camera, that magnet is a beast!
All-in-all I am incredibly pleased with the Arlo system and can't think of a single home application where this system would not be perfect and heck even if you wanted it for work, I would just think that you would need to upgrade to the 24/7 recording package, the camera system is great even for a small business.
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Shark Genius Steam Pocket Mop System is our most advanced floor cleaning system ever. Featuring both a Steam Mop and a Spray Pocket mop, the Genius system is the right solution for all your cleaning needs. Harness the power of steam to sanitize 99.9% of household bacteria*. (Sanitization studies were conducted under controlled test conditions. Household conditions and results may vary.)
Customer Rating
4
Some Great Features, Some Not-So-Great
on December 21, 2016
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
Just to put this on the table from the get-go, I'm a neat freak. Very few things give me more pleasure than perfect vacuum lines in a carpet, and spotless tile floors. I am always on the lookout for way to make my job easier or to get things cleaner. I had very high hopes for the Shark Genius and while it is a top notch steam mop, it will not be replacing my Bissell PowerFresh steam mop.
Both mops pump steam through a reusable cloth cover and hopefully picks up all the junk the vacuum and swiffer didn't (yes I use all three on my tile floors, a nun could eat off of them). After doing some A-B testing which is actually pretty easy when you have tile floors. I did one half of my kitchen with the Shark, the other half with the Bissell. The results were that while both cleaned, the Bissell left less dirt behind and the Shark did not make things really any easier for me. I'll do a breakdown of the pros and cons below:
Pros:
- Easy to use. Light and swivels easily around the floors.
- Don't have to touch the cleaning cloth. I really didn't care about this but it would be important to many people.
- Wide/double sided mop head keeps you from having to replace it during a mopping session, it can take care of a whole floor of tile.
- Comes with an included spray mop handle that lets you turn the mop into more of an old school mop, just with a replaceable cover. I didn't use this mop because I kind of got a steam mop for a reason, and that was to not just use a regular mop again!
- I did like the directed steam blast to get off hard to clean dirt (which I don't really have since I clean things up as they go but I also don't have kids).
- Easy to use. Light and swivels easily around the floors.
- Don't have to touch the cleaning cloth. I really didn't care about this but it would be important to many people.
- Wide/double sided mop head keeps you from having to replace it during a mopping session, it can take care of a whole floor of tile.
- Comes with an included spray mop handle that lets you turn the mop into more of an old school mop, just with a replaceable cover. I didn't use this mop because I kind of got a steam mop for a reason, and that was to not just use a regular mop again!
- I did like the directed steam blast to get off hard to clean dirt (which I don't really have since I clean things up as they go but I also don't have kids).
Cons:
- While mop head is large, you actually do not get the full area of effect when cleaning. The dirt was obvious in a semicircle around the pivot point where I was able to keep the mop head in constant contact with the floor. This also may be an issue of the mop sides not being wet enough (more on this in a minute).
- Only one level of steam. The instructions say that this mop has 'intelligent' steam levels, but only if 'intelligent' means not enough in some other language. My Bissell has three setting to let me choose how much steam I want. To be fair, there is a higher level of Shark Genius mop that supposedly lets you select your steam level as well, but this one is not it.
- Not enough steam actually seems to be hitting the floor. The steam nozzle seems to just fill the mop head with steam not all of it is directed down at the floor. Now this kind of has to be the case to allow both sides of the mop to be used but I need to use both sides because the first side didn't quite do the job. My Bissell has all the jets pointing at the floor and while I often have to change the mop covers, that is because the steam is so intense that it gets a ton of dirt up off the floor in the first go through.
- While mop head is large, you actually do not get the full area of effect when cleaning. The dirt was obvious in a semicircle around the pivot point where I was able to keep the mop head in constant contact with the floor. This also may be an issue of the mop sides not being wet enough (more on this in a minute).
- Only one level of steam. The instructions say that this mop has 'intelligent' steam levels, but only if 'intelligent' means not enough in some other language. My Bissell has three setting to let me choose how much steam I want. To be fair, there is a higher level of Shark Genius mop that supposedly lets you select your steam level as well, but this one is not it.
- Not enough steam actually seems to be hitting the floor. The steam nozzle seems to just fill the mop head with steam not all of it is directed down at the floor. Now this kind of has to be the case to allow both sides of the mop to be used but I need to use both sides because the first side didn't quite do the job. My Bissell has all the jets pointing at the floor and while I often have to change the mop covers, that is because the steam is so intense that it gets a ton of dirt up off the floor in the first go through.
If I were to receive this as a gift and did not have my Bissell, I would be pretty happy with it but having a great steam mop already and with the Shark not really beating it on any measure, I think I would always prefer my Bissell. The Shark is good, the Bissell is great (oh, and a lot cheaper as well).
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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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.
Customer Rating
5
Pricey but Soooooo COOL!
on November 30, 2016
Posted by: Wraith
from Rochester Hills, MI
Ok, first off, got this for the wife due to the fact that I don't have enough hair to bother using a hair dryer on. Most of this review is from her point of view, though I'm guessing that she matches the primary demographic for this device anyway.
I am truly amazed at the work Dyson does on appliances. Do the alternates that have been around forever work almost as good, sure but Dyson always seems to up that game in style, usability, and function. I haven't been let down by any of the multitude of products I have from them that are all still running just as well as the day I purchased them. That being said, I was a tad skeptical on how much you could really do to a hair dryer, I must say though that Dyson being Dyson has done it again and made a stellar product.
For its primary duty as a hair dryer it is awesome and does the job just as well as my wife previous dryer. Doesn't seem to do it faster or slower and her hair doesn't look any different. What it does do better is give a heck of a lot better control over her hair drying and best of all for me, it does so in a much quieter fashion. Now on those rare days when I get to sleep in past her, I can actually sleep and not be woken up by a screaming hair dryer! If for no other reason, it was worth it for me. That and the fact that I'm sure that this dryer will last forever which is great because my wife has gone through three dryers in the last two years. Eventually this thing is going to pay for itself.
My wife had only one quibble with the Supersonic and it has to do with one of Dyson's main selling points for this thing. The balance that she is used to when drying her hair is completely thrown off by having the guts moved to the handle instead of in the head of the device. Now I'm sure she is going to get used to it the same way she initially got used to using a hair dryer in the first place but for right now she says her arms are sore from working different muscles. So maybe this isn't a bad thing, perhaps Dyson should also list as one of the benefits of the Supersonic that it is also a workout device!
Bottom line: Can you get something that does exactly what this does for a whole lot less money? Yes of course but that can be said of any Dyson product and hasn't stopped them from winning legions of fans (including me). To me, this was worth the price because I see my wife using this for the rest of her life. Considering I have spent over $100 in the last two years on other dryers I figure even if it only lasts a decade, I will have still saved money! Also, if you are a tech geek like me and are trying to pull your luddite wife into the 21st century, there probably isn't a better way to do it than the Dyson Supersonic!
My Best Buy number: 0215184540
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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