vrs99's stats
- Review count211
- Helpfulness votes1,298
- First reviewJanuary 3, 2014
- Last reviewDecember 12, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count5
- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentJuly 11, 2015
- Last review commentJuly 18, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count45
- Helpfulness votes47
- First answerDecember 31, 2013
- Last answerJanuary 17, 2022
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Store documents and photos digitally with this Brother wireless scanner. Its duplex setting copies both sides of the page in a single pass to save time, and its image optimizing feature improves the quality of the scan. The 2.8-inch touch screen on this Brother wireless scanner lets you configure its settings to your preferences.
Customer Rating
5
Fast, Compact, Flexible - Highly Capable Scanner!
on January 14, 2018
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
All notes in my review are based on Windows 10 PC.
Basic setup is a breeze and takes about ten minutes. Settings can be managed at either the scanner or remotely from the PC in the Brothers Setup/Management package that you need to download from Brother.
Basic setup is a breeze and takes about ten minutes. Settings can be managed at either the scanner or remotely from the PC in the Brothers Setup/Management package that you need to download from Brother.
Things I like right off the bat about the ADS-2700W:
It’s size. A great choice for a cluttered desktop or for a student’s workspace.
Wide range of networking from Wi-Fi, wired, USB to server based configurations. The network side is robust.
The range of documents that can be scanned to include plastic coated cards, business card, photos as well as a long list of standard office sizes through its 50-page auto document feeder. Again, a robust list of supported documents.
Scan to choices include File, USB flash memory drive, Image, Network, OCR, Email, FTP, Mobile Devices.
Scanning formats include; JPEG, PDF, Secure PDF, Signed PDF, PDFA, And TIFF.
Has crisp scanning resolutions of 600 dpi and interpolated 1200 dpi.
Adding shortcuts to your mostly frequently used scanning destinations and configurations.
LCD control panel is easy to use and setup logically. Have found that I must use firm pressure to engage a selection.
It’s size. A great choice for a cluttered desktop or for a student’s workspace.
Wide range of networking from Wi-Fi, wired, USB to server based configurations. The network side is robust.
The range of documents that can be scanned to include plastic coated cards, business card, photos as well as a long list of standard office sizes through its 50-page auto document feeder. Again, a robust list of supported documents.
Scan to choices include File, USB flash memory drive, Image, Network, OCR, Email, FTP, Mobile Devices.
Scanning formats include; JPEG, PDF, Secure PDF, Signed PDF, PDFA, And TIFF.
Has crisp scanning resolutions of 600 dpi and interpolated 1200 dpi.
Adding shortcuts to your mostly frequently used scanning destinations and configurations.
LCD control panel is easy to use and setup logically. Have found that I must use firm pressure to engage a selection.
Overall the Brother ADS-2700W is easy to use and compact for everyday use.
Works well wired to a one computer, to small homegroup networks to use in server groups. ONE Great option for Group use is that Documents can be scanned directly to a Network Location/Folder or into Email. Highly flexible unit.
If space is at premium and you need a highly flexible scanner check out the Brother ADS-2700W.
Forgot to mention, this scanner is fast!
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+14points
14of 14voted this as helpful.
Bring soft illumination to your favorite nook with this white Philips Hue table lamp. It mimics natural light to help you relax and feel energized when you wake up, and it's bright enough to read by during story time. This Philips Hue table lamp connects to the Hue bridge, so you can control it remotely.
Customer Rating
4
Love the Lamp and Hue System – Needs Tweaking
on December 15, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
When I opened the package I first took out the instructions. The instructions are three steps, turn on your light, plug in the Hue Bridge and connect to Wi-Fi, and download the Hue App.
Could not be simpler to get the product up and running and only takes a few minutes. That said I find that the system is lacking in instructions and information.
That said, we love the light system. Will use the adjective “Fun” to describe our experience using Hue, as well as quite convenient. If you are kicked back on the couch at night watching TV and have several lights on in your room group you can simply turn on or off lights, or dim with commands to Alexa or with the app on a tablet or phone. If you are getting drowsy you can turn the Table Lamp to “Relax” or “Nightlight” scene to put you in the sleepy mode before bedtime. Love it.
Great fun when away from home or in another room to change the lights, to everyone’s surprise the first time. Friends saw our lighting system and went straight to Best Buy the next day to purchase. First thing the wife did was to go into the next room and turn off the lights in the living room on her husband.
When you arrive home in the evening you can give a simple command to Alexa and turn all connected Hue lights on throughout your home, a nice warm fuzzy feeling. If you are away from home in the evening or on vacation you can turn lights on with your phone app for security. After getting kid(s) into bed you can leave a light set to “Nightlight” and later simply turn the light off with a command to Alexa.
Hue does have some maturing to do with availability of information and developing the Alexa Skill Set further. The Alexa Skill Set needs to be able to manage lights by name in each group of lights. What I mean by this is that you can set groups up in the Hue App, i.e. Living Room, Bedroom, Kitchen, etc. and then assign names to individual lights within a group. At present I could not turn off or on a given light in a room (group) by name, Alexa will only turn all the lights on/off or adjust all to same setting. It would be great to command Alexa to dim light “one” in living room and not adjust any others. Additionally, have yet to find a comprehensive Alexa command set listing, which of typical of Alexa Skills.
You can easily manage all individual lights within a group or groups with the Hue App.
My experience with Alexa Skill Sets is that they are typically refined over time so I am confident that Alexa will soon have the Skills for managing the Hue system fully developed.
My experience with Alexa Skill Sets is that they are typically refined over time so I am confident that Alexa will soon have the Skills for managing the Hue system fully developed.
Another issue I have with the Philip Hue is that the company did not see fit to develop a PC or MAC based application to manage the system. That is a key gripe that I personally have with many of todays devices. We have computers running throughout our home, but I must go find an Android or IOS device to mange my lighting.
The lights are rated to a Maximum of 25,000 hours of use. If you use a light for three hours a day and reached the maximum possible lifespan it would be slightly over 22 years! My take is with typical use you will find the lifespan somewhere between 2-4 years. If the lights do have this life expectancy it makes the system highly cost effective.
The Hue App for Android is well done, easy to follow, easy to use and manage the system. Kudos.
The Hue system works well and has great potential for the connected home.
Torn on my rating of the Hue Lamp, want to give the review a 5 Star as I really enjoy the lighting and look forward too many years of service. On the other hand, want to give it a 3 Star review for lack of information PC/MAC software and the lack of full Alexa control. Therefore, in compromise I have given 4 Stars.
My family loves this system and we will continue to expand our lighting configuration. Knowing the quality of Philips products, I feel confident that Hue will continue to expand and mature into a marvelous system well into the future.
As it’s said the Proof is in the Pudding. When our friends saw the system the other day in our home they fell in love with it on the spot. Went straight to Best Buy the nest day and had it up and running that afternoon. My friend is not tech savvy and told me it was absolutely simple to setup and enjoy.
FYI: if you add additional Hue Lights to your Hue System keep in mind that the individual lights are not developed to work with lamps with dimmers.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Take control of your food prep with this Ninja food processor. Its two interchangeable attachments accomplish a wide range of kitchen tasks, including chopping nuts, slicing vegetables and pureeing fruit, and its auto spiralizer lets you make versatile vegetable noodles. This Ninja food processor has a drizzle hole lid for conveniently adding oils and other liquids.
Customer Rating
5
Not your Grandmother’s Food Processor!
on November 19, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
The Ninja Precision Processor is another great product with the build quality that I have come to expect from Ninja. Powerful motor, sturdy construction, and love the suction cup feet that keep the processor from dancing away while you are chopping up your dinner vegies!
Judo Chop your way through loads of vegetables with your Ninja, it makes quick work of dinner tasks. An addition to this food processor is the design of Feed Chute that I appreciate for the ability to press your food into the system easily and safely.
Our first run with the Ninja was the Strawberry Mint Sorbet, Kid gets first vote on our initial creation. Simple recipe and instructions. In minutes we were sipping on a great afternoon refreshment. Second creation was the Zucchini Spaghetti with basil and sweet peas. Great Stuff!
Ninja includes a delightful Recipe book with thirty delicious recipes to get you going and familiarize you with the many tasks you can perform in your kitchen with the Ninja. Well written, easy to follow, Kudos.
On a side note, my better half loves its decorative appeal sitting on the kitchen counter next to our Ninja blender. I like that the design and dimensions do not take a large area on the kitchen counter.
Ninja goes beyond basic vegie chopping, you can process your own spaghetti or Fettuccine pasta as well kneading dough. Use the Spiralizer accessories to make “Veggie Noodles” to make some veggie plates.
Great Kitchen Helper and highly recommend for those who enjoy adventures in delicious creations.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Completely customize your Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat to match your lifestyle and decor. The ENERGY STAR~ certified smart thermostat lets you choose the temperature, schedule, display color and the devices you use to control it all.
Customer Rating
5
Smart Temperature Control
on November 15, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
Have used an earlier similar Wi-Fi Honeywell Thermostat installed in our business locations for a several years which has been a tremendous asset in temperature management and cost savings.
We had issues with employees and customers changing the settings on our previous manual thermostats. With the Wi-Fi Smart Color Thermostat, you can simply set a password that keeps others from changing your thermostat program on the front panel. You can of course enter your password at the thermostat to access the menus.
What I truly like about the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat is the ability to manage simply from your mobile, tablet or computer (love the fact you can use any of your devices and not locked into a Mobil App). The new RTH9585 Thermostat also has Voice Control.
Your Local weather forecast is shown on the display panel, Kudos for adding this helpful feature!
Big Plus of the Wi-Fi App or Internet interface is the ability to manage all your thermostats from one App Menu. Now I can manage both home and business sites from one menu!
Thermostat has a wide range of scheduling modes, you can set occupancy mode for businesses, as well as Smart-Response Learning which learns to set optimal temperature control.
The Honeywell Network is secure and has been highly stable for the years we have been using the Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat technology.
Instructions for installation are simple and clear to follow. Do read the specs and requirements for the unit.
Love our Honeywell, been serving us well for years.
P.S. For the decorators you can change the screen background color to match your decor, which is quite cool.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+12points
12of 12voted this as helpful.
Arlo Pro 2 keeps an eye on your home while you're away, in brilliant 1080p HD quality. Put the 100% wire-free, weather-resistant camera anywhere, indoors or out. Then, power it with the included rechargeable battery or plugged it in (when indoors) to access activity zones and 24/7 Continuous Video Recording upgrades. Use 2-way audio or remotely sound a 100+ device siren while catching every moment with night vision and advanced motion detection. You'll even get motion and sound-activated alerts and 7 days of free cloud video recordings. Arlo Pro 2 works with Amazon Alexa to make your smart home security even more simple and effective.
Customer Rating
5
Lights, Action, Camera!
on November 12, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
Rolling out this review only days after receiving my Arlo Pro 2, it is such a Brilliant System I had to post my first impressions!
What first impressed me was the absolute simplicity in setting up the system and getting it on-line and running.
Arlo arrived on Thursday afternoon just after a couple of men had driven down my very long driveway, which is highly unusual for us as we are far from the road and the house is not visible to traffic. Noticed them looking into my garage and my equipment. Issue, we were leaving the next day for the weekend.
Decided to get Arlo on-line before we left. Astonishingly within less than hour I had setup the system, mounting cameras in my home as well as in our detached garage. App was in my phone, Arlo was running, and I had a good grip on the system operation. One thing I loved was I first added the Arlo base to my main network, but then switched the connection to my Mesh network on a different sub-net. Cannot recall the last time any network device was so easy in changing networks. No issues, smooth sailing.
After so many new devices coming to market that can only be accessed and managed by mobile apps only, it is refreshing to see a company do their job and include computer internet access. Kudos for going the distance in programming. Managing the system and monitoring by either mobile, tablet or computer is excellent.
Arlo is amazingly flexible and meets many, many needs and requirements. Home, business, child, etc. monitoring and security are what Arlo is all about, it delivers.
Will not go deep into all the spec’s or into the Wide Range of Capabilities of this Brilliant System, it is the best I have seen, it is the most well thought-out and implemented system. NetGear put quality into Arlo and it shows.
Customarily I do not get enthusiastic over tech equipment (IT guy for decades), but Arlo rings the bell. If you want a solid system for your security take a good close look at Arlo.
Would like to mention the audio, for it was fun when my friend came over to feed the fish. Got an alert that there was motion in my home so popped up the camera and saw my friend. They were Very Alarmed when I spoke to them through the camera. “This is the police, stand still!”
On a closing note, it was “Peace of Mind” the first morning when I turned on my computer, called up Arlo and saw all my stuff was where it belongs. Thanks Arlo.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
5of 7voted this as helpful.
Save precious kitchen prep time with this Philips Viva multi-chopper. Its two functions provide coarse and fine chopping, and its automatic speed selection adjusts its performance to the type of ingredient. This 500W Philips Viva multi-chopper lets you achieve chef-quality results for coarsely chopped ingredients thanks to its ChopDrop technology.
Customer Rating
5
CHOP CHOP, Smooth Easy Vegi Dicing - Really!
on October 19, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
Simply put:
Super Easy Vegetable Chopping
Fast – Will Dice up an Onion in Seconds with No Tears
Quick Easy Cleanup
That is, it in a Nutshell, it is exactly what I have always wanted to see in a vegetable chopper (one of my pet peeves when I cook is all the time spent slicing and dicing). Have used numerous choppers in the past, none that I tried are still in my kitchen. This one has a spot on the counter.
If you want to chop and dice quickly with easy cleaning I suggest you give it twirl.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
Deliver dynamic reports, lectures and proposals with this Epson business projector. Its XGA resolution and 3,300 lumens of color and white brightness provide optimal clarity for text and graph presentations, and it has HDMI, USB and RCA ports to support various media sources. This Epson business projector produces an image size of up to 300 inches to suit large venues.
Customer Rating
5
Brilliant Projector
on October 6, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
Straight out of the box discovered that it is as simple as it gets to setup a new projector, you can literally be up and running in minutes. That said, I do recommend reading the Quick Setup instructions first.
Before using the projector, I was quite sure it is a solid model as our school district has similar Epson projectors throughout all the classrooms in the district. And that is a lot of classrooms with years of operation.
What I like is that the projector is easy to use and it works flawlessly, projects an exceptional image, has a wide range of input ports, simple focus and a very good cooling system. While the system is easy to operate it is highly flexible with advanced features, such as having the ability to be operated from a mobile device wireless connection (requires an optional wireless module).
Connections include HDMI, USB-A, USB-B, VGA, and component (see picture below). HDMI works great. Resolution is 1024x768 with vivid colors. Supports PC Free presentations with the use of USB devices which you can add special effects to from the options menu. The VS350 is a brilliant choice for presentations with flexible choice of input and control.
If the projector is added to a network it gives you the ability to hold interactive meetings by projecting user’s computer screens over the network, have not tested this yet but is a cool feature for offices, etc. Additionally, if it is joined to the network you can monitor and control the projector remotely on the network.
If you are looking for a serious business projector with a long track record I would recommend taking a good look at the VS350.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Motivate yourself with great music by using these in-ear Jaybird FREEDOM 2 Bluetooth headphones. They provide up to eight hours of playback thanks to the included charging clip, and their Jaybird app lets you adjust the audio settings. These Jaybird FREEDOM 2 Bluetooth headphones easily switch to under-ear mode for answering calls.
Customer Rating
5
BAM! 8 Hours of Music on the Go - Incredible Tunes
on October 6, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
The Jaybird x3 sport earbuds pack impressive sound yet sleek enough to go anywhere. These impressive earbuds fit firmly in your ears with interchangeable parts to fit your style, as noted in Jaybird’s material “They Just Fit”.
The Jaybird earbuds are made to be on the go, with an extra battery pack that gives you four extra hours of playtime (that’s eight hours in total) to keep you running.
Two Highlights; The build which uses “Double Hydrophopic Nano” coating to protect against moisture, rain, snow, mud and sweat. Use the Jaybird App to tweak the amplified speakers to your taste, good stuff.
The Jaybird also have the best sound out of all the ones I have. Overall these are the best earbuds that I have ever used.
I know they are exceptional as my son tried them and will not give them back!
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Pull out this Shark DuoClean Slim upright vacuum for jobs large and small. The included dusting brush and crevice and upholstery tools make it a powerhouse for cleaning furniture and out-of-the-way corners. This Shark DuoClean Slim upright vacuum is lightweight, making it easy to transport up flights of stairs on cleaning day.
Customer Rating
5
First-Class Slim Vacuum Cleaner
on September 22, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
Unboxing and setup, was an absolute breeze. Typically, I will refer to the quick setup or manual but with the Shark it was a simple task of connecting a few components as they came out of the box. Literally within minutes the Shark was ready to roll.
First impressions, the handle is a first-rate design allowing several comfortable positions to operate the vacuum. It is a compact design which works well for our use and storage. Design and look are brilliant, simply stated, it looks great.
The included Attachments offer a good selection of cleaning tools, and the company offers additional attachments if needed. There is an accessory holder for two attachments.
Cleaning; we had just vacuumed our living room a few days prior to when we used the Shark the first time. Impressively within minutes it had collected a significant amount of debris in the see-through canister. Two thumbs up on the power and cleaning capabilities. It gets the job done easily.
The vacuum had two modes besides upright, one is Above the Floor mode where you disconnect the handle to reach areas above the floor. There is additionally Lift Away mode where you disconnect the vacuum “pod” away from the floor nozzle, handy for reaching difficult to get at areas. The unit also switches easily from carpet to hardware.
It is a well-thought-out design which looks handsome in your home, does a great job cleaning and easy cleanup and storage.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
5of 5voted this as helpful.
Take control of your oral health with this Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush. The microchip-containing brush head sends brushing data directly to your phone to ensure that each tooth in your mouth is getting proper care. This Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush even tells you when to change heads to keep your brush performing its best.
Customer Rating
5
Greatest Cleaning System Ever
on September 13, 2017
Posted by: vrs99
from TN
This is my third Sonicare Toothbrush, the Technology and Design in the 9300 DiamondClean Smart System is beyond what I would have imagined in a toothbrush.
When taking the 9300 Toothbrush System from the box for the first time it was obviously a tremendous leap forward in brushing technology. The appearance of the handle and feel of the handle is inviting, you can see right away that is a top of the line appliance.
The accessories that come with the brush as well are thoroughly thought out, one of my favorite is the Charger with the Clear Glass Holder/Base, the charger holder/base looks as any drinking glass you would find in the kitchen. Why my enthusiasm for the base, that is quite simply being a clear glass you know when you need to clean the charger base. Plus, it looks wonderful sitting on the counter, designer even.
Carrying case is a leap ahead from my older plastic holder cases, it as well has the designer appeal and the handle and two brush heads fit easily and snug. Great for the traveler.
Personally, I am a Gadget Person and have a home full of them to prove the point. Was a bit taken back and amused to find when I first set my 9300 DiamondClean up that I had to Update the Firmware in the toothbrush! Have updated everything from mainframe computer systems to kid’s gadgets, but never imagined the day I would be upgrading the programming of a toothbrush.
Was at first “smiling” at the idea of having my toothbrush communicate (Bluetooth) with my cell phone. First thought was it was another IoT that had gone too far, question being why would I want my toothbrush to talk to my phone app.
Have come up with two exacting reasons why after using the system, first being it is highly accurate detecting every tooth you have brushed and the duration. If like me you will simply find that you can develop a better brushing routine that will reward you with healthier teeth and gums by following the App’s Directions, really it works.
Second answer is that if you have children, who love anything computer will jump at the chance to brush their teeth while watching their progress on the phone’s app. It is a Great Guide and will likewise benefit your Children’s Health for many Decades to come.
One of my favorite aspects to this system is that I find myself stopping by more frequently for a quick touch up brushing during the day.
The system is loaded with advanced tech and provides a broad spectrum of health care for your teeth and gums. Changing from different cleaning modes, Clean, White, Gum Health, and Deep Clean is a simple selection on the handle as you brush.
Now for my favorite aspect of this Brushing System, I have simply never had any toothbrush clean my teeth so thoroughly. You realize that after the brush and it feels Wonderful.
Now for my favorite aspect of this Brushing System, I have simply never had any toothbrush clean my teeth so thoroughly. You realize that after the brush and it feels Wonderful.
My Best Buy number: 2002595546
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+23points
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vrs99's Review Comments
Upgrade your laptop's storage with this Samsung 850 PRO MZ-7KE512BW internal SATA III solid state drive, which offers a generous 512GB capacity for digital data. SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) technology controls access to private information.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Crashed and Burned after 44 Days - Good Luck
By vrs99
Fast SSD - and Extra Fast to Crash in just 44 days. Of course it was on a Friday evening and cannot speak to Samsung until Monday. Cannot Chat with them as they do not offer Chat for SSD's.
Luckily it crashed two weeks after the 30 day return period to Best Buy. Guess it is a good thing they offer 10 year warranty? But have heard they will return a refurbished unit, which will not be good on 44 day old product. Must be living on the bleeding edge, should have stuck with the Toshiba, which I can't see a real life difference in speed.
vrs99
TN
After a Day of Wrestling with the SSD
July 11, 2015
After pulling every rabbit out of my hat I finally got the SSD going again. Have to completely reload OS, etc. starting at Windows 8. Not fun.
But I am "somewhat" happy that I was able to get the drive working. Not sure what happen to the drive, but have some suspicion of a setting in Magician (software system for the 850 Pro) which boosts speed?
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Only at Best BuyUpdate your portable technology kit with this HP Omen 17-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine combines a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor with 12GB of DDR4 RAM for ultra-fast performance on the go. An island-style backlit keyboard equipped with dedicated macro keys makes this HP Omen 17-inch laptop easy to use in the dark.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Hp omen gaming laptop
By Martinezjorge7
I recently bought the 16 omen laptop and I was able to return mine and be able to upgrade the the newest one it has a better graphic card and an new design with a better cooling vent with a 1 tb hard drive
vrs99
TN
NO DVD
July 12, 2017
There is no DVD built, you would have to use external.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
HP OMEN by HP Laptop: Power through the virtual landscape with this versatile HP Omen 15-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine packs a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card for superior graphics performance. The 1TB hard drive inside this HP Omen 15-inch laptop provides plenty for space for gaming profiles and other multimedia files.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Excellent laptop, but not the best value
By Xephyroth
from Colorado Springs, CO
This HP Omen is the 3rd gaming laptop I've ever owned, and it's undoubtedly the best one I've had the pleasure of using. However, this product isn't perfect out of the box.
FIRST IMPRESSION / UNBOXING:
Out of the box, the first thing that I noticed is that this laptop has impressive build quality. The sand-blasted brushing brings a pleasant aesthetic while also bringing solid weight and durability. It's not incredibly flashy, so it doesn't scream "gamer" like a lot of other laptops, but it definitely brings a touch of the "gamer" aesthetic without being overzealous. The notebook is also much thinner than I expected, as I've been used to much thicker gaming laptops, but I suppose the lack of an optical drive attributes to that. The power brick is fairly small and compact for a machine that's capable of entry/mid-level gaming.
Out of the box, the first thing that I noticed is that this laptop has impressive build quality. The sand-blasted brushing brings a pleasant aesthetic while also bringing solid weight and durability. It's not incredibly flashy, so it doesn't scream "gamer" like a lot of other laptops, but it definitely brings a touch of the "gamer" aesthetic without being overzealous. The notebook is also much thinner than I expected, as I've been used to much thicker gaming laptops, but I suppose the lack of an optical drive attributes to that. The power brick is fairly small and compact for a machine that's capable of entry/mid-level gaming.
DISPLAY:
Turning the display on, the 1080p IPS matte display is nice and bright, and viewing angles are decent without too much color shifting. Bezels aren't too large, and it's not something I noticed until just now while writing this review. While I'm used to Quad-HD and 4K resolutions, I was not displeased with this display in any fashion. The webcam is above the display and can record at 720p/30fps. Not the best, but not the worst webcam I've seen.
Turning the display on, the 1080p IPS matte display is nice and bright, and viewing angles are decent without too much color shifting. Bezels aren't too large, and it's not something I noticed until just now while writing this review. While I'm used to Quad-HD and 4K resolutions, I was not displeased with this display in any fashion. The webcam is above the display and can record at 720p/30fps. Not the best, but not the worst webcam I've seen.
KEYBOARD:
Typing on the keyboard is pleasant with the chiclet-style keys. It didn't take me too long to get used to the keyboard, having come from mechanical keyboards and MacBook Pro keyboards. The addition of the num-pad is certainly nice, as well. The keyboard is backlit red (as you'd expect with the Omen), but settings are very simplistic compared to other gaming laptops. The backlighting has 3 states: fully on, WASD on, or fully off. No, there are no fancy effects, and I wouldn't expect any at this price. I do find it a little bit surprising that you can't dim the backlighting, but I rarely dim the backlight on my keyboards, anyway, so it'd be a useless feature for me.
Typing on the keyboard is pleasant with the chiclet-style keys. It didn't take me too long to get used to the keyboard, having come from mechanical keyboards and MacBook Pro keyboards. The addition of the num-pad is certainly nice, as well. The keyboard is backlit red (as you'd expect with the Omen), but settings are very simplistic compared to other gaming laptops. The backlighting has 3 states: fully on, WASD on, or fully off. No, there are no fancy effects, and I wouldn't expect any at this price. I do find it a little bit surprising that you can't dim the backlighting, but I rarely dim the backlight on my keyboards, anyway, so it'd be a useless feature for me.
TRACKPAD:
Out of the box, the trackpad sensitivity was incredibly low for my personal taste. After making some adjustments to the Touchpad Settings in Windows 10, I found a sensitivity that worked well for me. The touchpad does not physically click, but there are left/right trackpad buttons. Initially, I did find the buttons to be awkwardly placed, but I actually got used to them fairly quickly. While the touchpad isn't the best I've ever used, it is pretty good, in my opinion. 2 and 3 finger gestures work, as well.
Out of the box, the trackpad sensitivity was incredibly low for my personal taste. After making some adjustments to the Touchpad Settings in Windows 10, I found a sensitivity that worked well for me. The touchpad does not physically click, but there are left/right trackpad buttons. Initially, I did find the buttons to be awkwardly placed, but I actually got used to them fairly quickly. While the touchpad isn't the best I've ever used, it is pretty good, in my opinion. 2 and 3 finger gestures work, as well.
SOUND:
The Bang & Olufsen speakers surprised me. They have good volume and a pleasant sound signature. However, they're bottom-firing, so when you put the laptop on your lap, the frequencies dampen and you lose a bit of treble/mid-range impact. Keep in mind, this is with the "B & O Play Experience" toggled on from the "Omen Audio" application. You'll definitely want to leave that on if you're using the speakers, or else the bass will disappear and will sound really anemic. I did notice some clipping at max volume when bass-heavy music was involved. Headphone jack works well as you'd expect, but doesn't promise anything fancy, so don't bother trying to drive headphones with high impedance. The built-in microphone array is good for video/voice chat session, but don't expect it to compete with a USB desktop microphone in terms of sound quality. For all casual purposes, it does just fine.
The Bang & Olufsen speakers surprised me. They have good volume and a pleasant sound signature. However, they're bottom-firing, so when you put the laptop on your lap, the frequencies dampen and you lose a bit of treble/mid-range impact. Keep in mind, this is with the "B & O Play Experience" toggled on from the "Omen Audio" application. You'll definitely want to leave that on if you're using the speakers, or else the bass will disappear and will sound really anemic. I did notice some clipping at max volume when bass-heavy music was involved. Headphone jack works well as you'd expect, but doesn't promise anything fancy, so don't bother trying to drive headphones with high impedance. The built-in microphone array is good for video/voice chat session, but don't expect it to compete with a USB desktop microphone in terms of sound quality. For all casual purposes, it does just fine.
PERFORMANCE:
This laptop comes with a 4-core / 8-thread Intel Core i7 processor. For most basic tasks, this is actually overkill. But for gamers, this is great, as more games are utilizing more threads. The GTX 1050 can play any older game at very high settings, and can still play many modern titles at medium / high settings at 1080p. 8GB of RAM is enough for most people, but individuals who multi-task with a lot of resource-intensive chrome tabs and extensions may find themselves wanting more. While the 1TB hard drive is rated for 7200RPM, I still find it unacceptable to not have the operating system installed on a Solid State Drive (SSD) for a machine at this price point. You will not be unlocking the full potential of this machine while your OS runs on a slow drive like this. Thankfully, the upgrade process is fairly simple. After consulting the service manual found on HP's support website, I unscrewed the 10 screws from the bottom of the laptop and removed the bottom panel by starting with the side closest to the display hinge. From there, you'll have access to the SATA drive bay, the M.2 SSD slot (unoccupied, but does support NVMe drives), and 2 RAM slots (with only 1 occupied). I suspect that each RAM slot supports up to 8GB, but I could not find any confirmation in any of the documents available on HP's support website.
This laptop comes with a 4-core / 8-thread Intel Core i7 processor. For most basic tasks, this is actually overkill. But for gamers, this is great, as more games are utilizing more threads. The GTX 1050 can play any older game at very high settings, and can still play many modern titles at medium / high settings at 1080p. 8GB of RAM is enough for most people, but individuals who multi-task with a lot of resource-intensive chrome tabs and extensions may find themselves wanting more. While the 1TB hard drive is rated for 7200RPM, I still find it unacceptable to not have the operating system installed on a Solid State Drive (SSD) for a machine at this price point. You will not be unlocking the full potential of this machine while your OS runs on a slow drive like this. Thankfully, the upgrade process is fairly simple. After consulting the service manual found on HP's support website, I unscrewed the 10 screws from the bottom of the laptop and removed the bottom panel by starting with the side closest to the display hinge. From there, you'll have access to the SATA drive bay, the M.2 SSD slot (unoccupied, but does support NVMe drives), and 2 RAM slots (with only 1 occupied). I suspect that each RAM slot supports up to 8GB, but I could not find any confirmation in any of the documents available on HP's support website.
I happened to have an unused SATA-based SSD, so I swapped that with the 1TB HDD and used the software that came with my SSD to transfer the OS from the HDD to the SSD. After this process, my HP Omen was substantially faster with booting the OS and running applications—a night & day difference.
BATTERY:
I haven't tested the battery life to an enormous extent, but enabling a battery estimation feature in the BIOS allows Windows 10 to report the estimated time (not just %) on battery. Depending on your brightness, power profile and workload, HP estimates 9 hours of mixed usage, and almost 7 hours of video playback. So far, I think that claim is accurate.
I haven't tested the battery life to an enormous extent, but enabling a battery estimation feature in the BIOS allows Windows 10 to report the estimated time (not just %) on battery. Depending on your brightness, power profile and workload, HP estimates 9 hours of mixed usage, and almost 7 hours of video playback. So far, I think that claim is accurate.
I/O:
The HP Omen doesn't support Thunderbolt 3, but all the USB ports support USB 3.1 (1 Type-C, 3 Type-A. There's also a gigabit ethernet jack, HDMI (HDCP 2.2, 4k@60Hz), and Mini DisplayPort. It also supports a full-size SD card which can be fully inserted into the laptop without sticking out. As mentioned before, it also sports a headphone and microphone jack.
The HP Omen doesn't support Thunderbolt 3, but all the USB ports support USB 3.1 (1 Type-C, 3 Type-A. There's also a gigabit ethernet jack, HDMI (HDCP 2.2, 4k@60Hz), and Mini DisplayPort. It also supports a full-size SD card which can be fully inserted into the laptop without sticking out. As mentioned before, it also sports a headphone and microphone jack.
CONCLUSION:
The HP Omen is a great laptop. It provides great features while also having room for a few upgrade. However, I do feel that an SSD should be included at this price—even a cheaper SATA-based M.2 or 2.5" drive would be fine. For a performance-oriented machine like this, skimping on the SSD is a poor decision on HP's part—especially at this price-point. I have seen competitor's laptops with the i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD go on sale for cheaper. So in that regard, I do feel the HP Omen isn't providing as good a value, but it is objectively a good laptop—perhaps, just not as good a value when compared to other options around the same price.
The HP Omen is a great laptop. It provides great features while also having room for a few upgrade. However, I do feel that an SSD should be included at this price—even a cheaper SATA-based M.2 or 2.5" drive would be fine. For a performance-oriented machine like this, skimping on the SSD is a poor decision on HP's part—especially at this price-point. I have seen competitor's laptops with the i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD go on sale for cheaper. So in that regard, I do feel the HP Omen isn't providing as good a value, but it is objectively a good laptop—perhaps, just not as good a value when compared to other options around the same price.
vrs99
TN
Support Manual web site?
July 14, 2017
Do you have the link to the HP Support Site that has the Support Manual?
Have been looking and must be in the wrong place - Thanks
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
HP OMEN by HP Laptop: Power through the virtual landscape with this versatile HP Omen 15-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine packs a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card for superior graphics performance. The 1TB hard drive inside this HP Omen 15-inch laptop provides plenty for space for gaming profiles and other multimedia files.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Zoom Zoom Zoom – Game On
By vrs99
from TN
This machine looks like it is going fast sitting on the desktop. The exhaust system vents on the back edges of the laptop brings to mind the tailpipes a supercar might be sporting. When it is cranking through benchmarking the cooling system and exhaust ports are doing a job, pushing volumes of hot air away from the machine.
The HP Omen is the most bang for the buck that I have ever seen in a laptop, this box is loaded with edgy technology. Not going through a list of specs, those are easy enough to find, what is impressive is that all techs are up to date, not last year’s stuff. Too many times have seen corners cut to save a dollar. Not here. Not one USB 2.0 in sight, which is surprising seeing that we just built beast of a desktop a month ago with the latest Z270 Kaby Lake i7 7700K, USB 2.0 ports still in use on an advanced motherboard. Kudos to HP.
Take a close look at the specs, you will find 802.11ac with a solid 866.7 Mbps connection. “Dual Force functionality splits traffic across two data streams, sending gaming traffic over the fastest connection available (typically wired), and all other traffic over WiFi.”
Other ports of interest (not a complete listing check the spec sheet):
1 USB 3.1 Type C
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
What I love is the fact you can purchase a HDD Omen model and then add your M.2 NVMe drive of choice, that is cool. If you are not yet familiar with M.2 NVMe you should take a look. In a word (or more) they are fast, about seven times that of a standard SSD.
What is interesting is that with the HDD the system boots up in 9 seconds, that is fully populated with my programs/anti-virus and all my files. Impressive. Being spoiled by SSD’s I must tip my hat to HP; this machine runs tremendously smooth with the 7200 RPM Hitachi HDD.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated memory) discrete GPU ran through the Unigine Heaven Benchmark smoothly turning good numbers while the cooling system kept the GPU at a respectable 68 degrees. Notable, that with all the heavy iron under the hood the system manages the temp easily.
Ran my favorite game, Civilization VI through its paces today set on the highest graphic settings and it ran like a champ.
Looks, it has the looks, brushed aluminum case with an excellent finish. Nice touches all-around.
Know it is a way cool machine as my kid, the gamer in the house is explaining all the great and subtle reasons why it would be better for him to hang onto the machine. Yeah right!
What I am getting use to is the keyboard offset, a bit to the left to make room for the full size numeric pad, which is a nice touch. Keyboard is fine and well suited for heavy accurate work, or gaming for that matter.
Want a blistering rig in your hands at an excellent price point, one that can kick it at games and can be easily expanded, check out The Omen.
vrs99
TN
Maintenance and Service - Upgrade Manual
July 15, 2017
If you purchase the Omen and wish to upgrade memory or add M.2 SSD you can find the manual here:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05533785
+3points
3of 3voted this comment as helpful.
HP OMEN by HP Laptop: Power through the virtual landscape with this versatile HP Omen 15-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine packs a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card for superior graphics performance. The 1TB hard drive inside this HP Omen 15-inch laptop provides plenty for space for gaming profiles and other multimedia files.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Zoom Zoom Zoom – Game On
By vrs99
from TN
This machine looks like it is going fast sitting on the desktop. The exhaust system vents on the back edges of the laptop brings to mind the tailpipes a supercar might be sporting. When it is cranking through benchmarking the cooling system and exhaust ports are doing a job, pushing volumes of hot air away from the machine.
The HP Omen is the most bang for the buck that I have ever seen in a laptop, this box is loaded with edgy technology. Not going through a list of specs, those are easy enough to find, what is impressive is that all techs are up to date, not last year’s stuff. Too many times have seen corners cut to save a dollar. Not here. Not one USB 2.0 in sight, which is surprising seeing that we just built beast of a desktop a month ago with the latest Z270 Kaby Lake i7 7700K, USB 2.0 ports still in use on an advanced motherboard. Kudos to HP.
Take a close look at the specs, you will find 802.11ac with a solid 866.7 Mbps connection. “Dual Force functionality splits traffic across two data streams, sending gaming traffic over the fastest connection available (typically wired), and all other traffic over WiFi.”
Other ports of interest (not a complete listing check the spec sheet):
1 USB 3.1 Type C
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
What I love is the fact you can purchase a HDD Omen model and then add your M.2 NVMe drive of choice, that is cool. If you are not yet familiar with M.2 NVMe you should take a look. In a word (or more) they are fast, about seven times that of a standard SSD.
What is interesting is that with the HDD the system boots up in 9 seconds, that is fully populated with my programs/anti-virus and all my files. Impressive. Being spoiled by SSD’s I must tip my hat to HP; this machine runs tremendously smooth with the 7200 RPM Hitachi HDD.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated memory) discrete GPU ran through the Unigine Heaven Benchmark smoothly turning good numbers while the cooling system kept the GPU at a respectable 68 degrees. Notable, that with all the heavy iron under the hood the system manages the temp easily.
Ran my favorite game, Civilization VI through its paces today set on the highest graphic settings and it ran like a champ.
Looks, it has the looks, brushed aluminum case with an excellent finish. Nice touches all-around.
Know it is a way cool machine as my kid, the gamer in the house is explaining all the great and subtle reasons why it would be better for him to hang onto the machine. Yeah right!
What I am getting use to is the keyboard offset, a bit to the left to make room for the full size numeric pad, which is a nice touch. Keyboard is fine and well suited for heavy accurate work, or gaming for that matter.
Want a blistering rig in your hands at an excellent price point, one that can kick it at games and can be easily expanded, check out The Omen.
vrs99
TN
Adding M.2 SSD
July 18, 2017
Added a M.2 SSD to the Omen and nuked all the partitions on the HDD and added it back to the system. Day and Night performance. That is one aspect I like about this model is that it does not come with an installed M.2 drive, you can pick your own SSD ads capacity.
Screams with the new M.2 and have an additionally terabyte of storage on the HDD, whcih I use to sync my files to frequently before syncing with the NAS.
Great machine.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
vrs99's Questions
vrs99 has not submitted any questions.
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink for next-level computing. With a PCIe 4.0 NVMe interface, get up to 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0~ while remaining compatible with PCIe 3.0. ~Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs.
When is the release date for these on bestbuy.com?
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink for next-level computing. With a PCIe 4.0 NVMe interface, get up to 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0~ while remaining compatible with PCIe 3.0. ~Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs.
Anyone know if the heatsink is easily removable in case I want to use it in a gaming laptop? I am not sure this will fit my laptop 2nd bay, Asus ROG m16 SSD slot. Thanks!
Look for product Samsung - 980 PRO 1TB PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe Gaming Internal Solid State Drive
Model:MZ-V8P1T0B/AM
SKU:6431939
Has no heatsink
Model:MZ-V8P1T0B/AM
SKU:6431939
Has no heatsink
3 years, 11 months ago
by
vrs99
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink for next-level computing. With a PCIe 4.0 NVMe interface, get up to 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe 3.0~ while remaining compatible with PCIe 3.0. ~Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs.
When is the release date for these on bestbuy.com?
It~s easy to transform your home into a safe haven with SimpliSafe~s award-winning security system. Everything is simple to set up, effortless to use, and designed to do one thing only: keep your home and family safe. Outdoor security cameras let you see everything happening in full HD. So you can spot trouble before it comes knocking and capture the evidence if it does. And if someone tries to break in, the burglary sensors will sound the alarm right away. But that~s not all. Whenever your alarm goes off, we~ll call you and send police, firefighters, or ambulances to your door in a snap ~ and stay on the line with you until they arrive. So no matter where you are or what you~re doing, your home is protected 24/7.
Are the outside cameras motion sensor and shine a light in dark areas?
It~s easy to transform your home into a safe haven with SimpliSafe~s award-winning security system. Everything is simple to set up, effortless to use, and designed to do one thing only: keep your home and family safe. Outdoor security cameras let you see everything happening in full HD. So you can spot trouble before it comes knocking and capture the evidence if it does. And if someone tries to break in, the burglary sensors will sound the alarm right away. But that~s not all. Whenever your alarm goes off, we~ll call you and send police, firefighters, or ambulances to your door in a snap ~ and stay on the line with you until they arrive. So no matter where you are or what you~re doing, your home is protected 24/7.
How do the cameras attach to the house?
It comes with mounting plate that uses two screws to mount and a magnet which the camera attaches to. Believe they may have another mount that will screw into back of camera housing, that would be more secure.
4 years, 1 month ago
by
vrs99
It~s easy to transform your home into a safe haven with SimpliSafe~s award-winning security system. Everything is simple to set up, effortless to use, and designed to do one thing only: keep your home and family safe. Outdoor security cameras let you see everything happening in full HD. So you can spot trouble before it comes knocking and capture the evidence if it does. And if someone tries to break in, the burglary sensors will sound the alarm right away. But that~s not all. Whenever your alarm goes off, we~ll call you and send police, firefighters, or ambulances to your door in a snap ~ and stay on the line with you until they arrive. So no matter where you are or what you~re doing, your home is protected 24/7.
Do you have tonoay for monthly monitoring
No, you can monitor your own system.
They have two monitoring plans which I believe are $15 or $25 depending on what works for you.
They have two monitoring plans which I believe are $15 or $25 depending on what works for you.
4 years, 1 month ago
by
vrs99
Connecting virtually with friends and co-workers gets a major upgrade with the monitor~s built-in camera, noise-cancelling microphones and dual 5W speakers. You~ll enjoy amazing video clarity and crystal-clear sound. Versatile USB-C connectivity delivers video, audio and data, and charges your laptop. Plus, with just one cord, you'll have a clutter-free desk space. A super clear 5MP IR pop-up camera features facial recognition through Windows Hello for convenient, instant sign-on to Windows. The best part? The camera stays hidden until you're ready for video chatting or selfies. A height-adjustable stand and a monitor that tilts, swivels and pivots so you look your best and feel your best for all-day conferencing.
Does this computer have a webcam and a USB - C port?
Smart security that is designed for every home. Set up in minutes, and receive notifications from the app whenever a visitor presses your Video Doorbell or motion is detected. You can also choose to wire it to sound your existing home chime. Blink Video Doorbell lets you answer your door no matter where you are. Receive customizable alerts right from the Blink Home Monitor app, and experience helpful features like HD day and night video and two-way audio. Best part ~ Blink~s long-battery life technology provides peace of mind for up to two years.
Does it come with mounting bracket
Smart security that is designed for every home. Set up in minutes, and receive notifications from the app whenever a visitor presses your Video Doorbell or motion is detected. You can also choose to wire it to sound your existing home chime. Blink Video Doorbell lets you answer your door no matter where you are. Receive customizable alerts right from the Blink Home Monitor app, and experience helpful features like HD day and night video and two-way audio. Best part ~ Blink~s long-battery life technology provides peace of mind for up to two years.
Can you record live videos with the module also ?
Harness your PC's potential with the 980. Whether you need a boost for gaming or a seamless workflow for heavy graphics, the 980 is a smart choice for outstanding SSD performance ~ and it's all backed by an NVMe* interface and PCIe 3.0 technology.