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HowardS
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- Review count20
- Helpfulness votes28
- First reviewJune 13, 2014
- Last reviewJuly 23, 2017
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
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The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Range Extender boosts your existing network range & speed, delivering extreme dual band WiFi up to 1900Mbps. The 700mW high-powered amplifiers provide extreme range, while the dual core 800MHz processor enables maximum WiFi performance.
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
Our cable modem/wifi is set up on the top floor of the house and we were experiencing significant disruption to the Sony Ps4 and the television set up down in the basement, which both have wifi capabilities. I chose this extender because it is one of the more powerful on market and I wanted this problem solved once and for all. We located it on the first floor of the house where it can receive the signal from upstairs and bounce it down to the basement level. The set up was very easy, less than 10 minutes. It works great and data tests show a substantial increase in data flow to the gear downstairs. My only complaint is the power cable has an odd protruding design at the plug end and is easily knocked out of the wall outlet, taking the extender offline. This has happened about 4 times now. Other than that. . . .
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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5of 6voted this as helpful.
Now you can put together a powerful, high-speed network on a small scale. NETGEAR's GS116 Copper Gigabit Ethernet Switch lets you build a system that can move even very large files across your network instantly - up to 2000Mbps on each port. The standards-based GS116 helps to protect customers' existing and future network infrastructure investments by painlessly integrating other 10, 100, 1000 devices as well as honoring layer 2 802.1p priority tags. Packed with ease-of-use features, this adaptable switch supports either PC or Macintosh operating systems. The compact size makes it ideal for home, small office, workgroups, departments and conference room environments. Its durable metal case has no fan for silent operation.
Customer Rating
5
What Can I Say
on May 27, 2016
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
It's hard to do an enthusiastic review on a piece of technical gear that has no moving parts. But our old ethernet switch failed and took our office network down with it. We got this replacement at BestBuy and lashed it in to the system the same day and it has performed without problem for the past month.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Honeywell RTH9580WF Smart Thermostat with Wi-Fi Capability: Experience the power of a climate control system that remembers your schedule, automatically adjusts for energy efficiency and can be controlled from anywhere with your smartphone, tablet or laptop.
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
We had an old first gen digital thermostat with a faint hard-to-read monochrome display that finally went dark on us at our office. We literally could no longer control the heat or A/C. I did some quick research and picked this up at BestBuy for less than $200. We had a handyman install this for about $80 and we were back in business. The display is full color, bright, easy to read, easy to program and has a wi-fi feature for remote operations. Good value and has worked flawlessly for the past 5 weeks.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
Take control of your situation and get your taxes done right with TurboTax 2015. TurboTax Deluxe is designed to meet your needs, so you can earn your money, and keep as much of it as possible. The software offers step-by-step support and searches for applicable deductions and credits based on simple questions that you've answered about your situation. Enjoy an experience that's tailored to your situation, as the software searches for more than 350 deductions and credits. TurboTax Deluxe is up to date with the newest tax and healthcare laws, so you can be sure each facet of the process is accounted for. Import your W-2s, investment and mortgage information from participating companies, and transfer info from last year's TurboTax or other tax software return for a seamless workflow.
Customer Rating
5
Not your father's tax return
on March 19, 2016
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
I think back to when I was little and watched my father spend two weekends at a card table during tax season with forms, receipts, crumpled paper and a calculator spread all around him, cursing as he tried to get the family tax return done by April 15th. I have been a TurboTax user for a decade and every year when I sit down to do our taxes I marvel at how easy TurboTax makes the process. First, if you used it the prior year, it remembers and imports all of your last year data into this year's draft return, so you spend zero time locating and inputting things like your employer and business address, your wife's social security number, your kids personal info, the charities you donated to last year, the name and address of financial institutions, whether your kids got college scholarship money, etc. I feel like the return is half done shortly after I hit the "import" button.
It's not only saves time, it suggests tax breaks you might not have been aware of. During the interview function this year, it asked if we made any energy efficient upgrades to the house in 2015. This question reminded that we finally installed a new AC/furnace unit in May 2015. TurboTax recommended that I check the paperwork that came with the new furnace to see if it had an energy efficiency certificate. I ran upstairs, grabbed the folder for the furnace and sure enough, there was the certificate, showing that the furnace indeed qualified for a tax credit. I plugged in the numbers where prompted and grabbed a $150 tax credit that I otherwise would have missed. I cannot say enough about this fantastic program. Try it for two tax seasons in a row, and you won't stop using it.
It's not only saves time, it suggests tax breaks you might not have been aware of. During the interview function this year, it asked if we made any energy efficient upgrades to the house in 2015. This question reminded that we finally installed a new AC/furnace unit in May 2015. TurboTax recommended that I check the paperwork that came with the new furnace to see if it had an energy efficiency certificate. I ran upstairs, grabbed the folder for the furnace and sure enough, there was the certificate, showing that the furnace indeed qualified for a tax credit. I plugged in the numbers where prompted and grabbed a $150 tax credit that I otherwise would have missed. I cannot say enough about this fantastic program. Try it for two tax seasons in a row, and you won't stop using it.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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When the success of your next quest hangs in the balance, or only one more hairpin turn stands between you and first place. When the clock is running out and your team must defend that flag at all costs, or the next combo attack could either be your greatest or your last. When the on-screen action is intense, nothing matters more to the success of your game than the relationship you have with the controller in your hands. The DualShock family of controllers has always brought you innovative features and precise control. The DualShock 4 is no different and brings an exciting array of additional features that are designed to usher your gaming experience into the next generation. With these additions, the DualShock 4 Controller becomes an extension of your brain, turning every move of your fingers into an accurate performance in the game — and in your hands, accurate performance can only mean victory.How gamers use a controller is being redefined right before our very eyes as the next generation of consoles also redefines many other aspects of gaming. The DualShock 4 controller is equipped with a multitouch touch pad on the face of the controller, opening up a new world of gameplay. The integrated light bar generates a rainbow of colors and works with your favorite games to enable innovative gaming experiences. The DualShock 4's share button lets you upload screenshots and video of epic gaming moments or live-stream sessions with your pals — with the press of a button. Besides all of the new innovations, the DualShock 4 controller improves features from past controllers, such as the feel, shape and sensitivity of the dual analog sticks and trigger buttons for enhanced control and a built-in speaker and stereo headset jack for flexible audio options. The future of gaming is now, and the features of this controller live up to the hype.
Customer Rating
5
Wore the old one out
on February 26, 2016
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
We have had the same single controller since we bought our PS4 and I guess my son and I wore it out playing Destiny. We got this one at Best Buy last month and it was great to have fresh springy buttons again. Watch out Cabal.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Your beloved VHS tapes have been sitting untouched for years. You don't even have a VCR to play them anymore. And that collection of cassette tapes collecting dust next to your CD player hasn't seen much action recently either. Now you can convert those old tapes, Hi8 or V8 home videos to DVD, and revive your old movie and music collection with this video conversion solution. Quickly and effortlessly capture and transfer old movies to DVD, Apple® iPhone#174;, iPad#174; and Android tablets or post videos to Facebook and YouTube. Breathe new life into your outdated media collection by converting them to a digital format, so you can preserve them and access them easily.With Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus, you can convert the media you remember to a more modern format in just a few simple steps. Reduce video noise and stabilize shaky home videos while improving the color balance and lighting. Add transitions and rolling credits to videos, and trim and cut videos or automatically split large movies across multiple DVDs to enhance the preservation of your memories. Convert old analog LPs and cassette tapes to audio CDs and MP3s and adjust the recording volume or add reverb and other sound effects. Once you've finished converting your media, create personalized labels, DVD case inserts and booklets with professional-quality templates, or upload your movies to Facebook and YouTube to share with friends and family.
Customer Rating
5
Does what it needs to.
on December 4, 2015
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
I had a large box of VHS-C mini cassettes of my kids/neighborhood gatherings from the mid-nineties. I wanted to clear them out of my cabinet and decided I was going to to digitize them. I did some research and settled on the Roxio converter software. It installed on my laptop easily. I plugged my VCR into the supplied cabling and began uploading cassettes. The 1/2 hour cassettes each recorded into the software without a glitch and eventually ended up in a sub-folder I set up on my hard drive. I have now digitized perhaps forty old video-camera tapes, and when the time comes, I can grab selected clips from the library using Adobe Premiere Elements, and edit them into a birthday compilation or other family footage. More importantly, I can now toss the box of old cassettes. This software has additional functionality, such as converting audio cassettes or albums, but i have not yet used those applications. But for VHS tape conversion, it was brainless.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+9points
13of 17voted this as helpful.
Sony BRAVIA KDL40W600B LED HDTV: Relax with your favorite movies and shows in full high-definition with this Sony BRAVIA HDTV's 1080p display that delivers crisp, clear images. Stream media easily with the Smart TV functionality and built-in Wi-Fi.
Customer Rating
5
Decided Against 4k
on October 29, 2015
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
We were looking to replace our old 32" Sony which I was donating to my daughter in college. I was tempted by Sony's 40" 4k, but it was over $300 more than this and 4k source material is still scarce. Went with the basic Bravia 40" 1080p. It's been great. The image is bright and detailed, and the display is an edge to edge picture with little visible cabinet around the display area. The motion rate is high enough that there are no artifacts when watching sports or movies. I was able to get it dialed in to our home wifi in about ten minutes and we now enjoy ready access to online programming on Amazon and Netflix (watch Narcos!) with no lag. My one small complaint is that the stand is a brushed aluminum tube contraption (like a large paper clip) which does not compliment the tv or my other black audio gear/cable box. Not sure why Sony scrapped the basic black pedestal stand. That aside, very pleased.
As an addendum to this review, which was originally posted 9/30/15 - We watched an entire season of Netflix' Narcos on our new Sony streaming across our home wifi. The images were bright, beautiful and very cinematic. We then wanted to get caught up House of Cards, also on Netflix. Unfortunately, that series has been extremely buggy, with the picture constantly stopping and buffering then restarting for just 90- seconds or so. I can't say I blame this on the tv, as it is more likely an issue with Verizon Fios or Netflix. But we have done all the basic things like reboot the modem, check connections, turn off other devices that are using wifi, etc. Maybe the folks at Sony can recommend some additional steps.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy crisp audio with this Sony SRSX3/BLK portable speaker, which features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to 7 hours of battery life. The NFC (near-field communication) technology enables quick, one-touch pairing of your compatible devices.
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
Bought this for my son to take to his dorm. The trick is finding one small enough to really be portable and to fit into a small space, while still producing great sound. This speaker really hits that mark, with a nice full sound. A great $100 speaker.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
Mobile Submission: True
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Dark Side of the Mule [Deluxe Edition] [CD/DVD] [CD & DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2582/25823738_sa.jpg)
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
With a few exceptions, the last thirty years have seen a de-emphasis on "the guitar" as the centerpiece of rock/pop music. Young musicians have migrated to the relative ease of looping/digital instruments, bringing guitars along almost as props. While the late 60/70's were built on giants of the guitar, Hendrix/Clapton/Page/Gilmore/Van Halen, etc., it's actually hard to name more than a few serious guitarists that have gained national prominence in recent years. But Warren Haynes is one of them. His extensive work with the Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule has helped fill the void (at least for me) left by Stevie Ray Vaughan and other giants who came before him, who have either died, or just stopped making new music.
So I was very excited to see the release of Dark Side of The Mule, in which Warren and band cover selected tracks from Pink Floyd at a live show in Boston. I bought it without previewing a note of it. It is an excellent straight up tribute to Pink Floyd by musicians skilled enough to take on such a sacred task. The live arrangements stay very true to the original recordings, with the band employing ambient soundscapes in the background, vintage synthesizers, back-up singers, saxophone and of course, cash registers. The most notable variation you might hear from the original Floyd arrangements is on "Have a Cigar," where the band sings "Oh by the way, which one's Mule?" And I did feel like "Money" was a little off tempo. But a great recording, as I knew it would be with Warren Haynes involved.
The only real decision is what format for this purchase. The box set is a three cd + one dvd recording of the entire concert which covers a substantial amount of Gov't Mule material before the band wades into the Pink Floyd numbers. Some fans think this puts the whole live show in better perspective, and some fans think it needlessly dilutes the Pink Floyd material. There is also available a single disc extract of the same show with only the Pink Floyd material on it, BUT, in scaling it down to a single disc, you lose a few of the Pink Floyd songs as well. So, you have a tough choice to make.
So I was very excited to see the release of Dark Side of The Mule, in which Warren and band cover selected tracks from Pink Floyd at a live show in Boston. I bought it without previewing a note of it. It is an excellent straight up tribute to Pink Floyd by musicians skilled enough to take on such a sacred task. The live arrangements stay very true to the original recordings, with the band employing ambient soundscapes in the background, vintage synthesizers, back-up singers, saxophone and of course, cash registers. The most notable variation you might hear from the original Floyd arrangements is on "Have a Cigar," where the band sings "Oh by the way, which one's Mule?" And I did feel like "Money" was a little off tempo. But a great recording, as I knew it would be with Warren Haynes involved.
The only real decision is what format for this purchase. The box set is a three cd + one dvd recording of the entire concert which covers a substantial amount of Gov't Mule material before the band wades into the Pink Floyd numbers. Some fans think this puts the whole live show in better perspective, and some fans think it needlessly dilutes the Pink Floyd material. There is also available a single disc extract of the same show with only the Pink Floyd material on it, BUT, in scaling it down to a single disc, you lose a few of the Pink Floyd songs as well. So, you have a tough choice to make.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
I would recommend this to a friend!
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1of 1voted this as helpful.
HP 21.5" 22bw IPS LED HD Monitor: Unique software lets you view multiple windows at once so you can watch a video while typing up a document, or check several social media feeds at once. The monitor is large enough for watching movies and playing games, and works great as a second monitor.
Customer Rating
5
Awesome Deal
on June 13, 2014
Posted by: HowardS
from Maryland
Verified Purchase:Yes
Our bookkeeper had been complaining about how hard it had become to see the company check register on the old 13 inch monitor atttached to our financial computer. I saw this monitor pop up on one of Best Buy's one-day flash sales at a great price, and ordered it. After setting it up and using it, I wish I had bought five more. I had the old monitor out and this monitor up and running in no time, with no compatibility problems at all. Just plug and go. The HP has a beautiful bright panoramic HD screen that seems 3 times the size of the old screen. No more squinting when looking at the check register or typing documents. Just tweak the display resolution in Windows Control Panel to your liking. I will absolutely buy more of these for the office.
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
My Best Buy number: 0162565119
What's great about it: Gorgeous display at a great price.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
4
Design
5
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