3Tcubed's stats
- Review count172
- Helpfulness votes1,528
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewJune 19, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count72
- Helpfulness votes45
- First answerJanuary 10, 2015
- Last answerJanuary 12, 2022
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Get fresh breath and healthy gums with this Philips Sonicare ExpertClean electric toothbrush. The built-in sensor controls applied pressure to help avoid gum inflammation and soreness, while the soft, flexible bristles reach deep between teeth for up to 10 times better plaque removal. This Philips Sonicare ExpertClean electric toothbrush has three intensity modes to fit your personal preference.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I've been using Philips Sonicare Electric tooth brushes for over 10 yrs. My last purchase was the Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite+ about 2.5 yrs ago; I've since upgraded to their DiamondCare brush heads (which I think are much better and worth the additional $'s). When shopping for a new brush head I found that there was a newer series of C3/G3/W3 Sonicare Premium Brush heads, which actually have a chip in them to communicate brushing usage/techniques back to the toothbrush, and that connects via BT to your phone to send you weekly brushing information. The different brush heads are geared for Cleaning/Gum health/Whitening. I'm not exactly sure I need this, but as I read more about it, it also allow the toothbrush to provide immediate feedback with regards to your brushing technique (too much pressure,moving too quickly....). Interesting... so rather than get new brush heads I got a new toothbrush (with 2 brush heads).
Since liked the DiamondCare brush heads so much I expected to find the new microchipped brush heads even better. Well using the C3 brush head, I find it nearly identical to the DiamondCare equivalent (which is not bad, but no difference in feel). But the new 7300 Expert Clean Electric Toothbrush is a noticeable change, not necessarily in the speed of the brush head (both 31,000 strokes/min), or quadrant timing, but in the feedback that tells you your exerting too much pressure or moving too quickly. The tooth brush actually helps you brush more efficiently/smarter. And it actually tracks the total time each brush head is in use so that it can tell you (accurately) when it should be replaced. Previously you had to rely on blue line on part of the brush head disappearing. But that's not the same as flashing LED to notify you (no judgement call). And each head is tracked separately. You can also get a weekly report from Philips (if you register the Toothbrush and set up an account with them) that will tell you about you weekly brushing habits (you have to bring your phone close enough to the phone (periodically) to collect the data). Truly an interesting concept for our internet connected society (I'm over 60 and think it's interesting).
This version comes with travel case, there is another version that comes with a charging case. I frequently travel for 2 weeks at a time, and never run out of juice (1 person using) for a 14 day trip.
So now having compared it to my previous HealthyWhite+, I like the brushing feedback and the smart brush heads. The weekly report, really didn't tell me anything I didn't know (that I brushed my teeth for 2m twice a day every day of the week). My ExpertClean came with a C3 & G3 brush heads (equivalent to what I was using), I'll probably try the W3 brush head to see if it really whitens better.
But me, I'm happy with my upgrade, and I'm glad it's compatible with the Philips UV cleaning case I've used for many years.
But me, I'm happy with my upgrade, and I'm glad it's compatible with the Philips UV cleaning case I've used for many years.
FYI: There are alot of different Philips Sonicare packages, so read/compare carefully to make sure you know what your getting.
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Say goodbye to clutter and hello to this multi-functional Toaster Oven Air fryer! Enjoy a variety of delicious dishes with ease and convenience using the Chefman Toast-Air™ Convection Oven + Air Fryer. No more heating up your kitchen with a full-size oven - get the same results as a traditional convection oven with the convenience of countertop cooking for faster and more evenly cooked food. This countertop convection oven is a useful tool in any busy kitchen with variable temperature controls and cooking functions to air fry, bake, broil, convection bake, toast, and warm, as well as a temperature range from 200-450° F to set at the desired temperature. 7 preset options make any kitchen task easy, while the interior cooking light allows you to easily monitor cooking process. The extra-large 25-liter interior (12.5 x 11.75 inches) can fit up to 6 slices of toast and most baking pans. With the highly efficient rapid air technology and high-speed convection system, you can get even, crispy fried texture using little to no oil. The rack positioning is designed for maximum space and even air flow – if using multiple racks, rotate them halfway through for best results. The air fryer function is perfect for cooking once-frozen leftover foods and making them taste fresh again. Feeling some toast? This counter oven features an option to select the desired level of toast, from light to dark. With a 60-minute countdown timer and ready signal bell, you always know when your food is ready; the unit automatically shuts off when the door is opened for added safety. Air fry basket, flat wire rack, broil pan, and crumb tray are easily removable and dishwasher safe for convenience and quick clean up; non-stick interior and stainless-steel exterior wipe down easily. With the cookbook included, it’s even easier to conquer any cooking need with this toaster-oven air fryer and enjoy the benefits!
Customer Rating
4
Surprisingly good/useful
on October 5, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I have had several convection ovens, but never an air frier. My very expensive name brand convection/microwave w/inverter tech stopped heating to the correct temp (still microwaves fine), but I was accustomed to using it for small jobs like baking potatoes and other small dishes, so I didn't need to heat up my big oven. But I can't wait to try making some fries, I've never wanted a deep fryer, and if air frying works, I'm excited to use it.
My wife suggested we start with a brownie, as we know what temp to make it and how long it normally take to make in our oven; Thinking I get a brownie out of it we move forward. I read all the directions, made sure all the stickers/plastic wrap were removed, and I've cleaned the pans/racks and wiped down the oven, and by then we have batter in the 8x8 pan, there was lots of room to spare. I set the temp to 325, and then wonder how I'll know it's preheated to the set temp. I consult the manual, and if basically says it will be pre-heated after 5 minutes. I was expecting a ding or a light or something but no, add five minutes to the cook time, and insert after 5 minutes I guess. It will ding when the timer expires, and you can hear the timer while it running, and the interior light will be on while cooking. So we set the timer to 30m (must pass 20m to set any time), wait 5m and inset the brownies. During the initial uses of the toaster oven, there was a "new" smell. After the the ding we remove the brownies, test the bake with a tooth pick and declare them done. First test successful, it bakes just like a big oven; brownie moist from edge to edge with a slight hard crunch on the edges.
Just after that we baked a big baked potato, on convection at 350, after an hour it was not done (as expected), but I needed to add time to the timer. Another 30m I figured, (as this is what I'd need in my big oven). A ding later, they are just right, a nice crunch on the outside and soft and steamy inside. Another success, except for needing to add time to the timer.
Finally on to some steak fries, I make 1/2 the bag, not quite covering the bottom of the basket with a single non-over lapping layer. I put the included black under the basket in the lower bottom rack slot and put the basket on top (removing the rack). Set the temp to 420 and select air-fry and set the timer to 33m (28+5 preheat). Through the window I can see some bubbling on the fries after about 20m, and they start to smell like fries after about 25m. I'm excited, it looks like it working. Then ding, I use the basket grab to remove the fries, get my salt grinder and grind some nice pink himalayan sale over the hot fries. Move them to two plates, and ask my wife what she thinks (she's the only opinion that matters). Two thumbs up, and a surprised look on her face, these are really good. Not at all like trying to make fries on the oven she notes, these taste like they been gried, but not greasy. Yea!
Next I try warming some turnovers for breakfast, I turn the timer past 20 set convection bake, and keep my eyes on them, once I see the course sugar melting I know they ready. At about 7m I declare them done and turn off the oven. I finish breakfast plating, and slide the turnovers on to each plate, still hot, and a little crunchy. Mission accomplished, just as desired.
Later I melt some cheese on bread for ham sandwiches, and warm the ham with the broiler - perfect, but you have to close the door to use the broiler, this I'm not used to, but I'll adjust.
So far, I'm really happy with the Chefman toaster oven - air fryer; but I have two complaints, I wish the timer could go longer then 60m, and I wish there was some notification that the over was up to temp (at least for baking (preferably show me the oven temp on a LED display)). I'll probably find a small oven thermometer for a couple of bucks, but wish it was on the unit. Other than that it works very well, I'm happy share some valuable counter top space with this multi-function toaster oven.
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Start your day off with a steaming hot cup of energy using this Delonghi La Specialista dual-heating espresso machine. The sensor grinding technology helps ensure the coffee dose is just the right amount. This Delonghi La Specialista dual-heating espresso machine features active temperature control to keep the water consistently hot.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
My wife and I are big coffee drinkers, she prefers hot/iced Caramel Macchiato. I've been driving to SB's just about daily all summer. I finally decided to take the plunge and try to do it myself. I tried a less expensive machine that claimed to make iced coffee beverages. I thought they looked good, but in the end they failed the taste test, too thin, not flavorful enough. Which brings us to the De'Longhi - La Specialista Espresso machine. First I'd never made Espresso before. I think I can safely say that this machine takes some adjustments and breaking in before you "get it right". First the machines instructuctions have you initially run a liter of water through the machine to begin with, I don't think this is sufficient. A ran over a liter through, and I thought the first 3 or 4 test Espresso's I made all tasted bitter and metallic. And some were under extracted, but most were over extracted. The other thing I found is don't make your test cups in a coffee mug, find a smaller narrower vessel. The wider cup does not let the crema distribute itself properly.
I went through almost 8oz of fresh beans before I finally got the machine set up properly for the beans I was using. I found that I needed to grind to about 2.5 (on a 1-5 scale, 1 being the finest) and set the Dosage size to be a bit less than 1 notch above the minimum (far left). I also found that the smart tampling work best if I did not quite move it to the maximum pressure. I did remove the portafilter once before tampling to see how much coffee was in the portafilter, and it was a good 1/2" over the top. The grinder on the top left of the machine does a great job, set to fine, it's really fine, set to medium it's pretty fine, but set to 5 it fairly course, better for coffee than espresso. The grind really matter in the process, and I suspect it varies with the type of bean your using (I'm saying you will need to experiment to get it right). Visually inspecting the dosage is also important, there are 3 indentations on the portafilters to let you know the proper fill, once you get the grind and fill set right getting the tamping correct is pretty easy, but it will take some practice - plan on it.
After I got the hang of getting my espresso right I tried to make a cafe americano (2oz Espresso + 6oz hot water added), here's my only real complaint about the machine, the cafe americano causes some splashing when the water is discharged it tends to "spit out" making a bit of a mess (every time), I don't know why this can't be a smoother operation.
The frothing works well, as does the flat option (just heats milk, does not froth it); they advise you clean the frothing wand after every use. The stainless steel wand does get milk slashed inside, you must pull on the tube pretty hard (once it's cooled down) to remove it, there is a notch in the top of it that you must alight to get it back on (not much mention of this in the instructions - although it's covered in one of the videos). Speaking of which there are quite a few YouTube videos by Delonghi and third parties available to help you get started/improve your Barista skills. I've watched several and I'm still learning.
But I'm now confident that I can get the Espresso shot(s) right, I made my wife a Iced Caramel Macchiato, she said it was much better than with the prior machine we'd tried, but not quite what she's used to, she thinks it has to do with the coffee I'm using and it tastes different then what SB's uses in their Caramel Macchiato. But I'm on the right track, it has the richness she was looking for, but still a few variables to get it right.
I really like the way the De'Longhi - La Specialista Espresso Machine looks, it's big and heavy, but needs to be to handle the pressure and the tamping required. It makes more of a mess than I think it should for beverages than need water added, but other than that it makes nice Espresso (with some practice).
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The IQAir new edition HealthPro Plus is the best choice for asthma and allergy sufferers. IQAir HyperHEPA filtration is proven to trap the smallest, most harmful particles in the air, down to 0.003 microns – 100 times smaller than 0.3 microns. That includes viruses, pet dander, dust mites, air pollution, even cigarette smoke. IQAir nanofiber technology and innovative design stop particles 100x smaller than 0.3 microns. IQAir uses only safe, proven technology to clean the air. IQAir systems produce no unhealthy ozone, ions, UV or chemicals. IQAir tests every HealthPro Plus system at the factory to ensure its performance meets our strict specifications. We test total system efficiency – the actual air coming from the outlet. Results are detailed in a hand-signed Certificate of Performance that is shipped in the box with every HealthPro Plus system. V5-Cell filtration provides the best solution for gas & odor control. The V5-Cell combines 2 types of media: one adsorbs odors & gases, the other changes pollutants to oxidized form. The new edition HealthPro Plus delivers up to 25% more clean air, up to 38% longer filter life, and 32% less sound.
Customer Rating
5
A Professional Air Purifier
on September 19, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
I currently have 3 Air Purifiers in my home (multiple manufactures), I've found that they reduce dust and improve air quality... which is obviously what they should do. But for larger rooms they must be on high to move enough air to really do a good job (move 2x volume of room/hour). And I don't like the background noise they create (some is to be expected), especially since they get louder the more they've run (until filter cleaned/replaced). the IQAir HealthPro Plus is a much larger Air Purifier than my others, it's maximum coverage area is 1125 sq feet, my others are in the couple of hundred of feet. My great room (Kitchen, Living Room & Family Room) is about 950 sq feet, so this seemed about perfect.
Getting the system set up was pretty, easy. The unit is pretty heavy (about 30 lbs), I removed the accessories, and placed the box on it's side and pulled it out by is plastic bag. After that getting the casters on and attaching the cord was a simple task. The rest comes completely assembled (filters already in place). Up and running in 2 minutes..
After reading the instructions (which are very well written), I determined the best location would be the intersection of my 3 rooms (exactly where I had one of my old Air Purifiers). After a little rearranging I was ready to turn it on. The fan makes a much lower frequency noise than my previous unit (higher pitch motor). I decided that the Speed 3 was optimal for the area I had, I prefered speed 2 in terms of sound but 3 moved more air. As I read on I found I could set on off timers, either daily or weekly. I decided to have the unit run at Speed 3 from 11pm till 7am and at Speed 2 from 7am till 7pm and Speed 1 from 7pm till 11pm (at speed 1 it can barely be heard (perfect for Dinner/TV time)). This flexibility allowed me to keep the Air Purifier moving sufficient air but making it more quiet while I'm closest to it. I'm thinking I might cut back on my night time run time after more use/experimenting.
The HealthPro Plus unit includes a pre-filter (rated at about 16 months use (replacement cost ~$79)), and a HyperHEPA filter (rated at 4 yrs use (replacement cost ~$199)) and a V5-Cell filter (gas/odor filter; for about $99, rated at 2 yrs usage). A HealthPro unit can be upgraded to a HeathPro Plus with the addition of the V5-Cell filter. A HealthPro Compact can not be upgraded. Changing filters is pretty straight forward, the sides of the Air Filter tower pull away, and the 1st, 4th and 5th module of the tower slides out to change the filters (motor/blower in section 2 & 3). The IQAir comes with a 5 year warranty, which will be extended to 10 if you register your unit with in 30 days of purchase. The unit includes a remote control which allows you to change the speed and turn the unit on and off from up to about 15' away (not sure I'll ever use it, but it's nice have it available).
So far I'm very impressed with the unit, it's timers flexibility is awesome, it moves a lot more air than smaller units, and it removes particles much smaller than almost any other product on the market. The product is extremely well made, and with it's extended warranty, I trust that it will have a long useful life. And I'll breath better!
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Drive safely with this Cobra super HD dash cam. Its 1296p recording resolution captures high-quality video footage in any lighting condition, while the extreme temperature protection is tested to withstand sudden fluctuations. This Cobra super HD dash cam provides iRadar route tracking and live police alerts when connected to the iRadar app, so you never miss a thing.
Customer Rating
4
Good but could be easier...
on August 22, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
First, I wish vehicle manufactures would make it easier to get power to window mounted devices. It took years for them to get USB power ports in vehicles, why not a 5V power port by the mirror (USB C please). The Drive HD Dash 2308 provides some great features. Installing it obviously depends on your vehicle, I have a new 2019 Mazda CX-5, with the full electronics package, I mention this because the bump behind the mirror holds more and more electronics in newer vehicles, I'd originally planned to mount this dash cam to the windshield beyond the window electronics package, but there it was too much in my field of view, distracting. So I mounted it to the electronics package, avoiding the ventilation. The ball mount just barely made this possible, an inch lower and the ball joint prevented articulation. Now getting power to it, with the included 12' cable required running the cable across the top of window, down the left edge of the window, past the fuse box (another good place for a USB port), back around the steering wheel to get to the cigarette lighter outlet, with 6" to spare. There must be a better way! But with it installed I moved forward.
The iRadar app was easy enought to install and pair (BT) with the dash cam. The app is divided in to 2 sections, a GPS map view and a dashboard view (looks like a dashbaord speedometer which also shows compass and the speed limit). I found the speed was quite accurate, lagging by a few seconds, but the speed limit was only displayed on larger streets, many smaller streets with a 25-35 limit were not shown (My car's GPS did show them). The GPS view will track the car on a map if you've hit the locate button in the lower left corner, when the compass is displayed you can drive right off the map. The map has pretty good detail, including the shape of buildings (quite helpful when driving around strip centers). The app pairs with the dashcam via bluetooth. and with the GPS on your (modern phone) is can record the "bread crumbs" of your route, very accurately so you can review your travels including direction and speed of travel, and exact path. When you approach red light cams they are displayed on the map, you have to look for them, unless you enable the devices alerting, which will verbally notify you of there approach (about 1/4 of a mile in advance). This is a really nice feature, it can also warn you of spotted police, photo enforcement, caution areas and traffic jams. These require a subscription (device comes with a 1 year subscription), I've not used it long enough to see how useful this is, but it seems like a good idea. I believe all devices report back info to iRadar HQ, and then as you move into an affected area the device can notify you of an area of interest that's been reported by others.
The quality of the image in 1080P and 1296P are both exceptional; their PC based app allows you to assemble multiple trip segments (you choose the segment length 3m, 5m & 10m) I suggest using 3min as it faster to load and review. The app allow you to zoom in on details, at 1080P you can see license details at about 20', after that they are pixelated, at 1296P you can zoom to about 30' and make out license details. In daylight both images are excellent, at night the image quality drops off significantly. Unless your in a brightly lighted areas, picking up the detail beyond 20' or so was just so-so.
Here's my issue, to review any video, you can look at it on the 2" screen (not very useful, except to verify you've caught an activity). But to do anything else with it you have to connect the camera to your PC or remove the tiny card (mine came with a first rate, high speed, 32Gb SanDisk micro SD card). I don't suggest popping the card in and out too often, as this is the most likely way to damage the card. The dash cam comes with a short (18") cable to use with your PC. I wish there were a way to move video's from the dash cam to your phone, this WOULD SIMPLIFY so many activities. Phones today are pretty powerful devices. Is suspect this would require a point to point wi-fi connection, rather than bluetooth. But I've had smart cameras that could do this for years (5+yrs or so). This is big disappointment; the dash cam would be so much more useful if it's contents could be accessed from your smart phone. That being said, the frequency that I'll look at my dash cam footage is pretty infrequently. But still I'd really rather review what's been captured on my phone rather than on the devices 2" screen.
All things considered, the quality of the moving images captured is quite good, I recall the first 640x480 dash cams with pixelated everything, blurry motion. This is SO much better (in good lighting). The GPS tracking tied to the video is pretty cool, in a kind of creepy way (I'd not want to turn over the info if I was pulled over and at fault - and it's accurate, from what saw). Their video editing app is pretty good (wish it was available from my phone), it ties the information together very nicely. All told it's very good at what it does, I really wish it could be easily powered from an electronic mirror with what's included in the box.
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Hold your iPhone XR confidently with this Speck Presidio Pro case. It has antimicrobial treatment to prevent bacteria from accumulating, and its slim two-layer design doesn't interfere with wireless charging. This blue and black Speck Presidio Pro case prevents device damage from 10-foot-high drops thanks to its IMPACTIUM shock barrier.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
I've been an iPhone user for 8+ years, My wife had been using Samsung's until this year when I convinced her to get a iPhone XR. She's been through 2 folding, card holding cases, in a little over 18 mos (break apart, get dirty, look crummy). Well, I convinced her to try the Speck Presidio Pro, as it's very sleek and much protective than what's she been using. With some reluctance she agrees that it's easier to hold than her old case(s). I told her about the Antimicrobial technology, and I was greeted by a mumble about not being dirty. It's easy to charge her iPhone XR in the case and it sounds better, the thickness of the bottom case wall, slightly amplifies the sound vs her old case. And she feels safer knowing the phone should survive a drop the the floor (not going to test the 10' claim). And surprisingly she really likes the Deep Eclipse blue color. So we really do have a winner here, especially when it's on sale!
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Game on the go with this Dell Inspiron laptop. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti runs most titles, while the two tuned speakers and 15.6-inch Full HD anti-glare narrow-border display deliver an immersive experience. This Bluetooth-compatible Dell Inspiron laptop has a 9th-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, handling multitasking without issue, and the 512GB NVMe SSD offers exceptional data access speeds.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
I have a 2yr old Dell Inspiron 7559 (the Dell G3,G5 & G7 have replaced the Inspiron 7000 series - Nvidia gaming), which I had upgraded to 16GB memory with a 512GB M.2 drive and a 1TB SSD. I had recently run the Steam VR performance test on this machine and I was disappointed in the results, and I had some issues running current games smoothly. So I thought this would be a good opportunity to see how the latest Intel i5 (G9) processor and the newer GTX 1660Ti compared to what I had been using.
One of the things I really like about the Dell Inspiron and G# series is that they are easily upgraded. Remove a few screws (10, none hidden), pry loose the back and you can get to everything that can be upgraded. I've had great success with both HyperX and Corsair - Vengeance memory, both have a lower CL than Dell's stock memory (at about $75 for 16GB), and both support Intel's XMP memory standard (insures it will work with latest processors at maximum speed). The HyperX memory I used to upgrade my G3 to 16GB is CL15, and Dell's stock memory appears to be CL19 at 2666Mhz - so there should be a performance difference.
But first the G3 is clearly narrower (<1") and thinner (~1/4") than the Inspiron 7559, it is only hinged in the center vs all the way across. The keyboard backlight lighting on the G3 is a nice blue that shines through the keys vs white just under the keys on the Inspiron. IMHO the G3 looks much better and has a better keyboard feel. The trackpad seems to be exactly the same (except for a blue outline). The G3 has a SD card slot, 1 USB-C ports (non-thunderbolt) and 1 USB 3.1 ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports+ 1 HDMI + 1 Gigabit Ethernet port + Audio port (same as Inspiron except it had no USB-C). The G3 weighs one ounce less at 5.57 pounds. Battery life will be highly dependant on the application load I found I could get about 6 hrs mixed usage from Inspiron, I'd expect the same from the G3. The G3's bezel is slightly narrower than the Inspiron, but has a matte screen vs a very shiny screen on the Inspiron. Initially I prefered the matte screen as reflections can be very annoying on the Inspiron. The G3 is a much sharper looking laptop.
Attached are images of the G3 in use and with the back removed (note the 4 screws by the spine do not come out, and when prying the back off the spine should be pulled apart last (carefully). The G3, if ordered without a SSD still includes the SSD cable and screws for the SSD inside the case (well done Dell). The system can support Optane 10 memory, but not with the M.2 drive and a 2.5" drive both installed, so you can add either Optane memory or a 2.5" drive. I opted to add a 1TB Samsung EVO 860, which was immediately recognised, it just needed to be formatted and partitioned (took 30s) from Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management.
On to some testing, just comparing the G3 with 8GB stock memory and 16GB CL15 memory. As expected the performance of the Processor in both configurations was excellent (1.2% better with the faster memory) The Graphics performance was essentially equal, the disk performance was 24% points higher (probably due to caching being faster). And the memory performance was 16% points higher - about what I might have expected. But seeing the memory improve the disk performance was a bit of a bonus.
I then ran set of PowerUp benchmarks comparing the Insperion w/530 GPU & Nvidia GTX 930M to the G3 w/Intel 630 GPU and Nvidia GTX 1660Ti. Here the texture fill numbers and the bandwidth numbers are most telling how much faster todays dedicated graphics processors are compared to a base Intel GPU.
I then ran the more substantial 3D graphics test with the Valley Benchmark v1.0, here the speed of the Nvidia GTX 1660Ti (129 FPS) clearly blows away the GTX 960M (29 FPS) this explains my failure on the Steam VR performance test. And boy did the 3D graphics look great on the G3. Considering the G3 with i5 is less than $xxx's is quite a performer for the price and for a few $s more add more faster memory for even better performance.
Dell did cut few corners (losing a star), the USB 2.0 ports are a disappointment, USB-C not supporting Thunderbolt is too bad. You can't currently get a 4K display (which the GTX 1660Ti w/6GB mem could easily drive) - you can still use a 4K display externally via USB-C or HDMI. The fan is a bit loud. The sound quality is not as good as the Inspiron (it is just acceptable) - Before upgrading to the latest drivers & BIOS speakers had a hum, which the updates corrected.
None of the above is a show stopper, the G3 is quite a bargain as a base system, I recommend more faster memory and adding a 2.5" SSD. The base 512GB SSD is more like 440GB partitioned & formatted and 300GB after OS installation etc. But all told it's substantially better than a 2 yr old (Dell) i7 configured almost exactly the same. So I'm now ready to find my first VR application/game, now searching for a headset.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience an immersive acoustic performance with these Sony XB Extra Bass wireless headphones. The noise-isolating fit mutes ambient noises, while the lithium-ion battery offers up to 30 hours of playtime, keeping you entertained during long-distance travels. These Sony XB Extra Bass wireless headphones have a touch sensor for convenient control.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
About 15 months ago I reviewed the Sony CH700N headphones and said it sounded better than 6 other BT headphones I had, but they were not comfortable for more than an album or so. Needless to say I've kept looking, and with 2 more set earbuds and 2 more over the ear headphones to consider I now have the Sony XB900Ns. They weigh about the same as the CH700's but have a completely different foam configuration. They have deeper, softer foam around the ears, they are deep enough that my ears don't touch the inner drivers, which is what I think caused the discomfort with the CH700s. The are much more comfortable and do a better job of noise canceling. I've found them much more comfortable than the CH700's, the foam at the top is a little thicker and they don't squeeze quite as tightly. In addition; changing volume or music is accomplished with a simple swipe to the right headphone, and if you cover your right ear (headphone) with you hand it mutes the music and enables the ambient mode so you can clearly here the environment around your. I really missed this in the CH700's, several other headphones I've acquired recently have this feature in one fashion or another. It's truly worth having if your going to wear headphones around others.
Using these headphone on the telephone is somewhat better than the tunnel sound I found on the CH700s, the echo cancelation seems to works better, I believe the CH700s prevented me from hearing myself talk and these XB900s allow my voice to be heard as I talk. This is another big improvement.
Now how do they sound. I tried to compare the two headphones (which BT I can't pair simultaneously (nor can I wear). There is no question that the VB900Ns are louder (more efficient: specs say by 4dB). The the bass is undeniably more pronounced, maybe deeper. They remind me more of the sound profile you expect from 'Beats' headphones, but at the same time these Sony XB900N's mids and highs are a bit brighter and louder than that of the CH700's. I'd expected to compare the same volume level on my phone, but to make them equivalent the XB900N's needed to be one notch lower. I think that the XB900's do a much better job of noise cancelation; I tried listening to both with my television on, and the external noise bleed with the CH700's was noticeable, where it was (nearly) non-existent on the XB900s. But I was doing this to also test the XB900's ambient listening environment, where you turn off noise cancelation and "bring in" the external noises. This allows you to hear what's going on around you. I could clearly hear the television and my music, by placing my hand over the right headphone it muted the music and I could only hear the television (clearly; the headphone mic was picking up the external sounds and playing them through the headphones). As I said this is a great feature.
Now to some music from Boston and Pink Floyd; The transition from "Foreplay to Long Time", has some great surround stereo separation, softly swirling from ear to ear. The XB900s were clearly deeper but also more airy, both had a great complex midrange, but the overall balance of the lower lows and higher highs on the XB900s was captivating. As "Smokin's" bass built the XB900 certainly get your attention, maybe a little overwhelming, but it was not uncomfortable. Here the CH700's were not as captivating, lacking the thump of the XB900s. Listening to the Immersion Edition of TDSOTM, the voice in my head in "Speak to Me (Live)" were surreal with the subtle background noises. But here again the XB900s soundstage was more fulfilling. The girls in "The Great gig in the Sky" sounded ethereal. I enjoyed the comfort and sound of the XB900's more. That being said, the deep bass of Money seemed over the top. But after spending some time with Sony's HeadPhones App I found that via the 'Equailzer' I could either use their Bright mode or create my own custom mode, taking down the bass a notch and kicking up the highs, to give me a better balance. The app also has a surround mode (VPT) that can put you in an Arena (to much reverb), a Club (kind of bassy), Outdoor Stage or in a Concert Hall (my preference for live music). You can't get to these features from the headphone directly (that I could find). You need to access them from the phones 'Headphones App' which is fine, as it's probably not going to be changed that often. So, I'd say the Extra Bass from the XB900s can be a bit over the top, but you can modify their sound curve from the Headphones app to you liking.
One other touted feature is Google and Alexa integration. If this is enabled it disables the Noise Cancelation/Ambient button's operation and that button then functions to interface with Alexa or Google (they should have added a dedicated button). Having both Google and Alexa I tried Google first, but the first instruction I tried (skip to next song) was not supported. It could handle volume up and volume down thought. Also when issuing voice commands, my other Google devices could hear my commands and they "won" over the headphones. Maybe my understanding of how this integration is supposed to work is misunderstood.... but it's not explained anywhere in the "manual" or via the online Headphone app. At best I'd say this is a work in progress.
I also listened with the wired connection and as expected the overall sound stage is much wider and brightness of the headphones really shined. Until I connected these headphones directly to my DAC I really didn't know how good how good the XB900s were (with bass tuned down via equalizer). I'd really like to see a headphone that can connect direct via Google play (Wi-Fi) some day.
The headphones take 7+hrs to fully charge, but are rated to play for 30hrs (plenty). The headphones are still a little heavy (8.96oz), but the improved foam helps a lot. They are a nice step up, in both sound and functionality from the Sony CH700's, and still a reasonable price. I'm impressed, looking forward to trying them on a long air flight. Sony XB900Ns: my new favorite.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+75points
151of 227voted this as helpful.
Enjoy flawless printing without the hassle of cartridges with this Epson EcoTank all-in-one printer. The front-facing ink tanks support easy monitoring, while Wi-Fi compatibility allows printing directly from a smartphone or tablet. This Epson EcoTank all-in-one printer features refill tanks that print up to 6,000 pages in color, making it ideal for your busy office.Prints up to 15 ISO ppm*, up to 8 ISO ppm* in color.
Customer Rating
5
Finally an Economical Inkjet printer
on June 23, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
First I hate buying ink cartridges, but love the convenience of printing pictures and color images (and copies). It's always been a catch-22, until now (almost). First it takes about an hour to get the Epson 3710 set up. Time to load the ink into the ecotanks, time for the printer to initiaize, then to connect to your home network, and time to install Windows/iOS software. My box did not contain an installation disk, only instructions on where to download the software from (this is actually preferable to me as I know I'm loading the latest software). With a fast connection the download took less than a minute. But I'm getting ahead of myself, as the last part of the setup is the software installation.
So you when you unpackage the printer, there are a bunch pieces of blue strapping tape that keep all the parts in place during shipping. Find them all and remove them (2 hidden under scanner).
Then you load the 4 ink bottles (keep in mind once the ink is loaded the printer should not be tipped (keep it level)); all are keyed so they must be put into the right tanks, note there will be a little ink left in each bottle, re-cap set them aside, well get back to them later. Then you plug the printer in and power it up. The printer will ask you to confirm you loaded the ink, then the on screen (2.5" color lcd) you start the initialization process, which takes about 10 minutes. During this time the printer sucks some ink from the large tanks into it's internal reservoirs, does a lot of repositioning. You can now load some paper. At the end of the process it will ask you to print a series of alignment pages (5). On each of these pages you will be asked which of several images is better (closest to perfect alignment). Choose the appropriate image number and move thought each of the alignment tests (these can be re-done from the maintenance menu).
Once aligned you will be asked how you want to connect your printer to your PC/network. For most you will use wi-fi to connect to you internal network (you can also connect to a PC via USB, Ethernet to your network or use wi-fi direct to the printer). I used wi-fi to my home network; the printer can only see 802.11bgn networks (so no 5g n or ac). It will show you the networks you can connect to and then allow you to specify the networks password via the input screen and selecting from the displayed characters (clumsy but it works). I believe it also support WPS (where you push a button on your router to add a product), but I did not try this.
Now the printers ready to use, you just need to install software on the device(s) you want to use it from. I started with a windows 10 install based on software found at: epson.com/support/et3710
The download was very straight forward. Before running the software install make sure that your computer is on the same wi-fi network you selected for the printer. Now proceed with the install, which will install drivers and Epson application software, the software should automatically find your printer (it did for me). At the end it will ask you to print a test page, if all went well it will emerge from the printer a few seconds later (it did for me). Setup also lets you set up the printer as cloud device (giving it a email address you can send to it to print) and for MS "One Drive" printing as well as setup for iOS/Android devices. I setup my iPhone to print from Epson's app found in the app store. Again an easy operation.
The download was very straight forward. Before running the software install make sure that your computer is on the same wi-fi network you selected for the printer. Now proceed with the install, which will install drivers and Epson application software, the software should automatically find your printer (it did for me). At the end it will ask you to print a test page, if all went well it will emerge from the printer a few seconds later (it did for me). Setup also lets you set up the printer as cloud device (giving it a email address you can send to it to print) and for MS "One Drive" printing as well as setup for iOS/Android devices. I setup my iPhone to print from Epson's app found in the app store. Again an easy operation.
So, so far, so good. My test pages all came out properly from my various devices. At this point I recommend adding the leftover ink from each of the ink bottles to the printer, there is not much, but the will nearly fill the reservoirs, the bottles can then be discarded (note the ink refill size is 502 (your likely to need more in a couple of years). I did a number of tests with color copies, I found on the default density setting of 0 for copies were a tad light, but changing the default to +1 the results were very good. All text that I printed was excellent.
I then loaded some 4x6 HQ Canon photo paper and send the printer my first photo. It was pretty good, but not exactly true colors, the darkest areas were not a inky black, more of a very dark gray. The yellow and blues were pretty true, but the deep dark reds, here a tad light, more dark pink than dark red. Flesh colors were pretty good, acceptable. I guess it probably fine for 90% of the print's I make (no worse than I what I expect from Walgreens/CVS digital prints), but for real HQ prints I'm going to keep my canon 6 cartridge printer. Maybe with more use the quality will improve/change (I only tested 3 prints I send directly) one that I scanned had the same not quite deep red issue, and you could see it did not have the full resolution of the original. I've attached a series of color copies showing density-1,0,+1 & the original, here again you can see the red heart is a bit pink, but all else (especially the last +1) looks great. I also have a Laser printer that I use for text output, I compared the laser output (600dpi) to the mono output from this printer, and this EcoTank 3710 was just as crisp, and the gray scale output just as good as what the laser produced. The laser was much faster, and holds 500 pages vs 150 in this EcoTank 3710 printer.
Finally in summary, this printer is a great buy, especially if you consider total cost to output the first 5000 pages/prints. I don't expect to get 200 pages out of my canon cartridges, so every 200 (color) pages cost nearly $60, using their larger cartridges its more like 400 pages for $85. I've bought new printers to avoid replacing cartridges (and with each generation they are a different cartridge #s) where the cost of the new printer (with included ink) was about the same as a full set of new cartridges. I now plan to stop doing this. I'm accustomed to duplex printing, and would not buy another printer without it. This printer is no speed demon when dealing with duplex printing, but it's fine for small jobs. I do wish it could handle 2 paper sizes without needing to change the paper. I'd like to keep letter, and 4x6 print paper in the printer, I don't think any of the ecoTank series of printers support this (yet). Yet, I highly recommend this printer, unless you're expecting HQ photos, in which case I don't think you'll be satisfied. But for any plain paper printing this is a great buy.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+91points
95of 99voted this as helpful.
Listen to music all day with the JLab JBuds Air Executive true wireless earbuds. Three EQ settings let you customize sound easily, and soft Cloud Foam eartips keep you comfortable while listening. Plus dual mics offer clear phones calls. Powerful batteries and the included charging case let these JLab JBuds Air Executive true wireless earbuds deliver up to 30 total hours of massive sound.
Customer Rating
4
A great find for the Price
on June 22, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX
I keep trying to find the perfect travel headphones and or earbuds, I've kind of drawn may max line at $400, and not found anything "worthy" under $100 until now. I first tried the Jlab Flex Sport headphones about 9mo ago; and quite frankly they suprised me with what they brought for the money. So when I discovered they JLab had a new ear bud for about $70 I thought I should give them a try. My current earbud favorite is the Jaybird Run, which I've had for nearly 2 years (and travel with all the time).
First some obvious differences the "Run's" case can be charged for 12h and the buds for 6h; these Jlab Jbud AirExecutives case can be charged for 20h and the buds for 6h. Both of their cases contain batteries to charge them on the go, but the JLabs Jbuds recharge much faster (80% in about 15m, half the time the Jaybirds take.
The JLab Jbud AirExectives come with 4 in ear tips, small, medium and large, and a memory foam which is about the same size as the medium tip. I did the goldilocks test, and found the medium was best for me; and I then compared the silicon medium tip to the foam tip I was immediately impressed how much more outside sound the foam tip kept out and how much deeper the bass was. The JLab Jbud Air Executives have 2 microphones on them one to listen to external sounds the other to listen for your voice (cell phone calls). The latter is on a tip that extends down the bottom of the earbuds. This extension does allow for your voice to be picked up from both earbuds in what they call C2 calling, it works quite well, as I took several calls and those that I talked to said I could be heard quite clearly, possibly better than I could hear them (I had to turn the volume way up on incoming calls, but thats just a few taps on the right earbud).
Speaking of taps, you change the volume up by taping on the right earbud once, and down by tapping on the left earbud once. tapping the left earbud twice bring up siri (something I did several times accidentally). And tapping the left three times cycles through 3 eq settings (I found their custom signature mode the best for general listening). Triple tapping the right earbud turns on and off there "be aware" mode which sends external sounds through the earbuds.
A couple things about this "be aware" feature, it's a great idea. But the Jlab Jbuds should tell you with a voice prompt what mode is enabled (like it does for EQ mode), and it should also tell you this when you turn them on initially. I really liked this functionality in their FlexSport, and I'd say it worked better in the flex sport than it does with the Air Executives. When enabling "be aware" you can hear external noises and voices through the earbuds; and yes I could but the volume level of the external sounds was not nearly as pronounced as I found them to be with the flex sports. Like I say this is a great feature, to me it was not implemented as well in the the Air Executives. Still It's nice that it is there.
Now how did they sound with Music. Comparing the $70 JLab Jbuds AirExecutives to the $170 Jaybird Runs is not exactly fair, but that what I did. I listened to some AC/DC, Boston and Pink Floydo on both. And both handled highs extremely well with a very nice resolution, I couldn't decide which I prefered. But with the foam tips I prefered the bass of the JLab Jbud AirExecutive, but the mids of the Jaybird Run's seemed to float, and have more punch then that of the Jlab Jbud. The JayBirds seemed to have a better, wider, mor open sound stage.
But I could move much further away from my iPhone with the JLab Jbud and keep a solid stereo signal, than I could with the JayBird (possibly due to newer BT 5.0 technology). Also pairing of the JLab Jbuds AirExecutives was much easier/more consistent than with the Jaybirds (something I greatly appreciated). So the Jlab Jbud's were more reliable to use with my iPhone.
So for the money they are a great find; their sound is very good and they are reliable, and easy to travel with, the stated 20h play time is also great for the price. The "cloud" foam tips work really well. I'm sure I'll trave with these then next time I get on a plane.
A couple of things they (all earbud manufacturers) should consider, include the operating instruction on the inside or back of the case. Yes, after a while you figure it out, but if you use many different headphones/earbuds this would really help.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+24points
36of 48voted this as helpful.
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The Brydge 12.3 Pro+ wireless keyboard with touchpad matches the quality and functionality of the Surface Pro 4,5,6, and 7 seamlessly. Designed to meet the standards set by Microsoft, the Brydge 12.3 Pro+ features a precision touchpad, adjustable viewing angles and 3-level backlit keys, bringing a laptop-like experience to your Surface Pro.
Is it running on windows 10? And What’s the speed how fast is it?
This is a Keyboard/Track pad only.
It is intended to be use with a MS Surface Pro (G4-G7); the Surface typically runs Windows 10, and there are multiple versions (processor/memory for the surface).
It is intended to be use with a MS Surface Pro (G4-G7); the Surface typically runs Windows 10, and there are multiple versions (processor/memory for the surface).
3 years, 6 months ago
by
3Tcubed
The Brydge 12.3 Pro+ wireless keyboard with touchpad matches the quality and functionality of the Surface Pro 4,5,6, and 7 seamlessly. Designed to meet the standards set by Microsoft, the Brydge 12.3 Pro+ features a precision touchpad, adjustable viewing angles and 3-level backlit keys, bringing a laptop-like experience to your Surface Pro.
Is this a laptop and keyboard
Keyboard/Trackpad only intended to be used with MS Surface Pro (G4-G7)
3 years, 6 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
Is there a compatible single serve blending cup that I can use with this blender? I’m interested in a 20 or 24 ounces blending cup option.
It comes with 2 x 16oz personal containers (actually 32oz, but for blending you should only fill to 16oz when using
3 years, 7 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
There's no Puree' option, so does this blender not have a way to blend a smoothie until it's basically almost as smooth as milk? That's pretty much going to be my deciding factor between this and the Instant Pot blender. Thanks.
It does have a Pulse mode that moves the mixture thought-out the container, fine for a puree
3 years, 7 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
What is the height of appliance with glass jar and lid attached ?
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
How do I purée foods? It doesn’t have a purée button.
It has 2 modes, smooth and pulse, the pulse mode move the mixture throughout the container very effectively, would easily puree.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Make healthy smoothies and drinks with this SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender. A 1400W motor base ensures exceptional ice-crushing results, while the 800W heating element cuts down boiling time for faster preparation of soups and sauces. This SharkNinja Ninja Foodi blender features preset Auto-iQ smart programs that take the guesswork out of operation and dishwasher-safe parts for effortless cleaning.
Can I use another attachment with this blender like Nutri Ninja or the coffee and spice grinder ?
They offer a separate small jar (not included) which would be great for a spice grinder, you could probably use the included large polycarbonate container for grinding coffee with the pulse mode, it should work well.
3 years, 7 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Upgrade your daily cooking with this Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker. The 8-quart capacity holds enough food for up to eight people, while the 14 one-touch smart programs simplify meal preparation. This Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker includes a steam rack, soup spoon and measuring cup for convenience.
Does instruction manuals come with it and recipe book
Yes, but pretty limited. There is on online app with a lot of recipes (well organized, searchable) you'll find several for just about everything.
3 years, 8 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Upgrade your daily cooking with this Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker. The 8-quart capacity holds enough food for up to eight people, while the 14 one-touch smart programs simplify meal preparation. This Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker includes a steam rack, soup spoon and measuring cup for convenience.
What are in internal dimensions? All I can find are external.
Upgrade your daily cooking with this Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker. The 8-quart capacity holds enough food for up to eight people, while the 14 one-touch smart programs simplify meal preparation. This Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker includes a steam rack, soup spoon and measuring cup for convenience.