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    32
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  • First review
    November 24, 2014
  • Last review
    March 25, 2024
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  • Answer count
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  • First answer
    December 21, 2016
  • Last answer
    October 9, 2021
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DickieUK's Reviews
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Meet, stream, master with the Logitech MX Brio Ultra HD 4K Webcam for Collaboration and Streaming. Experience sharp, ultra HD 4k resolution video with AI image enhancement, our in-house designed lens, and our most advanced webcam sensor yet with 70% bigger pixels for 2X better face visibility and 2x finer image details in difficult lighting conditions.. Fine controls on this HD webcam let you precisely adjust lighting and white balance with ISO, Shutter Speed, Temperature, Tint, and Vibrance. Dual omnidirectional microphones reduce background sound so you can be heard clearly with noise-reducing technology. Show Mode lets you share your physical work and notes on video calls by tilting the web camera down.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
The best camera on the market for collaboration
on March 25, 2024
Posted by: DickieUK
Remember the days before the pandemic, when video cameras were just for (1) YouTube creators and (2) catching up with family? I admit that I had occasionally used them for the odd work meeting, but just like the family overseas call the features and quality were never really a concern. Can you see and hear me ok? Ok, then we're good.
Fast forward a few years to today, and I feel like I'm missing something when I 'work' with someone remotely and I can't see them. Those subtle person-to-person cues that you miss out on in voice calls make the difference between talking to someone and connecting with them. Like most people I live and die with the camera on now, primarily for work - meeting with customers, catching up with colleagues is all part of my day to day experience, and the latest Logitech Brio has a few tricks up its sleeve to make things easier.
There are the usual features you would expect - a built in 'shutter' for privacy, and through the Logitech software ,the ability to change the field of view, apply filters and adjust for light/white balance etc.as well as the ability to make fine grain changes (or just use 'auto' and let the sensor figure it out - my preferred option)
For those of you familiar with Apple devices and their 'center stage' camera option, the MX Brio adds something called 'RightSight' , which performs exactly the same function. As you move about in the field of view, the image automatically tracks to keep you in the center. In my testing this was a little hit and miss depending on the settings you use for distance and speed, but again using the default settings seems to the best option.
If you're coming from the previous Logitech Brio - you're probably thinking, do I need to upgrade? Well just on the RightSight feature alone, I'd say probably not - but if like me you are collaborating and want people to see what you're doing the killer feature is the update to the mount.
You can now pivot the camera straight down to show your desk, so if you're illustraiting something , playing an instrument (like I do) and want people to see that - no need for additional cameras, just flip the camera down, and it will automatically flip the image to keep it right-way-up in 'show mode'.
As I'm doing more collaboration these days, the combination of these image and audio enhancements (some taken care of by AI) all enhance that person to person experience, but the RightSight and the flip-down Show Mode make it much more of an interactive experience. The only question is , do I buy two to make sure the person on the other end is getting the same benefits!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whether you’re calling loved ones, texting friends or ordering takeout food online, your phone is vital to your lifestyle. It’s important to keep it charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice. The Insignia NS- NS-MC5CL4W24 4' USB-C to Lightning Charge-and-Sync Cable with Braided Jacket is more than up to the task. It’ll not only help charge your Lightning-enabled iPhone, iPad or iPod, but also let you transfer files and sync your device with a quick data transfer speed of up to 480 Mbps. Its 4 ft. length gives you flexible placement options so you can place your phone wherever you need it. A white color keeps the cable looking stylish while a braided jacket adds protection and durability. Trust this USB-C to Lightning cable to help keep you ready for the challenges of everyday life.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Simply study cable for Apple lightning devices
on October 22, 2023
Posted by: DickieUK
You might be thinking there's nothing exciting about a cable - but this one actually fits a pretty specific niche that exists at the moment.
If you have newer Apple devices, the chances are they either don't ship with a charger at all, or you are now in the USB-C category. For those previous generation devices, if you have any of the cables from the ones that did ship with a charger, 99% it will be a USB-A connection -> Lightning.
A few years ago this wouldn't be an issue - everything from wall outlets at airports to car fitted USB ports was USB-A , so those cables still came in handy - however the whole world has gone USB-C now. I admit its going to be nice to only have to worry about one set of common , standard cable connections, but that leaves me in a bit of a bind for those legacy devices that the kids still use - because now I need a collection of USB-C to lightning cables.
You can buy them of course from Apple at a pretty price, but like every Apple cable I have ever owned the ends eventually crack and split - and that's not a direct critique of the Apple cables, its just that the ones I travel with tend to take a beating so I need something sturdier. I
This Insignia cable is a perfect fit for all my issues above - its direct USB-C to Lightning (so now fiddling with USB A <-> adapters) for all outlet requirements and in the newest car. The braided cable seems to be bulletproof - time will tell I guess , but so far it's a good sturdy thing to handle.
Minor addition comment but worth mentioning that it ships with some pretty neat cable tidy wraps - I don't know if you can buy them on their own, but I'll certainly be looking out for them as they do a great job of securing the slack cable (and with the Apple ones, you're pretty much on your own).
Highly recommended over the generic Apple one - and depending on where you get your cables, probably a much more cost effective option.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Defy Boring with Pebble Mouse 2 M350s wireless mouse made with recycled plastic. Its minimalist round shape and compact mouse design make it as iconic as you and super portable. Hop across 3 devices with the Easy-Switch button on the Bluetooth mouse. With Logi Options+ app, you can assign shortcuts to the mouse’s middle button for your favorite apps, like WhatsApp or Spotify. Work, browse, and chat with Silent Touch Technology that removes 90% of click noise. Pebble Mouse 2 M350s Bluetooth mouse comes with a 24-month battery and auto-sleep power-saving mode, to keep you going for longer, worry-free.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Full feature mobile mouse with multidevice support
on September 10, 2023
Posted by: DickieUK
Since COVID hit back in 2019/2020 , I went through a process of setting up my perfect home office. I went through at least 2 or 3 trackpads, a couple of keyboards and thankfully only 1 mouse until lI found my perfect combination. Fast forward to 'back to normal' and I'm going through the same process again, but now to put together my 'go bag' for on the road working and creativity.
There are 2 main things I look for when it comes to peripherals (1) does it feel comfortable and (2) what cool bells and whistles can I configure to streamline my workflow.
The Pebble Mouse 2 is pretty good on both of these points - and probably the best I've found from the minimalist , portable range.
Lets be clear - you're never going to get a perfectly ergonomic designed mouse and still have something small and lightweight that you can throw in your bag - I use a Logitech MX Master 3S as my primary office mouse and its awesome , and the Pebble Mouse 2 is a good compromise for on the road.
If you've used the original Pebble Mouse - you won't see much difference. However now the updated mouse supports the Logitech Bolt connection method as well as bluetooth (I used mine in both modes depending on in the office or on the road). The other major update is that the Logitech Options+ app now provides support for th Pebble Mouse 2, which means you can customize actions (middle button, scroll speed, cursor speed etc) and incorporate into larger workflows with Logitech Smart Actions.
So that hits the second requirement for functionality - what about comfort. Well - it's 'ok'. I've happily used it for a couple of hours connected to an external monitor in the office without any issues. I did try using on a plane and more down to the lack of physical space (I don't have th luxury of first class tickets!). the physical position you have to put your hand in to both orient the mouse and click the buttons can get a little tiring. Again, this isn't a critique of the design, I think it just is-what-it-is, for a mobile peripheral - and what you might lose in long term comfort, you more than make up for in embedded functionality and portability.
The Pebble Mouse 2 also lets you pair with multiple devices (using bluetooth or bolt and then physical press the button on the underside to flip between them). This is invaluable for me as someone how has 2 laptops sharing a single 4K monitor, and I'm also going to add an iPad soon so I'll be using the 3-device support to the maximum.
If you're already a Logitech user and leverage the Logitech Options+ functionality - look no further. This will fit right into your existing workflow.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Officially licensed for the PlayStation5 console, the WD_BLACK SN850P NVMe SSD for PS5 consoles allows you to store more titles with worry free installation. Instantly add up to 4TB of storage to hold more of your favorite games. With an optimized heatsink built specifically for the PS5 M.2 slot, you won’t need to worry about compatibility. Experience uninterrupted gameplay as your WD_BLACK drive runs cool with quality you can trust. The WD_BLACK SN850P NVMe SSD for PS5 consoles is certified and tested for PlayStation 5 consoles so you can store more, play more, fast.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Quick and easy way to upgrade your PS5!!
on June 30, 2023
Posted by: DickieUK
I was lucky enough to pick up my PS5 about a year ago, and like most people I've been running it with an external drive.
The internal SSD is obviously spec'd as Sony intended, but having both new PS5 digital games and a sturdy backlog of PS4 games, it just falls short on capacity. Hence the external drive - splitting the PS5 games on the internal SSD , and running the PS4 games from the external drive.
It generally involves a lot of shuffling things around after install , so I decided it was time to upgrade to a 'real' solution using the SN850P
First of all , don't be intimidated but the install.Once you've got the case of the PS5 its a single screw to open up the drive bay, and then another single screw to hold the SSD in-place. All in all takes about 5 minutes (no accounting for the time it takes you to unplug all the cables of course!)
Next thing to note, is that I installed this SSD with the primary goal of simplifying the storage layout and removing the need for an external drive. at 2TB It obviously achieved that, but what I wasn't expecting was the improvement in drive access speed.
Obviously compared to the external USB drive, its not a huge surprise that the internal SN850P is faster, but with some fairly large game copies as part of my upgrade, it seems to be quick a bit quicker than the internal storage too.
I don't have any official benchmarks to prove it beyond my own observations of moving files on and off the drive, but safe to say this is an upgrade for both capacity AND performance - now I use the SN850P as my default location for all the active games, and the internal PS5 to handle all the game save data.
Easy install , vast improvement and enhances my PS5!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Waterpik Cordless Slide Water Flosser, WF-16 is the go anywhere, store anywhere water flosser. Tested and trusted, Waterpik is the #1 water flosser brand recommended by dental professionals. From the first brand in its class accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA) for safety and effectiveness, the Waterpik Cordless Slide Water Flosser removes up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas and is clinically proven up to 50% more effective than string floss for improving gum health. With a collapsible design that slides to half its original size and is 30% smaller than other cordless water flossers, the Waterpik Cordless Slide is a great solution when you need a compact water flosser that stores and travels easily. It can be stored standing up or lying down - saving space for storage at home or when traveling. Great for travel and small bathrooms, the Cordless Slide Water Flosser features global voltage, a rechargeable battery for up to 4 weeks of use from a single charge, ultra quiet operation, and a waterproof design for use in the shower. The Cordless Slides comes with 3 pressure settings to customize your cleaning and 3 precision tips that clean the whole mouth, even back teeth.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Floss regularly? Me neither, but this might help
on March 18, 2023
Posted by: DickieUK
We all know that brushing your teeth is essential maintenance - and every time I visit the dentist they remind me that flossing is just as important and should be part of your regular routine.
The reality is that while most of us have been shown how to brush our teeth properly from an early age, flossing is much more of a wildcard whether your using tape, one of those funky little plastic things - there doesn't seem to be a right or wrong way to floss.
I've always wondered what is the magic machine the dentist uses when I go for a cleaning that makes the tooth and gumline feel that extra deep-cleaned? I always assumed it was the medieval metal pick they use to scrape , until I thought I would try a water flosser for myself.
The good news is that this gets you pretty close to that just-cleaned feeling. The Waterpik is a compact little unit , that collapses to half size but really packs a punch when you turn it on.
If you've never used one before , the sensation can be a little bit like the first time you used an electric toothbrush - and I guarantee your first few attempts will have you spraying water over your bathroom mirror, spilling over the counter top until you get the hang of it.
The main unit is rechargeable over standard USB-C (they include the cable, but there IS NOT AN AC ADAPTER IN THE BOX) which is nice , because there are no cables dangling about while you figure out which of the 3 included 'heads' works the best for you. The battery seems to have lasted at least a couple of weeks at the time of writing so I'm assuming it'll have the same life was a regular electric toothbrush, depending on how often you use it.
The tips seem to be a mix of a straight 'stream' , one with a long brush and one with a short brush to help navigate and clean the gumline. As far as I can tell no one is better than the other so it will just come down to personal preference.
The good news is that once you've got used to how to use it, when to hang over the sink to let all the water leave your mouth - the end result is pretty impressive. I use it a couple of days a week along side my regular electric toothbrush and I can definitely notice a positive difference. Its pretty close to the dental cleaning without the medieval pick, and I am definitely making it part of the regular routine (which will no doubt make the dentist happy and reduce the impact of the formal cleaning appointments).
Which brings me to the one thing that prevents this water flosser getting a 5 star review.
When the dentist uses one of these , they are typically hard-wired to a water source so they can clean away for hours, asking you about the weather etc without interruption.
With this Waterpik variant, all of the water is held in the bottom half of the unit (in the clear section) , that you fill with warm water from the tap. Regardless of which power setting I use, this need refilling at least twice, maybe three times to get a full pass on my teeth and gums.
I can't really critique the unit operation, because it gives great results and is much easier to use that the regular floss tape, picks etc - however the repeated need to keep refilling it mid-use means that its just that little bit of a hassle that will make it a few days a week, rather than an every day operation.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Wallbox Pulsar Plus level 2 smart EV charger offers the best of both small size and powerful performance for faster electric vehicle charging at home. This unit comes with a NEMA plug for installation. Designed for easy installation, Pulsar Plus’ J1772 connector can charge any electric car on the market today up to 7x faster than standard (120v) charging cables that come with most EVs. This home EV charging station is simple and efficient with the integrated myWallbox app, which allows you to control your electric vehicle charger from your smart devices via WiFi or Bluetooth. With Pulsar Plus, you are in control of your energy use. Schedule and manage your charging sessions to maximize efficiency and save money when electrical demand and rates are low. Get the Pulsar Plus EV charger and start charging smarter.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Easy to install smart EV Charger that saves $$
on November 19, 2022
Posted by: DickieUK
It might still surprise you to hear that not all modern electric vehicles are 'smart' - yes, most of them have some form of 5g or wireless , connectivity but a lot of modern vehicles still don't allow you to schedule charging windows.
Once upon a time, this was probably not a big deal - especially if like me you have solar panels on the house and the different between peak/off-peak/super-off peak was a couple of cents. However in todays economic environment where electricity prices are going through the roof, it's no longer just an inconvenience, and if you're not fully in control of your consumption you can hit with a hefty bill.
In our house we lease a popular Swedish brand of hybrid EV / hybrid, and despite me complaining for the last 2 years, they still only allow for scheduled charging in European markets. The original lvl2 EV charger that we installed in the house when we moved in has been great for high speed charging, but it's pretty much a dump wall-mount. Enter the Wallbox....
The original EV charger was not hard-wired, but we had a NEMA 14-50 dryer outlet installed on its own 50amp breaker when we moved in - specifically for an EV charger. Thankfully the Wallbox is available as both a hardwired AND as a plug-in variant, which means my upgrade took about 10 mins. Literally just unplug the old one, and plug in the new one - done. I probably spent more time unbolting the other from the wall and installing the Wallbox mount place (hint: don't over tighten it when you fix it, to allow the unit something to 'grab onto to').
Once installed, if you don't do anything - it just works. Plug in the car and away you.
But if like me you want to start taking control of the charging from the Wallbox, you simply scan in the QR code on the box and install the app (iPhone and Android variants are available).
After the app is installed, create yourself a Wallbox login and then enable bluetooth which allows you to communicate directly with the charger - during the setup it will ask you to scan the QR code for the device - there are actually 2 on the unit, so make sure you scan the one on the side (and not the one on the back). Once connected the charger checks for any firmware updates (which takes about 5 mins to apply) and then you're up and running.
Some key features for me that I love
1) As well as bluetooth, you can connect the unit to your WIFI. There are some configuration options you can only perform locally via bluetooth, but from my testing once its connected to your WIFI , you can control the unit from anyway that you have an internet connection
2) Scheduling, scheduling, scheduling. At last. So in my area I have an EV plan from the electricity supplier which means my optimal charging windows are in the early hours , and longer windows at the weekend. WIth 2 clicks I set weekday and weekend schedules, so now I can confidently plug the car in anytime of the day or night , safe in the knowledge that it will only auto-charge during the most economical times
3) manual control - if there's an emergency need you can manually start the charging outside the schedule through the app. You can also lock the unit down , so regardless of time or schedule no-one can use the charger without you enabling it in the app.
There are some more advanced options that I'm probably not going to use (like OCPP to allow you to monitor and control multiple chargers) but some I might in the future (for example the option to split off an additional charger from the first unit and power share across multiple chargers).
All in all I couldn't be happier - the upgrade from my existing EV was a breeze and so far the app has allowed me to do everything I need and more. If you're like me and you need to get control of your utility bills for your EV, look no further than the Wallbox.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Linksys Hydra Pro 6 with Intelligent Mesh is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers next-level streaming and gaming to more than 30 devices per node. Access to 160 MHz channel unleashes the true power of Wi-Fi 6 technology with incredibly fast connectivity. Intelligent Mesh technology offers whole home mesh Wi-Fi coverage that’s easily expandable by adding additional nodes. With easy setup, advanced security and parental controls, Linksys Hydra Pro 6 is an essential upgrade to any home.
 
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Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Solid Wifi6 Router - but missing some features
on September 18, 2022
Posted by: DickieUK
The chances are you are reading this review, for one of 3 reasons - #1 you already have an existing Velop network and you'd like to extend it's coverage, #2 - you're either looking to replace your existing primary wireless router with a new Wifi6 capable device or #3 you are looking to add wireless coverage to some remote outpost of your house/buildings for some wired devices.
The great news is that for #1 this is a good choice - the Linksys Hydra Pro6 seamlessly blends in an existing Velop network. I have the Linksys Atlas Pro (MX5500) devices, and this was a great addition to add coverage to my office location. The Hydra Pro 6 (MR5500) is using the exact same wireless chip as the Atlas Pro, so in my case it takes one of the high/low 8021.AX bands to run as the backhaul and then serves both my wired and wireless devices admirably. It all gets managed as a single Velop network and is very much plug and play.
The Linksys Hydra Pro6 also does a pretty solid job when you run it as a primary router - I upgraded it to the latest Linksys firmware and found all the usual device and router control features you would expect from any modern router (guest access, parental controls, bandwidth prioritization etc) as well as the ability to share a USB hard drive as a network attached storage. I would say that if you are considering this device for a simple home network, then this will serve all your mobile, handheld and smart-home devices well for both 2.5 and 5Ghz networks, but there are a couple of things to be aware of.
As soon as you enable any of the advanced features (parental controls, device prioritization etc), you automatically disable 'express forwarding'. This basically means that the router engine has to involve every packet it sees to decide how to handle it - which is great for control but not so good for throughput. In my testing although the network ports are 1Gb , with any of these advanced features enabled, you'll be luck to get higher that 150-200Mbps throughput to the internet connection. You can run it in bridge mode (where all the routing decisions are handled upstream , potentially by your ISP router or another device), but if you have a high-speed internet connection >200Mbps then be aware that most of these features will be useless to you , unless of course you are happy to sacrifice some of the network throughput for control.
The last use case might be a corner-case, but I also like to use these devices as a wireless bridge - especially in my new office location where I don't actually want to serve wireless clients, I just want a way to connect wired clients to the wireless network. Unfortunately although the Linksys web site and specs say this router supports this feature I can find no trace of it, and was unable to get a response from Linksys (even though I've used the feature on similar versions of the router such as an MR7350).
So in summary , if you are looking to extend or replace your wireless router - the Hydra Pro 6 is an 'ok' choice, but the access to the 160Mhz channels is a theoretical marketing pitch and you're unlikely to realize in the near future until all of your devices get the newer wifi chips.
In the short term I would still recommend Linksys but maybe look at last generation hardware (MR7350 etc) which will give you more or less the same real world performance, with a more mature firmware/feature set - and at a significantly reduced price point.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Valuable Gen4 performance is here. Introducing the Crucial P3 Plus Gen4 NVMe SSD, delivering impressive speed with sequential reads/writes up to 5000/4200MB/s1 while providing data protection for optimal security. Engineered by Micron with the latest Gen4 NVMe technology, the Crucial P3 Plus comes in generous capacities2 and offers flexible backward compatibility for most Gen3 systems.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Quick and effective M2 NVMe drive
on August 9, 2022
Posted by: DickieUK
My storage need seem to have changed quite a lot over the past few years - I've gone from having multiple USB removable drives to only a small handful of fast, good capacity M2 drives.
Sometimes these get installed in the internal M2 slots, but a lot of them are also fast enough (with the right enclosures) to be a useful portable expansion drive for on the go.
The Crucial P3 Plus is a Gen4 NVMe drive capable of up to 5000/4200MB/s read/write speeds - this will of course vary on the hardware you install it in. Its 40%+ faster than Gen3 M2 SSD's and if you need the extra capacity you can get up to 4TB.
In my testing I opted for the mobile-expansion use case - using my Orico thunderbolt enclosure I get a very health 2400/2400MBs read/write speeds which is fine for my audio-bouncing use case.
The drive itself looks like any other 2280 NVMe SSD, but in the same enclosure is almost double the speed of some other drives I purchased from BB in the past.
Before anyone asks, yes *technically it would work in a PS5 as a Gen4 2280, HOWEVER you would need to acquire and install your own heatsink for that use case.
Highly recommended fast M@ NVMe drive at the right price-point.
For $399 you can easily step up to the 4TB version - at that price point its highly likely I'll be able to retire all my spinning drives in the next year or so.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing MX Mechanical - a full-size keyboard with extraordinary feel, precision, and performance. Low-profile mechanical typing delivers satisfying feedback in your choice of key switches – Tactile Quiet, Clicky, or Linear. MX Mechanical is crafted for ergonomic comfort, with smart illumination and easy-switch – allowing you to connect up to 3 devices and stay in your flow for hours.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Nice tactile touch keyboard - great connectivity
on June 27, 2022
Posted by: DickieUK
As a long time Mac user I've been through the cycles of being betrothed to the Apple peripherals, and then getting frustrated with them, and then when they release a new version going through the cycle all over again. Logitech seems to be the only vendor who consistently makes good peripherals that I keep coming back - and the MX Mechanical keyboard is now another one to add to my list.
I've actually been using the original MX Keys for Mac for a couple of years, and although it's been great for the home office I've been looking for something with a little more feedback and tactile touch. The MX mechanical keyboard delivers, with just enough to keep you in touch with the typing motion but not so loud that it sounds like you're living in an 80's office typing pool.
The main reason you're here is to hear about the noise - does it make a noise? Yes, but as I mentioned this is part of the whole tactile experience that people like me miss with regular soft-touch laptop keyboards. The keyboard is available in 3 different 'experiences' ( Tactile Quiet, Clicky and Linear.) so if you're in any doubt, I would suggest a trip to your local Best Buy to try them out in person. The example in my video is the tactile quiet version, which is just the write balance but it will be entirely down to you personal preference.
The MX retains all the features I loved from the original MX - with the ability to quick-switch between multiple devices (I use it to control 2 laptops connected to the same monitor). The only thing to call out here is that although you can still pair the keyboard through bluetooth, it no longer appears to support the Logitech Unified receiver - it instead ships with the new Logitech Bolt adapter. I only mention this in case like me you are already using the unified receiver for other devices - you may need to consider upgrading those to to be Bolt compliant. There are some nice options for the backlighting (including a 'random' mode and one where only the key you touch lights up - which is a cool gimmick but practically the only useful backlighting is constant so you can actually see the keys in the dark).
I would still recommend this full size keyboard over the mini version - its down to personal preference but the dedicated page navigation and number pad just seem to make my workflow a bit more streamlined without constantly flipping for FN or option keys to get what I need done.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Roomba i6 robot vacuum unleashes powerful cleaning when, where, and how you want with a single command to your Google Assistant or Alexa voice assistant. When messes happen, just say, “Tell Roomba to clean under the kitchen table.” Smart navigation maps specific objects in your home, guiding it to the mess, right when the mess happens. With 10x the suction* and automatic, personalized schedules—even recommendations during pollen and pet-shedding seasons— its vacuuming that fits seamlessly into your life. *(compared to the Roomba® 600 series cleaning system) *(Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com or its affiliates. Google is a trademark of Google LLC)
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Lives up to the Roomba Reputation - A++++
on December 10, 2021
Posted by: DickieUK
from San Diego, CA
Robot vacuums have been very hit and miss in my experience - they either have great navigation but you spend your life cleaning the thing, or they do a good job of cleaning up but you are constantly guiding it home like a lost pet.
I've had previous experience with the Shark ION robots, which seem to fall foul of both these problems - the brushes are constantly getting clogged and you eventually find it sleeping under a distant cabinet.
This is my first Roomba and I have to say I'm happily impressed with it.
After bouncing around on the discovery run, this thing navigates like its lived here for years. Even at the far end of the house , it navigates directly back to the base to charge, straight as an arrow.
I was also pleasantly surprised how well the rubber rollers work compared to the brushes I've used before - they do an awesome job of picking up debris, but dont seem to get anything tangled in them.
This model also detects when its on carpet or hard floors, and adjusts to clean them both equally well.
So what's to complain about? In all honesty, not much. As you can see from the photos the dust bin is pretty small - our downstairs floorspace is about 1500sq ft, so if I don't run it every day you need to empty the bin more or less after every pass. You can change a setting to force it to keep cleaning when it thinks the bin is full, but that seems like a false economy to me. This might not be an issue for you if you have a small apartment of if you are using this one to 'fill in' on your regular cleaning schedule of course.
In terms of noise volume while its running , its on par with every other robot vacuum I've used. Its definitely not silent, but not so loud that you can't ignore it - just to be safe, there's a do not disturb setting so you can prevent it cleaning during certain times (handy if like me you are still working predominantly from home).
All in all I'd say this is a great vacuum - the Roomba name has been around since the start, but does tend to demand a higher price point over its competitors. Based on my experience though with this, and the cheaper priced competitors - you get what you pay for. In you're on the fence because of the price, I'd say just accept that all those years of experience and reliable software come at some price - but this vacuum could be the last one you need to buy,
I received this unit as part of a technical evaluation program. however all comments and opinions expressed here are exclusively based on my own personal experience.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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DickieUK's Answers
 
Introducing MX Keys Mini for Mac, a smaller, smarter, and mightier minimalist wireless keyboard with a layout for Mac made for creators. The minimalist form factor provides improved ergonomics by aligning your shoulders and allowing you to place your mouse closer to your keyboard for less arm reaching, more comfort, and better body posture. Perfect Stroke keys are shaped for your fingertips with optimal key stability and tactile responsiveness to keep you oriented and in your flow. The backlit keys light up the moment your hands approach, and automatically adjust to suit changing lighting conditions. Smart Dictation, Mic Mute/Unmute and Emoji keys streamline your workflow even further.
 

Will the MX keys mini for Mac be available in Black or space grey in the future? The color is the only thing holding me back from buying it

The marketing literature appears to show a space grey variant alongside the silver one, although I'm not sure if its generally available yet.
I have been testing the grey one and the white backlight with the white keys makes it difficult to read, so I too would recommend the space gray variant when you can get it.
2 years, 5 months ago
by
DickieUK
 
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
 

The advertising states that Velop works with Alexa but I can find no information on how to set this up. Help?

Its a 'future feature' the skill hasn't been enabled on Amazon/Alexa yet..
7 years, 1 month ago
by
DickieUK
 
Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
 

Does it work with Mac systems, extending an Airport setup?

Using the airport 'extend a network' feature? No. You would basically setup this up as an external extender (where it connects to the airport network like a client) but it wouldn't extend it in the airport management domain (but yes, you could extend the SSID's)
7 years, 3 months ago
by
DickieUK
 
Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
 

Is the Linksys AC1900 compatible with a Westell Router Modem 7500?

Yes - although the 7500 only supports 2.4Ghz b/g networking, so you can only extend that network (not the 5Ghz)
7 years, 3 months ago
by
DickieUK
 
Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
 

will this wi-fi boost my signal to my ps4 i have AT&T U-verse cisco . keep losing or week signal late at night when no one is using any wi-fi and in the afternoon when no one but me r home ???

Yes definitely - just make sure you extend the 2.4GHz network (unless you have a new PS4 Slim/Pro that supports the 5Ghz network).
The key point is that you have to install the extender not where the PS4 is but somewhere in the middle between the PS4 and the main router - so this device acts as a 'half-way' repeater. You still need to have a good signal to the repeater from the main wifi for it to carry onto the PS4 but then the PS4 should connect to this without any problems,
7 years, 3 months ago
by
DickieUK
 
Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
 

Will i beable to get wifi extended outdoors in my yard inside my camper? HOW FAR FROM MY HOUSE WILL IT REACH.I HAVE LARGE LOT wirh tent trailer

The 'how far' question really depends on the environment. If its in the open air I can easily see it reaching a few hundred feet (depending on whether you use 2.4 or 5Ghz networking). The more obstructions / walls etc in the way will cut down the distance.

One important thing to note is that you have to try and put this 'in the middle' between where the current router is , and where the 'dead zone' is. For example if the camper is 300ft away from the main wifi router, then you'll probably need to plug this into an AC outlet somewhere around 150ft from the main router which may or may not be practical if you have no AC outlets in the middle.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
DickieUK
 
Prevent dead zones around your home with the help of this Linksys Wi-Fi range extender. It works with all types of Wi-Fi routers, and it uses multi-user MIMO for speed and efficiency. This Linksys Wi-Fi range extender can be used to create a different access point or to extend the field of the router’s connection.
 

do you have to run any wires for this devise, and does it boost computer and phone

You don't have to - no. It will function as a wireless repeater/extender of your existing network just by plugging it into an AC outlet which is somewhere in range of your existing WIFI. Should work for any 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz devices that can connect to your normal wifi

This unit is nice in that it DOES have an option to run it as a wireless access point if you decide to run a wire/ethernet cable, but thats not a requirement.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
DickieUK