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Graystone55
Graystone55's stats
- Review count18
- Helpfulness votes341
- First reviewMarch 15, 2011
- Last reviewFebruary 25, 2016
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.3
- Review comment count20
- Helpfulness votes35
- First review commentMarch 24, 2012
- Last review commentFebruary 25, 2016
- Featured review comments0
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- Answer count14
- Helpfulness votes4
- First answerOctober 27, 2014
- Last answerFebruary 12, 2015
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Enjoy stunning audio with this Insignia NS-SB314 soundbar that features Bluetooth support for use with your Apple® iPhone®, iPad® or other Bluetooth-enabled device. Three digital signal sound field settings help optimize your sonic output.
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I bought a Westinghouse TV that had very low sound volume - two 8W speakers. This sound bar was purchased to fix that issue.
I bought this unit from the store and none of their bars were connected up to test so I had to guess at what would possibly work. No specs were available at the store. I also purchased an optical audio cable to connect this unit.
Its an average value at the $70 sale price. It isn't at all worth the original $100 price. It is not very strong volume and is just a little better than the TV I was wanting to improve. The power output on this unit is not very good and likely would not work in a noisy room.
I tried using both the optical and composite inputs and found that the volume was only a bit higher than the TVs 8W speakers on the 15th click on the volume control. I tried hooking the headphone output of the TV into the AUX input of this unit and got the volume I wanted by turning this unit all the way up and using the TV as the volume control. But then there was some distortion at higher volume settings. In the long run, I opted to use the optical input as the quality of sound was the best of the input choices although I was limited by the 15 click volume control.
The entire range of volume for this unit is 15 clicks. That's it. 15 volume settings. Most devices have 50 to 100 possible settings so this is poor at getting the right volume setting. There is also no visual feedback of where the volume is set. A group of leds on the front could have solved this. It's not at all a good range of volume settings.
The LEDs are not visible from the front of the unit. So you have no indication if its on or off or what the input is set to or what volume is set or the sound settings chosen. So using the remote is a complete blind operation. You often have to go up to the unit and set the settings you want then use the remote to just readjust volumes. Also the remote is powered from a watch battery. That's terrible, as replacements of batteries will be far more difficult to get.
On the good side, this unit looks very nice. It looks like a quality speaker bar. It does have a variety of inputs so that gives some leeway for hooking up different components. I use the blutooth setting for playing music from my phone. You can select only one input at a time. The quality of the sound is great if you use the blutooth or optical digital inputs. The composite and AUX connections always showed some distortion at the higher ends of its limited volume range.
In summation, It has improved the volume of my TV a little bit. But it has several setbacks that I find hard to ignore. So I am on the fence about whether to recommend it or not. I wish there was a maybe option here. If you want good volume levels or control, definitely not. If you want good quality sound it is worth the good $70 sale price. This is essentially a cheap set of speakers in a good looking cabinet. If you are not on a tight budget, I recommend getting a better setup.
My Best Buy number: 3493130940
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Epson Expression Premium XP-830 All-In-One Printer: This multifunction printer offers fax capability and high-quality printing, scanning and copying for vivid, colorful images and crisp, clear text. The mobile app and built-in Wi-Fi enable wireless printing.
Customer Rating
2
An OK but not great printer.
on January 5, 2016
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I had an HP Photosmart print head go bad. They wanted $90 for a replacement. I hestitated to spend that kind of money to fix a 2 year old printer. I saw this printer on sale for $99.99 and bought it online. It's no where near as good of a printer as my HP Photosmart. Even though I bought this at $99.99 instead of the normal $199.99 I'm still not real happy with it and wouldn't recommend it very highly.
1st, it sucks up ink at an unbelievable rate. I've printed about 200 pages and it's already on its 3rd set of cartridges! Even if you set this printer up to print in only greyscale or just B&W it continues to use ink from all 5 cartridges at an alarming rate. The standard cartridges were yielding less than 100 pages of print at standard quality. I did one set of color photos on a new set of cartridges and they were empty after only 27 photos (5 X 7 inch paper) were printed. At about $60 to replace all 5 cartridges that's a rediculously poor yield. Also the cartridges are difficult to find in most of the stores I tried. Seems they are a new item. Also the photo quality is only fair and the text quality is somewhat subpar. Also the menus are not at all intuitive. And one of the biggest setbacks for me is that this printer won't communicate on the 5ghz WiFi band. You can only use this wireless if you stick with the heavily overloaded 2.4ghz. My whole network needs to use 5ghz as I live in an apartment complex and there are over 100 WiFi modems competing for access to those 11 2.4ghz channels. 5 ghz has hundreds of channels and few competing for them. I am very disappointed this wireless printer won't support a standard 5ghz wireless setup. Next the darn output tray is driving me crazy. It normally sets inside the printer behind the display panel. When printing starts, it pushes up the display panel and pops out the front of the printer. It can't close as long as any paper is still in the tray. But with it popped out, you can't see or use the display panel. I find myself regularly having to hit the tray close button to get the tray back in the printer and so I can view the display. Also the 8.5 X 11 tray is considered a 2nd tray and it defaults to picking the photo tray to print everything. You have to be careful to specify input tray 2 or you'll be wasting photo papers a lot. The memory cards contents can not be viewed from the computer, only from the printer and only if it matches a photo name. With my old printer memory, I could use the printer memory slot from the computer. This printer doesn't show you the contents of the memory card on your computer. Also I was assigned an Epson Connect printer email address to send emails to be printed. I haven't got it to work even once. Messages sent to this email address given just bounce back to me undelivered and not printed. I've tried to get Epson technical assistance by phone but keep getting unknowledgable reps with such heavy India accents that we can barely even communicate.
As far as the print speed it's good as long as you keep it in standard quality. The scanner works well although the software provided seems to be limited to only simple settings. It does also print from my phone to the printer but almost every document sent this way loses its format and ends up looking unlike it was intended.
In summation, this printer is OK for the casual user and is a good buy at the $99.99 sale price. It's definately not worth the full $199.99 price! I wish I would have spent the money to fix the print head in the HP instead of buying this one. I do not recommend it at all. I'm probably going to spend the money to fix the HP after all and give this printer to someone I know.
In summation, this printer is OK for the casual user and is a good buy at the $99.99 sale price. It's definately not worth the full $199.99 price! I wish I would have spent the money to fix the print head in the HP instead of buying this one. I do not recommend it at all. I'm probably going to spend the money to fix the HP after all and give this printer to someone I know.
Mobile Submission: True
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+5points
9of 13voted this as helpful.
All-day comfort and scrolling come together in the Kensington Orbit Trackball with Scroll Ring. The scroll ring allows you to fly through web pages and documents. And all while delivering comfort and space savings no mouse can match.
Customer Rating
4
Great Trackball with a few reservations...
on November 20, 2015
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
1st a little history on the trackballs I've tried is necessary so you can understand why I like this trackball and compare it to some others out there. A few years ago, I originally used wired Logitech Trackmans that I loved on several PCs at home and work. When they eventually went bad, I found out that the wired form of this mouse was no longer sold by Logitech and that no other wired trackballs used a ball for the thumb. So I paid more than I wanted to and bought a Logitech M570 wireless trackball as it was almost identical to the wired one with a thumb ball. I loved the way that mouse felt in the hand and preferred using the thumb to move the cursor. It also had a very functional scroll wheel just like on most mice. However I had tons of problems with the M570 constantly disconnecting itself because it thought it was out of range of the PC which set 3-4 feet away under my desk. The battery would also not last even a month of use. So when the M570 switches went bad, I decided to go back to a wired trackball. The only choices I could find in a wired trackball used the center fingers to move the ball rather than the thumb ball I was used to. So I was going to have to relearn the operation using the middle fingers.
The 1st choice I bought and tried was the Logitech Marble. I quickly learned to use the middle fingers to control the ball and the transition was quick. But this trackball had no scroll wheel and no way to simulate one without doing several uncomfortable clicks on mouse buttons first. This was a deal breaker for me and I used it less than a month before wanting to replace it with something that had a scroll wheel. Almost all the programs I use need the scroll wheel to function well. Very few trackballs now have the scroll wheel.
I found and researched this Kensington Orbit trackball with scroll ring on the BB site and ordered it to tryout. Overall it is a good trackball with a few reservations.
The size is quite large and you have to place your hand higher up on it than with the Logitech. Due to it's wide size and scroll ring around the ball, the buttons are farther apart and the buttons sit about 3/4" directly on either side of the ball. This was a little awkward to get used to the wide button spread. I would have also preferred the buttons be longer and extend farther back like on the Logitech so there's less feeling for them. I preferred the Logitech Marble's shape and button size better.
The scroll ring also takes a bit of getting used to. It's a very light touch sensitive ring that is easily bumped while operating the ball and unintentionally moved. But I'm getting more used to the different hand and finger placement and the bumps are getting less frequent. For a gamer this very sensitive scroll ring is probably what they would want. For someone scrolling through a document it can be annoying. The slowest scroll wheel setting is still not slow enough for smooth document scrolling. It involves a good deal of moving the wheel too far and then back again. But again, this can be relearned. I would have preferred that the scroll ring have a little resistance to it and click as a mouse scroll wheel does. But I can see the way this one is would probably be better for a gamer who needs to react fast.
The ball is smooth and using downloaded software from Kensington, it is quite customizable. There are two buttons and then both buttons clicked together are considered a 3rd button for software settings. You also have options in this software to modify actions by holding down keyboard keys while you click. So the software is a nice addition to customize this trackball to being the way you want it.
The Orbit also came with a rubbery wrist rest which I like and use. It's a matter of taste whether you will like this or not. Depends on how you sit when you use this. Of course adding it makes an already large footprint even larger.
And what I also like is that this is a wired USB mouse so you don't need to be replacing batteries or dealing with the out-of-range issues that plagued the Logitech wireless M570 I used.
In summary, I like the feel and hand-fit and functionality of the Logitech M570 the best. But it's wireless malfunctions and regular need to have new batteries was annoying. The Logitech Trackman Marble would have been my next choice for the fit in the hand. But not having a scroll wheel/ring and the lack of it's software to easily simulate it made it useless to me. The Kensington Orbit with scroll ring takes a little getting used to in hand placement and desk footprint but overall is the one I choose to use. I will be getting two more for my other laptop and work PC.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+18points
18of 18voted this as helpful.
Logitech Trackman Trackball Mouse: Stay comfortable while navigating features on your computer with this ergonomic trackball mouse, which reduces hand and wrist motion. Accommodate multiple users in your household, since the ambidextrous design allows right- and left-handed operation.
Customer Rating
2
Works OK but no scroll wheel.
on October 29, 2015
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I was using a Logitech M570 but found the Logitech universal transceivers to run it was so weak that any more than 3 feet from the PC was enough to disrupt it. So when it's buttons stopped working, I decided to go back to a wired mouse.
Too bad Logitech decided to stop making the equivalent to the M570 in a wired form. The only other Logitech wired trackball available was the Marble. It works with the middle fingers to roll the ball instead of the thumb. I find that harder to use but still useable.
There are two problems though that are making this Marble completely unusable. 1st, it has no scroll wheel. None whatsoever. Most all of my programs, both games and documents need a scroll wheel. I can't believe this was left off this otherwise good mouse.
The instructions mentioned how using Logitech's Setpoint software I could program the two smaller buttons to do this. Had to download it as it was not included. Not true that it would simulate the up and down scrolling. The universal scroll or auto-scroll settings do no work in almost any software I have and require combinations of clicking buttons to get any functionality at all. There are no options for scroll up or scroll down to be assigned to the 3rd and 4th buttons. Logitech's settings for these button are ignored by any software I've tried that actually wants to use the scroll setting.
Next the 3rd and forth buttons are so tiny and submerged into the bigger buttons that they are not easy to find or use with the thumb and outside fingers.
The fact I can't use this mouse with most of my software to scroll is an incredible inconvenience. Even cheap $10 mice have this built in these days. What was Logitech thinking when they canceled most of their wired trackball line and kept this one? I'm going to be replacing this trackball mouse the next time I am in the store. And it won't be with another Logitech. Thousands of people are complaining online about Logitech's cancellation of the wired trackball that works like the wireless M570. I too wanted to get that mouse and ended up with this one.
Don't buy this Marble mouse if you have owned older Logitech mice. You'll probably not like it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Leave tangled wires behind with these Skullcandy Uproar S5URHW-509 on-ear wireless headphones, which feature built-in Bluetooth for pairing with your compatible device. The adjustable headband and synthetic leather ear pillows offer comfortable listening.
Customer Rating
3
Good budget headphones but not great
on October 29, 2015
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I found them comfortable to wear for a couple of hours at a time on bus rides to/from work. They are a leather-like covering. They go on your ears but not over them. If you wear glasses, you'll need to place them a bit below the top of the ear to avoid your ears being sandwiched between your glasses earpiece and the heaphone cups. They do trap sweat in your ears. If it's warm or you are exercising, you'll feel even warmer wearing these.
With audio sources that I could heavily adjust the source volume they were fine. But adjust that input volume too much and you get clipping. The volume on these is not great but tolerable. By having a music playing app on my phone that allowed me to adjust a preamplier setting I am generally able to use these. But if you've got an app/device that gives you only moderate amounts of volume levels out, you may find low level recordings hard to get loud enough. The headphones themselves only have about ten clicks of volume control.
The controls are somewhat easy to use with exception to the on/off function. The plus and minus buttons double as volume controls (one short press at a time# and track changers #press and hold) if your device supports it. It's pretty easy to get used to this. The O button does work nicely as a pause button. However it is also used to link the device with blutooth device and to turn off/on. The linking will often require you to turn off the blutooth on your device and turn it back on to force a repairing. If you've got more than just this as a blutooth device, you may have to go into the phone or device settings to pick these headphones for linking. The on/off can get pretty confusing. Many times I've thought I had them off and they were still on and thought they were on fiddling with the phone to make it work only to discover they were still off. You have to carefully watch the hard to see little LED flash colors as you hold down the button.
Its range for me was about 20 feet. Frankly that's about normal for any blutooth device. The further away you get from it the more likely you will lose pairing. However I use this with my cellphone on the go so am never more than about 5 feet away so works excellent without any dropouts at that range.
I have the black ones and they look good without drawing much attention to the big headband and ear muffs in public. Also they are visible enough to let someone approaching you know that you probably won't hear them. #Very handy for annoying people trying to hand out literature or preach to you at bus and train stations). When I wore earbuds people were always trying to converse before I knew they were talking to me. So great "I don't want to talk to people now" message without having to say it.
If you are looking for low priced wireless headphones that do the job with moderate audio quality, I recommend these. But if you are looking for great audio quality you need to be spending a good deal more and choose other headsets.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+76points
87of 98voted this as helpful.
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
Customer Rating
5
A fantastic buy for the price.
on March 18, 2015
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I was looking for a new TV for my living room that would replace my 32" Dynex TV I bought back in 2009 (still works great). I wanted to get a bigger TV that was large enough for me to read the small text of my Tivo clearly without taking up a whole wall of space. I get my TV from an over-the-air antenna and internet streaming/downloads. The Tivo is used as the tuner for the TV on an HDMI port. So I did little to test the TV tuner part of this unit. The other HDMI input port is used for my Bluray player and is occasionally swapped for my computer HDMI.
I looked mainly at several units in the 46 to 52" size range.
My final two choices were both at Best Buy. It was between a 50" 120Hz Sharp TV that looked great but was over my $500 budget. This Insignia 60HZ looked almost as good as the Sharp but was only $350! After viewing these units on display for over an hour, I began to notice that the Sharp unit was actually beginning to give me a headache. The 120Hz mode on the Sharp was becoming a bit annoying over time. Something felt wrong in the way it displayed motion. I was told the 120Hz mode could be shut off on the Sharp but why pay for this feature if I'm just going to turn it off? I decided to get this Insignia one instead. The rest of this review is about the after store experience.
First how it looks: I like the thin angled bezel on this TV. Everything non-screen is small and does not reflect much light (distraction) in a dark room. The stand included only raises the display about an inch off the table. It's low height helps to hide the cables in the back from view. The disadvantage is that some people who are used to setting large sound bars or speakers in front of the TV will not be able to do so without covering up the remote window and power LED. The stand feels heavy which gives me a bit more confidence in choosing not to wall mount this TV. The TV itself is light and thin and will fit OK on any table or stand that is 2 feet or more square. It's light enough to easily turn it around to change cabling or to clean around. It's a darn good looking TV that should be fine in anyone's home.
The ports on the back and side are all facing either sideways or down. The control buttons are on the right side. No cables sticking straight out the back to cause issues with breaking connectors and such.
The lack of unshared ports is a bit frustrating though. Most ports are shared such that you have to choose which one you want instead of having both. 2 HDMI inputs only and they share the input connections listed with other options such as DVI and MHL. Although the specs showed several inputs, all the RCA-type connections are shared as one input only and the MHL and others types are shared with one of the two HDMI. The coax is the only video input not shared. While the spec sheets said a DVI and computer input were present, they are not. Looking at the hookup sheet pictures, they assume you will get a converter cable and use one of the 2 HDMI ports for DVI or to plug in an MHL device. The DVI port spec is deceptive advertising because it does not have a DVI port or computer input. Using a converter cable doesn't make it so.
One of the things I like is the headphone jack settings. Because it is shared as your audio out for a speaker bar or for headphones, they made a menu setting where you can determine if the sound works on the headphone jack only or both the jack and internal speakers together. You can also choose if you want the volume out to be constant (sound bar) or controlled by the TV remote (headphones). This lets you customize what happens when you have both headphones and a speaker bar you have to switch back and forth between. I would rather have had two separate ports like on most TVs, but this was a good way to solve the issue of sharing the one port for both.
The USB port is only used for firmware updates and for viewing jpg type pictures. There is at this time no firmware updates available online. You cannot play ANY videos from the USB stick. It also is a bit clunky in the menu structure in the way you have to do slideshows. The longest it will hold a picture on the screen is 8 seconds. I would have prefered this to be a little more flexible in time length. The only way out of the photos menu is to select another input device before removing the stick. Probably wont use this USB port as the Tivo & Blu-ray I have are far better at handling files on a USB stick.
This TV pulls a little more power than some flat panels in this size but is still far more economical than the older CRT type of TV. The costs of electricity is listed at about $16 per year but I think most of us would use it more than they assume and have higher electric costs than they base their ratings on.
The sound of many lower end cost TVs are often weak and require a sound bar. While you might enhance this TV's sound with a good quality sound bar, most will find the volume of this TV fine in small to medium sized rooms. You will need to go into settings and set the levels above the default 50% they come with. The volume of this set is fine for me and a sound bar is not needed. There are custom menu settings to set the base and treble levels to your liking or you can just choose from a few default settings.
Finally the video quality of this TV is very good. Granted, it isn't going to compete with a 240Hz two-thousand dollar TV. But it is sharp and clear when used with 720p or 1080i/p programming. All old 480i programs will appear a bit fuzzy on any large TV. If you watch a lot of old TV shows or plan on watching VHS VCR tapes, you might not like having a large screen HD TV. Old TV shows can still be watched if you use the video settings on the TV to adjust for noise and such. All big HD TVs have this issue to some extent. The black levels seem to be quite good and motion blurring is minimal. The motion feels natural.
Some people can see motion smoothness issues more than others. I would advise you to look at the TV you are considering in a store before buying to see how it feels to you and anyone likely to frequently watch with you. I am very impressed with the video quality considering its low cost!
I'm pleased with this TV and would recommend it to anyone on a budget. It's better than several of the TVs I looked at selling in the $750 dollar range! If you have $1000 or more to spend on a TV, you can get better. But for the $350 price I paid, it is well worth the cost for the few minor tradeoffs described above. Hope this review helps you decide.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Enjoy crisp audio with this Sony SRSX3/BLK portable speaker, which features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 7 hours of battery life. The NFC (near-field communication) technology enables quick, one-touch pairing of your compatible devices.
Customer Rating
4
Agreat speaker in all ways.
on March 13, 2015
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
This speaker almost deserves 5 stars but I went a bit lower because of a few issues I will describe below.
1st the appearance. It looks like an adult's speaker should. No weird pill or cone shapes in neon colors. Just a nice rectangular speaker. The black one is really dark grey though. The front is where the speaker drivers output and the back is where the bass port output is. The sides and bottom are just enclosure. The controls are all on top so you don't end up pushing the speaker around to press buttons. The buttons feel rather like rubber and the top is easily cleaned. It has a significant weight to it too so it won't slide around. It has rubber feet that keep it elevated a tiny bit above any hard surface it sits on so it won't rattle when lots of bass is playing. Canned air could be used to clean the front and rear grills. This unit is also small at 7" X 2.5" X 2.5" and easy to put almost anywhere that is flat.
Now the controls: The only function on the back is the recessed reset button in case the Bluetooth settings get so screwed up you want to reset everything to factory defaults. I've never had to use it. The top left of the speaker is where you can lay an NFC phone to automatically make the Bluetooth connections for you. The right side includes a charge indicator light, power on/off button with LED, volume up/down buttons, a sound button to increase the separation of stereo sound for more realism, a pairing button to manually force the unit to pair with a Bluetooth device, and audio in button to choose between Bluetooth or Aux input, and a phone button to handsfree answer your phone.
Using NFC, the connection to your phone is extremely simple to make. If you don't have the NFC function on your phone just set your phone up to start a Bluetooth pairing and then press the pairing button on this speaker and it almost always gets it the first time. Also the range is great. I often have the speaker more than 15 feet away from the phone and it still is flawless in sound. I get about a 25 foot range before the signal starts breaking up.
There is one issue though. Do not expect to use this speaker for gaming sound effects unless there is some constant sound output. The speaker takes about 2 seconds to activate when it hears sound. It will tend to miss the 1st second or two of sound if some sound output is not constant. For instance, I have a phone game that rolls 5 dice. It does so every 5 seconds or so. It will often miss the dice roll sound because it takes that couple of seconds to recognize there is sound. This speaker works best for music or videos or sounds that are always there.
The volume controls are very responsive and have a good range of control for each button press. I usually run my Galaxy Note 4 phone at about 2/3 volume and this speaker still has lots of volume at 2/3 of it's way up.
The sound quality is great. The bass can boom and the treble sounds are clear. Using the sound button in the off position gives more bass but less sound separation. Using the sound button on still produces good bass but somehow fools your ears into thinking you have sound separation. I recommend leaving the sound button on most of the time.
The auxillary input, power input and reset buttons are all on the back. You can use any standard mini-usb chargers that put out 5V and one is included with the speaker. It can run from the charger if the battery is dead. The speaker lasts me about 5 to 7 hours running it at 2/3 volume. The battery is not user replaceable. So I assume when the internal battery wears out, you'll have to run it from the power adapter. I've had mine for about 4 months before doing this review and have not noticed any battery problems yet.
The phone answering thing is actually a bit annoying. The person on the phone can be heard clearly. But I just don't like having whatever is playing being interrupted and the voice being projected out the speaker. Also if you are listening to music at a louder volume, you will get an earful if the phone rings during this time. It's downright deafening. Also answering the phone at the phone causes weird issues with the speaker still going with the caller's voice. I wish they would have just left this phone button off of the speaker and just muted the speaker when ringing. Maybe this would have been too hard to implement though?
In summation, this is a great speaker that looks good and takes up very little space. It has a few minor quirks but is well worth the price. I like the sound of this X3 even better than its big brother the X5. I also compared it with the other usual small Bluetooth speakers BB has in their stores and found this one superior unless you are willing to pay a lot more. I highly recommend this speaker.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Roku Streaming Stick (Roku Ready Version): Stream entertainment from the Internet directly to your Roku Ready TV or device. The Roku Streaming Stick offers hundreds of free channels and easy access to subscription services like Netflix and Hulu Plus. It plugs into an MHL port and works with your existing remote.
Customer Rating
2
Not really that great.
on March 13, 2015
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
1st, you'll never get real 1080p streaming. You'll either get 720p or a compressed 1080p. Standard Wifi network routers are not capable of carrying true 1080p streaming for long without glitches. So it's not up to your TV's capabilities.
Programming which you will have to pay a separate monthly subscription for or a per view fee for are by far the best programming available. But subscribing to just three of these will cost you more than you would have paid for cable.
Then there is the free stuff. Most people will find the free stuff completely useless and unwatchable. Tons of little short feeds/video blogs and previews, many of which are years old and not updated. Most of you won't get any free stuff worth watching unless you like Youtube and video blogs.
Also if you think you will watch TV shows you only get on cable channels, think again. Many of the networks will not allow you to setup to watch the shows unless you can verify you have a cable TV subscription. So you'll still need cable TV for many cable networks. The number of those requiring this are growing rapidly. You may also have to pay for a subscription fee with some if you can't prove you have cable TV.
And lastly your experience with this stick will vary greatly depending on how good your TV remote supports the stick. This version comes with no remote and yet costs a good deal more than the older HDMI version with a remote.
I highly suggest you just skip this device. It's way too much money for the $10 of electronics inside and far more than Googlecast which gives you more features. If you really want to try it, I suggest buying the cheaper non-MHL version which comes with a remote made to work with Roku. Most universal remotes can accept the Roku remote signals. But if you use this MHL version, you'll have to use a poor phone app or rely on your TV remote being able to work with this.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+15points
22of 29voted this as helpful.
Logitech M525 Wireless Mouse: Everyone in your household can comfortably navigate features on your PC or Mac with this mouse, which features an ambidextrous, contoured shape with rubber grips for right- and left-handed use. The included unifying receiver allows you to wirelessly connect the mouse and up to 5 other devices to your computer, so you can enjoy freedom of motion.
Customer Rating
3
Just a usable but not a great mouse.
on November 29, 2013
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
1st I should say I purchased this mouse on-sale for $20. At that price it's worth it. If I would have paid the normal $40 BB sells it for I would not have been happy with it. It's a low-end mouse in quality although it looks conservative enough to be used on a work PC/laptop.
It's extremely lite and the batteries used are 2/3 it's weight. The battery door and outer shell covering is very thin plastic. A drop or two would surely ruin it. The one I got is red but I would guess the other colors would be the same.
The physical size is much smaller than I expected. More like a kid's mouse for little hands. I'm holding it between my fingertips as it's too far too small to fit in my hand. I might not have purchased this mouse had I tried it out ahead of time in a store instead of ordering store pickup. Not great for someone with medium to large hands. On the plus side it is a little more portable as a result.
The scroll wheel is very loose and barely has any tactile feel to it at all. It can actually be spun a bit. It is so loose that you will find you bump and move it frequently. In programs that use the scroll wheel for screen sizing or zooming, this becomes a source of frustration. They should have given this wheel a bit more resistance and tactile click feel. If you move this too fast it also seems to activate the side scrolling feature in the middle of what you're doing. It happened once while typing and scrolling this review.
It uses 2 AA batteries instead of the traditional 1. I haven't owned this mouse long enough to need to replace the battery, so I'm hoping the two batteries will make it last longer than previous 1 battery models do. The 2nd battery also gives the mouse a little more weight which is actually good as this mouse is extremely lite otherwise.
The tracking and sensitivity of the optical mechanism is great! You can actually set back and use this mouse on your pant leg if you want. This is a good mouse for diverse surfaces. I have used on wood-grain desks and metal surfaces (and my pant leg without any problems at all. I haven't tried it on a glass surface though. Best part of this mouse is the optical sensitivity.
Logitech has an issue with all of it's mice that use the unifying receivers that is annoying for me. I've had 4 mice from Logitech recently (cheap to expensive) with these receivers. They all have short range issues. The range is under 3 feet. I often put my tower PCs on the floor next to my desk. This makes the distance from the mouse to the PC front about 2.75 feet and the distance to the rear of the PC a little over 3 feet. The mouse is very unresponsive and cuts out if I try to plug the receiver in the rear USB ports. So I have to use up one of the two front USB ports to get the mouse to be in range. I wish Logitech would extend the range of their unifying receivers a foot or two. This is quite annoying.
I wish Logitech would go back to including the marvelous setpoint software in with the mouse. Now you always have to go hunting for it online as they don't include it. Setpoint is far better than the Windows mouse setup screens.
In summation, if you can get this mouse on-sale for $20 or less it's a good buy. But at the $40 retail price, it's definitely not worth it. I used to swear by Logitech mice. Now with the short range and wireless quality issues I've recently had with some of them, I'm considering other brands. $40 is too much for a low-end wireless mouse when I can get from other manufacturers for 12-20 dollars.
What's great about it: On/off switch - Works on about any PC.
What's not so great: Very small and scroll wheel very loose. Short range.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Design
3
Ease of Use
4
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+7points
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Keep your Samsung Galaxy Note II cell phone safe from damage with this Flip 63-1944-05-SM case that features polyurethane material for durability. The form-fitting construction helps maintain your phone's slim profile.
Customer Rating
3
Looks good but a bit difficult to hold
on February 16, 2013
Posted by: Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
While this cover does what it says it does, it leaves a lot to be desired.
1st the good points: It replaces the rear case of the phone and therefore adds no extra bulk to an already large phone. It looks good and matches the phone. It adds no real weight to the phone itself. The front cover could be used as a privacy cover for prying eyes. Because it actually replaces the original back cover, you can store the original cover to keep it in pristine unscratched condition.
Now the bad: It offers no impact resistance at all beyond what the phone's normal case would have. The front cover is basically just cardboard within a nice outer vinyl covering on one side and fuzzzy material on the screen side. The rear cover is very thin plastic. The hinge is also just vinyl which I can see was wearing out with only 2 weeks of use. I can't see any flexible material being folded back and forth 330 degrees hundreds of times a week as being able to last long. Another month and it would have needed replacing. For $39.95 this is not at all a good value. It's about $5 worth of plastic and vinyl and cardboard.
It is ungainly to hold the phone with this cover installed as you must fold it back on itself to grasp the phone. I dropped it a time or two just trying to get it comfortable in my hand. I thought it would have a clip or something to make it stand up in the landscape mode for watching videos. It's actually more difficult to figure out how to prop it up with this cover installed. Its like trying to hold open a paperback book.
I gave up on this cover and replaced it with a Platinum Pt Kickstand case that offered better protection, cost less, had a kickstand and had a belt clip front cover.
I would not recommend this cover unless it was less than $10. It's no where near worth $40 and offers only minimal protection.
What's great about it: Looks good and matches phone with no extra bulk
What's not so great: Front cover very cheap materials - Replaces phone back cover
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Durability
2
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+7points
8of 9voted this as helpful.
Bring your home theater to the next level with this LCD HDTV that features 400 cd/m² brightness and 20W simulated surround sound for breathtaking visuals and audio. The PC input lets you use the TV as a monitor for your computer.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great TV
By pcjm
from TX
No complaints....easy set-up....have enjoyed every minute of my TV watching because of such a great TV..........Love it!
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
No internet capabilities...
March 24, 2012
This unit has no internet capabilities at all. Either reviwed the wrong TV here or just mistakenly selected those features in the review.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Bring your home theater to the next level with this LCD HDTV that features 400 cd/m² brightness and 20W simulated surround sound for breathtaking visuals and audio. The PC input lets you use the TV as a monitor for your computer.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Good price but only moderate picture quality
By Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I previously owned a 32" Dynex LCD TV and upgraded that TV to this one. The previous 32" Dynex was a great TV and hence the reason I again went with Dynex.
I went in to a store to buy a 47" non-internet TV. I saw this one on display and was priced at $590 #cheaper than the 47" I was looking at#. The store I went to didn't have hardly any large TVs in stock and gave me the address of one of the stores that did have this one about 30 miles away. They had it put on hold for me till I got there.
Unfortunately, this 2nd Best Buy store decided the correct price was $750! I learned of this after they brought it up to the counter and wanted to put an over $800 charge on my card! I told them about the price tag at the other store and they wouldn't even check with that store. Their computers said $750 was correct and wouldn't budge. It still looked like a good deal and I was not wanting to start the process to hunt down a unit they had in stock all over again. So I reluctantly paid the higher price. I got home, looked it up on the online site and it said $589.99. I was going to complain to the store today but now I notice that today the online store shows it at $750 again. So strike one for Best Buy's changing the price up/down.
This is a TV with some serious flaws that can be mostly minimized by choosing the settings carefully. Even with the optimum sttings some of the problems still occassionally show up.
1st: With its default settings, this 55" TV has the same 1080p resolution and pixels as a smaller one. This means you have to set farther away from it to not see artifacts like ghost trails and noise patterns. If you watch a lot of 480i sources you will hate this TV as it looks absolutely awful in anything less than 720p modes. I expected some of this as all larger TVs show faults in the original programming more prevalently than smaller ones. However, if you leave this unit as set by default, it really looks bad. It took a full day of tweaking the setup options to get a better picture. Frankly, I had to shut off the features said to fix noise and such as well as tweak sharpness/color/tint. Turning on the 120Hz modes or noise reduction modes or auto contrast #on by default# actually makes the picture quality far worse. After starting from an "all features off" mentality, I was then able to get a stable picture. Occassionally, there are still issues with fast moving images blurring or leaving ghosts for a few milliseconds.
There is another issue with a few cable channels only. On these specific channels, audio will lead the video quite noticeably by a second or two. I would blame this on Cox except that the older 31" Dynex TV tuned to these channels does not show this problem. So I know it's happening within the processing in this TV. It doesn't happen that often but when it does, it's noticably annoying. I don't think any of the available settings will fix this occassional issue.
Several people on this forum have complained of poor volume. As it comes out of the box, it would seem to have very little volume even at the highest #100# setting. The key to fix this is simple. Go into the audio settings and you will see the default settings of all the volume sliders are at 0 out of 10. Slide them up to 5 or so and you'll have plenty of volume. Also enabling Surround sound and tweaking that equalizer to your own sound preference will help a lot. I actually found the 10 watt per channel output was quite good after the settings were tweaked. Again not sure why this wasn't set by default to be higher. Seems Dynex could have prevented some dissatisfaction early on by choosing their inital settings better.
The remote doesn't have great range #<20 feet# and so I advise to use a learning universal remote. The Dynex doen't have default codes for many universals but the ones that can learn from the TV remote should work. I have Tivo boxes. The remote without learning ability can't do the mute or input buttons while the one I have that can learn did all the main buttons. The TV's remote batteries included with this unit were already a little discharged when opened. So you might want to check them or replace them if you have poor remote control functionality. The remote demands you point it toward the left of the TV. It doesn't seem to have great range and isn't very good at extreme direction angles.
On the positive side, this unit has lots of input choices and it's pretty easy to select them through any of several methods. Of course it would be better if you can use the HDMI jacks as the quality of the signal will be better. A second choice would be to use the 5 cable component cable. The last choices should be the PC VGA or composite jacks. You can also access the whole setup via the MENU button as well as all the input choices via the INPUT button. Or use the PICTURE or AUDIO or 5 button picture type buttons to more quickly get to what you want to change. There are also 4 programmable buttons on the remote for channel banks.
There are two guides included with this unit. There is no user guide included. The guides included are just info on your warranty and how to clean the unit or install the base. You will have to download the User Guide from the Dynex site. That one isn'r great either and has limited information. It assumes you already know why you would turn on or off a feature without describing it much. I'd still advise you print it as it's a pain to have to go to the net everytime you have a feature question.
This unit is heavy. Over 100 pounds.
The unit with the stand is 52"W X 35"T X 4"D
The 55" diagnal measurement means you get a 47.5"W X 26.75" screen size. I was able to view the screen from either side pretty well. I notice if you leave the settings in the Power Saving Picture Mode, the colors will appear to wash out at very extreme angles. So have your settings set to standard or vivid type of settings if you are going to view at extreme angles. You need to be setting at least 15 feet away from any 55" TV and at that distance you will see a good picture. The biggest mistake people make is that they think a larger TV should look better than a smaller one. That's almost never true. In two TVs with equal resolutions #let's say 1080p# you will have to set farther away from the larger screen. Basically, because the same number of pixels are spread out farther on a larger set, you will be more likely to notice artifacts or noise. Setting farter back from a larger TV is necessary to avoid this. As I said before, you will definately want to tweak the settings immediately to make the display good for you. If you are a person who wants really great video quality from a 55" TV, you need to look at the $1200 sets and above. This unit is moderate quality only. When purchasing a TV don't get one too big for your area or distance you intend to set from it or you will be sorely disappointed. At close distances smaller screens tend to look better at equal resolutions. A TV of this size will not show 480i programs off well. If you are doing a lot of analog or SD programming sources, you won't like this TV. You will need to run HD #720p or better# videos and use HDMI cables to enjoy this large TV.
The unit with the stand is 52"W X 35"T X 4"D
The 55" diagnal measurement means you get a 47.5"W X 26.75" screen size. I was able to view the screen from either side pretty well. I notice if you leave the settings in the Power Saving Picture Mode, the colors will appear to wash out at very extreme angles. So have your settings set to standard or vivid type of settings if you are going to view at extreme angles. You need to be setting at least 15 feet away from any 55" TV and at that distance you will see a good picture. The biggest mistake people make is that they think a larger TV should look better than a smaller one. That's almost never true. In two TVs with equal resolutions #let's say 1080p# you will have to set farther away from the larger screen. Basically, because the same number of pixels are spread out farther on a larger set, you will be more likely to notice artifacts or noise. Setting farter back from a larger TV is necessary to avoid this. As I said before, you will definately want to tweak the settings immediately to make the display good for you. If you are a person who wants really great video quality from a 55" TV, you need to look at the $1200 sets and above. This unit is moderate quality only. When purchasing a TV don't get one too big for your area or distance you intend to set from it or you will be sorely disappointed. At close distances smaller screens tend to look better at equal resolutions. A TV of this size will not show 480i programs off well. If you are doing a lot of analog or SD programming sources, you won't like this TV. You will need to run HD #720p or better# videos and use HDMI cables to enjoy this large TV.
In summation: If you can get it at $590 it might be worth it to you. If you have to pay more than $650 dollars for this, I would suggest you choose another model with a smaller/better picture quality and less setup tweaking required. If you don't mind taking the time and effort to tweak the settings and will sit at least 15 feet from it I think you will be happy with it. I gave this item a 3 rating because it required more setup than some would want to bother with, But since the product can at times be bought very cheaply it is a great value at under $600. I would recommend this unit for a cost-conscious buyer who doesn't mind some tweaking.
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
I forgot to mention...
March 24, 2012
I forgot to mention a minor issue that might bug some people. When the Dynex is turned on, the power light flashes a few times and then is out. When the power is turned off, the power light comes on steady. So a little backwards. Also need to clarify the weight. It's over 100 pounds if you use the included stand. The actual TV is only about 75 pounds if you intend to wall mount it. (Better have some sturdy walls and mounts.) Since the review was written, and my complaint about the prices changes were discussed with the Best Buy Store, they have offered a recompence for the difference between the sale price and what I paid. So I would like to make it clear to all who read my review that BB has resolved this issue with me in a reasonable time and manner.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Bring your home theater to the next level with this LCD HDTV that features 400 cd/m² brightness and 20W simulated surround sound for breathtaking visuals and audio. The PC input lets you use the TV as a monitor for your computer.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5we are satisfied, beautiful picture, works great
By pressy
from bowman,sc
we always wanted a new tv, we never thought we would get one this big, until we seen it online, onsale. we drove 52 miles to pick it up. it was well woth it. we are completely satisfied.
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Reviewer mistaken about internet enabled...
April 5, 2012
Just to correct...This TV is not internet enabled at all.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Easily expand your TV's sound with this Insignia™ NS-SB212 soundbar home theater speaker system that features RCA stereo, 3.5mm stereo and optical digital audio inputs to allow simple installation in a wide range of setups.
Overall2 out of 5
2 out of 5So so on this soundbar
By Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
1st, I wanted to listen to the sound bars at the store. I went to 2 different Best Buys. In both stores every unit they had was not connected and none of the remotes were displayed with the units. This was the only one in my price range. It's silly that many of BBs bars are $200 or more. Frankly they all are too much money for the small speakers they put in them. Mostly you are just paying for the integration into one bar. If you want good quality sound you'll get better quality for the dollar with an audio amplifier and real speakers in columns. But this unit is for those who want simple setup in one box.
It does have three inputs methods. Either an MP3 style 3.5mm jack or the standard RCA-type jacks or digital optical in jack using PCM. You can only listen to one input at a time. This is switchable at the top of the box or from remote.
This is a good looking speaker bar. You'll probably want to wall mount it above or below your TV. It's height covers most TV's remote receivers if you set it anywhere in front of the TV. TVs with taller pedestal stands might be better for this or entertainment centers with shelves above or below the TV but still in remote range. You'll roughly need 32"W X 4"T X 3"D of space.
All the controls are on top. Unfortunately so are the indicator lights. This makes it very difficult to tell whether you have activated the bass boost or powered it on or what DSP settings you just chose from the remote.
You'll have to work blindly with the tiny remote that has a really terrible response and feel. The remote has hard click controls and runs from a watch battery. This battery will be more expensive to find and replace. Press the volume up or down button and within two or three seconds you've moved the volume the entire range of the speaker bar. The buttons on the top of the unit work better but still go through the entire volume range quickly. Unless you are going to use a "Learning Universal Remote" for your TV system you'll have to use this awful little remote to control the soundbar volume. Unfortunately the volume up or down on a universal remote will have the same effect of adjusting through the entire volume range within a couple of seconds. Adjusting volume on this unit will require several single clicks till you get the level you want. Each click makes way too much difference in volume. 6 or 7 clicks goes through the whole volume range.
The maximum volume levels are not very good. At all the way up, it isn't much louder than the internal speakers on my TV. So it does not provide enough volume to overcome hardly any noise in a room. I wanted to use it in a bedroom. It barely works for that. I have used lots of audio components and devices in my life. This bar is rated at 20 watts per channel, which should be quite good. I don't know how they come to that rating because it's producing volume levels more like 8-10 watts per channel from a standard RCA jack connection..
It's a little better from the 3.5mm jack as the source can be overdriven a bit to get a louder output. So it might work better as an MP3 player speaker than a TV speaker.
It's a little better from the 3.5mm jack as the source can be overdriven a bit to get a louder output. So it might work better as an MP3 player speaker than a TV speaker.
The DSP settings for standard or theater or News are just preset adjustments for treble and bass. And not very good adjustments at that. "Theater" setting provides the most volume but has the higher frequencies (treble) turned up so strong that it is very tinny and isn't very theater-like at all. The "standard" setting has so much bass that the higher sounds are drowned out. "News" seems to be the only setting producing a somewhat tolerable, flatter response. You can also turn on bass boost which in most situations has only a little effect. Maybe this would have been useful if a separate sub-woofer was installed? Other than the poor DSP and Bass boost there are no adjustments for treble or bass.
The sound quality itself is OK but a little distortion was noted at the top volume range. According to the manual, it's rated at 10% harmonic distortion which is a pretty awful rating. Luckily it doesn't seem to perform as badly as it's specs report. At lower volumes it sounds are clear and clean.
I wish I would have had the opportunity to have seen the remote and the specs before buying this unit. While it's not a really bad speaker bar, this unit might be reasonable quality for a $50 unit but is not at all worth $100! I would not recommend you buy this speaker bar at the $100 price. I probably will repurpose mine to be an mp3 speaker because it just isn't suitable for either of my Dynex TVs.
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Item Returned
August 14, 2012
After trying to use this sound bar with electronics other than my TVs, I still couldn't get significant enough volume to justify it's cost.
I returned this unit to the Best Buy store that I bought it from.
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Connect your digital audio devices with this cable that sends digital surround sound audio signals through Toslink digital audio (S/PDIF) jacks. Precision-made connectors ensure an ideal fit.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Was expecting the sound to be better.
By shadowkilla
from Grand Rapids, MI
I bought this for my tritton ax 720 headset. Easy to install. But i noticed that the sound quality was worse...i could barely hear any footsteps around me, while gaming online. The digital optical cable that came with the headset though being very skinny, works better than the rocketfish brand cable. So if you are looking to upgrade to a "better" optical cable..dont do it because the best cable for the headset comes with the headset.
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Not cable related
August 15, 2012
Whether you hear certain sounds or not is not at all related to the cable. Optical digital signals are either there or not. The cable only passes on exactly what your box transmits.
Your box probably changes it's digital settings when you connect the optical cable. Your transmitting box is completely responsible for any particular sounds, not the cable. The cable either works or it doesn't. Optical cables are sensitive to damage but in those cases they just don't work. The cable just passes on the info sent from your box. Many systems convert the optical signal to PCM or simplify/modify what is sent on the cable as soon as you start using it. Quality is often lost by the transmitting box if it has to convert output to something else. Also some systems do actually perform worse at digital optical than analog sound.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Good phone but costs too much
By Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
I wanted a phone with a big screen. The Galaxy Note II is that for sure. It's 5.5" display is good for reading web pages that I couldn't on the old phone. Although not 1080p, it's still a clear and very readable display.
It's large size is more of an issue to carry it than I thought it would be. The case you choose can make a huge difference in this. The 1st case I chose was the Samsung one. It replaces the back case and had a front cover to protect the screen. It was the slimest option. But it was difficult to hold onto as you have to fold the cover completely backwards and hold it against the phone to use it. It was too big for my shirt pockects and stopped me from sitting down with it in pants pockets. It also was $40 which was rediculous for the thin piece of plastic and cardboard type cover. So I went back to BB and purcahsed a Platinum PT kickstand case. This was a slip on hard plastic rear cover and a belt clip front cover. This one allowed me to carry it around on the belt clip. It also has a kickstand on the back that makes it possible to prop the unit up on a table in landscape mode for video viewing. The only disadvantage here was that removing the case is difficult at best and so my MSD card is installed to stay.
This brings me to the next point. This phone has 16G of storage space included. {You can actually only use about 11G of that.} Even if you just leave this phone with 16G, it allows lots of space for apps and such. But I also took the next step and added a 64G MSD card. {You can use about 59.5G of that} So you can actually have a total of over 70G for use!
Warning: It takes a long time to fill this space from a computer using the USB port. You could spend hours copying! There is an issue here I wasn't too thrilled with. The USB connection to the computer is extremely slow even compared to my old phone. Also some computers will not recognize the phone without lots of reinstalling of drivers and reboots. There are lots of forum comments about the drivers not properly telling the computer what the hardware ID is and failing to install or connect. You may want to plan on using an MSD card reader on your PC to load or unload your MSD as the USB method is unreliable and very slow at best.
Another issue I had was that the advertising for this phone incorrectly lists all kinds of video formats it supports. The only video format I've found it will work with is wmv files. It won't do mpgs or mkvs or avis. When you try to copy one of these other formats, it gives you a prompt that it may not be able to play this format and will attempt to convert the file to a wmv file. You can say no to converting them and it will just copy them fairly slowly. But I've never had ANY format other than wmv play on this phone. The conversions take forever on the simplest videos {most of mine were mpgs or mkvs}. Doing a 200M mpg music video file can easily take an hour to convert and copy. This was really disappointing to me. It takes hours to convert and move an HD movie onto this phone from a PC. JPG Pictures and MP3 audio filies do seem to be natively supported. If you have to run a conversion utility on a file before playing it, the phone doesn't directly support it and should not be included in the advertising as supported.
If you looked at the ads for Samsung and many retail placements, they say it has FM Radio. It does not on the US carriers. The Samsung literature and manual still has info on using the "Built-in FM Radio". Some forums say the entire chip was not installed on US models and some say it's there just disabled in ROM. I haven't seem anyone though that knows how to get it to work if possible at all. I expected this to be on the phone and am not happy its not available.
The placement of the volume buttons and power/lock button was not great for me. They sit right where you would likely hold the phone. I'm always hitting the volume or power/lock buttons by accident. The power button should have been on the top instead of the side. Also if you set this phone on its side to watch video these buttons can get pressed.
The sound on this phone is good but not great. I can't get a ringer volume loud enough so have had to record some mp3s extra loud in order to have them hearable in noisy areas. A large part of the speaker is covered by case which is part of the issue.
The 7 home screens are more than enough for most people's needs. {16 icons per screen X 7 screens = up to 112 apps on-screen}. The quad core processor and video processor are really fast on this phone. You can scroll and tap very fast. I've seen little to no lag time on this phone even with several apps running.
I would caution about using screen protector films. I had the BB salesperson talk me into a "premium" $20 protector that BB installed. I was told not to use the cheapy ones on this phone as sensitivity would be ruined. Well the $20 one had to be removed too. It gathered fingerprints much worse than the glass screen did. It didn't clean well either. Then when the stylus was used, the stylus left lines and marks on the protector film. The screen always looked horrible! The glass is far easier to clean and the stylus doesn't leave trails.
Because this phone is so large, you will need to hold the outer top edge of the phone center to your ear level to get the best sound. Putting the brick up to your ear in this way seems a little odd at first and requires some trial and error.
I hated texting on my old phone because the keyboard was so small. On this phone, in portrait or landscape modes, the keyboard is easy to operate even with fat fingers like mine. You can use a drag method to really move fast too rather than lifing up and hitting the next character. For those who liked to type one-handed you can set that mode on this phone and it moves the keyboard over to one side so your fingers can reach all the soft buttons. I'm now doing more texting on this phone as it's not the correction nightmare my old one was.
Using the stylus is a breeze. You get a special stylus menu as soon as you pull it out of it's holder. You can also go into settings and set the phone to alert you if your stylus gets more than a short distance away from the phone to help prevent you from laying it down and walking off without it. You can turn on handwriting recognition and write your text messages while its converted to text as you type. I like this for text messages as I can print a message a lot faster than I can tap it out on a keyboard. When you put the stylus back into it's hole, the stylus menu goes away and you are back to finger menus. The only annoying thing about using the stylus was that it does not work to hit the menu or back soft buttons. So you'll have to still use your fingers for those.
This review is for the AT&T Titanium Grey version of the phone. When I bought this phone, it just dropped from $299 to $199 at BB. It's now back up to $249. Boo to BB for constantly switching their prices every week. But even if you pay $249, that's still $50 cheaper than AT&T wants to charge you for this phone. Just be real sure the BB associate gets your plan right. I had to modify what they signed me up for two times with AT&T to get it right.
You don't get a real manual with it, just a guide. You'll have to download the manual from Samsung. Even then it only highlights what can be done and doesn't always go into details. Going out to the forums and reading about how to use features there was a great deal more useful for learning this phone. This phone does have a large learning curve for the tons of features. I also found some great YouTube videos that showed me how to do things better than the literature did. Also remember that a few features were removed by AT&T and other US Carriers (like the FM Radio) because they couldn't find a way to charge you for them or that they competed with pay-for services they wanted to sell you. There are numerous versions of this phone modified by carriers.
I got the phone with an older version of Jelly Bean on it. Battery life lasted about 20 hours of actual use then. As soon as I got the latest Jelly Bean upgrade, my battery life actual use went down to 10-12 hours. There is talk on the net about this version of Jelly Bean having battery issues so hopefully they will fix this and get us an upgrade soon. This thing does have a big battery! Most of my battery life is eaten up by the screen. So putting this on a brightness conservation setting will be needed to get maximum battery life.
Lastly, you will need to shut off a lot of AT&T and some Samsung bloatware that is trying to upsell you on more features/plan additions. When I first turned on this phone, I had 11 text messages from AT&T and worse it's affiliates within an hour. Also be careful about choosing free apps from the Google Play Store. Many will constantly email or text message you ads with or without your consent. Free things tend to be the worse at annoying you with ads or text messages. You will likely spend your 1st day or two just shutting off all this stuff as it annoys you. Unfortunately, you can't remove the AT&T apps (only disable them).
In summation, I would recommend this phone to anyone who is wanting a big screen and is aware of what they will have to do to carry it around. Also to use this phone you must be willing to learn lots of new features. You will find it's very fast and can do many things at the same time. I'm still finding new ways to use it a month after purchase. Also of course this phone requires a 2year commitment to AT&T that will cost you dearly to get out of. Be sure you know what you are getting into ahead of time. I hope this helps.
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Needed to update so info on my earlier comments.
February 28, 2013
After using this phone a while I did discover that the problem with the video formats is all caused by the video player included and that the hardware decoder is being used. When I got the free MX player from the Google Play Store and set it to software decoder (S/W) all my mpg videos worked just fine. It still warns you that you are about to copy a video that ay not play on this phone. But if you go ahead and copy it anyway and use the MX Player instead of the built-in one it works great. So while the hardware itself may only support WMV files, the MX player solved this issue for me.
Also I can't strongly enough reccomend that you get a hard shell case for this phone that makes the volume and power/lock buttons be recessed a bit into the case. Without the case, hitting these buttons by accident when you put in in or take it out of a pocket is very common. I finally had to turn off the option to treat the power/lock button as a hang up button too. I would almost always hit this button getting it out of my pocket when it rang and hanging up on the caller or turning the ringer all the way off by accident.
Once I got around those issues I love this phone. I'm still lerning new things it can do.
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Keep your Samsung Galaxy Note II cell phone protected on the go with this Platinum Series SGC23SBL case that features plastic construction for reliable defense against damage. The kickstand offers a comfortable viewing position.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5A good protector and belt clip carrier
By Graystone55
from Mesa, AZ
This case was purchased to replace the Samsung cover/case I originally installed on my Galaxy Note II.
This is a very solid back case that slides over your existing case. It is very solid and has protected my phone from a drop or two. It looks good and fits perfectly. Every device/port is open for use through this case. It also comes in more colors than the Samsung phone offerings. This rear case can be snapped into the belt clip thereby protecting the screen as well. The clip rotates to accommodate either a vertical or horizontal belt placement. Unclips quickly and easily when wanted but stays in place even during activities that put moderate pressure on the clip.
I'm pleased with this belt clip and case protector. It has protected my phone a few times and looks sharp. I reccommend it for the Samsung Galaxy Note II although it is a bit pricy for what it is.
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Belt Clip broke
August 15, 2013
I did have the belt clip break after a few months of ownership but the case is still working great. I bought two more of the cases just so I will have spare parts (like the belt clips). At the time of purchase of these final two they sold for $40 for one but only $45 for two. Hence the reason I got two more. A great case for the Galaxy Note II !
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Safeguard your Samsung Galaxy Note II cell phone on the go with this Platinum Series SGC23SB case that is crafted from plastic and features a felt lining for reliable protection against scratches. The kickstand enables a comfortable viewing angle.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5I use it to keep it in place and protect my phone
By GreatGalaxy
from Raleigh, NC
I use my phone with the case frequently. The kickstand helps since it is a tablet too and makes it easy to write on or just great visibility when sitting on my desk. The case actually sold me on the phone as I wanted to be able to sit it up. The clip on the back is great for me to clip it inside my pocket or on my purse. It is a great case and I would recommend if you get a Galaxy Note II phone,
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Reviewer says only comes i black - Not true
December 14, 2013
Comes in blue as well - Search B site and you'll se both colors - Maybe the reviewers store only carried one but does have other options for color.
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LG G3 Cell Phone for AT&T: Stay connected at a whole new level with the advanced LG G3 smartphone. Designed for more than just calling and texting, this cell phone is built with 4G LTE speed and a fast processor so you can stream online content, navigate the Web and use your favorite apps with no trouble. Not only that, but a 5.5" display comes equipped with a 13MP camera and Quad HD, which supports 4x the resolution of standard high definition.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5this phone sucks
By tmp1
I hate this phone l. Should of stayed with samsung
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Why?
October 9, 2014
If you bother to do a review, why not tells us why you hated it. Your short sentence does no one any good at all for a review.
+11points
11of 11voted this comment as helpful.
HTC One (M8) Cell Phone for AT&T: With its brushed-metal design and wrap-around unibody frame, the HTC One (M8) is designed to fit beautifully in your hand. It's fun to use with amped up sound and a large Full HD touch screen, and intuitive gesture controls make it seem like your phone almost knows what you need before you do.AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5awesome phone
By BigReg
Don't even have to root it. Nice display. Battery life is good. Music quality is great. As with any Android phone, you have those pesky pre-installed apps. Supports external memory card. Beautiful case. Don't really have any thing bad to say. Much better than my old SG3
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Why no root?
October 9, 2014
I'm curious about your statement that you don't even have to root it. Needs some more definition. Thanks
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Graystone55's Questions
Graystone55 has not submitted any questions.
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
How long will this sale be lasting
I would really like to buy this tv but can't do it right away and don't want to miss out on this sale. How long do you think this sale will last?
Only Best Buy managers would know that. If you shop at Best Buy, you can get some great deals. But their constantly fluctuating prices mean you shouldn't go shopping online or in the store till the day you are ready to buy. Prices change daily at BB on many items.
9 years, 2 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
Does this tv have bluetooth
I was wondering can i hook up bluetooth surround sound to this tv or do i need to buy an adapter
No it does not.
9 years, 2 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
Dimensions of the box the TV comes in
Does anybody know the dimensions of the box that the TV comes in?
Approximately 49" X 31" X 7"
9 years, 2 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
Is there a 3.5mm headphone jack on this set?
If 3.5mm is the earbuds size jack, yes, it is shared with the sound out. It does not have the large stereo headphone jack like you find on some stereo amplifiers or guitars.
When it detects something is plugged into this jack you can set it to always play just the headphones or both with the speakers. You can set up this jack to always be a constant volume (for a sound bar) or to allow the TV volume controls to vary it's volume.
When it detects something is plugged into this jack you can set it to always play just the headphones or both with the speakers. You can set up this jack to always be a constant volume (for a sound bar) or to allow the TV volume controls to vary it's volume.
9 years, 2 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
Will this play a slideshow of jpg files on a USB drive?
I'd like to use this to run a repeating slideshow of jpg files full screen. Can it do that?
It will do it. But the very limited options for adjusting time on screen and how you have to put them in all in one folder for a slideshow is not great. This is a weak area of this TV. It's USB won't support ANY video files and only some jpg files. You probably won't be thrilled with it's results unless one of the default settings you have to choose from and all your jpg files meets the software's needs. I have about 100,000 photos. They are organized by folders. It will do slideshows of one folder at a time only. The onscreen times are limited to 4/6/8 seconds.
9 years, 2 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Insignia™ NS-48D510NA15 LED HDTV: Play back music and videos stored on your compatible smartphone or tablet via MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link, cable sold separately) with this Insignia™ TV. The 1080p display delivers crisp images.Connect a Roku Streaming Stick to this HDTV and get access to more than 700 channels, including Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO GO.
I have PowerPoint video I want to play on this tv. Is this possible? And how?
I bought 2 tv because best buy sales person said I could play my videos with USB drive. I had both tvs delivered today and my IT person said that it is not possible. I am REALLY hoping he is wrong, and that you will be able to tell us how we can watch this power point video on these 2 tvs. I read something about mobile, but I'm not sure how that works.? I don't want to have my cell phone connected all day, as this is for a business. Please help me ASAP, I don't want to have to out these tvs back in their boxes and return them, especially since I went to best buy specifically to speak to a sales rep.
Thank you
Thank you
If you mean the computer will be connected to the TV you can. This will do so if your computer has an HDMI video output or you have a converter cable for a computer plug to HDMI. Don't use any other TV input other than HDMI. This TV is 1080p as is most computer displays. As long as you stick to 1080p or less, (1920 X 1080) you can display anything your computer display can see. You'll need to just get a cable to go from whatever type of plug your computer has to the TV's HDMI port. If your computer is set to anything higher than 1080p it wont work.
If you mean taking your Power Point file and playing it without a computer on the TV it won't. This TV has no capability to play any video files at all, even from the USB port. The BB guy you talked to doesn't know what they are talking about.
If you mean taking your Power Point file and playing it without a computer on the TV it won't. This TV has no capability to play any video files at all, even from the USB port. The BB guy you talked to doesn't know what they are talking about.
9 years, 2 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Cell Phone for AT&T: This smartphone is feature-packed and comes with the versatile S Pen, which makes it simple to jot down handwritten notes, draw up a quick sketch, and make precise selections on documents and Web pages. The S Pen also works as a stylus, making navigation quick, easy, and smudge-free.AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
Why only 2MP front camera?
Why in your website says that the front camera of the Note 4 only has 2MP camera wherein it was released and in Samsung's website it says 3.7MP? Is this the reason why it is much cheaper than purchasing it directly to AT&T?
Front camera is only for close up selfies. The front camera is 3.7Mp not 2. You've read something wrong. Few cameras have better than that. The rear camer is the one you will take most your pictures with and its fantastic at 16Mp!
9 years, 5 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Cell Phone for AT&T: This smartphone is feature-packed and comes with the versatile S Pen, which makes it simple to jot down handwritten notes, draw up a quick sketch, and make precise selections on documents and Web pages. The S Pen also works as a stylus, making navigation quick, easy, and smudge-free.AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
what is the onboard memory on the Galaxy note 4
You get 32G SIM and 3G of onboard memory. You can add up to a 128G micro SD card for multimedia.
9 years, 5 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Cell Phone for AT&T: This smartphone is feature-packed and comes with the versatile S Pen, which makes it simple to jot down handwritten notes, draw up a quick sketch, and make precise selections on documents and Web pages. The S Pen also works as a stylus, making navigation quick, easy, and smudge-free.AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
does the note 4 have a heart rate sensor
It does but its not very accurate. In 10 readings near the same time, it can read 20 beats per minute difference. The SHealth sensors on this are a gimmick and aren't really useable.
9 years, 5 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Cell Phone for AT&T: This smartphone is feature-packed and comes with the versatile S Pen, which makes it simple to jot down handwritten notes, draw up a quick sketch, and make precise selections on documents and Web pages. The S Pen also works as a stylus, making navigation quick, easy, and smudge-free.AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
2 year upgrade question
I have At&t with an upgrade on November 1st. I tried talking to AT&T to let me upgrade early and extend my 2 year plan but no luck so far.
Will best buy let me upgrade 2 weeks early, if I buy from them?
Will best buy let me upgrade 2 weeks early, if I buy from them?
Yes AT&T only allows upgrades to a new 2 year plan when your old one expires. You will have to either do AT&T Next or pay outright. Both if these payment options obligates you for $830 for a locked AT&T phone. A bad deal at best. I suggest you wait till November 1st and renew your two year contract.
9 years, 5 months ago
by
Graystone55
Mesa, AZ