3Tcubed's stats
- Review count217
- Helpfulness votes1,609
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewSeptember 7, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count72
- Helpfulness votes46
- First answerJanuary 10, 2015
- Last answerJanuary 12, 2022
- Featured answers0
- Best answers12
GE Appliances is dedicated to providing the right solutions for rooms of any size. Our window air conditioners are designed to offer exceptional comfort while the features make products versatile and easy to use.This 6,000 BTU window air conditioner cools small rooms up to 250 square feet. Energy efficient cooling with 3 cooling and 3 fan speeds provide flexible and optimal home comfort. Electronic controls with included remote make it easy to adjust and manage your settings from anywhere in your room. This AC installs easily in a double hung window with included EZ Mount window kit and fixed chassis. Additional features like eco mode, power interruption restart, 24-hour on/off timer, and removable filter offer ease of use and maintenance.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
When I got this I had planned to drop in my window, plug it and enjoy the cool air. But after putting it there I found it blocked more of my view than I wanted, and the unit was lighter than I'd expected. It's vents are adjustable right and left but not up and down. In my low window, this was not ideal for me, and I was in the process of renovating the room I was putting this in. So there was not too much effort to wall mount the unit since I was already doing "wall work". I ended up mounting it in the wall about 4' from the floor. I built a small exterior shelf to help support the unit.
The remote is a plus, as I can now change the temp from across the room. The unit is so much more quite than my previous unit, I was pretty amazed how silent it was. When I first put the unit in the room temp was 85, in 30 minutes the temp of the room was down to 77, the room has a strange shape, but it is about 320sq feet. So far I'm quite pleased with it's silence and when it goes on and off its barely noticable. So much better that so many room A/C units. I do wish the Air Flow was controllable in all direction, not just right and left.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+14points
15of 16voted this as helpful.
The Linksys Velop MX10 whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system gives you more speed, coverage, and capacity than it ever has before. Wi-Fi 6 combined with Velop's Intelligent Mesh~ technology delivers true Gigabit Wi-Fi speeds, up to 5.3 Gbps, to every corner of your home, even the backyard and outdoor smart home devices. Wi-Fi 6 also sends and receives multiple streams of data simultaneously and reduces latency, providing up to 4x more capacity compared to Wi-Fi 5 technology. So, it can handle the demands of up to 50 devices and more, from laptops and gaming consoles to smart home devices and 4K TVs, all competing for the same bandwidth. You'll also always have a more efficient Wi-Fi experience with OFDMA that enables more data to and from your devices in a more streamlined manner. And, with BSS technology, congestion is also minimized eliminating interference from nearby wireless networks to deliver a strong, clear Wi-Fi signal to your home, so you won't have to worry about your neighbor's Wi-Fi interfering with yours again. You'll even have 7x more battery life with Target Wake Time that reduces network interference, allowing your devices to remain in sleep mode longer. The MX10 whole-home Wi-Fi 6 system is a part of Velop's modular system, so if you need more coverage, just add more nodes. Plus, setup is fast with the Linksys app, so you can enjoy the next evolution of Wi-Fi in minutes.
Customer Rating
4
Great Performance, needs tools
on December 2, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
First I think the right router is very important in a stable home networking setup. I'm a big believer in mesh networks (eventually) being able to provide a smarter network. Two years ago I tried replacing my Netgear Nighthawk router with the Velop tri-node system then I moved to a quad node. I have a 2 story home a with little less than 3000sq ft. I have Cox's Gigablast (coax) service 1GB/down and 30+mb/up. With the Nighthawk I would get 850mb down and 35mb/up and over Wi-Fi 5G I could would hit 180mb/down on my iPhone close to the router, and about 120 at a distance of 50'. My house has between 65-75 connected devices, about 30 are connected to Ethernet, the rest use Wi-Fi. I have a smart house almost all lighting is connected via smart bulbs (50+) or smart switches (z-wave)
When I first started with the Velop system, it was very new, I spend quite a bit of time with Linksys tech support getting everything to work. And initially it works very well if I was close to the primary node. But as it got connected to all of my network devices I had stability and speed problems. When it work is was very nice but I had a lot more occasional internet drops with it than I had with my Nighthawk alone. There were times when all went well but as the network load (streaming music/video) increased the drops were no longer acceptable. I added a Linksys AC2200 and a AC5400 as a upstairs/downstairs bridge as a separate Wi-Fi network with the Nighthawk and had the performance and stability I was looking for. I found the AC5400 was 20-50% faster then an Velop Tri-Band AC2200, so it was moth balled.
Now on to the RX10, once I learned about the new Wi-Fi 6 becoming available I again started to think about upgrading. Linksys claims their RX10 (two RX5's) can cover a 6000sq/ft house. So I once began looked to re-configure my network (simplified if I could). I first disconnected my existing network routers/access points and installed a single RX5 and evaluated it's performance; I could get 950-975mb down and 40mb/up - GREAT. With my phone close to the node and got between 300-400mb down, from 50' away I was still getting 200-250mb down. The best I'd ever seen, and I tested from the same position over and over. So I got out the second RX node and started experimenting, placing it close the the primary down stairs, then further and further away. I got the best performance keeping the secondary and primary fairly close together (separated by a room and a stairway). I let all of my devices get added to the network, and this time I could not immediately see any degradation in performance as all my network devices connected (the new RX nodes processing and Wi-Fi strength was substantially better then their smaller AC2200 nodes were).
But Linksys said the new RX units could be used with the older Velop routers (nodes). I quickly found that the Linksys AC2200 and a AC5400 routers could only be configured in the Velop system as the primary node (not that surprising) but that ment I would not be using them. One by one I added a the smaller nodes to pair with their bigger brothers. I added three nodes at the far corners of my home, and did some testing (with their software you can tell what node is connecting to what node and I got some surprises. I found that any time that the nodes were three deep performance was significantly worse they when there was one or two hop deep (but there was no way to keep them from meshing as they desired). By moving nodes around and retesting I found that the best configuration did not need all of the smaller Velop nodes. In the end I found using one additional node got me the best balance. The new RX nodes are certainly MORE powerful then their little brothers. I seriously considered using just the 2 RX nodes, but I found having the TV furthest away from the rest of the network, connected via Ethernet to the small Velop node performed better than it working over Wi-Fi in the same position. This got me thinking about getting my downstairs RX node connected to my Ethernet; and boy did this change things for the better. So connecting the furthest nodes via Ethernet changed the way the nodes worked. This combination is providing me with 200-300mb/down almost anywhere in my house. I could not be happier, now if it provides stability I'm sold. I've now had everything running for about a week and it all looks awesome.
I'm now I'm VERY familiar with adding removing Velop nodes, one issue is adding (even after removing) takes about 10 minutes; I did use their BT setup tools, which worked quite well for me (albeit slow); I know how to do the same via the router directly, but think most people will use the tools from their app. The channel finder tool, under advanced Wi-Fi setting is quite useful for system tuning, I wish it provided a means to forcing nodes to only communicate via a specified connection.
I do have some suggestions for Linksys [summary: provide more info] (-1 star for lack of information regarding what is happening on the network). They should
1. provide a means of seeing how much data is being processed by every device (and especially Velop nodes Up/Down) so balancing can be done/understood.
2. provide a map showing who is communicating with whom (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) better explain to users how Ethernet is a big benefit.
3. provide a tool to look at in/out signal levels of devices connected to each node (this really only used for troubleshooting but in setting up system, it would be very helpful)
1. provide a means of seeing how much data is being processed by every device (and especially Velop nodes Up/Down) so balancing can be done/understood.
2. provide a map showing who is communicating with whom (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) better explain to users how Ethernet is a big benefit.
3. provide a tool to look at in/out signal levels of devices connected to each node (this really only used for troubleshooting but in setting up system, it would be very helpful)
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+11points
14of 17voted this as helpful.
Own your space with Logitech Pebble M350 ~ a modern, slim, and silent portable mouse designed for your curated lifestyle. Make a statement with a slim mouse that can easily be scooped up and brought to the cafe or library. Silent clicking and scrolling means you can stay focused without disturbing those around you. And the Logitech Pebble stays powered for up to 18-months on a single AA battery so you don~t have to worry about losing power.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I have, and have tried a lot of travel mice. I just don't generally like trackpads. My favorite has been the Logitech Ultrathin Touch Mouse, which I've had for 5 years, but the one I have does not retain a charge like it used to, and it costs 3x what this new Logi M355 costs. Yes it's smaller, but the M355 supports both Bluetooth and Logitech's unified receiver (hidden inside). Establishing a BT connection was as simple as holding the button on the bottom down and going into BT pairing mode in Windows 10, everything else was automatic. I also tried connecting to a Raspberry Pi with both the unifying receiver and BT, both worked without any issue; yea!
The M355 is pretty small and light, but it has enough weight that you won't just bump it around (it's not too light, it doesn't feel cheap). The rubber center scroll wheel is very responsive, and feels better than a plastic center wheel does. The mouse buttons are completely silent, you can feel a very soft click when you press the buttons down, but there is nothing to hear. I like this approach, it's my preference. Just do what I want and don't make any noise, I have several "Gaming" mice that I would call loud, this is the opposite.
The top of the mouse lifts off very easily to expose the battery and the unifying receiver, you can also get to the scroll wheel for easy cleaning (a good idea). Since it's a optical mouse there is no moving ball one the bottom (if you old enough to remember those). It seems to work very well on any surface except transparent glass. I tried tossing the mouse in my travel bag, and like my other mice that are black it's hard to find. While searching for it I also found that the top of the mouse can be dislodged pretty easily, too easily in my mind. Other than this minor complaint (I'd take off a half star if I could), it works very well, it's very responsive, has a nice weight and is VERY reasonably priced considering it's BT and supports Logitech's unifying receivers. I have no problems recommending it as a travel mouse, you could easily use it as you primary mouse; well done Logi.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take the guesswork out of the equation with this Breville the Smooth Wave microwave. Sensor iQ technology monitors the amount of steam produced during the cooking process and automatically adjusts the power level, preventing overcooked and burned food. This Breville the Smooth Wave microwave features 15 smart presets for one-touch operation, and the soft-close door helps avoid loud slams.
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
For years I've had a oven with a cooking probe that could tell me when something was done, but in a microwave you can't have a metal probe, this is where the Breville, Smooth Wave comes in. It has multiple humidity/moisture sensors that measure the steam/heat released by the cooking/headed product to determine level of doneness and/or temperature. After installation which was a breeze, even setting the clock has a short cut, I re-heated cup of coffee using the beverage short cut button inside the front door (see open picture). After pressing the beverages button I was prompted for the number of cups to be reheated, I closed the door and selected one (same type of procedure for all short cut selections, you tell it want you want to do and it asks you the quantity or weight of what you cooking/reheading. Any how, a cup that had little coffee in it took about 40s an a full cup took about 90s, but both were heated to about 140 degrees (tested with IR thermometer). And after each was done the microwave displayed END on the screen, but the light inside the microwave stayed on and the fan kept running (different from what I'm used to when running my previous microwave where it turned off and is dark inside until I open the door). I'm sure the microwave is venting any vapors out so it can accurately be used again, but still being able to see inside is another nice feature, thay you will grow to like (hay don't forget the coffee you put in her a minute ago! - who hasn't).
Later I defrosted 2 big (frozed) chicken legs/thighs that weighed about 2.5 lbs. Defrosting meats properly without cooking them was one of the features that most interested me in this microwave oven, I previously had a very expensive convection/microwave w/inverter tech; that could not defrost a product with any accuracy. While the Breville was defrosting my chicken I could see it was changing power levels, starting higher and dropping down, after about 9m the Smooth Wave chimed that it was complete. I took out my pan and the ends of the legs were warm but the rest was cool, not icy probably about 75-80 degrees. Success! just what I was hoping for, it seems to know what it's doing.
Now on the real microwave, test.... Popcorn, Orville Redenbacher's Buttered popcorn. Not the most difficult thing to cook but the one that tends to go just a little wrong quite often. I'd rather have a few (and I mean a few) unpopped kernels than have any burnt taste, and I'm sure we've all gone that extra 10s to get the last kernel to pop only to lift out the bag and see it's burnt on the bottom, an you know it also burnt inside :-( I select the popcorn from the food type menu (top of list) , place the bag on the center of the turntable and and tell it is a 6.8 oz bag (much larger than the 3.2 oz default); About 3.5minutes later it chirps that's it done (btw you can choose the tones used), I open the door, lots of steam escapes, I carefully remove the hot bag, shaking it, a last kernel pops, and I don't hear the rattle of uncooked kernels, and the bottom of the bag is just barely turning brown. I pour it out into a bowl, it smells great, and looks good, I add some sea salt and did in. When finished 5 kernels didn't pop (one of those tried). Well I could not have been more proud of the job my new machine just did. Yes, it's as "simple" job but it does not seem like all microwaves are up to the task of doing it well (or in this case perfectly).
I did a few other chores, melted butter, steamed some broccoli, re-heated some mac & cheese, all worked as I would have expected, the Smooth Wave knows what it's doing when you tell it how much you have. I tried softening butter from the refridg and from frozen, and the frozen took a lot longer (all on a low power setting it choose) but came out the same softness os the one from the refridg, just a little soft to the touch, but not melted.
All told, I'm sold on my new smarter machine, one you'll get used to it staying on after it's finished, and it will be a new friend of yours in the kitchen.
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I would recommend this to a friend!
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+26points
32of 38voted this as helpful.
Get rich, room-filling sound with this Sonos One SL speaker, and control it with the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, and more. Pair it with Sonos One or another One SL in the same room for stereo separation and more detailed sound.
Customer Rating
4
Great in a the right sized room
on October 17, 2019
Posted by: 3Tcubed
from PHOENIX, AZ
I was planning to use one of these in my living room/great room to stream from (Google Play, SiriusMX & Amazon Music). With any new speakers/headphones I generally start by listening to Boston's first album and Pink Floyd's DSOTM, as I know what I'm listening for in each.
I placed the Sonos One SL on top of the Grand Piano in our living room and began to set it up. This will take longer than it does with other speakers that you cast to, as you must use the Sonos App to cast to the speaker, although you can send to it via BT and Apples Airplay 2 directly. Which at first bothered me, but their app does allow you to access many other streaming apps from their app, so it's a one stop shop as an interface to your Streaming services. I setup a Sonos account and added: Amazon, Google, Play, iHeartRadio, Pandora and SiriusXM. But Google Play and Pandora, kept disappearing after set up. After so research I found that you have to have a US/Canada address to use them with Sonos. Once I updated my account with a complete address all worked like it should have. I then tried to add a Voice service for Google and Alexa, and neither would stay saved. When you finish setting thisks up and adding your product they suggest you "tune" the speaker based on room acoustics with Trueplay. I found this made a big difference, but you have to make sure your room as as silent as possible. After about a 1/2 hour I'd completed setup (what I could get done). On to the Music.
The highs in Boston's Foreplay/Long Time were nice an crisp and airy, the mid bass was good but the low end was disappointingly thin. Now I'm in a big room and this is a fairly small speaker. Anyway I move on to DSOTM, and I'm again impressed by the midrange and highs but not so much by the low end, it's trying, but not quite being successful. One of the other things I noticed in PF's great Gig in the sky was the lack of stereo separation, when I expected sounds to swirl thay didn't and were sometimes lost. This brings me back to the reality this is a single mono speaker, to get true stereo you need two, and there is a special set up for that. But overall this single speaker just could not fill my living room adequately.
It occured to me that I could compare this Sonos One to My JBL link 500 (about twice the price). so I set them both up with the same music, at the same time, muting one then the other. I was somewhat surprised by what I found. But not surprised that the JBL had better bass and true stereo, but it's mid range was quite mellow, lacking the Sonos's dynamics, and the Sonos highs we much more dramatic and better paired with it's mid range; so except for the JBL's bass being deeper and louder the Sonos was much tighter overall, no doubt in my mind anther speaker would have made this a fair fight which Sonos might have won.
So to be fair I moved the Sonos One SL to my, much smaller office, and re-tuned it (it asked me if it had been moved - talk about speakers getting smarter) to it's new space. The bass sounded much better here, but still was on the thin side, but for the money they sounded excellent. This brought me back to reality, I could have spent 2.5x on a Sonos Play and gotten better sound, or 2x and gotten two Sonos One's. But at the time is was the economics of one, with the ability to upgrade later, which is a nice option.
I do wish the Sonos app could be a complete unifier, and include iTunes, but that's probably more of an Apple thing. They do allow you to find other music you have on your network (music servers and such). You can directly connect the speaker via Ethernet, so for the price they are very flexible, but mono, but you know that, and if you want Stereo you need another. Something I'll probably get in the near future. As this is a great smart speaker for the price, I'm just not sure where I'm going to use it.
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+2points
7of 12voted this as helpful.
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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+5points
6of 7voted this as helpful.
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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+59points
74of 89voted this as helpful.
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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I would recommend this to a friend!
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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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I would recommend this to a friend!
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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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I would recommend this to a friend!
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can A sim card be put into the Apple® - The new iPad® with Wi-Fi - 32GB - Black for local internet
Im trying to get internet access in Afghanistan
No, you either buy a 4G version or the Wi-Fi version; you can't upgrade/add 4g to the wi-fi version.
10 years, 8 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Phoenix.AZ
Toshiba Chromebook 2 CB35-B3340 Laptop: This ultrathin, portable Chromebook is great for anyone on the go. Easily connect to Wi-Fi hotspots with the built-in high-speed wireless LAN.Learn more about Chromebooks ›
Will a Chromebook 2 pair with a single band 2.4 mhz wireless N router?
Yes; I'm using with Netgear Nighthwlk x6; and I can pair with 2.4g & 5G networks a swell as AC, and it can see my other legacy networks.
10 years, 8 months ago
by
3Tcubed
Phoenix.AZ