FlyingC's stats
- Review count205
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- First reviewNovember 28, 2015
- Last reviewMay 21, 2024
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- Average rating4.6
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- Answer count15
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- First answerSeptember 20, 2016
- Last answerNovember 10, 2021
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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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Feel your music more. With the Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, you get breakthrough spatial audio for more natural-sounding music, no matter the source. These wireless earbuds use immersive sound to bring the music from inside your head – right in front of you. And for the noises you don’t want to hear, the QC Ultra Earbuds offer world-class noise cancelation. The CustomTune technology analyzes your ear’s shape and adapts the sound and noise cancelling to it. The innovation doesn’t just stop at the premium sound, the design of these in-ear headphones is a one-of-a-kind experience too. You get nine combinations of eartip and stability band sizes to choose from. And up to six hours of play time (up to 4 hours with Immersive Audio)* keeps your favorite music playing as long as you want. The included case holds up to three additional charges. Connect to your devices with advanced Bluetooth 5.3 and keep track of what you have paired in the Bose app. It also walks you through setup, lets you customize a shortcut, and access Adjustable EQ settings.
Posted by: FlyingC
Over the years, I’ve tried earbuds and headphones from all sorts of other manufacturers and none of them have come close to Bose in sound quality and effective noise cancelling. The Bose ones have also been the most reliable ones as far as maintaining the Bluetooth connection, standing up to dust and dirt, and keeping a working rechargeable battery for years. I hope I haven’t jinxed them, because I’m super happy to get my hands on these latest Bose Ultra earbuds. For the few days I’ve used them so far, they’ve exceeded my expectations.
It was super easy to get these connected to my phone and working. I was able to start using them without reading any quick start guide or loading the Bose Music app. Afterwards, however, I installed the app and was able to look at all the settings, adjust things, and read some of the documentation and tips.
The app has an “earbud seal test” option which, in case you aren’t sure, lets you know if the earbuds are sealed properly. These earbuds also have silicone “stability bands“ (separate from the ear tips) that help them fit more securely in the ear and seal better. To me, this really makes a big improvement in how they sound and how well they stay in when I’m moving around.
These are the first earbuds I’ve had with “immersive audio” which is apparently a new Bose innovation. There are a couple of modes with it: Still (you’re sitting still) and Motion (you’re up moving around). It’s really pretty cool. Somehow it adjusts the music, so it sounds more like it’s in front of you coming out of speakers instead of the usual earbud sound. It’s kind of hard to describe, but once I heard it, I thought “oh, this is really nice.” The difference between the two modes is fairly subtle, so I’ve just set it on Motion even if I’m working at the desk.
One thing that surprised me, though, is that the earbuds can apparently only be actively connected to one device at a time. You can pair to multiple devices and manage those devices in the app under “source,” but only one can be actively connected at a time. I can certainly live with the limitation, but I did expect that you’d be able to connect to at least your phone and one other device at the same time.
Still, though, these are the best earbuds I have, and all the others are going into the drawer. The noise cancellation, the immersive audio, and just the overall quality of the sound makes these far and away the best earbuds I’ve had the pleasure of using.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Dyson Solarcycle Task Light is engineered for versatile illumination - transforming and adjusting light to support the way you live, work, and relax throughout the day. ³ Axis Glide motion puts powerful light precisely where you need it. A gentle touch of the arm precisely positions your light - vertically, horizontally, and through 360°. The Dyson Solarcycle Task Light has intelligently controlled LEDs that adjust brightness and color temperature. Connecting to the myDyson app², it can adjust with your local daylight providing the right light for the time of day. It also adapts to your task, age, mood, and sleep times. Precisely engineered optics deliver powerful, high-quality light that's calibrated to help reduce eyestrain. And with Heat Pipe technology to cool the LEDs, it maintains its light quality for 60 years.³
Posted by: FlyingC
Like most Dyson products, this desk lamp is relatively expensive. It’s also a very cool design that kind of reminds me of those tower cranes used to build skyscrapers. It swivels 360 degrees, slides up and down vertically, and slides back and forth horizontally. The lamp head always points straight down, however. Because of the straight arm, you’ll need plenty of space on your desk if you plan to move it around.
It has buttons on top for turning on/off, changing the brightness, and changing the color temperature. Having a sliding adjustment for the color is a nice touch rather than just having some preset colors. Underneath the arm are the remaining three buttons to enable/disable the geographic location sync, the motion sensor feature, and the auto setting that adjusts the light according to the ambient light. The geographic location sync requires it to be connected via Bluetooth to the Dyson Link app.
Like some others, I have an Android phone and have the “connection failed” problem when trying to enable the location sync or the age adjustment. Installing the app and making the initial Bluetooth connection to the lamp worked very well, but after leaving with the phone and coming back, sometimes I have a little trouble reconnecting to the lamp to control it. It eventually works, but sometimes I have to put the phone right on top of the lamp arm to get reconnected. I’ve mainly only been using the motion sensor feature, which I do like, so the other app problems aren’t a huge issue so far.
It does have a 5-year warranty, which is great. I do worry about the thin ribbon cables that have to move within the arms and wonder if they’ll crimp or wear out at some point. The first lamp I received came with the cable “accordioned” up and jammed in the horizontal arm, so I had to return it and get a replacement. The replacement one works, but now the vertical arm doesn’t move completely smoothly up and down like the first one did. It’s usable and not worth returning it again, but it doesn’t slide “like butter” like the first one.
Given Dyson’s usual great products, I’m a little disappointed with this lamp and it doesn’t seem quite up to par with the price. I really expected everything, including the app, to work perfectly so I’m a little reluctant to recommend this to someone. It does have a unique style and a couple of nice features, but you’ll have to decide if that makes it worth the cost.
It has buttons on top for turning on/off, changing the brightness, and changing the color temperature. Having a sliding adjustment for the color is a nice touch rather than just having some preset colors. Underneath the arm are the remaining three buttons to enable/disable the geographic location sync, the motion sensor feature, and the auto setting that adjusts the light according to the ambient light. The geographic location sync requires it to be connected via Bluetooth to the Dyson Link app.
Like some others, I have an Android phone and have the “connection failed” problem when trying to enable the location sync or the age adjustment. Installing the app and making the initial Bluetooth connection to the lamp worked very well, but after leaving with the phone and coming back, sometimes I have a little trouble reconnecting to the lamp to control it. It eventually works, but sometimes I have to put the phone right on top of the lamp arm to get reconnected. I’ve mainly only been using the motion sensor feature, which I do like, so the other app problems aren’t a huge issue so far.
It does have a 5-year warranty, which is great. I do worry about the thin ribbon cables that have to move within the arms and wonder if they’ll crimp or wear out at some point. The first lamp I received came with the cable “accordioned” up and jammed in the horizontal arm, so I had to return it and get a replacement. The replacement one works, but now the vertical arm doesn’t move completely smoothly up and down like the first one did. It’s usable and not worth returning it again, but it doesn’t slide “like butter” like the first one.
Given Dyson’s usual great products, I’m a little disappointed with this lamp and it doesn’t seem quite up to par with the price. I really expected everything, including the app, to work perfectly so I’m a little reluctant to recommend this to someone. It does have a unique style and a couple of nice features, but you’ll have to decide if that makes it worth the cost.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Work or play with complete audio clarity, thanks to Voyager Free 60 true wireless earbuds. You’ll sound your best on calls regardless of background noise, making them ideal for hybrid work. These noise canceling Bluetooth earbuds have multiple mics that ensure you sound clear to your caller. Adaptive Active Noise Canceling (ANC) blocks out non-essential sounds, allowing you to focus. Let in the outside world when you need to — without removing an earbud — by using one-touch transparency mode. Or shut yourself off from your surroundings completely or partially by using one or both earbuds at any time for calls. Answer calls instantly — smart sensors allow you to automatically answer a call just by inserting an earbud. With extended talk time, these powerful wireless earbuds are ready for full workdays. You can also relax and immerse yourself in music, movies, mobile gaming, and more with high-quality audio. Connect the Voyager Free 60 Bluetooth headphones to your iPhone, Android and tablets. Designed by Poly, formerly known as Plantronics.
Posted by: FlyingC
There are quite a few things I like about these earbuds, but also some things I don’t. For the price and coming from Polycom/Plantronics (now HP), I had higher expectations for them. Still, even with the caveats, these will be the new earbuds that I use daily for remote work via my laptop and also with my personal phone.
The charging case is a little bigger than many other earbuds I’ve seen, but I actually like that. It sits nice and flat on the desk and the earbuds are really easy to take out and also get snapped back in (magnetically) to charge. With many other earbud case designs, I find myself fumbling too much with them. Not with these, however.
I also like the noise cancellation feature. In the summertime, I have air conditioning and fan noise in my office that can get a little annoying when listening to calls. The ANC on these earbuds works perfectly to knock that noise level down. I’ve not used them when traveling yet, so other noises may be handled differently.
Another feature I like is I can have them connected to both my work laptop and my personal phone at the same time. Before, I had two different sets of earbuds for this. Now I can hang up or even just mute while on a Teams call and take a call on my phone if I need to. This usually works very well, although a couple of times something happened to make the earbuds think I may have still had a call on hold or something. Even though I had hung up my phone call and was back only on the Teams meeting, the earbuds would beep every few seconds like it was reminding me about the other call. I had to turn off the earbuds (put them in the case and shut the lid), and then put them back on to clear the problem.
The microphone quality seems to be good, but not great. People I regularly talk to on Teams say I sounded about like usual, but maybe a little quieter. With the multiple mics and ANC I guess I expected them to hear a noticeable improvement. They said I sounded fine, though, so that’s the important thing.
A feature I ended up disabling was the slide touch functions. I found it was too easy to accidentally hang up, mute, or otherwise do something I didn’t want. I guess I tend to re-adjust them in my ears a lot, and that’s when problems would happen. The good news, though, is I was able to disable that feature via the Poly Lens app. Now, I’m perfectly happy and I can still use the actual push button that’s on them, if needed.
I also had some initial problems getting the earbuds to work correctly on my work laptop with Teams. I could hear people through them just fine, but the microphone wouldn’t work. I tried a bunch of different things and even opened a case with Poly about it, but after a weekend of sitting idle they suddenly started working correctly. There may have been an automated update or something to my laptop, but it’s still a mystery what exactly fixed it. At any rate, they’re working fine now.
As I said at the beginning, these are my new go-to earbuds for daily use so I’m happy. I just had higher expectations for them working quickly out of the box and having a microphone that sounded much better than my previous earbuds.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Control your home theater system with this TERK rechargeable universal remote. Support for up to eight devices allows flexible use, and the rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 months on a single charge. The dedicated keys provide quick access to popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and YouTube. This TERK rechargeable universal remote features a fully-backlit keypad for easy operation in the dark.
Customer Rating
5
Universal AND rechargeable
on July 17, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
I’ve been impressed with this remote so far. If I had read the directions more carefully, though, I would have saved myself a little time messing with programming it for my devices. The documentation, by the way, is very thorough and easy to follow, which isn’t always the case with these devices. The owner’s guide says it’s already pre-programmed to operate most Samsung devices, Comcast cable boxes, Rokus, and JBL audio products. I entered codes to program it for my HiSense TV and Samsung sound bar, which both worked great. Then I noticed that part in the guide and just tried it on my Roku 3 and it worked great—no programming needed.
If you do need to program it, you have three options. You can have it auto search the “top” brands which goes quickly, auto search through ALL brands which takes more time, or manually enter the code for your device and brand. There is a sheet of codes included, but if you lose it or need it later you can lookup codes on the Terk code support page. On the back of the remote is the “revision number” you’ll need, 341U1, and the URL to the support page.
One slight issue I ran into with my Roku is I have it mounted out of sight behind the TV. However, I found that I could bounce the IR signal off a table underneath the TV and get it to work. If you have other types of RF streaming devices, some fine print on the box points out that Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and Roku Stick are only controllable through an HDMI CEC connection from the TV. Just something to keep in mind if you have those devices.
Speaking of streaming, the remote also has shortcut buttons to open Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and YouTube if your device supports that. If you have other apps you want to use, you can also reprogram the buttons as a macro which saves all the button pushes needed to open whichever app. Then, you just long press the button to recall the macro.
I love that the remote is thin and rechargeable. This makes a lot more sense to me than having to replace batteries, although I suppose years from now it could be a problem if the rechargeable battery starts to fail. One other concern is what happens if the battery does drain completely—do you lose all your settings? I kind of suspect that may be the case because the instructions for resetting it say you hold the button for a few seconds then you have to recharge it afterwards. The reset may work simply by draining the battery. However, it’ll be easy enough to keep it charged, so I plan to avoid that potential problem.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the latest Inspiron 27 All-in-One Desktop with a TV-inspired design and a display which features ComfortView Plus to help reduce harmful blue light and a flicker free panel optimizing eye comfort. Redesigning the front screen experience with a narrow 4-sided border with touch option for a clean look and feel. Stay up to date with the latest processors up to Intel 13th Gen Processors.
Posted by: FlyingC
I’m a big fan of these Dell all-in-one (AIO) desktops. I’ve had a 24” version for the last two years on my work-at-home desk that I use every day. The AIO is such a great, compact design that takes up minimal space on a desk. I’m planning to use this one on a small desk area built into our kitchen/dining room area. It fits nearly against the wall and the keyboard and mouse tuck neatly underneath when not in use.
Speaking of when it’s not in use, this model has a feature that’s new to me: When it’s shutdown, you can plug a laptop or some other device into an HDMI port on the back and use it as an external monitor. I think this will be really handy for visitors (and occasionally, us) using laptops. Now, we can plop down a laptop and quickly make use of the 27” screen.
Another useful feature for me is the SD card slot included on the back. I have a GoPro camera and a drone that both use microSD cards to record video and pics. The fastest and easiest way for me to transfer files from them has been to pull the microSD out and put it into a small laptop I have. Now, I can transfer it directly to this AIO and view everything on the nice 27” screen. I have a spare SD to microSD adapter that I just leave in the slot on the back so it’s always handy.
Speaking of when it’s not in use, this model has a feature that’s new to me: When it’s shutdown, you can plug a laptop or some other device into an HDMI port on the back and use it as an external monitor. I think this will be really handy for visitors (and occasionally, us) using laptops. Now, we can plop down a laptop and quickly make use of the 27” screen.
Another useful feature for me is the SD card slot included on the back. I have a GoPro camera and a drone that both use microSD cards to record video and pics. The fastest and easiest way for me to transfer files from them has been to pull the microSD out and put it into a small laptop I have. Now, I can transfer it directly to this AIO and view everything on the nice 27” screen. I have a spare SD to microSD adapter that I just leave in the slot on the back so it’s always handy.
The CPU, memory, and storage specs are great. The i7, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SDD give it plenty of power and storage. Using Steam, I've done some light gaming on it, including Flight Sim X, and it's worked perfectly.
The CPU, memory, and storage on this model are a little trimmed down from top-of-the-line (i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SDD), but for moderate use it should be fine. I’m using it for web browsing, O365 applications, and some video editing and it works great.
The CPU, memory, and storage on this model are a little trimmed down from top-of-the-line (i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SDD), but for moderate use it should be fine. I’m using it for web browsing, O365 applications, and some video editing and it works great.
I’ve also done some Zoom and Teams meetings that worked fine. The camera pops up from the top of the computer, so it’s completely hidden (and video blocked) when not in use. The built-in microphone is on the bottom panel between the speakers. On the video meetings, people commented that the camera was very clear, and their audio through the speakers sounded great. Music also sounds great even though the speakers are small and built-in.
I’m super happy with the AIO desktop. The cooling fan, when it runs at all, is quiet. It’s got the latest Wi-Fi 6e built in for networking. The touch screen is nice. There really isn’t anything so far that I dislike or an additional feature I wish it had.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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You’ve already spent a lot of money on your high-tech electronics. Keep them protected from a power spike with the Rocketfish RF-HTS120W22 2-Outlet In-Wall Surge Protector. It absorbs power surges up to 1,080 joules, keeping your devices safely connected to the wall. Replacing any standard duplex wall outlet, you won’t need an extra power strip to keep your devices safe with this surge protector. It includes three-line protection and a status LED light, so you know when your devices are being protected from surges that can enter all three lines. Enjoy your electronic devices knowing they are being cared for the way you’d like.
Posted by: FlyingC
This is a great option for surge protection if you want to avoid having a surge power strip laying around in the way or a surge outlet block sticking out of your wall. This cleanly and easily replaces a standard 15-amp wall receptacle. The price is very reasonable, too, considering other specialty receptacles at my local home supply store cost quite a bit more.
First, I should get a few caveats out of the way. The 1,000 joule protection is probably the very minimum protection I’d want for any of my electronics, but for the price that’s what you get. Next, the blue status light on the receptacle is very, very bright. If you’re installing it in your bedroom or somewhere else you want to keep dark, you may have to put some tape over it. Last, there is a safety precautions insert with the receptable that warns you to have at least 30 feet (10 meters) of wiring between the receptacle and the main electrical service panel. From what I can tell, that wire provides the minimum resistance needed to reduce surge voltage and current to levels that the surge protector can handle safely.
I found installation to be very easy. If you haven’t wired a receptacle before, be sure to shut off the breaker and then verify there is no power at the wall. In my case, I then just had the 3 wires to swap from the old one to the new surge protector. The wires were curled around the screws on the old receptacle, so I just straightened them out, trimmed a bit off the ends, and they fit nicely into the new receptacle. Just make sure you tighten the set screws very tight, so they don’t pull loose later. The hardest part was folding all the wires back into the outlet box because the new receptacle does take up more depth in the box.
Beyond that, there isn’t much else to do. While the blue light is on, I assume my equipment will be surge protected. If the light goes off and it still has power, then that means it took a hit and I’ll need to replace it. I’ve got a desktop computer and monitor plugged in, so hopefully they’ll be protected for a good long time.
First, I should get a few caveats out of the way. The 1,000 joule protection is probably the very minimum protection I’d want for any of my electronics, but for the price that’s what you get. Next, the blue status light on the receptacle is very, very bright. If you’re installing it in your bedroom or somewhere else you want to keep dark, you may have to put some tape over it. Last, there is a safety precautions insert with the receptable that warns you to have at least 30 feet (10 meters) of wiring between the receptacle and the main electrical service panel. From what I can tell, that wire provides the minimum resistance needed to reduce surge voltage and current to levels that the surge protector can handle safely.
I found installation to be very easy. If you haven’t wired a receptacle before, be sure to shut off the breaker and then verify there is no power at the wall. In my case, I then just had the 3 wires to swap from the old one to the new surge protector. The wires were curled around the screws on the old receptacle, so I just straightened them out, trimmed a bit off the ends, and they fit nicely into the new receptacle. Just make sure you tighten the set screws very tight, so they don’t pull loose later. The hardest part was folding all the wires back into the outlet box because the new receptacle does take up more depth in the box.
Beyond that, there isn’t much else to do. While the blue light is on, I assume my equipment will be surge protected. If the light goes off and it still has power, then that means it took a hit and I’ll need to replace it. I’ve got a desktop computer and monitor plugged in, so hopefully they’ll be protected for a good long time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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ASUS Vivobook Laptop. Enjoy everyday activities with this ASUS notebook PC. The Intel Core i3 processor and 12GB of RAM let you run programs smoothly.
Posted by: FlyingC
The Vivobook appears to be a relatively inexpensive way to get a full Windows laptop, although it just has the very basic features. If that’s what you’re looking for, then this may be perfect for you.
As you can see in the specs it’s an i3 processor with minimal 8GB RAM and 128GB solid state drive. It also comes in Windows S mode, which was a new thing to me. That just means it’s locked down to only installing apps from the Microsoft store. Depending on how you intend to use the laptop, this may be a good thing. I discovered the S mode when trying to install Chrome, but I decided I could live with Explorer and continue trying it out. You can switch out of S mode to regular Windows, but then you can never go back.
A couple things I noticed when first using the laptop were that the screen is not a touchscreen, and the keyboard has no backlighting. But the screen is clear and easy to see (though it has a narrow viewing angle) and I like the feel of the keyboard. The touchpad is quite usable, too, and seems better than touchpads I’ve struggled with on other more expensive laptops.
The WiFi interface says that it’s 802.11ac, but it’s only connecting at 802.11n in my home network at 150Mbps. My home network is a brand new Orbi 960 series mesh with my other Windows devices connecting WiFi 6/6e anywhere from 574Mbps to 1.2Gbps. For the Vivobook, 150Mbps isn’t bad but it’ll take a bit longer to download Windows updates than what I’m used to on a 1Gbps connection.
I like that the power brick is small and light, so it’ll be easy to carry around. The prongs don’t retract, though, in keeping with the no frills design. The laptop itself is lightweight and a good size to easily slip into a backpack. Overall, I’m happy with this laptop for light email, web browsing, and O365 use.
As you can see in the specs it’s an i3 processor with minimal 8GB RAM and 128GB solid state drive. It also comes in Windows S mode, which was a new thing to me. That just means it’s locked down to only installing apps from the Microsoft store. Depending on how you intend to use the laptop, this may be a good thing. I discovered the S mode when trying to install Chrome, but I decided I could live with Explorer and continue trying it out. You can switch out of S mode to regular Windows, but then you can never go back.
A couple things I noticed when first using the laptop were that the screen is not a touchscreen, and the keyboard has no backlighting. But the screen is clear and easy to see (though it has a narrow viewing angle) and I like the feel of the keyboard. The touchpad is quite usable, too, and seems better than touchpads I’ve struggled with on other more expensive laptops.
The WiFi interface says that it’s 802.11ac, but it’s only connecting at 802.11n in my home network at 150Mbps. My home network is a brand new Orbi 960 series mesh with my other Windows devices connecting WiFi 6/6e anywhere from 574Mbps to 1.2Gbps. For the Vivobook, 150Mbps isn’t bad but it’ll take a bit longer to download Windows updates than what I’m used to on a 1Gbps connection.
I like that the power brick is small and light, so it’ll be easy to carry around. The prongs don’t retract, though, in keeping with the no frills design. The laptop itself is lightweight and a good size to easily slip into a backpack. Overall, I’m happy with this laptop for light email, web browsing, and O365 use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Let’s clear the air with Blueair. Blue Pure 411a Max HEPASilent air purifier quickly cleans 219 sq. ft small rooms in about 12.5 min or up to 526 sq. ft space in 30 min, on high. Independently evaluated for safety standards and third-party tested for performance as part of the AHAM Verifide Program for air cleaners, this air purifier has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 141 for fine smoke particles, dust and pollen.
Posted by: FlyingC
My first impression after pulling it out of the box was that it looked like a giant Google Home speaker. And that’s a compliment—it’s a simple, elegant design and I really like how it looks. There is no WiFi connectivity and no remote, just two simple buttons on the top to control it. One is the power button, and the other toggles through the fan speeds. If you don’t need to activate the child lock or adjust the brightness, then there’s no need to even learn the long press combinations of the two buttons. Then there’s one small colored light on the front to indicate the sensed air quality.
The recommended fan speed setting is to just put it on auto. That way if it detects a wave of particles coming in, it’ll increase the fan speed until it clears them back to normal. On the night setting, the fan is completely inaudible (though you can still feel a little air flow from the top) and the air quality light is shut off. With fan speed setting 1, you can just barely hear the fan, 2 becomes more noticeable, and then 3 is loud and gets your attention. Unless there is a sudden cloud of dust or smoke in your room, I expect most of the time it’ll be running at level 1 or below. This will also make your filter last longer.
The specs say the filter life is 9 months. It appears that replacement filters are currently about $24. The filters are “dual filtration” but the filter looks like it has a very thin layer of activated carbon for the VOC filtering. Other, more expensive, air purifiers use a much bigger carbon filter so you may want to keep that in mind. It seems like this model is primarily for filtering small particles like dust, pollen, and smoke which are most of the pollutants in my environment.
The purifier comes with a 3-year warranty. One spec said that it uses 20W of power, but I couldn’t find details for what fan setting that was on. Also, on the Best Buy specs page, (as of today, at least) it mentions a programmable timer, but I see nothing in the user manual about that.
The recommended fan speed setting is to just put it on auto. That way if it detects a wave of particles coming in, it’ll increase the fan speed until it clears them back to normal. On the night setting, the fan is completely inaudible (though you can still feel a little air flow from the top) and the air quality light is shut off. With fan speed setting 1, you can just barely hear the fan, 2 becomes more noticeable, and then 3 is loud and gets your attention. Unless there is a sudden cloud of dust or smoke in your room, I expect most of the time it’ll be running at level 1 or below. This will also make your filter last longer.
The specs say the filter life is 9 months. It appears that replacement filters are currently about $24. The filters are “dual filtration” but the filter looks like it has a very thin layer of activated carbon for the VOC filtering. Other, more expensive, air purifiers use a much bigger carbon filter so you may want to keep that in mind. It seems like this model is primarily for filtering small particles like dust, pollen, and smoke which are most of the pollutants in my environment.
The purifier comes with a 3-year warranty. One spec said that it uses 20W of power, but I couldn’t find details for what fan setting that was on. Also, on the Best Buy specs page, (as of today, at least) it mentions a programmable timer, but I see nothing in the user manual about that.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Provides power to a TV or other electronic devices and conceals wiring for a neat space with this ETL-listed Metra power relocation kit without a need for an electrician. The 3 meter fish tape lets you pull wires through conduits, while the two wall ports provide an opening for running your cables through a barrier from one point to another. This universal Metra power relocation kit features a hole saw with T-handle and power cables for simple installation.
Customer Rating
4
Simple kit, interesting idea
on May 19, 2023
Posted by: FlyingC
It looks like this kit is geared for someone with no tools and very little DIY experience. If that’s you, then this is probably a good option. About all you’ll need that’s not included is a tape measure, pencil, and a Phillips screwdriver. If you have a bubble level, you can make sure the in-wall housings are installed squarely. If not, you can just eyeball it.
The instructions are concise, clearly illustrated, and easy to follow. They consist of 11 steps shown on the front and back of a single 8.5x11 sheet of paper. You’ll need to cut a couple of round holes with the included hole saw, fish the power cord and any other cables you might want to include like coax or HDMI using the included fish tape, then screw all the connectors and housings together. If you’re doing this on an exterior wall of your home, then the insulation in the wall could make fishing a little more difficult, but it should still be doable in most cases. The kit also assumes a clear path up the wall between the studs. If there is any kind of brace board between the studs, then you’ll be out of luck. That’s probably not too common of an occurrence, though.
Another thing to consider is the depth of the in-wall housings with the cables connected is about 2.75” so it’s going to take up most of the space in the standard 3.5” wall stud space. But again, unless there’s something unusual going on with the wall construction, this should not be a problem.
When it’s all installed, keep in mind that you’ll always have the extension cord running along the floor between the original wall receptacle and the bottom outlet of the kit. Hopefully you can conceal it behind some furniture, and it’ll be out of the way. The extension cord is also about 6 feet long. I suppose, in theory, you could buy a longer extension if you needed it. The in-wall extension cable is about 9’ which should get you from near the floor to most ceilings.
There are two other important considerations with this kit. One, make sure whatever power cord you’re going to plug into the extended outlet is a normal, slim plug. If there is anything sticking up on the two-prong side of the cord it will likely NOT fit into the receptacle. There is very little clearance in the deeply inset housing. Two, the space in the in-wall housings for the extra non-power cables is just a wide opening with no real way to seal it up. If you’re installing on an exterior wall, you may get a lot of cold air filtering in unless you figure out a way to seal it up better.
The instructions are concise, clearly illustrated, and easy to follow. They consist of 11 steps shown on the front and back of a single 8.5x11 sheet of paper. You’ll need to cut a couple of round holes with the included hole saw, fish the power cord and any other cables you might want to include like coax or HDMI using the included fish tape, then screw all the connectors and housings together. If you’re doing this on an exterior wall of your home, then the insulation in the wall could make fishing a little more difficult, but it should still be doable in most cases. The kit also assumes a clear path up the wall between the studs. If there is any kind of brace board between the studs, then you’ll be out of luck. That’s probably not too common of an occurrence, though.
Another thing to consider is the depth of the in-wall housings with the cables connected is about 2.75” so it’s going to take up most of the space in the standard 3.5” wall stud space. But again, unless there’s something unusual going on with the wall construction, this should not be a problem.
When it’s all installed, keep in mind that you’ll always have the extension cord running along the floor between the original wall receptacle and the bottom outlet of the kit. Hopefully you can conceal it behind some furniture, and it’ll be out of the way. The extension cord is also about 6 feet long. I suppose, in theory, you could buy a longer extension if you needed it. The in-wall extension cable is about 9’ which should get you from near the floor to most ceilings.
There are two other important considerations with this kit. One, make sure whatever power cord you’re going to plug into the extended outlet is a normal, slim plug. If there is anything sticking up on the two-prong side of the cord it will likely NOT fit into the receptacle. There is very little clearance in the deeply inset housing. Two, the space in the in-wall housings for the extra non-power cables is just a wide opening with no real way to seal it up. If you’re installing on an exterior wall, you may get a lot of cold air filtering in unless you figure out a way to seal it up better.
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, 8 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, 8 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, 8 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, 8 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, 8 months ago
by
FlyingC