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    December 7, 2015
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omegafiler's Reviews
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Monitor your physical activity with this Huawei Watch 2. Its lightweight ceramic bezel resists abrasion, and it provides workout data reports with heart rate monitoring and GPS mapping, helping you meet fitness goals. This Huawei smart watch is resistant to water and dust, protecting it from accidental splashes.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Solid improvement over last version
on May 1, 2017
Posted by: omegafiler
I've had the original Huawei Watch for a while now as my daily wear smart watch. I've also had a Fitbit Charge HR that I'd wear for working out and sleep monitoring. I found myself wearing the Fitbit more often as I liked keep track of fitness throughout the day. So I was quite interested in a Smart Watch that could potentially replace both. Let's take a look and see how it does.
PROS:
+ Long battery life (2 days)
+ Clear & Bright Display
+ Physical Buttons
+ IP68 Dust & Water Resistant
+ Light weight
+ Android 2.0
+ GPS & NFC
+ Continuous Heart Rate Monitor
+ Workout Assistant
+ Stylish Design
+ Improved charging cradle
+ Native Google Assistant
+ Gorilla Glass
+ Solid build quality
CONS:
- May be somewhat bulky for some
- Wrist strap could be better
- Slightly smaller screen (1.2")
- No LTE for US variant
- Bit Pricey
- No Sapphire Glass
UNBOXING & DESIGN
Out of the box you've just got the watch, a charging cradle with attached USB cable, wall charger, and documentation nobody reads. That's about it.
Compared to the original Huawei Watch, the second generation here is more of a "sport" watch. In that it features a more rugged design, plastic type band, and no shiny bits that will get scratched easily. Despite this, it still feels very solid, and well built. There is a stationary "dial" often seen on diving watches, which as noted, doesn't move. There are also two buttons on the right side. The upper button is to access the Apps menu. Lower button is is for Fit/Activity features. Such as to start a workout.
This is no leather band. It looks and feels like plastic, which may be an issue for some. Not a big deal for me, as I found it it well enough. But could be a softer rubber compound, to offer more comfort.
I think for an average to large wrist, the size won't be an issue. But it is taller and bulkier than some may expect, or desire. Just be aware of that.
ANDROID 2.0
The brand new version of Android Wear brings a noticeable updated designed, layout, and ultimately changes how you interact with the watch. Long press of the main watch doesn't do anything unless your particular watch face has added features. Swipe left or right is now only to change watch faces. Swipe up will show any notifications. Swipe down is the settings menu.
What about the apps? That's where the new dedicated upper button comes into play. Single press to get your app carosoel. Swipe up and down to see everything installed. Pretty basic. Long press the same button to bring up the ever helpful google assistance. Or just say "OK Google," as usual.
The lower button access the fitness/workout settings. More on that next.
Initially, it felt like they simply changed things, for the sake of change. But after using it for awhile, I've gotten used to everything and find it to be fairly intuitive. It's just a bit different, but it works.
FITNESS
This is where things like a plastic band, IP68, GPS, continuous hear rate monitoring, and lighter weight all come together. The original Huawei Watch was simply too heavy to use for fitness, and lacked a lot of the features above. Not to mention leather + moisture don't go well together.
So this is really where I was quite interested. Did I still need to swap out watches to go for a run, do cardio, list weights, or other workout stuff? Nope.
Today, for example, I wanted to hit the elliptical. I've been slacking off, and it was time. I just pressed the fitness button, selected my routine, and off I went. It automatically started continuous heart rate monitoring, including what zone I was in (i.e. fat burn, aerobic, etc), distance, and time spent. All at the same time, in a nice presentable way. That was actually nicer than the fit-bit, thanks to how easily accessible this information was.
If I wanted to do the same routine, but actually going somewhere when I run, there's an activity for that. Except now it knows you're moving, and will kick in GPS to track your run. Nice.
Once you're done, you can easily view all kinds of neat stats via numerical value and pretty graphs. Including time spend running, where you're hear rate was throughout, pace, steps, calories, etc. All on the watch itself. That's right, don't even need to grab your phone. Or bring it with you. And considering I usually have large phones, that's a big plus.
CONCLUSION
In some ways, I've actually found Huawei Watch 2 and Android 2.0 a bit more advanced than the Fit app itself, on my phone. Fitbit app still has more in-depth and useful information there. But I think Google has caught up enough so that I don't feel the need to swap watches just to go for a 30-45 run or exercise routine. All while being nice enough to wear out of the house, to a social event, or even to the office. Sleep monitoring is just about the only feature where I'd need a fitbit.
While it lost some "nice" features like a leather band and sapphire glass, those would have simply gone against the fitness requirements and added more weight.
Overall, if you're looking for something that can be true 2-in-1 replacement, and don't mind the bulk or cost, I consider the Huawei Watch 2 highly recommended.
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+61points
62of 63voted this as helpful.
 
Get fantastic image quality and great sound with this 43-inch VIZIO SmartCast E-Series UHD home theater display. It has 10 active LED zones so that it delivers dark blacks and bright whites for incredible contrast. This VIZIO SmartCast E-Series UHD home theater display also includes Chromecast built-in, the easiest way to stream apps you know and love from your phone or tablet.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent Monitor for PC, Movies, and Gaming
on May 28, 2016
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
I purchased this monitor at Best Buy for use as an inexpensive 4K PC display. But also wanted to play the occasional game and watch some movies. Let's see how the brand new Vizio 42.5" E43u-D2 fares.
PROS:
+ Excellent picture quality
+ Deep black levels
+ Good viewing angles
+ No noticeable input lag
+ Relatively inexpensive for what you get
+ Great image uniformity
+ Native Casting Support
+ Phone app for TV controls/adjustments
+ Good port selection
+ Supports HDMI 2.0 for 2160p, 4:4:4 color format, 8-bit color depth*
CONS:
- 2160p only supports 4:4:4 at 30Hz
- No built-in on-screen menu for config
- No DisplayPort Input
OUT OF THE BOX & SETUP
Since this is going on my desk, basic assembly was required for the feet. But that's about it. Then it's off to the phone app to actually configure the TV itself. You can connect to WiFi or use the built-in LAN port. The phone app is the only way you can adjust the display controls, settings, etc. If you're using the remote, you can change inputs, volume, channel, enter app pairing mode, etc. Not a whole lot else.
Once you get used to it, I found it to be fairly intuitive. All of the usual settings are there, preset modes for Computer use, Movies, vivid, etc. Plus more in-depth color options and such.
Do note that there is no traditional coax TV tuner. Which as noted above, works perfectly for me. For anybody else, do make sure you have some kind of set-top-box, streaming media device, or phone/tablet to use the app which can stream lots of stuff. I haven't played with the streaming too much, but the app seems to cover the basics, such as Hulu, ChromeCast, etc.
DESKTOP
It's important to ensure your PC supports HDMI 2.0. And use HDMI 1 (ARC) on the TV. This is the latest standard. If it's an older version, you'll likely be limited to 4K @ 30Hz. While it's technically usable, it's not going to be a great experience. There will be lag and maybe even ghosting as you move the mouse, drag windows, etc. I've used this display with a GTX 980 Ti and a Dell XPS 15 (9550) with a USB-C to HDMI 2.0 converter. The built-in port on the notebook does not support HDMI 2.0.
The experience on both was about the same. I had to go into the advanced display settings to force the monitor to go to 60Hz instead of 30Hz. However, the Vizio website and spec site is somewhat misleading. It says HDMI port 1 supports "2160p@60fps, 4:4:4, 8-bit." In reality, it does, but not all together. In other words, if you want 4:4:4/RGB, you can only go up to 2160p@30Hz. Once you bump up to 60Hz, you still get 8-bit, but only 4:2:0.
One interesting note is that the included cable isn't even HDMI 2.0. It didn't work well at all. Fortunately I wasn't even expecting a cable, so already purchased a HDMI 2.0 spec cable.
Now I thought 4:2:0 would be unacceptable in desktop mode, but that's simply not the case. If I used the included cable, yes. Small text was blurry. But with a good cable, I'm running Win10 at 125% scaling and small text is nice, crisp, and clear. If I drop down to 100% is still clear, but a bit too small for my use. I also ran through Windows "ClearType" wizard to fine tune things a bit. I then did some test workflows with Outlook, IE, Chrome, Firefox, and several other Office 2013 apps. At my normal sitting distance, about 3-4 feet away, they all look and function great. I can basically have 4 1080p sized windows on one display. Awesome.
I should note I did view a chroma subsampling 4:4:4 text image; and yes, the last 2 lines aren't super crisp at 4:2:0. But honestly it's still readable and haven't found an issue in any of my personal use case scenarios. But felt I should note that because you could run into a situation where that is a problem in your use-case where certain text may not look clear or a bit "odd" due to the fact that pixels are sharing colors. Google it. :)
MOVIES & VIDEOS
I started by playing several 4K sample videos and trailers on YouTube. I simply couldn't find anything to complain about. Tried different viewing angles, looking for pixelation, stuttering, stuck pixels, flickering, etc. Nothing. One thing to keep in mind is that 4:2:0 is basically where virtually all movies and videos run at. So given I'm stuck at that color depth anyways, this type of playback is right at home.
I've been watching Transformers: Age of Extinction (Amazon Prime) at 4K for awhile now and it's quite impressive. Black levels are some of the best I've ever seen on a mainstream television. Black is black. No light bleed. No obvious dark/white splotches. It's nice.
GAMING
I do like to play the occasional Starcraft 2, GTA V, Civ5, and other similar titles. It's like I'm playing them all for the first time on this display. Completely changes the experience with the immersion and new details you never noticed before. Only complaints I have is more game developer related. Civilization doesn't scale well at higher resolutions. In that menus and text are super tiny. Fortunately, most games I've played don't have that issue.
On the phone app there is setting to change that reduces input lag. And so far, I've yet to notice any. However, it's very important to double-check in both Windows AND in your game display settings that you're at 60Hz. Sometimes they'll default to 30Hz and you will absolutely perceive that as lag.
More important, you may just be seeing lag since you're killing your GPU by trying to run at 2160p. Even the GTX 980 Ti FTW can't run everything at native without lowering details down to at least medium in most cases. Just depends on the game, and was expected. Some more particular FPS gamers might find some lag that I'm missing out on; but for me, it's just fine.
CONCLUSION
So is this a perfect monitor? Nope. Few things are. If your work/play requires something this budget oriented monitor can't deliver on, such as 2160p with 4:4:4 @ 60Hz, you'll need to keep looking elsewhere. And likely spend a bit more.
With a good HDMI 2.0 cable, quick calibration of display settings, as well as OS/App/Game graphic setting adjustments, I'm quite happy with it. If you're looking for an inexpensive large all-in-one monitor for desktop use, watching video content, or even playing games, I consider it highly recommended.
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+74points
78of 82voted this as helpful.
 
This Epson Expression Photo XP860 Small-in-One printer features printing, copying, scanning and faxing capabilities for versatile use. The 6 color Claria Photo HD inks produce color photos with smooth gradations and enhanced skin tones.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Compact and feature rich printer
on December 8, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
PROS:
+ Very compact design & foot print
+ Fast printing speeds
+ Nice photo print quality
+ 6 Separate Ink Cartridges
+ Great touch screen and interface
+ Easy Setup Process
+ Automatic paper output tray
+ Software is basic, but functional
+ 2-Sided Printing (with thicker paper)
CONS:
- Limited paper storage
- Flimsy touch panel assembly
- Cheap plastic CD Tray
- Android and PC Software need improvements
- Bit expensive
My first impression was simply how compact the box was, let alone the printer itself. It's rare I can actually carry a printer box with one hand. So we've got a compact high-end ink-jet printer that promises to provide a lot of features. Now it's time to see how it worked out in my hands.
OUT OF THE BOX
Un-boxing goes just about as you'd expect with a new printer. Lots and lots of tape / wrapping to keep everything in place during shipment. You've also got a power cable, quick start guide and driver CD in the box; and that's it. No USB or network cables included; although if you have Wi-Fi, they aren't technically needed. Just plug it in and off you go with setup.
You'll also immediately note that there are in fact 6 different colored ink cartridges. Be sure to shop around for prices as these can get expensive if you plan on ordering them all. On the plus side, you only need to replace the colors that happen to be low. In either case, they are quite easy to install.
DESIGN
Before we start setup, let's look at the printer. As initially noted, the printer is super compact. I'm surprised they fit all of these features into such a small package. You do sacrifice paper storage and such. But for most home and home offices who aren't printing 100 pages a day, that's all you need. Not to mention, you wouldn't be buying an ink-jet!
The printer has a nifty LCD screen that automatically rotates outward when you power it on. Then closes again, at power off. The LCD and it's user friendly interface as a nice touch. Which can also be taken literally as it's also a touch screen. One that happens to be fast and intuitive to navigate. A slight negative here is that the touch panel assembly wobbles a bit when you push it, in particular in the closed position. More noticeable as the power button is on the same panel.
The output tray even automatically extends when you print to catch the print-outs. A button on the touch panel allows you to easily open and close at will. Nice. Not so nice? The CD "tray" is a cheap piece of plastic that slides in at the bottom of the printer.
SETUP
First step, toss the CD, and go to epson's website to download the Driver and Software suite. It's going to be more up-to-date. Then run the file and follow the steps. I decided to do this via Wi-Fi as I suspect that's how many folks will tackle this step. You can also setup via LAN and USB cable, if you choose to do so. Even though as previously noted, those cables aren't included.
During setup, it will try to attach to the printer with your notebooks wireless card. So yes, you will need a computer with wireless capability if you choose to go this route. Alternatively, you could manually setup via the printer's touch panel. Unless some older printers, this is nowhere near as painful as it used to be. But I'd still stick with the software to save a few steps.
In my case, the software failed to connect automatically on the first try on my Windows 7 notebook. I instructed me to kick off a few steps on the printer itself to get it ready to go, and then off it went. Software installed and ready to go. I did note that on both test systems, one with Windows 7 and the other with Windows 8, the firmware update failed (software crashed). Simply reboot and run the Software Updater program separately. Fairly easy to do as it's all automated.
At this point you've got the printer attached to your Wi-Fi network, drivers, and software installed ready to go!
PRINTING (ANDROID)
I first decided to try printing from my Galaxy Note 3 phone and Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 tablet. I simply installed the Epson "iPrint" application from the Play Store, allowed it to find the printer, and it's ready to go. The application itself is rather primitive, but does show the printer's status, ink levels, and other basic info. However, it is limited in functionality.
It's only a print application, not a service. In other words, you have to print from within the Epson application. if you print a document or file on your tablet, you'll have the option to select the program to handle that task. So you can select Epson iPrint, and off you go.
If you try to print from within another application, such as the Gmail app or browser, you cannot. It's looking for a Print Service, such as the one Samsung and HP apps provide. This needs to be updated.
PRINTING (WINDOWS)
For the rest of my testing, I decided to jump back into Windows 8. You're going to do all printing from the application you are printing. And scanning, from the old-school stand-alone scanning application that's been around for many years. There is no Windows 8 Metro app. Beyond that, everything printed just as good as you'd expect from a high-end ink-jet printer.
Open whatever you want to print and off you go. For some reason I do enjoy watching the automatic paper holder extend. Scanning also worked great with this compact Epson. Print speed doesn't set any records, but is plenty fast for it's design.
DOUBLE SIDED PRINT
I found this feature both odd and interesting. For one, you rarely see this feature on an ink-jet printer. Mostly because of what I experienced & confirmed with my testing, which is ink bleed. Whether you print B&W or Color, if you're using normal office paper, it'll bleed through the paper. Laser printers don't have that issue.
You could use photo paper, although those are usually meant to be used on one side. Basically, you'll need to go buy some thicker paper if you want to print on both sides. Although it is nice to have, should you have the need (and correct paper). It worked just fine in my tests.
CONCLUSION:
I didn't go much into some basic features such as faxing and copying since they pretty much work like they always have. Which is to say very well. This "small-in-one" printer, as they call it, has just about everything you could need in a home and home office print environment. It takes up very little space and they just don't get any easier to use than this.
However, I do still have my concerns with PC and Android software that's a bit out of date. The Android software needs to run as a service. Windows software needs to not crash during a firmware update. And how about some love for Windows 8? I only mention this because my Samsung printer does all of that perfectly and far more "feature rich." Although the Epson software does technically get the job done.
At the end of the day, I still consider these issues to be relatively minor and can easily give this printer a solid recommendation (4.5 stars).
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+19points
19of 19voted this as helpful.
 
18th-century North America. A continent is at odds with itself, as the new settlers try to make new lives. The French and Indian War rages on causing strife and chaos throughout the new colonies. A fearless young member of the Assassin's Brotherhood, Shay Patrick Cormac, is tasked with a highly dangerous mission — and when it goes awry, he is forced to defend himself against his fellow assassins. The same people who he used to call Brothers are now trying to end his life. Undergoing a dark transformation, Shay decides he will hunt down and eliminate those who turned against him. He will become the most feared assassin hunter in history.Step into the role of Shay Patrick Cormac, a young man who transforms from a fearless assassin to a deadly, merciless assassin hunter after his former Brothers attempt to eliminate him. Establish and follow your own creed, and set out on an exciting journey through New York City, America's river valleys and the North Atlantic to track down and extinguish those responsible. Use new abilities, like enhanced eagle vision, to hunt down your prey, and equip yourself with powerful weaponry, such as the deadly air rifle and the grenade launcher, to aid you on your quest. Set course for thrilling sea battles in your ship, the Morrigan, with new and improved naval gameplay that takes you to the icy waters of the North Atlantic and through the narrow waterways of America's river valleys. Are you ready to start the darkest chapter to date in the Assassin's Creed story?
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good story, fun game play, hours of entertainment
on December 8, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
If you've played Assassin' Creed series before, in particular Black Flag, everything here is going to feel somewhat familiar. The biggest omission for me is the lack of multi-player. That alone can pretty much cost is a star. Co-Op play was one of the best features of the previous variants of the game.
Otherwise you've got a lot of familiar things to do throughout the game. You start off with the intro to the story as you kill a bunch of soldiers and free hostages. Naturally all involving lots of running, jumping, and stabbing. I mean, that never gets old. Not to mention all while being stealthy as possible. After all, this isn't your typical run and gun type of game. You won't get very far dong it like that.
I'm still not a fan of the "puzzles" they like to include in-between the real missions, such as when you're fixing computers and such. That still feels like a distraction and waste of time for me. If I wanted to do that, I'd grab my phone! But hey, some folks like that sort of thing.
For me I still finding the ship missions the most fun. Right away you sneak on to a ship and take it over after killing the crew. Well, with the continued help of your game AI pal. There's just something awesome about steering a ship, firing canons to blow up other ships, and then ramming them to send the message home. That alone is worth the price of admission.
Basically, if you're a fan of the Assassin' Creed franchise, you're going to enjoy playing Rogue. Even if it did kill multiplayer, doesn't bring a whole lot new to the table, nor does is impress with as-expected out-dated XBOX 360 graphics. Otherwise, for the new folks, check out a trailer or walk-through of the game to get familiar with the series. That will tell you way more than you can discover by only reading about it. Enjoy!
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Your connected home gets even better with this TP-LINK router. Enjoy superior Wi-Fi performance, simultaneous bands that let everyone in the house work and play at the same time, and the downloadable Tether app to monitor your network from anywhere.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Solid mid-range access point that's nearly perfect
on December 8, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
PROS:
+ Relatively inexpensive for the specs
+ All Gigabit Ports
+ Six antennas (3 external, 3 internal)
+ Dual Band Support (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
+ Dual USB 2.0 Ports (For Printer/Storage)
+ FTP Server
+ Guest Mode
+ Easy Setup and Configuration
+ Fast AC speeds
+ Excellent range
+ 2 Year Warranty
+ Mobile App
+ Lots of Advanced Features
CONS:
- No "Access Point Only" Mode
- Firmware Update Process
- WPS Button Location
I've owned countless Access Points from virtually every manufacture, except TP-Link. So I was eager to give it a try and see how it works in my hands. I'm currently using another Buffalo AC access point with nearly identical wireless specs as well.
OUT OF THE BOX / SETUP
The packaging is pretty much as you'd expect from an access point these days. You've got the Archer C5 router itself, power adapter, 3 ft network cable, mini-cd, quick start guide. The setup guide makes things even easier, if you choose to follow it, giving you multiple options. I choose the physical network connection option as I tend to find that easiest.
Plug everything in, go to the setup website, and click the Quick Setup button as instructed. It'll take you through a few quick screens to setup wireless, which mode you want, and that's it. For the majority of folks connecting this to your Cable/DSL modem, you're done. Simply connect to your new Access Point or make use of the "WPS" button to easily pair devices that support this feature. Unfortunately the small WPS button is located on the back of the device, and also doubles a reset button if you hold it down too long.
ADVANCED FEATURES
If you want to take it further, there are several nicely laid out menu options. I'm a big fan of this type of menu as it has everything in one column on the left. The middle column is where you make actual changes. Right column has a detailed explanation of what everything done. It's simple and very effective. No more digging through layers of menus just to find a hidden setting.
This is where you can play with things that require anywhere from beginner to advanced technical skills. The most common will be Guest Network, USB Settings, and Parental Controls. Guest works as it usually does, with a few extra features in the Archer C5. You can select exact day/time for it to be available as well as limit bandwidth, if you'd like.
Most interesting is the USB settings, with regards to folder sharing. You can actually setup an externally accessible FTP server by simply checking a box. Basically, this allows you to remotely access the files you choose from virtually anywhere that has network access. And that's about as easy as it's going to get to do this.
There are countless other advanced features for those who are both technically inclined and even have a use for them. Need Dynamic DNS, remote web management, Access Controls, static routing, or port forwarding? Not a problem. This router can handle it.
ACCESS POINT MODE
Basically, it's missing. Most modern access points are setup in "bridge mode" by default, as that's how most folks are going to use it. Connected to a Cable/DSL modem. But what if you already have a good router or a server that handles things like DNS, DHCP, and other similar stuff? For that, you'd want to enable "Access Point Only" mode. It turns off all of the extra stuff on your router and makes it work as a Wireless Access Point only. It's like a "wireless network hub."
The work-around is to simply NOT use the WAN port and plug your existing network into one of the 4 LAN ports. Turn off DHCP, setup the LAN with a static IP, and that's it. You could technically not do any of this and it would work; but then you're Wireless network will be on a separate subnet with different IP range, etc. Which would further complicate things. And yes, we are in fact getting technical here, but the point is that it should be easier.
FIRMWARE UPDATE & BUGS
I always suggest updating the firmware on any router. Most these days allow you to easily do this via the web interface by the simple click of a button. This router requires you to go to the TP-Link website, download a file, extract it, and then you can go back to the web interface to select and perform the upgrade. While hardly complicated, it is something you're average user may decide to avoid.
Which could be problematic as the firmware update noted several improvements & fixes, especially for Xbox and PS console where it resolves connectivity issues. Another negative was that the firmware update resulted in a factory reset. Not a big deal if you have a simple setup or did a backup first (another bonus feature).
I also noted a random message indicating it was updating the RT-N56U firmware, not TP-Link AC1200. It's just a cosmetic bug that was never seen again; but does indicate I'm probably seeing left-over ASUS code. Just interesting at the very least as they may even be using some ASUS hardware in there. ASUS makes excellent routers as well.
PERFORMANCE
I mostly focus my testing on the 5GHz band as there is far less interference and it has the best performance. If you want anywhere near advertised speeds, you'd better make sure you have an AC-capable device running on 5GHz, not 2.4. I tested multiple devices, but I'm mostly focusing on my Microsoft Surface Pro 3 and Galaxy Note 3 phone. The Surface was able to maintain max "867Mbps" connection speed (not transfer rate) within about 6ft or so of the device. Any further and the connection speed will start to drop.
Obviously connection speeds aren't super relevant as actual use is considerably lower. Not to mention, your results WILL vary. So for my real-world testing I basically just copied large files (MKV's) while walking around the house with my SP3 in hand. File transfer speeds varied anywhere from 15MB/s to nearly 40MB/s at it's peak transfer rate. Keeping in mind the lowest transfer speed was nearly 100ft away with multiple walls and doors in the way.
For my phone I simply ran the Speedtest.net app and it quickly hit 150Mbps on a 200Mpbs connection. The phone only supports 802.11n, so it's going to be slower. But for my uses, that's more than fast enough.
NOTE: If you have devices that support faster AC speeds (as well as a need for such a thing), check out the more expensive Archer C7 and C8 routers. They both will handle a max of 1300Mbps connection speed. Although this device has been more than fast enough to handle 1080p MKV HD video streaming to my TV's, Mobile Devices, & Media Centers.
CONCLUSION
Overall I've found both the speed and distance to be noticeably faster and more reliable than the Buffalo access point. The setup is about as straight forward as it gets. And it has a ton of advanced features for those who want to use it in bridge mode. Since there is an obvious work-around for missing "Access Point Only" mode and the firmware issue tends to be a "one time" issue, I'm really considering them relatively minor cons.
I've decided that for the first time, I can finally give an AC router a passing grade. Although I still hope a firmware update addresses those issues. Overall, I'm going to give this 4.8 stars and consider it highly recommended.
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+23points
24of 25voted this as helpful.
 
NETGEAR Click Switches, with the 1-2-3-4 mounting system, offer the most flexible deployment options combined with effective cable management. Designed to enable easy and neat switch placement in all locations, Click Switches also have the full set of Plus Switch software features such as traffic prioritization, VLANs and cable testing. Two USB ports can charge tablets or smartphones.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Fast, Powerful, and Flexible
on December 7, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
From working in the IT Support industry for nearly 20 years, I've spent a considerable amount of time working with network gear. Along with many other computer stuff, of course. Let's jump in and take a look at the Netgear ProSAFE 16-Port "Click Switch."
DESIGN
We have to start with this first, as it is somewhat unique in the networking world. I've never seen a 16-port switch with this design. Most are compact or rack mounted designs that don't really change much in shape, just size. As you can see from the pictures this switch has a long narrow design, that's mean to be easily mounted under a desk, on a wall, post, etc. Given it's compact profile, it'll go just about anywhere.
The power cord is angled and can go in either direction, depending on how you have it installed. So it can go straight down, or to the front. Then you've got your basic link and connectivity lights. And at that point, you're dealing with a normal switch.
INSTALL
There is an optional bracket that allows easy removal. I simply used the two included screws to attach to the wall behind the small entertainment center in the media room / office. This room has about a dozen computers, large TV, media center, etc. So a 16 port switch is actually the minimum needed to ensure full network connectivity.
Once the bracket was screwed in, the switch clicked right in. There is a tab on the top you push down to release. I did note that sometimes you have to push down on the tab for it to snap into place. Not a big deal. After all, you're not going to be removing it very often.
There are also included straps that attach to the switch to assist with cable management. You can use them separately, but they are meant to be used with the switch since there are loops to run it through.
SETUP & CONFIG
This switch is a "managed" switch, which certainly explains the cost. In other words, it has built-in software to provide many advanced features. In most home environments, they will probably never get used. But when you get into more complex home offices and small businesses, it starts to make a lot more sense. You can access these features via the included software (yes, there is a "CD") or via the website. Either way, the experience is comparable.
The first thing you'll want to do is basic stuff you might do with a router. Setup the password, give it an IP address, and check out the advanced features to see what you might want to use. I won't go into how these features work, as that gets a bit more technical, but you've got VLAN, loop detection, QoS, Cable Testing, and much more. You can even check out "port statistics" to see how many bandwidth has gone through each port and how many CRC errors have occurred. Very handy.
PERFORMANCE
But does it work fast enough? It sure does. For my "stress test" I fired up 6 computers and had them transferring files between each other. All while playing around with the management interface. Bottom line, it had no problem holding at 100-105MB/s transfer rates for all 3 sessions that were running simultaneously. That tells me we've got full gigabit and a back plane that can handle some serious bandwidth.
CONCLUSION
It's important to realize that once you get into managed switches, you're are getting into pricier territory. So if you don't think you'll ever use these features, there are cheaper options. But for those wanting advanced options for current needs or even some "future proofing," this is the way to go. Add in it's unique form factor and flexible installation options and you've got what I consider a highly recommended switch.
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
 
Your household demands a lot from your home network. With this Linksys router, you can depend on a strong Wi-Fi connection as you work and play online, even when everyone is using a different device. Plus, you can control the router from anywhere with the Smart Wi-Fi app.
 
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Descent access point with a lot of features
on December 7, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
PROS:
+ Good Build Quality
+ eSATA & USB 3 Ports
+ 4 Gigabit Ports
+ Fast dual core CPU
+ Descent range for only 2 antenna
+ Smart Wi-Fi Setup for console access virtually anywhere
+ Easy to use interface
+ Lots of extra features & customization
+ OpenWRT compatible
+ Dual Band (2.4Ghz & 5Ghz)
CONS:
- Expensive for what it does
- Bridge or "Access Point" mode removes all extra features
- Not as fast as cheaper routers which have more antennas
- USB Drive speeds not very fast (i.e. NAS)
Like many of us, I've owned countless access points over the years. Including the original Linksys WRT54 series that came out back in early 2000. I'm currently using a TP-Link C5 AC1200 Wireless Router, which has has comparable specs, except it has 6 antenna instead of the two here. Oh, and it costs about $100 less.
OUT OF THE BOX & SETUP
As is typical these days for access points, you don't get a whole lot. Just throw the antennas on the box and follow the quick setup guide. Which in this case, is pretty straight forward. You can either connect via LAN or Wireless and are given the option of using the Wizard or manual configuration. For most folks connecting to your modem, the wizard is the way to go.
It's able to quickly identify your internet connection and help setup your Access Point names, passwords, etc. From there you, you call it a day and enjoy the internet. Although if you're buying this access point, you're interested in more than this.
ADVANCED FEATURES
If there's a feature that Access Points are pushing these days, this router has it all. You've got guess access points modes, tons of parental controls, FTP server, auto-update, etc. The two worth special mention here is the NAS (Network Area Storage) and Smart Wi-Fi. The NAS is very simple to setup.
Simply connected my Seagate USB 3.0 drive to the USB port and you're done. Go to the NAS section in the setup interface to get the IP and connect from any system. You have other options such as setting permissions and such. Otherwise, it's ready to go. My main issue here was that it wasn't very fast. Speeds were limited to around 10Mb/s, give or two a few Mb. It didn't matter if I was on 2.4, 5Ghz, or connected via LAN. It just didn't want to go very fast.
If speed isn't an issue, Smart Wi-Fi brings some nice added functionality. You basically create an account with Linksys and it allows you to remotely manage your device from anywhere with internet connectivity. This is particular useful if you want to access the files stored on your drive elsewhere. Quite handy.
ACCESS POINT / BRIDGE MODE
If you use the wizard, it'll actually automatically detect that you have an existing internet and set itself up so you've got internet. Although it's using DHCP, switches to a whole different subnet, etc. In other words, this isn't ideal. You can try to manually configure some settings to work around this, but it never worked right. You pretty much have to set it to Bridge mode.
Which does work. I configured a static IP and my own DHCP/DNS servers took over. Everything good to go. However, it disables every single advanced features. No guest mode, USB storage, Smart Wi-Fi, all gone. For those of us doing this, jumping over to OpenWRT is clearly the best option.
PERFORMANCE
So how fast did it go. The best AC speeds on 5Ghz were around 35Mb/s average, with a few peaking at about 40Mb/s. And that's only a couple feet away. If I switched back to my TP-Link C5, it was easily about 5Mb/s faster, on average. And it was able to maintain a slightly better signal at further distances. Nothing drastic, but it was noticeable, and expected. There are quite a few more antenna's.
Gigabit LAN speeds were right as expected, up to and right around 100MB/s, so nothing out of the ordinary there. Although that is with transferring files over the LAN. As previously noted, using the USB storage was considerably slower.
CONCLUSION
Overall, it's really not a bad access point. If you want a lot of features, functionality, and the ability to use OpenWRT, there aren't a lot of options. But if wireless speed is your top priority, there are other access points that cost considerably less, while still providing most of the important features folks are looking for.
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
LG G4 Cell Phone for AT&T: With a vivid IPS 5.5" display, Wi-Fi and fast 4G speed, you can browse the Web, text, watch YouTube videos and more at home or while you're on the go. The 16.0MP camera lets you capture memorable moments.AT&T Next option available in store. Learn more ›
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Excellent phone that nails the important stuff
on December 7, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
Ever since the very first Android HTC “smart phone” several years ago, I’ve owned more phones than I can recall. Looking at recent phones, I’ve owned Galaxy Note 3 & 4, Galaxy S 4 & 5, LG G2 & G3, Nokia 1520, Xperia Z Ultra, and my current daily driver, the Nexus 6. Yeah, I’m rather familiar with smartphones. :) So let’s take that experience and see how the latest from LG performs compared to the world of smart phones.
PROS:
+ Fast 64-bit Snapdragon 808 SoC
+ Smooth LG User Interface
+ Removable 3000mAh battery
+ Expandable MicroSD Storage, up to 2TB (when available)
+ Standard 32GB Internal Storage (not 16GB!)
+ Nice sharp 5.5” Quad HD IPS Display
+ Above Average Battery Life
+ Reasonably priced for a high-end phone
+ Fast Micro-USB Charge Capable
+ Functional very slightly curved design
+ Excellent 16MP OIS rear camera with crisp/sharp images
+ Surprising high-res 8MP front camera
+ Loud Speaker
+ Lots of extra LG features
+ Solid Build Quality & Feel (Leather Back)
+ Interchangeable back covers
CONS:
- Battery could be larger for a big phone
- Single rear-facing speaker
- No Wireless Charging
- Some cases may not fit with optional leather back cover
- AT&T Bloatware
DESIGN
The LG G4 is a 5.5” phone with a slight curve and a squarish design. It’s not as drastic as the original LG G Flex, but just enough to make it a little nicer to hold up to your face. You know, for those that still make phone calls on these things. Beyond that, there is the usual mini-USB port, headphone jack, volume/power on the back, etc.
Which by the way, having used LG phones in the past, you really do quickly get used to the buttons on the back. Just like you get used to the size. It's to the point that my index finger naturally rests on the buttons and 5.5” almost seems “small.”
The less common design feature is the removable back. One of which is a leather backing, as mine has. It still looks & feels good. Bit of a plastic feel, but provides nice grip when holding it. There is an ongoing trend towards phones that look and feel premium, but don’t function as a “premium” phone should. Honestly, features like removable battery and expandable storage are far more important to me. And that’s not to say it feels or looks cheap. The G4 has a solid feel and looks great.
OS & FEATURES
Back with the G2, LG basically did a poor job of copying Samsung’s “throw every feature possible” at the phone and see what sticks. It was clunky, slow, and disorganized. Since the G3 and now G4, that has all changed for the better. While they still have far more features than you’ll ever use, it’s much more organized, and functional. The OS is now smooth and fluid. And that’s despite the AT&T bloatware you can’t remove (you can hide it).
And well, I could write a whole separate review on individual LG features. Days later I’m still finding new things to play with. But some of the more noteworthy are the screen tap to wake/sleep, battery monitor that let’s you know what apps are getting resource happy, smart cleaning (helps remove apps you don’t use), location based profiles, & split screen multitasking.
While I’m a big fan of stock Android and faster updates, I’ll gladly take the extras if basic performance & functionality doesn’t take a hit. And there's enough usable and practical features that I haven't missed the stylus of my Galaxy Note phones, which is really the only thing I noticed "missing" vs Samsung. At the time of this review, we're still looking at Lollipop 5.1.
PERFORMANCE
Stutter and lag are some of the most annoying features in a phone. And a big reason why I’ve taken a break from Samsung phones. As noted in the OS section above, the user interface runs great. The hexa core CPU has no problem handling whatever I've thrown at it.
I’m not big on synthetic benchmarks for phones these days. Who cares if you get a "high score," if real-world performance suffers. Swiping, pinching, opening/closing apps, are all nice and smooth. Right on-par with my stock Google Nexus 6. Sure, larger apps may take an extra second to open/close, but this is quite normal, and they run great overall.
Gaming is another benefit of high-end specs. Here they are free to run at their highest settings while looking fantastic and smooth. The one thing I will note is that if pushed hard for an extended period of time, the phone does get a bit warm. In particular when going through the initial setup, downloading a bunch of apps, etc. These days, that seems to be the norm with the latest & greatest top spec chips. And overall, a minor issue.
DISPLAY
After having used so many OLED displays, it’s often difficult going back to a normal IPS LCD. However, the 5.5” Quad HD IPS Display on the LG G4 looks excellent. Even right next my OLED Nexus 6 and my Dell Venue 10 7000, the LG display easily holds it’s own. Solid (if not quite OLED) black levels, very sharp images, natural looking colors, great viewing angles, no light bleed, etc. It’s just a nice screen to look at it.
With the LG G3, you really did notice lesser screen quality and poor black levels compared to the newer IPS/OLED displays. Not so here anymore. LG has really made some nice improvements. The only possible negative is that the color temperature is on the very cool side. In other words, whites tend to look a bit blueish when you push the brightness. Which by the way, is fairly bright, and no issues with outdoor visibility. So really, not a big deal and usually comes down to personal preferences. Besides, you’ll probably get used to it either way.
LG has also tweaked auto-brightness so it dims far more than it should, even when adjusting it's sensitivity via included controls. So that’ll be left disabled for now. Beyond that, not much in the way of display adjustments.
CAMERA
For a phone, this is definitely one of the best rear-facing cameras you’re going to find. The 16MP camera has OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) which helps avoid blur from moving your phone around. The flash is average brightness. Another nifty feature of the LG G3 and now G4, is use of “lasers” to help focus faster and more accurately. And in my testing, I found it do so perfectly. It had no issues quickly adjusting to changing front and foreground focus, as needed.
I won’t go into all of the extra camera features. If you’ve used a modern smartphone, it's got those features, plus a ton of extra options for different scenarios and customization. But let’s face it, other than the occasional panoramic shot, most of us are going to stick with automatic. And it works great, regardless of shooting conditions.
One surprising spec is the front camera, which is 8MP. Considering how many folks are taking selfies these days, it makes sense that manufactures start putting a decent camera on the front. There’s obviously no flash, OIS, or laser focus. But it still takes better pictures than some cheap rear facing cameras.
BATTERY
This is one of those features that seems to be at the bottom of the list for phone manufactures who are more interested in making phones as thin as physically possible. The 3000mAh battery combined with some helpful software improvements means you’ll likely get better than average battery life, as I did.
In my use, I was easily seeing 5+ hours screen-on time, and could easily last an entire day with moderate usage. That’s a little over half brightness, watching videos, surfing, a game here and there, etc. Your mileage will absolutely vary. And even with that said, I do still wish the battery was a tad larger. As with most phones, if you decide to really push it, such as high brightness, lots of screen-on time, a high-end game running, you’ll still be looking for a charger by dinner time.
I’m probably just being picky, but I love big batteries. And it’s still noticeably better than the Galaxy S6 and Nexus 6. Plus, with fast charging, it’s easy to top off in less than a hour. Assuming you haven’t drained the battery (which you shouldn’t). Or, just carry around a spare battery and swap it out! You know, because you can. Not to mention aftermarket extended battery solutions that are starting to show up.
SOUND
There is one speaker, and it’s on the back. You know, right where you hold it with your hand. Why phone manufacturers insist on doing this is beyond my comprehension. In particular with large screen phones that are more likely to be used for media consumption. Watching youtube, short episode here and there, etc. It's in the wrong location.
With that said, the speaker is surprisingly very loud and clear. This little guy has no problems being heard when you crank up the volume. Even when I tried to intentionally cover it up (which isn’t hard to do), the sound waves still found a way to escape. Albeit a bit muffled. It’s no excuse for the placement, but it’ll do.
CONCLUSION
If the phone had front stereo speakers and a larger battery, it would be near perfect. But I’m afraid no phone is perfect. So I simply look for one that has most of the important stuff covered. And I have to say, the LG G4 does that nearly perfectly.
And the cons? Well, let’s face it. They’re few and relatively minor. In fact, it’s so good it might just tear me away from the 6” OLED screen and stereo speakers that I’ve become hooked with on my N6. If only the screen were bigger…
Overall, I consider this phone highly recommended for those in the market for a larger high-end smartphone that can pretty much do it all. 4.7 stars.
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+25points
26of 27voted this as helpful.
 
Keep your Apple®, Android, Windows, BlackBerry or other portable device fully charged while you're away from home using this PNY PowerPack 7800 rechargeable battery, which features dual 1- and 2.1-amp ports for rapid powering.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Easily meets and exceeds all expectations
on December 7, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
As a power gadget user, I've always got several electronic devices on or near me at any given time. These days it seems manufactures are more intent on making them look better, then improve functionality. Battery life, for example, has suffered as of late. Which brings us to the need to have a portable battery pack. Such as this PNY 7800mAh unit.
It features a nice metal enclosure which gives the impression of very solid build quality. No flex or creaks. Just a solid piece of metal. Then you've got 2 full-size USB ports to charge your gadgets and 1 micro-USB port to charge the unit itself. There is a button on the front that either turns on the LED flash light or shows the exact battery charge indication.
The latter of which is surprisingly useful. All other portable battery packs I have simply rely on lights. Here, you're able to see exactly how much of a charge you have left. And it's even back-lit.
Cable is included. But no AC wall charger. Something had to go with the low price point.
I tested this charger on a few devices such as my Nexus 6, Galaxy S5, and an LG G4. Even charging 2 at the same time, it was able to charge them both very quickly. You've got roughly 15-20% overhead with your capacity on these devices. Which is to say, you aren't going to actually output 7800mAh. Just a bit less. It has to keep some capacity in reserve to do the charging and such.
All of that's completely normal and functioned well within normal expectations for portable battery packs. But it's the little things like build quality and charge indicator that separate this from the rest. All things considered, I'd say this one is highly recommended
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Take your gaming to the next level with this Microsoft NG6-00001 Xbox One controller, which comes with a wireless adapter to eliminate tangles and increase mobility. The precision D-pad and thumbsticks offer accurate control to give you the competitive edge.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Xbox One Controller goes Wireless for PC
on December 7, 2015
Posted by: omegafiler
from TX
Coming from the Xbox 360 controller, the Xbox One controller has always been a minor but useful improvement over the previous version. And just as when I borrowed the controller from my Xbox 360 and used with my PC, I've done the same with the Xbox One. Except that required a cable.
Until now, that is. Microsoft had a wireless adapter for the Xbox 360 for PC, which I own, so it's only natural they had one for the PC. More specifically, Windows 10. It's works fairly straight forward. Plug in the large dongle to your PC, press the pairing button on both devices, and off you go.
It really is that simple. With Windows 10, there are no drivers, no complicated steps. Just plug-n-play, as it should be.
How is the gaming experience. It's actually exactly like it is on the Xbox itself. Which it to say, excellent. All the buttons and axis controls are smooth and responsive. Giving you the full range of control if the game of your choice.
I tried a few games, such as Need for Speed and Driver via Steam Big Screen, and they all worked perfectly.
One extra item worth noting is the Xbox Button in Win10. It gives you the option of opening the "game bar." This gives you quick access to Xbox Games, Recording, etc. Very convenient. Too bad it can't be configured to open Steam.
Otherwise, this works exactly as you'd expect. I just wish the dongle were a bit smaller, for notebook use. I consider this highly recommended for any Xbox or PC gamer. After-all, it'll work on both!
My Best Buy number: 0961528896
I would recommend this to a friend!
+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
 
omegafiler's Review Comments
 
Get fantastic image quality and great sound with this 43-inch VIZIO SmartCast E-Series UHD home theater display. It has 10 active LED zones so that it delivers dark blacks and bright whites for incredible contrast. This VIZIO SmartCast E-Series UHD home theater display also includes Chromecast built-in, the easiest way to stream apps you know and love from your phone or tablet.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Excellent Monitor for PC, Movies, and Gaming
By omegafiler from TX
I purchased this monitor at Best Buy for use as an inexpensive 4K PC display. But also wanted to play the occasional game and watch some movies. Let's see how the brand new Vizio 42.5" E43u-D2 fares.
PROS:
+ Excellent picture quality
+ Deep black levels
+ Good viewing angles
+ No noticeable input lag
+ Relatively inexpensive for what you get
+ Great image uniformity
+ Native Casting Support
+ Phone app for TV controls/adjustments
+ Good port selection
+ Supports HDMI 2.0 for 2160p, 4:4:4 color format, 8-bit color depth*
CONS:
- 2160p only supports 4:4:4 at 30Hz
- No built-in on-screen menu for config
- No DisplayPort Input
OUT OF THE BOX & SETUP
Since this is going on my desk, basic assembly was required for the feet. But that's about it. Then it's off to the phone app to actually configure the TV itself. You can connect to WiFi or use the built-in LAN port. The phone app is the only way you can adjust the display controls, settings, etc. If you're using the remote, you can change inputs, volume, channel, enter app pairing mode, etc. Not a whole lot else.
Once you get used to it, I found it to be fairly intuitive. All of the usual settings are there, preset modes for Computer use, Movies, vivid, etc. Plus more in-depth color options and such.
Do note that there is no traditional coax TV tuner. Which as noted above, works perfectly for me. For anybody else, do make sure you have some kind of set-top-box, streaming media device, or phone/tablet to use the app which can stream lots of stuff. I haven't played with the streaming too much, but the app seems to cover the basics, such as Hulu, ChromeCast, etc.
DESKTOP
It's important to ensure your PC supports HDMI 2.0. And use HDMI 1 (ARC) on the TV. This is the latest standard. If it's an older version, you'll likely be limited to 4K @ 30Hz. While it's technically usable, it's not going to be a great experience. There will be lag and maybe even ghosting as you move the mouse, drag windows, etc. I've used this display with a GTX 980 Ti and a Dell XPS 15 (9550) with a USB-C to HDMI 2.0 converter. The built-in port on the notebook does not support HDMI 2.0.
The experience on both was about the same. I had to go into the advanced display settings to force the monitor to go to 60Hz instead of 30Hz. However, the Vizio website and spec site is somewhat misleading. It says HDMI port 1 supports "2160p@60fps, 4:4:4, 8-bit." In reality, it does, but not all together. In other words, if you want 4:4:4/RGB, you can only go up to 2160p@30Hz. Once you bump up to 60Hz, you still get 8-bit, but only 4:2:0.
One interesting note is that the included cable isn't even HDMI 2.0. It didn't work well at all. Fortunately I wasn't even expecting a cable, so already purchased a HDMI 2.0 spec cable.
Now I thought 4:2:0 would be unacceptable in desktop mode, but that's simply not the case. If I used the included cable, yes. Small text was blurry. But with a good cable, I'm running Win10 at 125% scaling and small text is nice, crisp, and clear. If I drop down to 100% is still clear, but a bit too small for my use. I also ran through Windows "ClearType" wizard to fine tune things a bit. I then did some test workflows with Outlook, IE, Chrome, Firefox, and several other Office 2013 apps. At my normal sitting distance, about 3-4 feet away, they all look and function great. I can basically have 4 1080p sized windows on one display. Awesome.
I should note I did view a chroma subsampling 4:4:4 text image; and yes, the last 2 lines aren't super crisp at 4:2:0. But honestly it's still readable and haven't found an issue in any of my personal use case scenarios. But felt I should note that because you could run into a situation where that is a problem in your use-case where certain text may not look clear or a bit "odd" due to the fact that pixels are sharing colors. Google it. :)
MOVIES & VIDEOS
I started by playing several 4K sample videos and trailers on YouTube. I simply couldn't find anything to complain about. Tried different viewing angles, looking for pixelation, stuttering, stuck pixels, flickering, etc. Nothing. One thing to keep in mind is that 4:2:0 is basically where virtually all movies and videos run at. So given I'm stuck at that color depth anyways, this type of playback is right at home.
I've been watching Transformers: Age of Extinction (Amazon Prime) at 4K for awhile now and it's quite impressive. Black levels are some of the best I've ever seen on a mainstream television. Black is black. No light bleed. No obvious dark/white splotches. It's nice.
GAMING
I do like to play the occasional Starcraft 2, GTA V, Civ5, and other similar titles. It's like I'm playing them all for the first time on this display. Completely changes the experience with the immersion and new details you never noticed before. Only complaints I have is more game developer related. Civilization doesn't scale well at higher resolutions. In that menus and text are super tiny. Fortunately, most games I've played don't have that issue.
On the phone app there is setting to change that reduces input lag. And so far, I've yet to notice any. However, it's very important to double-check in both Windows AND in your game display settings that you're at 60Hz. Sometimes they'll default to 30Hz and you will absolutely perceive that as lag.
More important, you may just be seeing lag since you're killing your GPU by trying to run at 2160p. Even the GTX 980 Ti FTW can't run everything at native without lowering details down to at least medium in most cases. Just depends on the game, and was expected. Some more particular FPS gamers might find some lag that I'm missing out on; but for me, it's just fine.
CONCLUSION
So is this a perfect monitor? Nope. Few things are. If your work/play requires something this budget oriented monitor can't deliver on, such as 2160p with 4:4:4 @ 60Hz, you'll need to keep looking elsewhere. And likely spend a bit more.
With a good HDMI 2.0 cable, quick calibration of display settings, as well as OS/App/Game graphic setting adjustments, I'm quite happy with it. If you're looking for an inexpensive large all-in-one monitor for desktop use, watching video content, or even playing games, I consider it highly recommended.
Customer Avatar
omegafiler
TX
No judder
May 31, 2016
Hi, I haven't noticed any judder with any video content. So far so good.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Get fantastic image quality and great sound with this 43-inch VIZIO SmartCast E-Series UHD home theater display. It has 10 active LED zones so that it delivers dark blacks and bright whites for incredible contrast. This VIZIO SmartCast E-Series UHD home theater display also includes Chromecast built-in, the easiest way to stream apps you know and love from your phone or tablet.
 
Overall5 out of 55 out of 5
Excellent Monitor for PC, Movies, and Gaming
By omegafiler from TX
I purchased this monitor at Best Buy for use as an inexpensive 4K PC display. But also wanted to play the occasional game and watch some movies. Let's see how the brand new Vizio 42.5" E43u-D2 fares.
PROS:
+ Excellent picture quality
+ Deep black levels
+ Good viewing angles
+ No noticeable input lag
+ Relatively inexpensive for what you get
+ Great image uniformity
+ Native Casting Support
+ Phone app for TV controls/adjustments
+ Good port selection
+ Supports HDMI 2.0 for 2160p, 4:4:4 color format, 8-bit color depth*
CONS:
- 2160p only supports 4:4:4 at 30Hz
- No built-in on-screen menu for config
- No DisplayPort Input
OUT OF THE BOX & SETUP
Since this is going on my desk, basic assembly was required for the feet. But that's about it. Then it's off to the phone app to actually configure the TV itself. You can connect to WiFi or use the built-in LAN port. The phone app is the only way you can adjust the display controls, settings, etc. If you're using the remote, you can change inputs, volume, channel, enter app pairing mode, etc. Not a whole lot else.
Once you get used to it, I found it to be fairly intuitive. All of the usual settings are there, preset modes for Computer use, Movies, vivid, etc. Plus more in-depth color options and such.
Do note that there is no traditional coax TV tuner. Which as noted above, works perfectly for me. For anybody else, do make sure you have some kind of set-top-box, streaming media device, or phone/tablet to use the app which can stream lots of stuff. I haven't played with the streaming too much, but the app seems to cover the basics, such as Hulu, ChromeCast, etc.
DESKTOP
It's important to ensure your PC supports HDMI 2.0. And use HDMI 1 (ARC) on the TV. This is the latest standard. If it's an older version, you'll likely be limited to 4K @ 30Hz. While it's technically usable, it's not going to be a great experience. There will be lag and maybe even ghosting as you move the mouse, drag windows, etc. I've used this display with a GTX 980 Ti and a Dell XPS 15 (9550) with a USB-C to HDMI 2.0 converter. The built-in port on the notebook does not support HDMI 2.0.
The experience on both was about the same. I had to go into the advanced display settings to force the monitor to go to 60Hz instead of 30Hz. However, the Vizio website and spec site is somewhat misleading. It says HDMI port 1 supports "2160p@60fps, 4:4:4, 8-bit." In reality, it does, but not all together. In other words, if you want 4:4:4/RGB, you can only go up to 2160p@30Hz. Once you bump up to 60Hz, you still get 8-bit, but only 4:2:0.
One interesting note is that the included cable isn't even HDMI 2.0. It didn't work well at all. Fortunately I wasn't even expecting a cable, so already purchased a HDMI 2.0 spec cable.
Now I thought 4:2:0 would be unacceptable in desktop mode, but that's simply not the case. If I used the included cable, yes. Small text was blurry. But with a good cable, I'm running Win10 at 125% scaling and small text is nice, crisp, and clear. If I drop down to 100% is still clear, but a bit too small for my use. I also ran through Windows "ClearType" wizard to fine tune things a bit. I then did some test workflows with Outlook, IE, Chrome, Firefox, and several other Office 2013 apps. At my normal sitting distance, about 3-4 feet away, they all look and function great. I can basically have 4 1080p sized windows on one display. Awesome.
I should note I did view a chroma subsampling 4:4:4 text image; and yes, the last 2 lines aren't super crisp at 4:2:0. But honestly it's still readable and haven't found an issue in any of my personal use case scenarios. But felt I should note that because you could run into a situation where that is a problem in your use-case where certain text may not look clear or a bit "odd" due to the fact that pixels are sharing colors. Google it. :)
MOVIES & VIDEOS
I started by playing several 4K sample videos and trailers on YouTube. I simply couldn't find anything to complain about. Tried different viewing angles, looking for pixelation, stuttering, stuck pixels, flickering, etc. Nothing. One thing to keep in mind is that 4:2:0 is basically where virtually all movies and videos run at. So given I'm stuck at that color depth anyways, this type of playback is right at home.
I've been watching Transformers: Age of Extinction (Amazon Prime) at 4K for awhile now and it's quite impressive. Black levels are some of the best I've ever seen on a mainstream television. Black is black. No light bleed. No obvious dark/white splotches. It's nice.
GAMING
I do like to play the occasional Starcraft 2, GTA V, Civ5, and other similar titles. It's like I'm playing them all for the first time on this display. Completely changes the experience with the immersion and new details you never noticed before. Only complaints I have is more game developer related. Civilization doesn't scale well at higher resolutions. In that menus and text are super tiny. Fortunately, most games I've played don't have that issue.
On the phone app there is setting to change that reduces input lag. And so far, I've yet to notice any. However, it's very important to double-check in both Windows AND in your game display settings that you're at 60Hz. Sometimes they'll default to 30Hz and you will absolutely perceive that as lag.
More important, you may just be seeing lag since you're killing your GPU by trying to run at 2160p. Even the GTX 980 Ti FTW can't run everything at native without lowering details down to at least medium in most cases. Just depends on the game, and was expected. Some more particular FPS gamers might find some lag that I'm missing out on; but for me, it's just fine.
CONCLUSION
So is this a perfect monitor? Nope. Few things are. If your work/play requires something this budget oriented monitor can't deliver on, such as 2160p with 4:4:4 @ 60Hz, you'll need to keep looking elsewhere. And likely spend a bit more.
With a good HDMI 2.0 cable, quick calibration of display settings, as well as OS/App/Game graphic setting adjustments, I'm quite happy with it. If you're looking for an inexpensive large all-in-one monitor for desktop use, watching video content, or even playing games, I consider it highly recommended.
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omegafiler
TX
Re: 4:4:4 @ 60Hz
June 1, 2016
Hi Ogger,
That is one hidden setting; however, enabling it had no effect. At least not on my Dell XPS 15 (9550) that I'm using. I'll try it later on my desktop. Otherwise the chroma subsampling pattern looks the same. I'd same my thoughts are the same as what had been noted on forums for the other Vizio P series display. The last 2 lines of text aren't very crisp, but are legible.
So it's better than typical 4:2:0, but not quite as good as a true 4:4:4 output. It's surprisingly good for my use though. Outside of the test pattern, no complaints.
Should also note that per Vizio support, this is all working as designed. They say it doesn't support 4:4:4 @ 60Hz without lowering settings.
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