LouRevue's stats
- Review count242
- Helpfulness votes890
- First reviewMay 20, 2011
- Last reviewMay 7, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes1
- First review commentJanuary 17, 2017
- Last review commentJanuary 17, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count8
- Helpfulness votes11
- First answerApril 9, 2013
- Last answerJune 12, 2018
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Customer Rating
4
Nice, but not quite there yet.
on November 6, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
So I do like this item however I don't think it's consumer ready just yet. I like the ability to have this assistant do things like let you know what's on your schedule, traffic conditions to work, weather etc., however my main issue is with "chatting" with the unit itself.
First off, this is a great item to keep you up to speed on your daily tasks, information and such. It is quite small so no worries in this taking up a lot of space. It's about 5 inches tall and 3 inches in diameter. Quite impressive I think. There isn't an option (at least not yet) to connect with your phone. This feature would be nice to dial up your friends, family, pizza delivery guy all without touching your phone. Also, I don't think there is a way to sync/connect it with your computer which would be helpful in getting additional information from other calendars (other than Google), contacts, and possibly emails as well.
The speakers on this unit are quite nice and you'll easily find this out once you start playing music on it. Very rich sound from something so tiny. Very nice addition.
Getting to the "chatting" aspect of this thing. You need to initiate it every time by saying "OK Google". Does get a little irritating after awhile. I think just starting it off with "Google" would be fine. Outside of Google HQ, can't imagine the average person saying Google that many times during the day. Once you ask it a question, it'll respond and then stop. If you have a follow up question, you'll need to repeat "OK Google" again to engage it again. Think it would be a bit nicer to have it more conversational than directly this or that kind of interaction.
This being a Google product, I have no doubts they'll build upon this with additional feedback and make it where it is a truly daily assistant. Currently, it's in its infancy stage so there is some work that needs to be done. Currently, it is quite useful as you can still obtain quite a bit of useful information from it. Once it reaches it peak then I think this will be a great, if not indispensable, item for the home/office.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Play games or program tech solutions on the wide 23-inch screen of this HP LED HD monitor. The antiglare flatscreen offers views from any angle, and the 1920 x 1080 display offers super-sharp images. This HP LED HD monitor has HDMI and VGA inputs, letting you connect a variety of peripherals and devices.
Customer Rating
5
Sleek, stylish computer monitor
on October 27, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Overall impressions with this monitor were quite pleasing. Display is crystal clear and minimal bezel on the monitor gives it that super sleek look. Ultra thin design really completes the look of this monitor. Only issue with the power/HDMI plugs. They connect horizontally to the back of the monitor so they stick out quite a bit. Previous monitors I've owned had the plugs connect vertically rather than horizontally. Makes it look cleaner and allows for wall mounting (if need be). Other than that, looks great and really dig the slim design.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy powerful performance with this compact HP Pavilion Wave computer. The Intel i3 processor provides fast data handling, while the 1TB hard drive lets you store plenty of files. This HP Pavilion Wave computer has 8GB of RAM to run the latest applications and four USB ports for connecting multiple accessories.
Customer Rating
4
Nice desktop with top tier sound
on October 24, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
The Pavilion Wave has a pretty nice configuration with a i3 Dual Core processor and 8GB of RAM. Pretty fast to perform any task you need and is enough for most programs. The B&O speakers in this thing are fantastic. Almost like having a bluetooth speaker built into the desktop. Really great sound and smooth performance. Only bad thing is the included keyboard/mouse. They are quite poor and I'd advise getting another keyboard/mouse combo to use instead.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy powerful performance with this compact HP Pavilion Wave computer. The Intel i3 processor provides fast data handling, while the 1TB hard drive lets you store plenty of files. This HP Pavilion Wave computer has 8GB of RAM to run the latest applications and four USB ports for connecting multiple accessories.
Customer Rating
4
Eye catching design and fantastic speakers.
on October 21, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
So desktops today seem to be a dying breed. With the abundance of low end/inexpensive laptops, desktops seem to have a hard time (and get a hard time) from consumers these days. However, some people still prefer them over laptops and this unit from HP should be one to look into if you're in the market for a desktop.
The most prominent and noticeable features of this unit is the size and design. Design wise, if it didn't have the HP logo on it, you'd think it was a high end speaker or something. Size wise, it's very small. At, roughly, 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide, it's very compact and doesn't take up a whole lot of space. Personally, I think it looks great and is quite a nice addition to my work desk. All the ports are located in the back of the unit so cable management might be something to consider. The power button is back there as well as you'll want this to placed somewhere in the open for easy access. Up front there is a headphone jack and USB port.
Power wise it's packing a 3.2 GHz 6th gen i3 dual core processor along with 8GB of RAM. It's plenty fast enough for just about any process so there's no worry there. There's a 1TB 7200RPM hard drive as well. I think something like this should've had a SSD drive in it even if it were 256GB or something. Using a spindle drive, even one that's 7200RPM just seems out of date. Economically it makes sense for HP however with a new product and revamped design, I think that extra speed from the SSD would've made this a sure bet. RAM is expandable, I believe, so there's that option available if you want/need this to be a snappier. It's not your typical desktop so this isn't something that you're going to put under the desk or in a cabinet somewhere. You'll want this to be seen and admired.....and heard.
In addition to being a pretty cool looking desktop, the one thing that stuck out for me using this was the speakers. Previously, if you wanted speakers you had to get those cruddy speakers you plug into the computer or the higher end ones that cost a pretty penny. I love listening to music/videos on my computers and the B&O speakers on this really blew me away. The sound is clear and crisp and, most importantly, omni directional. No more turning your speakers to get the best sound out of them. The top of the unit houses the speakers and they're on par with some of the better bluetooth speakers on the market. Whether you're sitting in front of your computer or in another room, the sound from this desktop is very nice. This is basically like having a super small desktop computer with a bluetooth speaker built into it. Very nice and personally the thing I liked most about this desktop. Bloatware is a thing with this computer as it is with any new device like this. Not surprisingly, most of it is from HP so it'll take you a little while uninstalling it along with the other culprits like McAffee and Windows bloatware.
The sole reason I didn't give this 5 stars was because of the included wireless mouse/keyboard. These two things are complete GARBAGE and should never have been included with this beautiful machine. The keyboard itself has an odd layout; specifically with the number pad and directional arrows. They're intermingled so it's not what you're typically used to on a keyboard. You think you're hitting the zero button but you're actually hitting the right arrow key. Seeing as how keyboards are pretty common in their layout, I have no idea why HP would go around and muck with it. It's a poor layout and the connection is sometimes unstable. I'm using it to write this review and I cannot remember the last time I had to click the backspace button so many times. It's quite irritating to the point where I actually dock it from the review of the desktop itself. I'm currently looking to buy a replacement keyboard//mouse just so I don't have to continue using this. The mouse it oddly shaped IMO and quite stiff when you're trying to click on something. It just doesn't feel right and, again, I'm looking to replace it already. If you get this desktop, just throw away the keyboard/mouse and go get a better set somewhere.
Aside from that, this is a fantastic desktop. It's quite fast for just about any program you need as well as any task. I don't use any video/photo editing programs so I can't comment on how those handle on this computer however I don't see any major issues with using them. For me, the hardware specs and speakers alone on this desktop are worth it. If nothing else, go out and listen to some music on this computer and see for yourself.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The SoundLink Color Portable Bluetooth speaker II was engineered to deliver bold sound wherever life takes you. From the pool to the park to the patio, its rugged, water-resistant design lets you enjoy the music you love in more places. Voice prompts make Bluetooth pairing easy. And up to 8 hours of listening per battery charge lets you keep your playlists playing.
Customer Rating
5
Big sound from small package.
on October 7, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
For those in the market for a bluetooth speaker. this is it. Big fan of Bose and their products and they really delivered on this one.
Despite being a Bose product, I wasn't really expecting much from this simply due to its size. Bluetooth speakers nowadays are all pretty small however this one just seemed dainty and I didn't think it would/could deliver good sound quality as a result. However, I've had this for less than a day and already love it.
Despite its size, it pumps out amazing sound quality. Highs and Mids come it crystal clear while the lows have a solid (not booming) thump to them. I've listened to numerous different music genres on it from rap, classical, house, trance, new age, you name it. This speaker didn't miss a bit on any of them and delivered superb sound quality on across all genres. All from a speaker that's (roughly) the size of a square tissue box. The living room in my condo is roughly 18 x 12 and this speaker fills up the room quite nicely with very crisp, clear sound.
It is very lightweight and portable so you can bring this with you just about anywhere. I don't believe it's water resistant or weather resistant however the outside coating it rubber. I wouldn't take it to the beach/pool or anything but it's still portable enough to take most other places.
All the buttons are on the top for easy access and the charging port/headphone jack are on the sides. Not really much to fumble around with which is nice. In addition, the companion Bose app allows you to easily connect and play music as well. Not sure on battery life since I haven't used it that much however, 5-6 hours should be feasible.
The color, while listed as blue, isn't really a blue blue but more of a turquoise? Very bright shade of blue I guess. Not really a thing but just wanted to clarify on this.
Overall, fantastic speaker that lives up to the Bose name. Would make a great gift for a college student or just to have one in the house.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best Buy Acer Aspire R 15 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Combine performance and versatility with this Acer Aspire laptop. It has a huge 1TB hard drive to meet your storage needs, and the Intel Core i5 processor makes light work of multitasking. This Acer Aspire laptop has a 15.6-inch display for a great viewing experience, and the 360-degree hinged screen provide flexibility for work and play.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent laptop for everyday use
on October 3, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Having had the chance to use this laptop, I must say it’s quite an impressive model for almostn any use. With an abundance of features housed in a sleek, stylish body, it’s a solid laptop for anyone in the market for a new/replacement laptop.
Using a 7th gen i5 dual core processor, the laptop functions on par with just about any laptop in its price range. With 8GB of RAM (12GB max) and a 1TB hard drive, it offers plenty of speed and room for all your files and enough power/speed to perform almost any task.
As far as the aesthetics go, this is an impressive looking laptop with clean lines, brushed aluminum cover and beveled edges. It’s a very nice looking laptop no doubt and the design, overall, is quite appealing. It comes with a full size keyboard as well as backlit keys which is a nice touch. Only gripe with the keyboard are the arrow buttons as the Up/Down buttons are smaller due to keyboard layout. The power button is on the right side of the laptop which is a bit unique as well as a dedicated volume button. There are 2 USB 3.0 ports as well as 1 USB 2.0 port, HDMI, SD Card and USB-C port. There is no CD drive for anyone wondering. The laptop (closed) is only about ¾ inch tall however it’s a bit wider than most due to the full size keyboard.
Power/performance. Using a dual-core processor I was under the impression this would be relatively slow and have choppy performance when opening multiple programs. Being this is the latest gen processor from Intel, this is not the case. Opening 2-3 programs at once was done with relative ease and switching between them was pretty flawless. The 8GB RAM comes in quite handy here and even with a 5400 RPM HDD, this laptop was able to perform tasks with very good speed. Battery life is pretty good. Using it “normally” and leaving it on for about 5-6 hours, there was about 50% battery left. Also, one very noteworthy benefit to this laptop, it doesn’t get that hot when left on for long periods of time which is VERY nice.
The display is probably the most impressive feature on here. A full 1080p display is quite vibrant and displays bright and dark colors extremely well. Those wanting to watch Netflix/Hulu will have no issues with the display. In addition to visuals, the sound from this laptop is equally impressive. For watching movies or just playing music, the speakers on this laptop deliver quite nicely without too much reverberation or distorted sound.
One of my initial thoughts of this being a 2-in-1 was that the tablet was an afterthought/gimmick. Having used previous 2-in-1 laptops, I was expecting the tablet functionality to be quite lackluster. Again, this was not the case. In this unit, you have, both, a well built laptop as well as tablet on-the-go device. Once in tablet mode, the screen orients itself to that of a normal tablet using Windows Tiles. Touch sensitivity is surprisingly smooth and using paint programs worked well without any lag or drops in sensitivity. Using the tablet form works really well when you want to sit back and watch videos or movies. Very nice.
A couple concerns with this laptop were;
The hard drive. While it’s a large 1TB drive, I would’ve expected something, at least, in the 7200 RPM range. Being fast enough for normal business related tasks, anyone wanting to use this laptop for video editing or other processor intensive jobs might find it to be a bit slow. This can easily be remedied by replacing the HD for a faster spindle drive or a SSD. However it would’ve been nice to have a tad faster hard drive here.
The keyboard, for me, took a bit getting used to since I have previously used standard laptop keyboards without the number pad. This is a personal preference so nothing against the design. Just noting that those of you used to that type of laptop keyboard, there will be a bit of learning curve involved however I think the addition of the number pad is great thing and should be standard on all laptops.
While the brushed aluminum case is aesthetically appealing, I’m a little concerned about it getting scratched/dinged from normal use or if when you’re changing it to be used as a tablet. This is the case with some laptops that use this metal casing so just something to be aware of.
The keyboard, for me, took a bit getting used to since I have previously used standard laptop keyboards without the number pad. This is a personal preference so nothing against the design. Just noting that those of you used to that type of laptop keyboard, there will be a bit of learning curve involved however I think the addition of the number pad is great thing and should be standard on all laptops.
While the brushed aluminum case is aesthetically appealing, I’m a little concerned about it getting scratched/dinged from normal use or if when you’re changing it to be used as a tablet. This is the case with some laptops that use this metal casing so just something to be aware of.
Overall, this is an impressive laptop, reasonably priced with enough up-to-date technology that will last you for several years to come. Being that it’s a 2-in-1, it’s an added bonus which allows you to use this device in ways you should be able to do and with relative ease.There is some bloatware included (this should be no surprise) so make sure to uninstall/delete the stuff you don’t need. Aside from a somewhat slow hard drive, the other features on this laptop more than make up for it. Very nice buy for a new work laptop or student.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make driving routines more enjoyable with this OverDryve car system. Its voice assistant capabilities let you read and send text messages by command and also play music in your car without taking your hands off the wheel. The built-in dash cam of this OverDryve car system lets you record trips and capture every moment on the road.
Customer Rating
4
Overdryve makes cars connected and smarter
on September 11, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
This is a pretty sweet little unit to "update" your car. While most GPS units are just for traveling, this unit has a little bit of everything. To start, this is an Android tablet, about 7 inches, preloaded with a variety of different apps. In addition to the normal GPS functionality, there is also media, phone, text messaging and various other apps installed.
The navigation is pretty standard. With the 7" screen, the display offers up all the information in addition to weather and live data. The navigation offers up the same functionality, i.e. POI's, alternate routing, etc, as pretty much any other GPS unit.
This unit connects with the bluetooth on your phone for added functionality. With this connectivity, you'll be able to play music make calls and text message through your phone. I use an iPhone and I'm able to use the voice prompt to use Siri. Since this is an Android tablet, I'm assuming it should work the same with an Android phone as well.
There is an app to utilize the tablet's camera as a dash cam however, due to the smart mount, it obscures some of the camera lens making it not really a "good" dash cam. Works however not as well as one would expect.
With the tablet being relatively large for use as a GPS unit, it and the provided mount are quite large; larger than most other GPS mounts. I only bring this up since this unit isn't really one that you'll travel with, i.e. carrying case or putting in your pocket. I've used smaller Garmin/TomTom units that would easily work for traveling purposes however this OverDryve is more of an integrated system than just a normal GPS unit.
The unit itself attaches magnetically to the smart mount. The smart mount included a USB port and the connection for the antenna/power cord. The USB port allows you to play media off a USB drive allowing you to bring your movies/music with you on the road.
Overall, this isn't just a GPS unit; I like to think of it as an all-in-one system. I would assume this unit would be geared to people whose cars don't have in-dash navigation or bluetooth connectivity. As this is a GPS unit that utilizes the bluetooth on your smart phone, it's far more than just for getting around. It's a great way to add a little more functionality to your car without the needs for expensive upgrades. WIth this GPS unit you get navigation, hands free calling, bluetooth connectivity as well as a host of other apps/functionality. I think this is a great piece for anyone looking to update their car ride or someone looking for a multimedia solution to their car.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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QuietComfort® 35 wireless noise cancelling headphones are engineered with world-class noise cancellation that makes quiet sound quieter and music sound better. Free yourself from wires and connect easily to your devices with Bluetooth® and NFC pairing. And enjoy up to 20 hours of wireless listening per battery charge.
Customer Rating
5
Top notch cans from Bose
on May 31, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
I had a chance to test these headphones out and, I must say, I’m quite pleased with them.
Bose has a great reputation for making audio equipment. Their headphones have always been really top quality and their home theater speaker systems are great. I’ve tried quite a few noise cancelling headphones in the past and most were either too weak in terms of sound quality or weren’t really great at drowning out outside noise. These being Bose headphones, I assumed these would be up to par.
At first glance, is the package itself. Included are the headphones, 3.5mm cord, charging cable and carrying case. The 3.5mm cable is standard, no frills there. The case is semi-rigid so it’ll protect your headphones from a fall but don’t step on it. There are compartments inside the case and a mesh pocket on the outside to hold the cables and such. The charging cable is what it is however I think it’s a little short. It’s about a foot long but would’ve been nice if it were longer.
The headphones are really nice both in fit, quality and sound. The headphones are foldable which is perfect for on-the-go transportation. The volume and on/off switches are located on the right ear so there’s really not a whole lot of buttons to memorize. Pretty simple and setup for Bluetooth connection is really easy. There is also companion app for this headset. Doesn’t really do much in terms of functionality but I’m hoping they’ll build upon it and possibly add some presets or something.
The earpads are quite plush and comfy. They’re a soft leather material and fit snugly on the ear when in use. The Bluetooth connectivity is pretty clear and paired with my iPhone 6+ was a breeze.
As far as the noise cancelling goes, it does a superb job in this respect. Barely any outside noise is audible aside from loud voices or traffic. For the most part, it blocks out a lot of noise so no worries there. Sound quality is spot on from fairly deep bass to mids and highs. I listen to a wide variety of music so these play them all without too much bass or too little highs.
These are fantastic headphones and, albeit a bit pricey, they’re well worth it in my opinion.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
Customer Rating
4
Great tablet for just about everyone
on May 20, 2016
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
An entry level/budget from Acer packs quite a nice punch that will suit just about anyones needs.
With so many tablets on the market, it can be challenging to find one that suits your needs. iPad's are great as are some of the Samsung/LG tablets. Acer's entry level/budget tablet One 8 will, honestly, fit just about anyones needs for a tablet.
With a 16GB onboard storage (expandable with MicroSD card), quad core processor and Android 5.1, this will serve pretty much whatever purpose you need. Even though I own an iPad Pro, I think the 8" tablets are the perfect size. I have the iPad Pro for watching movies/streaming so big screen helps. With the 8" tablet, for portability and use, it's spot on in terms of size/dimensions. It'll fit in your purse/backpack without taking up a lot of room and is extremely lightweight. With the Android OS (assuming you're down with Google), you have access to everything you need as far as communication/media/productivity.
Standby power is great and should last a couple days or so. I was able to get a good day out of the battery with moderate use. YMMV but I think it's safe to say that battery life shouldn't be an issue for most folks. the screen, despite not being HD or Retina, works well. It's a budget tablet so it won't have all the bells and whistles like higher end tablets have and it's reflected in the price. The cameras are so-so in quality. I think we've all been spoiled with our cell phone cameras and the quality pics they produce. While this can take decent quality pics, don't expect super hi-res images from this.
For a sub $100 tablet, I think this is a great pickup for just about anyone really. College student, kids, your parents, even you. While it might not appeal to the techy/dork crowd, for the average person, this unit will do more than suffice.
Only "weird" thing for me was the location of the SD slot. It's on top of the tablet. Usually it's beneath the back cover or somewhere enclosed. Not really an issue however with my case on the tablet, little concerned about it accidentally unmounting the card when situated in there.
Overall, great piece of technology and, for the price, won't put a huge dent in your wallet.
My Best Buy number: 2143294971
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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.
Posted by: LouRevue
from Washington, DC
This router is the latest model from LinkSys and it is truly a beast. At first look, almost seems like it came straight out of Aliens or something with all the antennas (8 total) on this router. With all the antennas, this will mean that multiple devices/users in your house/office will be able to connect seamlessly. In addition to cellphones/tablets, your TV/Blu-Ray player and streaming devices can also connect and receive decent data speeds on your network. The setup of this router is very simple, almost plug and play. Also works well with LinkSys wifi extenders too if you have one. With the multiple antennas, its basically like each connecting device has its own router. I have a couple laptops, phones and a few other devices all vying for some router space. With this router, connection to the network and load isn't an issue anymore which is nice. Only real issue now for me is just my internet speed. Once I'm upgrade my connection to a faster one, then this router will truly live up to its potential. For now though, I'll live with it just formidably handling the network load at my place.
Great router and highly recommend.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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LouRevue's Review Comments
Only at Best Buy Acer Aspire R 15 Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: Combine performance and versatility with this Acer Aspire laptop. It has a huge 1TB hard drive to meet your storage needs, and the Intel Core i5 processor makes light work of multitasking. This Acer Aspire laptop has a 15.6-inch display for a great viewing experience, and the 360-degree hinged screen provide flexibility for work and play.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Excellent laptop for everyday use
By LouRevue
from Washington, DC
Having had the chance to use this laptop, I must say it’s quite an impressive model for almostn any use. With an abundance of features housed in a sleek, stylish body, it’s a solid laptop for anyone in the market for a new/replacement laptop.
Using a 7th gen i5 dual core processor, the laptop functions on par with just about any laptop in its price range. With 8GB of RAM (12GB max) and a 1TB hard drive, it offers plenty of speed and room for all your files and enough power/speed to perform almost any task.
As far as the aesthetics go, this is an impressive looking laptop with clean lines, brushed aluminum cover and beveled edges. It’s a very nice looking laptop no doubt and the design, overall, is quite appealing. It comes with a full size keyboard as well as backlit keys which is a nice touch. Only gripe with the keyboard are the arrow buttons as the Up/Down buttons are smaller due to keyboard layout. The power button is on the right side of the laptop which is a bit unique as well as a dedicated volume button. There are 2 USB 3.0 ports as well as 1 USB 2.0 port, HDMI, SD Card and USB-C port. There is no CD drive for anyone wondering. The laptop (closed) is only about ¾ inch tall however it’s a bit wider than most due to the full size keyboard.
Power/performance. Using a dual-core processor I was under the impression this would be relatively slow and have choppy performance when opening multiple programs. Being this is the latest gen processor from Intel, this is not the case. Opening 2-3 programs at once was done with relative ease and switching between them was pretty flawless. The 8GB RAM comes in quite handy here and even with a 5400 RPM HDD, this laptop was able to perform tasks with very good speed. Battery life is pretty good. Using it “normally” and leaving it on for about 5-6 hours, there was about 50% battery left. Also, one very noteworthy benefit to this laptop, it doesn’t get that hot when left on for long periods of time which is VERY nice.
The display is probably the most impressive feature on here. A full 1080p display is quite vibrant and displays bright and dark colors extremely well. Those wanting to watch Netflix/Hulu will have no issues with the display. In addition to visuals, the sound from this laptop is equally impressive. For watching movies or just playing music, the speakers on this laptop deliver quite nicely without too much reverberation or distorted sound.
One of my initial thoughts of this being a 2-in-1 was that the tablet was an afterthought/gimmick. Having used previous 2-in-1 laptops, I was expecting the tablet functionality to be quite lackluster. Again, this was not the case. In this unit, you have, both, a well built laptop as well as tablet on-the-go device. Once in tablet mode, the screen orients itself to that of a normal tablet using Windows Tiles. Touch sensitivity is surprisingly smooth and using paint programs worked well without any lag or drops in sensitivity. Using the tablet form works really well when you want to sit back and watch videos or movies. Very nice.
A couple concerns with this laptop were;
The hard drive. While it’s a large 1TB drive, I would’ve expected something, at least, in the 7200 RPM range. Being fast enough for normal business related tasks, anyone wanting to use this laptop for video editing or other processor intensive jobs might find it to be a bit slow. This can easily be remedied by replacing the HD for a faster spindle drive or a SSD. However it would’ve been nice to have a tad faster hard drive here.
The keyboard, for me, took a bit getting used to since I have previously used standard laptop keyboards without the number pad. This is a personal preference so nothing against the design. Just noting that those of you used to that type of laptop keyboard, there will be a bit of learning curve involved however I think the addition of the number pad is great thing and should be standard on all laptops.
While the brushed aluminum case is aesthetically appealing, I’m a little concerned about it getting scratched/dinged from normal use or if when you’re changing it to be used as a tablet. This is the case with some laptops that use this metal casing so just something to be aware of.
The keyboard, for me, took a bit getting used to since I have previously used standard laptop keyboards without the number pad. This is a personal preference so nothing against the design. Just noting that those of you used to that type of laptop keyboard, there will be a bit of learning curve involved however I think the addition of the number pad is great thing and should be standard on all laptops.
While the brushed aluminum case is aesthetically appealing, I’m a little concerned about it getting scratched/dinged from normal use or if when you’re changing it to be used as a tablet. This is the case with some laptops that use this metal casing so just something to be aware of.
Overall, this is an impressive laptop, reasonably priced with enough up-to-date technology that will last you for several years to come. Being that it’s a 2-in-1, it’s an added bonus which allows you to use this device in ways you should be able to do and with relative ease.There is some bloatware included (this should be no surprise) so make sure to uninstall/delete the stuff you don’t need. Aside from a somewhat slow hard drive, the other features on this laptop more than make up for it. Very nice buy for a new work laptop or student.
LouRevue
Washington, DC
Bloatware?
January 17, 2017
It took a bit of time to setup my laptop as well. Have you tried uninstalling the bloatware on this laptop? I did and I don't have any issues with boot speed or anything else on my laptop.
+1point
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Only @ Best BuyListen to music with this sweat- and dust-resistant wireless Jabra Elite headset. It connects via USB, mini-jack or Bluetooth, and a powerful microphone lets you use voice commands with your mobile device. This Jabra Elite headset reduces background noise and has a built-in motion sensor that lets you track fitness efforts.
Can an owner of the original non active 65t comment on the fit and stability difference with the active version? Curious if that and the extra IP rating is worth a look, or negligible.
I own both the active and regular 65T's and I don't see any noticeable difference between them. Aside from the IP rating, there's really not much difference. Both fit exactly the same and fit pretty snugly in the ear.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
LouRevue
Brighten your day and night with this Philips Being Hue ceiling light. The dimming function lets you set an ambience for different moods, and it works with the Philips Hue dimmer switch and mobile app for versatile control. The ZigBee technology of this 32W Philips Being Hue ceiling lamp provides smooth, efficient interoperability with multiple Hue lighting units.
Can this light be controlled by a existing wired wall switch? I plan to replace the light that is already there with this one, but I would prefer to use the wired switch.
Yes you can...that's what I did. One thing to note is that the light won't come on immediately like your current light fixture does. There's a second or two delay after you flip the switch. I'm planning on replacing the switch with a dimmer switch so maybe that will correct the delay.
6 years, 5 months ago
by
LouRevue
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
How much internal storage does the phone have minus the external SD Card?
Most US models will have 16GB of storage. The international versions can range anywhere from 16GB-64GB
11 years, 1 month ago
by
LouRevue
Washington, DC
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
What is the return policy if I dont like the phone?
Depends on the carrier. I know AT&T has a 14 day return policy. Ask your carrier rep to see how long their return period is.
11 years, 1 month ago
by
LouRevue
Washington, DC
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
does this phone have front and back cameras?
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
Does this phone have a touch screen or is it just a stillus?
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
can i use the samsung note 2 in africa right after buying.
Only if you have the international unlocked version (the N7100 model) All other models will be tied to a carrier. You can still use those phones in Africa however you'll get hammered with roaming charges.
11 years, 1 month ago
by
LouRevue
Washington, DC
Samsung Galaxy Note II I317 Cell Phone for AT&T: Combining the best of a smartphone and a tablet, its huge 5.5" screen provides a great view of photos, videos and web pages yet its thin and lightweight design makes it easy to hold and carry. Use the enhanced S Pen to write on the display and personalize e-mails, highlight calendar appointments and make sketches. AT&T Next option available. Learn more ›
Does Samsung upgrade its android smartphone OS as soon as a new one is released? (4.1 Jelly Bean to the soon to be released 5.0 Key Lime Pie).
No. Samsung has its own UI built in (TouchWiz) so whenever a new OS comes out, Samsung won't release the update until they've adjusted their TouchWiz to work with the new OS. Judging from previous releases, new updates are generally released 4-6 months after a new OS has been released.
11 years, 1 month ago
by
LouRevue
Washington, DC