RalphHenry's stats
- Review count284
- Helpfulness votes448
- First reviewMay 28, 2015
- Last reviewJune 30, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.9
- Review comment count24
- Helpfulness votes28
- First review commentMay 28, 2015
- Last review commentJune 30, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
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- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count61
- Helpfulness votes164
- First answerJune 30, 2015
- Last answerNovember 3, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers10
Simplify security at your home or business with this Yale Assure satin nickel touchscreen smart lock. The touchscreen design makes interacting easy, and the option for automatic unlocking when you approach with your phone adds convenience. This Yale Assure satin nickel touchscreen smart lock employs Wi-Fi connectivity for adjusting settings remotely.
Customer Rating
5
Great Features and Hardware Install is Easy
on May 25, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This is definitely the most thoughtfully designed and solid smartlock I have installed. I have put in ten smartlocks of 4 different brands. Normally there is a problem with tiny screws needing to find their way into impossibly tight corners that cause a lot of craning of the neck. Not so with the Yale lock – it was excellent in installation design which is sometimes forgotten. The functionality was top notch as well.
I had no trouble installing the physical lock into the door. It is very simple to do with this smartlock. Also it was easy to set up the master code and user codes to open the lock, you have a choice of 4 to 8 numbers. The lock talks to you and guides you through doing all this – wonderful. Some folks will stop at this point and have a very nice keypad lock.
I did however have problems getting the August App on my android phone to find the lock. Good news of sorts is that I made three calls to August support (not Yale support) and within seconds I was connected to a support person each time. So the support from August was super.
Turns out some phones may not work with the August App. However the app did install on my phone. My phone is an LG Stylo 4 which is fairly new with 4.2 Bluetooth and running Android 8.1 – here’s the bottom line, after about ten tries it finally saw the lock. I did clear the app’s cache and data. The support folks thought the phone may not be compatible but I figured it could also be faulty hardware – but the hardware was good. One way to determine if the hardware is good is to remove a battery, remove the smart module, wait ten seconds and reinstall the smart module and battery – if the lock tells you ‘welcome’ the hardware is good.
The reason I think it finally worked is that you need to be logged into your August account and the cache must be cleared. I suspect Samsung phones don’t have the problem. In any event it finally worked. If you look up non-compatible phones (with the August App) a couple LG phones are listed, but not mine. I include this info since it might help make a buying decision.
Once I was able to configure the lock it was amazing. Included are two keys but you won’t need them. The package included a Connect Module (hub) so you can work the lock when you are away from home over WiFi. It also included a ‘lock sense’ module that when configured will tell you if the door is open or closed and if the lock is extended or retracted. I had not seen this feature before and it is very nice.
I found this package to be one I would highly recommend – it is an excellent quality lock with outstanding features.
I had no trouble installing the physical lock into the door. It is very simple to do with this smartlock. Also it was easy to set up the master code and user codes to open the lock, you have a choice of 4 to 8 numbers. The lock talks to you and guides you through doing all this – wonderful. Some folks will stop at this point and have a very nice keypad lock.
I did however have problems getting the August App on my android phone to find the lock. Good news of sorts is that I made three calls to August support (not Yale support) and within seconds I was connected to a support person each time. So the support from August was super.
Turns out some phones may not work with the August App. However the app did install on my phone. My phone is an LG Stylo 4 which is fairly new with 4.2 Bluetooth and running Android 8.1 – here’s the bottom line, after about ten tries it finally saw the lock. I did clear the app’s cache and data. The support folks thought the phone may not be compatible but I figured it could also be faulty hardware – but the hardware was good. One way to determine if the hardware is good is to remove a battery, remove the smart module, wait ten seconds and reinstall the smart module and battery – if the lock tells you ‘welcome’ the hardware is good.
The reason I think it finally worked is that you need to be logged into your August account and the cache must be cleared. I suspect Samsung phones don’t have the problem. In any event it finally worked. If you look up non-compatible phones (with the August App) a couple LG phones are listed, but not mine. I include this info since it might help make a buying decision.
Once I was able to configure the lock it was amazing. Included are two keys but you won’t need them. The package included a Connect Module (hub) so you can work the lock when you are away from home over WiFi. It also included a ‘lock sense’ module that when configured will tell you if the door is open or closed and if the lock is extended or retracted. I had not seen this feature before and it is very nice.
I found this package to be one I would highly recommend – it is an excellent quality lock with outstanding features.
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Security threats are on the rise, and they can target any networked printer. The latest generation of HP OfficeJet printers have best-in-class security built right in. And if things go wrong, they can heal themselves. The productive smart printer that doesn't just print, it produces. Help save time with Smart Tasks shortcuts, get automatic two-sided printing, and Borderless Print. Print and scan from your phone, Save up to 50% on ink with HP Instant Ink.
Customer Rating
5
Beautiful Printer and Prints Beautiful Too
on May 18, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
I really like the form and physical design of this printer although that is not the most important characteristics. But having a nice clean design helps to ensure it is user friendly as far as setting up the printer, changing ink cartridges and using the scanner. It has a very nice touch display and an intuitive interface. I did use the HP Smart App on my phone which makes setting up the printer a breeze. I do have several printers I'm using right now, so I didn't sign up for automatic ink refills. I do understand the savings when you take advantage of the auto-ink and you can save a lot - I will probably take advantage of the auto-ink soon. Once you set up the printer, it is a seamless process to get the drivers for any particular PC you want to use. You do need to add the printer on Windows 10 and it will find it on your network easily. I am impressed with how solid the printer software is, including the HP Smart App - no glitches at all.
I tried printing several rainbows and they all came out wonderful. I sometimes like to print a rainbow that fades out as it goes from one end to another and see how the printer does. This printer was excellent. It can print on legal size paper if you wish which is a very useful option I have found. It does not have a USB port to scan to, but I have found this option to be not critical for me - I just scan directly to the computer.
I do highly recommend this printer as super quality in regards to build, easy to set up and very easy to use as a full function printer.
I tried printing several rainbows and they all came out wonderful. I sometimes like to print a rainbow that fades out as it goes from one end to another and see how the printer does. This printer was excellent. It can print on legal size paper if you wish which is a very useful option I have found. It does not have a USB port to scan to, but I have found this option to be not critical for me - I just scan directly to the computer.
I do highly recommend this printer as super quality in regards to build, easy to set up and very easy to use as a full function printer.
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Pump up the volume with these Sony wireless on-ear headphones. Advanced drivers produce clear high-fidelity audio, while the EXTRA BASS feature helps you feel the beat by enhancing low-end frequencies. A 30-hour battery life keeps the music coming. With a lightweight construction and soft swiveling earcups, these Sony wireless on-ear headphones keep you comfortable while you listen.
Customer Rating
5
Very Soft Ear Cups, Great Bass Sound
on May 16, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
I have tried many headphones and the size on these is just right. If too small, heaphones will pinch your outer ear edge I find, but these were very soft and large enough to cup over the ear properly. You do have a lot of adjustment range for how large your head is – this is important so that you can wear them longer in comfort if you just make the headphone width larger even after wearing them for a while – nice.
Small thing but important is that the R and L are easily located so you don’t have to search for which is the right ear muff.
You can also use these with a wire if you like and the wire for audio connection as well as a cable for USB-C charging is included.
The sound was beautiful, full bodied and nice bass – I did think they could have been a little louder but of course this is based on the source. However, with other headphones I did get a little more volume from the same source.
I paired them with a Samsung TV, an android phone and also a Twelvesouth AirFly, and a Sling Air box; and the Bluetooth pairing was a breeze with all of them. Note the Airfly is connected to an old TV without Bluetooth. Most of my listening was via the Airfly; the headphones are still connected to the TV via the AirFly and are providing very nice private audio for me.
Voice calls worked fine. I don’t think these are a good choice for jogging but if you are more or less stationary indoors you can wear them and comfortably hear music and be able to take cell calls at the same time.
Quality is very solid. With the super soft ear cups and nice bass sound I definitely would recommend these headphones, which are at a very competitive price.
Small thing but important is that the R and L are easily located so you don’t have to search for which is the right ear muff.
You can also use these with a wire if you like and the wire for audio connection as well as a cable for USB-C charging is included.
The sound was beautiful, full bodied and nice bass – I did think they could have been a little louder but of course this is based on the source. However, with other headphones I did get a little more volume from the same source.
I paired them with a Samsung TV, an android phone and also a Twelvesouth AirFly, and a Sling Air box; and the Bluetooth pairing was a breeze with all of them. Note the Airfly is connected to an old TV without Bluetooth. Most of my listening was via the Airfly; the headphones are still connected to the TV via the AirFly and are providing very nice private audio for me.
Voice calls worked fine. I don’t think these are a good choice for jogging but if you are more or less stationary indoors you can wear them and comfortably hear music and be able to take cell calls at the same time.
Quality is very solid. With the super soft ear cups and nice bass sound I definitely would recommend these headphones, which are at a very competitive price.
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Unlock new potential for your wireless headphones with this Airfly headphone accessory. It plugs into any conventional headphone jack to enhance your listening experience and can pair with in-flight entertainment systems for added convenience. This Airfly headphone accessory has an eight-hour battery life and recharges through USB, so it's easy to take anywhere.
Customer Rating
5
Useful Product and Excellent Quality
on May 3, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This item is one I often have wished I had and could use on many devices. Older TVs for don't usually have Bluetooth, this device will give them Bluetooth. You may have an older stereo system as well and this product will give you the solution you need to connect your wireless headphones or earbuds. In my case I already had a similar device that was a combination headphone and cradle that did the same thing but was a little bulky and you couldn't use any wireless headphones. It was very useful but I love this little wonder. I connected it to an older LG 52 inch TV that was a flat screen but did not have Bluetooth. I paired my nice headphones with this item which was super easy to do. Then I connected it to my TV and now I have a way to listen to the TV without the speakers on the TV annoying others in the room. I did have an adapter that converted the RCA audio jacks on the back of the TV so that I could plug this device into this adapter cable. Some TV's will have the correct jack, but this converter cable is just a $3 item if you don't have one.
The sound was super but that will depend on your headphones to some extent. I will say this device kept the audio crystal clear. I highly recommend this useful little niche product if you have the need for it.
The sound was super but that will depend on your headphones to some extent. I will say this device kept the audio crystal clear. I highly recommend this useful little niche product if you have the need for it.
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Play music anywhere with this Sony EXTRA BASS portable Bluetooth speaker. The Party Booster feature makes a variety of sounds depending on where the speaker is touched, and the volume increases or decreases depending on the strength of force used when tapping. This Sony EXTRA BASS portable Bluetooth speaker has multicolor flashing lights that sync to the beat of the music for added style.
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding Bass and Useful Extra Features
on April 17, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
The XB32 is part of the next wave of Sony party speakers being waterproof and dustproof IP67 level. Battery life was terrific and my usage was right on with the 24 hours claimed. The sound which is the most important thing is absolutely fantastic. I did party chain two Sony boxes together and the volume is very impressive.
Bluetooth is so smooth connecting that you don’t even blink – and this is for phones or PC’s which I connected easily. The bass is booming but no vibration. I did have the XB32 firmly planted on a solid wood dresser top but even on a tile floor or a bed the sound is without vibration. These units are very well made and solid. Next you get to the light shows and you will love that feature. You also have an audio input jack and a very useful USB charging port for your phone or other device (already using this feature).
Sony keeps getting better and topping an already very nice array of these party speakers with new ones. I love them to use with laptops to vastly improve the sound while you are doing work or surfing the web – a huge improvement over the PC’s speakers. The price is very nice for the capabilities the XB32 provides, I highly recommend it.
Bluetooth is so smooth connecting that you don’t even blink – and this is for phones or PC’s which I connected easily. The bass is booming but no vibration. I did have the XB32 firmly planted on a solid wood dresser top but even on a tile floor or a bed the sound is without vibration. These units are very well made and solid. Next you get to the light shows and you will love that feature. You also have an audio input jack and a very useful USB charging port for your phone or other device (already using this feature).
Sony keeps getting better and topping an already very nice array of these party speakers with new ones. I love them to use with laptops to vastly improve the sound while you are doing work or surfing the web – a huge improvement over the PC’s speakers. The price is very nice for the capabilities the XB32 provides, I highly recommend it.
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Keep your head in the game with this Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 audio system. The SuperAmp audio controller is compatible with the PlayStation 4 Pro and standard, and the headset can be used alone with any 3.5mm jack. This Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 audio system brings comfort and audio quality together for long nights of action.
Customer Rating
5
Loud, Solid and Comfortable
on April 1, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
The Elite Pro 2 Wired Gaming Headset with Elite SuperAmp Bluetooth Audio Controller for PlayStation 4 is a great headset. The big difference between this headset and others is the volume of the headset. Normally most PS4 headsets are lower volume due to the game controllers not being powered enough. This headset however with the AMP is loud enough for me especially next to the other ones I have used. It is really comfortable, and it has excellent sound. The Dynamic Chat Boost™ automatically boosts incoming chat volume over game audio so I was able to communicate perfectly and clearly with the game sound still loud and clear. I was able to wear my glasses while also wearing the headset. My ears did not get hot wearing the headset. The only thing I wish is that these were wireless for the price, but otherwise I am fully satisfied. The quality is top-notch on these head phones. I would highly recommend them.
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Enjoy quality signal reception with this Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro antenna. A 65-mile range ensures reception of a wide variety of channels, while the integrated TV signal indicator LEDs simplify placement for optimal signal strength. This Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro antenna comes with a 16-foot detachable high-performance coaxial cable for connectivity and features a plug-and-play design for quick installation.
Customer Rating
4
Strong Clear Reception for Lower Price
on March 26, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
The Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro turned out to be less powerful than some of the other over-the-air antennas I have tried. Basically in situations where I routinely got 40-45 channels, this antenna could only bring in 30 channels. I should say the other antennas were about 50% higher in price so that is a factor. I tried this antenna at different orientations and also at different times of day – morning, mid-day and late at night. This antenna functioned in a similar way every time. The stations it did receive were very clear so that is a plus. I did like that this unit comes with a booster you can plug-in to add power to its amplification and I did use the booster. It also came with a 15-foot coaxial cable. It is simple to set up and appears to be quite rugged, you can use it indoors only. There are a couple small holes on each side of the top which facilitate pinning it to a beam for example in your attic. They even included some pins to use.
I would recommend this device as its value, simplicity and functionality at this price point are all quite nice.
I would recommend this device as its value, simplicity and functionality at this price point are all quite nice.
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Store data on this 128GB SanDisk Ultra Fit USB flash drive. The low-profile casing prevents damage by keeping it snug to the port, making it a great fit for use with tablets, laptops and game consoles. This SanDisk Ultra Fit USB flash drive uses USB 3.1 technology to deliver up to 10 times the transfer speed of older drives.
Customer Rating
5
Very Small Size but BIg GB's
on March 17, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This item is fast. I moved several large files and there was about a 10 times increase in speed over the old 2.0 USB’s. An example was a Thunderbird mail folder. This is typically a large file in the order of 8 GB and normally can take 20-30 minutes to copy. This flash drive was done in about 3 minutes. I was very pleased with the small size which will fit easily in your pocket. Put it in a small baggy to protect it from dust and you’re good to go.
I noticed folks concerned about heat. I tried to move tons of data and it never got warm enough to concern me in the slightest. The front portion that is in the machine was warmer and depending on your computer this could get more or less warm. I used an Acer laptop with an SSD so the fan wasn’t running much to provide inside the box cooling like it would with an HDD – points are even without a cooling fan it was staying cool enough and it didn’t trip the fan by adding extra heat. In any event this is good news since the tiny USB was not creating much heat that didn’t get dissipated naturally.
I also tried the new SanDisk cloud backup app for USB drives called Flashback, which comes free with this little flash drive. My flash drives can get lost sometimes and now I have the content saved. I really loved this app and will use it on all my PC’s. It will automatically create cloud backup for any flash drives you plug in. Now without remembering to do it, you are backing up your USB flash drives to the cloud. It will assign a location for each flash drive and will also ‘automagically’ divide the files based on type – for example photos, Excel files, documents etc. Someone has come up with a great app here. Try it you will love it also. I do highly recommend this little (but big at 128 GB) wonder and also the free app.
I noticed folks concerned about heat. I tried to move tons of data and it never got warm enough to concern me in the slightest. The front portion that is in the machine was warmer and depending on your computer this could get more or less warm. I used an Acer laptop with an SSD so the fan wasn’t running much to provide inside the box cooling like it would with an HDD – points are even without a cooling fan it was staying cool enough and it didn’t trip the fan by adding extra heat. In any event this is good news since the tiny USB was not creating much heat that didn’t get dissipated naturally.
I also tried the new SanDisk cloud backup app for USB drives called Flashback, which comes free with this little flash drive. My flash drives can get lost sometimes and now I have the content saved. I really loved this app and will use it on all my PC’s. It will automatically create cloud backup for any flash drives you plug in. Now without remembering to do it, you are backing up your USB flash drives to the cloud. It will assign a location for each flash drive and will also ‘automagically’ divide the files based on type – for example photos, Excel files, documents etc. Someone has come up with a great app here. Try it you will love it also. I do highly recommend this little (but big at 128 GB) wonder and also the free app.
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Discover how perfect sound can be with these Marshall Bluetooth headphones. Exceptional sound quality is assured thanks to the impressive sound isolation and the classic Marshall technology that uses 40mm drivers to produce outstanding bass and trebles. A long-lasting battery in these Marshall Bluetooth headphones keeps your music playing for more than 30 hours at a time.
Customer Rating
5
Marshall Brand Quality and Affordable
on March 15, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
The quality of these headphones is as expected from the Marshall brand. The build quality is solid and very nicely designed. The head pads are a little small for me, as I have bigger ears, so if you aren’t able to try these ahead of time, you may also find the cups could be a little larger. I did experience some discomfort after wearing them for 30 minutes no matter how I adjusted the head band. If you have a bit smallish to medium ears you will be delighted with how soft the ear padding is and it does block out some of the ambient noise around you.
I did see some folks have trouble with Bluetooth pairing. I did also misfire on my first try and I think it is due to not reading the manual which is clearly showing you how to do it. The design could be a little more clever but basically you turn the phones off and on with the same button and you have a very nice LED to tell you what is happening. For pairing: you must start with the phones “off”. Now hold the power button until you see the LED turn blue. You’ll see the LED blink white but keep holding for the full 5 seconds (holding for 3 seconds just turns it on); keep holding a couple more seconds till you see the LED turn blue, now pair it and it actually turns off. Remember it is paired but “off” so if you try to listen you hear nothing, I bet that’s what some people did. You need to turn it back on. It’s a tradeoff, one button, one LED – many functions. I actually like the simplicity of the design.
The sound is smooth and lots of bass and very clear. I was quite happy with the ability to hear highs, lows and midrange sounds. So high marks here.
Yes it has a very nice microphone and yes you can use these phones to answer calls. Be sure to look at the nice manual that comes with it and understand how to answer a call and hang-up. That same button that I love, handles pausing songs and increasing and decreasing the volume. I have to applaud the engineers at Marshall for making it a simple joystick – great. I did especially like the materials used in construction of these phones - classy and strong. So I do recommend these headphones, and I can’t deduct a star because I have big ears, so try them on and if the fit is good, you’ll have a superior headphone.
I did see some folks have trouble with Bluetooth pairing. I did also misfire on my first try and I think it is due to not reading the manual which is clearly showing you how to do it. The design could be a little more clever but basically you turn the phones off and on with the same button and you have a very nice LED to tell you what is happening. For pairing: you must start with the phones “off”. Now hold the power button until you see the LED turn blue. You’ll see the LED blink white but keep holding for the full 5 seconds (holding for 3 seconds just turns it on); keep holding a couple more seconds till you see the LED turn blue, now pair it and it actually turns off. Remember it is paired but “off” so if you try to listen you hear nothing, I bet that’s what some people did. You need to turn it back on. It’s a tradeoff, one button, one LED – many functions. I actually like the simplicity of the design.
The sound is smooth and lots of bass and very clear. I was quite happy with the ability to hear highs, lows and midrange sounds. So high marks here.
Yes it has a very nice microphone and yes you can use these phones to answer calls. Be sure to look at the nice manual that comes with it and understand how to answer a call and hang-up. That same button that I love, handles pausing songs and increasing and decreasing the volume. I have to applaud the engineers at Marshall for making it a simple joystick – great. I did especially like the materials used in construction of these phones - classy and strong. So I do recommend these headphones, and I can’t deduct a star because I have big ears, so try them on and if the fit is good, you’ll have a superior headphone.
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A revolutionary smart printer - even for high-volume jobs. Help save time with Smart Tasks shortcuts. Rapid speeds, full-ream paper capacity, Borderless print, and easy mobile printing. Count on seamless connections, and enhanced security. Save up to 50% on ink with HP Instant Ink. Prints up to 24 ISO ppm*, up to 20 ppm* in color.
Customer Rating
5
Five Star Plus - Great Printer
on February 23, 2019
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
I have used and owned many printers, this one is the best. It is made rock solid, and the design is intuitive and simple to connect the printer and install the print cartridges. Using the HP Smart app it was easy to connect the printer over WiFi and you can easily print from your phone or from a computer. You have an option to send a link from your phone so that each computer can just get and follow that link to install the software - very nice. The HP Smart app on your phone can also help you set up SMART TASKS. These are like little macros that can speed up operations by combining some commands into a couple clicks on your phone for example. I can create a SMART TASK to print a pdf single-sided in color and ship it to the printer - worked great, like magic. You can create and save many and varied SMART TASKS and sync them to the printer too - you'll love these time saving little functions. Another ability of this printer is to copy or scan a document double-sided in one pass. I took a letter that had been folded twice so it had creases. I unfolded it and put it in the feeder and entered 'copy, color, double sided'. This printer pulled the document in, scanned once and the document came part way out and it told me to wait a bit for the ink to dry, sucked the document back in and printed the other side having scanned both sides on the first pass - perfect color on both sides and no problem with the folds on the paper. Also it has two paper trays so you can put photo paper in one or even different color paper in one - very useful feature to have two trays. It is full function with print, scan, copy and fax. The touch screen is excellent and can be tilted to get the right angle on your view. The icons and layout are very user-friendly. Another nice touch is that someone designed it so that there are hand-holds on the bottom so it is easy to move the printer or pick it up. The black/white or color printouts were excellent. The engineers at HP get a tip of the cap for this one. I highly recommend this printer.
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Stream instant content easily with this LG BP550 Blu-ray player. To build a complete 3D home theater system, we recommend you purchase a 3D TV, 3D glasses designed for the TV, high-speed HDMI cable and an A/V receiver that is compatible with 3D products.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Great Blu-Ray DVD Player for the money
By JulieAS
After buying this product, I am both pleased yet a little disappointed! I needed another player to replace my 5 year old Sony 3-D player (also bought at BB) because it was no longer compatible with YouTube. Since my TV is an LG, I decided to buy an LG player.
The LG BP550 is smaller than my older Sony (another reason I chose it) and has fewer apps but I really didn't care about that as long as YouTube worked and that it also had Netflix and HuluPlus apps. Hooking it up and installing it was quick and easy and completing the system update was also a breeze! Already on sale, I saw it was also available as an Open-Box item so I thought I could save even more buying it at that option...NOT!
Advertised as 'Open-Box Excellent Condition' I ordered it on May 13th and it arrived on the 15th - without the remote! Maybe I shouldn't have assumed that an item labeled as "Returned, used as display model in store, or opened due to packaging damage but remains in like-new condition" meant or means that all accessories, cables, manuals, remotes, etc. are included.
Fortunately, my TV remote was able to do some of the basic stuff for installing and some playback features but that's it. So I make a call to BB and learn that the 4-yr Protection Plan I paid for would not cover this missing remote and was then advised to call LG for a 'free' replacement.
Customer service at LG then directed me to call their authorized parts dealer for my time zone. Of course, they were closed on Saturday and Sunday!
I called the parts dealer today (18th) and was told to contact the retailer since I'd "recently purchased the item and it should be returnable/replaceable under warranty". I explained that I had been informed that it was not and that I was told to call them by both BB and LG!
Subsequently, I was given the part number and price for a replacement remote!
Well it looks as if buying Open-Box didn't save me much, if anything, after all since the replacement remote has to be paid for out of my pocket!
I may be better off returning this player and buying a NEW one instead!
I may be better off returning this player and buying a NEW one instead!
However, I must say that I do like the player for what features I have been able to access while using my TV remote! I look forward to obtaining the full benefits and features when using the actual remote control for the BP550!
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Remote Replacement
May 28, 2015
It's not ideal but if you are missing a remote and/or lose or break it, you can easily download a smartphone app to run it. You could also program a multi device remote like the Harmony 650 which I did. So nowadays a missing remote is not a show stopper but I agree it should have not been missing.
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Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5Great box - poor fonts
By Jasonrn
I purchased this with great excitement. I mostly do everyday things, with an evergrowing photo collection. I bought Adobe creative cloud and was ready to go. Fired it up and was shocked at how bad the text looks. I have tried many different settings. I don't know if it is a scaling thing? I love everything else about the unit. Photos look great. I dont game.
The text issue is varies. Some apps, it looks fine... others - terrible. Also, some apps don't scale well at all on the 4K screen.
May return the unit and get a laptop I can plug a second monitor in for my photo work.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Fix for fonts didn't install
November 3, 2015
The expert pointed to a download and it did not install. I'm glad since I think you just need to go to settings and find the 'cleartype text' setting and run through it to make fonts great. Also I see many of the apps will fix drivers and so forth so there is a learning curve now to see how to run these machines.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Tips For Better Text on AIO 700
November 4, 2015
I've played with the font's and you may also want to scale text or make it bold for example if you use Windows Live (you can do that within Display Settings). The other tip is that the text is very clear but small so you may find that enlarging text by hitting Ctrl and + (together) once or twice will make some things easier to read. You hit Ctrl and - together to reduce. I didn't use those commands as often on other machines, but it is beautiful to use at times on this machine. By the way videos are wonderful if you use something like Amazon Prime video etc WOW
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Lenovo Fix for AIO 700 24ISH
November 5, 2015
Jason, I did think ClearType helped a little but the scaling and putting 'bold' on helped more. I did see the fix that Lenovo posted. First I flashed the BIOS which they also posted as of 9/10/15. However when I tried their special fix for the font scaling it is an .rar file and I had to load WinZip (free version for now) but it did unpack it. However I never saw it run successfully as it always returned an error code. I am going to call Lenovo on that but the text looks pretty good so maybe it actually ran. I'll post an update on that. By the way the support at Lenovo is abysmal.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall2 out of 5
2 out of 5Disappointed
By Brandon
It worked for a few hours right out of the box. Then I noticed the screen flashing and the graphics cards crashing. After a reset it freezes after 5 minutes of use. Not sure if it's the pc itself or driver issues with Windows 10, either way it's not worth the trouble. If they can fix these issues then it is absolutely worth the price.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Try Driver Updates & Flash BIOS
November 5, 2015
If you still have it and if it will stay up long enough, I'd say go to Lenovo's web site and download the newest BIOS, it's easy to update BIOS now. Then go into Device Manager and update both Display drivers. If you bought an open box, I'd also try to reload the whole machine to the factory settings (or BestBuy should do that for you). But if you go to the apps, the app called Lenovo Rescue System will do it for you pretty easily. Then do the stuff I mentioned above.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Checked on Font Scaling Fix
November 5, 2015
I couldn't get the download from Lenovo's website to install. I downloaded and unpacked the fix, but it returned an error code when I ran it. I spent 40 minutes with Lenovo 1st and 2nd level support. They pretty much had no info on this fix. They didn't open a problem ticket 8005969635. Also their website said you should post a request online to have them call you back, but their process was broken in that area also. Full disclosure: even without this fix, the screen looks awesome to me.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Successful Adjustments for FONTS
November 5, 2015
Lots of people had problems with the fonts on this 4K hi-def screen. Lenovo support was useless but Geek Squad fixed me right up via remote connection. It might be something others know, but judging by the reviews most people including me just didn't really understand. There are lots of modifications to DISPLAY parameters but what most people should do if they are using this screen for apps like Windows Live is to change the screen resolution to 1920x1080 and change the scaling to 125%. Now everything is beautiful. If you do want to watch a movie in high def, then put it back to 3840x2160 and set scaling to 200%. What is confusing is that there is a choice for 2560x1600 but this is not the same ratio as the screen size so you get bars on each side which you probably don't want - I should have seen this but the Geek Squad enlightened me. Now as to the patch from Lenovo for font scaling, you probably don't need it nor would it do much I am sure. So kudos to the Geek Squad and thanks. It is an awesome machine and in fact even the lower resolution is more than any other PC I have ever had.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Thanks for Posting Info on Font Patch from Lenovo
November 6, 2015
JasoninNJ, thanks for posting your comment that installing the Lenovo patch to help font scaling toasted the machine. I won't try again to install it. As I mentioned I don't think it is needed. There will be more ultra HD computer screens and I'm guessing they will add automated switching to show videos in HD but do the rest of your PC work with the lower resolution which is excellent when viewing text.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Text Display Improvement
November 16, 2015
After playing with various settings I have some hopefully helpful feedback. First of all don't use the 3840x2160 unless you are streaming video, it makes text bad. Also don't use 2560x1600 since it is not a multiple of the 3840x2160 i.e. you'll get bars on both sides of the screen. Do use the 1920x1080 which is also hi-def and fits this screen dimensions properly. Now if you want text a little bigger then go to 'set custom scaling level' and use 110% or 115%; this makes nice readable text. Now here's a quirk I see lots of people having and not just on this PC or brand for Windows 10. You may see occasional video card errors and once in a while the machine may not IPL (just power off and try again it will come up). I think the problem is the video card doesn't get back fast enough to the CPU, and the video card crashes but does recover. Not a problem unless you are playing PC high powered games. So I don't recommend this machine for games, but video streaming and apps like Corel Photoshop are great. Now what you can do to minimize or eliminate the video card crashes (remember it happens on lots of machines with Windows 10, so there will be a fix soon I think). Anyway go to Control Panel and search for 'visual effects', then click on adjust the appearance and performance of Windows. Then select 'Custom' and click the box next to 'smooth edges of screen fonts'. If you optimize for 'best appearance' entirely or for let 'windows choose'... that's when the video card may not keep up I think. If you optimize for 'best'performance' the text looks horrible. Anyway the 'custom' settings work for me to give me nice text and no crashes. This is a stretch but I think the engineers knew there could be a problem, that's why they tried to put in the super high powered video cards, but not good enough for now, I do think this will get fixed by Windows 10 OS soon. This machine for it's price is tremendous and I think worth this minor glitch.
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo IdeaCentre All-In-One Computer: With Wireless-AC networking, this all-in-one computer makes it easy to browse Web sites, access social media and check your e-mail. The 23.8" capacitive multitouch screen lets you navigate features using all 10 fingers and presents your favorite films in 4K UHD resolution. The revolutionary Intel® RealSense™ 3D camera lets you scan 3D objects, use gestures to control your PC or play games and more.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Highest Quality and Top Features
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This AIO has superior resolution to others. Some reviews spoke about a text problem, however you can improve the text via going to settings, display, advanced and 'cleartype text' and follow the steps. Also has 3D display capability which is good for future needs for me. Sound is nice with Jensen speakers. Touch screen is great. WIFI is super and has both 2.4 and 5 GHz ranges with Wireless AC. Very quiet fan. Lenovo support has regressed but is do-able I asked a simple question and the tech had no idea, also the website seems broken in the support area; glad I got Geek Squad. But this AIO is one great machine. price is very reasonable for what you get. Love it.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Good News to Add
December 8, 2015
I wanted to update my review to indicate that a frequent display driver error that said "...Intel Video adapter stopped working but recovered...", has stopped occurring after about 1 week ago when a pretty big Windows 10 update came out. It was never a killer for me since I don't play games but when I googled it, I did see that it was fairly common on many PC's - that's good since it appears Microsoft fixed it. Note there are two video adapters in this machine but the Nvidia one was not failing.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
RalphHenry's Questions
RalphHenry has not submitted any questions.
Enjoy Full HD viewing with this 25-inch HP micro-edge display. It has one VGA and two HDMI inputs for versatile, high-definition connectivity, and its edge-to-edge panel lets you opt for a clean-looking multi-monitor setup. Play video games smoothly thanks to the AMD FreeSync technology of this thin HP micro-edge display.
There was no vga cable in the box. Should I go to best buy or hp?
I don't think HP provides a VGA cable with this unit, only the HDMI cable. You will have to purchase one. Of course an old VGA cable will work fine. If you can switch to HDMI it is much better and of course VGA is being phased out.
5 years, 10 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Strengthen your phone’s 4G reception while you’re on the road with the weboost Drive Sleek cradle signal booster. Its powerful outside antenna detects an accessible 4G/LTE or 3G signal and transmits it to the booster unit for enhanced data reception. This versatile weboost Drive Sleek cradle signal booster is compatible with all US and Canadian network providers.
Will my Note 8 work with this
It says on the box that Galaxy Note 8 is compatible, but Google your phone to be sure.
6 years ago
by
RalphHenry
Strengthen your phone’s 4G reception while you’re on the road with the weboost Drive Sleek cradle signal booster. Its powerful outside antenna detects an accessible 4G/LTE or 3G signal and transmits it to the booster unit for enhanced data reception. This versatile weboost Drive Sleek cradle signal booster is compatible with all US and Canadian network providers.
Is this booster compatible with Verizon?
I don't think it is a question of carrier but rather the model of your cell phone. You can google to see if your phone is compatible. Also look on the box for those few iPhones and Samsung phones listed.
6 years ago
by
RalphHenry
Strengthen your phone’s 4G reception while you’re on the road with the weboost Drive Sleek cradle signal booster. Its powerful outside antenna detects an accessible 4G/LTE or 3G signal and transmits it to the booster unit for enhanced data reception. This versatile weboost Drive Sleek cradle signal booster is compatible with all US and Canadian network providers.
will it work to my phone blackberry classic? i plan to use it not in the car, is it ok to supply the power cable with other supply of 12VDC?
You better go here and look for your Classic model and see if it will work. https://help.blackberry.com/en/blackberry-classic/10.3.1/help/amc1415722640609.html
6 years ago
by
RalphHenry
Samsung 3 Chromebook: Get compact power with this Samsung Chromebook laptop. Its 11.6-inch HD display provides clear graphics with anti-reflective technology, and its 4GB of RAM and Intel Celeron processor keep multitasking operations moving smoothly. This Samsung Chromebook laptop includes a 720-pixel camera and a 32GB flash drive to store documents, photos and programs.
Can I add outlook to Samsung - 11.6" Chromebook - Intel Celeron - 4GB Memory - 32GB eMMC Flash Memory - Metallic Black
Yes, go here to see how: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/how-to-install-and-run-microsoft-office-on-a-chromebook-32f14a23-2c1a-4579-b973-d4b1d78561ad
6 years, 2 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Take your music anywhere with this portable Sony wireless speaker. Lightweight and water-resistant, it has a 16-hour battery life, making it perfect for on-the-go listening all day. This Sony wireless speaker has Bluetooth connectivity with NFC One-touch, and it can also link to a second speaker for stereo sound.
We have a 2007 Insignia Flat Screen TV. How do we know if it is Bluetooth compatible? We have Xfinity as our cable provider.
In 2007 it is probably not Bluetooth. It won't have anything to do with your cable provider. To see if the TV happens to be Bluetooth compatible I would try this. Select Menu or Settings. Look for something like 'Add Accessory' or pair with Bluetooth Device.. You might also look for Audio settings but that is less likely. Now your TV probably does have an Audio Out Jack of the 3.5mm variety. The speaker also has a little Audio In jack. You would need a cable like this one https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-6-3-5mm-mini-audio-cable-black/4370001.p?skuId=4370001 from Best Buy. Simply plug in to both the TV and speaker and you are good to go. Now if you don't have the 3.5mm jack on your TV you probably have Audio Out on RCA jacks, in that case get this cable to connect: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-6-3-5mm-mini-to-rca-stereo-audio-cable-black/4408001.p?skuId=4408001
6 years, 3 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Ensure safe listening with these Insignia kids' headphones. Children can listen to high-quality audio through the 40mm drivers without damaging their hearing; the headphones' built-in volume-limiting function keeps the decibel level low to protect small ears. These Insignia kids' headphones have a share port that enables the connection of a second pair of headphones.
Is it has a microphone
Nest Doorbell (Wired) lets you know who’s there, so you never miss a thing. It replaces your existing wired doorbell and delivers HD video and bright, crisp images, even at night. It’s designed to show you everything at your doorstep — people head to toe or packages on the ground. And with 24/7 streaming, you can check in anytime. Or go back and look at a 3-hour snapshot history to see what happened.*
Will Google Hello do a better job in regards to lag (delay) and motion detection? I had another video doorbell (rhimes with Ding) which could not adequately connect to the wifi, terrable lag, poor motion detection (false alarms and missed live ones).
Delay is a second or so on the NEST HELLO. I know because as I tested it, I could hear my wife talk inside and then hear her voice outside; and vice-versa. So it is not what I'd consider a problem.
6 years, 3 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Nest Doorbell (Wired) lets you know who’s there, so you never miss a thing. It replaces your existing wired doorbell and delivers HD video and bright, crisp images, even at night. It’s designed to show you everything at your doorstep — people head to toe or packages on the ground. And with 24/7 streaming, you can check in anytime. Or go back and look at a 3-hour snapshot history to see what happened.*
What are the dimensions And is there a charge
There is a charge to keep NEST AWARE functions, $10 or so per month. But you do not need it to see and hear and talk to people at the door.
6 years, 3 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Only at Best Buy Defend your home from intruders with this SimpliSafe security system. Its wireless design provides reliable, multilayer protection and avoids interruptions from cut phone lines and power outages, and it connects to an app for remote operation. This SimpliSafe security system is easy to install and customizable to homes of any size for flexible use.