RalphHenry's stats
- Review count296
- Helpfulness votes449
- First reviewMay 28, 2015
- Last reviewSeptember 26, 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
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- First questionNone
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- Answer count61
- Helpfulness votes164
- First answerJune 30, 2015
- Last answerNovember 3, 2021
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- Best answers10
Enjoy your favorite music alone or among friends with these wireless Rowkin Ascent earbuds. The Rowkin app is compatible with iOS and Android to let you share music or adjust audio settings, while WaterSafe technology provides water resistance for use during inclement weather. These Rowkin Ascent earbuds come with a slim charging case, which is also ideal for storage.
Customer Rating
5
Nice Bass and Solid Buds and Case
on November 8, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
These cordless ear buds have the best sound of any I have used. I do recommend you download the Rowkin app to your phone and you can tailor the sound to your liking; I liked the extra bass setting best. The app can also locate your ear buds so if you lose them jogging or in the house it will show you the location.
This model of Rowkin buds has a new ribbed design that ensures the ear buds stay put while jogging and they did work great. I do recommend as you put them in your ear to slightly twist them gently back and forth once to ensure they are seated. They did not hurt my ears during 30 minutes of jogging. I also had them on for a movie after I paired them with my SlingAir TV box and after 90 minutes no discomfort at all. Some Rowkin buds have an option for ear hooks. I found out from Rowkin support that this model does not use the ear hooks (some call wings) to help keep the buds in while jogging. Indeed they are not needed due to the aforementioned ribbed design. I’d also mention that I sent off an email to Rowkin support to get the answer on the ear hooks and immediately got a confirmation of my submission and a half an hour later I had an answer – very nice support.
They come with a Qi wireless charging pad and a USB C cord, and a charging case. The quality is superb. You can charge the case and the earbuds at the same time (they’ll get over 3 hours per charge), and then you can use the charged-case to re-charge the buds on the fly, for over 50 more hours of listening. The charging can be done directly via the USB C (nice to have the USB C) cable or you can put the buds in the charger and use the Qi wireless pad. An adapter is included to convert one end of the USB C cable to the common USB size.
I’d recommend you print the user manual from the Rowkin website to learn about all the features, but basically these earbuds wake up and connect to each other when you remove them from the case; and will then pair to your phone very easily. A few different size rubber cups come with it so you can be sure to fit your ear properly. By the way, their website allows you to select over 100 languages to browse in.
The sound was really fantastic and I plan to use these to listen to my TV so as not to disturb others. I very highly recommend this product. The device and the support are both first rate.
This model of Rowkin buds has a new ribbed design that ensures the ear buds stay put while jogging and they did work great. I do recommend as you put them in your ear to slightly twist them gently back and forth once to ensure they are seated. They did not hurt my ears during 30 minutes of jogging. I also had them on for a movie after I paired them with my SlingAir TV box and after 90 minutes no discomfort at all. Some Rowkin buds have an option for ear hooks. I found out from Rowkin support that this model does not use the ear hooks (some call wings) to help keep the buds in while jogging. Indeed they are not needed due to the aforementioned ribbed design. I’d also mention that I sent off an email to Rowkin support to get the answer on the ear hooks and immediately got a confirmation of my submission and a half an hour later I had an answer – very nice support.
They come with a Qi wireless charging pad and a USB C cord, and a charging case. The quality is superb. You can charge the case and the earbuds at the same time (they’ll get over 3 hours per charge), and then you can use the charged-case to re-charge the buds on the fly, for over 50 more hours of listening. The charging can be done directly via the USB C (nice to have the USB C) cable or you can put the buds in the charger and use the Qi wireless pad. An adapter is included to convert one end of the USB C cable to the common USB size.
I’d recommend you print the user manual from the Rowkin website to learn about all the features, but basically these earbuds wake up and connect to each other when you remove them from the case; and will then pair to your phone very easily. A few different size rubber cups come with it so you can be sure to fit your ear properly. By the way, their website allows you to select over 100 languages to browse in.
The sound was really fantastic and I plan to use these to listen to my TV so as not to disturb others. I very highly recommend this product. The device and the support are both first rate.
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Clean those hard-to-reach places in your home with this Shark cordless vacuum. Its bristle brush deep-cleans any carpet, and the additional soft-roll brush pulls in larger particles from wood floors while polishing them. The rechargeable, high-capacity Li-Ion battery keeps this Ninja cordless vacuum's DuoClean Technology ready for tough cleaning chores.
Customer Rating
5
Innovative Design Works Great
on November 3, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This is by far the best cordless vacuum I have tried. It has a 28 volt power pack with about an hour of run time in normal mode and about 20 minutes in turbo mode. You can charge the battery in a separate battery charger base or you can charge the battery by plugging the power supply right into the bottom of the battery or indeed you can charge the battery while it is installed on the vacuum – nice.
It is very well designed in terms of reconfiguring the vacuum into basically 3 modes. Normal with the power head attached is for carpet or bare floors. A second mode is to lift the wand off for cleaning draperies and those cobwebs up in the corners. The third mode is the ability to remove just the handle and this gives you a short configuration to do furniture for example. In the latter two modes you can keep the canister on the machine or easily lift it away. I found it was refreshing to find the very simple ways to unhook the main parts to get into the different configurations. Also it is easy and intuitive as well to clean the dust bin and remove and clean the hepa filter.
Some nice accessories are included. There are a couple small heads for wall and furniture cleaning and you also get a very useful tapered nozzle that has a brush that can be deployed on the nozzle or retracted. I do find that with cordless vacuums you can vacuum without getting that cold sweat that occurs sometimes when you push around a heavier corded vacuum. Also the lift-away feature makes it even lighter when you need to clean up stairs for example – and no cord to pull up the steps.
The most innovative feature is actually in the power head and is why it gets the label DuoClean Technology. There is a spinning bristle brush plus a soft brush that together really do pull up the dust and dirt on carpet or bare floors – especially the finer particles so that for a wood floor it really does polish the flooring.
I do highly recommend this vacuum. It is innovative, well designed, solid and does a great job cleaning your house.
It is very well designed in terms of reconfiguring the vacuum into basically 3 modes. Normal with the power head attached is for carpet or bare floors. A second mode is to lift the wand off for cleaning draperies and those cobwebs up in the corners. The third mode is the ability to remove just the handle and this gives you a short configuration to do furniture for example. In the latter two modes you can keep the canister on the machine or easily lift it away. I found it was refreshing to find the very simple ways to unhook the main parts to get into the different configurations. Also it is easy and intuitive as well to clean the dust bin and remove and clean the hepa filter.
Some nice accessories are included. There are a couple small heads for wall and furniture cleaning and you also get a very useful tapered nozzle that has a brush that can be deployed on the nozzle or retracted. I do find that with cordless vacuums you can vacuum without getting that cold sweat that occurs sometimes when you push around a heavier corded vacuum. Also the lift-away feature makes it even lighter when you need to clean up stairs for example – and no cord to pull up the steps.
The most innovative feature is actually in the power head and is why it gets the label DuoClean Technology. There is a spinning bristle brush plus a soft brush that together really do pull up the dust and dirt on carpet or bare floors – especially the finer particles so that for a wood floor it really does polish the flooring.
I do highly recommend this vacuum. It is innovative, well designed, solid and does a great job cleaning your house.
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The Brother Work Smart Series MFC-J895DW is the ideal print, copy, scan and fax solution for home, home office or small office needs. This wireless color inkjet all-in-one delivers reliable, high-quality output and enables wireless mobile device printing from your desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet. This easy-to-use wireless color inkjet all-in-one delivers affordable printing and has a 2.7" touch screen for effortless workflow navigation. The automatic document feeder, 150-sheet capacity paper tray and bypass tray handle a variety of sizes and specialty papers. Automatic duplex (2-sided) printing helps save paper while the compact design helps save desk space. Cloud connectivity lets you print from and scan to popular Cloud services directly from the printer. There's no network setup needed for Near Field Communications (NFC) one "touch to connect" mobile device printing and scanning. Includes a two-year limited warranty and free online, call, or live chat support for the life of the printer.Prints up to 12 ISO ppm* in black, up to 10 ISO ppm* in color
Customer Rating
5
Capable and Small Footprint
on November 3, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This is an excellent printer with a small footprint, yet it can fax, scan, copy and print. It can also do 2-sided printing and has a large paper tray capacity of 150 sheets. I did try all the features and it worked flawlessly to scan, fax, copy or print single or double sided. Also you can use NFC connectivity. The setup is simple, it does come with a CD. It is wireless. I thought the printing was less intense than some printers, but there was enough color and I think this will result in more economical ink costs, I’ll keep an eye on this as I use it more.
I like the online manual at https://download.brother.com/welcome/doc100738/cv_dcp772dw_uke_rg.pdf it is worth downloading. It does come with a quick reference and a nice user guide, but having the quick lookup online is easier. Note on this printer you place the documents face-down on the scanner glass or in the document feeder to scan. You may miss the fact that you can put several pages into the document feeder not just one page – it is so compact that you might think its capacity was only single feed. In addition it has a feature that you might overlook but is handy. This feature is the single page manual feed in the back of the printer. It’s useful if you are using decal paper or other specialty papers and don’t want to use your main paper tray – worked very nicely.
It is nice to load the “Brother iPrint & Scan” app to your phone. You can then fax, copy, print or scan to this printer using NFC. For example, you just select a photo, then select to use the Brother iPrint & Scan app and tap the icon on the left side of the machine and it will print your photo – neat.
The plastic parts on this printer seem a little fragile but the new plastics are very strong so I feel it should be durable. I do recommend this printer at this price point for those who want a full function printer with a smaller footprint and not short on technology.
I like the online manual at https://download.brother.com/welcome/doc100738/cv_dcp772dw_uke_rg.pdf it is worth downloading. It does come with a quick reference and a nice user guide, but having the quick lookup online is easier. Note on this printer you place the documents face-down on the scanner glass or in the document feeder to scan. You may miss the fact that you can put several pages into the document feeder not just one page – it is so compact that you might think its capacity was only single feed. In addition it has a feature that you might overlook but is handy. This feature is the single page manual feed in the back of the printer. It’s useful if you are using decal paper or other specialty papers and don’t want to use your main paper tray – worked very nicely.
It is nice to load the “Brother iPrint & Scan” app to your phone. You can then fax, copy, print or scan to this printer using NFC. For example, you just select a photo, then select to use the Brother iPrint & Scan app and tap the icon on the left side of the machine and it will print your photo – neat.
The plastic parts on this printer seem a little fragile but the new plastics are very strong so I feel it should be durable. I do recommend this printer at this price point for those who want a full function printer with a smaller footprint and not short on technology.
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Clean your room quickly with this Shark DuoClean upright vacuum. Its deep-cleaning bristle brush and soft brushroll capture particles of any size, while the quick-release detachable canister lets you use the wand alone to reach hard-to-access spaces. This Shark DuoClean upright vacuum has LED headlights for visibility and an accessory storage compartment to keep everything organized.
Customer Rating
5
Smaller Head Offers Many Advantages
on October 25, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
Very nice vacuum design in terms of cleaning ability and it was very easy to empty the dust bin which isn’t always the case with many vacuums. Those are my top two requirements.
I found this to be a small but mighty vacuum. I like it as a second vacuum or your only vacuum for a smaller home or apartment. It is powerful and it is very light and it does have the lift away feature that is indispensable. Another feature is the smaller power head which I found great for under the floor cabinets in the kitchen – many vacuums won’t fit under those floor cabinets. So the relative smallness is a big plus where indeed less is more. Another feature I found great was that on either side of the power head there is a little brush that projects sideways toward your baseboard. These little brushes were very effective in cleaning those tiny dust-balls that many vacuums miss, even when you point the vacuum at the wall. So this alone was a ‘buy-this’ vacuum moment for me.
It does have on-board storage for your crevice tool and small brush but it’s not really a storage compartment. The accessories do click into place and are held solid which is nice. I dislike vacuums that have the cord come out near the bottom. This vacuum has the cord come out about half way up which is better – coming out at the top of the handle would be the best design though. The D loop handle is super, you will love that feature. LED headlights are another premium feature.
I do recommend this vacuum as very effective at picking up pet hair and normal dust.
It is indeed quite light for its power, which makes it easier to use as a normal vacuum and in the lift-away mode.
I found this to be a small but mighty vacuum. I like it as a second vacuum or your only vacuum for a smaller home or apartment. It is powerful and it is very light and it does have the lift away feature that is indispensable. Another feature is the smaller power head which I found great for under the floor cabinets in the kitchen – many vacuums won’t fit under those floor cabinets. So the relative smallness is a big plus where indeed less is more. Another feature I found great was that on either side of the power head there is a little brush that projects sideways toward your baseboard. These little brushes were very effective in cleaning those tiny dust-balls that many vacuums miss, even when you point the vacuum at the wall. So this alone was a ‘buy-this’ vacuum moment for me.
It does have on-board storage for your crevice tool and small brush but it’s not really a storage compartment. The accessories do click into place and are held solid which is nice. I dislike vacuums that have the cord come out near the bottom. This vacuum has the cord come out about half way up which is better – coming out at the top of the handle would be the best design though. The D loop handle is super, you will love that feature. LED headlights are another premium feature.
I do recommend this vacuum as very effective at picking up pet hair and normal dust.
It is indeed quite light for its power, which makes it easier to use as a normal vacuum and in the lift-away mode.
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Grill, bake, roast or broil with this Delonghi Livenza 0.5 cu. ft. digital compact convection oven. This compact oven saves space while providing enough capacity to save the hassle, heat and cost of using your full-size oven. This Delonghi Livenza 0.5 cu. ft. digital compact convection oven has toasting _and warming functions for maximum flexibility.
Customer Rating
5
Looks Sharp and Great Functionality
on October 23, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This toaster oven is sharp looking but more importantly it is very easy to use. Some toaster ovens have very confusing dials and buttons but this one is great. I tried Grill, Bake, Broil, Cookies, Pizza, and Toast and it was simple to set up my temperature and adjust for things like darkness of your toast. The instructions will cover how to use it to defrost and even use it as a slow-cooker – very nice. The very sharp LCD display is also wonderful. It is a smart toaster oven and if you select Toast for example and start it, you can see the time remaining counting down on the LCD display. It also has a warming function. Which I found useful as did my wife. When it is heating there is a red-light circle around the ‘Start/Stop’ button a very nice design point for safety. You can download a nice recipe app for your phone which is really useful. I tried a couple dessert recipes but it has recipes for entrees and sides as well. By the way the app doesn’t list this model E0141150, just select E0241150 and it has same recipes for you. Also it comes with a printed recipes.
Be careful, like any toaster oven it does get hot. It has a warning label on the top to remind you. It also has a double glass oven door which is first I’ve seen. It’s small but that’s really what I think is best, otherwise just use the full-size oven and wait twice as long and spend more money on electricity. Although it is small, a nice design point is the rounded back, so that a large pizza pan (which is included), will fit into the oven. It has a fan which helps circulate the air and it does have a convection setting. Another nice design point I think is that it is not too tall. Often you have these appliances on a counter where the cabinets will overhang it slightly. My previous toaster oven was higher but no larger inside; this beauty is not so tall which makes me feel better about the overhead cabinets – it is safer.
I do highly recommend this as easy to clean up (has a nice removeable crumb tray), beautiful to look at, really intuitive controls, all the functionality needed and it has 1800 watts of power – really nice.
Be careful, like any toaster oven it does get hot. It has a warning label on the top to remind you. It also has a double glass oven door which is first I’ve seen. It’s small but that’s really what I think is best, otherwise just use the full-size oven and wait twice as long and spend more money on electricity. Although it is small, a nice design point is the rounded back, so that a large pizza pan (which is included), will fit into the oven. It has a fan which helps circulate the air and it does have a convection setting. Another nice design point I think is that it is not too tall. Often you have these appliances on a counter where the cabinets will overhang it slightly. My previous toaster oven was higher but no larger inside; this beauty is not so tall which makes me feel better about the overhead cabinets – it is safer.
I do highly recommend this as easy to clean up (has a nice removeable crumb tray), beautiful to look at, really intuitive controls, all the functionality needed and it has 1800 watts of power – really nice.
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MX Vertical is an advanced ergonomic mouse that combines science-driven design with the elevated performance of Logitech’s MX series. The natural handshake position of MX Vertical reduces wrist pressure and forearm strain. The unique 57° vertical angle has been optimized for an ergonomic posture without compromising a pixel of performance. MX Vertical features a 4000 DPI high-precision sensor, resulting in 4x less hand movement and reducing fatigue. And the cursor speed switch allows you to instantly adjust DPI speed and accuracy with the touch of a button. MX Vertical stays powered for up to four months on a full charge – and gets three hours of use from a one-minute quick charge.
Customer Rating
5
Wonderful for Less Strain
on October 23, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
The purpose of a vertical mouse ultimately is comfort. It is not a gaming mouse so it should be understood up front that the precision of this mouse while it scans the surface beneath will yield a fair amount of accuracy, suitable for everyday computing and browsing as I experienced.
The key is the handshake position of your hand, that I did feel resulted in less fatigue and felt very comfortable right away. What I did find however is that during the first several hours of usage, it did seem that the mouse moved less smoothly over the surface. I believe this was only due to me getting used to the arm and hand movements being different from using a normal mouse. Don’t judge the mouse too soon, because you will find that your hand, wrist and arm will sort of subconsciously adjust for the different feel and you will be fine. It has a nice textured surface which feels solid and fits your hand really well. It is for right hand only.
You do have features that allow you to easily change the speeds and also to use this mouse smoothly with multiple displays. I’d advise you to download the Logitech Options app and this will enhance your ability to modify the mouse functions. It does come with a USB C charging cable and that is a nice step up. Another feedback item is that I used the mouse with the charging cable attached and when I removed the cable and used it as a wireless mouse, it seemed it moved more smoothly over my mousepad (which was just a piece of carpet). You may experience this also. I would suggest that a regulation-mousepad with a smoother surface will be better for you with this mouse. It is designed as a wireless mouse and you can use a dongle or connect via Bluetooth to free up a USB port.
This mouse is expensive but if you suffer with fatigue or aches when using a conventional mouse, I certainly would highly recommend it; it really does feel natural.
The key is the handshake position of your hand, that I did feel resulted in less fatigue and felt very comfortable right away. What I did find however is that during the first several hours of usage, it did seem that the mouse moved less smoothly over the surface. I believe this was only due to me getting used to the arm and hand movements being different from using a normal mouse. Don’t judge the mouse too soon, because you will find that your hand, wrist and arm will sort of subconsciously adjust for the different feel and you will be fine. It has a nice textured surface which feels solid and fits your hand really well. It is for right hand only.
You do have features that allow you to easily change the speeds and also to use this mouse smoothly with multiple displays. I’d advise you to download the Logitech Options app and this will enhance your ability to modify the mouse functions. It does come with a USB C charging cable and that is a nice step up. Another feedback item is that I used the mouse with the charging cable attached and when I removed the cable and used it as a wireless mouse, it seemed it moved more smoothly over my mousepad (which was just a piece of carpet). You may experience this also. I would suggest that a regulation-mousepad with a smoother surface will be better for you with this mouse. It is designed as a wireless mouse and you can use a dongle or connect via Bluetooth to free up a USB port.
This mouse is expensive but if you suffer with fatigue or aches when using a conventional mouse, I certainly would highly recommend it; it really does feel natural.
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Optimize your viewing experience on this 23-inch Dell LCD monitor. Its Full HD IPS screen lets you see content from almost any angle. Easily connect a laptop or a PC to the VGA and HDMI ports on this Dell LCD monitor.
Customer Rating
5
Nice Price for Solid Monitor
on October 15, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This monitor has an excellent price/performance point. It is very clear and offers several built-in color/brightness modes. It comes with a VGA port and an HDMI port, but no DisplayPort which is not expected at this low price point. It handled some gaming quite well but I’d prefer better specifications for gaming uses - for example 240Hz refresh rate and 1-ms response time. However, it is an excellent monitor especially if you have a laptop less than 15 inches and you want a bigger display to watch YouTube videos or even online movies; for these and your day to day functions it is quite nice. The stand is tilt-able and I found that adequate. If you need to raise it higher, you’ll need to put it on a stand.
One thing that caught me a little by surprise is that with an HDMI connection, two different laptops defaulted to the monitor for sound. Since this monitor has no speakers this is peculiar. It is easy enough to click on your speaker icon and choose to use other speakers, but I think there could be a firmware update that fixes this. This little snag is probably due to the fact that there are three models of displays of which this monitor is the low end one. One of the other models in the series does have speakers. I actually don’t want speaker-monitors. Since the new Bluetooth speakers are so good, I use those; but wanted to give a heads up in my review for this situation.
It has selectable modes for Standard, ComfortView, Movie, Game, Warm and Cool. You can also configure a custom viewing level that you might prefer. I did like the Movie view for everything since it seemed to tone down the glossy appearance of this screen. You should definitely try different modes; and even use different modes for different purposes. It is very easy to use the menus that the monitor provides. At this price point this monitor is a very good choice, I do recommend it.
One thing that caught me a little by surprise is that with an HDMI connection, two different laptops defaulted to the monitor for sound. Since this monitor has no speakers this is peculiar. It is easy enough to click on your speaker icon and choose to use other speakers, but I think there could be a firmware update that fixes this. This little snag is probably due to the fact that there are three models of displays of which this monitor is the low end one. One of the other models in the series does have speakers. I actually don’t want speaker-monitors. Since the new Bluetooth speakers are so good, I use those; but wanted to give a heads up in my review for this situation.
It has selectable modes for Standard, ComfortView, Movie, Game, Warm and Cool. You can also configure a custom viewing level that you might prefer. I did like the Movie view for everything since it seemed to tone down the glossy appearance of this screen. You should definitely try different modes; and even use different modes for different purposes. It is very easy to use the menus that the monitor provides. At this price point this monitor is a very good choice, I do recommend it.
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Go beyond the coffeehouse with the Ninja Hot and Cold Brew System. This brewing system gives you the ability to brew hot, flavorful cups of coffee and tea or over-ice beverages, all powered by Advanced Thermal Flavor Extraction Technology with Auto-iQ. Enjoy Coffee and Tea Choose between smooth, naturally sweet Cold Brew coffee or tea and vivid, authentic flavored iced coffee or tea that's never diluted.
Customer Rating
5
Smart, Functional and Great Coffee or Tea
on October 14, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This is the best coffee maker I have used. It also will steep tea. It is very simple to use and that is one of the most important considerations of a well-designed coffee maker. You can choose your own coffee of course and we chose to grind the coffee before each carafe was made. The taste is marvelous and my wife declared that she doesn’t need to get the expensive coffee brews from a well-known chain because this machine makes better coffee. It is not cheap but it has the internal circuitry that makes it so easy to use and so functional. It also has separate filters and baskets for coffee or tea. This is very important, someone at Ninja was listening to customers; as you don’t want to make coffee in something used for tea and vice versa. If you want to interrupt the brew to pour off a cup you can stop the machine with a button and then restart it after you pour your quick cup, another feature where Ninja was listening to customers and implemented a feature many coffee makers don’t have - wonderful. The system also recognizes whether you have the coffee or tea basket installed and modifies the selection panel - very nice technology. You can purchase the unit with a glass carafe or a double walled stainless steel which I have. The stainless steel does cost more but is worth it – it is so very nice and keeps the brew hotter over time. You could also brew into a thermos or a mug if you like. Safety point, Ninja says their glass carafe is fine, but not to use other glass carafes that may not take the heat and this is to be expected.
You can make cold or hot brews. You also have a swing out frother that works great with hot or cold milk. We used skim milk and it frothed very well, but you can use any type of milk. This frother does not heat the milk but I see that as a plus as it just takes 20 seconds to heat your milk in the microwave and then use the frother. The arm on the frother twists off nicely for cleaning, another well done design-point.
You make your selections of hot or cold brewing type. Then just select the amount of coffee you want and hit a button, it will customize the brewing to make exactly what you want – nice. It also comes with a handy measurement scoop that attaches magnetically to the side of the machine. I thought that’s nice, but my wife was super pleased with this rather simple accessory and she is more the coffee maker, so that’s great too.
I definitely recommend this nice and smart coffee maker.
You can make cold or hot brews. You also have a swing out frother that works great with hot or cold milk. We used skim milk and it frothed very well, but you can use any type of milk. This frother does not heat the milk but I see that as a plus as it just takes 20 seconds to heat your milk in the microwave and then use the frother. The arm on the frother twists off nicely for cleaning, another well done design-point.
You make your selections of hot or cold brewing type. Then just select the amount of coffee you want and hit a button, it will customize the brewing to make exactly what you want – nice. It also comes with a handy measurement scoop that attaches magnetically to the side of the machine. I thought that’s nice, but my wife was super pleased with this rather simple accessory and she is more the coffee maker, so that’s great too.
I definitely recommend this nice and smart coffee maker.
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Send voice-activated commands via the built-in Google Assistant of this Sony Bluetooth portable speaker. Its EXTRA BASS and LIVE SOUND modes deliver powerful audio, and the multicolored lights and flashing strobe create a party ambiance. This Sony Bluetooth portable speaker resists splashes and dust for durable outdoor use, and the 16-hour battery life provides extended listening time.
Customer Rating
5
Big Booming Sound
on October 11, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
This speaker is bigger and has more bass than any other I have used. You have a Live button and it worked great to make the sound fuller and more vibrant. Google Assistant is built in and the WiFi is very powerful as from my basement to the router on the 2nd floor the connection was instant. I liked being able to say ‘Heh Google’ what’s this or what’s that when I watched a movie on TV. I can ask for this info using my phone but it is more convenient to use the Google Assistant built into this unit. I struggled and never got it to be able to make phone calls although it was connected Bluetooth-wise to my Android cell phone. When I ask it to make a call it just says ‘…sorry I can't make calls yet’ I usually can navigate a process to do things like this, so I concluded the interface is either too complicated or does not exist. However, I can easily use Google Assistant app on my phone to make a call. I can't fault this speaker for that problem however. I think it would work better with Google Fi which is a connection option but I don’t use Google Fi.
It does have a great battery charge of about 15 hours and it is as easy as pressing a button to hear the current charge. It also has a USB-C two-way port on the back which is great if you need a charger for your phone. You can also turn off listening for ‘Heh Google’, and you may find out this is very useful if you are using or testing other devices and still playing music with this terrific speaker and don’t want this speaker answering. It also paired easily with my phone and an AirTV box and my Desktop PC. The lights are very nice and the lights can be turned off with a button on top of the device which is a important feature. You can use it with the Sony Music Center app. If you like you can utilize services that you pay for to give you more music capabilities. I just used Google Play Music and YouTube and it was great. I would recommend this product for bigger sound than you can get from the smaller similar gadgets.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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-2points
0of 2voted this as helpful.
Let nothing hold you back with these BackBeat FIT 3100 wireless sport earbuds. Always Aware ear tips maintain an audible level of outside noise to keep you conscious of your surroundings, and the soft, flexible ear hooks ensure a secure, comfortable fit. The charging case of these water-resistant BackBeat FIT 3100 wireless sport earbuds provides 10 hours of additional battery life.
Customer Rating
5
Solid, Well Designed, Great Sound
on October 8, 2018
Posted by: RalphHenry
from Youngsville, NC
The Backbit Fit 3100 is a very nice wireless earbud set. I do prefer separate earbuds which this device provides (no wire or plastic connector between earbuds). The sound is greats from all sources I tested including a Lenovo AIO, a Dell Laptop, a Sling AirTV, and a Moto Z Play android phone. Pairing was easy in all cases. The controls are simple, but you do need to read the startup guide to understand how to utilize the one-touch buttons. You can also go to their excellent website and find a more detailed manual and help – just go to Plantronics.com/setup/backbeat-fit-3100.
I did have trouble using the Plantronics Companion, Hub and Backbeat apps. None of them would connect to the earbuds even though the buds were paired with my phone. I even paired the earbuds through the app and it saw them but for some reason the apps would not connect them to use the features of the apps. Also when I registered the product the serial number was not recognized but it did let me register the product by name. The Companion app is used to update firmware and looked easy enough, but as I mentioned it didn’t talk to this device although the website seemed to indicate it would. I called Plantronics and I have to say the support was excellent. However, they didn’t solve any app problems, just indicated this product is so new, that the apps aren’t in place yet to interface with it – however this does contradict the Quick Start Guide and their website. I did lodge a warranty problem due to the app problems and it went through, was assigned a ‘claim number’ and I got an email with a mailing label. So again the support from Plantronics does seem to be top-notch. The device itself works very well so I didn’t take off a star for the lag in getting their apps updated for this product as of yet.
The buds are super comfortable yet solid and do not even move during a short jog. They have a very soft inner rubber nipple and an over the ear hook that is soft as well. Battery life is about 5 hours but the great little case can give you 10 hours more without plugging in the case to a charging source. The buds are noise cancelling which may partly account for the rich sound. The design is such that you can hear outside sounds which is what I wanted – i.e. they don’t block out traffic noises or conversation and this is a safety design point. They are also sweat and waterproof. The buds go in the case to be charged and a short micro-USB to USB cable is provided. Very nice quality for all items. I do recommend these for people who jog around a lot including up and down hills with bumps and so forth as these buds will stay put.
I did have trouble using the Plantronics Companion, Hub and Backbeat apps. None of them would connect to the earbuds even though the buds were paired with my phone. I even paired the earbuds through the app and it saw them but for some reason the apps would not connect them to use the features of the apps. Also when I registered the product the serial number was not recognized but it did let me register the product by name. The Companion app is used to update firmware and looked easy enough, but as I mentioned it didn’t talk to this device although the website seemed to indicate it would. I called Plantronics and I have to say the support was excellent. However, they didn’t solve any app problems, just indicated this product is so new, that the apps aren’t in place yet to interface with it – however this does contradict the Quick Start Guide and their website. I did lodge a warranty problem due to the app problems and it went through, was assigned a ‘claim number’ and I got an email with a mailing label. So again the support from Plantronics does seem to be top-notch. The device itself works very well so I didn’t take off a star for the lag in getting their apps updated for this product as of yet.
The buds are super comfortable yet solid and do not even move during a short jog. They have a very soft inner rubber nipple and an over the ear hook that is soft as well. Battery life is about 5 hours but the great little case can give you 10 hours more without plugging in the case to a charging source. The buds are noise cancelling which may partly account for the rich sound. The design is such that you can hear outside sounds which is what I wanted – i.e. they don’t block out traffic noises or conversation and this is a safety design point. They are also sweat and waterproof. The buds go in the case to be charged and a short micro-USB to USB cable is provided. Very nice quality for all items. I do recommend these for people who jog around a lot including up and down hills with bumps and so forth as these buds will stay put.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Only at Best Buy Dell Inspiron Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Enjoy the convenience of a tablet or the functionality of a computer with this Dell Inspiron Starlord laptop. The 15-inch touch screen makes viewing the small details on websites simple, and the Intel Core processor keeps the computer running commands quickly. This Dell Inspiron Starlord laptop has a backlit keyboard so you can type in the dark.
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5physically shake the laptop? Warning
By Kevin
After looking for a powerful engineering laptop to meet my need, this Dell product is a great one. Design is great, sleek, and powerful. Has windows hello, hd screen and a 2 in 1. However it only has 2 USB ports. I wish dell would added more ports. Fast boot up with ssd, and a good backlight keyboard. However after a week of use, when I would hold the laptop and walk you could here a sound. Now this is when it is off. It seems that something is moving inside or it could be from the manufacture. So I returned it and sought to get the replacement. They opened the replacement and when they shaked it the same sound came from it. The best buy rep seemed to say its nothing and it does not matter where I presented this laptop to a computer engineer at my school, who told be its should not be doing that. Now the one on display did not have the defect. But it is amazing that a laptop of this power has this defect. So to wrap up, if you want to buy this laptop make sure to shake it. Seems weird but you don't want to end up loosing your money
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Can Expand Number of USB Ports
February 10, 2017
As you say it has only one 2.0 and only one 3.0 USB port, but this is easily mitigated. For about $20 you can purchase a 4 port USB hub for when you may need added ports. You won't notice any speed difference. Here's one at BBuy: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-4-port-usb-3-0-hub-black/4333600.p?skuId=4333600 PS: My unit does not make any noise when you shake it, and unless it needs to turn on the fan it has zero noise in operation. I did the fan and it is noticeable but that's good since it is being turned on to ensure cooling.
-1point
0of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Passport® mini offers convenient amplification for any instrument or microphone. It's perfect for performances by street musicians and students, as well as a basic public address system for events and presentations. It goes anywhere thanks to its dual AC- or Battery-powered capabilities. It can even be used as a music media playback system or computer recording interface.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Great Little Amp & PC Software
By RalphHenry
from Raleigh, NC
This amp is tremendous. No hum and lots of adjustments that at first seem over whelming, but then you catch on and it is reasonably simply to operate. The Fender Fuse software is great. I played around and could hear the difference easily as I changed presets and effects. It is not powerful, but it does have 7 watts RMS, fine for in the house. The software is cool, anything you change on the computer changes the adjustments in the little amp flawlessly. First thing I did was follow the instructions to upgrade the firmware to pick up any fixes or enhancements. Then you just have a ball playing around. It does have a vocal and instrument channel as well as an IPOD or other input. I ran it on batteries as well as AC with the included adapter. It also includes your USB cable to connect to the computer. I'm not an expert so this helps me learn about a lot of effects and styles by letting you hear the differences. GREAT. If you are an experienced guitar player, you will probably have other amps but this one may be nice to practice and learn with.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Got Another One
February 16, 2017
I gave the first one to my Uncle. I got another one used from a friend that did not work. However it appears that only a loose wire was the cause so it is now fixed. Also did not work on battery power, but I found that the spring contacts for the batteries were smashed down and didn't actually make contact. Once I pulled the contacts out the unit began to work on battery power as well as AC. So if you find a unit not working on battery power check the contacts.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
We know pets makes messes. Whether it's tracked-in mud or bathroom accidents, BISSELL® ProHeat 2X® Revolution® Pet Pro Plus carpet cleaner handles those though pet messes with its exclusive Pet Pro Cleanup System. This system includes a CleanShot® pretreater to remove spots and stains; the 2-in-1 Pet Upholstery Tool to remove pet hair, stains and odors from upholstery, a trial-size of BISSELL® PET PRO OXY Urine Eliminator formula, and an EZ Clean Brush Roll Cover to make maintaining the machine easy. When used in MAX Clean Mode, you get powerful cleaning that outcleans the leading rental*** and leaves carpet dry in about 30 minutes with Express Clean Mode.** All of this cleaning power comes in a lightweight and maneuverable machine with a low-profile foot that gets under furniture. But this machine doesn't just pick up after pets, it helps save them, too. BISSELL® proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation® and its mission to help save homeless pets. When you buy a BISSELL product, you help save pets, too. We’re proud to design products that help make pet messes, odors and pet homelessness disappear.***Cleaning results based on ASTM F2828 using BISSELL PET PRO OXY Urine Eliminator formula in MAX clean mode against the Rug Doctor Mighty Pro X3 carpet cleaner using their top selling formula.**Express Clean Mode (reference instruction in user guide). Tested on new carpet with protectant. Results may vary.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5Sadly, Very disappointed with this cleaner
By Laddie
Pros - Light weight and easy to maneuver - intuitive design makes it easy to use and nice design.
Cons - very low suction and seems to clog up after one use. No horsepower listed on the box and was told it was very powerful by a sales person.
The story - I went to Best Buy to purchase the Hoover SteamVac F7452-900 All Terrain Steam Cleaner with SpinScrub which is advertised being at the store. I have had the Hoover model for over 5 years and it has been an incredible workhorse typically using it twice a week. Strong suction and allowed for quick drying over large areas. We moved from a 6-bedroom home of 3,300 square feet to a 1,000 foot two bedroom two bath apartment. Didn't think I would need all the power of the Hoover but with two small dogs, well, they sometimes miss the puppy pads. I'm hoping I will be able to return the new Bissell for a Hoover.
BEST BUY - this is not a fault of Best Buy - they are a great store that carries quality items - unfortunately I didn't do the homework needed to evaluate this product adequately - I should have waited for the Hoover that I wanted...
Cons - very low suction and seems to clog up after one use. No horsepower listed on the box and was told it was very powerful by a sales person.
The story - I went to Best Buy to purchase the Hoover SteamVac F7452-900 All Terrain Steam Cleaner with SpinScrub which is advertised being at the store. I have had the Hoover model for over 5 years and it has been an incredible workhorse typically using it twice a week. Strong suction and allowed for quick drying over large areas. We moved from a 6-bedroom home of 3,300 square feet to a 1,000 foot two bedroom two bath apartment. Didn't think I would need all the power of the Hoover but with two small dogs, well, they sometimes miss the puppy pads. I'm hoping I will be able to return the new Bissell for a Hoover.
BEST BUY - this is not a fault of Best Buy - they are a great store that carries quality items - unfortunately I didn't do the homework needed to evaluate this product adequately - I should have waited for the Hoover that I wanted...
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Must Vacuum First
May 10, 2017
I think I know why you might have less suction or clogging. I learned this the hard way. It is best to vacuum the carpet prior to using this machine - actually every carpet shampooer requires this step. You may have skipped doing this, but if not you may need to use the tool they include and slide it into the nozzle and remove any hair and other clogs. Anyway it worked great for me. The other area to check is the 'red filter' below the dirty tank, I noticed this gets pretty much completely covered and although you clean the tank you need to also clean this filter (see page 16 of the manual Step 5). Hope this helps.
+8points
8of 8voted this comment as helpful.
Kick your listening experience up to a whole new level with wireless JLab Audio Epic Bluetooth earbuds. The 10-hour battery life lets you enjoy your music all day, and crystal clear radical sound creates a smooth, precise and memorable listening experience. Get the most out of your music, phone calls and audio books with JLab Audio Epic Bluetooth earbuds.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Cheap Materials, Bad Sound, Poor Quality Control
By ryanmcv
I wanted to like these, but JLab really dropped the ball with my set of Epic2 headphones. I'd normally list the pros first, but I'm so disappointed that I'm starting with the cons.
CONS:
- The Epic2s are supposed to come with 6 pairs of silicone ear tips. Well, I got 6 ear tips, but not 6 PAIRS of ear tips. My box only had 1 of each type of ear tip. Yes, I looked everywhere - inside the carrying case, in every plastic bag -- they're not there.
- After I removed the headphones from the box, I noticed that the black coating on the cord was starting to peel. This is probably because JLab forcefully bends the cord to fit it into the awkward box. Not a good first impression, and I'm sure it's only going to get worse.
- It's too bad that JLab didn't provide all of the ear tips, because the ones that come installed by default do not fit me well at all. They are way too small for my ears and slide out while I'm running. It would have been nice to try another set of ear tips, but I obviously can't do that.
- These things just aren't comfortable on my ears. The over-ear loops just feel awkward and don't allow much room for adjustment.
- The cord is just ridiculously long. The headphones come with 2 cable clips (which I actually got - yay!), but they are awkward to use and you're warned that using them might kill your Bluetooth connection. No thanks.
- The volume and track control buttons are horribly placed. I feel like I have to reach around and grab the back of my neck if I want to adjust the volume.
- Speaking of sound and volume, these headphones just don't sound good. They are way too bass-heavy and voices/dialogue sound extremely muted.
- The Epic2s are supposed to come with 6 pairs of silicone ear tips. Well, I got 6 ear tips, but not 6 PAIRS of ear tips. My box only had 1 of each type of ear tip. Yes, I looked everywhere - inside the carrying case, in every plastic bag -- they're not there.
- After I removed the headphones from the box, I noticed that the black coating on the cord was starting to peel. This is probably because JLab forcefully bends the cord to fit it into the awkward box. Not a good first impression, and I'm sure it's only going to get worse.
- It's too bad that JLab didn't provide all of the ear tips, because the ones that come installed by default do not fit me well at all. They are way too small for my ears and slide out while I'm running. It would have been nice to try another set of ear tips, but I obviously can't do that.
- These things just aren't comfortable on my ears. The over-ear loops just feel awkward and don't allow much room for adjustment.
- The cord is just ridiculously long. The headphones come with 2 cable clips (which I actually got - yay!), but they are awkward to use and you're warned that using them might kill your Bluetooth connection. No thanks.
- The volume and track control buttons are horribly placed. I feel like I have to reach around and grab the back of my neck if I want to adjust the volume.
- Speaking of sound and volume, these headphones just don't sound good. They are way too bass-heavy and voices/dialogue sound extremely muted.
PROS:
- They turn on and connect to Bluetooth as expected.
- Comes with a nice carrying case.
- Battery life estimate of 12 hours seems to be accurate.
- They turn on and connect to Bluetooth as expected.
- Comes with a nice carrying case.
- Battery life estimate of 12 hours seems to be accurate.
OVERALL:
I've emailed JLab to see about getting replacement ear tips, but even with those, I think I'll still avoid these headphones. I wouldn't want the cord to start peeling apart mid-workout. The title of this review says it all: these headphones are made from cheap materials, have bad sound quality, and apparently go through minimal quality control processes. Avoid at all costs.
I've emailed JLab to see about getting replacement ear tips, but even with those, I think I'll still avoid these headphones. I wouldn't want the cord to start peeling apart mid-workout. The title of this review says it all: these headphones are made from cheap materials, have bad sound quality, and apparently go through minimal quality control processes. Avoid at all costs.
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC
Just on the ear tips
June 30, 2017
I know you said they were not included and you looked hard, but I found the small bag with one half of the ear tips and on the placard the other half of each size were connected in the cardboard. I would agree it was odd packaging. But I have a feeling that you might (just maybe) have easily tossed them, baby-with-bath-water style.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
RalphHenry's Questions
RalphHenry has not submitted any questions.
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.
Streaming Apps
Does this unit get Amazon Prime videos?
Yes it has Prime Instant Video and lot more stuff like Hulu, YouTube etc. It works great. It kind of made my older TV a Smart TV !
9 years, 2 months ago
by
RalphHenry
Raleigh, NC