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
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count9
- Helpfulness votes9
- First answerAugust 27, 2015
- Last answerApril 9, 2019
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Take photo editing to the next level with Photoshop and Premiere Elements 15. Install Photoshop Elements on your tablet to take advantage of touchscreen editing features, or create photo and video collages easily with Premiere Elements. Save money and enjoy professional results when you use Photoshop and Premiere Elements 15 to batch-edit photographs and footage after your next special event.
Customer Rating
5
Good for average users
on November 9, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
I've used Adobe Suite for years and I'm surprised how much you get out the Element package. Obviously it won't be as robust as the Adobe CC suite, but for those that are looking for something easy to use then these are great and at a much lower cost. Both software are easy to use, even in expert mode (I recommend starting in expert to unhide all the menu and tools). This package, along with some other drawing software, does what I need, and I find myself less inclined to pay the monthly fee for CC.
Photoshop Elements has most of the main editing features you get from the pro version, and is enough for most to edit their photos. It's lacking the advance painting features, but that's is to be expected. When doing quick edits, I might jump ship from CC to Elements for the simplicity of it.
I don't do much video editing and have some experience with Premiere Pro doing basic editing. Elements has enough features for me to do the types of video I usually do, which are mostly simple keyframe transitions and opacity. I'm glad to see that those are available with Elements. You have to be in expert mode and open up the various drop down menus to really be able to see what it can do. There's a bit of a learning curve but it's not as complicated as it may seem and it's a good introduction to the pro version. For the little video work that I do, I'll probably stick with this forgo the monthly fee for Premiere Pro.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Customer Rating
4
Consumer friendly. Good coverage
on September 22, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
Summary:
This is essentially two routers sharing a single SSID and it works as promised. The router automatically determines the best connection resulting in seamless coverage. While it is easy to set up and the designs is nice, it is lacking features other routers in the price range offers such as file sharing and USB 3.0 port. Currently the USB port is inactive till future expansion, and the power brick is huge. Guess network has not yet been implemented.
This is essentially two routers sharing a single SSID and it works as promised. The router automatically determines the best connection resulting in seamless coverage. While it is easy to set up and the designs is nice, it is lacking features other routers in the price range offers such as file sharing and USB 3.0 port. Currently the USB port is inactive till future expansion, and the power brick is huge. Guess network has not yet been implemented.
Good:
Simple set up
Nice design
Single seamless SSID
App for remote management
Simple set up
Nice design
Single seamless SSID
App for remote management
Bad:
No file sharing
No USB 3.0
USB 2.0 is inactive
Big power adapter
Price
No file sharing
No USB 3.0
USB 2.0 is inactive
Big power adapter
Price
Setting the router was simple and was one of the quickest routers I've set up. During set up there's a light ring that tells you how good your signal is for your satellite. Once connected, the setup wizard took care of the rest. What I really like about this router is that there's one SSID, unlike most router/extender which usually have separate ID that you have to choose. It automatically determines which band your device uses (2.4 or 5) and pair the device to router or satellite that has the best connection. I have the router in the corner of the house and the satellite in the living room and I get full bars in my yard with no weak spots.
The aesthetic fits well with most home decor and doesn't have the aggressive design that other high end routers have. I can put this in the living room and not have it stand out. It's wrapped in rubber so it doesn't look plasticy. The router has three Ethernet port and the satellite has four.
While the Orbi functions well, it's missing some features that are already common among other routers. First the USB 2.0 port should not be on modern devices. I have cheaper and older routers that had USB 3.0. Secondly, as of this review, the USB port is also inactive, which means no using external storage devices for file sharing. Even if this feature is included in the future, the USB 2.0 would be very slow. This router also has the biggest power brick I've seen. If you have tight space around your outlet or powerstrip, this thing will not fit. While these aren't deal breakers, I would hesitate choosing this over other routers in the this price range. If you need a router that offers wide coverage with easy setup and don't mind the lacking of file sharing, then this might be what you want.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Make driving routines more enjoyable with this OverDryve car system. Its voice assistant capabilities let you read and send text messages by command and also play music in your car without taking your hands off the wheel. The built-in dash cam of this OverDryve car system lets you record trips and capture every moment on the road.
Customer Rating
3
Good as navigator, but using your phone is easier
on September 9, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
Summary:
The Overdryve has better navigation features (when they're working properly) than Google Maps, but it doesn't offer much else that your phone can't already do. Other features, like voice/hands free, depends entirely on your phone, while car system check needs add-on accessories. So with most features requiring the phone, there's no real reason to not just use your phone, unless you need navigation without the data usage or a dash cam.
The Overdryve has better navigation features (when they're working properly) than Google Maps, but it doesn't offer much else that your phone can't already do. Other features, like voice/hands free, depends entirely on your phone, while car system check needs add-on accessories. So with most features requiring the phone, there's no real reason to not just use your phone, unless you need navigation without the data usage or a dash cam.
Good:
-nice stand alone navigation system
-dash cam
-can be used as a regular tablet
-smart mount is sturdy
-reads out text messages
-nice stand alone navigation system
-dash cam
-can be used as a regular tablet
-smart mount is sturdy
-reads out text messages
Bad:
-how good or bad the voice and hands free depends entirely on your phone
-basic navigation aside, most features require network connection, including voice commands (when paired with Android phone at least)
-mic isn't great
-can be buggy and crahses
-output audio to AUX from smart mount has very loud static
video showing this: https://youtu.be/JY_2MCrUMH4
-big footprint, can block a good amount of view
-how good or bad the voice and hands free depends entirely on your phone
-basic navigation aside, most features require network connection, including voice commands (when paired with Android phone at least)
-mic isn't great
-can be buggy and crahses
-output audio to AUX from smart mount has very loud static
video showing this: https://youtu.be/JY_2MCrUMH4
-big footprint, can block a good amount of view
The touted features for this navigation and tablet hybrid can be somewhat misleading. Yes it does do all the features promised, albeit not all of them well, but many of them is entirely done by your phone, in my case a Samsung S6. This tablet only acts as a bluetooth mic and speaker. I just don't see the point of having another device mounted on your dash to do what is essentially the same as mounting your phone. Phones can already do GPS, voice commands, read text out loud, play and stream music, and connect to your car speakers. Not having to worry about data usage for gps and having a dash cam is nice, but buying those device individually is much cheaper than this tablet.
Usability:
The magnetic smart mount is nice and sturdy and has a wide range of adjustments. The mount has its own set of speakers with DC in, AUX out, FM transmitter, and USB. However, when I used the AUX connection (which is recommended) there's very loud static. It goes away whenever the device is producing sound (menu clicks or directions) but then comes right back. It only does this with the mount and may be a defect with my unit.
As a navigatior system, it performs quite well, better than Google Maps, but that's when it's working properly. It gives more details with lane information, exits signs, notifications, and weather. The problem is it can be buggy. When I do a voice search for a destination, there's a bug that won't let me select it to navigate. It keeps refreshing the list. It's also froze on me a few times and crashed once.
As a hands free device, it does what it says it does. It reads messages upon arrival, and voice commands and calls works decent enough, but as I stated, it depends on your phone. The mic isn't great. The unit is mounted about two feet from me and often times it doesn't catch words or can't hear over the ac noise.
As a tablet, it's definitely not up to par with flagship tablets out there. It's a middle tier android tablet. It works but not great. It has HDMI out, which is unexpected.
After using this tablet for a bit, I can confidently say that I won't be using it on regular basis. Maybe if I'm on a long road trip and need to conserve my data usage from my phone. It's just easier to use your phone.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
-2points
2of 6voted this as helpful.
Dremel Idea Builder 3D Printer: Turn your ideas into 3D objects. This 3D printer features a preinstalled extruder and comes with a spool of white PLA filament, so you can start creating models right away. Easily select the file you want to use with the 3.5" full color touch screen.
Customer Rating
4
Simple plug and play, but software is lacking
on August 30, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
This is a nice printer and the easiest one I've used. Ready to print within minutes out of the box. Install software and you're good to go. The printer itself is easy to use with the lcd display. You can do all settings and calibration straight from the menus. The bed leveling is easy, just use a piece of paper and follow the on screen instructions to level the three knobs. You can use other brands of filaments if you print a different spool holder, but it may void the warranty. This printer can produce great results with the right software, and that's where this printer disappoints. It's a closed system with proprietary file format and the included software is lacking all but the very basic features. You can use Autodesk Print Studio but even that is lacking the more advanced features like generating good support structure. You'll need to buy Simplify3D ($150) in order to take full advantage of this printer. Dremel support seemed good. Mine came with a warped print bed and a few minutes with live chat and I had a new one sent. They also offer a year warranty, which longer than most. The main drawback is that this only prints PLA, which fine for most hobbyists, but there are other printers out there for the same price that can do other plastics. Overall, if you're a beginner, then this printer just works. Upgrade slicer software and you'll have a nice printer.
Tip: if you have both Dremel software (needed for firmware updates) and Print Studio installed, you'll have to disable one for the other to connect. Do so by going to service, disable print manager.
Tip: if you have both Dremel software (needed for firmware updates) and Print Studio installed, you'll have to disable one for the other to connect. Do so by going to service, disable print manager.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Lead a mercenary squad across the Resonail continent in Grand Kingdom Launch Day Edition. The Uldein Empire has fallen, and four nations battle to dominate its once-prosperous land, and you'll take on missions for each empire to discover how it fell. Fast-paced action and strategic planning dominate Grand Kingdom, where you'll decide which nation ultimately wins.
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
This is a good blend of turn based strategy with a board game. Movement happens on a board game like map, usually with turn limits, while battle is turn based on a 3 line grid. It's a unique design and a new take on this genre. The battles can be challenging but never seem tedious. There's various classes and they are all useful. The gameplay mechanics are simple enough for casual but is also very deep once you explore all the options. The graphics is beautifully render 2d very similar to Vanillaware games such as Odin's Sphere and Muramasa.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
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.
Customer Rating
4
HP's take on MacBook Air, and it's good!
on June 2, 2016
Posted 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.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
Customer Rating
4
Good budget tablet
on May 20, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
Let's be clear, this is not a great tablet, but what it is, is a good entry level budget friendly tablet that performs basic functions well enough. There are no bells and whistles on this tablet, and what it does have isn't really great, but that's expected from this price point. The all plastic build is solid and light with a texture back, a nice touch. The screen resolution isn't great but clear enough for browsing the web. The color is surprisingly good and crisp. The camera is sub par making pictures look muddy. The back mono speaker is bad. Volume is somewhat low and sounds hollow and echoes. The usability is where this tablet does perform to expectations. It reacts well to input and is pretty fast, but does occasionally lags when hit with fast typing and changing apps. It does get warm somewhat fast, even from just being Facebook for about 10 mins. The UI is easy to understand, and if you're familiar with Android OS then this tablet should feel right at home. Overall, this is not going to compete with the big boys, but if all you need is basic functionality then this will work out fine.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
Customer Rating
4
Amazing router with some minor flaws
on May 19, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
This is a beast of a router! Equipped with a dual core processor, 8 antennae, tri-band capable of up to 5.3 Gbps, and 8 gigabit Ethernet port, this router should be more than capable of meeting even the heaviest of demands. I couldn't take advantage of the MU-MIMO since I don't have a compatible adapter, but it's good to know that it's there for future expansion.
This router leaves a large footprint, coming in at about 13 inches in width and depth. The build is solid with vents throughout for heat dissipation, which this thing definitely needs as it can get quite warm. The top of the router sports a display that lights up with the Linksys logo and connection status. Given the large size, it is disappointing that there is no way to wall mount or comes with a stand to sit it vertically. The back has 8 gigabit ports, 1 usb 2.0. and 1 usb 3.0.
Setting up was simple, albeit some hiccups with my modem, and the Smart WI-FI app is easy to use. The UI can use a bit of streamlining, as some of the options are scattered within various menus and tabs. The help menu isn't great as it only tells you what the options are and not really how to use it. Luckily there are plenty of guides for the Smart WI-FI app available online. The one real negative is the speed test feature. For one it requires Flash, and secondly the results aren't accurate. During testing it showed my connection being only 35Mbps, while Speedtest.net showed the correct speed of 200Mbps. Setting up an external storage was easy enough, but I have to admit that I needed to check a guide on the steps for media sharing and FTP setup.
Performance is great, as it should be. The signal strength is constant and the range is good. I say good because I was expecting a bit more, but 4 bars at 40 feet with 5 Ghz is nothing to scoff at either. I paired this up with a Linksys RE7000 and was able to extend the range another 40 feet. The MaxStream line works seamlessly with each other so set up was simple. As a test, I streamed movies with all my major devices simultaneously and was able to do so without any buffering.
Pros:
Easy set up and great performance
Good build quality
8 Ethernet ports
External storage transfer speed outperforms my previous router
Easy set up and great performance
Good build quality
8 Ethernet ports
External storage transfer speed outperforms my previous router
Cons:
It's rather large
No space saving wall mount or stand
Speed test feature isn't accurate and requires Flash
Gets warm (best to put it on some risers)
It's rather large
No space saving wall mount or stand
Speed test feature isn't accurate and requires Flash
Gets warm (best to put it on some risers)
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Bring movies and games to life with this Asus VE278H 27" widescreen flat-panel HD monitor, which features D-sub and 2 HDMI inputs for flexible connectivity with analog and digital devices. Splendid technology offers easy picture customization.
Customer Rating
4
Good color and fast response time
on May 15, 2016
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
Good for gaming and the colors are nice, a bit on the cool side. It's a 1080p on a 27" so you'll see the bigger pixels but it still provide decent clarity so texts aren't fuzzy. This model still provide better clarity than newer, thinner models from Asus. Speakers aren't great, but that's to be expected. Dual HDMI is nice for multiple sources.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Maximize the precision of your high-DPI optical or laser mouse with this Corsair MM300 gaming mouse mat, which features a textile-weave surface that enables pixel-precise targeting and precision tracking for lethal control as you game the night away.
Posted by: BeingHonest
from austin, tx
Nice extra long mat. Lays flat and doesn't move. Mouse glides easily on the surface and the design hides wear and smudges.
My Best Buy number: 0392299761
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
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.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
BeingHonest's Questions
BeingHonest has not submitted any questions.
BeingHonest's Answers
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