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Andy
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- Review count113
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- First reviewJune 21, 2013
- Last reviewAugust 7, 2024
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- Average rating4.8
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- First answerJune 1, 2016
- Last answerApril 3, 2021
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Power disturbances can cause equipment damage and lessen your electronic devices lifespan.During power disturbances, you also risk losing connection to your critical devices. Ensure you keep connected to what matters the most with APC Back-UPS.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
I have had many battery backup devices and have had varying results over the years,,, usually short battery life or problems with alarms that just don't seem to work right.
I have had great success with APC products and this one is no different. It has a new, sleek design that doesn't look so much like a battery backup and more like some kind of overgrown surge strip. We live in an area that has had frequent power outages, both from weather and repairs to the local equipment. This came just in time to save us from the last couple of them. It has done well and the alarm silence works well. I am impressed by the time it runs without power for such a small package.
The hookup for the battery when first starting up is very simple, just plug in the small cable in the bottom to complete the circuit for the battery and then plug in the power cord. After a day, the battery is supposed to be fully charged and ready to go.
With nine outlets, there are plenty of places to plug devices in and the USB port allows a device to be charged without taking up one of the outlets.
We have our laptops, cell phones and smart watches plugged in so we don't have to worry about them being dead when we have one of these nice public safety power outages!
Nice device with great features! Looking forward to seeing how it stands up to long-term use.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect an extra display to your workstation with this black Belkin USB-C to VGA charge adapter. The plug-and-play design offers fast connection of devices, while the pass-through USB-C power delivery allows convenient charging. This 60W Belkin USB-C to VGA charge adapter supports Full HD resolution for quality videos and pictures.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
I needed to have a way to attach a new laptop to older projectors in classrooms and was happy to see that this fit the bill right off.
I use both a Dell G7 and a Samsung Chromebook Plus and both have USB-C ports but no VGA. Several of the projectors in our school still don't have HDMI ports, so I needed to be able to attach them to my machines somehow. The Chromebook doesn't have an HDMI port, so I needed to get from USB-C to VGA. This adapter worked flawlessly on both machines, adding an additional display in a matter of seconds.
I generally have a second display on my G7, so this added a third display. PowerPoint allows me to choose which display to use for the notes and I am ready to go. The Chromebook also automatically sets it up as an extended display and allows apps to be run on it by dragging and dropping.
Price was pretty good, output was excellent. Videos play without studder or delay and the colors and quality of the image are perfect.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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All the power you expect, without the cord. Go where ambition takes you with the cordless hand blender from KitchenAid. Designed with a powerful rechargeable lithium ion battery, the new cordless hand blender delivers optimal runtime and performance, so you can cook wherever, whatever, and however you choose. Blends 25 bowls of soup on a full charge.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
I was immediately impressed by the quality and design of the KitchenAid cordless hand blender. The controls are very intuitive - just squeeze the handle and pull the trigger to turn it on. I love the variable speed feature, allowing me to adjust how fast the blades spin with the trigger.
The charge port location is in a great place, being under the attachment means it will stay clean while being used for blending. The light on the end shows the percentage of charge, so you know when it needs to be recharged. The included pan guard keeps those expensive coated pans from being scratched or chipped. The measuring cup with lid is a great bonus in the box as well.
I checked on KitchenAid's website, but don't see anywhere I can get the whisk attachment - hopefully it will be available in the future as that would really add to the uses this appliance has. As it comes, I have used it to make several different types of things and it handles everything from thick to thin very well.
I was a little hesitant about the price, but since you can replace several other appliances, the price isn't as big a deal. For someone just starting out or someone with a small kitchen, this would be a great appliance since it takes up a very small amount of space and holds its charge well.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep a visual record of your visitors with this eufy Security wireless video doorbell. Advanced WDR and distortion correction technologies help ensure your 2K video recordings come out clearly, and a 180-day battery life provides long-lasting performance. This weatherproof eufy Security video doorbell offers military-grade AES-256 data encryption to protect your footage during transition and storage.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
We didn't have a doorbell, so this filled both that and the camera function we were looking for.
Installation was so simple, install the camera/doorbell, plug in and set up the base station and set up an account. After that, fine tune the settings and then forget about it... if you can!
If you are like me, you will probably test out the notifications and get REALLY tired of having it squawk at you every time someone passes by your door! There are a ton of settings, even the ability to adjust the area that triggers the camera. I think it would be even better with some more scheduling abilities, but there are a lot of things I haven't totally figured out yet, so maybe that is in there somewhere.
For a doorbell, it works very well. The chime can be changed and the volume can be adjusted also. The chime rings from the base station, so its location determines the doorbell sound.
Overall, I am pretty impressed with the Eufy wireless doorbell system. The app is pretty intuitive and polished, the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The product itself is solid and looks to be of good quality. I am looking forward to using this as a good addition to our security system.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience next-level computing efficiency with this Dell Inspiron all-in-one PC. The 27-inch Full HD touchscreen offers an immersive and interactive user experience, while the Intel Core i7 processor and 12GB of RAM run multiple applications smoothly. This Dell Inspiron all-in-one PC has a 512GB SSD for fast start-ups and ample storage space, and Bluetooth connectivity syncs with compatible wireless devices.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
In reviewing the Dell Inspiron 27” all-in-one touchscreen computer, I found an awful lot to like about a kind of machine I wasn’t too excited about in the past… remember the old Packard Bell and iMac all-in-ones?!
First, a couple of things I still don’t find too appealing… the lack of ports on the front of the machine is a real pain, forcing you to fumble around, trying to find the correct port on the back of the machine. This would be fine if you worked at a desk in the middle of the room, but since I have my desk up against a wall, I don’t have the luxury of being able to freely access the back of my computer. There is plenty of room in the soundbar built into the bottom of the screen that could have housed a few USB ports. I am coming to terms with this little pain by running a USB hub out to the front where I can get to it, but then that just messes up the otherwise clean look of the entire machine.
Another small disappointment is the mouse and keyboard. I am used to Dell either rebranding or imitating Logitech’s products, but this mouse falls far short in the area of feel and usefulness. A for the keyboard… for no reason it just starts acting like it is distracted - in the middle of typing - like while I am trying to write this very sentence! It is really annoying when it happens. All of my words end up looking like I can’t spell! It misses some letters, the duplicates othhhhheeeeers multiple tiiiiimes! (I figured I ouldleave thoeinust to showyou hat I mmmmn…..) OK, continuing on with a wired keyboard, as that was not going to work! This is the second time in about a week this has happened, and I can’t figure out what is causing it.
Now to the positives… the machine is very fast, both in booting up and running stuff! I expected as much given the fast processor and SSD for storage, but I have seen similar machines that feel more like Celerons and old spinning drives. The setup was incredibly easy, it takes longer to answer all the Microsoft garbage than it does to get the machine actually configured. Once up and running, Hello works very well to log me in from boot or when it has gone to sleep.
The camera being able to snap down into the top is a nice feature, saving the hassle of putting a post-it note or piece of tape over it for privacy. The screen is so large that even FHD seems a little low on pixels to fill it. I think a 2K or 4K resolution would fit even better for this size screen, but that adds lots of money. The brightness is great for my office area and the size overall is about as small as a 27” monitor can get because of the tiny bezel. The touch feature is going to take some getting used to - I use touch all the time on my tablet, phone and Chromebook Plus, but there is just something about touching a full-size monitor that I am not totally comfortable with - yet. I know it will come with time.
The machine is silent… absolutely silent! It is great for listening to music down low and using when the house is quiet. I would have traded a little bit of noise for an add-on GPU, but the on-chip graphics does a decent job for most regular tasks. I even played some old games on it that did fine since they are not graphic intensive.
Overall, I see this as an excellent machine for someone who wants a regular size screen (27 inches is “regular” these days?!) but doesn’t want to deal with a tower taking up space. As long as you hook everything up before sliding it into place, you won’t even have to worry about the ports being on the back! This is a very capable machine with high-quality fit and finish that looks as great as it runs.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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This high-quality ink tank printer delivers up to 2 years of ink in bottles included in the box.³ Get faster connections with dual-band Wi-Fi¹, and easy mobile printing with HP Smart app.²
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
I was excited to get this printer, my old Brother printer had just died after a power outage and I was in need of a replacement. I had spent a lot on the old printer, but things have changed a lot since then and some of the features I used are now standard on lower-end machines. With the price point this printer is sold at, I initially expected it to have all the bells and whistles - make sure you read the fine print!
First of all, the setup was probably the easiest I have ever done on a printer! I actually did it twice, trying it out at home and then setting it up for good in my classroom. Both times, it was so simple. I installed the app on my phone and it installed itself on my networks with almost no interaction on my part. It took far longer to pour the bottles of ink into the machine than it did to set up the network completely.
It is a fairly fast machine on normal settings, the lack of a real screen and buttons to change things is minimized by the phone app. Print quality is what you would expect for any modern inkjet.
The ink capacity is great! I won't get 3 years out of it, but it is very nice to have that much ink loaded all at once. I just hope the printheads don't dry out like so many do! These are modified ink cartridges that HP has used in most HP printers since my good old PaintJet way back when. Hopefully this means it will be reliable, but I'n not sure after HP implying for so long that these printheads are not designed to be refilled after the normal (incredibly small) amount of ink runs through them. So for, so good and I am impressed with the machine so far!
Then I got down to really using it... The duplex printing is only done by manually reinserting the sheets back into the printer in the correct order. This is something I would expect from a $50 printer, but definitely not one around $400! Duplex printing is a feature that should be standard on all printers.
The next thing that I found was that there is no paper tray. All paper is fed from the top, back of the printer. Again, not a big deal for a $50 disposable printer, but for one that has "up to 3 years of ink in the box" I would expect it to at least have the capability to load more than a tiny stack at a time. This means that if you use it often, you are going to have to hassle with constantly adding paper, and if you use it sparingly, your pretty prints will have dust on them from everything being out in the open. Not what I expect form a company like HP.
I saw these shortcomings before getting this printer, however, I mention them only to warn potential buyers of what they might be getting for their sizable investment.
We had another power outage today and the printer came right back up without any hiccups at all. I was able to be printing within a few minutes - only had to wait for my network to come back up. If this machine were priced at half or less of what it is, I would have no problem recommending it to anyone tired of buying those ink cartridges. As it is, I have to hesitate based on the price alone. I have set up hundreds of printers over the years, from incredibly cheap disposable units to extravagant machines that have multiple trays and auto-document feeders. With its features, this is an interesting printer, I hope this is a sign of the direction HP and others are going. Prices will come down, features will be added. I just don't think this is the one to settle on yet.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Train like a pro with this 44mm Fossil Carlyle HR smartwatch. Bluetooth functionality enables syncing with your smartphone, while the internal storage lets you work out with your favorite tunes. This swimproof Fossil Carlyle HR smartwatch features GPS to track your activity outdoors, and the heart monitor keeps tabs on your cardiac rate.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
I have been using another brand of smartwatch and was happy with it. I received the Fossil Smartwatch and have been very happy with it.
It took a little while to get used to some of the features, but I really like the slightly larger face and the way the notifications come up. I was a little disappointed with the number of faces available, but have started to settle on one or two that seem to do what I like. The watch feels very good on my wrist, with just the right amount of mass.
I had a bit of a time getting the band resized, the pins took much more force than other bands I have worked with and the arrows pointing in both directions didn't help direct my efforts! I did finally get it done after grinding a punch down to the right size. In the end, I have it adjusted and it feels very comfortable.
I am still getting used to the buttons and features, but I am very happy with the watch and it stays connected all the time, unlike my old watch. It seems like everything about the watch is customizable, with so many ways to configure everything. Just when I think I have it set the way I want, I find another little tweak I can make that makes it even better!
I have heard of the Fossil brand for some time, but never thought I would have one myself. I was afraid they might be over-rated like so many things are these days, but I am very happy with the quality and detail of this watch.
I would have no problem recommending this watch to anyone who wants a really nice tool that pairs with a phone really well. I find it allows me to keep my phone stashed much more often than I used to with its easy to read display and other features.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Achieve the closest shave possible with this Philips Norelco shaver. The ComfortCut blade system provides a smooth, clean cut and protects sensitive skin, while multidirectional flex heads offer consistent trimming of every contour of the face and neck. An included pop-up trimmer in this Philips Norelco shaver makes it easy to sculpt facial hair to maximize styling options.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
I had expectations that may have been a bit high... my 12+ year old microfoil shaver has done a great job keeping my face smooth, I've replaced the foil and blades regularly but the battery finally gave out. It still runs OK on the cord but that is a pain.
The Philips Norelco Shaver 2300 seemed to be a good option, the price was right and I had never had a triple head shaver so decided to give this a try.
After a few days of use, I have found myself going back to my old shaver to finish off since the Philips doesn't cut nearly as close. It may be the design, I have heard other guys complain about how close an electric shaver gets and I may understand myself, now!
The Philips doesn't have any negative effects on my skin, and is very quiet when running. It uses the same charging cord as my beard trimmer, so that is convenient! It does take a long time to charge, but the light on the front lets you know when it is done.
If you have never used anything that works better, this would probably be just fine. I tend to have a 5-o'clock shadow by mid afternoon, so I hate it when I start the day being able to feel it already! If it were not for the price, I would not say this is even an option, but at a third the price of what I am used to using, I guess it fills a need.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The entire Meta Portal family is video calling designed to bring people closer. Meta Portal TV brings smart video calling to the biggest screen in your home and turns your TV into a smart video calling screen that’s perfect for group calls. It’s easy to call friends and family on their smartphones and laptops with Messenger and WhatsApp, even if they don’t have a Meta Portal. A Smart Camera pans and zooms to get the whole room in shot and automatically adjusts to keep everyone in frame as they move and talk naturally. Smart Sound makes sure you can be heard by reducing background noise and enhancing the voice of whoever is speaking. Meta Portal’s simple privacy settings mean you can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the camera lens with a cover. All Meta Portal WhatsApp calls are end-to-end encrypted and you can choose to call individual Messenger contacts using end-to-end encryption. Meta Portal TV needs a wireless internet connection and AC power. Meta Portal voice command availability varies. Screen images simulated. User experience may vary. Requires wireless internet connection and Facebook or WhatsApp account. WhatsApp is not available on tablets. Features, functionality, and content vary and may not be available on all Meta Portal models or in all areas and languages. Some features may require a Facebook account and downloading the Portal mobile app. Additional account registration, terms and fees may apply. Meta Portal TV requires an HDMI cable (not included). Meta Portal TV comes with a remote control.
Customer Rating
4
An interesting idea, continues to improve...
on November 19, 2019
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
Initially, we were very disappointed with the Portal TV, as it had constant dropped calls, video quality was pretty poor - then very good - then back to poor and the sound was terrible.
Over the course of a week or so, the drops tapered off and the video quality improved a lot. Both ends of the call were from 100Mb + cable connections at about the same time of day each time (talking to the grandkids) so I don't think there was a problem with bandwidth. The sound (mainly loud echoes and dropped sound) also seems to be improving a lot as well, so it appears that there are updates being rolled out to address initial usage problems.
Aesthetically, the box it very inconspicuous on top of our TV. It is almost invisible aside from the white light bar that shows up when you ask Alexa to do something (or the local TV News runs their ad for Alexa's "flash briefings" to which she responds EVERY time!) or when you have the entire thing turned off using the button on the side and the little red light shows.
Setup was easy, just plug it in and follow the prompts on the screen. Don't forget to pick up a spare HDMI cable if you don't already have one laying around as it does not come with one - kind of odd since it is required to use it and you are not likely to install it very far from the TV itself!
Once setup was complete, we were surprised at the camera function... it uses the full field of view to include any faces it detects, then zooms in and out and focusses to include them all in the frame. As our grandsons crawled around the room, it followed them so we could see them even as they moved out of view to the sides. As was mentioned earlier, the sound and video quality is improving and the drops are becoming infrequent now.
It is so nice to be able to use the entire TV screen to see people instead of just the small screen on a phone or tablet. The experience is so unique. I have tried casting my screen to our TV, but then the camera is in another direction and makes it difficult to focus on one or the other. Having the camera right on the top of the TV screen allows us to see and be seen easily. I expect this will be the first of many of these kind of devices, so if the price is a bit high now, just wait a while and I'm sure competition will drive it back down to decent webcam territory.
Some of the functions are a bit gimmicky, but others are quite useful. The Storytime app is a little creepy at times and the stories are far too twisted from the originals we grew up on, but they are good for one or two times. The slideshow feature is nice and it turns your TV into a giant picture frame for your Facebook photos. We are still diving into the other items but still go back to our regular built-in Smart TV functions for most of the time - I think because of familiarity more than anything.
Despite it's somewhat high price tag, I think the experience makes it worthwhile to purchase. Seeing the grandkids on the bigger screen is an amazing thing for us!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Watch over your home with this Defender Guard IP camera. Native 2K resolution lets you capture footage of potential intruders in sharp detail, and the 123-degree viewing angle delivers a wide view of your property. This Defender Guard IP camera has a weather-resistant chassis that stands up to rain and snow.
Posted by: Andy
from Redding
The camera was very easy to set up using the app on my Android phone. Within a few seconds, I was viewing video from the camera on my phone. So far, video is very clear and adjusts well to night and day time use.
There is a waterproof clip included in case you need to install it in a wet location, and a stick-on template to help drill holes and line things up. The neck of the camera adjusts to allow just about any angle and direction you might need.
I didn't see the ghosting and other artifacts I have seen on other cameras when installed too close to a reflective surface, but it may be because I am getting better at picking mounting locations!
There is a panel that can be removed by two screws to expose the reset switch and a micro-SD card slot to add more storage. The power cable that is included is fairly long, but they also include a long extension cable to make it even better for reaching those corners.
Wi-Fi was easy to set up and it also has a hard-wired connection if you would rather have it. No ethernet cable is included, so prepare to run your own if you want to hardwire it.
I had the opportunity to interact with their customer service and found them very efficient and helpful.
I may add more of these to my property, they are inexpensive for the resolution and features and can be managed from a single screen on my phone.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
Is this a good laptop for a college student?
It is very thin and light and would fit easily inside a small backpack or large purse. The keys are nearly silent so would be great for notes in class, but does not have a touch screen, so no drawings or diagrams can be done onscreen by hand. It is a nice looking machine, but make sure you compare it to others in the same price range that may have a features you might need. You will be hard pressed to find anything the same size and weight! I've only had it for a few days and am pretty happy with what it can do, just remember that it does have a few features left out for size reasons such as regular USB ports (there is an adapter included) and there is no HDMI (you would have to buy an adapter to USB-C) or touch capabilities. It is very nice looking and seems sturdy despite its size.
8 years, 3 months ago
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Andy