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Chiaroscuro65
Chiaroscuro65's stats
- Review count12
- Helpfulness votes243
- First reviewFebruary 7, 2011
- Last reviewDecember 30, 2016
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating2.9
- Review comment count4
- Helpfulness votes2
- First review commentDecember 25, 2011
- Last review commentMarch 8, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count2
- Helpfulness votes4
- First answerJuly 19, 2014
- Last answerJuly 19, 2014
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Quickly communicate with friends and family by using this LG G4 smartphone. It includes 32 GB of storage, a microSD card slot and plenty of memory so that you can take full advantage of the smartphone's online and social media capabilities. The powerful Android operating system ensures you stay connected with everyone when using this LG G4 smartphone.
Customer Rating
1
DON'T BUY - Boot loop issue with this phone
on December 30, 2016
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I am posting this review on every instance where I see the LG G4 being sold, so people won't make the same mistake I made and buy this phone, thinking that it's a quality phone - because the reality is that this phone is garbage.
I bought this phone back about August 2015, and basically as of December 14, 2016, the phone is useless. There's an issue with this phone, called a boot loop bug, where the phone stays on the intro LG G4 screen, and won't advance to the the Android home screen - so now I can't start my phone anymore.
Yes, while I did buy this phone through T Mobile and not Best Buy - the issue is happening to all G4's. Basically --- if I want to use the T Mobile insurance plan to replace this phone, I have to get another G4, and T Mobile won't replace my fried and died G4 with another phone of equal value - so I am stuck with getting the same device - and probably will be hit with the Boot Loop issue again after receiving this refurbished G4. I am forced to Jump from the frying pan into the fire with this situation.
Also wanted to add - the first day I bought the G4 in Aug 2015 - I put it in an Otterbox defender case on it. The phone fell out of my hand once when I was getting out of the car, landed on the corner, Otterbox case performed incredibly, nothing was broken or dented or damaged on this phone. I also never spilled anything on the phone, so again, no neglect, no harm was done to the phone. I also never left the G4 in the car, so the phone was not exposed to heat, or cold, and was not left out in the sun, or endured any abusive or extreme conditions.
I am not a gamer, just used the G4 for calling, texting, web browsing, and took many pictures. The G4 does take amazing pics, that's the one thing I will really miss. But buy this phone at your own risk, and you probably will have this boot loop issue with this phone sooner than later, and then it will just be a fancy paperweight. .
Anyone who is possibly thinking about getting this phone should Google the boot loop issue on the G4, and avoid this phone like the plague. This is my 2nd LG phone and it will be my last LG phone. I previously had the LG G2, and after having that phone for about a year, the G2 started to overheat, where the back panel got really hot, and the screen kept freezing where I had to reboot the phone over and over, so the G2 was done after a year, and the G4 -- well, I got about 16 months out of that phone.
I'd give this phone 1 star, only because the phone's display is really sharp, and the camera does take great pics, well....while the phone lasted. I did contact LG directly, they offered that I could ship the phone to them, but after reading reviews of how bad LG's customer service is, I decided to work through T Mobile instead and get an instant replacement and just get a refurbed G4. Besides it might take weeks for LG to process and fix this phone, and get it back to me. I am picking up the refurbished G4 from T Mobile tomorrow. In the meantime, I bought the Moto X Pure Edition, 32 GB from Best Buy last week on sale as a back up plan, and I might just sell the refurb G4, pay off the balance of it, and use the Moto X from now on.
By the way, the Moto X that I bought works great, calls are crystal clear, the Moto X has the same Chipset (Qualcomm MSM8992 Snapdragon 808) and same Hexa-Core processor as the LG G4. Again, I am not a gamer, so I don't need to have a top of the line phone and the insane price/payments that come with it. The only thing is the camera on the Moto X is not as good as the LG G4, I knew that before I bought the Moto X. Also the battery is not replaceable on the Moto X, versus the LG G4, but if i stuck to only buying phones with replaceable batteries, that would eliminate too many potentially good options.
For the time being, I am going back to buying midrange unlocked phones like I used to, and just don't want to shell out extra money for these higher end phones. It seems my experience is that phones only last about a year, to about 1.5 years, and then just fry and die out with various manufacturer's defects. I just don't feel like wasting the extra money on them.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+21points
29of 37voted this as helpful.
LG G4 Cell Phone for Verizon Wireless: Stay connected and entertained both at home and on the go with a vivid 5.5" touch screen and 4G LTE speed. Make sure you're ready to capture special moments as they unfold with the 16.0MP rear-facing camera.Verizon Edge option available in store. Learn more ›
Customer Rating
1
DON'T BUY - Boot loop issue with this phone
on December 15, 2016
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I bought this phone back about August 2015, and basically as of yesterday, December 14, 2016, the phone is useless. There's an issue with this phone, called a boot loop bug, where the phone stays on the intro LG G4 screen, and won't advance to the the Android home screen - so now I can't start my phone anymore.
Yes, while I did buy this phone through T Mobile and not Best Buy - the issue is happening to all G4's. Was told by a few different T Mobile reps, that if I want to use insurance to replace the phone, I have to get another G4, and they won't replace it with another phone of equal value. To me that seems like a lot of BS. This is a well known issue with the G4, where I found out that LG reps were going into T mobile stores and advising the T mobile reps not to sell the LG G4 anymore after the issues with the boot loop problem was becoming an epidemic.
So, it's interesting that T Mobile seems like they want to replace my phone with another refurbished G4 - sort of like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I am still waiting to find out what will happen, but in the meantime I bought a cheap unlocked phone to use for the next couple of weeks.
Also wanted to add - the first day I bought this phone I put it in an Otterbox defender case on it, the phone fell out of my hand once when I was getting out of the car, landed on the corner, Otterbox case performed incredibly, nothing was broken or dented no damage. I also never spilled anything on the phone, so again, no neglect, no harm was done to the phone. I also never left this phone in the car, so the phone was not exposed to heat, or cold, and was not left out in the sun, or endured any abusive conditions.
Also I am not a gamer, just used the phone for calling, texting, face book, and took many pictures. The G4 does take amazing pics, thats' the one thing I will really miss. But buy the phone at your own risk, probably will have this boot loop issue with the phone, was told by a lot of reps, that usually after about a year is when the G4 phones get this problem, and then again, you can't start the phone up anymore.
Anyone who is possibly thinking about getting this phone should look up the boot loop issue on the G4, and avoid this phone like the plague. This is my 2nd LG phone and it will be my last LG phone. I previously had the LG G2, and after having that phone for about a year, the G2 started to overheat, where the back panel got really hot, and the screen kept freezing where I had to reboot the phone over and over, so the G2 was done after a year, and the G4, well, I got about 16 months out of that phone.
I'd give this phone 1 star, only because the phone's display is really sharp, and the camera does take great pics, well....while the phone lasted. I will be contacting LG tomorrow, to find out if LG Corporate can talk some sense into the T mobile associates who want to give me another G4 to replace this one. Why not just jab a pencil in my eye, and throw me in a pit of alligators while you're at it - T mobile ppl?
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Wirelessly stream your tunes with this Klipsch Music Center KMC 1 1016502 BL portable speaker that features Bluetooth and NFC (near-field communication) technologies for easy device pairing. The dual 2.5" full-range drivers produce powerful sound.
Customer Rating
4
Strong performer, Sounds Wonderful!
on February 22, 2015
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I have been looking for a good bluetooth speaker for a while now. I have read up on most of the speakers, and listened to many of them. I want a good amount of bass, as well as the ability to play the speaker louder with minimal distortion. Oh and I also want a speaker under $200, and I got the KMC 1 for much less than that, so please read on.
I have the old Logitech Wireless Boombox from a few years ago, and i still like to use it, it just has an unfortunate design flaw where when it's not plugged into the adapter, the sound and strength of the bass diminish when it's running off the battery. I knew this buying the Logitech device, but I still wanted it because it still sounds pretty good even when it's unplugged.
I have listened to quite a few of these speakers, I have considered the following:
* I do like the Bose Soundlink, but I don't feel like dropping $300 for it.
* The other option that I considered was the Bose Soundlink Mini, I really like the sound that it produces, it has a good amount of bass, and it was in my price range.
* I also really like the Sony SRSX3, the one that goes for $150, but, even though it sounds great, it does distort at higher volumes.
* I also considered the small jambox, but it's overpriced, I would not pay over $100 for that, even though retail outlets are still selling it for over $150. There's a well known problem with the small Jambox, where the charging port breaks and the unit is not chargeable anymore.
* And the Big Jambox is too expensive, and a friend in the audio industry told me to avoid any jambox products like the plague, saying that they were very unreliable and don't last.
* The JBL Charge was okay, just was not that impressed with it, didn't have as much bass as I would like, and also, there's a well known issue with the JBL Charge that it music with certain levels of bass cause distortion on the Charge, even at lower volumes. so the Charge was out of consideration.
*I like the UE Boom for $200, just not enough bass, and the Mega boom came out too late and was too much money, and the mega boom still gets ratings that it is lacking bass.
* The other option that I considered was the Bose Soundlink Mini, I really like the sound that it produces, it has a good amount of bass, and it was in my price range.
* I also really like the Sony SRSX3, the one that goes for $150, but, even though it sounds great, it does distort at higher volumes.
* I also considered the small jambox, but it's overpriced, I would not pay over $100 for that, even though retail outlets are still selling it for over $150. There's a well known problem with the small Jambox, where the charging port breaks and the unit is not chargeable anymore.
* And the Big Jambox is too expensive, and a friend in the audio industry told me to avoid any jambox products like the plague, saying that they were very unreliable and don't last.
* The JBL Charge was okay, just was not that impressed with it, didn't have as much bass as I would like, and also, there's a well known issue with the JBL Charge that it music with certain levels of bass cause distortion on the Charge, even at lower volumes. so the Charge was out of consideration.
*I like the UE Boom for $200, just not enough bass, and the Mega boom came out too late and was too much money, and the mega boom still gets ratings that it is lacking bass.
The bluetooth speakers that I have returned:
Jabra Solemate - it sounds good if you play it at lower volumes, but it does not get loud enough, and it distorts at higher volumes. Jabra was out of their minds to originally ask $200 USD for this device, based on the fact that it does not get loud enough I wouldn't even pay $100 for it. Was really disappointed in the Solemate.
Braven BRV X - The one that I almost kept. I really like the BRV X. This speaker has great midrange, and a decent amount of bass, the only issue for me is the treble range is too harsh. if I went into my settings and used the equalizer app on my tablet I could make the music sound better with certain music. I liked that it is very portable and water resistant, but the down side is the battery is not replaceable. Still I think the BRV X is one of the best speakers out there.
I chose the Klipsch KMC 1 for a couple reasons:
+ Great battery life, even though it does shut off too quickly when not in use, but that's probably why it has such great battery life.
+ The battery is replaceable, which Is an important requirement for me.
+ Strong bass response.
+ Treble is also very good.
+ It does get loud, max volume is great, even though I don't play it at max volume because it does distort. But even at mid volume, it plays louder than most bluetooth speakers, and carries well in a big room.
+ Great battery life, even though it does shut off too quickly when not in use, but that's probably why it has such great battery life.
+ The battery is replaceable, which Is an important requirement for me.
+ Strong bass response.
+ Treble is also very good.
+ It does get loud, max volume is great, even though I don't play it at max volume because it does distort. But even at mid volume, it plays louder than most bluetooth speakers, and carries well in a big room.
I realize that having a higher max volume does not equate to good sound, but the KMC does sound very good, the midrange is the weak spot for the KMC 1, in my opinion.
The things that are not favorable about the KMC 1:
- Often times, you have to play it louder for it to sound better. Seems that certain music sounds better when it's played louder. I don't mind this, because I often want the device to fill a room with sound.
- The annoying sounds that the KMC makes when you turn it on, or when you connect your device to it, not a fan of the audience cheer, it's kinda cheesy.
- it's not really as portable as other devices, it's like a big brick, it's awkward to carry, and I try to avoid touching the front and rear grills as much as possible.
- Often times, you have to play it louder for it to sound better. Seems that certain music sounds better when it's played louder. I don't mind this, because I often want the device to fill a room with sound.
- The annoying sounds that the KMC makes when you turn it on, or when you connect your device to it, not a fan of the audience cheer, it's kinda cheesy.
- it's not really as portable as other devices, it's like a big brick, it's awkward to carry, and I try to avoid touching the front and rear grills as much as possible.
And here is the other thing, I purchased the KMC 1 at a competitor of Best Buy for $130, even though I am sure that BB would have priced matched it, I wanted to get the item before it went out of stock at this other local retail establishment. The $130 price, along with how good the KMC 1 sounds made it my choice. Even though I got the Braven BRV X for just a few bucks more at Best Buy, the sound quality of the KMC 1 was much better than the BRV X.
Our criteria is very different, when we look for something and this KMC 1 meets my requirements. This device is not for everyone, and truth is, I wish Best Buy and other retail chains would include Klipsch more often in their devices that they sell in their stores. I think Klipsch products would be very competitive.
The sad thing is, I think that Best Buy is probably phasing out the KMC1, and won't be selling it for much longer. Biig mistake, unless Klipsch is planning on releasing the next generation of their bluetooth speaker to replace it, I wish Best Buy would pay attention to other brands out there. I have done better many times by going with brands that are not as well known as far as audio equipment. I like Bose, but I don't feel like paying a premium price for a name.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+22points
23of 24voted this as helpful.
With up to 12 hours of music playback, this BRAVEN BRV-X BRVXGWB outdoor speaker features an IPX7-certified body that lets you safely enjoy your favorite tunes on rocky canyons, powdered slopes, raging rapids, sandy dunes or in your backyard.
Customer Rating
4
Pretty Good, but Treble Range Sounds Harsh
on January 4, 2015
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I have been looking at bluetooth speakers for a while now, trying to get something that sounds good, that does not go over the $200 price range. I read a couple of very favorable reviews of the BRV-X on PC Mag, as well as Digital Trends. While I am not an audiophile by any means, I am particular about the quality of my music, and I do like a good bass presence as well as midrange and treble.
The BRV-X has 2 Audio Modes, or Audio Settings under the cap that unscrews on the back of the device - I tested all my music on the Indoor setting, versus the Outdoor setting. The Indoor setting is more balanced and sounds much better. The BRV-X does have strong bass, it sounds really amazing. And like the reviews stated, the midrange is wonderful on this. But many times where the device does not sound as good as it should is the treble range. The treble response is too harsh, and on a lot of songs, it just was not a pleasant sound. Certain music sounded very clear and amazing on the BRV-X, but it just could not cut it on other music.
A couple of weeks after I purchased the BRV X, another bluetooth speaker that I had been following went on sale at TigerDirect, the Klipsch KMC 1 - so I bought the Klipsch and compared the 2. First off, the Klipsch does get a lot louder than the BRV-X. I know that having a higher Max Volume does not mean better sound, and truth is, the KMC 1 does sound better when it's played at a louder volume, but even at lower volumes the KMC 1 just sounded much clearer, and the treble was not harsh like the BRV-X. The bass response was also stronger on the KMC 1. I like the BRV-X's midrange response better than the KMC 1, but what it boiled down to for me, was again, harsh treble response on the BRV-X just diminished the sound quality of it.
The advantage of the BRV-X is that It's definitely much more portable, and I like that it's water and shock resistant. It's compact enough to bring anywhere, and I would feel much more confident bringing the BRV-X with me on the road versus the KMC 1. The downside of the KMC 1 is that it's heavy, and it's just not as portable, it's sort of awkward to carry around, like an oversized brick. I wish Klipsch would have included some sort of handle on it, or an easier way to move it around. The BRV-X also had great battery life. I didn't calculate the usage, but I could play it for a few hours, and still have battery life left.
The KMC 1 was originally priced at $300, but I picked it up on sale for $130 at TigerDirect, less than half off. And I was able to get the BRV-X for $150 right after Thanksgiving, so being that the sales prices of both of these were so close, I decided to compare them. I am more into classical music and rock and pop from a few decades ago, versus listening to more recent music.
The one other downside of the BRV-X is I wish it played a little louder. It does not play as loud when you have the Audio Mode on the Indoor Setting versus the Outdoor Setting, which is disappointing. If you want it to play louder, switch it over to the Outdoor setting, but I don't care for the sound quality on that setting.
One other thing to note, is the battery is not replaceable on the BRV-X. I am not sure how long the rechargeable batteries last, or how many charges it will take before this becomes an issue. Being that it's water resistant, I would think that Braven had to seal the battery in the device to accomplish this. Probably not an issue to most people, but when the battery dies, the unit would be useless. Many other units, including the KMC 1 have a replaceable battery.
I have read a lot of reviews on bluetooth speakers for a while, and I have walked into stores and listened to certain devices as well. I know the regular Bose Soundlink is supposed to be the best, but I don't feel like dropping $300 on a bluetooth device. I do like the Bose Soundlink Mini, and even though it's small, the sound quality of the Mini is really amazing. The Mini would have been my next choice. I like the Logitech UE Boom which is also supposed to be water resistant, but I read a lot of reviews that it did not have strong enough bass response, so I didn't consider the UE Boom. Same issue with the JBL Charge - and there are bass distortion issues with the Charge, even at lower volumes.
I will be returning the Braven BRV-X and keeping the Klipsch KMC 1. Despite some drawbacks of the KMC 1, the sound quality makes this the winner for me. If Braven could improve the treble response on this, It would be a keeper.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
10of 13voted this as helpful.
With a Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi, this Samsung Galaxy S III I747 BLUE cell phone makes it easy to navigate Web content while you're on the go. The 8.0MP camera lets you snap photos to share with friends and relatives.This device is not warrantied through the manufacturer. This device has a limited 1 year warranty provided by CCR Warranty. To obtain technical or warranty assistance, please contact CCR Warranty at 866-579-8436.
Customer Rating
4
Not the Latest and Greatest Phone but Works for Me
on July 19, 2014
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
Phone size:Just right
First off let me preface this review by saying I am not the type of consumer who needs to have the latest and greatest when it comes to devices. I could do that by doing another contract with any of the providers, AND paying a lot more for monthly service, which I won't do anymore. After getting completely shamboozled by T Mobile in my last contract, I refuse to do any more contracts with anyone.
I bought this phone in April 2014, and hooked the phone up to prepaid service, and the phone works great. Yeah, I know it's not the latest, but wanted a phone with a bigger screen and more memory than the original phone I got from AIO/Cricket several months ago.
Even before I got the phone I put an Otterbox Defender case on it, and even though the case does add bulk and size to it, the phone still fits in my pocket easily. I prefer to have the case on it, because the rubberized case makes the phone easier to handle, and carry around without fear of dropping it. And BTW, the buttons on the Otterbox Defender work great with the S3, no problems there.
The phone takes good pics, I am sure many other phones take better, but I am happy with the pic quality. The voice to text is pretty good, but I find that I have to disable WiFi, to make the Voice to Text feature operate correctly.
Also no problem with connecting the S3 to my Plantronics Voyager Legend headset. Wish Battery life was better, have to charge the phone every night, even with light to moderate use, even with disabling WiFi and Bluetooth.
One great thing about Best Buy, that I am very pleased about, is that BB was able to price match a competitor for the same phone, and I got the S3 for an amazing deal. I use a phone for just phone, texting, and light internet usage, and that's it, could not care less about watching movies or all the other functions on a phone. I know it's 2 generations behind the S5, but I am happy with it.
What's great about it: Great price, takes good pics, perfect size phone
What's not so great: Voice to text does not work when WiFi is on, wish the screen was brighter
I would recommend this to a friend!
Picture Quality
4
Battery Life
4
Sound Quality
5
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+26points
26of 26voted this as helpful.
Answer calls or enjoy your favorite music and movies with this Logitech H540 headset that features a plug-and-play design for easy USB connectivity. The noise-canceling microphone reduces unwanted background sound for clear conversations.
Customer Rating
2
Issues with Cord and Volume/ Mute Button
on November 1, 2013
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
This headset is comfortable to wear, and fits over the ears well, so that any noise around me in my surroundings is reduced or eliminated as much as possible. This headset meets that requirement. However, it would probably work better if it had a design where it cups around your ears by having the "Ear Drivers" recessed and then have padded material that would surround each "Ear Driver" or speaker.
Good clear microphone. Yes, this definitely has that. People said I am crystal clear.
A wired headset should have a longer cord. This device fails in that area. Cord length for the H540 is too short. Logitech, what were you thinking with this short cord?
The headset cord is too thick, compared to other headsets, and this presents a problem. Even the slightest movement, if you move the cord around on your desk as you are talking (which I can't avoid, since I am always moving around when I am on the phone) this produces noise that is picked up in the headset. You will hear the cord thumping and moving around in the earpieces, as well as the mic picks up the cord noise thumping and moving around, this is very distracting.
The cord should be insulated better so it doesn't produce noise in the actual headset. I would suspect if Logitech redesigned this headset with a thinner cord this probably would resolve most of the issue.
The Volume and Mute buttons should not be on the headset, and should be put on the cord with controls for these functions. When you push the Volume/Mute buttons on the H540 headset, it causes so much noise in both the earpieces as well as it's picked up by the mic.
Also, the red Mute Indicator on the cord is another design failure. Even if Logitech doesn't move the Volume/Mute controls on the cord, the Mute indicator is too close to the headset, and should be placed further away from the headset so that the light is easier to see. It's distracting to have to look down against my shirt, where the indicator light is, to see if I have muted/unmuted the headset. It would be much easier if I could glance down on my desk, to see the Mute Indicator.
This Logitech could have been a good headset, if it didn't have all these flaws. I returned this headset a couple days later, and then after doing some research I found the Microsoft LX-6000 headset on Best Buy's website. Microsoft got everything right with their headset:
1. The Microsoft LX-6000 cord is definitely long enough
2. The cord is thinner and does not produce noise in the headset when it's moved around.
3. Mute and Volume Controls are on the wire, and not on the headset, and are far enough away from the headset where these controls are easily accessible and easy to see when the Mute button is activated
2. The cord is thinner and does not produce noise in the headset when it's moved around.
3. Mute and Volume Controls are on the wire, and not on the headset, and are far enough away from the headset where these controls are easily accessible and easy to see when the Mute button is activated
If you're looking for a better headset, I'd recommend the Microsoft LX-6000. If you want to upgrade to a better Logitech wireless headset, I'd also recommend the Logitech H800 which also has Bluetooth.
Logitech has made many good headsets, but this H540 is a disappointment, it has too many design failures. At the time of this review, the H540 is $50 USD. For the amount of money that Logitech is asking for this, it should be much better.
What's great about it: Clear sound, easy to hear, Microphone is also crystal clear
What's not so great: When cord is moved around even slightly, noise can be picked up by mic
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Microsoft - LifeChat Headset
Logitech - H800 RF Wireless On-Ear Headset - Black
(2,090)Sound Quality
1
Comfort
4
Durability
3
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+11points
13of 15voted this as helpful.
Speed through documents and Web pages easily with this Logitech Marathon Wireless Mouse M705 910-001229, which features a scrolling wheel for fast navigation and a battery indicator light that lets you know when the batteries need to be changed.
Customer Rating
2
Worked great 4 a couple of years, Now it's useless
on July 11, 2013
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I have had this mouse for a couple of years now and when this mouse was working properly, this is by far the best mouse as far as the scroll wheel, and the fit of this mouse in my hand is amazing. it is great to fly through large document, and I have used this on a Mac as well as a PC. The feel of this mouse is great, the programmable buttons are small and don't get in the way. As far as the pointer/cursor on the screen -- that seemed to lag a little with the movement of the mouse sometimes, but it wasn't too bad.
The big issue is that there is a problem with this mouse that started a few months ago. Often times after using the left click button, the button malfunctions, and it starts to register "Phantom" Double clicks, where you are actually clicking on it once. This makes the mouse unusable, and it's now very annoying to use it. If you search for this issue on the internet, you will see that the M705 has this double click issue, which does tend to happen when this mouse gets older.
I guess I was lucky to have this mouse for a couple of years without any problems. Besides this "Phantom" Double click issue that developed, This mouse is great. It just would be better if manufacturers would make devices that did not develop problems like this, and it seems the more complex the device, the more likely it is to have problems when it gets older.
Being that the mouse lasted a long time for me I still would recommend it, but others looking at this mouse should be aware of the left mouse click problem with this. The feel and performance of this mouse probably makes it worth it, if I can pull more than 2 years use out of this mouse using heavily, then I guess it's still worth it, although I am thinking about going with a less expensive Logitech Mouse that hopefully won't have this same issue, as it seems the Logitech devices with the scroll / fly wheels are the ones that have the double click issues more frequently.
What's great about it: Great Scroll button, shape of mouse contours my hand
What's not so great: now it has "Phantom" Double clicks
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Design
1
Ease of Use
4
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Convertible headset with amplifier connects to single-line or multiline telephones. Noise canceling headset is convertible. Use as a traditional over-the-head headset or as an over-the-ear headset. Headset includes a Firefly in-use indicator, headset stand, volume control, tone control and mute.
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I tried it out, and this device works very well. It has all the controls you will ever need. This is probably the best non-wireless headset out there.
The Listen Volume Control dial is great, very adjustable incoming volume on this. Also, to have the volume control for the outgoing microphone (the Speak Volume Control) is a fantastic feature. The microphone is very strong, probably too strong for my needs, and let me explain. Being that I live here in Florida, a lot of times even though I have the air conditioning on, I often have a floor fan circulating air in my office about 10 feet away from me, on a low setting, to try to keep it cooler in my office.
What I have noticed with this headset is that people can hear wind from the fan, and sometimes I can also hear the air circulation from the fan in the receiver of this headset. I realize that this is not really a legitimate gripe for others who may use this headset, being that besides this issue, this headset works flawlessly, and that most people will not be using the headset in this situation.
Even when I turn the microphone to the lowest setting, people can still hear the wind movement from the fan. I have even tried to adjust the Compatibility Slide Switch on the other side of the device, which has a few different settings, and is also a good feature to have, but, that did not eliminate the wind noise from the fan.
The previous headset I had from Best Buy was a Jensen model (which was okay, but nothing to brag about), and I did not have this issue with the wind noise from the fan. Also, I bought a Panasonic headset from Best Buy a few days ago from Best Buy, which I have posted below, that also does not pick up the fan wind noise, but at the same time, the microphone on this Panasonic model is powerful enough where people can here me well.
The only other issue I have with this headset, is that it's sort of a pain to hook up to a corded phone. You have to plug in the corded phone receiver into the back of this headset, and when you use this headset, you have to pick up the corded phone receiver first, before using this headset. Again, this probably is not a big issue for most, but comparing this Plantronics set up to the Panasonic headset which I have - which simply plugs into the 2.5 mm jack of my corded phone. Also, the corded phone I have has a button on it, that automatically connects to the headset that is plugged into the 2.5 mm jack, which also makes the Panasonic a better work-around solution.
Being that I found a solution that works better for me with the Panasonic Headset, I will use the Panasonic as my primary headset, and I think I will keep this Plantronics to use in another room. Besides the two issues listed above, this Plantronics headset is a great buy and a great find, I have no problem recommending it.
What's great about it: Adjustable volume for both the microphone as well as the receiver
What's not so great: The set-up, having to plug the regular phone receiver into this device
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Panasonic - Headset - Black
(92)Quality
4
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+18points
21of 24voted this as helpful.
Creative takes speaker design a step further with the GigaWorks T20 series II. Based on its award-winning predecessor, this new two-piece system, with its glossy black finish, has been carefully refined to enhance its visual appeal and acoustic capability, delivering a level of performance that's truly amazing. The GigaWorks T20 series II will reveal how good your music can sound, with high-quality woofer drivers and high frequency tweeters for perfectly balanced audio, complemented by Creative's BasXPort technology for strong bass without a subwoofer.
Customer Rating
4
Overall, Pretty Good, and I Would Easily Recommend
on December 10, 2011
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
I bought these speakers from Best Buy back in October, 2010 after reading a lot of customer reviews and learning about the Creative / Creative Labs name. Creative is not as well known as Bose, or some of the other competitors out there, but after doing some research, I often find that the biggest name in the industry may not be the best, and that sometimes the other companies that are not as well known actually make good devices / systems that compete very well against the better known brand names.
These speakers are pretty good, not the best, but, for $100, you have to take into consideration the price. They produce wonderful clear sound, although even with the BasXPort™ technology, which is supposed to boost the bass output, music in the low bass range is a little weak in that area. You can't judge these speakers too harshly for that - if you want better bass response, you need to spend more money and/or get a system with a subwoofer. I just didn't want to deal with a sub-woofer on or below my desk, as well as the extra wires.
A couple of Pro's:
1. First and foremost, the overall sound quality is good, clear, and I'd recommend them. I also listened to the Bose Companion 2 speakers in Best Buy's store, and to me, they sounded artificial, and like they were struggling to put out the sound. Was not impressed with Bose C2's. Back to the Creative T20's - If you don't crank the volume way up they are great. If you need wall-shaking speakers, you should look elsewhere. At low to mid volumes these T20's produce sound which is glorious. I listen to a lot of classical music, also, rock from the 60's and 70's, and pop, and a lot of piano music. All I can say, is these T20's handle the music pretty well, definitely worth 4 out of 5 stars.
1. First and foremost, the overall sound quality is good, clear, and I'd recommend them. I also listened to the Bose Companion 2 speakers in Best Buy's store, and to me, they sounded artificial, and like they were struggling to put out the sound. Was not impressed with Bose C2's. Back to the Creative T20's - If you don't crank the volume way up they are great. If you need wall-shaking speakers, you should look elsewhere. At low to mid volumes these T20's produce sound which is glorious. I listen to a lot of classical music, also, rock from the 60's and 70's, and pop, and a lot of piano music. All I can say, is these T20's handle the music pretty well, definitely worth 4 out of 5 stars.
2. Treble and bass controls on the front of the right speaker. Creative was smart and designed this correctly, rather than having these controls on the back of the speaker. Always good to have, so sound can be changed slightly to some degree. Many other speakers in this price range don't have any T/B controls.
3. Auxiliary Jack and Headphone Jack on front of the right speaker as well. Again, Kudos to Creative, for easy accessibility to the Aux Jack.
4. Okay, being superficial here, they look good. The black finish goes with anything. The fronts have a shiny finish with some sort of blue flecks in the finish - which you really don't see unless you look at them closely, or have a bright light close by the speakers. The speakers are narrow, and don't hog space. You also have the option of removing the grills and having the speakers exposed, showing the yellow midrange driver. I prefer the grills on, they just look better that way to me.
On the other side, the drawbacks:
1. If you turn the volume up, these speakers can't handle high volume that well, the music will definitely distort and lose quality if the speakers are pushed way up in volume. They are not speakers that you would have to fill an oversized room or a house with a party going on, where you need high volume to perform over conversation and other noise - they are more intended for a room, office, or smaller setting, where you want smaller speakers, that don't hog counter or desk space, and will easily fill that area with good quality detailed sound. Again, price range comes into consideration, if you need bigger sound, or a decent sounding subwoofer, you need to spend more money.
2. The glossy front finish of these speakers show fingerprints easily, if you are a neat freak, you may find yourself trying to either grab the speakers by the sides which don't show fingerprints as much, or you may end up wiping the front panel off regularly, or at least keeping the grills on the speakers as well.
3. The hole at the top of the speakers for the BasXPort lets in dust. not sure if this would have an impact on the speakers after years of use.
4. There is a brick in the power cord, I don't really like bricks, but I will deal with them if I have to.
5. The wire that connects the 2 speakers is short, I wish it was about 2-3 feet longer. This seems to be common issue with most computer speakers.
If you want a reasonably priced set of computer speakers without a subwoofer I would definitely recommend these. Shortly after I bought these from Best Buy in Oct 2010, I noticed that BB had discontinued selling them. I am glad to see that the Creative T20's are being sold by Best Buy again. I would also recommend these speakers over Bose Companion 2's as well. Also, being that I have owned these T20's for over a year now, I have had no problems or issues with them, they continue to perform extremely well.
On another note, if you want speakers to fill up a larger room with sound quality that is detailed and clear, with an amazing subwoofer, check out the Harman Kardon Soundsticks, which are also sold at Best Buy. I bought them last year, and they are worth it.
What's great about it: Good clear sound with reasonably good detail.
What's not so great: Bass response is a little weak, speakers distort at high volumes
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Altec Lansing - Mix Digital Boombox for Apple® iPhone and iPod® - Black
Harman Kardon - Soundsticks III 2.1 Speaker System (3-Piece)
(3)Sound Quality
4
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+22points
24of 26voted this as helpful.
Bose® SoundDock® Digital Music System: Enjoy quality sound that travels with this digital music system. The rechargeable battery provides ample on-the-go power.
Posted by: Chiaroscuro65
from Jacksonville, FL
Type of Listener:Avid listener
Most Important to Purchase:Sound quality
How Often Used:3-5 times a week
I bought this system, and tried it out for a week, that's all I needed.
The Good:
Bose sure makes this into a very sleek good looking unit, definitely no complaint there. The sound is very clear. Portability is wonderful, and the rechargeable battery is great to have, I used it many times just on battery power, and I like that feature. It has the same great sound quality when running off the battery as well, which is great that for those of us who don't want to compromise sound quality for portability when we can't have a device plugged into an outlet. Remote works great, at a good distance as well.
Bose sure makes this into a very sleek good looking unit, definitely no complaint there. The sound is very clear. Portability is wonderful, and the rechargeable battery is great to have, I used it many times just on battery power, and I like that feature. It has the same great sound quality when running off the battery as well, which is great that for those of us who don't want to compromise sound quality for portability when we can't have a device plugged into an outlet. Remote works great, at a good distance as well.
The Not so good:
It's overpriced. You are paying for the Bose name, you are also paying for the portability aspect of this. Also, for the price, no bass or treble or EQ audio controls? Bose also does not include the carrying case for this when you buy the portable system - which, for the money you put down for this item, you should get the carrying case included. Also, at times, the Bose system did have a somewhat tin can-tinny sound, when dealing with some midrange levels of music.
It's overpriced. You are paying for the Bose name, you are also paying for the portability aspect of this. Also, for the price, no bass or treble or EQ audio controls? Bose also does not include the carrying case for this when you buy the portable system - which, for the money you put down for this item, you should get the carrying case included. Also, at times, the Bose system did have a somewhat tin can-tinny sound, when dealing with some midrange levels of music.
Comparing the Bose to another system (yes, it's allowed):
I did some more research, and found the Altec Lansing Mix IMT 800/810 at Best Buy, and bought this and then brought it home and compared it to the Bose Portable SoundDock.
I did some more research, and found the Altec Lansing Mix IMT 800/810 at Best Buy, and bought this and then brought it home and compared it to the Bose Portable SoundDock.
The Altec Lansing Mix is much larger, and even though they say it's portable, I would not want to lug that around, so Bose has the advantage there. Also, the Altec Mix runs on 8 D Batteries, so Bose has the advantage here as well being that it has the lithium battery. And, the issue of battery power was not really a strong point with me, being that my main issue was sound quality, and I am not really concerned with taking the system outside of the house and running it on battery power. I wanted a device I could move from room to room and plug into an outlet, that's all.
I will admit, the Altec Mix is heavy on Bass, being that it has a subwoofer, but you can change and adjust the sound with the controls. The Altec Mix also has 2 tweeters, as well as 2 midrange drivers for full sound.
I realize that the Bose, being more compact, has its limitations. For a small system and its desired portability, you sacrifice in other areas. As far as sound, the Altec Mix beats the Bose SD hands down - with much more Bass (Bose is weak in this area), and better balance of sound overall. the Altec Mix handles the highs/treble range better as well - which is clearly evident in symphony music with string instruments, and also the Altec has audio control adjustments with an equalizer as well as a treble/bass control. Some other advantages to the Altec Mix versus the bose:
* You also get 2 auxiliary jacks with the Altec system, and just 1 on the Bose. You can play and switch music from the device in dock to the 2 auxiliary stations with the remote on the Altec Mix, you can't switch from the Aux jack to the dock on the on the Bose.
* You get an FM Radio with the Altec Mix, no radio on the Bose.
Docking my iPod Touch was an easier process on the Altec Mix as well compared to the Bose. I almost always could dock my iPod successfully on the first try with the Altec Mix, whereas, the Bose sometimes required re-docking or adjusting to get it connected correctly. For the money you spend on the Bose, the dock should work better.
A few days before I have written this review, I purchased the Altec Lansing Mix from Best Buy for half the price of the Bose Portable SoundDock (on sale) and that in itself, was also the big plus for the Altec Mix system, and why the Bose was returned. I don't understand why the Altec Mix system does not get more attention, even the regular price of the Mix is much cheaper than the Bose, and you get a lot more for your money with the Altec Mix - a no brainer for me.
Also worth noting, I bought the Logitech s715i at Best Buy as well, and I decided to compare this to the Bose portable SoundDock system. While the Bose system had better overall clearer sound, the Logitech was able to compete very well to the Bose, as far as the sound quality -- which surprised me, comparing a Bose to a Logitech system which is less than half the cost of the Bose.
Compared to the Bose, and the dock on the Logitech was also much easier to use than on the Bose. The dock on the Logitech has a sort of hinging mechanism which allows it to move forward and backwards, which is great, because it allows you to plug in your ipod/iphone, and then make changes on your ipod/phone while it's plugged in to the dock, without it being disconnected. I really wish other manufacturers of these speaker systems would take note of what Logitech has done here with the hinged dock, it's brilliant.
To me, it just seems that I found 2 other systems that fit my needs better than this Bose system. I did a lot of research, read a lot or reviews, I just didn't see that spending the extra money on the Bose Portable Sounddock was worth it. I would still recommend the Bose, it's a great system if you want the name, and the portability advantage. For me, it's about getting the most for your money, and that's where the Bose system comes up short, and why I would recommend either the Altec Lansing Mix iMT800/810 for superior sound quality over the Bose - and it costs less. Or the other system, the Logitech s715i for those who want a great sounding device, for less than half the cost of the Bose Portable SoundDock.
What's great about it: Clear sound, portability, stying and looks, Remote works great
What's not so great: Overpriced, sometimes it sounds tinny, and docking ipod was sometimes difficult
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Altec Lansing - Mix Digital Boombox for Apple® iPhone and iPod® - Black
Logitech - Speaker System - Black
Sound Quality
4
Ease of Use
4
Features
2
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+19points
22of 25voted this as helpful.
Chiaroscuro65's Review Comments
This Rocketfish™ RF-AP305 cable allows connections from your Apple® iMac® or MacBook® to an external projector or monitor and supports up to 1920 x 1200 resolution for high-quality pictures.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5audio doesn't work
By tirevold
from minnesota
The audio does not work with this device on my 2008 macbook pro.
Chiaroscuro65
Jacksonville, FL
I thought I had the same issue but I fixed it
December 25, 2011
Hey, in regards to the audio not working on your macbook pro, did you go into your SYSTEM PREFERENCES, and then go into AUDIO, and then OUTPUT, I found that I had to select the TV or Monitor that the MacBook Pro was plugged into, in order to get the sound working externally from the MacBook Pro. I have a 2010 MacBook Pro, and thought the Rocketfish adapter was not working, until I changed the audio setting.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Bose® SoundLink® Speaker II: Wirelessly stream music on your enabled cell phone, tablet or other device with this speaker that features Bluetooth connectivity. An integrated bifold cover offers protection and doubles as a stand.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Freedom from wires
By BlueGiant
from Buffalo NY
The Bose soundlink is a great alternative to small wired speakers. This is ideal for a bedroom/or living room. The sound is quite loud for the size of the unit. I have a small apartment and I cannot turn it up completely because it is just too loud. What is missing is individual sounds controls. It would be great if this unit had the ability to adjust treble & bass as needed but it doesn't have such controls. I think distance that the wireless connectivity operates optimally is fairly limited and can be cut short by interior walls or even home enabled wifi. It can also be used as a auxiliary speaker that you can hook up to your TV or Computer. I have taken this unit out of the house and it really sounds great outside. I have taken this with me when I travel and have to stay in a hotel and such. The quality of the unit speaks for itself. Even with those things that may need improvement I love it and and will not trade it for anything. I think that if you bought one you would find that it is very functional and enjoyable.
Chiaroscuro65
Jacksonville, FL
Tweaking / changing sound controls
November 2, 2012
I know that on my iPad you can change and improve the sound quality to some degree with some pre-set controls . I would think that on most laptops and some other tablets you can do the same. The SoundLink is a device, I don't own one yet, I am waiting this one out to see if and when more competitors come to the table here and for this technology to come down in price.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Stay connected with this T-Mobile Prepaid Nokia Lumia 521 cell phone, which features 4G speed for fast data transfer and a Windows Phone 8 operating system for an easy-to-use interface. The 5.0MP digital camera captures vivid photos and video clips.
Overall
5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great phone for the price
By Nickno1
from Phoenix AZ
I like this phone better than my old kyocera Hydro. I came from boost mobile and T-mobile has better service and data than boost. when you are reading reviews about the service like dropped calls and slow data its just their area. I'm from Phoenix and I get 4G. I have a picture to show you how fast the 4g is in Phoenix
Chiaroscuro65
Jacksonville, FL
Navigation
July 23, 2013
Hey, how is navigation on this phone, does it offer turn by turn navigation like googlemaps?
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Enjoy premium sound with this Harman Kardon ONYX MINI. The speaker has a small footprint, so it can be used in almost any space, and a battery life of up to 10 hours lets you listen to favorite tunes all day. This Harman Kardon ONYX MINI has a microphone that can be used for conference calls.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5I actually purchased 3 as Christmas presents
By Papa
I was excited to purchase 3 at Christmas time for my children.
What made it better was that I had a $100.00 Best Buy certificate to offset the cost. The Best Buy at Whitehall near Allentown refused to accept the certificate and made NO effort to find out why it couldn't be used. I was told "call customer service and ask them but do you want the speakers or not"
What made it better was that I had a $100.00 Best Buy certificate to offset the cost. The Best Buy at Whitehall near Allentown refused to accept the certificate and made NO effort to find out why it couldn't be used. I was told "call customer service and ask them but do you want the speakers or not"
Chiaroscuro65
Jacksonville, FL
Are you reviewing the Onyx Mini?
March 8, 2017
Your critical review is focused on your purchasing experience, and not being able to use your Best Buy gift certificate, not the actual product, the Onyx Mini.
So, if you ever review a restaurant, and the quality and caliber of food that is served at a particular restaurant, do you also give the restaurant 1 star, because you had such a bad experience driving to the restaurant? Come on, these are two completely separate issues that you are covering above.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Chiaroscuro65's Questions
Chiaroscuro65 has not submitted any questions.
Chiaroscuro65's Answers
With a Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi, this Samsung Galaxy S III I747 BLUE cell phone makes it easy to navigate Web content while you're on the go. The 8.0MP camera lets you snap photos to share with friends and relatives.This device is not warrantied through the manufacturer. This device has a limited 1 year warranty provided by CCR Warranty. To obtain technical or warranty assistance, please contact CCR Warranty at 866-579-8436.
What edition is this phone: 16GB or 32GB? Can storage be upgraded?
I'll be using T-Mobile family plan. First-time cell phone users (my teen twins and myself). What is the cost for warranty extension? What does warrantee cover?
This phone is 16GB, and you can add more storage by putting an SD Card into the phone
9 years, 9 months ago
by
Chiaroscuro65
Jacksonville, FL
With a Super AMOLED capacitive touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi, this Samsung Galaxy S III I747 BLUE cell phone makes it easy to navigate Web content while you're on the go. The 8.0MP camera lets you snap photos to share with friends and relatives.This device is not warrantied through the manufacturer. This device has a limited 1 year warranty provided by CCR Warranty. To obtain technical or warranty assistance, please contact CCR Warranty at 866-579-8436.
Is this phone work for Tmobile network?
Is it compatible with tmobile LTE band frequency?
yes this unlocked GSM phone should work with T Mobile, no problem, it's an unlocked GSM phone so it works with any GSM provider.
9 years, 9 months ago
by
Chiaroscuro65
Jacksonville, FL