mkcar1's stats
- Review count161
- Helpfulness votes671
- First reviewDecember 24, 2014
- Last reviewSeptember 25, 2024
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- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count4
- Helpfulness votes2
- First answerApril 28, 2019
- Last answerDecember 20, 2021
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Enjoy quality signal reception with this Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro antenna. A 65-mile range ensures reception of a wide variety of channels, while the integrated TV signal indicator LEDs simplify placement for optimal signal strength. This Mohu Leaf Supreme Pro antenna comes with a 16-foot detachable high-performance coaxial cable for connectivity and features a plug-and-play design for quick installation.
Customer Rating
4
worked much better than expected
on March 20, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I was worried about how well this would work given my house is up against a mountain with other hills/mountains around the area, possibly blocking signals. But I think it worked very well and would recommend.
In the box;
Very thin, light flexible antenna (21.5 by 11.5 by .04 inches). Think construction paper for thickness and weight. One side is white and the other black. Has Velcro attachments if using on window and 2 black and 2 white small pins to use if mounting on a wall. Initially the antenna would not lay flat from being curled up in the box, so I just put it in the sun for a few hours and it was fine.
About 15 feet of cable
Amplifier has a 2 ft. USB cord for connection to power but did not come with AC/USB brick. If your TV doesn’t have a free USB connection or as was my case - an older TV without USB at all – you will need to find a free USB brick lying around the house, as I did, or maybe your power strip has a USB outlet. You can use without amplifier but I didn’t try that.
No instructions other than the little printed on the box.
It states its 4K ready but I don’t know of anything broadcasting in that resolution where I live.
1 year warranty
To use (indoors only);
a) Attach cable to antenna then attach cable to amplified connector which then attaches to TV antenna input.
b) Plug in amplifier to power source. The white side of the antenna - at the base where the cable attaches - has 4 led lights that indicate signal strength. Moving it around the best I could achieve was 2 out of 4.
c) Scan for channels (make sure your TV is set to antenna and not cable box).
b) Plug in amplifier to power source. The white side of the antenna - at the base where the cable attaches - has 4 led lights that indicate signal strength. Moving it around the best I could achieve was 2 out of 4.
c) Scan for channels (make sure your TV is set to antenna and not cable box).
After scanning my TV stated it found 65 digital channels (with resolution raging from 480I to 1080I). Major channels such as ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS were all found. Since these are digital channels some had multiple sub channels ie 12.1, 12.2, 12.3 etc.
A few of the 65 channels were really just a blank screen due to signal being too weak to display anything. But my TV allows me to edit channels so I just “hid” those as well as any other channels I wasn’t interested in viewing. You will need to check what options your TV allows (may be able to name them also).
While there is no guide to show all the channels most, when selected, would indicate the times of the show being watched – pressing info on my TV provided the info too.
My biggest issue is the fact that you cannot turn off the LED signal strength lights. So, I wound up putting the black side out so as to hide the lights against the wall.
Also the antenna is built to be mounted on a wall or window – so there is no stand.
If you are looking for an antenna to help “cut the cord” I think this is a good option.
Mobile Submission: False
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Load up your phone's battery quickly with this Belkin BOOST UP 5W wireless charging pad. The compact design allows for easy portability, making it simple to bring this charger on trips, to work or other various places. This Belkin BOOST UP 5W wireless charging pad is convenient to use and comes in black for a sleek appearance.
Customer Rating
4
Nice option in crowded field
on March 20, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I am very happy with the charger and would recommend, but be aware that this is a 5w charger and there are more powerful options.
It could not be easier to setup – just plug in the supplied 4ft cord to the wireless charger base and the other end intothe provided AC/USB adapter brick.
Base has a little LED light that will flash different colors to indicate if charging, fully charged, standby, etc.
Comes with instructions that are useful but lettering is so small I had to get out my strongest reading glasses to use.
2 year warranty.
Below are charging times for my Samsung S8 with case and battery at 53%, for comparison;
1 hr estimate using the phones supplied USB cord attached directly to power strip USB 5v/2.1amp outlet
1 hr estimate using the phones supplied USB cord attached directly to power strip USB 5v/2.1amp outlet
1 hr 36-minute using wireless charger attached to same power strip USB 5v/2.1amp outlet. I received same estimate using the supplied AC/USB power block that comes with wireless charger.
I also charged several other times with varying battery levels and it always seemed there is about 50% more time to charge using wireless vs direct charging.
I have had no issues when setting the phone on the charger and getting a connection. It seems you would have to have most of the phone off the charger for it not to work. The phone does get a little warm if charging for a long period, but I don’t believe it is an issue.
Final thought - It is certainly nice to be able to just set down or pick up the phone without hassling with the cord.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The MR8300 Max Stream™ AC2200 is a high-performance Tri-Band router. Perfect for households that thrive on entertainment, it delivers up to 2.2 Gbps of superior speed throughout your entire home. The Tri-Band and MU-MIMO technology make it ideal for simultaneous streaming of HD movies, online gaming, video calling and supporting all of your smart home devices. MR8300 also grows as your needs do. With its built-in mesh Wi-Fi, instead of investing in a new router, you can expand coverage by simply adding Linksys Velop™ Mesh Wi-Fi nodes for seamless Wi-Fi everywhere.The MR8300 serves as the master router and must connect directly to your modem to create your network. Sets up in minutes with the Linksys app.
Customer Rating
5
A step forward for Velop family
on February 3, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
With this router Linksys has addressed some of the drawbacks I encountered with their Velop node wifi system;
a) This router has 4 ethernet gigabit ports where Velop in base node has only 1.
b) This router has USB 3.0 connector where Velop node has none (although on website it states this is for future use - possibly for printer or NAS connection?)
c) This router has 4 directable antennas (and 6 internal high-power amplifiers). It looks like a traditional router and can be hung on the wall, all of which cannot be done with a Velop node.
a) This router has 4 ethernet gigabit ports where Velop in base node has only 1.
b) This router has USB 3.0 connector where Velop node has none (although on website it states this is for future use - possibly for printer or NAS connection?)
c) This router has 4 directable antennas (and 6 internal high-power amplifiers). It looks like a traditional router and can be hung on the wall, all of which cannot be done with a Velop node.
As such I think this is a nice alternative/addition to the Velop node system and would recommend.
In the box;
Packaging is pretty much all recyclable.
Router – Has 4 movable but non-detachable antennas as well as reset and power on/off buttons. It is backward compatible to 11a, b, g and n. Somewhat surprising as most new routers these days are only n and ac.
Small power brick with sideway plugs and 58” cord length
Cat 5e 35” ethernet cable
Setup instructions are sparse so if you want to really get the specs, etc. go to linksys.com and search for mr8300.
Router – Has 4 movable but non-detachable antennas as well as reset and power on/off buttons. It is backward compatible to 11a, b, g and n. Somewhat surprising as most new routers these days are only n and ac.
Small power brick with sideway plugs and 58” cord length
Cat 5e 35” ethernet cable
Setup instructions are sparse so if you want to really get the specs, etc. go to linksys.com and search for mr8300.
NOTE: I was also sent a Linksys model WHW01P AC1300 Velop 2 band wifi mesh extender. I don’t think this would normally be included if you purchase this router? It was easy to add to the network and worked fine. Plug is situated as to help not block other plugs if used on a wall outlet.
Router has 3 bands one 2.4 and (2) 5 GHz. One of the 5GHz is used for backhaul and the other two frequencies (2.4 and 5 GHz) are used by your mesh network. It is AC2200 rated which means theoretically it can achieve wireless speeds of 2200 mbp but I believe this has stated speeds of 867 mbps for 5 GHz and 400 mbps for 2.4 GHz bands. The gigabyte ports have max speed of 1000 mbps.
Pros;
I am not going to go into exact speeds or range I achieved as results can be affected by what internet speed you are paying for as well as other networks in your area, your modem/equipment/devices, how your house/appt. is built etc. I will say I was very happy with the router coverage and speeds I received with my 10 wireless and several hard-wired devices/computers.
Setup- was easy using the Linksys app and my Android phone. I just followed the directions in the app/setup instructions and about 20 minutes later I was up and running - with system named, password and security set and the router and mesh extender connected.
Make sure you use the channel search option – it will scan for the best channel to use given traffic, etc. around you. You can set priority of attached devices – allowing you to make sure any particular device gets priority over others.
Can also use app to connect to your system remotely
App/software will automatically check for firmware updates.
Can also use app to connect to your system remotely
App/software will automatically check for firmware updates.
Cons;
No real minuses but time will tell for reliability and using more mesh expansion.
Overall a nice router for those needing a little more flexibility than a Velop node can offer. Add to that the flexibility to add more mesh nodes/extenders as needed and this unit is definitely worth a look.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Microwaving has evolved! When it comes to everything you expect in a microwave, nothing compares with the defrosting, cooking, and reheating capability of the new Cyclonic Wave. At every temperature level, Cyclonic Wave circulates heat in precision, ultra-efficient 3D waves for easier, more versatile food preparation, even with denser, more complex food textures. This exceptional microwave also includes patented Inverter Technology. Unlike traditional microwaves that rely on pulse-on, pulse-off power at lower temperatures, Inverter Technology delivers a constant stream of cooking power at every temperature. The result? More evenly cooked meals — edges to centers — every time. Put together, Cyclonic Wave with Inverter Technology provides the fastest, most efficient way to enjoy perfectly prepared snacks, sides, and meals across a broader range of cooking techniques, while also maintaining more of the natural nutrients and flavor you want. It's the ultimate combination by Panasonic!
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
Would definitely recommend this unit – it heats fantastically well – and is light and powerful. It is leaps and bounds beyond our 10-year-old microwave.
Pros;
Sleek black design with silver stainless steel highlights and feels solidly built (seems all stainless steel).
80% of weight of our old 1.6 cu ft microwave
15-inch turntable vs 12-3/4 inch of our old microwave - even though this unit is slightly smaller in size. How did they manage to do that?
Nice sensitivity of touchpad control panel. It only lights when in use (for 6 minutes after door closed or reaching end of cooking time).
You decide how complicated or easy it is to operate. You can use the built-in heating/defrosting options or simply press the 30 second addition symbol to get to time you want and press start.
Fantastic fast even heating. If you are setting cooking time be prepared to lessen the heating times by maybe 15%. Literature mentions “cyclonic wave and inverter technology”, all I can say is it certainly seems to work and work well. My reheating test was lasagna which usually came out rock hard on top to get middle heated. No such problem/issue with this unit. Lasagna came out heated through and while the top was a tad hard around the edges it was great overall.
Interior design and finish make cleaning a breeze, which you will have a chance to test if you don’t reduce your
heating times.
heating times.
Fairly quiet when using
1-year warranty
Cons;
If off touchpad does not light if touched, must open the door. Most times not an issue but if you put something in to heat but decide to wait or heating is done - and the touchpad light has gone off - you will need to open the door to get the touchpad buttons to light and be active.
Touchpad only has symbols – no verbiage to tell you what the buttons do (descriptions are given on bottom panel you can see when door is open). While this seems to be the trend on a lot of items these days it can make things confusing (definite learning curve). Anyone adverse to smartphones or electronics in general may find this daunting.
Turntable is raised about an inch. I assume it is to help this units heating technology. Not a big issue but does cut down on the height of items you can put in the microwave.
Overall, I highly recommend!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Philips Premium Airfryer XXL with Fat Removal Technology- 3lb/7qt capacity, Fry healthy with up to 90% less fat
Customer Rating
4
Big and powerful with nice design features
on January 10, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
To avoid any confusion due to different models this review is for Phillips Avance model HD9650/96.
I found it to be pretty intuitive to operate. The 1725 watts and twin turbostar technology allow it to provide very consistent cooking. I have been able to test 2 other air fryers from different manufactures and this one stands out due to its design and wattage – would definitely recommend but in this price range there are many alternatives.
Base of unit is sturdy and has a control panel with separate touch buttons for temperature, timer, pre-set, keep warm, on/off. The central control dial is spun to set the time/temp/pre, using digital display, then press to start or pause. Presets are frozen fries, chicken, meat, fish, baking and manual (where you set temp and time). I am assuming all but baking preset is using air fryer function, as I couldn’t find anything that mentioned that specifically being the case..
One thing to be aware of on air fryers is the actual volume a unit can hold/cook is lessened due to the air fryer needing clearance top/bottom/sides for air to circulate
Comes with;
Removable non-stick basket – dish washer safe. It is square shaped not round like most other units so I found you get a little more usable area to arrange your food.
Removable non-stick mesh bottom that goes inside basket – dish washer safe. Keeps your food from touching the bottom of pan.
Removable non-stick fat reducer – dish washer safe
Removable non-stick pan (that all the above fit into) – dish washer safe. Again square design
User manual – with a very nice schematic of the unit on page 1 but for some reason the actual description of each part is described on page 8. Small detail but irritating to go back forth when learning the units functionality
Also a nice starter cooking guide is included.
Size is pretty much same as similar units – I measured 12.5 x 12.5 x 15 inches and weighs 19 lbs.
1-year warranty
I was impressed that the packaging was pretty much all recyclable.
Actual use;
Pretty impressive unit with 1725 watts (do not need to preheat), well thought out and intuitive. It can bake/roast, reheat and of course fry.
In the back there is a cubby hole where you can store the cord – a nice feature. Cord is just over 3 foot in length Also it has a 3 prong (grounded) plug I assume due to its 1725 wattage. As the son of an electrician I would highly recommend you only use on a 3 prong outlet and maybe make sure what else is being used at the same time on that circuit to avoid any possibility of blown fuses or tripped breakers.
The basket fits inside the pan which slide easily into a track that is about 13 inches long. Initially this was a little awkward but I found it its very nice to be able to open the basket to check/turn food and not have to worry about the hot basket touching the counter.
I cooked bacon using french fry preset temperature. Initial batch was a problem as the air circulating kept moving the bacon around requiring me to stop and try to straighten out slices so they cooked evenly. The 2nd batch I put a metal rack that fit inside basket to hold bacon flat and it came out crispy – but halfway thru white smoke (like fog) started coming out of the vent in the back of the unit. This occurred halfway thru the 3rd batch as well. This is very fatty/greasy food so assume I should have emptied the pan of the grease between batches.
Frozen french fries were up next using preset temperature. I just stuck them in and about half way thru gave them a shake. Fries came out crispy and fluffy. It barely made any mess in basket or pan so I let it cool and wiped areas out with just a paper towel.
Next up was frozen chicken nuggets (using frozen fry preset temperature) for my grandson with no oil added. Normally we cook them in the oven to reduce the oil – i.e. healthier. I had tried them from the oven in the past and let’s just say one was enough for me. They came out great in the fryer and I did not spray them with any oil. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I had to stop myself at 3, so my grandson would have enough to eat.
We cooked 2 thawed Cornish hens using chicken preset temperature. I did spray them with a little olive oil, salt/pepper. We had juicy, crisp hens in about 50 minutes.
While in use outside and top of the unit stay very cool.
Clean up is very easy since all items are dish washer safe.
Have not baked anything yet and probably wont.
It is a tad noisier than other air fryers I have used. Also vibrates a little.
Doesn’t have dehydrator.
My biggest issue/concern is that it seems to smoke when frying really fatty foods? It didn’t smoke when cooking anything other than the bacon. This does concern me a little and I may try adding water to the bottom. Smoking of unit is mentioned in the manual. Will update review as I use it more if issue persists.
Smoking aside its seems to be a good unit providing quick healthier frying and roasting options. Looking forward to healthier eating with much less overall mess. Saves heating up the oil in a fryer and all of its associated mess. Or heating your oven if roasting.
There are optional accessories that provide for more flexibility.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy the look and feel of a well-groomed beard with this Philips Norelco series 70 beard trimmer. With an ergonomic grip, this beard trimmer offers enhanced comfort and control. This Philips Norelco series 70 beard trimmer prevents skin irritation and features steel blades, making it ideal for cutting each hair with accuracy and precision.
Customer Rating
4
Decent Beard trimmer but not really a styler
on January 6, 2019
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I have used a number of different trimmers over a 20 – 30 year span and while I liked some better than others none were perfect and neither is this one. It’s a decent enough beard trimmer but I would not recommend if you need to do really detailed trimming.
Nice size and fits easily into your hand
Vacuum to catch trimmed hair is a very nice feature and found it worked quite well. Includes a little soft ended brush to clean out the vacuum well.
Comes with a charger and charges quickly. Supposed to last 120 minutes when fully charged. You can use while it is plugged in as well.
Very easy to switch heads and combs – you just pull them on/off. I have used other trimmers in the past where changing heads/combs was an ordeal not to be looked forward to – but this unit works very well.
Easy to set trim depth using spinning adjustment wheel
Includes a travel pouch
Instructions mention a stand – but its not included and I didn’t see it mentioned on website.
I will be using this in addition to my current trimmer. As I mentioned – neither is perfect
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Maximize the efficiency of your kitchen with this Calphalon quartz heat countertop oven. The quartz heating element preheats faster, while the 11 presets make it easy to defrost, bake, roast and dehydrate food. This Calphalon quartz heat countertop oven includes baking and pizza pans as well as a dehydrator and a regular baking rack.
Customer Rating
4
Swiss Army knife of small ovens
on November 30, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
If needing a secondary oven or if in a small apartment/dorm where space is limited and you need a multi-function unit - this will serve you well.
Comes with a very skimpy manual.
Oven itself is nicely constructed with 2 rack positions and nice large glass window for viewing cooking action.
Comes with dehydration rack, baking pan, pizza pan and wire rack. Also has internal light which you can manually turn on from outside. Also bottom tray to catch any drippings, etc. is easily removed and washed.
Nice large digital display and controls were easy to learn after a couple of uses and they are;
Touch buttons used for light, start, cancel/off
First rotary dial used to select food “function” which has time/temp presets for;
Toast
Bagel
Bake
Roast
Broil
Pizza
Cookies
Reheat
Keep Warm
Defrost
Dehydrate
Toast
Bagel
Bake
Roast
Broil
Pizza
Cookies
Reheat
Keep Warm
Defrost
Dehydrate
2nd rotary dial is used to change time/temp if needed.
Has turbo/convection function which can be turned on/off.
Anything we used it for came out great – rolls, pizza, toast (takes longer than toaster), small pork tenderloin, re-heating. Did not try de-hydrator but am looking forward to giving that function a try.
Really nice is fact don’t have to heat a huge oven when you don’t need to.
3 year warranty
Downsides;
Preheat function is automatic with no timer count down.
Turns itself off at end of timed cooking. Sure this is a much needed safety feature to insure you done forget about it.
Its use is only limited by internal oven size. Which is mostly due to where the elements on top are located. This makes real usable interior space you can use for cooking smaller than it appears from the outside. This is disappointing as we were not able to cook some items (6 lb ham, whole chicken, etc.) due to this lack of interior volume.
Outside gets pretty hot which I found a tad surprising. Make sure it is an area with ventilation and keep “little” hands away.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Listen to your TV or music wirelessly without disturbing others.
Customer Rating
4
Wireless headphones with no TV sound lag
on November 28, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
I have tried several models of Bluetooth wireless headphones/earbuds from different manufacturers and all, to varying degrees, had a problem with sound being a tad behind TV screen action – but not with these. If you need help hearing the TV and don’t want to blast out any others watching with you or maybe a night owl and want to watch TV without disturbing others sleep – this is for you!
Found the over the ear headphones to be a tad clunky but comfortable with very nice sound and stereo separation. There is no background “static” with these at all. Just clean sound with decent bass. With built in volume controls it’s easy to set sound level how you want. Handy given different channels volume levels.
Range is phenomenal – I walked everywhere within my house and back yard to at least 60 feet away through multiple walls - and never lost the signal. I assume its due to this using 5.8 GHz wireless signal and not Bluetooth. So, you can roam and not miss any of the “sound” action.
Nicely packaged and comes with;
Headphones
Docking Station
RCA audio cable
3.5 mm to RCA adapter cable
AC power adapter (small brick but is longitudinal so “hides” next plug is using power strip)
Setup guide and manual
Docking Station
RCA audio cable
3.5 mm to RCA adapter cable
AC power adapter (small brick but is longitudinal so “hides” next plug is using power strip)
Setup guide and manual
Before you start I suggest making sure that the connection you are going to use from your “source” actually has sound output. If you are planning on using RCA connection you can check using a wired set of headphones and 3.5mm cable. The TV in my computer room did not have sound out of the output jack due to how my soundbar is attached. Digital Optical is a tad harder to verify and I didn’t use it anyway.
To start just plug in the AC power adapter to wall and docking station, and wait for initial full charge – mine took about 45 minutes. The headphones sit on top of the docking station which has an indented area where the headphones charging pins should fit to charge. Small round light on front of docking station shows red while it is charging and green when fully charged.
I already had a 3.5mm extension hooked up to one of my TV’s so it was easy to plug RCA cable into the docking station.
At this point just lift the headphones off the docking station – making sure it is synched with docking station – solid blue light. I did not have to synch headphones as they were ready. Turn on headphones, set to correct input (it will remember it next time) and you are now ready to listen in complete silence to everyone around you.
States you get around 10 hours of constant use. Max time I used at any 1 time was 4 hours but they were still going strong.
Also I set up my other TV’s for possible use in advance by just running 3.5mm and RCA cables. Now I can just move the docking station from TV to TV, if I want. I had plenty of extra RCA cables lying around but had to purchase some additional 3.5 mm extension cables.
For price point and setup this is an excellent choice for anyone wanting audio privacy while watching, but not limited to, TV. This can be used with any audio source with an output or headphone jack.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sear, brown, sauté, and slow cook all in one pot for maximum flavor with the Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker. The cooking pot removes and can be placed on electric, gas, or induction cooktops to brown or sear ingredients before slow cooking. The LCD digital display provides intuitive control of multiple cooking modes, for tender pulled pork, curry chicken, paella, and more. The nonstick ceramic coating is easy to clean and delivers 11x more durability* than standard nonstick surfaces, plus it’s PTFE- and PFOA-free. The Calphalon slow cooker is perfect for one-pot family dinners with its 5.3-quart capacity. The cooking pot is also oven safe for further heating, cooking, and warming options. Gorgeous dark stainless steel will enhance any kitchen’s countertop and metal construction provides long-lasting durability.
Customer Rating
5
Takes the “crock” out of crock-pot
on November 27, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
If you are tired of being afraid of chipping or cracking your current crock insert, its excessive weight and having to use another pan to brown anything before putting in your crock – this product is for you!
We have used Calphalon pans for over 30 years and still have/use our original set so when we saw they were expanding into small appliances we were looking forward to checking them out. We were not dis-appointed with this slow cooker.
In the box;
VERY skimpy manual
Glass lid – not oven safe but can be put in dishwasher
Ceramic coated cook (“crock”) pot – can be used in oven and on stove top (gas, electric or induction). Dishwasher safe also.
Heating base has nice built in handles, time display (add/subtract) , cancel buttons as well as a rotary control dial.
Actual use;
What’s not to like? You can use for all your slow cooking needs and be able to do them using just the cooking pot.
Controls were easy to learn after a couple of uses.
Rotary dial used to control heat – Off, High, Low and Warm settings.
Timer counts in 15-minute increments and used to also cancel cooking.
Defaults to keep warm once cooking cycle has completed.
Clean up is a breeze with non-stick (and light weight) cooking pot.
Anything we used it for came out great.
No real downsides other than;
The cooking pot is not symmetrical. It is kind of shaped like a funnel in that about 1/3 of the way down it gets smaller by maybe 15%/. Not sure why as this results in the bottom volume being less than the top would seem to indicate.
Would highly recommend if you are tired of the weight and cleanup of a “real” crock pot….
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Dell Inspiron Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Maximize productivity with this 13.3-inch Dell Inspiron notebook computer. The combination of its Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM runs multiple programs simultaneously at peak performance, and it's Bluetooth-enabled to connect wireless devices or transmit data. This Dell Inspiron notebook computer has a 256GB solid-state drive to safely store files.
Customer Rating
5
Upper Middle-Class Laptop
on November 20, 2018
Posted by: mkcar1
from Scottsdale, Az
A nice sturdy well-constructed laptop. If you want a sleek unit that will travel nicely and can do most any business processing - with the occasional game thrown in - this is definitely worth a look.
Checking at Dells website there appears to be a few options for configuration such as drive size, memory, screen, etc. https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/new-inspiron-13-7000-2-in-1/spd/inspiron-13-7386-2-in-1-laptop/fncwro001h.
This unit has the following specs;
13.3-inch 1080P ISP 2 in 1 touchscreen monitor with pen support.
Intel 8th generation I5 1.6GHz Kaby Lake U/Y 14nm processor with 6MB cache, 4 cores and 8 threads. Info at
https://ark.intel.com/products/124967/Intel-Core-i5-8250U-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3-40-GHz-
https://ark.intel.com/products/124967/Intel-Core-i5-8250U-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3-40-GHz-
8GB DDR4 2400 MHz memory
Dell 066T54 (U3E1) motherboard
Intel UHD Graphics 620 (1920X1080@60Hz)
WD 256GB PC SN520 NVMe hard drive
Intel AC 9560 Dual Band Wireless and Bluetooth. No hardwire option
Cinema Color, Stream, Sound
1 USB 3.1 connection
1 USB-C connection
HDMI 2.0 out
IR camera with 4 element lenses
Universal audio jack
3 in 1 micro SD card reader
Built in speakers (I believe 2 watts)
Windows 10 home
Exact dimensions are 0.54” height, 12.11” width, 8.36” depth at 3.08lbs.
Positives;
It was nicely packaged and was fairly easy to setup. Plug it in, start it up and Cortana (NOT a fan) will walk you thru the setup process. I was up and running within 10 minutes.
It is very nice looking with the brushed aluminum case. Heavy duty hinges to allow for tenting, tablet, etc. modes. Screen is as edgeless as it can be for a laptop.
The keyboard keys have nice tactile feel and it is backlit - but appears you can only turn on (bright/brighter)/off manually It doesn’t come on automatically if dark.
No real “bloat” software to get rid of – mostly windows games.
Boots fast – thank you SSD - but I disable anything not really necessary during startup.
It is fast processing. Apps open quickly and having multiple windows open is no problem for this laptop. What can you say - its running windows 10 – and runs it well.
1080P screen resolution/color is great for me with nice viewing angle, but a tad “shiny/reflective” screen.
Touchscreen works well
Using Dell balanced power plan it stated over 9 hours use available fully charged. I got a little less than 8 hours but that was with Bluetooth turned on, which I really did not need during this “test”. With Bluetooth off I got over 10 listed as available processing hours of use
The USB ports are fast – especially if you have a USB-C drive/connected device.
1-year mail in warranty
Nit-picky negatives;
Windows 10 was not activated. I had to run troubleshoot option and it activated. Not sure why?
Power cord while a nice length and is 2 pieces with no power block to deal with at plug in – is not 90-degree where it plugs into the laptop? Not a huge deal but makes plugged in footprint larger than it needs to be as cord sticks out from the side of laptop. Also easier to "catch" it on something and damage cord or worse - the laptop.
No built-in performance power option that I could find
Since this uses I5 Kaby Lake processor and Intel 620 graphics – it falls just short of being a gaming machine but not by much. (See PCMark 10 attachment)
No pen included.
Only 2 USB connections and they are both a VERY tight fit to use. Make sure you have them all the way in. Also, you can easily get a multiplier and/or a USB C to USB 3.1 convertor to help add flexibility.
As usual there is disk space used up for the “backup and reset” functions. In this case the 256GB SSD has 5 partitions;
650MB for windows system info – used by windows internally
224.47GB – actual area to be used by you. But it is bitlocker encrypted – which I find unusual but maybe this is always done by Dell? I may wind up turning this off but will have to do more research. I have windows 10 pro on 2 of my desktops but don’t use bitlocker on either of them.
990MB for WINRETOOLS – windows recovery partition – will be getting rid of this after full disk copy
Image – 11.19GB. I will be getting rid of this as soon as I have made a full disk copy.
DELLSUPPORT – 1.08GB – another partition that will be going the way of the dodo bird once I make a full disk copy (pic included)
650MB for windows system info – used by windows internally
224.47GB – actual area to be used by you. But it is bitlocker encrypted – which I find unusual but maybe this is always done by Dell? I may wind up turning this off but will have to do more research. I have windows 10 pro on 2 of my desktops but don’t use bitlocker on either of them.
990MB for WINRETOOLS – windows recovery partition – will be getting rid of this after full disk copy
Image – 11.19GB. I will be getting rid of this as soon as I have made a full disk copy.
DELLSUPPORT – 1.08GB – another partition that will be going the way of the dodo bird once I make a full disk copy (pic included)
The keyboard is not full size – it is 13.3 screen. As such some keys have dual functions controlled by the Fn (function key). Not a big deal but want to mention as it takes a little getting used to especially if you only have used full-size desktop keyboards. Personally, I really like this size and this is my 3rd laptop at around 13”. You can’t beat using it on a plane.
Fan can be a little loud at times and it can get hot if sitting on your lap if doing some intensive processing
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Can you shut off the light option on the camera?
yes spotlight is adjustable but I have it totally shut off
2 years, 9 months ago
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mkcar1
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
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4 years, 10 months ago
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mkcar1
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Can you confirm if this has an in built speaker?
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5 years, 3 months ago
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mkcar1
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5 years, 4 months ago
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mkcar1