Play doesn’t end when the game does. You play games, play music, and play with friends. It’s who you are. All the time. That’s why we designed the G435 Headset for every aspect of your life. The combo of gaming-grade LIGHTSPEED wireless and Bluetooth give you the freedom to wirelessly connect to your PC, phone and other devices. Its 40 mm drivers deliver incredible sound while the dual beamforming mics eliminate the mic arm and background noise. Play never ends with G435.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
The Logitech G435 is a relatively affordable basic headset that has surprisingly good sound and fit. You do have to set proper expectations when comparing it to some of the higher end headsets but the G435 hits a lot of the marks for me. The first thing that stands out is how light weight it is. Most headsets I find to be too heavy and too bulky but the G435 is like a feather. It literally weighs less than 6 oz, incredible. You can connect via Bluetooth or Logitech Lightspeed wireless mode. I connected via wireless and had no issues. Sound is powerful but and clear but not terribly rich. For me, I do not care as long as it is clear and you can hear important game audio components (such as footsteps.) The headset does not have a boom mic and did pick up a bit too much background sound. It was not a major issue but the headset tended to pick up my air conditioner when it was running. For most people that will not be an issue, but it is worth mentioning. Build quality is what you would expect in this price range, not great. There was nothing wrong with how it was made but it definitely has a cheaper feel than some of the more expensive headsets I own. In my opinion, if you are rough on headset; it probably will not last as long as some of the more expensive headsets. Remember , the G435 is less than 6oz so there is no metal or heavy plastics. In conclusion, I like the G435. It does exactly what I need at a great price. I have owned many Logitech products over the years and they are always well thought out and give the best bang for the buck. However, I can see the small size, lack of a good boom mic and the build quality not being for everyone. Nonetheless, you are getting a perfectly competent wireless headset for the cost of a wired one.
Yes, it's that powerful: Play with performance with a powerful AMD processor and mighty graphics. All that power stays cool with our frosty OMEN Tempest Cooling. We can't stop others from feeling a little envy. Gaming shouldn't feel this good: Feast your eyes on this 16.1 diagonal inch machine, boasting a high resolution and fast refresh rate. The floating hinge design and Audio by Bang & Olufsen show it off while you go off. And the long battery life lets you play even longer. One place. All play. OMEN Gaming Hub is your one-stop shop to elevating your play. From getting rewards just by gaming, to controlling every little performance and lighting option of your machine, the list goes on. Every game, every play, every moment is now in your control.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
The bigger, better and badder Omen is HP’s latest “affordable” gaming laptop. It terms of raw performance, you will be hard pressed to find more bang for the buck. While it hits most of the marks in this price segment, there are few areas for improvement. In review:
Build, cooling keyboard – The HP Omen 16 is built well with refined plastic and good fit and finish. Not a lot of flex in the keyboard nor screen. The keyboard has no numeric keypad and the arrangement a bit odd for my liking. I was able to get used to it but your mileage may vary. The cooling/fan system is impressive. It has large intakes on the bottom that are raised up from the body. While it can get loud, it was well within what I expected and does not have the typical whine you found on some laptop fans. It was just a more of an air sound than anything else. You can definitely see that HP put a lot of thought not the cooling and it does work well. I experienced not thermal issues or noticeable thermal throttling.
Sound – Rich, moderately powerful and, most importantly, crystal clear. Bass and sounds popped during games. Music was noticeably on point. I could have liked a bit more power but I will take clear over power any day. Display: The display was a bit of disappointment. It really should be brighter and falls behind the competition. While it is competent is gaming performance, the screen could use an upgrade. While I usually would say don’t fall for a 4K hype on some other gaming laptops ( 4K is meaningless on a laptop,) I do see brighter screens on the those laptops ( they are more expensive.)
Pros – 1080 P 144hz – absolutely no tearing and stuttering. Responsive, great input lag times. Good color reproduction.
Cons - Not as bright as I would like. When compared to a LG Gram, it is a noticeable difference. Thick. Giant screen bezel on bottom. A dated looking screen. Blacks are a bit grey sometimes.
Power – I think you need to set the proper expectations for a gaming laptop when it comes to the battery. With heavy game use, the battery life was not good. A few hours at best (I am not going to give an exact number because there are so many variables.) It came with 4 cell 70 watt battery but it looks like there are versions that have a 83 watt. The charger/ power brick is just that - it is a brick. Huge, actually. But that is for the high-power demands and fast charge times this laptop needs. One note is I tested this unit in standby mode. At about 70% power, I put the system in sleep and left it for 3 days. When I attempted to boot up, it was completely dead with the battery 100% discharged. I have seen this before in some laptops and there are multiple reasons this occurs. While I cannot account for the reason in this laptop, it has not impact on performance and charged from 0% to 86% in an hour while I used the laptop. This is annoyance, treat it as such.
Software – It has the usual set of HP software suite, a bit “bloatish” side for my liking. Two apps I did like were the AMD Radeon software and Omen gaming hub. You get a ton of controls for performance, metrics and more. However, the HP Omen command center part of the Omen Gaming Hub kept crashing and it became unusable. I am sure an update will resolve but it was disappointing.
Performance – Immensely powerful. Today’s systems have gotten so powerful that it can handle any game you throw at it. I ran multiple games and there were no issues. In testing, they were all hitting 100 FPS with no issues. When I ran some initial tests, it was good but not at the top of what I expected. However, with some tuning to performance over balanced in the Omen Gaming Hub, there was a substantive difference. Don’t fall for the marketing hype from gaming laptop manufacturers, there is little difference between this laptop’s CPU and GPU when it comes to noticeable gaming performance.
So the all-important question is would I recommend it? Yes. While it does have its flaws ( screen brightness and battery life,) it has one big plus – the value. There are not many competitors that can hit all the marks this laptop does – large, fast 1 TB SSD, 1080 P, lots of connectivity options, good speakers and great GPU. The list price is what I would expect so a sale price should make this a great deal. I would have given it 4 stars except the HP software crashing issue and the screen brightness.
Cleaning your floors doesn’t need to be a stressful experience. With the Tineco Floor One S5 Extreme, say goodbye to tedious mopping, sweeping, and vacuuming. With this three-in-one vacuum, cleaning your floors just got easier, better, and more powerful. The incredible suction power of Tineco Floor One S5 quickly picks up debris, while the continuous fresh water cleaning removes the need for dirty mops and disposable pads. Now with a larger capacity clean and dirty water tank, you can clean expansive areas without interruption. That means no more lugging heavy water back and forth. The Floor One S5 Extreme is one of our most advanced floor washers yet! Glide across all sealed hard floor types, picking up debris and liquids effortlessly. Then, transition to another room seamlessly with the whisper-quiet brush rollers. Not only does the Floor One S5 Extreme make whole-house cleaning a breeze, but the iLoop Smart Sensor Technology instantly adjusts water flow, suction, and brush roller speed based on the mess below. Adding to our already advanced design is an exclusive brush head design that offers superior edge cleaning capabilities allowing you to clean along baseboards and into corners. And, when you want to vacuum up a mess without water, simply switch to the featured suction-only mode. Whether chasing after your messy toddler or cleaning up after an evening of guests, the Floor One S5 Extreme is the tool you need to turn grimy into pristine. When you’re done, simply attach the floor washer to its handy self-cleaning dock.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
To be honest, I never heard of Tineco before. There seems to be an endless sea of Dyson knock offs but that is not what the Tineco Hard Floor Washer One S5 is. This is truly unique “smart mop” and vacuum. The emphasis should be on mop, this is only designed for hard floors. It’s built well and reminds me almost of an Apple or Google design. I know, I know – but it has that fine fit and finish that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Topping it off is a clean and bright display that shows you the battery life and what mode it is in. Let’s start off with what is in the box :
- Floor Mop and vacuum. - Docking Station : - 3-in-1 Cleaning Tool - Deodorizing and Cleaning Solution - HEPA filter - Brush Roller - Adapter
Maneuverability and ergonomics The S5 weighs about 11 pounds when full of water. At first the handle looks to be in an odd position, but I found it incredibly easy to maneuver around and well balanced. The head turns very easily and is just the right size to fit into tight spaces. The spinning brush head pulls the unit forward, almost like it is self-propelled. It really is a pleasure to use.
Sound – I would not call it quiet as it is a vacuum, but it was quiet enough. The S5 does speak to you but you will not be able to ear it well over the motor running. The speaking function is cool, for about the first 3 times. The roller spinning is very quiet compared to a traditional vacuum.
Battery life – I do not have much faith in most large rechargeable vacuums. Other than Dyson and to lesser extent Raycop, I’ve been disappointed in in nearly all others. However, with the Tineco Hard Floor Washer One S5 , I was able to clean a 10 X 6 kitchen and 6 X 5 bathroom floor space with 3 passes. It was about 11 minutes of use and it only used 17% of the battery. This was using it on high power most of the time. I was also able to run it through is cleaning cycle and that only used another 8%. Overall, I felt this was exceptional battery life.
Fit and finish – There is a noticeable attention to detail and quality. It is easily as good, if not better, than then the top competition. High quality, matte finish plastic with no gaps. The rollers are durable and is the filters. In reference to the roller, it is easily changed and pops out easy for maintenance. The display is clear and bright and has everything you need to know.
Performance – All that I mentioned above is useless if it does not clean well. You will be glad to hear that it does a good job if you set the right expectation. This is not a heavy-duty cleaner, it is a spot and maintenance cleaner. My floors were not too dirty, but I had not washed them for a few weeks in anticipation. Based on water in the waste tank, they were dirtier than I thought. I did make more than one pass and the floors were sparkling clean. There is sensor that adjusts the power (and extends battery life) according to the level of dirt. I prefer to just put the S5 on it’s high power but if you have a lot of floor space, it may make s difference. One note is I did find a small spot of dried egg yolk on the floor. That is tough for a floor cleaner to remove and the S5 was not able to remove it. Dried egg is not really a fair test but I thought I would mention it.
Cons The S5 is Wi-Fi capable and connect to an app that tells you how long you have been cleaning and battery life. The app did not once give me a battery reading and there was no other tangible benefits. According to the instructions, you can connect to Alexa to check battery life. What is the point? This is just a gimmick that serves no purpose.
The dock could be heavier to add stability. When you put S5 in the dock it does add weight but I found it can rock forward relatively easily.
In conclusion, I really liked this unit. The cons are minimal and the performance is great. The app definitely needs some refinement, and I am hoping the issue of not reading the battery is related this to being Tineco’s newest flagship model. The price of $500 might now be for everyone, it is a but higher than I expected but not total unreasonable. Overall, this is a great unit that does a fantastic job. Recommend.
In competitive gaming, every frame matters. Introducing Acer's KA242Y gaming monitor - the Full HD resolution monitor that can keep up with your game play. Through AMD Radeon FreeSync technology, the game’s frame rate is determined by your graphics card, not the fixed refresh rate of the monitor, giving you a serious competitive edge. Plus, users can enjoy comfortable viewing experience while gaming via flicker-less and low dimming display. The design saves space on your desk and lets you place multiple monitors side by side to build a seamless big-screen display.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
I’ve been using the Acer KA242YAbi for about 5 days now and, on paper, everything looks good. Fast response rate, 1080P , AMD FreeSync compatible , small bezel and a 3 year warranty. Well, on paper versus real world are two entirely different things. First, let’s look at the good points. The response rate is excellent, I could not discern any major flickering. There was no truly measurable input lag. For everyday use, text was sharp and clear. Viewing angle was excellent, you can be offset to a high degree and still see the picture. The OSD (On-Screen Display) menu is robust with many adjustments for color, brightness and the mode you want for the picture. If I had to pick something as the best feature of the monitor, it would be the number of settings you have. Where it does stand out is the 3-year warranty. There is competition that has 3 year warrantees as well but there are quite a few that only have 1 year .
Unfortunately, there are not many good things after the few above. First, the Acer KA242YAbi monitor is just low end. Everything about it feels cheap. From the bare unfinished metal where the SVGA and HDMI inputs are to the lack of height adjustment – it is just low end. The base is so lightweight that it can easily be knocked over. Colors are underwhelming and I tried every adjustment to make it look better. There are no blacks, it is all shades are gray. In fact, the overall screen has this grey haze to it. Brightness is passable at 250 nits but it looks dimmer than that when next to another monitor at the same brightness.
If you notice, I really do not get into the technical specs too much. There are plenty of reviews here as well as the Bestbuy listing that go over that in detail and I do not think it helps most people in real world applications. Even with setting the proper expectations (and they should be low for this price point,) this is not a great monitor. At its regular price of $160, that are far better monitors at the same price of $20 more. I have an Asus and HP monitor to compare it to and both had better pictures and ergonomics. I really cannot recommend this unless you are on a tight budget and catch it on sale for $100 or less. It is really more suited to a young gamer who you may not want to buy a higher end monitor for just yet. Save up a few more dollars and get something that gives you far more for your money.
The future of gaming has arrived with the WD_BLACK™ SN850 NVMe™ SSD. Long load times are obsolete with PCIe® Gen4 technology, reaching up to 7,000MB/s read speed and up to 4,100MB/s write speed. Spend more time playing and less time deleting, storing your latest and favorite games with 500GB capacity (not intended for NAS or server environments). This WD_Black internal SSD has a compact form factor and a PCIe Gen4 interface for compatibility with select PCs or laptops.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Got this drive installed and Windows installed and I am now getting close to the speed specs after having to change a couple things. Please read my tips, it may help you and save some frustration and even maybe save you from returning it. To get that max speeds this needs to be installed in a PCIe 4.0 compatible motherboard with a PCIe 4.0 compatible CPU. I am using this in an Asus X570 Tuf Gaming Plus with a Ryzen 3900X. This also needs to be installed in the M.2 slot closest to the CPU which has a direct connection to the CPU, I initially had it in the bottom slot below the PCIe slots and that one is connected to the chipset which is slower, I was getting like half the write speeds at first until I switched it. You also need to download and install the WD SSD Dashboard so you can enable the Gaming Mode, otherwise again, speeds won't be as fast. After those couple things, I am now getting closed to advertised speeds and I am happy. The future of gaming has arrived with the WD_BLACK™ SN850 NVMe™ SSD. Long load times are obsolete with PCIe® Gen4 technology, reaching up to 7,000MB/s read speed and up to 4,100MB/s write speed. Spend more time playing and less time deleting, storing your latest and favorite games with 500GB capacity (not intended for NAS or server environments). This WD_Black internal SSD has a compact form factor and a PCIe Gen4 interface for compatibility with select PCs or laptops.
Well, it is really the point that hard drives have become so fast that it is nearly meaningless to compare speeds. Yes, faster is better, I can and did run the speed tests and this WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD is the fastest hard drive I ever had. And I cannot see any differences in real world. No difference in games nor load times of files. However, I am comparing it to the WD Black SN750 NVMe 1TB drive and that is a blazingly fast drive to begin with. So what is the point? If you have a system capable of handling PCIe Gen4 interface SSD, this is the way to go. There are a few things you need to be aware of :
- This is a PCIe Gen4 interface. The latest from AMD and, more recently, Intel’s Rocketlake support. For the most part, if your system is older than 8 to 10 months, you will not gain any of the benefits of this drive over PCIe Gen 3.
- The drive is only 500GB. For reference, Call of Duty Modern Warfare takes up 231 GB of space.
- The version I tested does not have a heatsink, so it is for laptops and PC’s. There is another version that has a heat sink and it can be used with a Sony PS5 console (with a firmware update.)
There are two main things that would affect your buying decisions for this drive. First, if your system does not have a PCIe Gen4 interface, the prior generation is nearly half the price. Keep in mind that getting thus drive does future proof you for your next system where you can just add this drive to. The other thing to consider, and more importantly, is the 500 GB size of the drive. It is just too small for today’s PC games. For $100 more, you can double the size of the drive. Putting all the specs aside, you should really look at the company making the hard drive and their warranty. This drive has a 5 year warranty and great company to back it up. I’ve owned all the brands and Western Digital is my go to brand. I have had nothing but good luck with the drives and their Black series performance is off the charts.
In conclusion, the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD 500 GB is a super-fast drive from a great company. You pay a bit more for the new top tier products so wait a bit for the prices to drop. If you have a lot of stored games, upgrade to the 1 TB. Regardless, the WD Black SN850 NVMe SSD is another home run from Western Digital.
Touch, Talk, Record and View- observe and control all your Lorex cameras and connected devices from a central location— the Lorex Home Center. The easy-to-use touch screen provides live and recorded views from multiple cameras simultaneously. The highlights of this versatile and expandable security system are the Home Center, two wire-free indoor/outdoor cameras and built-in storage, without monthly fees.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
I must admit, I did not have a lot of hope being impressed for the Lorex Home Center. Sure , Lorex has been a name in home security cameras for years. But, in my mind, they were always about clunky hard wired systems and not in the arena of the Arlo, Samsung, Nest or even Dlink ( all of which I own.) I was totally wrong. The Lorex Home Center is simply fantastic. In review:
Set up- I was shocked at how fast and easy this was to set up. Compared to all the other systems I own, this was the fastest and easiest by far. I was able to set up the hub and two cameras in less than 10 minutes. I even screwed up the set up and must have made an error in my password. I could not link the hub to the Lorex Home app because of the password error so I reset and start over. The second time set up was done in only a few minutes. I’ve never had another system that sets up so fast.
Control and range– The Lorex Home Center comes with hub and range extender. The kit I received came with two cameras. The hub itself is responsive, clear and well built. It can be unlocked with facial id or a passcode. Once unlocked, you can live view your camera, play back videos, device settings and more. Additional functions can be accessed with voice prompts. I have not had great success with the voice commands but everything else works well. I’m not saying something is wrong, I just have not got the hang of it yet. There is an option for a SD card and a SSD. The SSD option is amazing, you literally can put a large SSD into the home center to store video. There are limitations to which SSD you can use but what an amazing feature. Since the Lorex Smart Hub is basically a smart screen, I would made it a Google Home to be a true home run. On the downside, it is only 5 GZ device so you are out of luck if you only have a 2.4 Ghz network if you want a wireless only option. But not all is lost, the hub actually has a Cat 5 connector on the back. Nice.
As mentioned, the Lorex Home Center comes with a range extender. I installed that as part of the setup and it was up and running in a minute. I live in 800 sq ft apartment and had no connectivity issues. Now since my apartment is not large, I cannot say how much of a difference it makes. However, I can say that I have better video connection than the Arlo I have in the same spot as the Lorex on the outside of my window.
Video cams – The Lorex cameras are 2K QHD, battery-operated cameras that are designed for both outdoors and indoors. Video is relatively sharp video but not as good as the Arlo. The video cameras have night vision, and intelligent motion detection. When the cameras detect a person, you will get an alert on your mobile device. They also have light, but I found it too small to be effective except in the smallest of areas. At 2K, the video was not as good as some of the 4K devices but is still very clear. The reality is , for bandwidth concerns, you probably do not want much more than that. Once thing I did notice is the batteries are huge in comparison compared to Arlo – like more than twice the size . I have owned Lorex Home Center and cameras for about week and the battery is still at nearly 100%. On the downside, the cameras are larger than the competition. I will take battery life any day over size, so this does not bother me. I will be mounting one of cameras on an Arlo mount for outside. It does come with mounts but I need an Arlo type of design with a 90 degree angle.
The app – I installed the Lorex Home App on my Samsung Note Ultra 20. No issues and easy to sign up. I like the app – it is basic, streamlined and does the job. You can view all your devices and liver stream. Other companies should take note that sometimes a clean, simple interface is best.
The Lorex Home Center with 2K QHD cameras hits all the marks and sells itself on the merits of the hardware. With that in mind, it doesn’t require a cloud subscription. That is correct, they stand out from nearly all the rest by not charging you for storage or functions. Competitors like Nest even charge you for full functionality (leading me to not recommend it.) It’s hard to really define any negatives other than things I would like to have seen - battery back up in the hub, direct Google Home in the hub, brighter light in the camera. All of those barely knock down this great product. When people see the $400 retail price they might balk but you get a lot of great equipment up front for no additional cost.
Quick set up, quality hardware, variety of sensors and accessories, no cloud subscription – this is an easy recommendation. In fact, I think this is this the best system out there when you weigh in what you get for the money.
From pour-over to French press and every method in between, Ode Brew Grinder brings the café experience to your kitchen. With single dosing, a small countertop size, a magnetically aligned catch and grinds knocker for added cleanliness, Ode turns a morning chore into an elevated experience.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
I am far from a coffee expert, but I have definitely started to develop a keener taste for truly fresh coffee. As a result, I have tried several grinders over the years. They were all way too loud, too tall, too imprecise – I did not like any of them. However, the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder has none of those negatives. The first thing that jumps out is the compact size – it easily fits under cabinets on a kitchen countertop. That is what really bothered me about the competition, they were just too tall and bulky. While it may be compact, it is solid as a brick and much heavier than expected. The Fellow Ode Brew Grinder weighs in at nearly 13 lbs. – nearly twice the weight of a competitor’s product I own. It makes the Ode grinder very stable and probably assists in deadening sound. Speaking of the sound, this is hands down the quietest grinder I have ever heard. It is not silent by any means but what a difference compared to other units I have tried. In terms of performance and control, I think it did a great job. The large dial on the front is very precise to get the correct grind. I was used to the grind settings on my old unit and quickly found out that it does not exactly translate between units. It took me several tries until I was able to nail down the grind setting that I tasted best to me. Grind quality and consistency were perfect once I found the setting I liked. There was nothing wrong with the Fellow Ode Brew Grinder, there was just a bit of a learning curve on my part. What you will learn to appreciate about the Fellow grinder is the attention to detail. Everything is machined well, the fit and finish are just great. Fellow says it best - “With a magnetically aligned catch that snaps into place, a grinds knocker to reduce grind retention, and easy pour fins for a smooth transition of grinds into your brewer, a stacked variety of carefully engineered features set Ode apart from the pack.” I know that sounds like marketing buzz, but it really is true. The catch easier snaps into place because of the magnet, the grind knocker does reduce grinds getting stuck and so on. So what about the cons? There really are not any major cons. At $300, it is a bit on the high side but not unreasonably so. I did find some the grinds did not always drop completely and if you do not tap it enough, they will spill out when you remove the container. Some people may be put off by the small hopper and container, but I found it perfectly sized. I never understood when other units on the market have gigantic, oversized hoppers. You do not need something huge, trust me. This brings us to would I recommended the grinder? Absolutely. I ran into no issues to speak of , it is perfectly sized and looks like a piece of art. The grinder performed well and it is shockingly quiet for a grinder. The Fellow Ode Brew Grinder is a home run.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
The Raycop - Omni Air UV+ Compact Cordless Stick Allergen Vacuum is a compact, and I stress, compact vacuum for small jobs. I think you really need to set proper expectations. In that respect:
What it is not – It is not a $700 Dyson. A whole house vacuum. A long running, heavy rechargeable vacuum. A vacuum with a high capacity.
I break that out because I am seeing a lot of reviews here where they talk about cleaning 1400 sq foot homes, small bin capacities etc. This is not the vacuum for those things. What you will get is a well-built very lightweight rechargeable hand vacuum for small jobs and quick clean ups. Out of the box it includes a good assortment of attachments including two brush heads – a larger one for floors and a smaller one for deep cleaning and sanitizing. I really like the smaller head which Raycop calls the “UltraPulse Pulsating Head.” It has UV bulb in it that is supposed to provide a “chemical-free way to destroy viruses and bacteria in your home.” In my opinion, it is complete marketing nonsense. Think about it, why would you need to sanitize something that you are vacuuming. Additionally, any common harmful bacteria and viruses that may be on a surface die relatively fast to begin with. Do not buy the hype here. However, the pulsating head does a good job and is very compact. Raycop talks about using it on mattresses but I used it several times on patio furniture cushions. I’ve always found patio cushions a pain the clean and the Raycop did a very good job . With those details out of the way, lets look at some of core features :
Sound – There were several reviews that stated the Raycop was loud. I have no idea what they are talking about. For a vacuum and it’s size, I would say it far quieter than average. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the quietest, I would give it a 9.
Battery and charging – This is where the Raycop falls short. The batter is simply too small. While I understand they were trying to keep the weight down, I got about 10 minutes of mixed use on high power. When not using the heads, I got about 15 minutes on high. They list the battery at 14.4V and 2000mAh and the units energy use is about 150 watts. For those science guys, you can do the approximate calculation of about 12 minutes of run time on high. Not exactly what they say because it will vary according to what accessory you are using but Raycop lists the run times as approximately on LOW: 38min / MID: 20min / MAX: 9min. My real world test do come close to what they are saying. This would really be home run if they doubled the battery capacity and provided a better charging method. Charge times are a ridiculous 3.5 hours.
Suction – Here is where I am going to again disagree with some of the review. For it’s size, it is perfectly adequate and does a good job. Frankly, I was expecting far worse, but the unit is so well designed that it maximizes suction. Bravo Raycop.
Canister – Yes, it is small but sized properly for the job it is supposed to do. Easy to detached and empty. The filtration is top notch and caught everything. Top marks.
Accessories – The two heads are great even with the UV gimmick. The crevice tool could be longer and the dusting brush is truly terrible. The brush is way to small and too close to the unit.
In conclusion, The Raycop - Omni Air UV+ Compact Cordless Stick Allergen Vacuum does a good job for what is essentially a spot vacuum. Sound and suction are good but the battery life left a lot to be desired. You can buy an extra battery, but they are $50. The UV light in my opinion is a gimmick, and I can tell that from the perspective of someone who is in the IAQ and HVAC manufacturing business. It I a bit too expensive at $299 but I have a feeling you would see this on sale. Those negatives would not stop me from recommending the vacuum, it does have a lot of plusses and includes a great 2 year warranty.
Don’t ever worry about leaks or floods in your basement, under your sinks, from your water heater and anywhere else around the house. Phyn Smart Water Sensors alert you audibly, visually and with SMS and app notifications to your phone the moment they detect water. Set your own alert thresholds for potentially damaging high and low humidity in the free Phyn app and customize settings to maximize battery life. Easily connects via Wi-Fi to your home network, no hubs necessary. Batteries included.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
The Phyn Smart Water Sensor is a Wi-Fi ( 2.4 GHZ) enabled leak detector that can send text alerts to your phone when it detects water. It is shaped liked a hockey puck and it about the same size. There are three metal contact points on the bottom of the puck that when they come in contact with water will cause the puck to chirp and send an alter to your phone. In review:
Set up – This was a mixed bag. I had two Phyn pucks to set up. This is accomplished through the Phyn app. The app will guide you through the process. This is where I ran into the first problem. There is a QR code and identification code on the bottom of device. The app will first ask you to use the QR code. No matter what I did, it would not register the code. If that does not work, you can enter the 6 digit identifying code below the QR code. Well, that did not work either. Luckily, Phyn has a built-in feature that picks up the unit via Wi-Fi and that was successful. After the set up of the first puck, I moved on to the second Phyn puck . The app asks if you want to add another device. I ran in the same exact issue as the first puck – neither the QR code nor identifier code would work. Perhaps because there were review models, very odd. Everything seemed to be working with the set up of the second Phyn puck but the app asked me to create a new home. I already had my home location set up and I was jut trying to add it to the the existing home. The app stopped me from moving forward. I closed out the app and saw that it had created a second home location. Both pucks were working but I wanted it to be in one home location. There is some poorly documented instructions in the help section for deleting the device and home but I just could not get the puck to uninstall properly. After finally getting it uninstalled, I was able to reinstall it under the main home and everything worked.
Performance – Well, it works. It does sense water relatively fast .There is some latency between when it senses water and send an alert. The latency appears to be inconsistent so there can be a lot of causes that are not necessarily related to Phyn. You can also set alerts should temperature or humidity go out of a certain range. The out of the box default settings for the temperature and humidity are too broad so I had to dial in the alter thresholds.
Mobile app – I was not thrilled with the app. The set up was not good and the app does not do much other than tell you about the read outs of the Phyn puck. Does it work, sure but it really had a feel of being unfinished. There is no 3rd party integration. In this day, why would any manufacturer not have Google, Alexa, IFTTT or a Smartthings integration option?
So the big question is would I recommend it? The short answer is no. The Phyn water sensor does exactly what the manufacturer claims it does. The problem is the problematic set up, limited app and the lack of 3rd party integration. While product itself is built well, I just cannot see why I would buy this over another product that has 3rd party integration. These types of products are not new, look at Alert Labs or Smartthings – they all work with 3rd parties. Sorry Phyn, you are just not ready for prime time.
See more of the action with this Full HD ASUS gaming monitor. Quick 1 ms video response time lets you play action games in real time without lag. This ASUS gaming monitor comes with a stand for use on any flat surface.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
The ASUS VG246H is a feature rich, budget gaming monitor that offers a lot of well thought out features. However, budget is the thing to remember because it does fall short in performance.
Ergonomics and build quality - Asus did a great job – you can adjust the monitor just about any way you want. It swivels, tilts, rotates and height adjusts with ease. You can even put it portrait mode (which I intend to for spreadsheets on a second screen. The base is solid and the monitor has good heft to prevent it from tipping and moving. The monitor itself is relative thick and bit reminiscent of something from 15 years ago.
Connectivity – Single HDMI and VGA – no display port. I would have expected at least a dual HDMI like it’s VG245 brother. It is a budget monitor, so you get what you pay for.
Picture and viewing angle: 1080P, not 4K. I would not expect it to be 4K nor is it necessary at 24 inches. Refresh rate is a gimmicky 75hz; for all practical purposes it behaves like a 60hz monitor. Blacks and greys are not uniform and there is noticeable blooming at the edges. Contrast between white and black is average at best. The viewing angle is poor, the VG246H picture gets washed up with at angles. Text clarity is average and could be sharper. For comparison, if I rate my LG Gram at 100% for text clarity; the Asus VG246H would come in about 75%. I think the brightness may be a component of that. However, while it is noticeable on text documents ; it was not during gaming.
Colors- Color reproduction was good with no bleed and minimal banding. Better than I expected after looking at the blacks and greys.
Brightness – Passable at best. Needed to increase out of the box and change the settings to scenery mode to get an acceptable level. Bright rooms will wash out the screen.
Performance – The Asus VG246H refresh rate is excellent. At 1ms, you will not notice any performance issues whatsoever. Far better smoother motions than expected and no flickering than I could notice. Exactly what you want in a gaming monitor.
Controls and settings – Great for a budget monitor. Many options for screen setting but not to the level of a pro monitor ( nor do you need it.) The controls are an odd multi-button format, I prefer a joystick arrangement better. There is a gimmicky Gameplus mode where you can set crosshairs, a timer and a FPS counter – all meaningless for most gamers. It does have a useful feature called display alignment for lining up multiple monitors.
As you can see, this is a mixed review. The important thing to remember is to set the proper expectations – this is a budget monitor. Would I buy it? No. Would I recommend it? Yes. Everyone has a budget and if you are looking for a monitor under $200, the ASUS VG246H does offer a lot for the money .
See more of the action with this Full HD ASUS gaming monitor. Quick 1 ms video response time lets you play action games in real time without lag. This ASUS gaming monitor comes with a stand for use on any flat surface.
Do I need to buy a pc box for this or dose it come with a built in pc or is it just a screen
Go Epic! Enjoy an epic viewing experience with the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 Smart Streaming Laser Projector. Whether you’re binge-watching your favorite TV shows or hosting an outdoor movie night, the portable Epson EpiqVision EF12 Streaming Laser Projector makes it easy to stream bright images from virtually anywhere in your home, even outside. Featuring built-in Android TV and wireless connectivity, the Epson EpiqVision EF12 Streaming Laser Projector gives you seamless access to popular streaming services including Hulu, HBO and YouTube, right out of the box. Simply power on the projector and start streaming your favorite content up to an epic 150" – no screen required. Epson has partnered with Yamaha to create a unique audio experience unlike anything it its class. Developed exclusively for the Epson EpiqVision EF12 Streaming Laser Projector, Yamaha’s leading Acoustic Engineers designed a unique sound system to deliver a true audiophile performance. Designed within a custom 3D Acoustic Enclosure, two high-end Yamaha drivers are powered by a discrete amplifier and tuned, using Yamaha’s latest AudioEngine DSP technology to produce an impressive, wide sound stage that rivals dedicated higher-end audio systems and soundbars.
Does this support 3D videos for viewing using 3D glasses
The entire Meta Portal family is video calling designed to bring people closer. Meta Portal TV brings smart video calling to the biggest screen in your home and turns your TV into a smart video calling screen that’s perfect for group calls. It’s easy to call friends and family on their smartphones and laptops with Messenger and WhatsApp, even if they don’t have a Meta Portal. A Smart Camera pans and zooms to get the whole room in shot and automatically adjusts to keep everyone in frame as they move and talk naturally. Smart Sound makes sure you can be heard by reducing background noise and enhancing the voice of whoever is speaking. Meta Portal’s simple privacy settings mean you can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the camera lens with a cover. All Meta Portal WhatsApp calls are end-to-end encrypted and you can choose to call individual Messenger contacts using end-to-end encryption. Meta Portal TV needs a wireless internet connection and AC power. Meta Portal voice command availability varies. Screen images simulated. User experience may vary. Requires wireless internet connection and Facebook or WhatsApp account. WhatsApp is not available on tablets. Features, functionality, and content vary and may not be available on all Meta Portal models or in all areas and languages. Some features may require a Facebook account and downloading the Portal mobile app. Additional account registration, terms and fees may apply. Meta Portal TV requires an HDMI cable (not included). Meta Portal TV comes with a remote control.
My TV is not a smart TV, will I be able to use this without a smart TV?
The entire Meta Portal family is video calling designed to bring people closer. Meta Portal TV brings smart video calling to the biggest screen in your home and turns your TV into a smart video calling screen that’s perfect for group calls. It’s easy to call friends and family on their smartphones and laptops with Messenger and WhatsApp, even if they don’t have a Meta Portal. A Smart Camera pans and zooms to get the whole room in shot and automatically adjusts to keep everyone in frame as they move and talk naturally. Smart Sound makes sure you can be heard by reducing background noise and enhancing the voice of whoever is speaking. Meta Portal’s simple privacy settings mean you can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the camera lens with a cover. All Meta Portal WhatsApp calls are end-to-end encrypted and you can choose to call individual Messenger contacts using end-to-end encryption. Meta Portal TV needs a wireless internet connection and AC power. Meta Portal voice command availability varies. Screen images simulated. User experience may vary. Requires wireless internet connection and Facebook or WhatsApp account. WhatsApp is not available on tablets. Features, functionality, and content vary and may not be available on all Meta Portal models or in all areas and languages. Some features may require a Facebook account and downloading the Portal mobile app. Additional account registration, terms and fees may apply. Meta Portal TV requires an HDMI cable (not included). Meta Portal TV comes with a remote control.
can I watch tv and see the person I am talking too on the tv?
Maybe, but it is not a function that is built into the device. You have to connect this to a dedicated HDMI port. Theoretically, if your TV had picture in picture ; you could display two video sources.
The entire Meta Portal family is video calling designed to bring people closer. Meta Portal TV brings smart video calling to the biggest screen in your home and turns your TV into a smart video calling screen that’s perfect for group calls. It’s easy to call friends and family on their smartphones and laptops with Messenger and WhatsApp, even if they don’t have a Meta Portal. A Smart Camera pans and zooms to get the whole room in shot and automatically adjusts to keep everyone in frame as they move and talk naturally. Smart Sound makes sure you can be heard by reducing background noise and enhancing the voice of whoever is speaking. Meta Portal’s simple privacy settings mean you can easily disable the camera and microphone, or block the camera lens with a cover. All Meta Portal WhatsApp calls are end-to-end encrypted and you can choose to call individual Messenger contacts using end-to-end encryption. Meta Portal TV needs a wireless internet connection and AC power. Meta Portal voice command availability varies. Screen images simulated. User experience may vary. Requires wireless internet connection and Facebook or WhatsApp account. WhatsApp is not available on tablets. Features, functionality, and content vary and may not be available on all Meta Portal models or in all areas and languages. Some features may require a Facebook account and downloading the Portal mobile app. Additional account registration, terms and fees may apply. Meta Portal TV requires an HDMI cable (not included). Meta Portal TV comes with a remote control.
Do u need o e on both ends? Meaning I have to have one and the person I call has to have one.
Type on your Chromebook or smartphone for effortless multitasking with this Logitech slim wireless keyboard. The built-in easy switch lets you pair and alternate multiple devices quickly, while the slim keys offer a comfortable, quiet typing experience. This Bluetooth-enabled Logitech slim wireless keyboard includes an auto-sleep feature that is activated when you're not typing to ensure long battery life.
Make your photos look amazing with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020. The Adobe Sensei AI technology powers automated options to get a starting point for creative exploration, and the Guided Edits feature allows removing unwanted objects to achieve the result you want. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 lets you easily edit photos, make clips, and create memes to share on your favorite social websites.
Will this version read raw files from Nikon d750?
Rollie
Yes,this can read uncompressed images ( RAW files) captured by any digital cameras or scanner. There is an option in the file menu "open in camera raw." It appears to be very similar to the function in other Adobe Photoshop programs.
The reliable Brother HL-L3210CW compact digital color printer is a great choice for the busy home or small office. Quick print speeds of up to 19 pages per minute¹ plus manual feed slot accommodates varied printing needs and can handle a variety of paper types and sizes including card stock, envelopes and more. Connect with versatile options including built-in wireless or USB interfaces and print wirelessly from mobile devices. The 250-sheet capacity adjustable paper tray helps improve efficiency with fewer refills and handles letter or legal sized paper. Brother Genuine high-yield replacement toner cartridges help lower printing costs. Comes with a 1-year limited warranty and free online, call or live chat support for the life of your product. Prints up to 19 ppm¹ in black and up to 19 ppm¹ in color.
Does this printer have two trays, one letter and one legal?
The Back-UPS battery backup offers guaranteed power and surge protection for wireless networks, computers, gaming consoles and other electronics in your home or business. Models supply battery backup during outages and unsafe voltage fluctuations, as well as provide protection from damaging surges and spikes. They're available in 'tower' or 'floor' styles, and together with a variety of standard features, they are the perfect choice to protect your data and keep you connected.
In most cases, I would not recommend this product for that application. There are far too many variables in terms of power consumption and compatibility with whatever type of hurricane shutters you may have. I would recommend talking to a professional installer to get options.