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Andy
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- Review count110
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- First reviewJune 21, 2013
- Last reviewApril 16, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
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- Answer count11
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- First answerJune 1, 2016
- Last answerApril 3, 2021
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Keep your computer and information safe with Malwarebytes software. It provides protection against multiple attack types, including ransomware that hijacks your computer and demands payment and traditional spyware, and offers fast scanning so your device isn't tied up. Malwarebytes software detects fake websites and prevents you from accessing them or downloading infected programs.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent software package!
on January 23, 2018
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I have used the free version of Malwarebytes for years and have been very happy with it. I got this premium copy and am even more impressed with the features. As always, it installs quickly with only a few clicks of the mouse. With version 3, the scans are blazing fast and with the extra features of the premium version, my computer is protected from ransomeware and other malicious programs.
I am very careful when I am on the Internet, and have never had any major problems with any malware. I fix other people's computers regularly and always advise them to install and run this program (free or premium) to protect their machines beyond the regular antivirus.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Video editing doesn't have to be daunting or take tons of time. Go from hundreds of mystery folders to a visual view of your videos automatically sorted by date. Use automated editing options and step-by-step guidance to create and share everything from animated GIFs and video collages to new dynamic slideshows and full-length movies.
Customer Rating
4
A decent video editing program, fine for home use.
on December 30, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I guess I expected a bit more from this program since Adobe has always been at the top of the game as far as photo, video and illustration is concerned in most people's eyes.
Once the program finally arrived (took over a month after it was ordered) I was disappointed in the starting mode - Novice or beginner or something like that. It was actually harder to use than the old free video program you could download for Windows XP!
After doing just a little looking around, I was soon into the advanced mode which is much more useful to get any real work done. I already own a copy of Adobe Premiere Pro from about 10-12 years ago and was expecting that there must have been some new developments in all that time! I was wrong, as this looks to be pretty much that exact program! I am sure underneath there are changes, but I can't find anything that differentiates these two very different aged programs (except the prices).
I would have liked to have more time to dive into the inner workings to find what must be there, but I have a limited amount of time and have only run a few projects through it so far.
I guess it could be seen as a real credit to Adobe that their "cheap" home program can function like their flagship program from a decade ago, but I really expected to see something modern from the newer tool. I guess now I have another program to use on another machine.
I would have no problem recommending this to anyone looking for a program that can edit, mix and work with video files from just about any source that wants to stick with a company with a rich history of this kind of program. Spend a bit of time with it and you can really put out some great work. I just wish it was a bit more feature filled than the free offerings from just about everybody else out there! Even Windows itself has a decent video editor that does about the same job as the basic mode on this program.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Brighten your home with this two-pack of Philips Hue white ambiance A19 bulbs. They provide a comforting, natural glow for your study or living space, helping you relax and unwind at the end of the day. The accompanying app lets you adjust the intensity of these Philips Hue white ambiance bulbs for a customized shade.
Customer Rating
4
Great idea for automating your lighting
on December 19, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I have five of these bulbs installed in my home now, and generally like the idea, but they are a bit expensive. The only problem I have is that the hub keeps setting them to 50% brightness and a yellow color which I have never set them to and it gets frustrating! I also have a Google Home so I have to tell t to turn the brightness up and set the color. I have checked into the problem and found that it is isolated to the hub, not Google. Others have found the same problems also, so I hope an update will take care of the problem.
It is kind of nice to be able to tell the lights to come on and turn off with my voice! I will be looking into some of the other sockets and bulbs to see what can be added to the system now that it is up and running.
Overall, very happy with the fact that it always works, just a bit disappointed that I have to mess with it most of the time. I have IFTTT, so I may play with setting a program to set them to full power and bright colors each time.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Arlo Pro 2 keeps an eye on your home while you're away, in brilliant 1080p HD quality. Put the 100% wire-free, weather-resistant camera anywhere, indoors or out. Then, power it with the included rechargeable battery or plugged it in (when indoors) to access activity zones and 24/7 Continuous Video Recording upgrades. Use 2-way audio or remotely sound a 100+ device siren while catching every moment with night vision and advanced motion detection. You'll even get motion and sound-activated alerts and 7 days of free cloud video recordings. Arlo Pro 2 works with Amazon Alexa to make your smart home security even more simple and effective.
Customer Rating
4
Nice piece of equipment that comes so close!
on November 14, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
There is a lot to like about the Arlo Pro 2 system… and a few things to hate as well! If it were half the price, I would imagine there would be a slightly different opinion on it, but it isn’t. I guess I should describe my experience when I tested the system at two locations with very different results.
HOME
I have a Linksys Max-Stream AC5400 WiFi router at home and setup couldn’t have been any easier. Within about 10 minutes, I was all set up and looking at my first short videos. I couldn’t believe how easy the setup was, although I have come to expect that from Netgear. It is not too bright in the room I was working in at first, so I was a bit disappointed with the quality of the video. It seemed like it was clear enough, but the contrast just wasn’t what I expected and it wouldn’t take color video. I thought the room had plenty of light, but I brightened the room up and the video switched to color.
Video and even color quality is not what I had expected with 1080p video. I guess I was thinking it would take better images as I had worked with other surveillance cameras of similar price and resolution but without a base station and cloud recording and they put out much better quality.
Mounting is a breeze with the included “bubbles” that mount with a single screw and then the camera perches on it at a wide range of angles with strong magnets. This is a pretty simple but elegant way of mounting the cameras.
WORK
I took the system to work and plugged it in after reading that it should come right up since it uses dynamic IP addressing. After a couple of minutes, the base station showed three green lights and the internet light would blink once in a while showing activity so I pulled up the app to see how the video was in a brightly lit room. Nothing. Then I noticed after it tried to connect for a while that there was a message indicating that the base station was offline. A quick search revealed that this is a problem that has been around through several generations of Arlo systems.
At home, I use Charter for my ISP but at work we use a service piped through AT&T lines, and thought that maybe they were messing with the traffic and just not letting the device talk to the internet. What frustrates me is that when I decided to reset it to factory and start over, I went into the browser site and clicked to remove it from my account. The lights on the base station went all yellow and it started to reboot! I thought maybe it was a coincidence. After it booted, I held the reset button in on the back and waited again for it to boot. I went through the entire setup procedure, the browser saw the base immediately, I gave the base a new name and added the cameras back on after leaving them without their batteries until I was ready to sync each one. After getting the cameras synced, all the lights were back to green but the browser still showed it was disconnected! What was interesting is that it showed the new name, but I assumed it was just because I had set it in the browser.
I fired up my Android app and it showed the same thing, correct serial number but offline. So I removed the system again, from the app… immediately, the lights on the base went yellow again and the procedure started all over. I went through the entire setup several times to see if I was missing something.
Obviously, the website is talking to the base, since it immediately shows the correct serial number and device info when I add the device and it resets the lights when I remove the device using the website or app, but it flat out refuses to allow it to come online from their server. After reading MANY threads on Netgear’s site, it appears to be a problem many people are dealing with and can be very frustrating since the hardware appears to be working fine. I tested it by adding a USB flash drive and had dozens of videos in a very short time, so it is recording, just not talking to the Netgear Cloud Server.
CONCLUSION
I have found this system to be both idiot proof at home and frustratingly time consuming on my work network! I cannot believe this is the same system in each scenario. If I wasn’t the IT guy at work, I would have really suspected the network was to blame, but the network is allowing Netgear to talk to the base but for some reason, it is just not working. I wish I had more time to play with it and the hours needed to help Netgear troubleshoot yet another customer problem, but I had intended it for home security and am very happy with how it works there.
For now, it is going back up at home where it should do the job I intended it to do from the start.
A COUPLE OF NOTES
There needs to be a way to connect to the device from the network without needing to go through the cloud server. There should be a simple web access page to do at least basic maintenance and video review. Popping a USB drive in and out just to view videos is ridiculous!
The CONSTANT stream of notifications EVERY time someone walks past a camera is very annoying and I am going to be tweaking it to minimize that.
Video quality needs to improve, even the resolution does not seem to be up to 1080p quality, especially in color mode. I’m going to play with placement a bit to see if I can maximize the light and see if I can help it out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is an excellent system if it works with your internet connection… and you will know within just a few minutes of opening the box! Netgear has done a great job of making a simple setup procedure. I am willing to work with it for the quality issues at home, but if it was supposed to be used at my work, I would have boxed it up and taken it back almost immediately!
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Fuse physical and digital worlds with this Merge cube. It's a toy hologram that you can hold in the palm of your hand, and it works with free apps downloaded onto your iOS or Android smart device at the Merge Miniverse site. This Merge cube lets you play your favorite games with virtual reality goggles.
Customer Rating
5
Great addition to the Merge VR Goggles
on October 19, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I received this with a set of Merge VR Goggles and they are pretty neat together. I was not able to use them long enough to do a whole lot of testing beyond the few free games they offer, I started feeling a bit lightheaded and haven't seen them since because my kids are having so much fun with it!
It really adds to the VR experience when you can hold something in your hands that has an immediate response to your motion. I think I will be able to get back to it soon and look forward to using it to see more of its capabilities... if I can pry it away from everyone else!!!
Makes a great addition to a relatively cheap setup... the cube and goggles together are less than $75 usually. Definitely would recommend to anyone who is interested in VR.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Combat shedding with this upright BISSELL vacuum. Its powerful suction removes pet hair and dander from floors, and the detachable canister and specialized pet tools let you clean hard-to-reach areas, so your home remains odor and allergen-free. This bagless BISSELL vacuum picks up long hairs without tangling to keep the roller brush clear.
Customer Rating
5
Very nice vacuum system.
on October 8, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I started running this around one room and was so impressed by the light weight and excellent pickup that I ended up doing the whole house! I couldn't believe how much dirt this thing picked up off of our "clean" floors!
The lift off vacuum makes cleaning things above the floor very easy. The wand is easy to use as well, making cleanup a breeze. In the week or so we have had it, we have used it multiple times to clean or furniture, blinds, drapes and so many other areas our old vacuum just couldn't reach.
If I were to get picky, there are two areas I could ask for a little better design... The side auction is not very good, but the easy to use wand makes up for this. The other thing is that there is no place we can find to store the furniture attachment. We have tried hanging out of every pay that sticks out in any way on the machine! Those two things are not enough to drop a star on the reading, the rest of the machine is so easy to use and well designed.
We have finally found a vacuum the both of us are happy with for our entire house.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Display vibrant office presentations with this Epson wireless projector. Its Miracast technology lets you mirror photos, videos and apps from your portable smart devices, and it delivers 3600 lumens of color and white brightness in 1920 x 1080 resolution for colorful, crisp image clarity. This Epson wireless projector has HDMI and USB inputs for making quick connections with external hardware.
Customer Rating
5
Very capable projector for any classroom
on September 30, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
Disclaimer - I am a long-time DLP user and have not been too impressed with LCD projectors when comparing head-to-head in the past.
I am happy to say that I am very impressed by this projector. When run against even the best of my school's DLP projectors, it performs very well. I have used DLP almost exclusively because of the great price to feature value, I have found them very hard to beat. It looks like I am going to have to change that stance as this projector comes in at a very good price and has all the features I expect with a couple more added in!
The manual horizontal keystone correction is a great feature for quickly setting things up if you can't be directly lined up. I also like the built-in lens cover which can be useful when transporting between classes or meetings.
The setup was very easy and in only a few minutes I had it running along side my existing projector and was able to get some very good comparison tests. The brightness compares very well to my 3600 lumen DLP that I use regularly. The contrast is also very comparable with deep blacks and good colors.
As I said earlier, I am a bit biased after using both LCD and DLP and having problems with getting the same quality at anywhere near the same price. Epson has generally been a bit overpriced in my opinion, but this projector has finally brought them into line with what I expect and has a great feature set for the price. The included dual HDMI ports are a requirement for me when setting up a classroom so that I can have a Chromecast as well as a HDMI for a laptop or desktop computer. Some of the other features include split-screen mode, ability to control using the Epson iPresentation app and a built-in QR code to connect with mobile and other devices.
I'm looking forward to running this for a long-term experience to see how it performs but I have high hopes for it given my initial impression and a few hours use so far. I am looking forward to using the built-in Miracast feature as well as spending more time with some of the other features. I can already think of uses for the split-screen mode!
Wireless setup was a bit odd using the remote control to input information, but once done, it was easy to use. I like that there is built-in WiFi instead of having to add an adapter like some other models. I can tell it is going to take some time to figure out all the ways the features can be used!
I can easily recommend this for anyone looking for an LCD projector with a great set of features and a lightweight case with strap and room for cables and the remote inside.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Be transported into another world with the Merge VR Goggles. Compatible with Android and iOS devices, Merge VR Goggles provide an immersive virtual reality experience powered by your smartphone.Explore virtual worlds with these Merge VR goggles. The input system lets you perform simultaneous action, such as running and jumping, and the soft foam construction keep you comfortable. These Merge VR goggles take you to new worlds via hundreds of apps with VR START, and they’re compatible with newer Android and iPhone devices for versatility.
Customer Rating
5
Very interesting idea, good implementation.
on September 30, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I have seen several types of VR goggles, and these are by far the nicest design yet.
Pros:
1. Comfortable fit to my face. These are pliable, making them comfortable to wear and easy to adjust on a variety of faces.
2. Simple design. Not quite as simple as Google Cardboard, but FAR more stable with the head straps. Control buttons on each side allow either hand to control.
3. Sturdy construction. These look like they will last a long time and should hold up very well to my students's use. The foam is just soft enough to be comfortable but firm enough to last.
1. Comfortable fit to my face. These are pliable, making them comfortable to wear and easy to adjust on a variety of faces.
2. Simple design. Not quite as simple as Google Cardboard, but FAR more stable with the head straps. Control buttons on each side allow either hand to control.
3. Sturdy construction. These look like they will last a long time and should hold up very well to my students's use. The foam is just soft enough to be comfortable but firm enough to last.
Cons:
1. VR does not like me... after just a few minutes I could feel myself getting motion sick and within a few more, I have a full on case of it! Not the fault of the goggles, but just a warning to others who may have problems with motion sickness, I don't usually!
2. Some apps don't respond easily to the motion - again, not the fault of the goggles, the apps just don't match up to the quality of the goggles!
1. VR does not like me... after just a few minutes I could feel myself getting motion sick and within a few more, I have a full on case of it! Not the fault of the goggles, but just a warning to others who may have problems with motion sickness, I don't usually!
2. Some apps don't respond easily to the motion - again, not the fault of the goggles, the apps just don't match up to the quality of the goggles!
Overall, this is the best set of goggles I have seen and are very comfortable to wear, I am just learning to appreciate actual reality more than virtual reality!
I would recommend these to anyone wanting to get the best experience with VR. Try the Merge Cube with it for an interesting and immersive experience.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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A new standard of comfort and precision. Logitech's most advanced trackball for trackball enthusiasts and consumers searching for alternatives to mice and touchpads. Delivers 20% less muscular strain compared to a regular mouse. MX ERGO PLUS features a unique adjustable hinge and extra 10° wedge for customized comfort and the latest tracking, scrolling and power management technology. Logitech FLOW enables effortless multi-computer control.
Customer Rating
5
Very nice trackball
on September 22, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
I can't believe how quickly I was able to get comfortable again with a trackball! I have used many Logitech trackballs over the years and really like the ones that are controlled by my thumb. I have rebuilt a couple of the old ones over the years and really miss having one now that they are gone.
When I pulled it out of the box, I was surprised to see the way it can be adjusted for angle. Both the middle and tall wedges feel a lot like the devices I was so used to long ago. It was just a few seconds before my hand was feeling natural on this thing, meaning they really took a look at what made the old ones so great.
I really like the ability to connect with both Bluetooth and the Unifying receiver and also being able to connect to more than one device with a single click.
The finish is not overly exciting, and I hope it lasts better than some of the old trackball cases that became sticky over time.
I am a little hesitant to tell a couple of my friends about this as I am pretty sure it will disappear if I do! It is a great mouse alternative if you have a small desk (or want to use it sitting in your recliner as I did for an hour or so the other night!) or a glass top that doesn't play well with normal mice.
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy a variety of entertainment with this LG mini hi-fi system. Its Bluetooth function lets you stream audio from digital devices, and you can also play music from cassettes, FM radio and CDs. This LG mini hi-fi system has a USB port to read flash drive files and includes a remote control for convenience.
Customer Rating
5
Very impressive little system...
on August 18, 2017
Posted by: Andy
from Northern California
This is an interesting stereo system! I have had several people ask “Where did you find that?” or “How old is that?” while others comment on how I stole Darth Vader’s twin because it is shaped just that way!
Out of the box, it is so easy to set up since there are only a couple of connections and everything is included in the box. The sound is a very nice blend of deep bass and nice mid and high tones. I use it mostly for radio but the included Bluetooth and USB make it pretty flexible for playing music from other devices. The 3-disk CD player is also a huge plus and you almost don’t even notice the cassette player on the top of the unit.
I have been using it in a classroom, which seems like exactly what it was designed for. It puts out enough sound to be very useful even in a noisy room and doesn’t take up too much space. The speakers don’t attach to the center component, so it is not too easy to transport and makes a great shelf system. The speaker cables are long enough to get some separation or to spread things out if you don’t have space all in one spot.
Overall, I am pleasantly surprised by the quality and ease of use of this little system. The features are all that I wanted in a system and the styling is just bold enough to start some interesting conversations!
Now if I could just remember where I keep laying the remote down…
My Best Buy number: 2133819191
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 ago
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Andy