CriticalEye's stats
- Review count127
- Helpfulness votes496
- First reviewOctober 20, 2014
- Last reviewJune 11, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
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- Answer count22
- Helpfulness votes12
- First answerMarch 11, 2018
- Last answerOctober 21, 2021
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Combat shedding with this upright BISSELL vacuum. Its powerful suction removes pet hair and dander from floors, and the detachable canister and specialized pet tools let you clean hard-to-reach areas, so your home remains odor and allergen-free. This bagless BISSELL vacuum picks up long hairs without tangling to keep the roller brush clear.
Customer Rating
4
Hybrid Upright/Portable with Great Suction Power
on September 28, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Initial Reaction: The brute suction of this powerful machine exceeded my expectations. Hybrid design allows use as both a powerful upright & portable.
My Evolution: Although I grew up using Hoover uprights, I switched to Dyson (specifically, the Dyson DC41 Animal Complete) 5 yrs. ago. Though the Dyson was clearly overpriced, I felt that, performance-wise, it was in a class by itself … until now. This Bissell vacuum took some of the best design features of the Dyson & improved upon them.
Priority 1: I believe the #1 function of a great vacuum is SUCTION POWER! Regardless of design, ease of use, specialized tools, etc., it must lift & fully extract the dirt, dust, & hair. This Bissell definitely meets that requirement. In fact, I was surprised by the amount of debris picked up by the Bissell only a day after a thorough vacuuming w/my Dyson. Mind you, I adjusted the Variable Suction Control to the strongest setting (intended for hard floors) for use on my cut pile carpeting, & it really sucked all the debris out of the carpet. On this setting, it gets 5 stars for suction! (There is also an on/off brush roll switch for multi-surface cleaning.)
Hair!: We have girls w/long hair in our house; so, we joke that we can’t have pets, because there’s already too much hair flying around. Bissell touts its “tangle-free” brush roll, which incl. a large brush dowel & unique bristle design as well as a wide spiral groove where the brushes are fastened to the roller—all of which are supposed to help remove not just pet hair, but human hair, while preventing that hair from catching onto the bristles & wrapping around the brush. I was eager to test this because, once a month, I have to flip my Dyson over, get down on the floor, & make a mess trying to untangle all the hair & other fibers that have wrapped around its brushes. The problem of hair wrap is greatly reduced w/the Bissell, if not entirely eliminated.
Emptying: The patented Cyclonic Pet Hair Spooling System is supposed to whirl hair, dirt, & dust until these particles form a tight ball at the bottom of the tank. Then, you’re supposed to be able to effortlessly dump the debris ball into the garbage w/o having to dig into the dustbin to remove stuck hair & fine particles. In practice, the emptying of the hands-free canister is similar to the Dyson, w/neither model being completely hands-free, especially when it comes to removing long hair that still gets wrapped around the filter.
Portable Mode: This is 1 of the vac’s best features. The convenient “Lift-Off” system allows you to remove the canister w/the press of a button—leaving the frame, handle, & brush roller behind. This lets you travel w/just the guts of the vac, incl. the telescoping extension wand, to easily reach stairs, baseboards, ceiling fans/vents, & crown moldings, etc.
Value Summary: Overall, I found the Bissell easy to use & empty. While it’s comparable in design to the Dyson, the effective suction power of the Bissell outperformed the more expensive Dyson. This vac offers good value for the price. The Bissell has the quality & best features of a Dyson w/a much smaller hit to the wallet.
OTHER PROS
Setup: Out-of-the-box easy/minimal assembly: Requires a screwdriver to attach the handle. Then snap on the hose, attach the 2 accessory pieces to the upright vac, & you’re good to go.
Allergens: The SmartSeal filtration system forces air to pass thru the allergen filter—trapping particles, dander, & dust inside the vac so that you don’t have to breathe them. Includes 2 allergen filters.
Additional Convenience Features:
Lighting: LED headlamps on both sides of the floor nozzle allow you to clearly see the surface that you're vacuuming & whether or not you need to make additional passes. And the LED on the end of the crevice tool is a nice touch to illuminate tight spaces & dark corners.
Lighting: LED headlamps on both sides of the floor nozzle allow you to clearly see the surface that you're vacuuming & whether or not you need to make additional passes. And the LED on the end of the crevice tool is a nice touch to illuminate tight spaces & dark corners.
CONS
Most Notable Negative: Instability: It’s not always desirable to remove the canister. So, if you choose not to go portable w/the ‘lift-off’ feature, & instead want just to pull out the extension wand for a quick suction, you can’t reach very far w/o the entire vac tipping over. It’s very annoying to have the tipsy 18-lb. vac come crashing down onto my foot or the floor. There must be some way for Bissell engineers to stabilize the upright’s platform w/o adding extra weight.
Handle Release: The ‘foot’ icon on the floor nozzle is misleading in that it appears to indicate that you should step on the rear of the plastic base to release/lower the handle from its upright position. Instead, you have to awkwardly press your foot down much farther forward on the base, in order to release the handle, so that you can then push/pull the vac.
Cord Wrap: The cord hooks are placed so close together (1 ft. apart) that it requires 20+ wraps of the 30-ft. cord—making storage slow/tedious. For the price, I’d hoped for an auto-retracting cord like I had on my Electrolux vac 45 yrs. ago.
Attachments: It would be more convenient if all 3 of the accessory tools were storable on the upright vac. Unfortunately, there’s no slot for the TurboEraser nozzle (designed for removing hair from stairs & upholstery, etc.); so, it must be stored elsewhere.
Febreze Filter: Even if you like the artificial smell of the strongly-scented P&G Febreze filter (we don’t), this extra filter doesn’t incl. the lockdown screw that the other 2 fragrance-free Bissell filters have. This oversight needs to be corrected.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+35points
35of 35voted this as helpful.
A new standard of comfort and precision. Logitech's most advanced trackball for trackball enthusiasts and consumers searching for alternatives to mice and touchpads. Delivers 20% less muscular strain compared to a regular mouse. MX ERGO PLUS features a unique adjustable hinge and extra 10° wedge for customized comfort and the latest tracking, scrolling and power management technology. Logitech FLOW enables effortless multi-computer control.
Customer Rating
4
Ergonomic & Customizable for Comfort & Precision
on September 24, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Ergo: As evidenced by the name, MX ‘Ergo’ Plus, this trackball is designed to be more ergonomic than regular mouse devices. In fact, Logitech claims it’ll deliver 20% less muscle strain & reduced wrist pronation vs. a std. mouse.
Setup: Out-of-the-box setup was practically plug-&-play-level-easy w/my HP All-in-1 PC & Win10 OS, though this new trackball is equally compatible w/Macs. My mouse arrived w/plenty of charge to get started immediately.
Wireless Connectivity: Logitech’s unifying receiver—a tiny dongle USB key—is, as usual, very reliable & quickly pairs w/the mouse. You can connect via Bluetooth, but I prefer the 2.4GHz unifying receiver, which offers a 32-foot range & allows me to also connect my Logitech K750 wireless solar keyboard + up to 4 other wireless devices.
Trackball vs. Std. Mouse: As far as input devices go, we’ve been a mostly Logitech shop for many yrs. now, for both keyboards & mice. So, I’ve been looking forward to testing Logitech’s new trackball option, as it’s been a few yrs. since I’ve used Logitech’s last trackball mouse—the M570—which was released back in 2010. Though the trackball is clearly a viable alternative to the std. mouse & touchpad, it’s not for everyone, as evidenced by the fact that the overwhelming majority of pointing devices sold are std. mice, not trackballs.
While this new trackball provides a very good user interface, a word of caution to std. mouse users is in order. It takes a little time, in terms of developing your hand-eye coordination, to retrain your brain so that you can smoothly operate a stationary trackball mouse. When you’re used to moving the entire mouse vs. rolling just your thumb on a trackball, it’s an ADJUSTMENT. Once mastered, however, I find this trackball to be very smooth, sturdy, & easy to navigate. The stability is achieved because the trackball mouse sits in a stationary magnetic metal plate w/a non-slip bottom. This platform provides a clean, minimalist look on your work surface, as you’ll no longer need the clutter of a mouse pad.
Features: Buttons: You get advanced optical tracking w/a scroll wheel & 8 buttons, 6 of which are programmable, for customization, or you can choose default settings if you prefer. All the buttons are well-placed & have a pleasing, tactile response w/good haptic feedback.
Precision Mode: The precision mode button next to the trackball allows you to shift from speed to accuracy—dramatically slowing the tracking speed so that you can execute sensitive, micro-movements for pixel-precise, ultra-accurate cursor pointing. This is useful for photo editing, graphic design, & other tasks.
Scroll Wheel: The precision tilt scroll wheel allows 4-way scrolling—up/back (vertical) & left/right (horizontal), though I do wish the scroll wheel were designed the way Logitech’s ratcheting scroll wheel operated on the MX Master S2. The quick access to shortcuts & the middle click in the scroll wheel are nice conveniences.
Logitech Options Software w/Flow Technology: I like that the mouse can be used w/2 different computers via the Easy-Switch button on top, allowing you to switch seamlessly between devices w/o having to re-pair. Logitech’s new Options software (replacing the old SetPoint software), w/multi-computer FLOW technology, boosts cross-computer capability by allowing you to control & navigate content between computers, incl.: copying & pasting text, images, documents, & files—allowing data transfer w/o relying on cloud services or having to send yourself emails w/attachments. (Options software must be installed on both computers.) The free downloadable software also allows for app-specific settings, button & key customization, & notification & status.
Ergonomics: The mouse comes w/an adjustable, integrated magnetic hinge, or wedge, that you snap onto the bottom of the mouse which allows you to choose the best trackball angle for personalized hand & wrist comfort. (Choose 0°/flat or 20°, or even 30° w/the additional 10° plastic wedge that comes w/the ‘Plus’ model offered thru Best Buy.) The bottom of the hinge has a non-slip surface to keep the trackball in place. Regardless of position, the large, wide base of the mouse felt comfortable under my hand. While I preferred the 30° angle, my wife preferred the 20° angle for her smaller hand, in what she termed a ‘more natural hand position’, as she used the trackball for some extended digital video editing work. This is yet more evidence of the benefits of a customizable ergonomic mouse. In either case, we both liked the sculpted shape of the mouse which provides full palm & finger support, w/the soft rubber on top of the mouse offering a comfortable grip for extended work sessions. And the island keys offer a consistent, sturdy click feel that’s definite & sharp w/o being too crisp or staccato.
Charging: For yrs. I wondered why Logitech ceased offering a mouse recharging cradle like the one incl. w/my 2009 Logitech MX Revolution Performance Laser Mouse. But w/this new trackball mouse’s Li-Po (lithium polymer) battery, which Logitech claims can be recharged as infrequently as every 4 months, there’s really no need for the clutter of a battery recharge docking station on my desk, especially when the rarely required full recharge of the mouse now takes only a few minutes. Yes, the micro-USB recharging cord that connects to the front of the trackball mouse is cumbersome, but if it has to be broken out only once/qtr., where’s the rub? (And it sure beats the 1-week battery life I used to get between USB charges w/my previous Logitech MX Performance Darkfield Laser Cordless Rechargeable Mouse, purchased back in 2012 as a replacement for my worn-out Logitech MX1000 Laser Cordless Rechargeable Mouse.) I do wish, however, that Logitech had included USB-C technology, as they did w/their new Craft wireless keyboard. Logitech also claims that I’ll get up to a full day’s use from a 1-min. quick-charge w/this new trackball mouse, which provides a critical & welcome rescue if the mouse’s battery runs down at the worst possible moment, when I’m in the middle of 'crunch time' & pushing to finish a project or report w/a hard deadline.
Warranty/Durability: Logitech offers a limited 1-year warranty (not very inspiring or reassuring, but fairly std. for pointing devices which often take a lot of abuse). They also project that I should be able to get ~10 million clicks out of the left/right buttons; so, I expect that I’ll want to purchase a new mouse w/enhanced technology features well before this trackball mouse fails or wears out.
Bottom line: Overall, if you’re a trackball fan, you should be well pleased w/this mouse. But even after getting used to this trackball mouse, I still prefer a traditional mouse in a traditional work setting environment at my desk, even w/a trackball as well-engineered as this model. However, there are times when I’m using my laptop in other settings, incl. a limited-space environment on an airplane, or in a more relaxed, casual environment at home, when I’d prefer the benefits of a trackball mouse. In short, I’d like to be able to switch back-&-forth between a traditional mouse & a trackball mouse w/o having to change mice. Thus, I’d like to see Logitech develop & pioneer a hybrid, all-in-1 mouse that incorporates the benefits of both. Perhaps Logitech could do some market research on this concept & test to see if there’s a viable market, or at least a profitable niche, for such a hybrid mouse. With an increasingly mobile society that’s simultaneously migrating towards transportation modes that allow for increasingly productive commutes (think mass transit trains, Uber & Lyft ride-sharing, self-driving cars, etc.), many companies & workers would gladly pay more for a hybrid mouse w/superior flexibility vs. the status quo of frustrating touchpads & the age-old either/or, mutually exclusive, std.-vs.-trackball mouse dilemma.
PROS
-Good quality for the price
-Bluetooth or USB Unifying Receiver easy connect
-Very comfortable, solid, smooth form factor
-Precision button for slow, smooth, refined pointing
-Fast rechargeable battery lasts up to 4 months
-Customizable for max comfort
-You can toss your ugly mouse pad
-Easy-Switch/Flow software allows quick transition between 2 computers
-Windows & Mac-compatible
-Good quality for the price
-Bluetooth or USB Unifying Receiver easy connect
-Very comfortable, solid, smooth form factor
-Precision button for slow, smooth, refined pointing
-Fast rechargeable battery lasts up to 4 months
-Customizable for max comfort
-You can toss your ugly mouse pad
-Easy-Switch/Flow software allows quick transition between 2 computers
-Windows & Mac-compatible
CONS
-Takes some time to fully transition from std. mouse to stationary trackball; thumb takes brunt of navigation effort
-Older USB cord
-Takes some time to fully transition from std. mouse to stationary trackball; thumb takes brunt of navigation effort
-Older USB cord
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
12of 16voted this as helpful.
Add Newman's Own Organics Special Blend K-Cups to your Keurig brewing system for a delicious cup of java. The carton contains 18 single-serve pods, which are tightly sealed to prevent air, light and moisture from spoiling the flavor. These Newman's Own Organics Special Blend K-Cups combine medium and dark roasts to deliver a satisfying full-bodied taste.
Customer Rating
4
Smooth, Flavorful, & Convenient Organic Coffee
on September 17, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Verified Purchase:Yes
I try to eat & drink all-organic whenever possible, including my coffee, in order to avoid ingesting toxins. Certified organic coffee (in this case, certified by QAI--Quality Assurance Intl.) is grown & processed w/o pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, & other potentially harmful chemicals. So, Newman's Own 'Organics' Coffee is my daily 'go-to' coffee. I like the flavor of this 'Newman's Special Blend Medium Roast - Extra Bold' organic Arabica coffee. It's smooth, rich, hearty, & full-bodied, not bitter & not too acidic. It produces a pleasing aroma every morning from my Keurig B70 Platinum coffeemaker. I don't use any sweeteners, but I do stir in some Organic Valley Heavy Whipping Crème. Mmmm! You do sacrifice some freshness & flavor for the convenience of K-Cups vs. grinding your own beans. But the extra time & mess of coffee grinding are luxuries I can't afford in the rush of weekday mornings. One negative, & the reason for just 4 stars instead of 5: I do find that I sometimes get a stale box of K-Cups, even when the future 'best buy' date on the bottom of the 18-pod box is up to 20 months away, as was the case just last month w/a carton stamped w/an April 2019 'best buy' date. The distributor is Keurig Green Mountain. One wonders just how this coffee is initially stored, then transported, & then finally stored again after it arrives at Best Buy's facilities. For my part, I always keep the K-Cups stored in a cool, dry place, as recommended.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Produce digital copies of bulk documents quickly with this Epson WorkForce scanner. It has a scanning speed of 65 ppm for text documents and 130 color images per minute, and it sends PDF copies directly to your email or cloud storage. The 80-sheet document feeder of this Epson WorkForce scanner saves processing time.
Customer Rating
4
Small Business Hi-Speed Document Scanner Workhorse
on September 15, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Epson WorkForce DS-860 Color Document Scanner—Black
I’m positively thrilled w/this scanner! For starters, it offers very easy setup & software installation.
In my attempt to gradually convert our small business home office to paperless, I’ve been slowly scanning documents on an HP Officejet Pro 8500 All-in-1 Multi-Function Flatbed Printer for several mos. The HP has a document feeder, but it’s extremely slow vs. the Epson, which auto-feeds docs w/lightning speed. The Epson feeder holds up to 80 sheets, though I tested it w/just 25 sheets per job w/o a hitch. I used the Document Capture Pro software to make fine-tuning adjustments, as it offers more flexibility/customization for each scanning job vs. just pressing the start button on the scanner & using default settings. I also find that it processes faster this way.
I absolutely love the double-sided scan feature which auto-scans both sides of the document in 1 pass. (It’s also a ‘smart’ scanner in that it automatically skips blank pages.) I wish I’d had this feature a yr. ago, as it would’ve saved me many hrs. I’m now dramatically more productive w/this duplex scan feature.
Scan quality/color output are very good. There are several DPI resolution/compression options. It can scan std. plain paper docs & irregular-shaped docs, incl. bills, checks, contracts, diplomas, envelopes, ID cards, licenses, receipts, tax forms, & even plastic cards, etc.
Includes CD containing all software, drivers, & instructions, or you can download same from Epson’s website.
PROS
Setup: very easy; includes power cord, USB cord, & CD w/software/drivers
Startup: no warmup time needed w/LED light source
Speed: extremely fast auto document feeder, scans up to 65ppm in b&w, w/slightly slower speed for color
Size: compact/small footprint (12”W x 8½“D x 8”H)--occupies minimal desk space
Volume: heavy-duty workhorse w/6,000 page/day capacity
Features: double-sided scanning w/multiple file formats, DPI resolutions (200, 300, 600x600, & 1200x1200 interpolated) & image enhancement/output options, incl.: auto detect size/type, color dropout, skew correction, skip blank pages, text enhancement, & OCR to create searchable, editable docs
Quality: creates clear, accurate text, images, & PDFs
Compatibility: Supports TWAIN & ISIS scanner drivers
Uploading: scan to the Cloud, Dropbox, Google Docs, Evernote, SharePoint, SugarSync, etc.
Networkable: but requires purchase of optional adapter
Warranty: 3 yrs.
Setup: very easy; includes power cord, USB cord, & CD w/software/drivers
Startup: no warmup time needed w/LED light source
Speed: extremely fast auto document feeder, scans up to 65ppm in b&w, w/slightly slower speed for color
Size: compact/small footprint (12”W x 8½“D x 8”H)--occupies minimal desk space
Volume: heavy-duty workhorse w/6,000 page/day capacity
Features: double-sided scanning w/multiple file formats, DPI resolutions (200, 300, 600x600, & 1200x1200 interpolated) & image enhancement/output options, incl.: auto detect size/type, color dropout, skew correction, skip blank pages, text enhancement, & OCR to create searchable, editable docs
Quality: creates clear, accurate text, images, & PDFs
Compatibility: Supports TWAIN & ISIS scanner drivers
Uploading: scan to the Cloud, Dropbox, Google Docs, Evernote, SharePoint, SugarSync, etc.
Networkable: but requires purchase of optional adapter
Warranty: 3 yrs.
CONS
Price: a bit pricey for a small office (~$700), but if the machine proves durable, then it’s a good value
Software: dated Windows software seems a bit low-tech, non-intuitive, & requires extra steps, but includes the basic features I need & gets the job done
Connectivity: I would’ve liked a wireless option & USB 3.0 for faster data transfer speeds vs. the slower 2.0.
Price: a bit pricey for a small office (~$700), but if the machine proves durable, then it’s a good value
Software: dated Windows software seems a bit low-tech, non-intuitive, & requires extra steps, but includes the basic features I need & gets the job done
Connectivity: I would’ve liked a wireless option & USB 3.0 for faster data transfer speeds vs. the slower 2.0.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Improve your audio experience with this Samsung three-channel soundbar. This unit, which has a built-in subwoofer, channels high-resolution full-spectrum sound and eliminates the need for an extra bass speaker. Use 4K pass-through to connect your Blu-ray player or other UHD device to the Samsung three-channel soundbar for stunning multi-channel audio and a clear picture.
Customer Rating
2
Beautiful Soundbar Lacks Needed Bass & Volume
on August 21, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Samsung Soundbar Sound+ 6-Series/HW-MS650
Physical Appearance/Aesthetics: The tastefully designed Soundbar Sound Plus’ 9 speakers are housed in a sleek, minimalist, understated-yet-sophisticated, dark titan/sterling silver-colored brushed aluminum rectangular chassis w/beveled edges/curves. The logo-free black metal speaker grill complements the substantial build quality, providing the look/feel of a hi-quality/hi-end soundbar. The small, text-only, 3-character LED display located on the far right side is hidden behind the grill, & displays audio source, sound modes, inputs, & menu options clearly. It can be toggled off if you’d rather not see it.
Dimensions:
-A hefty 13½ lbs.
-A substantial 42” wide x 3” high x 5” deep
-A hefty 13½ lbs.
-A substantial 42” wide x 3” high x 5” deep
Con: The Soundbar+ sits too high on my TV stand in front of my Sony X900B 4K LED TV, partially blocking the bottom of the TV & hampering its ability to receive signal from the TV remote. (My TV & TV stand room placement don't allow for a wall-mounted option.)
Connectivity:
-ARC HDMI port: clearly the best way to connect to TV/Blu-ray, as it can transmit higher res audio & specific signals that optical can’t. Yet the Soundbar+ doesn’t come w/an HDMI cable; it comes w/only 1 optical cable, & the manual shows optical as the preferred connection.
-Digital Optical (TosLink) port for non-ARC-ready TVs
-3.5mm analogue auxiliary port for portable devices
-Wireless: Bluetooth & Wi-Fi
-ARC HDMI port: clearly the best way to connect to TV/Blu-ray, as it can transmit higher res audio & specific signals that optical can’t. Yet the Soundbar+ doesn’t come w/an HDMI cable; it comes w/only 1 optical cable, & the manual shows optical as the preferred connection.
-Digital Optical (TosLink) port for non-ARC-ready TVs
-3.5mm analogue auxiliary port for portable devices
-Wireless: Bluetooth & Wi-Fi
Connectivity/Compatibility Problems: The Samsung MW-MS650 Soundbar+ functions best when paired w/the latest Samsung Smart TVs. When pairing w/competing TV brands, it seems to have compatibility issues when it comes to seamless connectivity & full functionality, especially when it comes to pairing it w/my top-of-the-line Sony X900B big-screen LED 4K TV, which IS equipped w/4K HDMI pass-thru w/ARC (Audio Return Channel). Even though I made sure that my Sony’s HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) functionality was activated in the TV’s setup menu, I still found “no joy” when initially attempting to connect the 2 units. I had great difficulty attempting to connect via optical cable (the instruction manual’s preferred/recommended method). After a full hour of separate troubleshooting sessions w/both Sony & Samsung level-2 tech support reps (w/case # documentation), both reps reluctantly admitted that there seemed to be areas of “proprietary incompatibility”. Eventually, I was able to connect via HDMI ARC-ready, but this required a cumbersome & exacting ‘power off—plug in—power up’ sequence in order to make it work. Again, this Samsung soundbar is meant, primarily, to be paired w/other newer model Samsung TVs. As proof, I was able to quickly achieve both HDMI & digital optical connectivity w/my little Samsung UN32J6300 Smart TV in the kitchen, which is neither a big-screen TV (just 32”) nor a 4K TV (just 1080p full HD). But w/my Sony big-screen, 4K Smart TV, both digital optical & even Bluetooth connectivity proved to be a bridge too far. I also tried to connect the Soundbar+ w/my new HP All-in-1 PC via HDMI & Bluetooth. While the HDMI option was successful, Bluetooth was sketchy w/a slight, out-of-sync delay while watching video. Furthermore, the Soundbar+ even gives the physical appearance of being made to pair w/their new Samsung TVs, w/its brushed metal look, the exact same power cord, & the ability to provide power to the TV w/a separately purchased cord. Samsung seems to be attempting to do what Sony tried to do in the ‘80s & what Apple has done over the last several years—create a proprietary home entertainment ecosystem. The drawback in this case, at least in my view, is that the increasingly proprietary compatibility features make it difficult to consider components like the MS650 Soundbar+ as a “universal” or interchangeable soundbar for those w/competing TV brands like Sony.
It’s worth noting that even loyal Samsung customers have complained, including on Samsung’s own website, that the MS650 Soundbar+ has ARC-compatibility issues w/2013 Samsung Smart TVs, such that the Samsung TVs don’t recognize that they have the Samsung Soundbar+ connected to them, even when receiving audio.
Surprisingly Full Feature Set at This Price Point ($450):
-Single-body design
-3-channel (left, right, center) hi-res
-Multi-Speaker Array includes:
-9 individually-powered custom drivers
-6 woofers & 3 tweeters
-Distortion-cancelling technology
-ARC (Audio Return Channel) output provides 4K pass thru w/HDR (Hi Dynamic Range)
-Built-in Bluetooth: 2.4/5GHz, but, unfortunately, no aptX support
-Built-in Wi-Fi w/wireless music streaming
-Multiroom & Surround Sound-supported app to integrate w/music services.
Note: When I connected to Wi-Fi w/the Soundbar+, I experienced frequent connect/disconnect episodes & the accompanying display message, even when I used it for HDMI audio. The irritating repeat notifications grow old quickly when watching a movie.
-Only 1 single HDMI port, unfortunately: a couple more HDMI ports would’ve been helpful to prevent having to connect all our sources (Blu-ray player & Xbox, etc.) to the TV & pass audio to the Soundbar+.
-Single slim remote for Soundbar+/TV w/discrete volume/bass controls
-TV power-out socket: just 1 power cable for Samsung TV & Soundbar
-Codecs: Supports both Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 2.0
-No Dolby Atmos support, unfortunately
-Single-body design
-3-channel (left, right, center) hi-res
-Multi-Speaker Array includes:
-9 individually-powered custom drivers
-6 woofers & 3 tweeters
-Distortion-cancelling technology
-ARC (Audio Return Channel) output provides 4K pass thru w/HDR (Hi Dynamic Range)
-Built-in Bluetooth: 2.4/5GHz, but, unfortunately, no aptX support
-Built-in Wi-Fi w/wireless music streaming
-Multiroom & Surround Sound-supported app to integrate w/music services.
Note: When I connected to Wi-Fi w/the Soundbar+, I experienced frequent connect/disconnect episodes & the accompanying display message, even when I used it for HDMI audio. The irritating repeat notifications grow old quickly when watching a movie.
-Only 1 single HDMI port, unfortunately: a couple more HDMI ports would’ve been helpful to prevent having to connect all our sources (Blu-ray player & Xbox, etc.) to the TV & pass audio to the Soundbar+.
-Single slim remote for Soundbar+/TV w/discrete volume/bass controls
-TV power-out socket: just 1 power cable for Samsung TV & Soundbar
-Codecs: Supports both Dolby Digital 5.1 & DTS 2.0
-No Dolby Atmos support, unfortunately
Sound: Even w/the six 4” x 2” mid/bass drivers (2 per channel), the avg.-to-very weak bass was a huge disappointment. The Soundbar+ simply lacks the gut punch of a separate subwoofer. I’m all for clean, compact, & minimalist design, but not at the expense of such a dramatic loss of bass performance. While the Soundbar+ offered better sound than my Samsung J6300 resident rear TV speakers, it was nowhere near as good as my Sony X900B resident front-facing speakers. (The Sony X900B has Magnetic Fluid Speaker technology to reproduce faithful hi-fi sound from a compact loudspeaker. Combined w/S-Force Front Surround 3D w/virtual 5.1 sound, it creates an enlarged audio 'sweet spot'.) Add to that my small Sony SWF-BR100/B 100W Wireless Subwoofer, w/which the Samsung Soundbar+ was incompatible, & the Soundbar+ just can’t compete. Even at max volume, the Soundbar+ really isn’t that loud, & it offers nowhere near the bass of my small wireless satellite subwoofer. It certainly wasn’t “earth-shattering” as their ad claims. In fact, the increase in volume from mid-level to high is so minimal that it’s hard to tell the difference in levels w/o a sudden jump in volume. So, if the Soundbar+ can’t match the superior sound I get from my Sony TV’s resident TV speakers w/wireless sub combo, why buy the soundbar?
EQ (Equalization):
I scrolled thru all 5 presets & sampled the different modes:
-Standard: Sounds fairly neutral like you’d expect from a good stereo system. This is pretty much the default mode that I stayed w/80% of the time when watching cable TV.
-Movie: Offers more of a big-screen soundtrack feel, but it’s far from fully immersive. I toggled to this mode to watch a film on Ultra-HD Blu-ray. If anything, it highlights the need for a quality Surround Sound system if you want to experience a fully immersive soundstage effect.
-Music: I couldn’t tell much difference between Music & Standard.
-Clear Voice: I switched to this mode when my hearing-impaired grandfather visited, better enabling him to make out the speech/dialogue segments. But there’s a trade-off w/some loss of fidelity.
-Sports: To me, it’s just louder. But it does make voices clearer w/o diminishing the residual audio the way that Clear Voice does.
-Individual EQ Component Mode: If you’re really into fine tuning/tweaking & want to pursue some imagined perfect tonal balance, there’s a hidden setting that offers access to a 7-band EQ. But the 5 presets will probably provide more options than you’ll ever use.
I scrolled thru all 5 presets & sampled the different modes:
-Standard: Sounds fairly neutral like you’d expect from a good stereo system. This is pretty much the default mode that I stayed w/80% of the time when watching cable TV.
-Movie: Offers more of a big-screen soundtrack feel, but it’s far from fully immersive. I toggled to this mode to watch a film on Ultra-HD Blu-ray. If anything, it highlights the need for a quality Surround Sound system if you want to experience a fully immersive soundstage effect.
-Music: I couldn’t tell much difference between Music & Standard.
-Clear Voice: I switched to this mode when my hearing-impaired grandfather visited, better enabling him to make out the speech/dialogue segments. But there’s a trade-off w/some loss of fidelity.
-Sports: To me, it’s just louder. But it does make voices clearer w/o diminishing the residual audio the way that Clear Voice does.
-Individual EQ Component Mode: If you’re really into fine tuning/tweaking & want to pursue some imagined perfect tonal balance, there’s a hidden setting that offers access to a 7-band EQ. But the 5 presets will probably provide more options than you’ll ever use.
Surround Sound: This mode is supposed to add depth & space, but Samsung’s decoding seems noticeably inadequate here. Unimpressed w/the simulated spatial distribution effect, I went back to the default Standard preset, which sounds fairly neutral.
Smart Sound: I also tried the Smart Sound feature, which is supposed to select the best settings via digital optimization for the particular content you’re playing. With Smart Sound, all you have to do is adjust the discrete volume & bass controls to your liking. But even w/this digital optimization & manually bumping up the bass, I never felt like the bass was adequate, as the audio still sounded tinny. So, I went back to tinkering w/the bass, treble, & audio sync settings to tweak up the bass, but I still couldn’t get the punchy bass level I was looking for, at least as compared to my Sony SWF-BR100/B 100W Wireless Subwoofer that’s paired w/my Sony X900B TV, which, in itself, has 2 subwoofers in the 6 front-facing resident speakers.
Remedy?: Unless/until I can try Samsung’s soon-to-be-released separate/dedicated subwoofer in combo w/the Soundbar+, the MS650 simply does not currently offer the depth, bass, & volume required to fully enjoy movies & music the way they were intended. Even w/total system power of 180W RMS & a +6 bass setting, there’s something major missing across almost the entire volume range. There’s simply not enough oomph or depth of sound! Unfortunately, ‘tepid’ & ‘lackluster’ are the best descriptors for the audio product delivered by the Soundbar+. For the size, weight, & cost of the Soundbar+, I expected a great deal more.
Pricing: Overpriced at $450 for a subpar value w/muted bass/volume.
Bottom Line: Due to the glaringly weak bass, the Soundbar+ doesn’t bring enough punch & isn’t ready for primetime, at least not until the Bass+ wireless subwoofer finally ships & I can test the system w/its sorely needed complement. So, I can’t recommend this in its current configuration, as there are much better options at comparable cost.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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0points
6of 12voted this as helpful.
Grill and brown food to tasty perfection all-year-round with virtually no smoke thanks to the Philips Smoke-less Indoor BBQ Grill. Advanced infrared technology and special reflectors guide heat to the grid for delicious, evenly grilled food. The drip tray underneath remains cool so there is up to 80% less smoke and minimal splattering when cooking.
Customer Rating
4
Solid Option for Simple Indoor Grilling
on August 16, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
from Pensacola, FL, USA
Philips Avance Collection Smoke-Less Indoor Electric Grill
Solid Option for Simple Indoor Grilling
Solid Option for Simple Indoor Grilling
Specs
Price: $279.99
Color: Black
Use: Indoor
Weight: 12½ lbs.
Power: Electric, 1660 Watts
Cooking: Infrared
Grate: Cast Aluminum
Warranty: 1 Year
Bonus: 30-Page Color Cookbook w/Grilling Recipes & Tips
Price: $279.99
Color: Black
Use: Indoor
Weight: 12½ lbs.
Power: Electric, 1660 Watts
Cooking: Infrared
Grate: Cast Aluminum
Warranty: 1 Year
Bonus: 30-Page Color Cookbook w/Grilling Recipes & Tips
Summary: I’m pleasantly surprised w/how well this grill has worked out. Getting started is easy w/just 3 primary parts: the main housing, the liftoff grilling grid, & the removable grease tray. These take all of 1 minute to set up. The grill surface heats up very quickly (6-minute warmup time recommended prior to placing your food on the grill); so, you’ll want all your food prep work completed before you turn on the grill. The aluminum grilling grid surface heats up to a constant 446° F.—the perfect temp for grilling different types of food simultaneously, including searing meat, preserving tenderness & juiciness, & browning w/o burning—& maintains that temp throughout the cooking process. The simple temp control knob has just 3 settings: Off, High, & Low. The Low or ‘Keep Warm’ setting is self-explanatory as it allows you to keep your food warm once you’ve finished cooking it.
Cooking: So far, I’ve grilled rib-eye steaks, chicken thighs, lamb chops, & vegetables, including zucchini, yellow squash, & mushrooms. (Be sure to cut your veggies large enough so that they don’t fall thru the grate to the bottom.) All the meats & veggies turned out fantastic & tasted very good, though the finished product doesn’t taste quite like charcoal-grilled food from a real outdoor BBQ. (But then neither do they taste that way w/an outdoor propane grill.) The die-cast aluminum grid does make authentic BBQ grill marks, & it did brown/grill all sides of our cuts surprisingly evenly, thanks, in part, to the heat reflectors. All in all, I got much better results w/this 112-sq. in. indoor infrared grill than w/my large, round, 240-sq. in., 15-serving, George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Barbecue Grill.
Cooking: So far, I’ve grilled rib-eye steaks, chicken thighs, lamb chops, & vegetables, including zucchini, yellow squash, & mushrooms. (Be sure to cut your veggies large enough so that they don’t fall thru the grate to the bottom.) All the meats & veggies turned out fantastic & tasted very good, though the finished product doesn’t taste quite like charcoal-grilled food from a real outdoor BBQ. (But then neither do they taste that way w/an outdoor propane grill.) The die-cast aluminum grid does make authentic BBQ grill marks, & it did brown/grill all sides of our cuts surprisingly evenly, thanks, in part, to the heat reflectors. All in all, I got much better results w/this 112-sq. in. indoor infrared grill than w/my large, round, 240-sq. in., 15-serving, George Foreman Indoor/Outdoor Electric Barbecue Grill.
Cleaning: The grill’s nonstick surface is much easier to clean than my Foreman grill, though I’ll be interested to see how durable the nonstick surface is after a year of use. Thankfully, there was minimal splatter. With my Foreman grill, there’s a ton of splatter; so, I have to line the sides of that grill w/walls of aluminum foil, or I end up scrubbing grease off everything around the cooking surface. And the Philips grill is “virtually smokeless” (boasting an 80% smoke reduction), although my nearby hallway smoke alarm did go off several times. (But it also goes off when I broil steaks in the oven.) Rather than your food cooking in its own grease, excess fat drops onto the XL-grease tray, allowing for leaner grilling. But the grill is too long to fit into a standard kitchen sink; so, soaking it isn’t feasible in our kitchen. Tip: Line the drip pan & the 2 non-heating-element sides for easier cleaning. The detachable parts of the grill are dishwasher safe.
Portability/Space: This Philips grill takes up less space than my large Foreman grill. And this grill is light enough that’s it easy to move at just 12½ lbs., yet the rectangular cooking surface provides enough space to grill an adequate quantity of food for a family of 4. It’s large enough to grill 4 steaks or 6-to-8 hamburgers at once.
Convenience: In my experience, cooking on this electric grill has proven far easier vs. the hassles associated w/my gas, propane, & charcoal grills, including even my other electric George Foreman grills. This Philips grill provides a simple & convenient way to grill indoors all year round, though I’ll probably use it mostly during the winter months & when it’s raining.
Extras: Included in the box is a 30-page color booklet of grilling recipes, but I haven’t tried any of them yet.
Electric Power Cord: Philips gives the user a pretty short leash. Based upon our limited counter space available for grilling, due to our many other kitchen countertop appliances, we don’t have an open/unused power receptacle immediately adjacent to our preferred spot for grill placement. So, a power cord longer than 40” would be helpful.
Safety: The infrared heating lights (& reflectors) are extremely bright. There’s a warning not to stare at them, which seems obvious, but it’s difficult not to look down at them during the cooking process as I’m turning, repositioning, & monitoring the food on the grill. I’m seriously considering donning my polarized sunglasses the next time I grill.
Durability: I wonder about the longevity of the reflector surfaces, which I find are accumulating burn spots from dripped grease w/each successive grilling session. Because they’re so hard to clean (dishwashing soap & hot water won’t cut it), it seems logical that the gradual buildup of these “stains” will reduce the efficacy of the grill over time.
Price: The grill is a bit pricey for the value, but it’s far less expensive than a large outdoor grill.
Bottom Line: 4 stars out of 5—I recommend this product. This Philips indoor infrared grill is a wonderful & convenient alternative to bulky, cumbersome, multi-step outdoor grills. I’ll be using this grill often.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
12of 16voted this as helpful.
Go wireless with the JLab Gravity Neckband with Bluetooth compatibility. The comfortable neckband sits easily above your shoulders and connects wirelessly to your device for effortless enjoyment. Compatible with any earbud, any brand, the JLab Gravity Neckband features a microphone and button controls for taking and controlling calls and music.
Customer Rating
3
Neckband adaptor-4 stars, Headphones-3 stars
on July 13, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
JLab Audio
Gravity Bluetooth Neckband Adaptor & Earbuds (Black)
Model #EBGRAVITYRBLK62
MSRP: $39.99
Gravity Bluetooth Neckband Adaptor & Earbuds (Black)
Model #EBGRAVITYRBLK62
MSRP: $39.99
Summary: This lightweight, comfortable, IPX4 water-resistant neckband (<2oz) is made of soft, flexible, medical-grade silicon rubber. It rests easily above your shoulders/around your neck & connects wirelessly to your headphones/earbuds. Great for use while exercising. Neckband includes digital mic for hands-free conversations & simple, easy-to-use, universal controls, incl.: call answer/hang up as well as volume up/down, play/pause, & click-&-hold track-forward/back buttons for listening to music. Control buttons are large enough to give a sure, no-look, tactile feel.
Pairing: The Bluetooth 4.1 wouldn’t auto-pair w/any device, but thanks to JLab's sticky note on the Quick Start Guide, which showed the manual Bluetooth pairing option, I was still able to pair quickly. Once paired, the connection was solid up to the advertised 30ft.
Compatibility: With the neckband's 3.5mm-to-Bluetooth adapter, you can convert your favorite wired headphones, regardless of style/brand into Bluetooth headphones.
Sound Quality: JLab's Signature C3 technology provides crisp, clear sound via the titanium drivers in the JBuds Pro, but there's absolutely no bass, no equalizer options, & no real noise canceling features (save for the ‘noise isolating design’). So these headphones are good for phone calls & listening to podcasts, but not as good for listening to music. Since the neckband has a 3.5mm headphone jack, as a comparison, I connected 1 of my better-quality headphone sets to the neckband & experienced noticeable bass & midrange improvement. Still, the included earbud headphones compared favorably to the headphone sets purchased w/my last 3 smartphones. The microphone quality is also very good. As a test, I engaged in several smartphone telecons w/my spouse, & we found that the voice clarity/sound quality was about the same, both w/the incl. headphones & w/o any headphones, for both the initiator & receiver of calls.
Ear Buds: Comes w/3 pairs of quality gel cushion ear tips (small, medium, large) which are very smooth, provide a great fit/seal in the ear, & are easy to clean.
Cush Fin Technology: Comes w/2 Cush Fins (medium/large), allowing each wearer a customized/secure fit. The Cush Fin fits into the outer ear to provide support/stabilization for the earbud: https://youtu.be/_J5CqamD-NQ.
Cord Management System: Cord mgmt. options are in the instructions, & JLab's website offers a few helpful tutorials on the subject at www.jlabaudio.com. But the cord keeper needs some work, as the 3¼ ft. cord won’t stay taut/secure, no matter how carefully/tightly it’s wrapped around the hidden neckband loop that’s supposed to keep it in place. Would prefer a retractable cord.
Rechargeable Battery:
Charging: Takes 1½ hrs. to charge dead battery to 100% w/incl. micro-USB charging cable.
Life: Claims 10hr of music playtime & 12hr of talk time. I used the neckband/headphones for 8½ hrs. over the weekend w/o any battery issues, & they still had some juice left.
Charging: Takes 1½ hrs. to charge dead battery to 100% w/incl. micro-USB charging cable.
Life: Claims 10hr of music playtime & 12hr of talk time. I used the neckband/headphones for 8½ hrs. over the weekend w/o any battery issues, & they still had some juice left.
Packaging: Nice & minimalist.
Warranty: 1yr limited w/30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Rating: Except for the poorly designed cord "mgmt." system, I like the neckband adaptor more than the headphones. Great concept but lacks quality execution.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+3points
3of 3voted this as helpful.
Replace the keyboard of your Microsoft Surface Pro 7, 6, 5 or 4 with this silver Brydge keyboard. It conveniently lets you open the screen at your preferred viewing angle without a kickstand, and its backlit keys increase visibility in low light working environments. This Brydge keyboard is lightweight, so it doesn't add extra bulk to your device.
Customer Rating
4
Keyboard Converts Surface Pro to Surface Book
on June 4, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
Brydge 12.3 Wireless Keyboard (Silver)
For Microsoft Surface Pro 3 & 4
Price: Retails for $149.99
For Microsoft Surface Pro 3 & 4
Price: Retails for $149.99
Compatibility: Designed to replace MS Type Cover keyboard & trackpad of MS Surface Pro 3 or 4 w/a more traditional clamshell design, thus removing the need for the tablet’s kickstand & making it easier to balance on my lap or use on an airplane tray table or other limited space.
Function/Purpose: Essentially turns my Surface Pro 4 (tablet) into a Surface Book (laptop).
Packaging: Premium product packaging w/very impressive design; easy unboxing & clear/logical/straightforward instructions in quick reference user manual.
Connectivity: Bluetooth 3.0 wireless pairing: connection of keyboard to my Surface Pro 4 is quick/painless.
Usability: My Surface Pro 4 easily inserts into the Brydge keyboard’s silicon hinges; offers good snug/tight fit & feels very secure/stable.
Functionality: Gives my Surface Pro 4 the feel of a real laptop, allowing me to open the display to my preferred viewing angle (0-160˚); stays fixed w/o a kickstand.
Feel/Weight: Although it’s touted as lightweight, the forged solid aluminum keyboard is a tad heavy at 1½ lbs. But I like the sturdy, precision-engineered feel; so, the extra weight is an acceptable tradeoff.
Backlit Keys: Offers 3 manually adjustable levels of light—increasing visibility in low-light working environments.
Touchpad: It’s a bit small for my hands, but for my wife, whose hands are small/slender, it’s acceptable. Wish the trackpad were configurable.
Wish List: Given the size & weight of the keyboard, some extra USB ports would be convenient as would an auxiliary battery to extend the battery life of my Surface Pro 4.
Feature: Includes auto sleep/wake function.
Battery Life: Rated @3mo; includes micro USB power cable.
Dimensions: 8”W x 1/3”H x 11½” D
Warranty: 1yr parts & labor.
Battery Life: Rated @3mo; includes micro USB power cable.
Dimensions: 8”W x 1/3”H x 11½” D
Warranty: 1yr parts & labor.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Enhance your 4G LTE or 3G signal with this weBoost eqo 4G, which is ideal for one to two rooms. This compact antenna covers up to 1500 square feet and works for multiple cellular devices at once, regardless of carrier. Make your signal up to 32 times stronger and get more done with this weBoost eqo 4G antenna kit.
Customer Rating
3
Signal Booster to Improve In-Home Cell Coverage
on March 27, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
Product Highlights:
-Plug-n-Play, 5-Minute Easy Install
-Boosts Talk, Text, 3G & 4G LTE Data
-For Small Home or Office Up to 1,500 sq. ft.
-For Multiple Devices & Users
-Works on All Phones w/All Carriers
-Up to +70 dB Gain
-Best for desktop or workspace area (for best results stay w/in 5-8 ft. of the amp) or up to 1-2 rooms.
-Aesthetically pleasing form factor w/hi-gloss piano black plastic finish on 8x9" inside desktop antenna & 9x10" EQO multi-band amp
-Signal boost provides improved talk & text w/faster hi-speed 4G LTE.
-Good for those needing faster uploads/downloads for streaming apps, including: Google Chrome, Safari browser, YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, Spotify, & other similar data-heavy apps.
-Plug-n-Play, 5-Minute Easy Install
-Boosts Talk, Text, 3G & 4G LTE Data
-For Small Home or Office Up to 1,500 sq. ft.
-For Multiple Devices & Users
-Works on All Phones w/All Carriers
-Up to +70 dB Gain
-Best for desktop or workspace area (for best results stay w/in 5-8 ft. of the amp) or up to 1-2 rooms.
-Aesthetically pleasing form factor w/hi-gloss piano black plastic finish on 8x9" inside desktop antenna & 9x10" EQO multi-band amp
-Signal boost provides improved talk & text w/faster hi-speed 4G LTE.
-Good for those needing faster uploads/downloads for streaming apps, including: Google Chrome, Safari browser, YouTube, Netflix, Pandora, Spotify, & other similar data-heavy apps.
How It Works
-The antenna receives the signal to access voice & 3G, 4G, & LTE data, which then delivers it to the booster.
-The booster receives the signal, amplifies it, & then serves as a relay between your cellphone & the nearest cell tower.
-Ideally, your devices will get a stronger signal, w/calls & data fed thru the booster back to the network.
-The antenna receives the signal to access voice & 3G, 4G, & LTE data, which then delivers it to the booster.
-The booster receives the signal, amplifies it, & then serves as a relay between your cellphone & the nearest cell tower.
-Ideally, your devices will get a stronger signal, w/calls & data fed thru the booster back to the network.
Kit Includes:
-EQO Multi-Band Cell Phone Signal Boosting Amp/Repeater
-2 Antennae: Inside Desktop Antenna & Optional Outside Antenna
-6 Ft. & 25Ft. Coax Cables
-Power Supply
-Instruction Book
-EQO Multi-Band Cell Phone Signal Boosting Amp/Repeater
-2 Antennae: Inside Desktop Antenna & Optional Outside Antenna
-6 Ft. & 25Ft. Coax Cables
-Power Supply
-Instruction Book
Pros:
-Excellent packaging made it easy to unbox & set up.
-1 of the best unboxing experiences I’ve had w/any tech product
-Setup is beautifully labeled & simple to install. Even a Luddite would have no problem installing.
-Full setup took under 15 minutes.
-Excellent packaging made it easy to unbox & set up.
-1 of the best unboxing experiences I’ve had w/any tech product
-Setup is beautifully labeled & simple to install. Even a Luddite would have no problem installing.
-Full setup took under 15 minutes.
Neutral:
-Although the signal strength bars on our Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note smartphones didn't improve, we suffered no dropped calls. In fairness, signal strength indicator bars on smartphones don't offer the same level of accuracy as a test meter & thus aren't always the true sign of signal strength. As the instruction book indicates, in the real world, the best test is by usage.
-Although the signal strength bars on our Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note smartphones didn't improve, we suffered no dropped calls. In fairness, signal strength indicator bars on smartphones don't offer the same level of accuracy as a test meter & thus aren't always the true sign of signal strength. As the instruction book indicates, in the real world, the best test is by usage.
Cons:
The square recessed coax cable connector well on the back of the inside desktop antenna, w/the kickstand extended, is too small. Even my wife, who has small/slender fingers, had a tough time manually twisting on the coax cable w/the limited room/tolerance.
The square recessed coax cable connector well on the back of the inside desktop antenna, w/the kickstand extended, is too small. Even my wife, who has small/slender fingers, had a tough time manually twisting on the coax cable w/the limited room/tolerance.
Conclusion:
-We like the concept of boosting the quality & data speeds in our small office/home office (SOHO).
-Did we notice any tangible improvements? Not really. But we also didn't suffer any dropped calls, although that wasn't really an issue beforehand anyway.
-Is the kit worth $350? If you live/work in an area that isn't offering strong voice connection & good data speeds, this setup could be a worthwhile enhancement or, at the very least, good insurance for improving reliable connectivity w/your cellular carrier.
-We like the concept of boosting the quality & data speeds in our small office/home office (SOHO).
-Did we notice any tangible improvements? Not really. But we also didn't suffer any dropped calls, although that wasn't really an issue beforehand anyway.
-Is the kit worth $350? If you live/work in an area that isn't offering strong voice connection & good data speeds, this setup could be a worthwhile enhancement or, at the very least, good insurance for improving reliable connectivity w/your cellular carrier.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Customer Rating
3
Good concept, limiting app-only access needs work
on January 23, 2017
Posted by: CriticalEye
Linksys VELOP Whole-Home Mesh Wi-Fi Network System
Modular 3-Node Dynamic Tri-Band MU-MIMO Dual-Stream (2x2) Routers w/2 5GHz Bands & 1 2.4GHz Band
Model: WHW0303/AC6600
Modular 3-Node Dynamic Tri-Band MU-MIMO Dual-Stream (2x2) Routers w/2 5GHz Bands & 1 2.4GHz Band
Model: WHW0303/AC6600
GOOD FOR
-4K Streaming
-Gaming
-Video Chats
-Smart Home Products
-4K Streaming
-Gaming
-Video Chats
-Smart Home Products
FEATURES
-6 built-in antennas & high-powered amps
-Auto-sensing network ports
-Velop App w/Spot-Finder Technology: recommends best placement for additional nodes: reducing latency, maximizing throughput, & improving range/signal strength to deliver the best performance.
-Linksys XConnect: ensures sensitive info like passwords are encrypted/secure when passed between nodes.
-Each node dedicates one 5GHz band for ‘backhaul’ ops (node linking), preventing signal loss & the 50% efficiency drop caused by a band that’s otherwise required to both receive & rebroadcast signal simultaneously.
-Integrates w/Amazon’s Alexa Virtual Personal Asst. to control your home network w/verbal commands, incl. toggling a Guest network on/off & requesting Wi-Fi networks' passwords, etc.
-Seamless Wi-Fi: Velop’s signal hand-off allows you to roam w/a connected smartphone/tablet/laptop from 1 node to another & from 1 end of the house or office to the other w/o interruption.
-Airtime/Device Prioritization/Load Balancing: allows multiple devices w/different Wi-Fi speeds to be treated uniquely, connecting each device at optimum speed so that faster devices transmit at faster speeds while slower devices don’t impede the speed of your Wi-Fi network.
-Dynamic Channel Selection: At setup, the Velop App dynamically scans available channels to select the best combo of bands/channels for optimum performance. The Channel Finder feature automatically finds the best channels on demand to resolve congestion/interference issues created by competing Wi-Fi signals.
-If any node loses connection to another node, the remaining nodes self-heal & re-establish Internet connection thru other nodes in the network.
-Wi-Fi-linked nodes can also be linked together by Ethernet cables to eliminate signal loss/distance restrictions.
-Auto Updates: Velop’s cloud service connection auto-monitors firmware status, conducting security/performance updates to prevent vulnerabilities from delayed manual firmware updates. Users can toggle off auto-update feature.
-6 built-in antennas & high-powered amps
-Auto-sensing network ports
-Velop App w/Spot-Finder Technology: recommends best placement for additional nodes: reducing latency, maximizing throughput, & improving range/signal strength to deliver the best performance.
-Linksys XConnect: ensures sensitive info like passwords are encrypted/secure when passed between nodes.
-Each node dedicates one 5GHz band for ‘backhaul’ ops (node linking), preventing signal loss & the 50% efficiency drop caused by a band that’s otherwise required to both receive & rebroadcast signal simultaneously.
-Integrates w/Amazon’s Alexa Virtual Personal Asst. to control your home network w/verbal commands, incl. toggling a Guest network on/off & requesting Wi-Fi networks' passwords, etc.
-Seamless Wi-Fi: Velop’s signal hand-off allows you to roam w/a connected smartphone/tablet/laptop from 1 node to another & from 1 end of the house or office to the other w/o interruption.
-Airtime/Device Prioritization/Load Balancing: allows multiple devices w/different Wi-Fi speeds to be treated uniquely, connecting each device at optimum speed so that faster devices transmit at faster speeds while slower devices don’t impede the speed of your Wi-Fi network.
-Dynamic Channel Selection: At setup, the Velop App dynamically scans available channels to select the best combo of bands/channels for optimum performance. The Channel Finder feature automatically finds the best channels on demand to resolve congestion/interference issues created by competing Wi-Fi signals.
-If any node loses connection to another node, the remaining nodes self-heal & re-establish Internet connection thru other nodes in the network.
-Wi-Fi-linked nodes can also be linked together by Ethernet cables to eliminate signal loss/distance restrictions.
-Auto Updates: Velop’s cloud service connection auto-monitors firmware status, conducting security/performance updates to prevent vulnerabilities from delayed manual firmware updates. Users can toggle off auto-update feature.
PROS
-Once into the App, setup is quick & easy. Uses Bluetooth to auto ID nodes to be setup & creates secure connection between mobile device & each node. Can set parental controls, guest network, & add & auto-fix nodes.
-Strong, reliable, secure, seamless connectivity w/excellent signal strength, range, speed, & overall performance right to edge of network. No disconnects so far.
-Expandability: I can continue to add more nodes to grow my mesh network, w/each node adding ~2k sq. ft.
-Aesthetics: Attractive hi-tech design/form factor offers sleek/compact/minimalist modular system w/small footprint
-Cable mgmt. system keeps excess wires out of sight for neat/clean look.
-Customer Support: 24/7
-Warranty: 3-yrs. vs. several competitors’ 1-yr. warranty
-Once into the App, setup is quick & easy. Uses Bluetooth to auto ID nodes to be setup & creates secure connection between mobile device & each node. Can set parental controls, guest network, & add & auto-fix nodes.
-Strong, reliable, secure, seamless connectivity w/excellent signal strength, range, speed, & overall performance right to edge of network. No disconnects so far.
-Expandability: I can continue to add more nodes to grow my mesh network, w/each node adding ~2k sq. ft.
-Aesthetics: Attractive hi-tech design/form factor offers sleek/compact/minimalist modular system w/small footprint
-Cable mgmt. system keeps excess wires out of sight for neat/clean look.
-Customer Support: 24/7
-Warranty: 3-yrs. vs. several competitors’ 1-yr. warranty
NEUTRAL
The 3rd VELOP node is in some cases overkill & likely needed only if you have a very large or multi-story home. Our humble abode did fine w/just 1 node (up to ~2k sq. ft.), & most homes can be easily blanketed w/impressive speeds w/just 2 nodes (up to ~4k sq. ft.). 3 nodes can cover up to ~6k sq. ft.
The 3rd VELOP node is in some cases overkill & likely needed only if you have a very large or multi-story home. Our humble abode did fine w/just 1 node (up to ~2k sq. ft.), & most homes can be easily blanketed w/impressive speeds w/just 2 nodes (up to ~4k sq. ft.). 3 nodes can cover up to ~6k sq. ft.
CONS
-It would be helpful & would save A LOT of time if the instructions made clear the necessity of logging out of your established Linksys acct. when replacing an existing Linksys Router. You have to create an entirely new acct. w/Linksys’ Velop router. Instructions should also advise that you’ll need your ISP settings, Username & Password BEFORE disconnecting your current setup as part of an “Items Needed” checklist prior to set up.
-It would be helpful & would save A LOT of time if the instructions made clear the necessity of logging out of your established Linksys acct. when replacing an existing Linksys Router. You have to create an entirely new acct. w/Linksys’ Velop router. Instructions should also advise that you’ll need your ISP settings, Username & Password BEFORE disconnecting your current setup as part of an “Items Needed” checklist prior to set up.
-Access/Navigation: Unfortunately, the Velop router can’t be accessed by PC. It can only be accessed via the new Velop Android or iOS App. I’d prefer to be able to login to a Linksys web-based interface via my PC, as I did w/my Linksys EA-9500/AC5400 MU-MIMO Router. With Velop, I’m forced to use Linksys’ mobile app which I find harder to navigate & less user friendly overall. Case in pt.: For security reasons, I don’t like storing/accessing important passwords/logins via my smartphone. I have a long, secure, unmemorizable Linksys acct. login password which I always cut & pasted via my PC whenever I accessed my Linksys EA-9500 router. But I no longer enjoy the same ease of login or security via the Velop smartphone app. A full-size browser window & a real keyboard is far more convenient than tapping away on a tiny smartphone. And the Linksys web-based interface for the EA9500 offered a much better display of all my options for easy adjustability/fine-tuning of my Wi-Fi network settings vs. having to drill down & search thru menus on the Velop mobile app.
-Connectivity: I’ve had major problems w/the Velop router re: printer sharing. The 2nd Velop node easily connects a 2nd desktop computer in a 2nd home office on the network, but the HP LaserJet printer that’s hardwired to that computer isn’t found/displayed. I still can’t even see that printer on the network even though the node easily finds & connects to a nearby HP Inkjet printer. This was never a problem w/the Linksys EA-9500/AC5400 Router.
-Parental Controls: These allow you to restrict access to inappropriate content, control usage, & block specific devices from accessing the Internet. But poor design of the app limits some features to very basic usage.
-Ports: Only 2 Ethernet ports per node can be very inconvenient. You can use a switch w/the Velop to expand the # of ports, but this defeats the node’s small footprint concept. There’s also no USB port for printer or storage.
-AC Power Adapter: The oversized white square adapter measures nearly 2½” x 2 ½”. Even when using 1 of the offset/gapped sockets on my APC power strip/surge protector, this brick obscures access to the next closest socket.
-Aesthetics: Each node’s mini-tower is white. I’d prefer an option in basic black &/or other colors to allow for color matching/blending w/individual room décor. For example: all the tech/telecom hardware in my home office, den, & study is in business black; so, the white mini-tower sticks out like a sore thumb.
My Best Buy number: 2172893138
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
How long does it take before your ears get sweaty in these? I looked at the store and it looks like the cushions are made of fake leather...
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7 years, 4 months ago
by
CriticalEye
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
How many people have these Sony 1000X MK2 and have had problems with the cracking on the band? I really want them but I'm not sure if they are gonna break easily!
I've had a pair for about 5 months. Haven't had any issues with cracking. They're just a beautiful as the day I received them. I do take pretty good care of them, but I have had others in the past break down over time. Hope that helps.
7 years, 4 months ago
by
CriticalEye