Gibhunter's stats
- Review count61
- Helpfulness votes482
- First reviewFebruary 1, 2008
- Last reviewJune 20, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating3.7
- Review comment count15
- Helpfulness votes27
- First review commentMarch 20, 2011
- Last review commentMay 5, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count59
- Helpfulness votes4
- First answerMay 27, 2008
- Last answerDecember 5, 2015
- Featured answers0
- Best answers3
Create an immersive experience with this HTC Vive virtual reality system. The VR headset with 110-degree field of view and front-facing camera provides an enhanced visual experience through a mix of virtual and actual surroundings. This HTC Vive virtual reality system includes two base stations and two wireless controllers for a complete game-ready setup.
Customer Rating
3
It is early but promising!
on June 20, 2017
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
My vive has been less reliable overall by being more work to setup and in freezing or glitching or vive parts not being recognized. These are problems I don't have on my oculus anywhere near as regular as the vive. I would equate them to apple vs. android - one works more reliably but has more limitations – thinking cross platform owning games is an example there. I was pro apple in the beginning of the smart phone era and moved to android as it matured, something I could see happening with VR.
I wear glasses with -7.5/-8 prescription. I have to wear my older frames with either set to fit in the headset. I don't understand how they think these can fit today's styles of glasses. (The set that doesnt fit has 52mm wide lenses).
The steam store is great for buying games and managing them but it is hard when the store is a mix of standard and VR games. It needs a better dedicated store front.
The steam store is great for buying games and managing them but it is hard when the store is a mix of standard and VR games. It needs a better dedicated store front.
The vive and rift have similar screen door effect and I don’t notice it after ~2 minutes. When there is a white object on a black background it will shine strange which is a common complaint for the lenses each system uses. I would say that is more of an issue than screen door effect.
Another downside to both systems is really the lack of good content. Oculus is paying for and putting out almost all the high budget titles and Playstation VR is doing the same. That isn’t a focus for the vive.
Based on pricing, the vive is more expensive. Sure the rift needs a 3rd room sensor for another $50 but factoring in all the sales, store credits and free games included with the rift it has a far better value. Not to mention a more comfortable, lighter headset and superior feeling controllers over the vive. Throw in the Vive audio strap and you'll be well north of Oculus land. I would give the vive 3 stars and the rift 4 stars.
I was pro Oculus for years until the Vive was announced. I waited after both were released and when the Oculus dropped price and controllers came out I think was the moment the tables turned again. This competition will be good for the future of VR innovation. I still use my vive and recommend it along side the oculus, I just think you get a better product for less money with the rift.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+5points
14of 23voted this as helpful.
Bring movies and music to life in your home with these Thonet & Vander KURBISBT 5.25" 300W wireless speakers, which feature aramid fiber woofers and a silk tweeter for dynamic highs and lows. Bluetooth 4.0 and an RCA input offer flexible connectivity.
Customer Rating
1
Quality Control...
on December 23, 2016
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
Specifically the primary issue I had with mine is that they sounded awful out of the box. Chuffing and harsh treble from one speaker. I gently removed the grill and one of the 4 pins broke off the grill and stayed in the speaker... great. Then I noticed my issue... one of the 4 (really, just 4?) 2.5mm dinky allen key screws holding the woofer in was loose and air was escaping. Upon tightening, I noticed it was like that because the hold was stripped. It would spin forever with no resistance. I tried to call the company to see if a replacement of the non-amplified speaker was a possibility.. well there is no phone number to call. The website in fact is a cluster of poorly translated pages and your only option is a contact form. I completed the contact form, got an email saying they got it.... and... nothing. 7 days later, nothing. I went on their Facebook page and asked what typical response time was and quickly got a response that they did not get my message and asked me to PM details.
The only solution offered was to go to Best Buy for my issue which really meant reordering and returning. Best Buy was great as usual. So don't expect much from their warranty except to take it back to the store which can be an issue if you bought the item on sale - plus the item likely isn't carried in store. So the review below is after a week and a half of waiting when I got the replacement set.
I have a lot of speakers in my home. Some nice Polk Towers, polk outdoor speakers, polk bookshelfs, some Klipsch, some Sony, some no name that I built, Infinity aftermarket in one car, kicker aftermarket in the other. I am just not feeling these speakers. I think they are the most over-hyped speakers from reviews I read I have ever bought. None of my speakers are particularly expensive so I think my expectations were realistic for the price.
The closest set for comparison in my home is the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 set. Which retails for the same price I paid (both on sale). This Thonet and Vander set has no decent bass in comparison. Nothing. I think those battery powered bose portable speakers have a more full sound over all. This Thonet set is weak in the bass and pretty flat beyond, not that flat is always a bad thing. I am not listening to rap that demands bass, it really just isn't there with any music. My outdoor polks put out more bass in a smaller package, and my Polk TSI200's blow these away all over the range.
I would compare the tone of the highs to be in-between the warm of most Polks to the harsher highers of many Klipsch speakers which is a good thing - neutral, flat.
The volume is an issue for a medium sized bedroom these are in. They do not get very loud. I question the 60 watts RMS, especially since the wattage isn't going to bass.
Comparing these to speakers that need an external amp, or a small 2.1 set with a subwoofer isnt 100% fair. but still, these aren't small, they aren't portable, they plug in still, and they cost a lot, so I feel I expect more from these. I have heard smaller, portable, battery powered, and cheaper speakers sound better.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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-2points
9of 20voted this as helpful.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Cell Phone for Verizon Wireless: This phone is constructed from metal and glass for a sturdy, high-quality build, while its ultra-fast processer makes for exceptional multitasking. It comes packed with features, like a fingerprint reader, advanced cameras on both sides of the phone, and a heart rate monitor. Plus, Samsung Pay allows you to swipe this phone as if it were a credit card to process fast, secure payments without pulling out your wallet.Verizon Edge option available. Learn more ›
Customer Rating
2
Samsungs worst flagship phone
on January 18, 2016
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
Ive had this phone for ~3 months now and it is so full of issues and downsides they hardly make it a worthy upgrade from the S5.
The limited storage is the biggest issue so far. Carriers and apps are not ready for cloud storage so why would you get rid of the SD card slot???
Now that it supports GearVR, the storage limitation fails even more.. every VR experience is 700-1400MB for a few minutes of 3D video. Of course.. that is all the hpone is good for (a few minutes of 3d Video) before it overheats and needs to take a break.
Attaching the phone via USB to transfer files feels so dated... and if the phone dies your data is lost as opposed to being on a MicroSD card.
The smaller battery mixed with higher resolution screen is a mega fail.
Its super slippery.. you HAVE to have a case with this phone.
PROS:
MST makes samsung pay 1000x more useful than apple/android pay.
Fast charging and built in QI charging is great.
MST makes samsung pay 1000x more useful than apple/android pay.
Fast charging and built in QI charging is great.
Anyway.. wait for the S7, the leaks suggest it is fixed many of the issues people have with the S6.. most importantly the SD card slot.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Samsung Gear VR for Select Samsung Cell Phones: Mobile virtual reality is finally here. Watch movies in your own private cinema, be at the center of your favorite games, and socialize with friends in a virtual world all your own. The lightweight design and intuitive touchpad drop you right in the action and allow for hours of immersive entertainment.
Customer Rating
3
It really isnt quite there yet.
on December 5, 2015
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
I have a new Galaxy S6 and watched tons of reviews on youtube before buying this but it didnt quite seem to stand up to the hype out there. My first impression when putting it on was "wow so that is the screen door effect everyone talks about". Yes, it is very noticeable, it is a gray screen like pattern that doesn't move when you move your head and it dulls the colors. I never really noticed it on my google cardboard using a GS5 - maybe it is the lens? My second thought after putting it on was. "wow, this moves so much smoother than my google cardboard". The sensors are much better in this device.
Initial setup is done by plugging your phone in and it will download the oculus store. The initial app setup failed on mine - I left it for 20 minutes and it was stuck on installing one of the experiences. After force closing it and trying again it went. The Oculus store selection isnt great right now and apps/experiences/games can get very pricey and most have 3 star reviews but there are some good ones out there. About 7 minutes in on actually using the device my S6 was overheating and a message popped up saying it needed to cool down. I saw this a lot on youtube videos but figured it was because they were recording the screen while using it. Later in the day it took 40 minutes to overheat - Watching videos in oculus theatre is less intensive than an app where you are constantly moving your head around. I've noticed in comparison to my google cardboard that I have felt 0 motion sickness using this product while ~10 minutes of google cardboard is enough. I am also having a hard time fining the navigation buttons on the side when I need to. I have ordered a game pad to solve that issue. I had Sony bluetooth headphones paired only to find out they dont work in the VR world - sound is choppy or delayed - look it up if you don't believe me.
In the VR world one thing that was a let down is that objects that are far away really arent crisp or in focus. In the real world I can look up at a tree and see leaves/pine needles. I haven't seen any experiences where distant objects look real because of this. I think maybe it is equipment limitations? In a perfect world, the inside of the device would have retina trackers and software to focus the screen based on where you are looking... but that would be resource intensive. The Oculus theater though gives you that weird feeling when you look around the room and dont see anyone, and you look down at your arm rest and your arm isnt there. Pretty cool!
The device being wide hasnt been an issue for me, but my wife has quite a gap letting light in.. it didnt seem to bother her much though. I do unfortunately see the edges of the phone screen as cut off in my peripheral vision.. I wonder if the larger galaxy devices wouldnt have this issue.
Yes it is better than a $5 google cardboard - but if you have used a google cardboard you arent going to put this on and compare it to the first time you saw N64 graphics that people keep saying. I'm not sure it even justifies the high cost of this device retailing at $100.
If you think you'll be able to show this device to several friends who want to see it.. be prepared for disappointment when it overheats on the second person.
Another disappointment related to this device is that the apps/experiences are HUGE.. 700mb for <5 minute videos. Meanwhile Samsung removes the SD card slot on their flagship products. Where was the thought process there? They say SD cards are outdated and the cloud is the future... well... not if the future is GearVR. It is a shame samsung went backwards in making the galaxy S6 because making it a little thicker like the galaxy S5 to allow SD cards or improve on cooling/battery would have been a step in the right direction.
In Summary:
The good:
- More sensitive than google cardboard
-No Motion sickness
- Fits over my fairly wide glasses well - and focuses with my -8.5 Rx glasses
- There are some pretty awesome experiences available
The good:
- More sensitive than google cardboard
-No Motion sickness
- Fits over my fairly wide glasses well - and focuses with my -8.5 Rx glasses
- There are some pretty awesome experiences available
The Bad:
-Overheats GS6 phone in minutes!
-Drains battery from 100-46% in 40 minutes (brightness on second to lowest)
-Expensive for what it is.
-Screen door effect which dulls colors.
-Edges cut off in peripheral vision with GS6
-No motion tracking - if you move your head closer it doesnt move in the VR world.
-Supported controllers are outrageously expensive, and should be included.
-App store is sparse, expensive, and you don't get to see many details before buying.
-Overheats GS6 phone in minutes!
-Drains battery from 100-46% in 40 minutes (brightness on second to lowest)
-Expensive for what it is.
-Screen door effect which dulls colors.
-Edges cut off in peripheral vision with GS6
-No motion tracking - if you move your head closer it doesnt move in the VR world.
-Supported controllers are outrageously expensive, and should be included.
-App store is sparse, expensive, and you don't get to see many details before buying.
Final Thoughts:
Had I seen the list of issues above I might have skipped on buying this. I would really point people interested in this to a google cardboard with a head strap because it really gives you that new experience for a good price. Know the limitations and dont expect a huge amount more than smoother head motion and comfort with this product over the cardboard. I have been wanting an oculus rift for several years now, and followed it closely in the news, but after seeing the screen door effect so strong on such a high resolution display Im going to move more cautiously.
Had I seen the list of issues above I might have skipped on buying this. I would really point people interested in this to a google cardboard with a head strap because it really gives you that new experience for a good price. Know the limitations and dont expect a huge amount more than smoother head motion and comfort with this product over the cardboard. I have been wanting an oculus rift for several years now, and followed it closely in the news, but after seeing the screen door effect so strong on such a high resolution display Im going to move more cautiously.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+28points
54of 80voted this as helpful.
Expand your PC or laptop's storage capacity with this SanDisk SSD Plus SDSSDA-240G-G25 solid state drive, which offers 240GB of space and sequential read speeds up to 520MB/sec. The shock-resistant design ensures lasting use.
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
Ive installed 2 of these now for friends and there were no surprises. Both are going good after a few months now and are much faster than stock HDDs. Once you go SSD you never go back, it is the best <$100 investment you can make to a computer.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Use this Klipsch ProMedia 3-piece speaker system to enjoy brilliant sound when playing games, listening to music or watching videos on your computer.
Customer Rating
2
First Promedia lasted 10 yrs, this set.. doubt it.
on August 28, 2015
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
So 10 years ago (2005) I bought this Promedia set from Best Buy. It made it through 4 years of college, moving in and out of dorms and many apartments in the following 6 years. Only weakness on that set was how easily the woofer could be strained. It finally died last week so I figured I would buy another. Right away unboxing it there are differences everywhere and none seemed to be for the better. The fuse is gone, no more power switch on the back, and the subwoofer is a good 4ibs lighter. The whole back plate on it looks cheaper. The satellite speakers no longer have 3.5mm inputs but instead have the speaker wire built into them... cheap? yeah... So how does the sound compare? 10 years later it still pops when you plug a source in... 10 years later the subwoofer still strains easily. The sound quality is good at low levels - this is coming from someone who has a high end aftermarket car stereo setup and have Polk TSX550 for my primary home speaker setup (not super high end but really good). Klipsch has in my opinion always had bright highs (almost harsh) and good bass, vs. Polk Audio with a warmer tone overall and more midrange vs. Logitech with muddy highs and tons of midrange and mid bass. For the money I think it isn't bad, but 10 years later with no improvements, and several downgrades at this pricepoint isn't good. There are a lot of other equal or better options out there today. My only deciding factor was the subwoofer form factor I needed. I dont think it is fair for BBY to keep these old reviews when the product has had revisions like this.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Enjoy speedy Wi-Fi around your home with this NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 AC2350 R7500-100NAS router, which features 4 high-performance antennas and Beamforming+ technology for optimal wireless range. Dynamic QoS prioritization automatically adjusts bandwidth.
Customer Rating
1
Not ready for the market yet.
on April 26, 2015
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
This thing is a waste of time and money. The first one I bought I instantly had issues setting up. All of the back end pages were loading like a slug, 40 seconds to more than a minute to load each setup page with 404's here and there. I upgraded the firmware and still the issues were present. On top of that any computer or tablet/phone on the 2.4 ghz would only transfer data at 1-10 megabits a second once setup. In network transfers included would max out at 10 megabits while the computer says excellent signal and a 150megabit connection. On the 5.0ghz band I had disconnects already in the 2 days I had the router and innetwork transfers would range from 20-30 megabits despite saying a 400+ megabit connection. If I wired the computers in I had full speed LAN/Internet speeds. I exchanged the router because netgear support said the slow loading backend pages were not normal and definitely the routers fault. The second one didnt have the slow loading back end, but did have the slow internet/intranet transfers issue. I researched it and came across lots of people with similar issues and many complaining about netgears lack of effort in releasing working firmware... in fact they said I should downgrade firmware to get certain features working and had a list of broken features netgear needs to address. I opted to try the OpenWRT firmware/software which is advertised on netgears website... only problem is that once I installed that firmware the 2.4 ghz band would not enable. I tried everything, it just wouldnt turn on. I restored the firmware back to netgears and the one people recommended on their forum and just dealt with the slow speeds until I had time to return this one. However, overnight the 2.4ghz band disappeared and the internet connection was lost on the other band/wired ports. This thing is not ready for sale and on the forums where months go by without fixes, people are starting to assume netgear has given up on supporting this router already. A big issue it seems is that netgear doesnt make the wireless chips and relies on the company making them to release updated drivers to fix issues. Youll probably notice any router with 1700+ megabit 5.0 band is having a number of terrible reviews and my guess is they have the same chip in them. Oh, and I suspect I will get a response from the manufacturer on this review, however I have already emailed the address they post and never got a response. I was unhappy with netgear support when I called. I switched to a Linksys AC router which doesn't support 1700+ megabit wireless, but has reliability instead. Also worth noting, my previous router was a netgear R7000 nighthawk, which did work reliably for 1.5 years for me - the netgear genie setup is exactly the same, except the R7000 didnt take minutes to load pages with 404's in the back end.
My Best Buy number: 0539475232
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+3points
10of 17voted this as helpful.
Samsung Galaxy S 4 SCH-I545 Cell Phone for Verizon Wireless: Packed with features for new or experienced smartphone users, the Galaxy S 4 includes a vivid Full HD 5" display for great views of photos, videos and Web pages and touch-free navigation to view photos and files with just a wave of your hand. The Galaxy S 4 even works as a universal TV remote.Verizon Edge option available. Learn more ›
Customer Rating
2
2 Huge Issues - Durability and Bugs
on October 11, 2013
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
Age:25-34
Phone size:Large
You can read all the other reviews for more details on the good. But I want to share 2 big issues I have with this phone.
1. They haven't fixed a common wifi bug where at times when connected for a long period (daily at home) and try and use your phone the internet will no longer work - it will say its connected but websites/internet apps will just hang forever until you disable wifi and switch to 4G data.. then bam! things work. Resetting the wifi has become a daily hassle... and also I'm missing what are sometimes important notifications because I could go hours without working internet not knowing since it says its connected. This issue I thought was my routers fault, but even after switching it out 2x over the past few months and knowing this SAME ISSUE happens with my wife's GSIII, I have narrowed it down to phone. I have used the Linksys E4200 router as well as netgear R6300 and the new netgear nighthawk which the issue appeared on within a couple hours. Google this issue "Galaxy wifi connected but no internet" thousands of forum posts with no fixes... Samsung acknowledges the issue and has for more than a year but offers no solution or bug fix yet.
1. They haven't fixed a common wifi bug where at times when connected for a long period (daily at home) and try and use your phone the internet will no longer work - it will say its connected but websites/internet apps will just hang forever until you disable wifi and switch to 4G data.. then bam! things work. Resetting the wifi has become a daily hassle... and also I'm missing what are sometimes important notifications because I could go hours without working internet not knowing since it says its connected. This issue I thought was my routers fault, but even after switching it out 2x over the past few months and knowing this SAME ISSUE happens with my wife's GSIII, I have narrowed it down to phone. I have used the Linksys E4200 router as well as netgear R6300 and the new netgear nighthawk which the issue appeared on within a couple hours. Google this issue "Galaxy wifi connected but no internet" thousands of forum posts with no fixes... Samsung acknowledges the issue and has for more than a year but offers no solution or bug fix yet.
2. Since the time of the Galaxy SIII these phones have been known to crack very easy with small drops. Well.. I never once dropped my previous Moto Atrix 4G, however, within 2 months of owning this phone it has 3x slipped out of my pocket while sitting and fallen to the floor.. and yup.. from 2' the screen is now cracked.. I will be using my accidental warranty eventually if the single hairline crack gets any worse. I'm confident that MOST other smartphones on the market could handle the fall it took. And this phone certainly is far more slippery with its glossy plastic finish than most. Its just very frustrating that in order for the phone to not break itself in my pocket i have to buy a bulky case with some grip.
3. The smaller issue is with the software on the phone... this is a popular, new, near top of the line phone and yet the OS is sluggish most of the time. Since it was right off the shelf I noticed things get laggy easy.. just turning the volume up and down, or turning the phone and waiting for the sensor to turn the picture.. its slow.. much slower than my last 2 phones. I have it pretty well optimized now, and doing so improved battery life even more, but wow.... slow. The gallery app is the worst of all, even with syncing disabled.. this thing struggles just to cycle through my photos and find the more recent one I took. if it bugs me enough ill use another app..
4. A smaller issue again.. the camera isnt all that great, and every time it auto "fixes" photos I have to delete and retake it or edit it because it makes them too dark... every time. If it bugs me enough ill get a new app...
Its still a nice phone.. I know it isnt going to hold up and am glad I am grandfathered into the no deductible accidental plan at Best Buy to repair my phone. I am sure an iPhone would have been a more durable longer lasting product, but I just cant deal with the closed un-personalized look and feel of the simple operating system. I've had 2 iphones in the past and can never use them more than a few months before going back to android.
Would I recommend it? Nope.. Samsung has acknowledged slow sales on this phone because it was so similar to the GSIII with the same weak screen and my guess is a new one will pop up shortly with some improvements. So wait it out, I only did because I wanted the older style warranty Best Buy was phasing out.
My Best Buy number: 539475232
What's great about it: Screen Size, battery,
What's not so great: Bugs, easy to crack, slow
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Picture Quality
5
Battery Life
3
Sound Quality
4
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+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
Accelerate your WiFi 5 with NETGEAR Nighthawk! Enjoy fast WiFi speeds up to 1900 Mbps and a powerful dual core 1GHz processor for extreme performance. High-powered amplifiers, external antennas and Beamforming improve range and reliability for up to 100% more wireless coverage. Features like downstream and upstream QoS prioritize streaming and gaming, creating a blazing-fast, lag-free WiFi experience
Customer Rating
4
It s a powerful router
on October 8, 2013
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
I use it in...:Large home
I bought this because both my previous routers have failed.. the Linksys E4200 and Netgear R6300.. they worked for a few months but eventually started dropping connections or not connecting to devices in the home.
This beast might last longer with my heavy streaming. I use it primarily with my home server to stream movies ranging from 3GB to 20GB to my HTPC upstairs, or laptop, or desktop. Its working great so far, however not anywhere near the advertised speeds, even with the neatgear wireless AC USB card 20' from the router in open space it will only connect at half the advertised speeds. But to be fair... the netgear adapter is poorly designed since its only USB 2.0 so it would max at 480 Megabits/sec not the advertised speed.
On the 2.4ghz band its comparable to my old router, which has a better range than the 5.0ghz band. On the 5.0ghz band I am getting a 351megabit connection to my desktop and 500 to my HTPC. My desktop is directly one floor above the router. The HTPC is one floor above and through 1 wall. The 5.0ghz band quickly dies out with any range. The "focusing" antenna is a gimmick IMO, it's the exact same connection speed on all my devices as my last wireless AC router before it had issues.
DO NOT EXPECT GIGABIT WIRELESS with this router.. at the distance required to actually connect at a gigabit through wireless you would be in range of a 6' ethernet cable and save $50+ on an adapter... which netgear doesnt make as of this review... only usb 2.0 adapters which will peak at 480Megabits/sec.
A plus of the router though is that I can stream 4 different 15GB video files from my sever to my laptops/HTPC/desktop without stuttering, a pretty impressive feat.
My hope is that it holds up better than my last 6 routers in the past 2 years.
My Best Buy number: 539475232
What's great about it: Speed, Ease of setup
What's not so great: Range
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Performance
3
(click to see the video)
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+30points
39of 48voted this as helpful.
Experience data transfer rates up to 900 Mbps with this NETGEAR dual-band USB 2.0 adapter that connects your computer to a Wireless-AC network to provide the speed needed for streaming high-definition content, online gaming and more.
Customer Rating
2
Issue with advertising
on January 4, 2013
Posted by: Gibhunter
from Maine
I use it in...:Large home
THis is a USB 2.0 adapter, the maximum bandwidth of USB 2.0 is 480mbit/sec. To advertise a maximum speed of 900mbit/sec which is far from possible is not accurate advertising.
Aside from that which I knew going in, it does have better range than my Linksys AE1000 which comes with more latency (4ms more).
Install wasnt bad, I wish it could download drivers from windows update, but that didnt happen.
HAndles streaming 14GB movies to my HTPC.
What's great about it: fast
What's not so great: latency, NOT 900mbit/sec
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Ease of Use
4
Performance
2
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+3points
4of 5voted this as helpful.
The Passport 9500ix provides the latest in GPS powered filtering with Truelock. A radar frequency filtering system, that permanently eliminates false alerts by location and frequency. The Passport 9500ix provides total coverage with X, K, Superwide Ka, International Ku and Safety Warning System (SWS) radar capability, combined with front and rear laser detection. The Passport 9500ix also introduces intuitive AutoSensitivity which increases the range as your speed increases. The 9500ix includes Autolearn software and a blue display.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Best radar detector on the market! =)
By RANGE
from Las Vegas
Let me start of by saying that I love this radar detector, and the VR1 is a very distant second. The futures and the GPS make this radar detector leaps and bounds ahead of the rest.
Let me also explain why I didnt give it a flawless 5.0 which it deserves. So you drop 540.00 roughly after tax on this thing (and trust me it's worth every penny# and you open the box to find out that they don't even give you a smart cord to connect it to the computer #e.g. any cord that charges a Droid# which you need to fully utilize all of its potential #i.e. red light camera updates, speed trap updates, false alarm upates, etc.#. They also have a subcription fee to keep you updated after your trial period, which I expected but was maybe hoping for a longer trail period since you did just drop 500 on this thing. Because once you buy it they know they have you so you really have no choice to but to buy it to keep it current.
Now let me give all the praise that it deserves. The GPS with the "auto learn" feature alone makes this thing worth the 500+ dollars you drop on it. False alarms suck and they really do elimanate it. Wether it is you, yourself hitting the store button at a false single #which it will never beep from that false alarm again since it is stored becuase it has a GPS inside the radar detector) or the "auto learn" which does the same thing but, by itself when passed by one #i.e. any large store, casinos, some banks) The reasoning for these false alarms are big stores with there motion sensors for the doors or the alarm systems.
So after it is stored it will never beep from that false single again! = AWESOME! =)
So after it is stored it will never beep from that false single again! = AWESOME! =)
They also have a "escort live" cord that can be plugged into your car then you plug your Droid or Iphone into to see what speed traps are around you# Very cool#
Also just the bottom line of almost never having to listen to a bunch of false beeps and havign to weed them yourself# When this thing beeps you pay attention, because its always dead on# =)
Overall: Best radar detector out there just sad they dont hook you up with a little bit longer of a trial period and a cord# C'mon man!! =)
Gibhunter
Maine
May 17, 2012
How much is this subscription fee? Is it monthly or yearly or per update?
Thanks for the review!
Thanks for the review!
0points
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Take dynamic action shots with your GoPro camera when you mount it to a radiator cap, bike frame, surfboard or tube with a diameter of 1.4-2.5" with this roll bar mount.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Broke on first use
By Gibhunter
from Maine
I took this to Sunday River with hopes of mounting it to the seatpost for a behind my bike shot of the person in back of me. I had it mounted and tightened with a screw drive since this mount will move no matter how hard you hand tighten it with only a little force.
When mounting it, it felt cheap and I thought it might break at the base since the half circle grips are really really thin and flex a LOT when tightening.
Anyway, I got down the mountain using Level 2/5 (easy - step up from a gravel trail down the mountain) trails. At the bottom I noticed it was gone.. see pictures below for the break off point. My camera made no sound or feel when it popped off.
Anyway, after 2 trips walking down the mountain and wasting an hour I gave up. Lucky for me though the guy I was with spotted it on the chairlift up reflecting back at us.
The camera corrupted the last 20 seconds of the video so I lost the part where it fell off unfortunately, but in putting the camera back up against the broken mount I know with 100% certainty that my back wheel did not hit the camera - it is impossible at the height it was mounted.
When mounting it, it felt cheap and I thought it might break at the base since the half circle grips are really really thin and flex a LOT when tightening.
Anyway, I got down the mountain using Level 2/5 (easy - step up from a gravel trail down the mountain) trails. At the bottom I noticed it was gone.. see pictures below for the break off point. My camera made no sound or feel when it popped off.
Anyway, after 2 trips walking down the mountain and wasting an hour I gave up. Lucky for me though the guy I was with spotted it on the chairlift up reflecting back at us.
The camera corrupted the last 20 seconds of the video so I lost the part where it fell off unfortunately, but in putting the camera back up against the broken mount I know with 100% certainty that my back wheel did not hit the camera - it is impossible at the height it was mounted.
GoPro NEEDS to make $30 mounts out of metal, the place this mount snapped off has no effect from how tight it is mounted which wasnt overly tight IMO or loose, it was at the start of a plastic arm!
I almost lost a $300 camera because GoPro cheaped out on ALL of their mounts. A $30 mount shouldnt be made of thin flimsy plastic.
Gibhunter
Maine
May 30, 2013
You are right, it is an extension - the one it came with..
Also, I did get it replaced at best buy however, I broke another at that connection between the rollbar mount and the initial extension mount - so that time it was the mount that was bad. I was able to use the replacement several times biking in the same way (with a cord attaching the camera to my bike in case) before this happened.. I still wouldn't reccomend this mount for any use with high amount of shaking with the older gopro. The newer one is a lot lighter it might not have any issues.
THey still should be a stronger material that doesnt flex so much.
0points
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Samsung Gear VR for Select Samsung Cell Phones: Mobile virtual reality is finally here. Watch movies in your own private cinema, be at the center of your favorite games, and socialize with friends in a virtual world all your own. The lightweight design and intuitive touchpad drop you right in the action and allow for hours of immersive entertainment.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5It really isnt quite there yet.
By Gibhunter
from Maine
I have a new Galaxy S6 and watched tons of reviews on youtube before buying this but it didnt quite seem to stand up to the hype out there. My first impression when putting it on was "wow so that is the screen door effect everyone talks about". Yes, it is very noticeable, it is a gray screen like pattern that doesn't move when you move your head and it dulls the colors. I never really noticed it on my google cardboard using a GS5 - maybe it is the lens? My second thought after putting it on was. "wow, this moves so much smoother than my google cardboard". The sensors are much better in this device.
Initial setup is done by plugging your phone in and it will download the oculus store. The initial app setup failed on mine - I left it for 20 minutes and it was stuck on installing one of the experiences. After force closing it and trying again it went. The Oculus store selection isnt great right now and apps/experiences/games can get very pricey and most have 3 star reviews but there are some good ones out there. About 7 minutes in on actually using the device my S6 was overheating and a message popped up saying it needed to cool down. I saw this a lot on youtube videos but figured it was because they were recording the screen while using it. Later in the day it took 40 minutes to overheat - Watching videos in oculus theatre is less intensive than an app where you are constantly moving your head around. I've noticed in comparison to my google cardboard that I have felt 0 motion sickness using this product while ~10 minutes of google cardboard is enough. I am also having a hard time fining the navigation buttons on the side when I need to. I have ordered a game pad to solve that issue. I had Sony bluetooth headphones paired only to find out they dont work in the VR world - sound is choppy or delayed - look it up if you don't believe me.
In the VR world one thing that was a let down is that objects that are far away really arent crisp or in focus. In the real world I can look up at a tree and see leaves/pine needles. I haven't seen any experiences where distant objects look real because of this. I think maybe it is equipment limitations? In a perfect world, the inside of the device would have retina trackers and software to focus the screen based on where you are looking... but that would be resource intensive. The Oculus theater though gives you that weird feeling when you look around the room and dont see anyone, and you look down at your arm rest and your arm isnt there. Pretty cool!
The device being wide hasnt been an issue for me, but my wife has quite a gap letting light in.. it didnt seem to bother her much though. I do unfortunately see the edges of the phone screen as cut off in my peripheral vision.. I wonder if the larger galaxy devices wouldnt have this issue.
Yes it is better than a $5 google cardboard - but if you have used a google cardboard you arent going to put this on and compare it to the first time you saw N64 graphics that people keep saying. I'm not sure it even justifies the high cost of this device retailing at $100.
If you think you'll be able to show this device to several friends who want to see it.. be prepared for disappointment when it overheats on the second person.
Another disappointment related to this device is that the apps/experiences are HUGE.. 700mb for <5 minute videos. Meanwhile Samsung removes the SD card slot on their flagship products. Where was the thought process there? They say SD cards are outdated and the cloud is the future... well... not if the future is GearVR. It is a shame samsung went backwards in making the galaxy S6 because making it a little thicker like the galaxy S5 to allow SD cards or improve on cooling/battery would have been a step in the right direction.
In Summary:
The good:
- More sensitive than google cardboard
-No Motion sickness
- Fits over my fairly wide glasses well - and focuses with my -8.5 Rx glasses
- There are some pretty awesome experiences available
The good:
- More sensitive than google cardboard
-No Motion sickness
- Fits over my fairly wide glasses well - and focuses with my -8.5 Rx glasses
- There are some pretty awesome experiences available
The Bad:
-Overheats GS6 phone in minutes!
-Drains battery from 100-46% in 40 minutes (brightness on second to lowest)
-Expensive for what it is.
-Screen door effect which dulls colors.
-Edges cut off in peripheral vision with GS6
-No motion tracking - if you move your head closer it doesnt move in the VR world.
-Supported controllers are outrageously expensive, and should be included.
-App store is sparse, expensive, and you don't get to see many details before buying.
-Overheats GS6 phone in minutes!
-Drains battery from 100-46% in 40 minutes (brightness on second to lowest)
-Expensive for what it is.
-Screen door effect which dulls colors.
-Edges cut off in peripheral vision with GS6
-No motion tracking - if you move your head closer it doesnt move in the VR world.
-Supported controllers are outrageously expensive, and should be included.
-App store is sparse, expensive, and you don't get to see many details before buying.
Final Thoughts:
Had I seen the list of issues above I might have skipped on buying this. I would really point people interested in this to a google cardboard with a head strap because it really gives you that new experience for a good price. Know the limitations and dont expect a huge amount more than smoother head motion and comfort with this product over the cardboard. I have been wanting an oculus rift for several years now, and followed it closely in the news, but after seeing the screen door effect so strong on such a high resolution display Im going to move more cautiously.
Had I seen the list of issues above I might have skipped on buying this. I would really point people interested in this to a google cardboard with a head strap because it really gives you that new experience for a good price. Know the limitations and dont expect a huge amount more than smoother head motion and comfort with this product over the cardboard. I have been wanting an oculus rift for several years now, and followed it closely in the news, but after seeing the screen door effect so strong on such a high resolution display Im going to move more cautiously.
Gibhunter
Maine
Reply:
December 7, 2015
"Samsung Gear VR ( Reg price $200), Google cardboard (Reg price $5 ), how can you compare these two headset ?"
Samsung GearVR regular price is $100. You are talking the innovator version. How can I compare them? Well.. because they are essentially the same thing. Many of the gearVR experiences run on google cardboard. Plus you must not have understood what I was getting at because your statement doesn't make sense.
If you read it.. I was comparing the Google Cardboard to the GearVR and saying its is not really worth a $95 price difference - this is not a case of comparing a $100 and $5 item where the expensive item would obviously blow away the cheap one - in this case its nearly a wash.
Anyway, after a few more days with the device the over-heating issue is really ruining the experience. Its often only 10 minutes I get at a time before it needs to cool down and drops framerate - often during a video/game/experience. This is in a 70F room with a ceiling fan on with low humidity.
This is NOT a consumer device. A consumer device would have this issue resolved.
My fear is that Samsung will suddenly drop support for the S6 as soon as the S7 comes out instead of offering a solution. I'm looking into heatsink or fan options currently. Samsung could have made that plastic cover that covers the phone, which I dont use, into a heatsink instead of a heat trap .
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Samsung Gear VR for Select Samsung Cell Phones: Mobile virtual reality is finally here. Watch movies in your own private cinema, be at the center of your favorite games, and socialize with friends in a virtual world all your own. The lightweight design and intuitive touchpad drop you right in the action and allow for hours of immersive entertainment.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5It really isnt quite there yet.
By Gibhunter
from Maine
I have a new Galaxy S6 and watched tons of reviews on youtube before buying this but it didnt quite seem to stand up to the hype out there. My first impression when putting it on was "wow so that is the screen door effect everyone talks about". Yes, it is very noticeable, it is a gray screen like pattern that doesn't move when you move your head and it dulls the colors. I never really noticed it on my google cardboard using a GS5 - maybe it is the lens? My second thought after putting it on was. "wow, this moves so much smoother than my google cardboard". The sensors are much better in this device.
Initial setup is done by plugging your phone in and it will download the oculus store. The initial app setup failed on mine - I left it for 20 minutes and it was stuck on installing one of the experiences. After force closing it and trying again it went. The Oculus store selection isnt great right now and apps/experiences/games can get very pricey and most have 3 star reviews but there are some good ones out there. About 7 minutes in on actually using the device my S6 was overheating and a message popped up saying it needed to cool down. I saw this a lot on youtube videos but figured it was because they were recording the screen while using it. Later in the day it took 40 minutes to overheat - Watching videos in oculus theatre is less intensive than an app where you are constantly moving your head around. I've noticed in comparison to my google cardboard that I have felt 0 motion sickness using this product while ~10 minutes of google cardboard is enough. I am also having a hard time fining the navigation buttons on the side when I need to. I have ordered a game pad to solve that issue. I had Sony bluetooth headphones paired only to find out they dont work in the VR world - sound is choppy or delayed - look it up if you don't believe me.
In the VR world one thing that was a let down is that objects that are far away really arent crisp or in focus. In the real world I can look up at a tree and see leaves/pine needles. I haven't seen any experiences where distant objects look real because of this. I think maybe it is equipment limitations? In a perfect world, the inside of the device would have retina trackers and software to focus the screen based on where you are looking... but that would be resource intensive. The Oculus theater though gives you that weird feeling when you look around the room and dont see anyone, and you look down at your arm rest and your arm isnt there. Pretty cool!
The device being wide hasnt been an issue for me, but my wife has quite a gap letting light in.. it didnt seem to bother her much though. I do unfortunately see the edges of the phone screen as cut off in my peripheral vision.. I wonder if the larger galaxy devices wouldnt have this issue.
Yes it is better than a $5 google cardboard - but if you have used a google cardboard you arent going to put this on and compare it to the first time you saw N64 graphics that people keep saying. I'm not sure it even justifies the high cost of this device retailing at $100.
If you think you'll be able to show this device to several friends who want to see it.. be prepared for disappointment when it overheats on the second person.
Another disappointment related to this device is that the apps/experiences are HUGE.. 700mb for <5 minute videos. Meanwhile Samsung removes the SD card slot on their flagship products. Where was the thought process there? They say SD cards are outdated and the cloud is the future... well... not if the future is GearVR. It is a shame samsung went backwards in making the galaxy S6 because making it a little thicker like the galaxy S5 to allow SD cards or improve on cooling/battery would have been a step in the right direction.
In Summary:
The good:
- More sensitive than google cardboard
-No Motion sickness
- Fits over my fairly wide glasses well - and focuses with my -8.5 Rx glasses
- There are some pretty awesome experiences available
The good:
- More sensitive than google cardboard
-No Motion sickness
- Fits over my fairly wide glasses well - and focuses with my -8.5 Rx glasses
- There are some pretty awesome experiences available
The Bad:
-Overheats GS6 phone in minutes!
-Drains battery from 100-46% in 40 minutes (brightness on second to lowest)
-Expensive for what it is.
-Screen door effect which dulls colors.
-Edges cut off in peripheral vision with GS6
-No motion tracking - if you move your head closer it doesnt move in the VR world.
-Supported controllers are outrageously expensive, and should be included.
-App store is sparse, expensive, and you don't get to see many details before buying.
-Overheats GS6 phone in minutes!
-Drains battery from 100-46% in 40 minutes (brightness on second to lowest)
-Expensive for what it is.
-Screen door effect which dulls colors.
-Edges cut off in peripheral vision with GS6
-No motion tracking - if you move your head closer it doesnt move in the VR world.
-Supported controllers are outrageously expensive, and should be included.
-App store is sparse, expensive, and you don't get to see many details before buying.
Final Thoughts:
Had I seen the list of issues above I might have skipped on buying this. I would really point people interested in this to a google cardboard with a head strap because it really gives you that new experience for a good price. Know the limitations and dont expect a huge amount more than smoother head motion and comfort with this product over the cardboard. I have been wanting an oculus rift for several years now, and followed it closely in the news, but after seeing the screen door effect so strong on such a high resolution display Im going to move more cautiously.
Had I seen the list of issues above I might have skipped on buying this. I would really point people interested in this to a google cardboard with a head strap because it really gives you that new experience for a good price. Know the limitations and dont expect a huge amount more than smoother head motion and comfort with this product over the cardboard. I have been wanting an oculus rift for several years now, and followed it closely in the news, but after seeing the screen door effect so strong on such a high resolution display Im going to move more cautiously.
Gibhunter
Maine
December 12, 2015
Yes, 3 out of 5 stars is 90% due to it overheating. Ive now had it over a week and every single time I use it, it as overheated. Just now it took a whopping 6 minutes in game. It needs a fan or heatsink.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
This WD My Cloud drive features a 4TB capacity and lets you stream media to compatible DLNA-/UPnP-capable devices or upload and access data on the go via PC, Mac and compatible mobile phones and tablets. Automatic backup helps safeguard your files.
Overall
5 out of 5
5 out of 5Easy to setup and use. Free backup program.
By cat0w
from Killeen
I have had my WD My Cloud (4GB) for a week now. It was very easy to setup and start using. You can download the Smartware for backing up your computers and upgrade to Pro for free. I have backed up both my desktop and laptop on it. There are apps for using it on your laptop and cell phone etc. I have downloaded both User Manuals for the My Cloud and the Smartware. I did upgrade the Ethernet cable from the CAT5 that came with it to a Belkin Premium Flat High-Speed CAT6 cable. It has worked fine when I use my cell phone to view my content. You can email files, pictures and video for family and friends to view.
Gibhunter
Maine
May 5, 2017
Just so others are aware - the cat5 cable this comes with is capable of 1 gigabit/sec transfer rate which is the max speed of the port on the hard drive. There will be no benefit to switching it out for a cat6 cable. The included cable is far too short to cause any sort of slowdown.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Gibhunter's Questions
Gibhunter has not submitted any questions.
Give your PC a performance boost with this PNY Optima desktop memory kit that includes two 4GB PC3-10666 DDR3 modules to provide the power required for fast, efficient multitasking. Enhanced thermal performance helps ensure optimal operation.
Compaq Presario f700
I'm looking to upgrade can older laptop, is this compatible?
No, this is desktop memory. I would need your model to point you to the correct laptop memory - I would call or go in store with the laptop and ask
8 years, 5 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Maine
Use this Klipsch ProMedia 3-piece speaker system to enjoy brilliant sound when playing games, listening to music or watching videos on your computer.
Can the Subwoofer be connected to AV Receiver Subwoofer preamp out?
It is not meant to be used this way, but technically if you had a RCA to 3.5mm adapter you could. It is a standalone system not meant for this though but it wouldnt hard it. This subwoofer is very easily strained so for the price you could find a better powered subwoofer instead of using this set in a way it isnt meant to be used.
8 years, 5 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Maine
Use this Klipsch ProMedia 3-piece speaker system to enjoy brilliant sound when playing games, listening to music or watching videos on your computer.
Would it be possible to use this sound system to connect to an mp3 player to create my own little bedside stereo system if I wanted to?
yes, just plug its 3.5mm jack into your phone/mp3 player, it would do a great job for most bedrooms. You could spend more and get a system with bluetooth so you could have a wireless connection, but bluetooth degrades the sound quality a bit.
8 years, 5 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Maine
Expand your PC or laptop's storage capacity with this SanDisk SSD Plus SDSSDA-240G-G25 solid state drive, which offers 240GB of space and sequential read speeds up to 520MB/sec. The shock-resistant design ensures lasting use.
Does this come with adapter to fit into 2.5" laptop bay?
Does this come with adapter to fit into 2.5" laptop bay?
I would like to change my laptop hdd to this ssd.
Please give me answers ASAP. Thanks.
I would like to change my laptop hdd to this ssd.
Please give me answers ASAP. Thanks.
Yeah, it has a little plastic piece that will increase the thickness to fit a 2.5" laptop. On some laptops you dont even need the plastic.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Maine
Enjoy speedy Wi-Fi around your home with this NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 AC2350 R7500-100NAS router, which features 4 high-performance antennas and Beamforming+ technology for optimal wireless range. Dynamic QoS prioritization automatically adjusts bandwidth.
how many devices can this router handle
how many devices can this router handle
I had 20 devices on mine and it was constantly kicking them off the 5.0 ghz band. The ones on the 2.4ghz band would run horribly slow even though my internet connection wasnt being fully utilized.
9 years ago
by
Gibhunter
Maine
my macbook pro is freezing cant open any applications
tried safe boot and apple hardware test
idk wat else to do
idk wat else to do
At this point your hard drive is most likely defective, but without running a hardware test it could be anything from bad memory to a defective logic board.
10 years, 11 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Maine
Are the netnooks good if you are a student?
They are great for note taking in class becaus eof their size and battery life, but typing an essay on the small keyboard is a pain. They are meant to be secondary computers, and if that is how it is used it is great for students.
13 years, 2 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Tennessee
repairable?
i have a problem with my olympus stylus 820 .the images output it captures were black and white, hazy, blurry and with black background and the images can't be defined.we don't have an olympus service center nearby and i am reluctant to have it fixed by local digicam repairmen for reasons that some may be fraud.i have a friend who told me that it could be the sensor thing.if it is true, is it repairable or replaceable?my husband docks in baltimore.does best buy stores have it?
I have seen cameras with the description you gave sent out to precisicon camera (Best Buy camera service center on the east coast) and come back repaired rather than junked out for replacement. It likely is fixable as long as it wasnt water damage.
13 years, 2 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Tennessee
What is the best compact camera for people who blink a lot during pictures?
What is the best compact camera for people who blink a lot during pictures? I have Cerebral Palsy and I seem to blink whenever it flashes. I need the camera to fit in a purse/pocket, to take good quality pictures, and I post a lot of them online and take a lot of pictures at concerts with stage lighting. I have bought and tried a Fujifilm FinePix A900 camera and a Nikon S220 camera. I always blink when I use the Fujifilm FinePix A900 camera and the Nikon S220 camera takes bad pictures.
A lot of cameras have various flash settings. Most of the time turning on a red eye only flash (option on panasonic cameras) will only show one flash exactly when the picture is taken so you will blink right after,
13 years, 2 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Tennessee
Take your favorite tunes on the go with this MP3 player that features 4GB* of storage space and a built-in digital FM tuner. The built-in clip provides easy portability.
Is the battery replaceable?
I have been told that when the rechargeable battery wears out, it cannot be replaced, so you have to buy a new unit. Can someone confirm this please.
This is true, and the best way to avoid this is purchasing a warranty on the unit so it can be replaced if this occurs.
13 years, 2 months ago
by
Gibhunter
Tennessee