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OldNAchy
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- Review count24
- Helpfulness votes371
- First reviewFebruary 12, 2010
- Last reviewDecember 4, 2016
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.4
- Review comment count25
- Helpfulness votes41
- First review commentOctober 28, 2012
- Last review commentFebruary 2, 2017
- Featured review comments0
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- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count13
- Helpfulness votes10
- First answerJanuary 24, 2010
- Last answerFebruary 2, 2017
- Featured answers0
- Best answers3
MSI Laptop: Load up your favorite games on this MSI Dominator gaming laptop, and play assured with the reliable performance of Intel Core i-7 processors. This game-centric computer features 16GB DDR4 and 128GB SSD for supporting even multi-layered game titles. Nvidia GeForce graphics on this MSI Dominator gaming laptop deliver real-life action each time you play.
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I purchased this laptop to replace an older MSI 17.3 laptop. I use this laptop for normal processing as well as video capture and editing and the occasional gaming. With my experience with MSI products I knew what I was getting and there were no real surprises. There are good and not so good things about this model:
The good:
o With Windows loaded on the 256gb pcie SSD, startup is very fast.
o After some fixing, the video is very nice.
o The laptop runs fairly cool. With heavy processing the CPU and GPU fans kick in to keep temperatures reasonable.
o The wireless adapter connects flawlessly to my home network and stays connected all day, even when the laptop is idle for lengthy periods of time (one change to driver properties that I will describe below.)
o MSI provides a number of applications that allow for control/adjustment of video, audio, devices, diagnostics, tuning, etc. I do not consider these bloat ware but nice to haves to adjust and control the laptop.
o The NVIDIA 1060 GPU is truly dedicated in this laptop. The Intel 6700HQ processor has an integrated graphics chip which has been disabled in this laptop model. This is a good thing. If not disabled, then Windows determines which GPU to use and that can lead to confusion on the part of the user and issues on the part of the laptop.
The Not So Good:
o The laptop is heavy almost 10 lbs., but I knew this.
o The dark color lends itself to visible fingerprints, but I knew this.
o The MSI supplied applications HAVE to be updated (more on this below) and not via the supplied DVD, but online. The webcam for example defaults to off and will not show up on the Device Manage list. The System Control Manager (SCM) application is required to turn it on, but will not work unless updated after Windows 10 Anniversary (1607) is installed, but I knew this.
o After updating to the latest NVIDIA driver, a “dithering” effect is apparent in the screen display and a work around is required to eliminate it. Didn’t know about this one but the work around works, no pun intended. This will be described below.
What I don’t know is how good the battery is. I use it exclusively plugged in.
Now for the required updates:
1. Plug in the power adapter when you first power up the laptop. This will help charge the battery to 100%. The initial set up will take quite a while so the battery will definitely be charged when you are done.
2. When windows boots up there will be 2 popup windows, one to register the laptop and one to create a burn recovery disk. Leave these alone until after step 3 is performed.
3. After the initial setup and Windows boots up, go into Control Panel Power Options and set up how you want power to be handled. I recommend selecting never for shutdown and sleep when the laptop is plugged in as well as 100% brightness. Go to display and setup a screen saver. There will be “idle” times during this setup and update process. Also, if you use the laptop plugged in most or all of the time like me, this is invaluable.
4. Register the laptop – and create an MSI account if you don’t already have one. This will extend the warranty by 3 months. You will need a .pnf (pic) file of your receipt. This particular process can be a real pain so be patient. If you don’t feel like doing this right away, then select later and close window.
5. Create the Burn Recovery Disk. Highly recommended!!! A 16gb USB 3.0 removable disk is the best medium in my opinion. This recovery medium is the only way to get back to factory default.
6. Go into settings/Update and Recovery and execute all updates. Once of these should be the 1607 features update which is Windows Anniversary. Be patient, this will take a while. If any of the updates (prior to Anniversary) hangs (percentage not increasing over a good period of time) then that update will have to be implemented directly thru the Windows catalogue. Search on the “KB” reference and you should be able to find it.
7. After all updates, including Windows Anniversary complete then it is time to do the MSI updates. Go to MSI.com, select products, then GT Series under Gaming Laptops, then GeForce GTX 1060 under GPU SKU, then GT72VR Dominator, then Support (scroll down) and the Download tab will appear. I recommend downloading all the following and unzipping all the following before proceeding with the updates which will be listed in order. Note Winzip (or 7zip?) is required since all these packages are zipped. You can use the evaluation version of Winzip for this but will need to purchase it for future updates or other zipped downloads. The update order is listed in sequence below:
The good:
o With Windows loaded on the 256gb pcie SSD, startup is very fast.
o After some fixing, the video is very nice.
o The laptop runs fairly cool. With heavy processing the CPU and GPU fans kick in to keep temperatures reasonable.
o The wireless adapter connects flawlessly to my home network and stays connected all day, even when the laptop is idle for lengthy periods of time (one change to driver properties that I will describe below.)
o MSI provides a number of applications that allow for control/adjustment of video, audio, devices, diagnostics, tuning, etc. I do not consider these bloat ware but nice to haves to adjust and control the laptop.
o The NVIDIA 1060 GPU is truly dedicated in this laptop. The Intel 6700HQ processor has an integrated graphics chip which has been disabled in this laptop model. This is a good thing. If not disabled, then Windows determines which GPU to use and that can lead to confusion on the part of the user and issues on the part of the laptop.
The Not So Good:
o The laptop is heavy almost 10 lbs., but I knew this.
o The dark color lends itself to visible fingerprints, but I knew this.
o The MSI supplied applications HAVE to be updated (more on this below) and not via the supplied DVD, but online. The webcam for example defaults to off and will not show up on the Device Manage list. The System Control Manager (SCM) application is required to turn it on, but will not work unless updated after Windows 10 Anniversary (1607) is installed, but I knew this.
o After updating to the latest NVIDIA driver, a “dithering” effect is apparent in the screen display and a work around is required to eliminate it. Didn’t know about this one but the work around works, no pun intended. This will be described below.
What I don’t know is how good the battery is. I use it exclusively plugged in.
Now for the required updates:
1. Plug in the power adapter when you first power up the laptop. This will help charge the battery to 100%. The initial set up will take quite a while so the battery will definitely be charged when you are done.
2. When windows boots up there will be 2 popup windows, one to register the laptop and one to create a burn recovery disk. Leave these alone until after step 3 is performed.
3. After the initial setup and Windows boots up, go into Control Panel Power Options and set up how you want power to be handled. I recommend selecting never for shutdown and sleep when the laptop is plugged in as well as 100% brightness. Go to display and setup a screen saver. There will be “idle” times during this setup and update process. Also, if you use the laptop plugged in most or all of the time like me, this is invaluable.
4. Register the laptop – and create an MSI account if you don’t already have one. This will extend the warranty by 3 months. You will need a .pnf (pic) file of your receipt. This particular process can be a real pain so be patient. If you don’t feel like doing this right away, then select later and close window.
5. Create the Burn Recovery Disk. Highly recommended!!! A 16gb USB 3.0 removable disk is the best medium in my opinion. This recovery medium is the only way to get back to factory default.
6. Go into settings/Update and Recovery and execute all updates. Once of these should be the 1607 features update which is Windows Anniversary. Be patient, this will take a while. If any of the updates (prior to Anniversary) hangs (percentage not increasing over a good period of time) then that update will have to be implemented directly thru the Windows catalogue. Search on the “KB” reference and you should be able to find it.
7. After all updates, including Windows Anniversary complete then it is time to do the MSI updates. Go to MSI.com, select products, then GT Series under Gaming Laptops, then GeForce GTX 1060 under GPU SKU, then GT72VR Dominator, then Support (scroll down) and the Download tab will appear. I recommend downloading all the following and unzipping all the following before proceeding with the updates which will be listed in order. Note Winzip (or 7zip?) is required since all these packages are zipped. You can use the evaluation version of Winzip for this but will need to purchase it for future updates or other zipped downloads. The update order is listed in sequence below:
1. Bios. The installed Bios is not the latest. Follow instructions carefully for flashing the new BIOS.
2. This and the next few updates are under the Driver Tab. VGA (NVIDIA 375.03 driver package).
3. Audio driver:6.0.1.7960/Nahimic:2.3.10. Note: install the audio driver first then Nahimics
4. Card Reader.
5. Wireless LAN.
6. Touchpad. This one is interesting. Before doing this, go to Synaptics.com, search on touchpad driver support, select Touchpad Family, scroll down until you see TOUCHPAD DRIVER SUPPORT and click on explore. Select the first in the list – Windows 10 PS/2 & SMBUS Devices v19.0.19.1, download, unzip, and install. Then download Touchpad. This is required if you ever want to use a USB wireless mouse (like I do). The earlier version allows you to turn off the touchpad when a usb mouse is detected and the later version from MSI brings you up to date. However, if you download and install the MSI package without the former, you may not be able to turn off the touchpad.
7. Bluetooth.
8. USB 3.1.
9. Next to download are in the Utility tab. MSI Dragon Center.
10. MSI True Color.
11. Steel Series Engine 3.
12. Help Desk (optional).
13. System Control Manager (SCM).
The updates are for the bios, drivers, and utilities that were developed after the laptop was introduced to market and some are required to work with Windows Anniversary.
Now for the “little” issues:
1. There may be an issue between the wireless adapter and power management in Windows Anniversary that will result in the internet connection being lost and the adapter hanging. Shutting down and restarting will often correct the connection problem but sometimes a forced shutdown is necessary and this can happen occasionally during a large/long download. The work around is to select the wireless adapter in Device Manager, select Driver, select Power Management, then unchecking the box that allows the computer to turn off the adapter to save power. Not saying that the problem occurs with this model, but it does with other MSI laptops and it is always better to be safe than sorry.
2. The “dithering” video effect that happens with the latest NVIDIA driver can be overcome by doing the following as described by Aaron P. in his Amazon comment:
2. This and the next few updates are under the Driver Tab. VGA (NVIDIA 375.03 driver package).
3. Audio driver:6.0.1.7960/Nahimic:2.3.10. Note: install the audio driver first then Nahimics
4. Card Reader.
5. Wireless LAN.
6. Touchpad. This one is interesting. Before doing this, go to Synaptics.com, search on touchpad driver support, select Touchpad Family, scroll down until you see TOUCHPAD DRIVER SUPPORT and click on explore. Select the first in the list – Windows 10 PS/2 & SMBUS Devices v19.0.19.1, download, unzip, and install. Then download Touchpad. This is required if you ever want to use a USB wireless mouse (like I do). The earlier version allows you to turn off the touchpad when a usb mouse is detected and the later version from MSI brings you up to date. However, if you download and install the MSI package without the former, you may not be able to turn off the touchpad.
7. Bluetooth.
8. USB 3.1.
9. Next to download are in the Utility tab. MSI Dragon Center.
10. MSI True Color.
11. Steel Series Engine 3.
12. Help Desk (optional).
13. System Control Manager (SCM).
The updates are for the bios, drivers, and utilities that were developed after the laptop was introduced to market and some are required to work with Windows Anniversary.
Now for the “little” issues:
1. There may be an issue between the wireless adapter and power management in Windows Anniversary that will result in the internet connection being lost and the adapter hanging. Shutting down and restarting will often correct the connection problem but sometimes a forced shutdown is necessary and this can happen occasionally during a large/long download. The work around is to select the wireless adapter in Device Manager, select Driver, select Power Management, then unchecking the box that allows the computer to turn off the adapter to save power. Not saying that the problem occurs with this model, but it does with other MSI laptops and it is always better to be safe than sorry.
2. The “dithering” video effect that happens with the latest NVIDIA driver can be overcome by doing the following as described by Aaron P. in his Amazon comment:
“The screens do not recognize 8bit output color depth, 6 is the correct setting but the NVIDIA control panel by default sets it to 8 with no other option, and 75 MHz after the latest firmware upgrade. HERE IS THE FIX. The monitors actually function at a max of 100 mhz. In the NVIDIA control panel create a custom resolution, unblocking other resolution settings. Leave as 1920 X 1080 but change MHz to 100, hit test and it will come back successful and save the setting. it will automatically set itself to 6 BPC. The weird thing is if you now change it back to the original 75 MHz it now has 6 BPC as an option. Leave it on 100 MHz though as it makes all the videos and pictures look almost perfect. “
That is a lot of “stuff” to do and can seem overwhelming but the end result is worth it. Overall this is a really nice laptop and it helped that I got it on sale. I rated it 4 instead of 5 because of the level of work required to get it “right.” It took me about a day to complete all of the above, but as I said before, I knew what I was getting into.
One thing to note here is that most laptops these days regardless of manufacturer require a lot of set up and user support is generally weak (I got the 2-year Geek Squad deal). Regardless, I do recommend this one for anyone needing a heavy, fast processing full HD laptop.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+17points
17of 17voted this as helpful.
Lie back and watch your favorite videos and TV shows with this LG 4K smart LED TV. The 43-inch IPS panel can display 4K videos in vibrant colors, while the smart function integrates an advanced Web OS 3.0 for Internet connectivity. This LG 4K smart LED TV has one USB port and three HDMI ports for peripherals.
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I was looking for a tv this size to replace my failing bedroom tv. I came into the store intending to buy the 43" Sony 4K Smart tv (XBR43X830C), but decided on this one after comparing the pictures side by side in the store and noticing this one had a slightly better looking picture while costing $200 less than the Sony.
I would have rated this a 5 except for the disappointing non-intuitive setup.
The pros:
-- Good price.
-- Picture quality is outstanding -- when I finally figured how to calibrate it (more on that later). I was able to perform set up on this tv very near to my on the wall Samsung 4K Smart TV (UN60HU8550FXZA) and using similar calibration settings was able to duplicate the picture quality of the Samsung. Not bad considering the price difference ($600 vs $2400). The tv is receiving 2160P video input from my home theater receiver which upscales any signal to 4K. So my cable 1080I signal looks much better -- not quite true 4K but close -- definitely better than 1080P. The tv itself upscales to 4K but I did not test this because I really didn't need to.
-- There are a number of useful smart options -- Netflix, Hulu,Youtube, for example. Once I got familiar with navigation the functlons were easy to inititiate.
-- 4K native resolution is stunning. I tested this by selecting a test 4k resolution video on Youtube and was blown away.
-- Good price.
-- Picture quality is outstanding -- when I finally figured how to calibrate it (more on that later). I was able to perform set up on this tv very near to my on the wall Samsung 4K Smart TV (UN60HU8550FXZA) and using similar calibration settings was able to duplicate the picture quality of the Samsung. Not bad considering the price difference ($600 vs $2400). The tv is receiving 2160P video input from my home theater receiver which upscales any signal to 4K. So my cable 1080I signal looks much better -- not quite true 4K but close -- definitely better than 1080P. The tv itself upscales to 4K but I did not test this because I really didn't need to.
-- There are a number of useful smart options -- Netflix, Hulu,Youtube, for example. Once I got familiar with navigation the functlons were easy to inititiate.
-- 4K native resolution is stunning. I tested this by selecting a test 4k resolution video on Youtube and was blown away.
Cons:
-- The initial set up for this tv beyond language, location, and time is pretty bad.
-- For inputs, there is no clear choice for HDMI input. It appears that set up "pushes" one to the antenna input and digital channel set up. If one uses over the air broadcast, this is ok, but for those like me who use cable or satellite, then setting an HDMI (or even component) input is apparently not available in the initial set up. One can get an input list by pushing the "input" button on the remote to bring up a list or to push the Home button and scroll over to the HDMI symbol and select it, but these should not be necessary in initial set up.
-- Getting to picture settings is also not intuitive. Pushing the settings button brings up a vertical set of choices on the right side of the screen which includes Picture, but selecting that only allows for selecting one of the presets -- no way to adjust settings to calibrate to one's own preferences. However, if one selects All Settings at the bottom then selects Picture, individual picture settings become available. Believe me, I was almost ready to box up and return the tv when I found this. Glad I didn't.
-- The user guide -- both paper and online -- is very simplistic and almost useless.
The above is very disappointing for an LG tv. Earlier models of LG Smart tvs had and have a much more intuitive and easy to use set up process as well as a more useful user guide. It is as if the set up process took a major step backwards or even worse that one has to select a more expensive model to get a reasonably usable set up function.
Regardless, one should be able to overcome these shortcomings and setup and enjoy this tv at a very reasonable price and I do recommend it.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+100points
114of 128voted this as helpful.
HP ENVY Desktop: With 16GB memory and Intel HD Graphics 530, this desktop offers vibrant, detailed images and smooth processing for editing photos and videos, watching movies and playing games. Connect up to 2 high-def monitors for an expanded viewing area.
Customer Rating
3
Good Value For The Price, Except...
on November 26, 2015
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I bought this to perform processor and graphics intense video editing in addition to normal internet, word processing, and spreadsheet processing. The desktop has a lot of processing power (I7-6700HQ processor), very good 6th generation integrated graphics, plenty of storage (2TB) with fast I/O (7200 rpm), and 8 usb ports - 4 3.0 and 4 2.0 among other things -- essentially everything I need at a very good price in comparison to others.
Set up was pretty simple (I've done this before). There wasn't a large amount of bloatware and what there was I was able to uninstall or delete. To avoid the never wake up problem, I simply set the power plan to never turn off or sleep, so that is not an issue with me.
Now for the reason why I rated this down to a 3. The wireless keyboard was dead on arrival and the wireless mouse had a lot of lag when moving across the screen. For a high performance laptop like this, to have that happen implies a lack of quality control and testing in at least those two critical parts. I just happen to have a usb back lit keyboard and an extra Logitech wireless mouse -- which works great by the way -- so I was able to do the set up and decided not to box up the desktop and return it for another (also concerned I would wind up with the same problem).
Other than that everything, so far, is fine. Unfortunately BB does not allow editing of reviews, so if I find anything else wrong in the future then I will use the comment section in this review to report it. I take some comfort in the fact that my elite plus membership allows for a 45 day return period.
I marked this as yes I would recommend to a friend, but I would definitely detail the caveats.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+28points
37of 46voted this as helpful.
Store up to 5TB of media on this Seagate Backup Plus STDT5000100 external hard drive, which features Protect, Save and Share features that enable simple integration with social networking sites and provide comprehensive data management.
Customer Rating
2
Very Slow At File History Backup
on October 19, 2015
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I purchased this drive primarily for backing up my desktop data. I decided to use the Windows 10 File History app for this instead of the proprietary software. It took over 10 hours to perform the initial backup of 500 gb. By comparison a 220 gb initial backup on my laptop with my older Toshiba 2TB drive took 2 hours. The laptop processor, memory, and hard drive specs are comparable to the desktop so it was a mystery to me why the desktop back should take more than twice as long as it should to perform the backup and definitely set off alarm bells.
I went back to BB and exchanged the drive for the WD My Book 6TB drive. I reran the initial File History backup in less than 4 hours. The proprietary WD backup took 1 hour so I am definitely glad I made the exchange.
Get the WD drive.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyHP Spectre x360 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Enjoy a computer that's as versatile as you are. This 13.3" touch-screen laptop features a 360° design that converts between tablet, tent and platform modes to suit your many needs. You can even link with other devices using the Bluetooth interface.
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I bought the 13-4102 Spectre 2 in 1 laptop to perform activities like word processing, spreadsheet, web browsing, video streaming etc. I must say that this is a great little laptop except for audio. In particular:
-- The QHD display (quad HD, 2560X1440 or 4 times 720P resolution) renders everything clearly on the 13 inch screen.
-- The AC wireless adapter along with my AC home network and high speed internet allows for clear HD video streaming with no stutter. I was very impressed with this.
-- The 512GB SSD drive will provide ample room for most of my stuff (even with the 65GB that Windows 10 and apps use) and data operations are very fast. Again I was impressed with the speed. I do record gameplay video and will move those files to my desktop to render, provide voice over commentary, and archive, thus keeping the storage requirements down on this laptop.
-- The Intel I7-5500U processor, while dual core, with the 8GB RAM installed, does provide enough processing power to perform most routine and business tasks. It does not have enough processing power though to perform many concurrent operations or heavy processing operations like HD video editing.
-- Again, thanks to the SSD drive, boot up and shut down are very fast.
-- The power adapter connection is very snug which is good. I had found that this connection with other laptops was sometimes loose and moving the laptop even a little while plugged resulted in the jack disengaging and the laptop suddenly was on battery power. Not so this one.
-- The laptop is very light and easy to transport. It even is provided with a padded sleeve which I thought was a nice touch. I haven’t test battery capability since I use this at home and plugged in.
-- The QHD display (quad HD, 2560X1440 or 4 times 720P resolution) renders everything clearly on the 13 inch screen.
-- The AC wireless adapter along with my AC home network and high speed internet allows for clear HD video streaming with no stutter. I was very impressed with this.
-- The 512GB SSD drive will provide ample room for most of my stuff (even with the 65GB that Windows 10 and apps use) and data operations are very fast. Again I was impressed with the speed. I do record gameplay video and will move those files to my desktop to render, provide voice over commentary, and archive, thus keeping the storage requirements down on this laptop.
-- The Intel I7-5500U processor, while dual core, with the 8GB RAM installed, does provide enough processing power to perform most routine and business tasks. It does not have enough processing power though to perform many concurrent operations or heavy processing operations like HD video editing.
-- Again, thanks to the SSD drive, boot up and shut down are very fast.
-- The power adapter connection is very snug which is good. I had found that this connection with other laptops was sometimes loose and moving the laptop even a little while plugged resulted in the jack disengaging and the laptop suddenly was on battery power. Not so this one.
-- The laptop is very light and easy to transport. It even is provided with a padded sleeve which I thought was a nice touch. I haven’t test battery capability since I use this at home and plugged in.
I found the only real issue with this laptop to be the audio. Audio levels are very low and stereo at best. This is not much of an issue for a number of activities but it is terrible when streaming or watching video. I streamed the pilot episode of Longmire on Netflix and the background music was “tinny” sounding and terrible. For a laptop touting higher definition display great for streaming, this is a major let down and the primary reason it is rated at 4 and not 5. I haven’t tried this but headphones may improve the audio. I wonder if anyone has tried that approach.
I haven’t tried the “2 in 1” tablet or backstop functions yet so I cannot comment on them.
Overall I would recommend the 13-4102 to anyone who needs a fast, lightweight, high resolution laptop for business, school, or travel if one can overcome the audio shortcomings. For anyone looking for a gaming machine or one for heavy processing, look elsewhere.
Note that 13-4101 is very similar to this laptop, except for the SSD - 256GB vs. 512GB and the display resolution - full HD, 1920X1080 vs. QHD, 2560X1440 and costs about $260 less. That may be an alternative if one is on a stricter budget.
Note that 13-4101 is very similar to this laptop, except for the SSD - 256GB vs. 512GB and the display resolution - full HD, 1920X1080 vs. QHD, 2560X1440 and costs about $260 less. That may be an alternative if one is on a stricter budget.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
HP ENVY Laptop: With a 17.3" Full HD touch screen, this efficient laptop makes it easy to browse Web sites and swipe through programs. House your growing media collection and documents on the spacious 1TB hard drive, and type in dim lighting using the backlit keyboard.
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I was deeply disappointed in this laptop. I purchased it to replace an older HP laptop with an
Intel I7- 4710HQ processor that I used for video editing, mainly simple voice overs of recorded game play videos. Upgrading to Window 10 on the older laptop was problematic -- a Windows 10 version of my editing software did not work because of audio file problems, hence the purchase of the new one.
Intel I7- 4710HQ processor that I used for video editing, mainly simple voice overs of recorded game play videos. Upgrading to Window 10 on the older laptop was problematic -- a Windows 10 version of my editing software did not work because of audio file problems, hence the purchase of the new one.
Even though the clock speed of the I7-5500IU processor on this model was just .1 ghz less than the 4710HQ processor on the older one and was documented as more than meeting minimum requirements, the video editing software kept failing with the irritating Windows 10 "...stopped working" message. It could be because the 5500IU processor and graphics processor installed are under powered or because of Windows 10 or the video editing software needs more horsepower than documented or a combination of all three, but the bottom line is that heavy processing just does not seem to work on this laptop. As a comparison, I reinstalled Windows 8.1 and the previous (8.1) version of my video editing software on my older laptop, loaded up the video I was trying to edit and everything worked fine!!
The other thing I noticed in the limited time that I used the laptop was that the wireless adapter range was not as good as the one on my older laptop.
This is truly unfortunate because the fit and feel of the laptop and its keyboard is great. The price point is also good for the advertised functionality, but be warned if you want to do heavy processing or heavy gaming, look elsewhere and spend the extra $. If HP comes out with a model that has more horsepower -- like an I7-5700HQ processor -- then I will take another look, but for now I have returned this laptop and will be using my older laptop with 8.1 reinstalled for some time.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+9points
23of 37voted this as helpful.
Lenovo Y70 - 80DU004HUS Laptop: This laptop is equipped with a large HD display and NVIDIA graphics to enhance your gaming experience. The 10-point multitouch technology allows you to navigate with ease.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Customer Rating
4
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
on November 27, 2014
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I purchased this laptop because I needed more horsepower and graphics capability to do video editing in addition to the normal web surfing and microsoft office stuff.
The Good:
-- This definitely has the horsepower and the 8gb ssd provides for fast start up. Downloads, windows updates, and app installs seemed to run fast as well.
-- Definitely full HD screen.
-- The black keyboard with white letters and red backlight make it fairly easy to see the keys even in low light. The keyboard feel is very nice.
-- Lenovo actually provided some useful tools along with the typical bloatware, e.g. its Settings and Update applications.
The Bad:
-- The battery is not modular, even though the product description lists it as a separate item. This means that if/when it fails, the laptop will have to be serviced vs. just buying a new battery. Not a customer oriented decision there.
-- Similarly, the power adapter has a proprietary "tip", not a universal single pin. Replacement will have to be thru Lenovo.
-- It's One Key recovery copies the entire hard drive vs. just creating a bootable recovery partition. If I had known this beforehand I would have created the backup before moving all my files and videos over to the laptop.
-- One can turn disable (and enable) the touchpad with a function key (F6), but has to do this every time the laptop boots up. For someone like me that uses a USB mouse, this can be a pain.
The Ugly:
-- After I purchased and installed Malaware Bytes Premium (I highly recommend) I did a malware scan and a PUP (potentially unwanted program) was uncovered. It was a module within Lenovo's Browser Detector called cltmngsvc -- or Client Management Service. I suspect it would probably gather and send information to Lenovo. This PUP has been quarantined and the Browser Detector app has been disabled. Really Lenovo?
-- Lenovo provided a RealTek application called RTFTracker and specified it as a start up application. This caused my desktop to go bonkers then shut down requiring me to sign back on several times before things stabilized. Once I disabled it from Start Up via Task Manager, everything was fine.
Neither Here nor There:
-- The dark cover of the laptop highlights finger prints and hand smudges. Not a big deal for me, but I have actually seen reviews where that fact really irritated some people.
The Good:
-- This definitely has the horsepower and the 8gb ssd provides for fast start up. Downloads, windows updates, and app installs seemed to run fast as well.
-- Definitely full HD screen.
-- The black keyboard with white letters and red backlight make it fairly easy to see the keys even in low light. The keyboard feel is very nice.
-- Lenovo actually provided some useful tools along with the typical bloatware, e.g. its Settings and Update applications.
The Bad:
-- The battery is not modular, even though the product description lists it as a separate item. This means that if/when it fails, the laptop will have to be serviced vs. just buying a new battery. Not a customer oriented decision there.
-- Similarly, the power adapter has a proprietary "tip", not a universal single pin. Replacement will have to be thru Lenovo.
-- It's One Key recovery copies the entire hard drive vs. just creating a bootable recovery partition. If I had known this beforehand I would have created the backup before moving all my files and videos over to the laptop.
-- One can turn disable (and enable) the touchpad with a function key (F6), but has to do this every time the laptop boots up. For someone like me that uses a USB mouse, this can be a pain.
The Ugly:
-- After I purchased and installed Malaware Bytes Premium (I highly recommend) I did a malware scan and a PUP (potentially unwanted program) was uncovered. It was a module within Lenovo's Browser Detector called cltmngsvc -- or Client Management Service. I suspect it would probably gather and send information to Lenovo. This PUP has been quarantined and the Browser Detector app has been disabled. Really Lenovo?
-- Lenovo provided a RealTek application called RTFTracker and specified it as a start up application. This caused my desktop to go bonkers then shut down requiring me to sign back on several times before things stabilized. Once I disabled it from Start Up via Task Manager, everything was fine.
Neither Here nor There:
-- The dark cover of the laptop highlights finger prints and hand smudges. Not a big deal for me, but I have actually seen reviews where that fact really irritated some people.
Bottom Line:
I still recommend this for anyone who needs a lot of processing and graphics power. Other than the negative items listed above, which are correctable -- at least the software -- this laptop is more than meeting my requirements.
I still recommend this for anyone who needs a lot of processing and graphics power. Other than the negative items listed above, which are correctable -- at least the software -- this laptop is more than meeting my requirements.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+63points
65of 67voted this as helpful.
Samsung 28" S271HL U28E590D 4K UHD Monitor: See all of your photo's details during editing. Video game levels look amazing. The large screen allows you to have multiple windows open at once to get more work done.
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
Pros:
Great resolution. I am using the displayport connection with a 760 GTX video card and am getting max resolution. I haven't tried gaming, split screens, or gaming yet, so no opinion on those functions. With the large screen size I am able to increase icon and text size. With the 4K resolution the monitor is easy on the eyes, even up close.
Great resolution. I am using the displayport connection with a 760 GTX video card and am getting max resolution. I haven't tried gaming, split screens, or gaming yet, so no opinion on those functions. With the large screen size I am able to increase icon and text size. With the 4K resolution the monitor is easy on the eyes, even up close.
Cons:
This is NOT a plug and play monitor. Before connecting you must first load the appropriate driver for the connection you want -- displayport or HDMI. You cannot load both drivers. Obviously that means another monitor must be used. If you are purchasing this with a new desktop at BB, insist that the Geek Squad do this for you as part of the purchase. Note that the quick install guide does not mention this -- or much else. A major negative for me!
This is NOT a plug and play monitor. Before connecting you must first load the appropriate driver for the connection you want -- displayport or HDMI. You cannot load both drivers. Obviously that means another monitor must be used. If you are purchasing this with a new desktop at BB, insist that the Geek Squad do this for you as part of the purchase. Note that the quick install guide does not mention this -- or much else. A major negative for me!
The stand has no height adjustment. -- capabilities that should be included in a monitor costing this much and this large. For one that has no vertical or horizontal space issues this is not much of an problem, but for one who needs to increase or decrease height, this is a major shortcoming. I actually removed the stand and propped the monitor up against vertical supports on my computer desk. As an example of bad engineering and/or instruction the remove stand instructions, straight from the user guide are: "While holding the stand neck with one hand, pound the other fisted hand down on the stand base in the direction of the arrow." There is supposedly a tilt capability but it did appear to work for me.
Monitor controls are via a thumb wheel found on the rear lower right of the monitor. Bad engineering there. One needs to make more room to be able to get to and use the control. There is an app that allows one to set up the resolution and split the screen and such, but to simply power on and power off the monitor, one has to use the thumb wheel.
The monitor has no VESA mount capability so it cannot be wall mounted or mounted on a universal monitor stand.
Conclusions:
Set up and placement functionality of this monitor is not well thought out and lacking in capabilities at best. The lack of clear instructions make set up problematic. Since wall placement is impossible, one needs a "wide open" area in which to use the monitor.
Given these restraints, even with the great resolution, this monitor is priced way too high for its capabilities. I may change my mind, but I am seriously considering returning this and getting a well reviewed 1080P monitor with better overall functionality and at half the price.
My Best Buy number: 0750032337
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+10points
29of 48voted this as helpful.
Low-loss coaxial and phone connection protection and a 2160-joule rating help this Monster Monster Power AV 725 121800-00 surge protector safeguard a variety of electronic components from power spikes. The mountable design enables discreet installation.
Customer Rating
1
Stay Away
on May 1, 2014
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
Bought this to provide surge protection for my home theater system. I have had this for less than a year. The first time there was a major power surge I lost my TV and home theater receiver. Thank goodness they are still under warranty. I have now become a fan of additional protection plans.
If you want to protect your equipment spend the extra $ and get a good power conditioner.
What's great about it: Multiple Outlets
What's not so great: Does Not Protect!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Panamax - 8-Outlet Power Conditioner/Surge Protector - Gray
(255)Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
This Sony STRDN1040 7.2-channel 4K Ultra HD A/V home theater receiver features 1155 watts of power for bold, powerful audio. Built-in Bluetooth makes it easy to stream music wirelessly from a compatible device.
Posted by: OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
My Home Theater setup has two TVs, one large on the wall for viewing and one small one on a stand close to me for gaming. I looked for a receiver with two HDMI outputs to handle this setup as well as 4K pass thru and upscaling (in addition to 1080P upscaling) for future use. I had been using an HDMI splitter but this occasionally caused problems, especially if I was recording game play. My research came up with 3 options, the Denon AVRX3000, the Onkyo TXNR727, and this Sony STRDN1040. The first two currently cost $800 and the Sony $525. I chose the Sony because specs appeared same or very similar to the other two and obviously cost less. Big mistake.
Connections were pretty simple.
Auto calibration was straight-forward and resulting audio was very good.
However:
-- Owners manual was pretty useless; my experience with home theater made setup easy for me.
-- HDMI output was in one zone. Either A or B or both or none. After setup, if TV B was off (or A) and A + B selected, then no output to TV that was on.
-- There was no 1080P uspcaling. Output from cable box passed thru in 1080i format and I actually noticed this before I checked the resolution. This alone made me wonder if I had made the correct choice.
-- Less than 24 hours after purchase and setup (next morning) I was getting no HDMI output at all from cable box input, regardless of how output was configured, A/B/A+B. Interestingly enough I was getting output from my XBOX.
Connections were pretty simple.
Auto calibration was straight-forward and resulting audio was very good.
However:
-- Owners manual was pretty useless; my experience with home theater made setup easy for me.
-- HDMI output was in one zone. Either A or B or both or none. After setup, if TV B was off (or A) and A + B selected, then no output to TV that was on.
-- There was no 1080P uspcaling. Output from cable box passed thru in 1080i format and I actually noticed this before I checked the resolution. This alone made me wonder if I had made the correct choice.
-- Less than 24 hours after purchase and setup (next morning) I was getting no HDMI output at all from cable box input, regardless of how output was configured, A/B/A+B. Interestingly enough I was getting output from my XBOX.
I changed cables then rebooted the cable box to no avail. Final test was to connect cable box directly to one of my TVs. Result was good video and audio.
My conclusion then was that receiver could not pass thru less than 1080P video. Defect? Maybe, but regardless this receiver went back to BB for a refund. I then stepped up to the Denon AVRX3000 in Magnolia and was glad that I did. I will eventually review that receiver after I break it in since I cannot edit BB reviews.
Bottom line is I do not recommend this model. If you want the functionality, especially 1080P upscaling, and multiple HDMI outputs specified or implied by these 3 models, then get the AVRX3000 or the TXNR727.
The only reason I rated this with 2's instead of 1's is the biggest problem was probably a defect which is unusual (?) with Sony products.
My conclusion then was that receiver could not pass thru less than 1080P video. Defect? Maybe, but regardless this receiver went back to BB for a refund. I then stepped up to the Denon AVRX3000 in Magnolia and was glad that I did. I will eventually review that receiver after I break it in since I cannot edit BB reviews.
Bottom line is I do not recommend this model. If you want the functionality, especially 1080P upscaling, and multiple HDMI outputs specified or implied by these 3 models, then get the AVRX3000 or the TXNR727.
The only reason I rated this with 2's instead of 1's is the biggest problem was probably a defect which is unusual (?) with Sony products.
My Best Buy number: 750032337
What's great about it: Specs Showed Promise
What's not so great: Video Pass Thru Stopped Working After One Day
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Denon - IN-Command 1505W 7.2-Ch. Network-Ready 4K Ultra HD and 3D Pass-Through A/V Home Theater Receiver
(30)
Onkyo - 770W 7.2-Ch. Network-Ready 4K Ultra HD and 3D Pass-Through A/V Home Theater Receiver - Black
Sound Quality
4
Ease of Use
2
Features
2
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+7points
8of 9voted this as helpful.
Enhance your home theater system with this Pioneer SP-C22 center-channel speaker that features dual 4" polypropylene woofers and a 1" soft dome tweeter to deliver a wide range of sounds. The curved cabinet design minimizes vibration.
Overall
5 out of 5
5 out of 5Good center spkr to compliment my 5.1 surround
By aas88keyz
from Mesa, AZ
Good size speaker with good strong and clear sound. Fits nicely on the shelf under my flat screen. I prefer quality and balance when it comes to sound. Though I like visual effects in movies what makes it for me is how the sound in the movies brings it together. I like the sound effects from movies but I always find myself turning the volume up during quiet dialogue and then all the sudden I am blown out of my chair with all the dynamics of music and explosions and try frantically to turn the volume back down so I don't disturb the neighbors. I got this center speaker to give me more of a balance between all the sound elements hoping that it would bring in more of the dialogue. I haven't found that balance yet but keep trying. I am sure it is not the speakers fault but it was the reason I bought it in the first place. Again, by itself it can be a very loud and crystal clear but hasn't found it's place in my own home theater system.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Boost center output?
October 28, 2012
To get better dialogue did you boost your center speaker output? The idea there is that by boosting the center channel you can lower overall volume. I used automatic calibration on my home theatre receiver, but found I had to boost the center channel manually to get good dialogue. I am using a different speaker, but concept is the same.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
This Pioneer VSX-1123-K receiver offers Internet connectivity for access to your favorite tunes. Includes HDMI 4K Ultra HD and 3D pass-through technologies for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles and 4K Ultra HD TVs. Enjoy your favorite tunes with this Pioneer VSX-1123-K receiver that offers Internet connectivity for access to Pandora Internet radio and more. Includes HDMI 3D pass-through technology for compatibility with 3D TVs, Blu-ray players and gaming consoles.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Setup impossible with supplied parts...
By bobdota01
from Columbus, OH
Setup is impossible with supplied parts.
You need some type of USB to USB cable to connect the receiver to your computer to download LAN information. And, oh yeah, this receiver is not wifi capable unless you buy the $150 adapter that Best Buy doesn't even sell. So, after tearing up your room, running all these cables, you can't even enjoy your new purchase. Oh yeah, one more thing...if your T.V. is not compatible with the new HDMI format, you will also need to purchase a Digital Optical audio cable if you would like to be able to use the receiver to listen to your t.v....which seems like something you would obviously want to do. I'm very disappointed that Pioneer just left me hanging with all these things.
You need some type of USB to USB cable to connect the receiver to your computer to download LAN information. And, oh yeah, this receiver is not wifi capable unless you buy the $150 adapter that Best Buy doesn't even sell. So, after tearing up your room, running all these cables, you can't even enjoy your new purchase. Oh yeah, one more thing...if your T.V. is not compatible with the new HDMI format, you will also need to purchase a Digital Optical audio cable if you would like to be able to use the receiver to listen to your t.v....which seems like something you would obviously want to do. I'm very disappointed that Pioneer just left me hanging with all these things.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Ethernet and a bridge works
September 1, 2013
I agree that not providing built in wireless at this price point is a "shame" but there is a work around that does not require locating the receiver near your computer if you have a home network set up. You can purchase a wireless ethernet bridge (ex. WES610N); pair that device with your router; and connect your receiver to the bridge with an ethernet cable (comes with the bridge). Total additional cost around $80.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
This Sony STRDN1040 7.2-channel 4K Ultra HD A/V home theater receiver features 1155 watts of power for bold, powerful audio. Built-in Bluetooth makes it easy to stream music wirelessly from a compatible device.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Beware, Do Not Update Software!
By tonykarm
from Hammond, La.
I purchased this receiver taking into consideration many different factors. First of all, it appeared to have an arsenal of features that seemed best suited for my A/V layout. The next factor was that it had pretty good reviews from other buyers. Now I must say, straight out of the box I was impressed. The setup was a breeze and the unit functioned flawlessly. My intention was to utilized all the features including the built in Bluetooth and wireless network connectivity. I verified that every input that I was using worked properly and that the speaker profile sounded great in my living room. Shortly thereafter, I linked my Bluetooth devices to the unit and tested that as well. Everything was going good until I connected to my wireless network. Shortly after making the connection, a message appeared on the display informing me that there was a software update available for this model. This is typical for devices hooked up to a network and I have never had an issue before. I initiated the update and waited nearly an hour for it to download and install. According to the manual, this process could take up to 2 hours total. There was also a description of how the receiver would react during the update process, the word "completed" would be present on the small receiver display. The download and install appeared to go flawlessly. Immediately following the successful update, I settled into my spot to really test out the sound quality with a variety of formats. I noticed that something was wrong right away. There was no video display on my TV from any of the 7 hdmi input I was using on the receiver. I tried all the typical electronic reset tactics that we all know about, then I decided to call Sony Product Support. It was a struggle to get a live person on the phone, but I finally accomplished that. I jumped through all the hoops recommended by the product representative. In the end, the representative pleaded with me to NOT return the item to BestBuy. He stated that I would be notified within 48 hour to determine the best course of action. I told him that the best and the most hassle free course of action for me was to package it back up and return it, problem solved. I exchanged it for the Pioneer VSX - 1123k, which I am completely satisfied with. As I mentioned above, the Sony Unit sounded excellent prior to the update, but there has to be some sort of assurance from Sony that all the updates released in the future will not damper the functionality of the receiver.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Explains a Lot
September 1, 2013
Your review gave me an "AHA" moment. I also did the software update and noticed some minor immediate video problems -- I was using both video outputs and also noticed that there was no 1080P upscaling. Powered down and next morning when I powered up, no video thru put at all for any resolution less than 1080P. At the time I did not make the connection to the software update. I didn't even bother with customer service and immediately boxed it up and returned the unit. I did look at the VSX-1123-K, but decided to upgrade to the Denon AVRX3000 for a couple of hundred more because it does upscale to 1080P as well as 4K and has a few more goodies, but the VSX-1123-K is a good choice.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation Add a new dimension to your music, games and movies with this subwoofer that features an 8" injection-molded woofer cone with Ribbed Elliptical surround for powerful sound with low distortion.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Good basic sub
By Vacant654152
from Buffalo, NY
I love the sub in my home theater system. I wish it turned on when I am listening to music though. I'm not sure if that is a function of my speaker or the receiver (I have a pioneer elite receiver).
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Music may not have a sub signal
October 20, 2013
I don't know what source you are using for music -- FM radio, CD player, etc? but it is possible the source signal is simple stereo. In that case you need some sort of Dolby processing to generate a 2.1 minimum signal to drive the subwoofer. Your receiver should have a decoding option for each of the input sources. I would check into that.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Learn moreabout Magnolia PremiumInstallation This Sony XBR55X850A HDTV features 4K Ultra HD resolution for stunning realism. To build a complete 3D home theater system, we recommend you purchase a 3D Blu-ray player, high-speed HDMI cable and an A/V receiver that is compatible with 3D products.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Great TV. I think I was expecting more.
By KidZinke
from Salt Lake City, UT
I'm wondering if we didn't hook up the TV properly as I think I was expecting more. The picture is great but I feel like the in store tv picture was better. I love the options and extra features this tv comes with but i don't notice too much of a difference from our older TV which was a third of the price.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Tvs Are Set Up to Look Great in Store
April 12, 2014
Most store floor model tvs are calibrated to look great in the bright lights of the store. Those settings, which are generally the initial factory settings will not look all that great in a typical home viewing area. You didn't mention trying to adjust the picture settings to your home environment. I would start with the various preset settings (I assume Sony has those), pick one that is the closest to your preferred picture and make slight tweaks to those settings to get it just right. I have the LG 55LA9650 and believe me, recalibrating mine made all the difference in the world!! Still a problem? then some internet research on calibration may help. I found calibration settings for another, similar model at: http://www.tweaktv.com/tweak-my-tv/calibration-guide/sony-xbr55hx929-2.html. Hope this helps.
-1point
2of 5voted this comment as helpful.
LG 65LA9650 4K Ultra HD TV: Bring movie night home. This expansive screen delivers Ultra HD entertainment with 4x the resolution of Full HD. Plus, theater-like 3D and a wide array of Web features make it a versatile entertainment hub.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Not worth it just yet.
By Nobe
I seen the 4K picture in store and it looked awesome. But when I got the TV home and seen the screen in regular 1080 resolution I regretted it immediately. My friend bought the Samsung 65" 1080P 240hz the same day for $2500 cheaper and his picture and features are a lot better in my mind. I actually think my TV I replaced with this (samsung 58" plasma) had a better picture also. Disappointed!
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Calibrate It!!
April 18, 2014
As already noted initial settings for TVs are for store display so of course they look great in the store. When you set up a TV for home viewing picture settings must be reset for home use and the settings will vary depending on your viewing distance, how bright the viewing area is, etc. This TV should have its own calibration wizard - Picture Wizard II which really helps with calibration. Go thru the wizard to get the picture close to what you want and then tweak the settings to get it to exactly what you want. Or try the calibration disk suggested by Wishkid.
The TV does upscale from 1080 to 4k by the way. I have the 55LA9560 and after using the Picture Wizard II to calibrate it and a little further tweaking I was blown away by the picture!! I can definitely tell the difference between 1080 and 1080 upscaled to 4K!. Do a little homework and a little work and you will get the picture you want.
+1point
2of 3voted this comment as helpful.
Epson WorkForce WF-3540 All-In-One Printer: You can create borderless photos and print, copy, scan and fax documents and images in the comfort of your home with this all-in-one printer. To get started, just connect your computer using the built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet LAN or print directly from your mobile device with Epson Connect or Apple® AirPrint.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Not compatible with office 13!
By AmishTech
from Semirural Ohio
After install I initially printed quickbooks documents. All was well. A few days later I couldn't even open word or excel. The error box said something about "Microsoft office had a problem. We will let you know if a solution becomes available." Of course I blamed Microsoft.. After I failed to solve the problem I hired a local IT company specializing in business and school networks. They remoted in and spent over 2 hours trying to uninstall, reinstall office even in safe mode. Finally he tracked down the freeware with from Epson. I contacted Epson about the costs (his bill, plus my time wasted turning the computer off and on while he tried in and out of safe mode trying to open office). Epson has not even bothered to apologize.
Now that I eliminated the EPSON freeware it works fine. If you buy it DON"T INSTALL ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVER. It worked with older computers on my network, but not the newest workstation.
Now that I eliminated the EPSON freeware it works fine. If you buy it DON"T INSTALL ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVER. It worked with older computers on my network, but not the newest workstation.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Appreciate the Office comment
April 23, 2014
I appreciate your pointing out the incompatibility with Office 13. To be more specific, when running the install, there is a check box for installing ABBYY Fine Reader. This is the software causing the problem. Simply uncheck that box and proceed with the install. If the install has already been done, then simply uninstall ABBYY Fine Reader and everything should be ok.
Also the driver/software updater application needs to be updated to an 8.1 compatible version if you have a Windows 8.1 platform. Right click the printer icon, select Software Update Settings and proceed from there.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Epson WorkForce WF-3540 All-In-One Printer: You can create borderless photos and print, copy, scan and fax documents and images in the comfort of your home with this all-in-one printer. To get started, just connect your computer using the built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet LAN or print directly from your mobile device with Epson Connect or Apple® AirPrint.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5NIGHTMARE!
By MBMEsq
from NY
The fax does NOT work with a phone/answering machine connected. The fax comes on mid-conversation, even when you are not receiving a fax. I called Epson, they are useless & do not help. They told me to call my phone provider. I did & they were VERY helpful (unlike Epson), but could not figure out the problem b/c it's in the settings of Epson's printer/fax. I give up! I always had HP printers & NEVER had a problem. Goodbye Epson, you're going back!
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Try This
April 23, 2014
Did you try turning off auto answer in the fax settings?
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Epson WorkForce WF-3540 All-In-One Printer: You can create borderless photos and print, copy, scan and fax documents and images in the comfort of your home with this all-in-one printer. To get started, just connect your computer using the built-in Wi-Fi or Ethernet LAN or print directly from your mobile device with Epson Connect or Apple® AirPrint.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Not compatible with office 13!
By AmishTech
from Semirural Ohio
After install I initially printed quickbooks documents. All was well. A few days later I couldn't even open word or excel. The error box said something about "Microsoft office had a problem. We will let you know if a solution becomes available." Of course I blamed Microsoft.. After I failed to solve the problem I hired a local IT company specializing in business and school networks. They remoted in and spent over 2 hours trying to uninstall, reinstall office even in safe mode. Finally he tracked down the freeware with from Epson. I contacted Epson about the costs (his bill, plus my time wasted turning the computer off and on while he tried in and out of safe mode trying to open office). Epson has not even bothered to apologize.
Now that I eliminated the EPSON freeware it works fine. If you buy it DON"T INSTALL ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVER. It worked with older computers on my network, but not the newest workstation.
Now that I eliminated the EPSON freeware it works fine. If you buy it DON"T INSTALL ANYTHING BUT THE DRIVER. It worked with older computers on my network, but not the newest workstation.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Thanks for Pointing that out.
April 23, 2014
Thank you for pointing out the incompatibility with Office 13. To provide further detail on this, the program ABBYY Fine Reader is the offender. When doing the printer install, simply uncheck the box for this software and proceed. Everything should install fine and Office 13 is not affected.
As a further note, if one is installing this on a 8.1 platform, the Epson software updater is not compatible. To overcome this, right click the printer icon, select Software Update Settings and proceed from there to get the latest, compatible version.
I am holding off writing a review until I have more experience with the printer but would like to point out that it is on sale at Office Depot thru 4/26 for $139.99 and BB will match this price.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Lenovo Y70 - 80DU004HUS Laptop: This laptop is equipped with a large HD display and NVIDIA graphics to enhance your gaming experience. The 10-point multitouch technology allows you to navigate with ease.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
By OldNAchy
from Fairfax, VA
I purchased this laptop because I needed more horsepower and graphics capability to do video editing in addition to the normal web surfing and microsoft office stuff.
The Good:
-- This definitely has the horsepower and the 8gb ssd provides for fast start up. Downloads, windows updates, and app installs seemed to run fast as well.
-- Definitely full HD screen.
-- The black keyboard with white letters and red backlight make it fairly easy to see the keys even in low light. The keyboard feel is very nice.
-- Lenovo actually provided some useful tools along with the typical bloatware, e.g. its Settings and Update applications.
The Bad:
-- The battery is not modular, even though the product description lists it as a separate item. This means that if/when it fails, the laptop will have to be serviced vs. just buying a new battery. Not a customer oriented decision there.
-- Similarly, the power adapter has a proprietary "tip", not a universal single pin. Replacement will have to be thru Lenovo.
-- It's One Key recovery copies the entire hard drive vs. just creating a bootable recovery partition. If I had known this beforehand I would have created the backup before moving all my files and videos over to the laptop.
-- One can turn disable (and enable) the touchpad with a function key (F6), but has to do this every time the laptop boots up. For someone like me that uses a USB mouse, this can be a pain.
The Ugly:
-- After I purchased and installed Malaware Bytes Premium (I highly recommend) I did a malware scan and a PUP (potentially unwanted program) was uncovered. It was a module within Lenovo's Browser Detector called cltmngsvc -- or Client Management Service. I suspect it would probably gather and send information to Lenovo. This PUP has been quarantined and the Browser Detector app has been disabled. Really Lenovo?
-- Lenovo provided a RealTek application called RTFTracker and specified it as a start up application. This caused my desktop to go bonkers then shut down requiring me to sign back on several times before things stabilized. Once I disabled it from Start Up via Task Manager, everything was fine.
Neither Here nor There:
-- The dark cover of the laptop highlights finger prints and hand smudges. Not a big deal for me, but I have actually seen reviews where that fact really irritated some people.
The Good:
-- This definitely has the horsepower and the 8gb ssd provides for fast start up. Downloads, windows updates, and app installs seemed to run fast as well.
-- Definitely full HD screen.
-- The black keyboard with white letters and red backlight make it fairly easy to see the keys even in low light. The keyboard feel is very nice.
-- Lenovo actually provided some useful tools along with the typical bloatware, e.g. its Settings and Update applications.
The Bad:
-- The battery is not modular, even though the product description lists it as a separate item. This means that if/when it fails, the laptop will have to be serviced vs. just buying a new battery. Not a customer oriented decision there.
-- Similarly, the power adapter has a proprietary "tip", not a universal single pin. Replacement will have to be thru Lenovo.
-- It's One Key recovery copies the entire hard drive vs. just creating a bootable recovery partition. If I had known this beforehand I would have created the backup before moving all my files and videos over to the laptop.
-- One can turn disable (and enable) the touchpad with a function key (F6), but has to do this every time the laptop boots up. For someone like me that uses a USB mouse, this can be a pain.
The Ugly:
-- After I purchased and installed Malaware Bytes Premium (I highly recommend) I did a malware scan and a PUP (potentially unwanted program) was uncovered. It was a module within Lenovo's Browser Detector called cltmngsvc -- or Client Management Service. I suspect it would probably gather and send information to Lenovo. This PUP has been quarantined and the Browser Detector app has been disabled. Really Lenovo?
-- Lenovo provided a RealTek application called RTFTracker and specified it as a start up application. This caused my desktop to go bonkers then shut down requiring me to sign back on several times before things stabilized. Once I disabled it from Start Up via Task Manager, everything was fine.
Neither Here nor There:
-- The dark cover of the laptop highlights finger prints and hand smudges. Not a big deal for me, but I have actually seen reviews where that fact really irritated some people.
Bottom Line:
I still recommend this for anyone who needs a lot of processing and graphics power. Other than the negative items listed above, which are correctable -- at least the software -- this laptop is more than meeting my requirements.
I still recommend this for anyone who needs a lot of processing and graphics power. Other than the negative items listed above, which are correctable -- at least the software -- this laptop is more than meeting my requirements.
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
An Update to My Original Review
February 26, 2015
Since BB doesn't let one edit their reviews, I am using comments to update my review now. What I found after using this laptop for some time is that the laptop description is misleading. The laptop actually defaults to the Intel 4600HD integrated graphics processor found on the motherboard. Although NVIDIA drivers and software are loaded, one must take positive action to use them. When I tried pointing an application to the NVIDIA processor either the application slowed down dramatically or stopped working altogether. What a disappointment that was.
Over time, boot up and shutdown time increased substantially as well even though I substantially pared down the startup applications (mostly bloat ware); slow shutdown indicates that Windows (8.1) is doing major housekeeping which makes me wonder if there is something going on that I cannot see or track.
I got so upset with this and other issues that I figured it was a waste of my money and purchased a customized HP laptop with more functionality than the Lenovo for about $250 less.
I was going to let it go, but stumbled on a major issue with Lenovo laptops today concerning preloaded malware that I felt compelled to comment here. Check out the following link for details:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2886278/how-to-remove-the-dangerous-superfish-adware-presintalled-on-lenovo-pcs.html
After doing a full reset and testing I found that mine does not contain superfish but the fact I had to check it out really irritated me.
Bottom line -- buyer beware. Note that this laptop is not even on the Best Buy trade in list. That should tell you something.
Bottom line -- buyer beware. Note that this laptop is not even on the Best Buy trade in list. That should tell you something.
2 stars and a do not recommend from me.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
OldNAchy's Questions
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iBuyPower Desktop: Play hard with this iBUYPOWER gaming PC. With a 3.4GHz Intel i7 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 3GB graphics card, this machine can handle the most demanding adventures. This iBUYPOWER gaming PC has a 1TB SATA III hard drive and 120GB solid-state drive to provide ample file storage.
How many core processors does this have?
The I7-6700 has 4 physical cores and 8 virtual cores (2 per physical). Lots of horsepower.
7 years, 2 months ago
by
OldNAchy
iBuyPower Desktop: Play hard with this iBUYPOWER gaming PC. With a 3.4GHz Intel i7 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 3GB graphics card, this machine can handle the most demanding adventures. This iBUYPOWER gaming PC has a 1TB SATA III hard drive and 120GB solid-state drive to provide ample file storage.
Does it have enough room or is it able to add an elgato hd 60 pro?
There are 2 PCIE-1 slots so the hd 60 pro should work. I have used one of the slots to install a wireless card with no issues.
7 years, 2 months ago
by
OldNAchy
iBuyPower Desktop: Play hard with this iBUYPOWER gaming PC. With a 3.4GHz Intel i7 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 3GB graphics card, this machine can handle the most demanding adventures. This iBUYPOWER gaming PC has a 1TB SATA III hard drive and 120GB solid-state drive to provide ample file storage.
Is the O.S. Installed on the SSD? or the Hard Drive? Is the graphics card a reference card or an after market? Is the ram running in dual channel or quad?
WIndows is installed on the SSD. 4 channel. Can double memory size. Can't answer about graphics card, but I did buy and install a reference 6gb 1060 card with no problems.
7 years, 2 months ago
by
OldNAchy
iBuyPower Desktop: Play hard with this iBUYPOWER gaming PC. With a 3.4GHz Intel i7 quad-core processor, 16GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce 3GB graphics card, this machine can handle the most demanding adventures. This iBUYPOWER gaming PC has a 1TB SATA III hard drive and 120GB solid-state drive to provide ample file storage.
I wanted to use this for not so much gaming but for video editing, capable for it or not
This should have the processing and memory horsepower to do most video editing. I use Corel Video X9 Pro to do voice overs and render at full HD (1920x1080) for my gaming videos with no issues. Note that you can buy and install 2 more 8gb memory sticks (check website for compatible) to double memory to 32gb.
7 years, 2 months ago
by
OldNAchy
Samsung UN40JU6500FXZA LED Smart 4K Ultra HD TV: This TV's 4K Ultra HD screen displays entertainment at 4x the resolution of Full HD for stunning clarity. Smart TV features let you stream videos and music, surf the Internet, download apps and more.
Manual Power Button??
I"ve searched high and low and can't seem to find a manual power button on this tv. Please tell me that I'm overlooking it.
There is one on the back right side. It is a little higher up than other Samsung models.
8 years, 3 months ago
by
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
HP ENVY Desktop: With 16GB memory and Intel HD Graphics 530, this desktop offers vibrant, detailed images and smooth processing for editing photos and videos, watching movies and playing games. Connect up to 2 high-def monitors for an expanded viewing area.
Does this computer have a strong wireless connection?
Because of the configuration of my apartment and the location of my router, I will have to run my desktop via WiFi. I want to make sure that the machine will run fast and smoothly that way.
For me it does, although I don't need to use it. It has a top of the line wireless ac dual band adapter, backwards compatible to the n, b, a, and g standards. The key to your situation is also how strong the wireless signal is in your router.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Store up to 5TB of media on this Seagate Backup Plus STDT5000100 external hard drive, which features Protect, Save and Share features that enable simple integration with social networking sites and provide comprehensive data management.
Compatible with Windows 10?
Yes. I have one connected via a usb 3.0 port on my windows 10 desktop. Note that I did not like its backup software, so I set the security to auto validate with my desktop and use Windows 10 File History for backup. So far, so good.
8 years, 4 months ago
by
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
HP ENVY Laptop: With a 17.3" Full HD touch screen, this efficient laptop makes it easy to browse Web sites and swipe through programs. House your growing media collection and documents on the spacious 1TB hard drive, and type in dim lighting using the backlit keyboard.
Is wi-fi connect included?
Will this laptop connect to a Wi-Fi network or does it just use BlueTooth?
It will connect to a Wi-Fi network with the installed wireless adapter. When you boot it up for the first time, it will look for wireless networks to connect to as part of setup processing.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Only @ Best BuyTurn 1 HDMI source into 2 with this Rocketfish™ RF-G1182 splitter that delivers 1080p content, 3D capability, and 5.1/7.1 surround sound to most HDMI components. The included AC adapter ensures reliable power.
Splitter and PS4 w/ El Gato
I am trying to hook up my HDMI splitter to my El Gato Gaming Capture Card. It shows no picture just flashes on and off. I have everything hooked up correctly and still get nothing. Help?
The PS4, like its predecessors was designed to output video in HDCP format thru HDMI. In this format, the Elgato cannot accept or record gameplay video. Your description of the problem sounds like HDCP is being output. Sony announced a patch to allow users to turn off HDCP output. Has this been downloaded yet? If so, then you need to change settings to turn off HDCP. If the patch is not available yet, you will have to wait until it is before being able to record. I would also research how to bypass HDCP.
10 years ago
by
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA
Do you all buy back laptops like you do cell phones?
I recently sold my phone back to you all for a store gift card. I'm wondering do you offer the same deal for laptops?
Depends on the laptop. If you are thinking about the MacBook Pro listed in your question you can trade it in for a gift card worth up to $300 -- information provided by the Trade-In Center in Services. In general, go to Trade-In Center in Services, select the appropriate category and look up your model to see if there is trade in value.
10 years, 5 months ago
by
OldNAchy
Fairfax, VA