FlyingC's stats
- Review count204
- Helpfulness votes297
- First reviewNovember 28, 2015
- Last reviewMay 4, 2024
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- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count15
- Helpfulness votes50
- First answerSeptember 20, 2016
- Last answerNovember 10, 2021
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Whether you’re working, collaborating, creating or playing, Intel Core Ultra processors deliver a dedicated engine to help unlock AI possibilities on the PC, the next level in an immersive graphics experience, and high-performance low power processing, so you can confidently perform for longer while on the go.
Posted by: FlyingC
I’ve had other Dell laptops at home over the years, and my company provides a Dell for work. Every one of them has been a great workhorse. So far, this 16” Inspiron is my favorite.
It’s a little bigger and heavier than some, but it’s still quite portable and fits easily in my backpack. The large, beautiful screen is completely worth the extra size and weight in my opinion. I also have a portable monitor that I carry with me that’s just slightly smaller than the laptop. But with that addition, I have a fully functional home office setup with plenty of screen real-estate wherever I go.
The battery life has been great so far, although most of the time I use it while plugged in. The built-in speakers sound really good and are plenty loud when you need to turn up the volume. The keyboard isn’t anything special, but I found it to be easy to use. The track pad space is pretty large, so I did find myself accidentally touching it sometimes while typing. Most of the time I have a Bluetooth mouse connected, though, so I just updated the Windows settings to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected.
It comes with all the ports I’ve needed so far. There are two USB-C Thunderbolt ports on the left side. That lets me plug in power, and also connect my external monitor with both power and the video output in the same USB-C cable. It has a USB-A port and a regular HDMI port on the left side. Then on the right side, there’s another USB-A port, headphone jack, and an SD card reader slot.
I have only one nitpicky complaint about the laptop, and that’s how the screen/lid is hinged. When it’s sitting flat and you open the screen up to a good viewing angle, it lifts the back of the laptop off the surface slightly. It doesn’t really cause any problem, but it just felt weird until I got used to it. Actually, maybe it’s even a good thing for improving air flow underneath for cooling. At the end of the day, though, I love everything else about this laptop and highly recommend it.
It’s a little bigger and heavier than some, but it’s still quite portable and fits easily in my backpack. The large, beautiful screen is completely worth the extra size and weight in my opinion. I also have a portable monitor that I carry with me that’s just slightly smaller than the laptop. But with that addition, I have a fully functional home office setup with plenty of screen real-estate wherever I go.
The battery life has been great so far, although most of the time I use it while plugged in. The built-in speakers sound really good and are plenty loud when you need to turn up the volume. The keyboard isn’t anything special, but I found it to be easy to use. The track pad space is pretty large, so I did find myself accidentally touching it sometimes while typing. Most of the time I have a Bluetooth mouse connected, though, so I just updated the Windows settings to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected.
It comes with all the ports I’ve needed so far. There are two USB-C Thunderbolt ports on the left side. That lets me plug in power, and also connect my external monitor with both power and the video output in the same USB-C cable. It has a USB-A port and a regular HDMI port on the left side. Then on the right side, there’s another USB-A port, headphone jack, and an SD card reader slot.
I have only one nitpicky complaint about the laptop, and that’s how the screen/lid is hinged. When it’s sitting flat and you open the screen up to a good viewing angle, it lifts the back of the laptop off the surface slightly. It doesn’t really cause any problem, but it just felt weird until I got used to it. Actually, maybe it’s even a good thing for improving air flow underneath for cooling. At the end of the day, though, I love everything else about this laptop and highly recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Skylight Calendar is an innovative touchscreen display for all your calendar events, to-do’s, grocery list, and chores to help you organize your family’s busy schedule. It has a 15” touch screen that displays your family’s schedule in HD clarity making it a beautiful centerpiece for your home. It is the perfect size for a kitchen counter or can be mounted on a wall. High-quality metal stand and wall mount included.
Customer Rating
4
Electronic Wall Calendar
on April 28, 2024
Posted by: FlyingC
I wasn’t sure I needed a dedicated electronic wall calendar, but now that I’ve used it for a few days I really like it. I settled on the weekly view so it’s easy to see all the activities and at least some of the descriptions. If you have a large family or just a lot of activities, I think you’ll find this a handy addition to the home.
The box was surprisingly heavy when it arrived, but after opening it I realized a lot of the weight was from the metal stand and wall bracket. I decided to use ours with the stand on the kitchen counter, mainly because there was a power outlet behind it and I could hide all the cables. The very heavy-duty stand is nice and stable when people are poking on the screen to enter things in the menus. The wall mount bracket looks very simple and easy to install, but I didn’t want to have a power cord hanging down below it to an outlet, especially with cats in the house.
It was very easy to get on my home WiFi. I do have an “IoT” SSID that’s 2.4GHz only that I use for all the miscellaneous devices in the house like this, so that may have helped. I don’t know if it would have any problems connecting to the 5GHz WiFi. It was also very easy to get our Google calendars synced with it.
The “dinner plan” feature has been surprisingly useful. While it can be done via the Skylight app, it’s been just as easy to add meals for the week right on the calendar. It’s nice to be able to quickly see what meals are coming up.
I also set up the sleep timer, so the screen shuts off from 10:30pm until 6:00am when no one is likely to look at it. This is a nice feature and seems to work well.
There are some things I don’t like about the Skylight calendar, though. The viewing angle is narrow—the image washes out pretty quickly when you move to either side. I also wish you could customize the look of the calendar more, like changing the background color palette, etc. If there is a way to do that, I’ve not found it yet.
Probably the most annoying thing about the Skylight is the fact that it’s essentially a picture frame that’s working as a calendar. However, if you want to actually USE it as a picture frame you have to subscribe for $40/year for that functionality. This seems a little tacky. The only other feature you get with the subscription is the so-called “magic import” where you can send it an email with an event, and it’ll pull out the information and put it in the calendar. However, Gmail already does that, so if you’re syncing with Google calendar you pretty much already have that capability. It would have been nice if they’d include some limited form of picture frame functionality, like only so many pictures or something.
But even with the few things I don’t like, I still like this calendar overall. It’s already secured its place in the kitchen and I’m sure we’ll continue to use it.
The box was surprisingly heavy when it arrived, but after opening it I realized a lot of the weight was from the metal stand and wall bracket. I decided to use ours with the stand on the kitchen counter, mainly because there was a power outlet behind it and I could hide all the cables. The very heavy-duty stand is nice and stable when people are poking on the screen to enter things in the menus. The wall mount bracket looks very simple and easy to install, but I didn’t want to have a power cord hanging down below it to an outlet, especially with cats in the house.
It was very easy to get on my home WiFi. I do have an “IoT” SSID that’s 2.4GHz only that I use for all the miscellaneous devices in the house like this, so that may have helped. I don’t know if it would have any problems connecting to the 5GHz WiFi. It was also very easy to get our Google calendars synced with it.
The “dinner plan” feature has been surprisingly useful. While it can be done via the Skylight app, it’s been just as easy to add meals for the week right on the calendar. It’s nice to be able to quickly see what meals are coming up.
I also set up the sleep timer, so the screen shuts off from 10:30pm until 6:00am when no one is likely to look at it. This is a nice feature and seems to work well.
There are some things I don’t like about the Skylight calendar, though. The viewing angle is narrow—the image washes out pretty quickly when you move to either side. I also wish you could customize the look of the calendar more, like changing the background color palette, etc. If there is a way to do that, I’ve not found it yet.
Probably the most annoying thing about the Skylight is the fact that it’s essentially a picture frame that’s working as a calendar. However, if you want to actually USE it as a picture frame you have to subscribe for $40/year for that functionality. This seems a little tacky. The only other feature you get with the subscription is the so-called “magic import” where you can send it an email with an event, and it’ll pull out the information and put it in the calendar. However, Gmail already does that, so if you’re syncing with Google calendar you pretty much already have that capability. It would have been nice if they’d include some limited form of picture frame functionality, like only so many pictures or something.
But even with the few things I don’t like, I still like this calendar overall. It’s already secured its place in the kitchen and I’m sure we’ll continue to use it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Smooth, clean shave with SkinProtect Technology. Philips Norelco Shaver 3600 Wet & Dry Electric Shaver gives you a comfortable, clean shave, even on sensitive skin. 5D Pivot & Flex Heads, ComfortCut blades and full washability help ensure a smooth, skin-friendly result.
Posted by: FlyingC
I’ve used an older version of Philips shaver for about 6 years now, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. I like what they’ve done with the newer version. The shape is slightly more squared off now, plus they’ve added some textured grip areas which make it much easier to hold. The best thing to me, though, is that instead of a bulky power brick for charging it now just comes with a USB-A charging cable. So that makes it much easier to charge at home, but especially to charge while traveling.
It still uses the standard SH30 blades, so it’s easy to get replacements when needed. They recommend replacing them every year, but I’ve gone at least three years with no problems. The three shaver heads can now tilt towards the center which seems to have improved how it follows the contour of my face.
I always use it dry, and I think it does a great job that way. You do have to move in small circles and go over an area a few times to catch all the hairs, but overall, I think it’s still faster shaving this way than the old shaving cream and razor method. When I first switched over to shaving this way, it took my skin a few weeks to get used to it. But now it feels perfectly normal, and I almost never have any irritation or ingrown hairs.
I like the lithium-ion battery, run time, and power of this new shaver. I think it runs at a little higher RPM than the old one, so it does a little better job shaving. The runtime is advertised as 60 minutes. I’ve never timed it, but I shave every other day and only charge it once per week. I’m sure I could go longer, but I just keep to that schedule. I also like that this shaver now has a battery level indicator (three bars) that comes on briefly when you turn it on. The old shaver would only light up amber when the battery was low, so you never really knew for sure how charged it was until it was too low.
It’s super easy to clean out when you’re done. The head just flips open, and you can run it under the faucet to flush it out. I usually take the head off and shake the excess water out of both pieces, then snap it back together and leave it open to dry.
Like my older model, it also has a flip out trimmer on the back. At first, I didn’t think I’d use that at all, but it’s surprisingly useful to keep not only your sideburns trimmed, but other hair as well. I’ve used it to catch some stray hairs around my ears, neck, etc.
I hate shaving and the time it takes, but I feel like switching to an electric shaver has allowed me to get back some of that time. It’s fast, convenient, and I can also multitask while shaving so it doesn’t feel like I’m wasting as much time. I’m glad I switched, and I would buy another shaver just like this if something happened to it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ECOVACS DEEBOT X2 OMNI is a giant leap forward for robot vacuums. Its slimmer square-shaped design offers better edge cleaning, cornering, and maneuvering under low clearance areas and around obstacles. Add in automatic mop lifting and enhanced learning capability, and you’ll quickly discover why it’s able to go where no robot vacuum has gone before.
Customer Rating
3
Doesn’t quite meet expectations
on November 30, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
I had high hopes for this combo vacuum and mop robot, but unfortunately it hasn’t lived up to my expectations. The self-cleaning mop part is still mostly useful, but its inconsistent navigation doesn’t always get it to cover all the areas it’s supposed to. Its vacuuming performance is a little disappointing, too, because it tends to blow pet hair around on hard floors rather than suck it up.
The initial setup of the app, getting the robot on the WiFi, and even running the initial mapping went very well. I’ve got several other brands of robot vacuums and they seemed to take forever to map out the house. This one mapped our upstairs (830 square feet) in about 10 minutes and produced a reasonably accurate map.
I was able to segment the rooms properly and draw a couple of boundaries to keep it from trying to go downstairs. However, this is when I noticed that I couldn’t customize the room names like I wanted in the app. One room is an office; however, this isn’t one of the room choices. Unless I’m overlooking something, you can only choose one of the pre-existing room types like Room, Corridor, Laundry, Study, etc. Office wasn’t a choice, and neither was Closet. So, my office became “Study1”, and my closet became Cloakroom1. The only choice for my second closet was to make it Cloakroom2. I assume this limitation is to accommodate the “OK, YIKO” voice capabilities, but it’s still a little annoying.
Once all that was configured, I selected a couple of rooms for “vacuum only” just to see how that worked. It went around the edges of a room first, then started to cover the middle. I was happy to see that it went underneath furniture, like a couple of dressers, that it fit underneath. However, when it came to the middle part it didn’t seem to consistently cover the whole area and missed some spots. Another thing I noticed was it tended to blow cat hair around to areas that it had already vacuumed. I don’t know if this is because of where they chose to vent the exhaust air or what, but the other robot vacuums don’t have nearly as many problems with that.
Another issue was it simply didn’t vacuum the entire room. See the attached picture from the app. It mapped the whole bedroom, but then when it was vacuuming it decided not to go into the whole area behind the bed. I’m not sure why that happened because there’s plenty of room (and it had just mapped it successfully.)
Next, I tried the mopping function. I wasn’t exactly sure how it worked before I got it, but it turns out the robot simply wets the pads in the base and then goes out mopping. So, there’s no on-board spraying of cleaning solution while it’s mopping. In the app, it indicates that it’ll return to the base after each room is completed or when a selected time interval is reached. The choices are 10, 15, or 25 minutes. Unfortunately, even 10 minutes is a long time to go without refreshing the mop pads so they tend to get a little dry by the end. If your rooms are small enough, then you may not run into that issue.
In the app, I tried to create a job that would vacuum everywhere, but then just mop in a couple small rooms. Unfortunately, it looks like the vacuum-only and vacuum & mop modes are only selectable for the entire job. So, unless I’m overlooking something again, I have to run a vacuum-only job for just those selected rooms, then run a separate job for the other rooms that I want to vacuum & mop. Maybe this will be a feature in a later software update.
Once all that was configured, I selected a couple of rooms for “vacuum only” just to see how that worked. It went around the edges of a room first, then started to cover the middle. I was happy to see that it went underneath furniture, like a couple of dressers, that it fit underneath. However, when it came to the middle part it didn’t seem to consistently cover the whole area and missed some spots. Another thing I noticed was it tended to blow cat hair around to areas that it had already vacuumed. I don’t know if this is because of where they chose to vent the exhaust air or what, but the other robot vacuums don’t have nearly as many problems with that.
Another issue was it simply didn’t vacuum the entire room. See the attached picture from the app. It mapped the whole bedroom, but then when it was vacuuming it decided not to go into the whole area behind the bed. I’m not sure why that happened because there’s plenty of room (and it had just mapped it successfully.)
Next, I tried the mopping function. I wasn’t exactly sure how it worked before I got it, but it turns out the robot simply wets the pads in the base and then goes out mopping. So, there’s no on-board spraying of cleaning solution while it’s mopping. In the app, it indicates that it’ll return to the base after each room is completed or when a selected time interval is reached. The choices are 10, 15, or 25 minutes. Unfortunately, even 10 minutes is a long time to go without refreshing the mop pads so they tend to get a little dry by the end. If your rooms are small enough, then you may not run into that issue.
In the app, I tried to create a job that would vacuum everywhere, but then just mop in a couple small rooms. Unfortunately, it looks like the vacuum-only and vacuum & mop modes are only selectable for the entire job. So, unless I’m overlooking something again, I have to run a vacuum-only job for just those selected rooms, then run a separate job for the other rooms that I want to vacuum & mop. Maybe this will be a feature in a later software update.
I was fairly pleased with the mopping results on our vinyl plank flooring, other than the navigation issue where it sometimes misses a few spots. Where it mopped, the floor at least looked better. Instead of cat footprints and other spots, it did at least look clean. Another positive point is that it’s relatively quiet when running and is probably the quietest of all the robot vacuums I’ve used.
Another small disappointment for me was the lack of spares included with the robot. They do include a spare roller, which is nice, but nothing else. There isn’t even a sample-size bottle of cleaning solution to get you started, so you either have to wait to buy some or use something similar you might have on hand. There is also only one vacuum bag for the station. For the price of this robot system, I really expected to see a small starter kit included with these items and maybe even another pair of mop pads and a side brush. It’s not a huge deal, but I think it would have sent a good message to their customers.
In summary, I plan to keep using it for the mop functions, but I’m also going to keep my older robot vacuum in service for the vacuuming part. Maybe the navigation will be improved with future software updates. For the price and features it has, I just expected a little more from it.
Another small disappointment for me was the lack of spares included with the robot. They do include a spare roller, which is nice, but nothing else. There isn’t even a sample-size bottle of cleaning solution to get you started, so you either have to wait to buy some or use something similar you might have on hand. There is also only one vacuum bag for the station. For the price of this robot system, I really expected to see a small starter kit included with these items and maybe even another pair of mop pads and a side brush. It’s not a huge deal, but I think it would have sent a good message to their customers.
In summary, I plan to keep using it for the mop functions, but I’m also going to keep my older robot vacuum in service for the vacuuming part. Maybe the navigation will be improved with future software updates. For the price and features it has, I just expected a little more from it.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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For smart home security, the Essential Outdoor Camera provides crystal-clear 2K resolution. You can see license plates and eye color in detail with 12x zoom. You’ll get alerts and be able to watch live video right from your phone. Use the Integrated Spotlight Ward to ward off intruders or trigger the Integrated Siren automatically or manually from the Arlo Secure App. Even in low light you’ll be able to identify details with Color Night Vision. Or try the noise-canceling audio to hear and speak clearly with visitors. Setup is quick and easy and only takes minutes by connecting directly to Wi-Fi. You can install it with full confidence thanks to its rechargeable battery and weather-resistant design. An Arlo Secure plan trial is included. After trial, a paid plan is required to keep premium features like 30-day video cloud storage, People, Package, Vehicle Detection, 24/7 Emergency Response, and more.
Customer Rating
4
Good camera, best with subscription
on November 28, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
I have used Arlo cameras for quite a few years now, so I’m already paying for the “Secure Multi-Camera” subscription. If you’re already a subscriber, too, then this camera is a good option for adding to or upgrading existing cameras. I’ve got the old Pro and Pro 2 cameras that are going end-of-life in January 2025, so these may be a good option for replacements. The old ones are still working great, however, (other than being poorer video quality) so I’m not in a hurry to replace them.
I miss the super-easy magnetic mount capability of the older cameras, which the new ones do not have. I’m able to quickly place the old cameras on t-posts, the metal tubing on my gates, or other metal objects. I can also quickly remove them to recharge the batteries, then stick them back up. This camera comes with a bare-bones wall mount that is pretty much useless for my applications.
The base only fastens to a flat surface and the camera tilt isn’t adjustable at all. I know this is probably okay for some people, but not even one of my current 12 cameras is mounted like this. My solution was to toss the included mount and buy a new magnetic adjustable mount. That works well for most of my camera locations now, but that’s an additional $15 I hadn’t expected to spend.
Beyond the mounting issue, I think the camera is great. It was really easy to set up and get added to my WiFi network. This camera doesn’t use the Arlo hub like my old cameras, which is an advantage for me. I have a mesh WiFi system, so I actually have a much larger coverage area this way than trying to use a hub (or two). The disadvantage of this, however, is that you can no longer store your videos locally on the hub. I never did that anyway, so I don’t miss it.
The 2K video quality is noticeably much better than my old Pro/Pro 2 cameras. The battery life is better, too, although that could just be the advantage of a new battery. I’m using this one at extreme range (about 280’ from the house) to monitor my front gate. At that range, the battery drains faster and I know it also misses a few motion events, but I expect that. I have always used two cameras at the gate and if one misses something, the other almost always catches it.
One surprise I had this week when I went to recharge it was that water got into the charging port on the bottom. We had some freezing rain the day I took it down to recharge, and I noticed the USB port was packed with ice underneath the rubber flap. It’s possible I didn’t have the flap pushed in all the way, so I’m not ready to call it a problem yet. But I’ve secured the flap this time and will check next time it rains again. Hopefully that won’t be an issue.
Overall, I’m very happy with Arlo cameras. I’ve tried many other brands, but these have been the most reliable for me. They don’t lose connections and need to be rebooted or have other problems. They just seem to work, and that’s why paying the subscription for them is worth it to me.
I miss the super-easy magnetic mount capability of the older cameras, which the new ones do not have. I’m able to quickly place the old cameras on t-posts, the metal tubing on my gates, or other metal objects. I can also quickly remove them to recharge the batteries, then stick them back up. This camera comes with a bare-bones wall mount that is pretty much useless for my applications.
The base only fastens to a flat surface and the camera tilt isn’t adjustable at all. I know this is probably okay for some people, but not even one of my current 12 cameras is mounted like this. My solution was to toss the included mount and buy a new magnetic adjustable mount. That works well for most of my camera locations now, but that’s an additional $15 I hadn’t expected to spend.
Beyond the mounting issue, I think the camera is great. It was really easy to set up and get added to my WiFi network. This camera doesn’t use the Arlo hub like my old cameras, which is an advantage for me. I have a mesh WiFi system, so I actually have a much larger coverage area this way than trying to use a hub (or two). The disadvantage of this, however, is that you can no longer store your videos locally on the hub. I never did that anyway, so I don’t miss it.
The 2K video quality is noticeably much better than my old Pro/Pro 2 cameras. The battery life is better, too, although that could just be the advantage of a new battery. I’m using this one at extreme range (about 280’ from the house) to monitor my front gate. At that range, the battery drains faster and I know it also misses a few motion events, but I expect that. I have always used two cameras at the gate and if one misses something, the other almost always catches it.
One surprise I had this week when I went to recharge it was that water got into the charging port on the bottom. We had some freezing rain the day I took it down to recharge, and I noticed the USB port was packed with ice underneath the rubber flap. It’s possible I didn’t have the flap pushed in all the way, so I’m not ready to call it a problem yet. But I’ve secured the flap this time and will check next time it rains again. Hopefully that won’t be an issue.
Overall, I’m very happy with Arlo cameras. I’ve tried many other brands, but these have been the most reliable for me. They don’t lose connections and need to be rebooted or have other problems. They just seem to work, and that’s why paying the subscription for them is worth it to me.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get everyday storage and backup for your precious photos, videos, music, and daily files with the WD easystore portable drive. Lightweight, flash-based durability and fast access to quickly expand storage and help keep your important files safe on the go.
Customer Rating
5
Solid state backup, solid price
on October 28, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
This is a fast, very light-weight external backup drive. It comes with an 18” USB type-A to USB 3.0 micro-B cable. If, for some reason, you need a longer cable that type can easily be purchased. The USB micro-B connector is the wider, two-port, type of connection with the extra pins to get the high-speed data transfers. For the price, this seems like a great choice for quickly backing up files.
I’ve transferred quite a few 3 to 5 GB video files that take maybe 10 seconds each. I’ve also backed up some folders that had hundreds of smaller files. Even though it wasn’t as much data, it did take longer (as expected) since Windows is doing a bunch of file reads, etc.
The only small criticism I have of this drive is that I wish it had a status light of some sort. Just being able to see at a glance that it’s connected and powered up would be nice. Also, an activity light when it’s reading/writing could be handy.
The only small criticism I have of this drive is that I wish it had a status light of some sort. Just being able to see at a glance that it’s connected and powered up would be nice. Also, an activity light when it’s reading/writing could be handy.
Beyond that, it’s a great drive. It’s fast, light, easy on the budget, and comes with a 2-year warranty from Western Digital.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Don’t let the battery of your device die as you work throughout the day. The Insignia NS-MW3130C1W24B 30W USB-C Foldable Compact Wall Charger for Smartphones, Tablets and More has a 30-watt output to quickly charge all your USB-C devices. Its compact, durable body and a foldable plug easily fit into a purse or pocket, ready for when you need it. An included 6 ft. USB-C cable provides flexible placement options and is braided for an improved look and feel. All that and a simple white design pairs well with your other accessories. Keep your devices working as hard as you do with this easy-to-carry charger.
Customer Rating
5
Super compact, fast charging, runs relatively cool
on October 12, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
This is an extremely compact 30W wall charger. With the GaN (gallium nitride) technology it's a lot more energy efficient and generates less waste heat. With the AC outlet prongs folded in, the whole thing is just a hair bigger than a 1.25" cube. It's small enough that I'm a little worried it'll disappear to the bottom of my backpack. But if you have other things you're trying to plug into the same outlet, the tiny size is a godsend.
The single USB-C port is labeled PD so it supports rapid charging. My S22 Ultra confirmed it was "super fast charging" when I plugged it in. Even with its compact size, the charger was only just warm to the touch and not hot while super fast charging my phone. Other chargers I have definitely crank out more heat.
The six foot USB-C to USB-C cable works well and seems rugged. The connectors are solid and fit snugly into the ports. Best of all, the cable has the fabric braid protection on it which is definitely needed around cats. They don't seem as attracted to chew on the fabric mesh, but if they do nibble it looks like it'll hold up much better than the slick plastic cables.
It seems like a good value for the money, and Best Buy backs it with a 1-year warranty.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the Ninja Thirsti 18 oz. Travel Bottle engineered to keep drinks colder and fizzier for longer. This innovative drinkware is designed for carbonated drinks but is perfect for still, sparkling, hot or cold drinks too. LeakLock lid won’t leak, drip or spill. This durable 18/8 stainless steel bottle resists scratches and dents and fits in most cupholders making it ideal for life on the go.
Posted by: FlyingC
I have a few different sizes of insulated steel bottles that I use regularly for ice water. This Ninja bottle caught my attention, though, because it said it's specifically designed for carbonated drinks. The "use and care guide" that came with it says it's "engineered with a super-polished interior to prevent nucleation points that cause bubbles to escape and make your drink go flat faster." It definitely is unique from my other bottles because the inside really is polished like a mirror.
It's hard to quantify how much better it might be at keeping my drink fizzy, but it does seem to work very well. Like any bottle, it holds the carbonation better when it's mostly full. I've filled it first thing in the morning, left it closed, then opened it up to have with lunch and it's just like a freshly opened pop. If I drink half of it mid-morning, though, then it does tend to go a little flatter because of the air space.
The pressure sealing cap seems like a good design and is easy to use. You can twist off the small cap, take a sip, and then seal it up to keep the remaining pressure inside. The large cap unscrews for easy cleaning, and also drinking if you want to get some of the ice out.
It does fit in every cup holder that I've tried. The design is simple with two vertical flat strips 180 degrees apart that help you to keep a grip on it. There's also a silicone strap attached to the lid for carrying or strapping it to something. My wife thinks the strap is the perfect size, but it's a little small for my hands. Still, I can get three fingers into the loop and that's the most convenient way to carry it.
Beyond that, it's a pretty normal steel bottle. It's a convenient 18oz size and seems like it'll be very rugged. Ninja is backing it with a 5 year warranty, so it seems they expect it to be rugged, too.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The JBuds Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard gives you pro-level performance in a stylish package. In addition to standard hotkeys and a numerical pad, use our JLab Work App to program your own shortcuts and save up to three unique user profiles. Whether you’re in the work zone or in game mode, connect to whichever device you prefer and have easy access to the functions you use most.
Customer Rating
5
Not backlit, but has a numeric keypad
on September 25, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
I’ve been using this keyboard for about a week now and it’s been great. I work remotely and have both a work laptop and a home PC on my desk. With the push of a button, I can switch back and forth between the two. The third pairing I use occasionally with my Android phone if I need to type something long on it.
About the only thing I can find to complain about is the location of the numeric keypad, and that’s a minor issue. On this keyboard the keypad is a little higher up on the keyboard than normal, so it’s taking a little getting used to. But once my fingers know where to land again, I’m sure it’ll be seamless switching between typing letters and numbers. One other nice-to-have would have been backlit keys, but this keyboard doesn’t have that.
The keyboard itself is lightweight, but it’s very stable on the desk while typing. It has fairly large rubber feet to grip the surface, so it stays in place very well. It’s also very easy to switch between paired devices by tapping a button at the top left of the keyboard (rather than, say, having to flip it over to find a switch). It can also switch between Mac, Android, and Windows mode, but I’ve just been keeping it in Windows mode even with my Android and it works fine.
I love that it’s rechargeable and I don’t have to swap batteries out. I haven’t used it long enough yet to need a recharge, but I’m expecting it to last quite a while. Beyond that, there’s not much to say. It’s a nice, full-size, wireless keyboard that does what it’s supposed to do!
About the only thing I can find to complain about is the location of the numeric keypad, and that’s a minor issue. On this keyboard the keypad is a little higher up on the keyboard than normal, so it’s taking a little getting used to. But once my fingers know where to land again, I’m sure it’ll be seamless switching between typing letters and numbers. One other nice-to-have would have been backlit keys, but this keyboard doesn’t have that.
The keyboard itself is lightweight, but it’s very stable on the desk while typing. It has fairly large rubber feet to grip the surface, so it stays in place very well. It’s also very easy to switch between paired devices by tapping a button at the top left of the keyboard (rather than, say, having to flip it over to find a switch). It can also switch between Mac, Android, and Windows mode, but I’ve just been keeping it in Windows mode even with my Android and it works fine.
I love that it’s rechargeable and I don’t have to swap batteries out. I haven’t used it long enough yet to need a recharge, but I’m expecting it to last quite a while. Beyond that, there’s not much to say. It’s a nice, full-size, wireless keyboard that does what it’s supposed to do!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the new Shark Cordless Detect Pro Stick Vacuum. It features an ultra-intelligent Detect performance suite—4 deep-cleaning technologies that detect & react to your home to capture hidden dirt on every surface, corner, edge, and crevice. DirtDetect senses the hidden dirt that hides in your home, and automatically boosts power to pull it in. EdgeDetect senses edges and corners and doubles suction* power for more powerful cleaning* (vs. ECO mode). FloorDetect senses carpets and hard floors around your home, and optimizes your vacuum’s performance based on the floor type. Lastly, LightDetect automatically illuminates dark spaces, so you can easily track down hidden dirt. All four of these technologies combine in the Shark Detect Pro to give you up to 50% better* dirt pickup (*Based on ASTMF608, eco vs. boost). Plus, the QuadClean Multi-Surface brushroll tackles four cleaning targets: fine dust, pet hair, large debris, and dust along edges. After every clean, Detect Pro Auto-Empty System brings you the ultimate convenience—it empties on its own. Return it to its base, and it charges and empties automatically, sealing in up to 30 days worth of dust & debris, so you can forget about emptying for up to a month, and leave behind the trips to the trash can after every use. Inside the base, Odor Neutralizer Technology guards against bad odors, for a fresh-smelling home. Change the way you clean with the Shark Cordless Detect Pro Auto-Empty System—the dirt-detecting cordless that empties itself.
Posted by: FlyingC
I have a Shark Wandvac self-empty vacuum, and it is by far the most popular vacuum in the house. Since no one has to figure out how to empty it, they’re more likely to grab it and use it. So, I thought I’d try out this new, bigger and fancier model and it’s been just as successful. It’s not perfect, but it’s the new most popular vacuum in the house.
We have a lot of cats in the household and have mainly tile and wood flooring with some area rugs around. We also still have one stretch of carpet on our stairs. The Detect Pro vacuum works great on all these surfaces. I like how it automatically adjusts the motor and suction speed based on the surface and when it detects you’re near a wall edge. It ramps up the brush roller speed nicely on the Ruggable rugs to get them clean but isn’t so strong that it pulls the rug from its pad. (If you have a Ruggable rug, you probably know what I’m talking about.) It also adjusts the suction power based on how much dirt it senses being picked up, while lighting up the LEDs to show you what it’s doing (red is lots of dirt, and blue is cleaner). This is handy sometimes on the rugs because they can have a lot of hair that’s not very visible. If the LED is red, I’ll keep going over the area until it turns blue, and I know I’ve picked up most of the hair.
The handheld part of the vacuum is a lot bigger and heavier than the Wandvac model, but for me it’s still easy to use. Someone with smaller hands might get a little tired using it, though. In fact, it’s even a little awkward for me to hold the grip and reach the on/off button with one hand. It’s doable, but it took some getting used to. The benefits to the larger size, though, are worth it in my book. It not only has a larger battery, but also a larger dust collection cup so you can go longer without worrying about emptying it.
It almost seems frivolous at first, but the auto-empty feature is what really makes this vacuum a workhorse. As I said earlier, people are more likely to use it when they know they only have to put it back on the charger and they’re done. It also keeps a lot of dust out of the air that comes from emptying it at the trash can. Another nice touch with this model is that it comes with a little scent module that adds a little burst of “freshness” (you can adjust the amount) to the exhaust air from the base station when it empties.
I mentioned it wasn’t perfect, so here are a couple of minor things that I don’t like about the vacuum. It comes with two tool attachments (crevice and brush), but there’s only storage for one on the base. It seems like such a simple thing that I don’t understand why vacuum manufacturers keep overlooking that. It would be perfect if there was a place to attach one on the stick part of the vacuum. I always carry the crevice tool with me because there’s always some little spot to clean up that the roller brush can’t quite reach. I either have to carry the tool in one hand, or stuff it in my back pocket.
The other minor thing is the base station is white, yet the power cord is black. I wish they’d made it white to match and blend in with the wall better. I know, this is nitpicking. It’s a great vacuum and I’m happy I got it, but they missed a perfect vacuum by “that much” as Maxwell Smart used to say.
We have a lot of cats in the household and have mainly tile and wood flooring with some area rugs around. We also still have one stretch of carpet on our stairs. The Detect Pro vacuum works great on all these surfaces. I like how it automatically adjusts the motor and suction speed based on the surface and when it detects you’re near a wall edge. It ramps up the brush roller speed nicely on the Ruggable rugs to get them clean but isn’t so strong that it pulls the rug from its pad. (If you have a Ruggable rug, you probably know what I’m talking about.) It also adjusts the suction power based on how much dirt it senses being picked up, while lighting up the LEDs to show you what it’s doing (red is lots of dirt, and blue is cleaner). This is handy sometimes on the rugs because they can have a lot of hair that’s not very visible. If the LED is red, I’ll keep going over the area until it turns blue, and I know I’ve picked up most of the hair.
The handheld part of the vacuum is a lot bigger and heavier than the Wandvac model, but for me it’s still easy to use. Someone with smaller hands might get a little tired using it, though. In fact, it’s even a little awkward for me to hold the grip and reach the on/off button with one hand. It’s doable, but it took some getting used to. The benefits to the larger size, though, are worth it in my book. It not only has a larger battery, but also a larger dust collection cup so you can go longer without worrying about emptying it.
It almost seems frivolous at first, but the auto-empty feature is what really makes this vacuum a workhorse. As I said earlier, people are more likely to use it when they know they only have to put it back on the charger and they’re done. It also keeps a lot of dust out of the air that comes from emptying it at the trash can. Another nice touch with this model is that it comes with a little scent module that adds a little burst of “freshness” (you can adjust the amount) to the exhaust air from the base station when it empties.
I mentioned it wasn’t perfect, so here are a couple of minor things that I don’t like about the vacuum. It comes with two tool attachments (crevice and brush), but there’s only storage for one on the base. It seems like such a simple thing that I don’t understand why vacuum manufacturers keep overlooking that. It would be perfect if there was a place to attach one on the stick part of the vacuum. I always carry the crevice tool with me because there’s always some little spot to clean up that the roller brush can’t quite reach. I either have to carry the tool in one hand, or stuff it in my back pocket.
The other minor thing is the base station is white, yet the power cord is black. I wish they’d made it white to match and blend in with the wall better. I know, this is nitpicking. It’s a great vacuum and I’m happy I got it, but they missed a perfect vacuum by “that much” as Maxwell Smart used to say.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
I live somewhat in the country and most internet providers do not come out here to my house. Will Orbi be able to replace DSL?
No, unfortunately you still need some sort of Internet connection. This is for the local WiFi network in your house.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
FlyingC
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Will this product cover a 2000 sq. ft., one level house with only one (1) WiFi Name? The reason for this question is I'm currently using an extension to my router which has given the front of the house a different wifi name from the back of the house.
It should cover most houses that size--I'm currently using it in a 2500 sq. ft. house with great results. And, yes, one of the nice things about this product is you can broadcast one SSID (your WiFi name) everywhere. That way your phones and tablets can seamlessly connect to the unit with the strongest signal without you having to change anything on the device like selecting a different SSID.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
FlyingC
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
If you still have to have Internet service what do I need this thing for I already have a router
This is a combination router and link extender. They can be used in addition to your router, but I think the recommended way is to replace your existing router with the base unit. The extender "satellite" unit that's included can then be placed somewhere else in your house to extend the range of your WiFi. If your existing router covers your whole house just fine, then you probably don't need this. If you've got some areas where you can't get a signal, then this would definitely help fix that.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
FlyingC
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
We live in the country, and can only use satellite internet. It is not a real strong signal, and can be affected easily by weather. We also have a log home, which blocks the signal in certain areas of the house and porch. Would this help in our situation?
It won't help with your satellite Internet issues, but it could help with the signal inside your home. You can connect the main router/base unit to your Internet connection, then put the extender "satellite" unit (not to be confused with your satellite Internet) in a more distant location in your home. This would give you a strong WiFi signal around both the base unit and extender unit.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
FlyingC
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
Is this price for a single unit or two?
You get both the router base unit and the link extender satellite unit.
7 years, 7 months ago
by
FlyingC