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emmgee
 
 
 
emmgee's stats
 
  • Review count
    5
  • Helpfulness votes
    52
  • First review
    June 5, 2010
  • Last review
    February 13, 2016
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    3.6
 
  • Review comment count
    2
  • Helpfulness votes
    1
  • First review comment
    December 25, 2015
  • Last review comment
    December 27, 2015
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    0
 
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emmgee's Reviews
 
VIZIO M43-C1 LED 4K Ultra HD TV: Upgrade your TV-watching experience to 4K Ultra HD and enjoy movies, TV shows and sports that look incredibly realistic. Wirelessly stream content from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video and more.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Meh
on February 13, 2016
Posted by: emmgee
from Bay Area, California
I'm clearly I'm in the minority because I don't like this TV. I bought it partly because of all the great reviews and it did look good in the Best Buy showroom. But at home it was overly yellow and green. I found lots of calibration guides on the web, but none make it look better. I wound up paying a professional to calibrate it. It looked a lot better, but still just didn't seem right. I had a 5 year-old Samsung previously and my wife swore it was better. I finally decided to go back to Samsung. It is a lot better. Probably the colors are somewhat oversaturated but honestly it looks like a real TV, not gauzy and muted.
My Best Buy number: 0035455974
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
NETGEAR AC1200 High Power WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing network range & speed, delivering AC dual band WiFi up to 1200Mbps. The 700mW high-power design provides ultimate range, while the dual core processor enables maximum WiFi performance. It compatible with any standard WiFi router and is ideal for very large homes and frustration free HD video streaming and gaming.
 
Customer Rating
2 out of 5
2
Close but no cigar
on October 1, 2014
Posted by: emmgee
from Bay Area, California
I set this up quickly using WPS syncing. That was a good start. You put the AC1200 next to your Wi-Fi router to establish the sync and then move the AC1200 to it's place as a relay. My 100 Mbps Comcast throughput turned into 2-3 Mbps throughput. The other thing that it does is create two new SSIDs by adding _2EXT and _5EXT after your SSIDs. So when you are downstairs you have to link to MyWiFi (or whatever your SSID is) and then when you go upstairs you have to switch to MyWiFi_2EXT. That's nuts. It has great signal strength but it did a lousy job of truly extending my Wi-Fi network.
I returned it and bought a Lynksys RE6500. The setup was easier because you don't have to put it next to your Wi-Fi router first. I put it in exactly the same place as I did the Netgear device. Wow! 50 Mbps first time. It has a site survey mode that you can use to test signal strength relative to your Wi-Fi router. Presumably you can use this to find a better place for the extender. I'll play with that some day but for now 50 Mbps is just fine. And no goofy EXT SSIDs. You just have to use your original one. And it is $20 cheaper.
My Best Buy number: 0035455974
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
3of 6voted this as helpful.
 
Designed for use with most Sony interchangeable-lens cameras with an Alpha mount, this Sony Vario-Tessar T* E SEL1670Z 16-70mm f/4 ZA OSS zoom lens features 4 aspheric elements to help ensure crisp, clear shots.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
You know you want it
on June 29, 2014
Posted by: emmgee
from Bay Area, California
As I was researching the pros and cons of this lens, many said what I have now concluded: if you can afford it it's worth it. I'm not sure why it's so expensive but I suspect in the years to come I'll remember the quality of the photos and not the price. It's got a pop, an oomph, a wow that makes me feel like I'm heading in Ansel Adams territory. If you enjoy standard photography and aren't trying to push your photographic skills I wouldn't recommend it. But I'm trying to learn as much as I can and with this tool I feel like I can do many fun things. Sorry for the lack of tech talk but you can find that anywhere. I think it's more of an emotional thing.
What's great about it: Outstanding images
What's not so great: Price
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5 out of 5
5
Durability
5 out of 5
5
+36points
41of 46voted this as helpful.
 
This 8" subwoofer delivers increased bass response with low distortion and a built-in Class D amplifier for 350 watts of power.
 
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Just right for my family room
on December 27, 2013
Posted by: emmgee
from Bay Area, California
I had a cheap 10" subwoofer that was meh. I upgraded my front speakers and center speaker (all Klipsch Reference Series) so I decided to upgrade the subwoofer as well. I have a small-ish family room so I didn't need a lot of power, plus I'm not a rock 'n roller and I definitely don't need the room to shake. A lot of subwoofer reviews seem to address that kind of listener.
This subwoofer meets my needs. Tight, sharp bass and when you crank it up you can feel it, no problem.
The documentation in the box and online is sparse. There is nothing really that tells you what the controls do. What I found out on the web is that your receiver actually sets the crossover frequency, not the knob, if you connect to the LFE jack. I figured everything out but it took a while. Better documentation would have helped. Now that I have it set, I doubt I'll ever have to touch it.
My Best Buy number: 35455974
What's great about it: Sounds great, decent price
What's not so great: Documentation is non-existent
I would recommend this to a friend!
Sound Quality
5 out of 5
5
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Manage up to 8 of your home theater electronics devices with this Logitech Harmony 700 915-000162 universal remote, which features a brilliant color command screen for easy navigation. One-touch activity buttons simplify device selection.
 
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Just right
on June 5, 2010
Posted by: emmgee
from Bay Area, California
This is my second Harmony remote. My first one (the original) worked great but I recently got all new AV gear and wanted a newer version of the Harmony.
I have 4 devices and I'm sure I'll get a 5th, so this fit perfectly (6 is the limit). The next higher price/more feature version is the Harmony One and the extra features weren't necessary. But after paying $2500 for my new gear, an extra $100 for the Harmony One wouldn't have been a big deal except I hated the shiny black fingerprint magnet finish.
The 700 has a matte finish that feels good in the hand and doesn't pick up smudges, etc. The keys are kind of rubbery and the spring is just right – so using it is a pleasure. The key layout is very logical and intuitive. I like the slight figure 8 shape and the balance. From an ergonomic point of view, the design is excellent.
The device set-up is the same across Harmony remotes (as far as I know) and is pretty good. I wish there was a bit more control over sequence and timing. My receiver, TiVo, and Blu-Ray have a lot of features that require this kind of tweaking. Maybe I just haven't figured out how to do it yet.
My old Harmony used a cradle for recharging which was drop-dead simple to use. I keep the recharger in a cabinet and plugging in the mini-USB in a dark cabinet is kind of hit-or-miss. But the battery life is excellent so this is a minor annoyance.
I think the ergonomic features of the 700 make this the best Harmony irrespective of price.
What's great about it: Does everything I need it to do, ergonomics are excellent
What's not so great: Should use a cradle, not plug-in for recharge
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5 out of 5
5
Durability
5 out of 5
5
+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
 
emmgee's Review Comments
 
Designed for use with a variety home automation and entertainment devices, this Logitech Harmony Elite 915-000256 remote allows easy control through closed cabinets or walls for flexible use. The remote works with Alexa, and the Harmony mobile app supports simple on-to-go operation.
 
Overall3 out of 53 out of 5
good remote, lousy software
By yegods
The combination of hub and remote is terrific, and I looked forward to receiving it greatly The setup was pretty smooth, and I soon had two rooms full of electical doo-dads running off the hub. I was pretty disappointed that you cannot switch hubs with the remote (as you can with the app). Terrible design decision, and wow... if you need to switch hubs with the remote, don't even bother to try. It's a frustration.
But if you're the typical user, with one hub, and one remote, it's pretty good.
the app software is a major disappointment. It has a terrible user experience. The page flicking is so darn sensitive that it's difficult to press a button on a page, without it flicking to the next page. Did anyone even use this program?? If you have even the slightest shaky fingers, you're in deep trouble. I've found that if you turn off the haptic feedback, it is a little better, but still way too sensitive. There have been no app updates since I bought the product.
All in all, my experience has been average. I like the remote, and once it was setup I have no troubles using it for the one room that it supports. When I have to use the app for the other room, it's a trying experience. The remote is well designed and functions great.
Thus, it is an average product, and I expected a lot more.
Customer Avatar
emmgee
Bay Area, California
My sentiments exactly
December 25, 2015
I have used Harmony remotes for years. The best one I had was the 700 which had hard buttons for everything. Once they went to touch screens and smartphone apps they ventured into territory they apparently don't understand.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
 
Utilizing Bluetooth 4.0 technology, this compact Insignia™ NS-PCY5BMA USB adapter lets you wirelessly connect up to 7 compatible devices to your USB-enabled laptop from up to 20' away.
 
Overall1 out of 51 out of 5
Useless.
By SaintCrispan
"You only get what you pay for." This time with this piece of garbage I didn't even get that much! I'm a 27 year veteran of computers, been working with them professionally since DOS 3.3 and before that on Apples...so this is an expert's review. First, you should be told this much: NO DRIVERS ARE INCLUDED WITH THE DEVICE...no driver CD, no installation software is included...even though the BOX is deceptively sized like there is a CD in it, there is NONE. Second, know this: YOU CANNOT DOWNLOAD THE DRIVERS INDIVIDUALLY. All they have is a website to go to with an installation program and you must click and pray that it works once it starts. Which it didn't for me, ON TWO MACHINES: XP#SP3# and W7 #SP1#.
It says on Broadcom's website you can use this chip with XP...NOPE. I called Insignia's technical support number for help, only to be treatead like an idiot. "Did you [follow the steps in the manual]?" Yes, I followed the steps. Howabout you act useful and tell me where to find the XP drivers? Broadcom, who makes the chip for this deal, says that they are available for XP. Their response? They walked me AGAIN through the steps in the installation guide WHICH DIDN'T WORK the first time--and didn't work the second time either. Not only is their product useless, their call in support are EVEN MORE USELESS. How hard can it be to set up a spot where the technically proficient can log in, download JUST THE DRIVER, install it, and then use the installation software to set up the rest...bluetooth stack, AD2P drivers, etc etc? When the guy finally realized he was clueless, he copped out and said, "Well, the documentation says you can't use it on XP." I could if you could tell me where to find the DRIVERS.
OK, fine, so instead try it on my Windows 7: NOPE: FAIL. I plugged it in, it went looking on the internet for drivers: FAIL. Then I attempted to go to the website in the documentation, download the install, and run it...FAIL. Couldn't find the device, because the device couldn't find the drivers. Ok, so I called up Insignia tech support, got a different tech, who treated me like an idiot: "Did you follow the instructions in the pamphlet?" #Side note: How bad of an issue is this, where people cannot follow simple instructions, that they need to tread everyone who calls in like an idiot?# So the guy eventually admits that he his clueless, has no idea why it's not finding the drivers, has no idea where to find drivers for manual install, and finally suggests that maybe the device is faulty? His advice: "Take it back and exchange it."
This is good advice...I'm going to exchange it for A DIFFERENT BRAND THAT MIGHT WORK. But that won't happen until after Christmas, because this week the stores are MURDER. #That's why I picked it up a week EARLY...so much for that stragegy.#
Take my advice - AVOID THIS GARBAGE PRODUCT.
Customer Avatar
emmgee
Bay Area, California
Maybe it's defective (it happens)
December 27, 2015
Look at the other comments from mere mortals who haven't been working in the computer industry for umpteen years. Plug and play...
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
 
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