BeingHonest's stats
- Review count234
- Helpfulness votes431
- First reviewFebruary 18, 2014
- Last reviewMay 8, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentJune 25, 2016
- Last review commentJune 25, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
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- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
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- Answer count9
- Helpfulness votes9
- First answerAugust 27, 2015
- Last answerApril 9, 2019
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- Best answers2
Panasonic Nanoe Hair Dryer: Achieve your perfect style with this versatile blow dryer's 2 speeds, 3 heat settings and 3 included nozzles. Nanoe technology adds volume and infuses moisture for dry hair that won't dry out.
Customer Rating
4
Nice and pretty quiet
on May 8, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
This hairdryer main feature is the "Nanoe" technology which supposedly infuse moisture to your hair so that it doesn't get damaged as you're blow drying. I don't know if that actually works with the short time I've had with it, but as a regular hair dryer it works fine. It's plenty powerful and noise level is lower than other dryers I've used. It's not necessary quiet, more like a lower pitch. Comes with concentrated, diffuse, and speed drying attachments. Has 3 temperature and 2 speed settings.
Pro:
-1875 w
- relatively quiet
-1875 w
- relatively quiet
Con (?)
- Nanoe feature more gimmicky?
- Nanoe feature more gimmicky?
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Hear music in rich clarity with this Sony home theater AV receiver. Powerful surround sound makes movies come alive on your home theater system, and nine speaker channels flex their output to match your physical layout. This Sony home theater AV receiver works with a wide variety of audio formats, such as Google Home, Chromecast and Spotify. Includes HDMI 4K Ultra HD and 3D pass-through technologies for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles and 4K Ultra HD TVs.
Customer Rating
4
Great entry to Atmos
on April 28, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
Being entry level Atmos receiver, it performs really well. It produces clear sounds, was easy to calibrate and setup, easy to use, and the Phantom Surround feature surprisingly works. It’s not perfect, yet there’s very few negatives. It does get warmer than other receivers I’ve owned and the build quality is a bit flimsy. The menu, while easy to use, is a bit clunky. Atmos setup is limited to 5.1.2.
Good:
-Clear sounds
-Atmos support
-Dual zone
-6 HDMI in and 2 out
-Dual wifi
-Small size (when compared to their previous models)
-Phantom speaker makes it seem you have rear speakers or equally placed
-Google home support
-HDR passthrough
-Bluetooth can be set to transmit for headphones or receive for mobile devices
-Clear sounds
-Atmos support
-Dual zone
-6 HDMI in and 2 out
-Dual wifi
-Small size (when compared to their previous models)
-Phantom speaker makes it seem you have rear speakers or equally placed
-Google home support
-HDR passthrough
-Bluetooth can be set to transmit for headphones or receive for mobile devices
Bad:
-Can get a bit hot
-Top panel is flimsy and flexes
-Manual is lacking
-Can only do Atmos 5.1.2
-Can get a bit hot
-Top panel is flimsy and flexes
-Manual is lacking
-Can only do Atmos 5.1.2
Sony DN10xx series are good receivers. The DN1080 added some minor improvements, but the biggest one being the Atmos support and new “Phantom Surround” feature which simulates back speakers essentially turning your 5.1.2 setup to a 7.1.2 full surround. It has HDR passthrough and supposedly works with Google Home, but I don’t have a 4k tv and have an Amazon Echo so I was not able to test those features. The network features all work as intended with the streaming service is limited to just Spotify and Chromecast. Dual zone is nice to have especially if you want to pass video and audio to another tv in the house. Though, I’d rather not have the dual zone if it meant that they added support for 5.1.4 instead. Atmos is ideally meant for 4 top speakers.
Setting up was straightforward. Sony have kept their simple UI and streamlined remote, but the UI is somewhat clunky and laggy at times. The auto calibration was a good place to start and can get the job done if you don’t want to fine tune anything manually. The calibration is done with a new stereo mic which supposedly produce better results. It actually gave me an error when I had the R and L on the mic reversed so at least it’s accurate enough to know that much. The calibration did a good job at judging distance and levels but it kept assigning my bookshelf speakers as large and the level of the subwoofer was way too high. I went back in and adjusted some setting manually and set it up as Atmos 5.1.2 with top middle speakers and assigned the phantom surrounds as rear speakers.
Audio quality is great. I’m limited to only 2 Atmos movies, but what I heard was impressive. The sound was clear and bounced front to back and left to right. The phantom surround worked well enough. It’s not going to be the same as having actual speakers, but I definitely heard sounds as if they were behind me. With non Atmos media, setting the sound field to Dolby Digital or DTS Neutral can enhance the sound and fill the room more but it’s somewhat minor. There’s various calibration settings and sound fields options to mess with as well as speakers quality and placement so there’s a lot of factors at work, but based on what I have, I’m happy with the sound quality.
Some issues I have are from the build quality and how hot this gets. While its size is the same as my old Sony STR-DH750, a small non network receiver, its build quality seemed to have worsen. The top panel felt flimsy and flexed, and mine came with a dent. It also heats up quite a bit. Enough that I probably wouldn’t keep it in a closed cabinet without ventilation. The manual is also lacking explanations of settings. It only covered basic installation and the front display. For in depth explanations you have to use their online guide.
I think this is a very good receiver given the price point. Atmos media will hopefully be more available soon and this is a nice entry point. I like the sounds it can produce and the extra features are there for those that want it. It’d be nice if I could have set up a 5.1.4 Atmos experience but some Atmos is still better than none.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Hear every footstep, click and breath with this Razer Kraken digital gaming headset. The powerful 50mm drivers have neodymium magnets so that they produce exceptional sound directly to your ear, and the included microphone picks up speech clearly. This Razer Kraken digital gaming headset connects to a USB port for easy setup.
Customer Rating
4
Great sound if you can overlook some of its flaws
on March 23, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
The headset produces great surround sound, but it needs Razer Synapse in order to use the 7.1 surround so using it for PS4 will only yield stereo. It’s really bulky and not great for traveling. The ear cups are soft but may squeeze a bit hard, depending on the individual, and can get sweaty after prolonged use. The mic is fully retractable and easy to bend, but it picks up background noise and sometimes drop in volume. It also lacks inline volume controls.
Good:
-Great immersive sound
-Soft ear cups
-Works with PS4, but only in stereo and you’ll need a long extension cable
-Great immersive sound
-Soft ear cups
-Works with PS4, but only in stereo and you’ll need a long extension cable
Bad:
-Bulky
-No inline volume control
-Razer Synapse
-Bulky
-No inline volume control
-Razer Synapse
Bottom line is that this headset can produce great immersive sounds for a decent price. Gaming sounds great. Even though it’s virtual surround, it does a good job a simulating sound direction. There’s a bit of a jump when the sound is traveling behind you, but nothing too bad. Music and movies also sound good in either surround or stereo. Setup was simple, with a quick calibration through Razer Synapse.
These are not subtle. They are quite bulky and is very much “gamer” design. It’s definitely not a portable headset. Build quality is nice and are relatively comfortable, but after some time, it did get sweaty and it starts to feels like it’s squeezing a bit too tight. The mic does pick up a lot of background noise and messing with the settings didn’t seem to improve it by much. There’s no inline control other than the mute button, which is disappointing at this price range. All volume adjustments are made within Synapse.
I’ve never been a fan of the always online, cloud based Synapse. Unfortunately, you need it running in order for the headset to work properly. You can set it up once, and disable Synapse from starting (through windows startup only), but that can cause sound problems when you unplug the headset. Within Synapse, you can calibrate the surround sound, the EQ levels and music presets, and adjust mic volume and noise cancellation, and adjust the RGB.
For the price, it does meet expectations. Still if you’re looking for a headset that can be used for gaming and on the go, or if you prefer surround without the software, there are better choices at a bit higher price range.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Clean carpets, couches and stairs easily with this adaptable Dyson Ball Animal vacuum. Various attachments, including a tangle-free turbine tool, a multi-angle brush and a stair tool make pet hair removal quick and simple. The Dyson Ball Animal vacuum comes with a generous 35-foot cord, making it ideal for larger homes.
Customer Rating
4
Powerful. Great on carpet, ok on hard floor.
on March 19, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
This thing is powerful, much more than any other vacuums I’ve owned thus far. While the performance is good, there are some ergonomics and functionality that needs improving. It does a great job cleaning carpet but not as good on hard floor as I’d hoped. The tilt and lock isn’t as smooth and extensions can be somewhat of hassle to use.
Pro:
-Powerful. It actually lifts my carpet.
-Easy to maneuver
-Pet attachment works really well
-Powerful. It actually lifts my carpet.
-Easy to maneuver
-Pet attachment works really well
Con:
-Not as good on hard floors. For really dusty areas, it still leaves a layer of dust
-The rubber ridges on the ball can leave marks on wood floor. Not permanent, but still requires a wipe down
-The hose is hard to extend because the suction is so powerful, making it harder to handle.
-Not enough space to store all attachments on the vacuum
-Still no retractable cord
-Not as good on hard floors. For really dusty areas, it still leaves a layer of dust
-The rubber ridges on the ball can leave marks on wood floor. Not permanent, but still requires a wipe down
-The hose is hard to extend because the suction is so powerful, making it harder to handle.
-Not enough space to store all attachments on the vacuum
-Still no retractable cord
This is my first Dyson, and I never bought into the power of their suction, till now. Out of the box, assembling it was simple enough with everything snapping together easily. This thing is powerful, maybe even too powerful. I picked the Animal version because I have a cat, but even so, I think this model may have been an overkill. It’s louder than other vacuums, but given it’s performance, it’s reasonable. On carpet, it sucked up more particles than any other vacuums I’ve had. It was actually lifting the spot I was cleaning so be careful using it on rugs. On hard floor on the other hand, it didn’t perform as well as I’d hoped it would. It will suck up bigger particles and pet hair just fine, but if there’s an especially dusty area (under the coffee table or the couch) then it still leaves a layer of dust behind. To be fair, most vacuums does this or just fling away the dust, but I was hoping the Dyson would be able to suck it all up.
Another issue I had when using it on wood floors is that the rubber ridges on the ball leave behind track marks. It’s not permanent and just takes some wiping to get rid off, but that’s just an extra step you have to do unless you’re fine with squiggly lines on your floor.
The attachments all work like you’d expect them to, but the great thing is that the pet hair brush actually works! One wipe and it sucked all the cat hair off my sofa. I did have a hard time using the extending wand and hose. The wand itself is fine and I like how it’s actually the handle and slides off. The issue is the hose. Maybe it’s the suction, but fully extending the hose is a hassle. It keeps wanting to contract back and requires more effort to hold it than it should need.
While the power is unbeatable, little things makes me question their design choices. For one, the accessories holder can’t hold all the attachment. The pet hair attachment doesn’t have a place for it. I just stick it in the top of the handle after each use. The tilting and locking of the vacuum works half the time. Pushing it down either doesn’t release the lock or it snaps down hard that it feels like it’ll break over time. Tilting it back doesn’t always lock it. Also no retracting cord and the upper plastic tab holding the cord is flimsy.
Overall, the power is what you’re looking for and this delivers. It has plenty of power for pet hair, but unless you really have thick amount of hair on your floors, the regular ball 2 may be a more budget friendly choice.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Track your heart rate, listen to music or talk hands-free on these JBL in-ear headphones. The ergonomic ear tips twist into your ear and stay in place with TwistLock technology without causing discomfort. These durable, sweat-proof JBL in-ear headphones have a battery life of up to 5 hours and come with a one-year MapMyFitness premium membership.
Customer Rating
3
Good sound if it fits properly
on January 27, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
While overall I don't think these bad headphones, but factoring some of the issues, and performance to price point, I just couldn't fully recommend these. How well these headphones works will mainly depend on how well they fit in your ears. Properly fitted, and forming a seal, the sound is pretty good and the heart rate feature will work as intended. Unfortunately for me, that wasn't quite the case due to the unusual earbuds design. If you already have a good fitness band, you probably don't need this.
Good:
- Can measure heart rate fairly accurately
- Includes a year of MapMyRun Premium
- Includes small carrying case and multiple earbud sizes
- Integrate easily with other apps that supports it.
- Can measure heart rate fairly accurately
- Includes a year of MapMyRun Premium
- Includes small carrying case and multiple earbud sizes
- Integrate easily with other apps that supports it.
Bad:
- Big earbuds that may not fit exactly
- May not fit well in ear resulting in heart rate monitor to not detect your heart rate and sound to be sub par
- UA Record can by buggy
- Big earbuds that may not fit exactly
- May not fit well in ear resulting in heart rate monitor to not detect your heart rate and sound to be sub par
- UA Record can by buggy
Sound:
As headphones, it does a decent job of producing sounds. While it's good, it certainly doesn't stand out especially given the premium price. It's lacking in bass and doesn't get as loud as my other headphones, and I don't listen to loud music either. I had to crank the volume on my phone and as well as max it out on the headphones. The earbuds are the biggest issue for me. These have big round buds that is supposed to form a sound seal with a small dome that fits into your ear. The idea is to twist the earbuds and lock it in. The problem is that, for me, it doesn't fit that well. I tried all the sizes (4 included), with best result being the smallest. While it isn't loose enough to fall off while running, it's not quite locked in either. A light tug and it would come out.. Without the perfect fit, the sound suffer as if they're next to my ear rather than in them. If I push them in and hold them, the sound is much better. This also affects how well the heart rate monitor works.
As headphones, it does a decent job of producing sounds. While it's good, it certainly doesn't stand out especially given the premium price. It's lacking in bass and doesn't get as loud as my other headphones, and I don't listen to loud music either. I had to crank the volume on my phone and as well as max it out on the headphones. The earbuds are the biggest issue for me. These have big round buds that is supposed to form a sound seal with a small dome that fits into your ear. The idea is to twist the earbuds and lock it in. The problem is that, for me, it doesn't fit that well. I tried all the sizes (4 included), with best result being the smallest. While it isn't loose enough to fall off while running, it's not quite locked in either. A light tug and it would come out.. Without the perfect fit, the sound suffer as if they're next to my ear rather than in them. If I push them in and hold them, the sound is much better. This also affects how well the heart rate monitor works.
Fitness device:
As a heart rate monitor, as stated, is fine if it sits properly. I have yet to have it work first try. I always need to adjust and push it against my tragus (front of your ear) a few times until it detects, but once it does, it remains to do so even though I shifted it back a bit. It's fairly accurate, being off a bit at times, but still acceptable. It pairs up with the apps easily and I haven't had a problem with it staying connected. In MapMyRun, it's not listed by name and you have to scroll down and select it as heart rate device.
As a heart rate monitor, as stated, is fine if it sits properly. I have yet to have it work first try. I always need to adjust and push it against my tragus (front of your ear) a few times until it detects, but once it does, it remains to do so even though I shifted it back a bit. It's fairly accurate, being off a bit at times, but still acceptable. It pairs up with the apps easily and I haven't had a problem with it staying connected. In MapMyRun, it's not listed by name and you have to scroll down and select it as heart rate device.
I had issues with setting up the UA Record app at first. I could not create an account through the app. It kept saying I can't register at this time so I had to do in on my computer. When I was linking it from other apps, I tried to enter my password but it kept directing me to FAQ or privacy statement. After doing most of it on my computer, it was fine. The app provides good amount of info. The work out tracking is essentially the same as MapMyRun. I link it up with my fitness band and MyFitnessPal to track everything else.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Whip up healthy drinks with the Nutri Ninja BlendMax blender. Its Total Crushing blade technology and 1600W of power grind vegetables and frozen fruits, letting you create luscious smoothies, purees and fresh juices. The Nutri Ninja BlendMax blender comes with two interchangeable pitchers, letting you mix up to 88 oz. of ingredients or extract nutritious vitamins.
Customer Rating
5
Great blender, better for smoothies
on January 24, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
Overall great powerful blender. The cup attachments blends anything I throw in it to make nice even consistency drinks. The blender attachment can crush frozen ingredients to a paste. Easy one touch presets that will handle most needs.
Good:
- powerful
- presets get the job done with little hands on
- cup attachments can be used with Nutri Bowl Duo
- powerful
- presets get the job done with little hands on
- cup attachments can be used with Nutri Bowl Duo
Bad:
- takes up decent amount of space
- loud
- takes up decent amount of space
- loud
There's not much negatives to say about this blender. It has presets to make smoothies, frozen drinks, extract (for liquefying greens), crush, and puree along with 3 power settings. The bigger blender attachment may not crush as evenly as I like sometimes, but it's not major. It does get loud. The other minor thing I have with it is that I wished they would have made the attachments between this and the Nutri Bowl Duo compatible with each other. They have essentially the same base just with different locking mechanics. Overall I like it a lot and have been using it almost daily.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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.
Customer Rating
4
Fast but needs improvement
on January 11, 2017
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
Simply put, if you need a set it and forget it, wide wifi only network, then this may be what you need. However if you don't have a large house, want more control, or need wired connections, this isn't the best choice. There's still much room of improvement.
Good
- Fast network speed
- Small form factor
- Wide coverage
- 3 year warranty
- Fast network speed
- Small form factor
- Wide coverage
- 3 year warranty
Bad
- Set up was buggy and a PITA
- Cloud based app only management, no web interface meaning you can't manage it unless you have internet access.
- Each node only has 2 ethernet ports, no USB
- Can be inconsistent
- Nodes can interfere with each other
- Set up was buggy and a PITA
- Cloud based app only management, no web interface meaning you can't manage it unless you have internet access.
- Each node only has 2 ethernet ports, no USB
- Can be inconsistent
- Nodes can interfere with each other
I'm well experienced with network setup, and this is one of the most frustrating setup I've ever had to do. You can only set this up with the Linksys app and each step failed for me. I would recommend not using the bluetooth and use direct connection to the node's access point. Setting up the extending nodes went smoother but not without the same problems. The Netgear Orbi, a similar mesh router, was much easier to set up and didn't need an app.
This is the fastest router I’ve seen to date, with the average transfer speed of 25 MB/s. I did, however, have issues with its reliability. I have internet speed of 230 Mbps, and with two nodes set up, I did have a constant max speed, but when I set up the third, my speed became less stable averaging at 180 Mbps. This may be because the nodes are too closed together as it seem confused as to which node it should connect to my device even after optimizing the channels.
The main issue I have with it is its lack of common features. Why is there no web interface? It’s annoying to have to use the buggy app. While having one SSID is simple, I would be nice to be able to assign which device uses 2.4 ghz or 5 ghz, especially when the auto handshake doesn’t seem to make the most optimized choices. It's also lack deep network customization, but I don't think the average consumer would be concerned about. The lack of ports is a big one. Next to my router, I have smart home hubs, wired connections set up for my pc (Steam in home streaming) and PS4 (remote play), and sometimes USB attached drive. The problem is that the Velop connected to my modem only has one port left! This seems to be the trend with mesh routers, but you would think Linksys would at least match what Netgear have done. I'm not trying to oversell Netgear, but I didn't have most of these issues with the Orbi. For the price, other than faster transfer speed, this system doesn't really offer anything over the competition.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Whip up more smoothies and more with this Nutri Ninja blender. Its powerful 1200W motor base blends frozen fruits and desserts in seconds, and the Pro Extractor Blades extract nutrients from fruits and vegetables. With a 4-cup bowl, this Nutri Ninja blender lets you create enough nutritious treats for your entire family.
Customer Rating
5
Great for chopping and smoothies
on December 24, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
This is the little brother to the Ninja Duo Blendmax (which I also like), forgoing the blender attachment for a food processor bowl, but share the same smoothie cups and presets. It's simple to use with just a few push of the buttons and usually takes less than a minute of hands free operation. It doesn't take up a lot of space and is strong enough to fit most needs.
With the bowl, I was able to do things such as, chop small amounts garlic finely, to making salmon and veggie burger patties. The IQ boost preset might actually chop too finely. The bowl has a little flip spout for pouring sauces and marinades.
The smoothie cups, 3 included along with drink lids, are the same as the Blendmax. Both models have the same presets. The smoothie setting is great for fresh or frozen fruits and the extract setting is good for liquefying vegetables. It doesn't have a puree setting, but the smoothie setting should do the job.
My only minor complain is that I wish they would have made a base that can use all the attachments rather than making you buy two different models since each only differ slightly with their locking mechanisms.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep unwanted hair to a minimum with this Philips grooming tool. The waterproof design lets you use it in the shower, and eight attachments make this trimmer perfect for grooming different sections of the face. This Philips grooming tool has a turbo setting to increase cutting speed, and it charges in just one hour to reduce wait time.
Customer Rating
5
Good. Does with it's supposed to
on November 17, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
A good body trimmer. I don't have very thick hair and this trimmer has enough power to do what I needed, though I needed to do multiple passes. The provided attachments are enough to get the job done, but the body shaver and detailed trimmer couldn't do a totally clean shave and you're better off using a razor. I really like that the guard can do various lengths down to the mm, but you would most likely use low or medium. It does say that it's shower proof, but I would avoid using this in the shower as you can't use this with wet hair. Overall I like it and would keep on using from now on.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Civilization VI offers new ways to engage with your world: cities now physically expand across the map, active research in technology and culture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue their own agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of five ways to achieve victory in the game.
Customer Rating
5
Improved over Civ 5, and just as addicting
on November 9, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
This seem like a much better Civ V. It may not seem like there's a lot of improvement, but they make a difference. The districts make planning your city much more important, as it takes up tiles and positioning can affect multiple cities. Gone is the global happiness, replaced by amenities and makes expansion easier as long as you can find new resources. The new civic tree is a nice addition and can provide a strategical boost when needed. I do wish they had more leaders to choose from, but I guess they're saving that for expansions. There are some UI bugs here and there but more of an annoyance than anything too troubling. Still I'm having a good time with it.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
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BeingHonest's Review Comments
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5HP's take on MacBook Air, and it's good!
By BeingHonest
With an attractive design and lightweight portability, this laptop is a (big) tablet size package with full size laptop performance. The laptop is incredibly thin at a mere 10.4 mm and weighting at 2.45 lbs.
Build:
The exterior is a matte finish trimmed with gloss gold, which is reflected with the keyboard. This finish is nice since it doesn't leave fingerprints but the shinny gold is prone to marks. While personally I'm not a fan of the dark gray and gold, it does have a premium look to it. On the back is the headphone jack, 2 usb type C, and a power port, along with the exhaust along the bottom.
The exterior is a matte finish trimmed with gloss gold, which is reflected with the keyboard. This finish is nice since it doesn't leave fingerprints but the shinny gold is prone to marks. While personally I'm not a fan of the dark gray and gold, it does have a premium look to it. On the back is the headphone jack, 2 usb type C, and a power port, along with the exhaust along the bottom.
Display:
The Spectre comes with a 13 inch IPS 1080p display, and while not on par with a retina display, is clear and sharp. You really don't need a higher resolution for this size. The display setting is default to a custom setting in windows, which I find to be about right. The screen is glossy, which can be annoying. The viewing angle is great! I was surprised that this was an IPS panel.
The Spectre comes with a 13 inch IPS 1080p display, and while not on par with a retina display, is clear and sharp. You really don't need a higher resolution for this size. The display setting is default to a custom setting in windows, which I find to be about right. The screen is glossy, which can be annoying. The viewing angle is great! I was surprised that this was an IPS panel.
Keyboard and trackpad:
The keyboard is a typical chicklet type key and is responsive and easy to type with. It is backlit and with the gold trimmed keys, gives a nice glowing effect. The glass trackpad is nice and smooth and functions like a button with gesture controls (which I mostly disabled). It's essentially an Apple trackpad.
The keyboard is a typical chicklet type key and is responsive and easy to type with. It is backlit and with the gold trimmed keys, gives a nice glowing effect. The glass trackpad is nice and smooth and functions like a button with gesture controls (which I mostly disabled). It's essentially an Apple trackpad.
Speakers:
The speakers sandwich the entire keyboard, and while HP boast that it's custom tuned by Bang & Olufsen, it performs like what you would expect from tiny speakers on a tablet. Not so good, but considering its size, is adequate for watching videos. With music, it tends to crack at higher volumes and the bass is lacking. Still, the speakers can produce good volume and the individual channels stands out.
The speakers sandwich the entire keyboard, and while HP boast that it's custom tuned by Bang & Olufsen, it performs like what you would expect from tiny speakers on a tablet. Not so good, but considering its size, is adequate for watching videos. With music, it tends to crack at higher volumes and the bass is lacking. Still, the speakers can produce good volume and the individual channels stands out.
Performance:
With an i7 and 8 gb of ram, this laptop can handle any day to day task without a hitch. Just don't expect to do any modern gaming with this. Thanks to its PCIe SSD, this thing is fast. It boots up faster than my gaming desktop. But with only 256gb of storage, you might need an external drive. I'm used to gaming laptop so to me the battery life is very good. I can get at least 5 hours of use without optimizing the brightness and performance. It takes a few hours to fully charge and you should be good to go for a while. There doesn't seem to be a way to replace the ssd or battery so I'm hoping they last. I have one major issue with the performance, and is that it can get hot, not warm, but hot. Installing windows update, this laptop got too hot to be in my lap. Doing multitasking can get quite warm as well.
With an i7 and 8 gb of ram, this laptop can handle any day to day task without a hitch. Just don't expect to do any modern gaming with this. Thanks to its PCIe SSD, this thing is fast. It boots up faster than my gaming desktop. But with only 256gb of storage, you might need an external drive. I'm used to gaming laptop so to me the battery life is very good. I can get at least 5 hours of use without optimizing the brightness and performance. It takes a few hours to fully charge and you should be good to go for a while. There doesn't seem to be a way to replace the ssd or battery so I'm hoping they last. I have one major issue with the performance, and is that it can get hot, not warm, but hot. Installing windows update, this laptop got too hot to be in my lap. Doing multitasking can get quite warm as well.
Overall this laptop performs to my expectations. It's thin and light and can handle everyday tasks smoothly. There's not much HP bloatware, which I find refreshing. It comes with a usb C adapter and a slip cover, but in my case is a tad too small and tight. Even with some of its shortcomings, I can't fault it too much given how much was packed into such a small form factor.
This laptop was provided to me for my honest review.
BeingHonest
austin, tx
Thanks for update
June 25, 2016
Thanks for letting me know about the ssd and battery. I didn't see any way to remove the cover, but good to know it's doable. And yes I no longer put it on my lap (laptop-the irony) due to the heat issue. The ventilation is one of the issue I have with this thing, but it's still a good machine.
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Enhance work productivity and gaming with this Alienware Aurora liquid cooled desktop computer. Its Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM deliver optimal power to support efficient multitasking, and the 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA HDD keep files and apps organized. This Alienware Aurora desktop computer's high-definition audio and NVIDIA GeForce graphics provide an immersive media experience.
What motherboard is used
No brand name if that's what you're asking. It's a Dell made board.
5 years ago
by
BeingHonest
Enhance work productivity and gaming with this Alienware Aurora liquid cooled desktop computer. Its Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM deliver optimal power to support efficient multitasking, and the 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA HDD keep files and apps organized. This Alienware Aurora desktop computer's high-definition audio and NVIDIA GeForce graphics provide an immersive media experience.
Does this have a 850 w power supply? Which brand/ model video card is used for this rtx 2070?
Not sure about the power supply (not visible without taking it out), but with Dell you won't be getting any brand name parts. Just generic grade. The 2070 is a blower style.
5 years ago
by
BeingHonest
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
Really wanna buy these headphones, but does the ANC from these (Sony) create an undesirable pressure to the eardrums? Tried the Bose, they hurt my ears after a while...
I think your case is unique. I haven't heard about noise cancelling causing pain. I have both the Sony and Bose and all I can say is that they are similar, but with the Sony you can adjust the level of NC so that it has less effect in their App. By default, the Sony has a bit of a hiss. It's worth a shot.
6 years, 6 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
I am moving to Australia & hear different information about the power adapters. Do I need a converter to charge this HP laptop internationally? I have the adapter & a converter. Just want to be on the safe side. Thank you!
On the power brick, it says that it takes 100-240v so it should be fine internationally.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
Which available adapter is recommended for using with: HDMI screen Ethernet RJ45 network 2 regular USB ports (for wireless keyboard/ printer/ disk on key, not usb-c) Charging ?
There's no HDMI or ethernet out. It only comes with 2 usb-c so you'll just need an adapter to connect to non usb-c devices.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
has anyone else had a problem with the speakers?!?! will be playing something and speakers just suddenly cut out. wifi connection fine, tested on video downloaded on device as well but still same issue.
Seems like you have a defected item. I've had this for about a week and haven't experience such issues.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
Online, the estimated battery life is 9.5 hours. How accurate is this estimate?
Real world applications would probably get about half of that. I get about 4-5 hours of moderate use.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
What users is this directed towards?
Mainly target for everyday users or office workers that needs portability and good performance. For instance if you're looking to get a macbook air or surface pro (only without touch screen).
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Stay cool with this Honeywell Turbo Force HT-906 table fan that features 120° extra-wide horizontal oscillation to help keep a large area comfortable. The pivoting head can be adjusted up to 60° for flexible positioning.
How quiet or loud is this fan?
Tired of noisy fans; how is this one for noise? Thanks.
It's a bit quieter but really no quieter than any oscillating fan I've had. This is just smaller and has decent air flow.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
BeingHonest
austin, tx