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Alpha013
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- Review count10
- Helpfulness votes61
- First reviewJune 12, 2016
- Last reviewApril 27, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.7
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- First answerJune 12, 2016
- Last answerJune 12, 2016
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Alpha013's Reviews
![Planet Earth II [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray] [3 Discs]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5721/5721109_sa.jpg)
This sequel to the critically acclaimed BBC series about the vast scope of life on earth. Sir David Attenborough presents this collection of UltraHD footage of deserts, jungles, mountains, grasslands, islands and more, shot with the latest technologies and showcasing a living record of our home planet's flora, fauna and geography.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
I'll be honest - I bought these because I read they looked amazing in 4K HDR. I hadn't seen the original Planet Earth series, but I heard really good things about it. I'm not the type that would normally watch a nature documentary, but the way they put these together is pretty captivating. It's a really great window into so many unique places and David Attenborough does a fantastic job of narrating.
I've watched a few UHD Blu Ray movies and this is by far the best I've seen visually. The colors just pop. If you've got a 4K HDR TV and the UHD Blu Ray player to back it up this is a must-have.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With its Bluetooth interface, this Logitech MX Anywhere 2 910-004373 wireless mouse enables you to pair with up to 3 Bluetooth Smart Ready devices simultaneously. Darkfield Laser Tracking technology allows operation on most surfaces, including glass.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
This is one of the best mice I've ever had. It's extremely comfortable to use and it tracks really well. All of the buttons have a great feel and I especially like the scroll wheel.
The mouse itself has 5 buttons - left click, right click, forward and back buttons by the thumb rest, and a 'gesture' button. Clicking the scroll wheel switches between normal scrolling and a fast scrolling, which was initially disappointed me. I use the middle click a lot to open multiple tabs and not having that in the scroll wheel is pretty awkward for me. You can remap the 'gesture' button right above the scroll wheel to be a middle click, but it's still not as natural to me. This is my only real problem with this mouse.
You can connect to the mouse over Bluetooth or Logitech's Unifying adapter, which is nice. I like that you can do both and there are 3 presets that you can cycle between on the bottom of the mouse if you want to use the mouse on multiple devices. I do wish there was a spot to store the USB adapter in the mouse. Most other mobile mice I've seen have a spot to store their USB adapter under the battery cover. I only use my mouse over Bluetooth on one device though, so this wasn't really an issue for me.
I find myself missing the middle click on the scroll wheel less and less as I use this. I still wish it was there, but everything else is just so good that it's not a deal breaker for me.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This interconnect cable is designed for joining audio components and features gold-plated connectors for efficient signal transfer.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
I had to buy this cable to replace a damaged one in my wife's car. Running it from the stereo in the front to the amplifier in the back required me to push and pull it through some tight spaces and it held up well. Worked without any problems once I got everything connected.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 is a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem with 32 downstream x 8 upstream bonded channels, making it a perfect addition to your home network. The SB6190 is best for cable internet speed plans up to 800 Mbps.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
There's not much I can say about this, except that it does its job very well and I haven't had any trouble getting my advertised speed through Comcast (200Mbps). It's very compact and easy to tuck away. I have mine out in the open with my router and I will say the LED front panel lights are a little bright for my taste, but I would consider that a very minor knock against it. The modem is also DOCSIS 3.0, not 3.1, which makes it not as future-proof as I'd like, but for me (and most others I suspect) it's not really going to be an issue for a little while.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
I bought Google Home knowing that it was going to be limited in the things it could do and the services it supports, but I am excited for what Google adds to this in the future. For now, it works pretty good most of the time.
The thing itself is very inconspicuous. It's probably about half the size of the Amazon Echo and is very neutral white/grey color. You might mistake it for an air freshener or some kind of lamp. I really like the way that it blends in. I don't think the hardware itself is something that is meant to be noticed. The base can be changed out for other colors, which is nice, but I think I will be leaving mine the way it is. It looks nice and that's about all I have to say about it.
You can use Google Home just like you use Google's voice assistant on your phone. It will look up facts, tell you about restaurants, do math, play music, etc. I have found the responses to most of my questions to be very clear and easy to understand. I really like how it can maintain the context of the conversation as well. For example, you could ask Google 'How tall is Kevin Durant?' and then follow up with 'How old is he?' or 'What team does he play for?'. It's a small thing, but it's really nice not having to spell out every question every time. The built-in microphones work really well and you can speak to or call out to it in the same volume you would use to talk to an actual person. I've encountered questions that Google doesn't have an answer for, but even if it doesn't have an answer it seems to understand what I am asking and doesn't mix my words up.
The speaker works well enough can get pretty loud at maximum volume. It's not going to be as good as some of the better Bluetooth speakers, but I found the sound quality to be good enough for my Google Play Music. It's worth noting that you can only play music through Google Cast. Google Cast generally sounds better to me than Bluetooth and doesn't have the range limitations, but if your phone or music service doesn't support it you're out of luck listening to music.
You can also use Google Home to control your lights if you have Phillips Hue or Samsung SmartThings. It also supports IFTTT, so you could use that as a middle-man to control even more things. I don't have any smart devices in my home, but I plan to in the future and it was one of the reasons I bought Google Home.
You can also use Google Home to cast and control music and videos to other Chromecasts as well. My Vizio TV and soundbar both have Google Cast built in, but unfortunately their firmware hasn't yet been upgraded to support Google Home's functionality. It's disappointing, but I know the support will be there in the next few months and that Google will continue to add features and services.
As it stands right now I think Google Home works really well and I know it's only going to get better with time. I think with everything that's yet to be supported for this might make it feel like it's half-baked, but it doesn't feel like that to me. What's there works great and it can only get better from here.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With so many devices in use, your home network is busier than ever. This Linksys router can eliminate slowdown and interference by delivering Wi-Fi signals directly to each device, so everyone can listen to music, stream movies, and shop or game online at the same time..
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
I got this router for my parents after their old router started to become unreliable. I am a big fan of the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi interface and the app is very well done. Being able to log into it from anywhere whenever they are having a problem is really nice. I know that is a feature that other routers have, but Linksys' implementation seems much better than most. The Wi-Fi range and speeds are great and it covers a larger home with a basement easily. Having MU-MIMO, while not that beneficial right now because it's still new, is also really nice.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Stream movies, TV shows and music, or play your favorite games online without disruption. This router lets you simultaneously stream on multiple devices, and even access your network when you’re not at home with the OpenVPN Connect app.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
This has been a really good reliable router for me. I would say the range is maybe not what I thought it would be, but it covers my 3 bedroom house easily. The web interface offers a lot of flexibility and advanced configuration options and it's pretty easy to use, but coming from the Linksys Smart Wi-Fi interface I don't think it's quite as good. The Genie app is okay, but I ended up uninstalling it because it doesn't seem that useful. These are all very minor points and the router itself works great. I don't think anything I have is MU-MIMO compatible, but that will be the case for most people. When more MU-MIMO clients start showing up I think this router will really show its benefits.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy a world of entertainment with Google Chromecast. Just connect to your HDTV's HDMI interface and your home Wi-Fi network to get started. You can stream your favorite apps from your compatible phone, tablet or laptop, plus use your phone as a remote to search, play and pause content.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
There isn't much to say about this. If you know how to use the video apps you already have on you phone then this is by far the simplest way to watch anything on your TV. It seems like every major app out there (Android and iPhone) supports Google Cast, with the notable except of Apple and Amazon's own apps.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The VIZIO SmartCast 38” 5.1 Sound Bar System delivers true surround sound that produces up to 101 dB1. Download the VIZIO SmartCast app2 to turn your mobile device into the ultimate remote and discover music across multiple apps at once.
Customer Rating
5
Simple and Inexpensive Way Into Real 5.1 Sound
on June 25, 2016
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
I looked for a long time before going with this system. I own one of Vizio's new P-series TVs, so the new SmartCast series of soundbars seemed like the perfect compliment to my TV.
The rear satellite speakers are wired and connect to the wireless subwoofer. I have the subwoofer placed in the back of the room and the cables that are provided for the speakers give you plenty of length to route them as needed. The sound is great and I don't think you can do any better for this price. I was looking at home theater in a box systems, but I did not want to mess with all of those wires and a Blu Ray player that wasn't 4K. With this soundbar connected to my TVs HDMI-ARC port I can get 5.1 sound from everything connected to my TV. The soundbar has Google Cast built into as well and you can download the Vizio SmartCast app to your phone or tablet to adjust the settings or power it on (an actual remote is included as well).
For me, simplicity won out in the end. I knew I could have gone for an AV receiver and speakers for $100-$200 more and I would likely have had better sound and support for more audio formats, but I just did not have the room for all of that stuff. I'm very happy with what I get from this and it just acts like a part of my TV.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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LED 4K Ultra HD Home Theater Display: Watch movies in thrilling detail with this VIZIO P-series 55-inch 4K Home Theater Display, which provides four times the resolution of a 1080p display. Equipped with five HDMI ports and a USB 2.0, this Home Theater Display lets you connect multiple devices, and the Wi-Fi connectivity lets you connect a wireless subwoofer. This VIZIO P-series 55-inch 4K Home Theater Display provides support for streaming apps.
Posted by: Alpha013
from Portland, OR
The picture quality on this TV is pretty incredible. It's obviously at its best when you have a 4K HDR source, but standard 4K and 1080p content still look great on this. I love the tablet remote and once you get used to Google Casting everything to the TV I found that to be a lot more intuitive than using some built in TV app because you're just working the app you already know on your phone. The built-in speakers aren't that great, but if you're looking at a TV like this a soundbar or surround sound system is pretty much a must.
I wish I could rate this 4.5 stars, not 5. I chose 5 stars because the issues I'm having with this TV seem fixable. The audio cuts out sometimes on me and Google Cast is pretty consistent, but does not always do what it should. These are all issues that can be fixed via software/firmware updates, so I'm not going to degrade my rating because of that. I've already seen one update from Vizio since I owned the TV and it seems like they are staying on top of it.
My Best Buy number: 2138182306
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Alpha013's Answers
LED 4K Ultra HD Home Theater Display: Watch movies in thrilling detail with this VIZIO P-series 55-inch 4K Home Theater Display, which provides four times the resolution of a 1080p display. Equipped with five HDMI ports and a USB 2.0, this Home Theater Display lets you connect multiple devices, and the Wi-Fi connectivity lets you connect a wireless subwoofer. This VIZIO P-series 55-inch 4K Home Theater Display provides support for streaming apps.
Does this TV have HDMI 2.0 or is this TV not future proof.
Yes. All of the HDMI ports are 2.0. Here are the specifications on each port per Vizio's website:
HDMI 1-4 Tech Specs600MHz pixel clock rate: 2160p@60fps, 4:4:4, 8-bit | 2160p@60fps, 4:2:2, 12-bit
2160p@60fps, 4:2:0, 12-bit
HDMI 5 Tech Specs370MHz pixel clock rate: 2160p@60fps, 4:2:2, 8-bit | 2160p@60fps, 4:2:0, 10-bit
1080p@120fps, 4:4:4, 10-bit | 1080p@120fps, 4:2:2, 12-bit
I believe HDMI 5 is slightly different because it it is intended to be used with game consoles and allows for a faster response time.
HDMI 1-4 Tech Specs600MHz pixel clock rate: 2160p@60fps, 4:4:4, 8-bit | 2160p@60fps, 4:2:2, 12-bit
2160p@60fps, 4:2:0, 12-bit
HDMI 5 Tech Specs370MHz pixel clock rate: 2160p@60fps, 4:2:2, 8-bit | 2160p@60fps, 4:2:0, 10-bit
1080p@120fps, 4:4:4, 10-bit | 1080p@120fps, 4:2:2, 12-bit
I believe HDMI 5 is slightly different because it it is intended to be used with game consoles and allows for a faster response time.
7 years, 10 months ago
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Alpha013