Lenovo Yoga 700 Review

This is a review for the Lenovo Yoga 700 11.6 inch model 80QE0044US.

Just a little background, I decided to buy this over the newer 710 for several reasons:

• Lower price: the 700 was on clearance
• More USB ports: 2 vs 1 (later I found out that the DC power port is also a USB 2.0 port making it 3 vs 2)
• Built-In SD Card reader

Key Specs:

• Intel Core m3 6Y30
• 8GB Ram
• 128GB SSD
• 11.6 inch touch screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution
• Windows 10 Home

Pros:

• Ultra-Portable size
• Boots in less than 10 seconds
• Loads apps in seconds
• Gorgeous Full HD IPS screen
• SSD and fanless design makes it completely silent (0 moving parts)
• m3 processor is power efficient allowing for hours of web browsing
• SDXC card reader (also reads standard SD and SDHC, as well as MMC)
• Micro-HDMI output (1.4a up to 1080p)
• Dual Band WiFi that supports 802.11ac

Middle of the road:

• 3 USB ports (1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 2.0/DC power port)
• Touchpad buttons makes a loud click when depressed
• Keyboard does not have a backlight for typing in dark areas
• With not much installed the SSD only has ~40GB left, so you may wish to spend a little more and get the bigger drive
• Relative to the size of the computer the touchpad is a good size

Cons:

• No Bluetooth
• Short ~6ft Power Cord (about the same length as the Apple MagSafe with the AC Plug not AC Cord)
• No divider on the touchpad to indicate where the buttons are, therefore you may think you are clicking when you are not

Other Thoughts:

• Initially had issues with Windows Store and its apps not working, but that was fixed with the latest Windows update
• CPU intensive tasks will take longer than the same generation i5
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJCL3nFfoMs
• Similar model 80QE000NUS has the following upgrades for roughly an additional $75:
• m5 6Y54
• 256GB SSD
• Bluetooth 4.0
• Haven't really used in tablet or tent mode yet, will update review if necessary

Sony XBR65X850C Review

Sony XBR65X850C Review

The Choice

As my aging LN-T4066F was too small for my new family room, I decided to go shopping for a new TV due to the good holiday pricing.  My debate was between the Sony XBR65X810C ($1500), Sony XBR65X850C ($1800), and Samsung UN65JS8500 ($2000).

My primary sources of information, was rtings.com, amazon.com, and bestbuy.com.

Model	Rtings.com	BestBuy.com	Amazon.com
JS6500	8.3	4.7 (377 reviews)	4.3 (195 reviews)
X850C	7.7	4.6 (455 reviews)	4.2 (187 reviews)
X810C	8.0	4.2 (64 reviews)	4.3 (38 reviews)

Notes:

• Rtings.com ratings are for 55 inch , both Sony models have material differences in 65 inch:
• X850C has a Full LED backlight, which should improve uniformity
• X810C switches to an IPS display, which would reduce black intensity, but improve viewing angles
• Amazon.com ratings are for all sizes combined

Key factors in choosing the X850C:

• In person picture: very similar between all 3 at the store
• Android TV: while still young and needs some refining, I believe this will be the future so I wanted this type of TV
• Ability to do 24p via almost any source
• Full Array LED Backlighting: Samsung was only border lit
• Low input lag for games
• No additional connections box (This could have been a plus with a longer cord)
• Small not distracting bezel: the Samsung model had a bright stainless steel looking metallic border that I found to be very distracting

The Review

The picture on this TV is absolutely amazing. The upscaled 1080p contact looks life-like as we have been binge watching BBC's Sherlock. Netflix SD content looks okay, but that is more likely due to the source material.

Pros:

• Excellent picture without requiring any tweaking
• No flashlighting or dark corners as far as I can tell
• Netflix and Amazon Instant Video built in
• Access to all my Google Play Movies
• Casting built-in
• Ability to install Kodi (and decode MPEG2 content from MythTV)
• Standard remote works well (haven't tried smart remote)
• Ability to rename inputs and the easy switching from the home screen

Cons:

• Some glare from windows
• TV button on remote can only be mapped to an input and not an app
• Inability to create a "favorites" app list: Built in apps are separated from installed apps
• Update 1/12: You can now rearrange the apps, but I wish you could turn off featured apps and suggestions
• No included 3D glasses, not a big deal for me, but something to be aware of
• Remote is not universal
• Cannot go back to the home screen via input button

In the middle:

• Sound is decent, but not much is expected from TVs this thin and is about the same as my old one
• Android TV requires some refining, have had to reboot the TV because of dropped frames in Kodi
• No context menu button on remote, had to map Stop to it in Kodi

Ikea Dimmable LED Light Bulb Review

Ikea Dimmable LED Light Bulb Review

Model:
LEDARE - E26 - LED1207G11

Link:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20266225/

Key Specs:
10 watt
600 lumens (~60 watt equivalent)
2700 kelvin
25000 hours


From Energystar.gov, here is a quick reference chart that shows approximate lumens for old incandescent light bulbs:

Old Incandescent Bulbs (Watts)	ENERGY STAR Bulb Brightness (Minimum Lumens)
40	450
60	800
75	1,100
100	1,600
150	2,600

We used 4 of them to replace 60W incandescent bulbs in a ceiling fan.

Pros:

• Despite being lower lumens, the lights actually appear brighter, in fact we normally only have to turn the dimmer half way up to get enough light!
• Use only 10 Watts at max brightness, so we are saving over 75%
• Price, was $10-12 when we bought them and have dropped in price to $7.49

Cons:

• They are "instant on", but I have noticed at lower dimmer settings they do take longer to come on, and it works best to turn them on fully and then dim them.
• Hang out slightly farther in the light fixture than the bulbs they replaced

Other Thoughts:

• Does not dim as low as the lights they replaced, but maintains a constant white (old bulbs would become redder as they dimmed)
• Come in both frosted and clear

Review ASUS AC66R wireless router

Review ASUS AC66R wireless router

  I picked up a refurbished ASUS ACC66R wireless router in June 2013 for 119.99 from newegg. The only difference between the AC66R and AC66U is that the R version is sold in brick and mortar retail stores and the U version is sold thru online channels.

  It had been running great until I moved it in Feb 2014 and then it did not like to stream 5GHz thru 3 walls (2 outside ones). However, upgrading the firmware to the latest and upping the 5Ghz transmit power to 110 mW stabilized the connection.



Pros:

• Simultaneous Dual Band (2.4 and 5GHz)
• Gigabit LAN
• Supports draft AC
• Has guest networks that are isolated from your network
• 2.4GHz range is much better than my old E2000
• Stable, has needed very little rebooting (I think twice in 6 months)
• Sleek looking
• 3 adjustable external antennae (recommend 45, 90, 45 degree oreintation)
• Supports IPv6

Cons:

• Not final AC

Other thoughts:

• Have not tested AC streaming as I don't have any clients

Review Canon Powershot s110

 Canon Powershot s110

  I was looking for a higher end point and shoot that works better in lowlight than our older models. I had a couple choices that I narrowed it down to:

• Canon Powershot s110
• Nikon Coolpix P7700
• Sony DSC-RX100

  However Amazon and Bestbuy put the s110 on sale for $219.99 including a 32GB and a carrying case. This was enough to seal the deal.

Pros:

• Flash is bright, but does not give our dogs zombie eyes
• Camera starts up quickly
• Touch screen works well
• Zoom is quick

Cons:

• Flash pops-up right where you want to put your left hand.
• Lots of controls, made finding the timer shot difficult

Other thoughts:

• WiFi requires an app installed on the phone
• I used this website to help pick: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-powershot-s110/

Review Sony Blu Ray Player BDP-BX110

Review of Sony Blu Ray Player BDP-BX110

Here is my review of the Sony Blu Ray Player BDP-BX110. The only difference between this model and the BDP-S1100 is the inclusion of a HDMI cable. Also similiar are the BDP-BX310 and BDP-S3100 which include Wi-Fi and the BDP-BX510 and BDP-S5100 which include 3D playback.

Pros:

• I got it for $40 refurbished from Newegg (about the price of a new DVD player)
• DVD playback is very quick to start
• Blu Ray playback takes longer to start, but is still fairly fast
• Internet apps include: Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, and Hulu Plus (among others)
• Amazon Instant Video works well (don't have Netflix or Hulu Plus account to try) and is easy to navigate on the TV using the remote
• Nice looking small enclosure
• Only the power button lights up in a non-obtrusive white 

Cons:

• Ethernet Only. I really wish I shelled out more cash for the Wi-Fi version ($78 on Amazon new)
• Had to sign up for a Bravia account to use Amazon Instant Video - however, it easily allows you to sign up for a free account right through the Blu Ray player
• Battery door on remote squeaks when pressing buttons for me (my wife does not have this problem)
• Remote is not universal, but can turn on the TV and adjust the volume, it just does not allow you to scroll up and down through the channels

Other Thoughts:

• Includes a quick start mode that increases the start up speed, but requires more power when "off" (I do not use this mode)
• Did have to apply approximately 100MB of updates before the internet apps would work

LG 32LN5310 Review

Over Labor Day weekend, I purchased the LG 32LN5310 from Best Buy for $259.99 +tax. Here is my review of it.



Pros:
  - Assembly of the base was easy
  - Good auto channel detection
  - Seems to use Direct LED back-lighting instead of edge-lit
  - 1080p
  - Excellent viewing angles
  - Has an Optical Audio out


Cons:
  - Eco mode seems to be too dark and I can't seem to find a way to increase the backlighting without going to normal mode since it is automatic
  - Does not appear to support HDMI 1.4 and Audio Return Channel


Other Thoughts:
  - Does not support local dimming and 3D, but at this price point not to be expected
  - Switching the tv from Eco to Normal mode and adjusting the brightness down gives an excellent picture
  - I know that 1080p at this tv size does not make any difference, but at the same price it certainly doesn't hurt :-)
  - This is the perfect size for a bedroom (or small living room)
  - I cannot find the tv on LG's website, but the best theory I have found is that it is just a rebranding of the 32LN5300 to be a Best Buy exclusive.

Toshiba L875D-S7232 Review

Here are my thoughts on my newly purchased laptop, a Toshiba L875D-S7232. Overall I am very happy with my purchase, but will definitely be looking to upgrade to a SSD at some point.

Pros:

• 17.3" 1600x900 screen
• A8-4500M Processor
• 6GB of 1600MHz RAM
• HD 7640G Graphics (defaults to 512MB use)
• The Silver and Black color makes the laptop look professional
• Good Windows Experience Index Scores (scale 1.0 to 7.9):
• Processor: 6.7
• Memory: 7.0 (out of the box; 7.2 after updates)
• Graphics: 6.7
• Gaming Graphics: 6.7
• Hard Disk: 5.9
• 3DMark 06: 4693
• Price: $479.99 + tax at Staples
• Boot Time is 2-3 minutes including login and browser launch

Cons:

• No Hard Drive Activity LED (I replaced with a software one: http://sourceforge.net/projects/activityindicat/ )
• The shiny black plastic surrounding and under the keyboard shows dirt and fingerprints easily
• Norton 30 day trial - I uninstalled and replaced with Avast Free Home - http://www.avast.com/en-us/index
• Power Plug does not have a separate ground 
• No Spot for a second hard drive
• It appears that video driver updates must come thru Toshiba instead of AMD, but this seems to be common with notebook APUs

Other Thoughts:

• Toshiba Software Update Page
• Island Keyboard may take some getting used to
• Function keys (F1-F12) default to their function use (change screen brightness/volume etc.)
• Was able to change this behavior thru the pre-installed Toshiba HWSETUP Utility
• Comes with Office Starter (ad supported Word and Excel)
• On Med/High settings at 1600x900 I get between 40 and 60 FPS (capped by vsync) in DDO
• On High settings at 1600x900 in Battlefield Play 4 Free I get ~30FPS
• Side exhaust does get quite warm
• Battery Life seems to be around 2.5-3 hours

Update 2016-07-06:

• Toshiba disabled virtualization in the bios. I am disappointed that they did this on a mid-range laptop to try to force more high end laptop sales.

LG Spectrum Review

Pros:

• Gorgeous 4.5" 1280x720 HD screen protected by Gorilla® Glass


• Qualcomm Snapdragon Dual Core 1.5GHz CPU makes the phone responsive


• 1GB of RAM


• 4G Data on the Verizon Network


• 8 MP rear camera with LED flash


• Front Facing Camera


• 16GB Micro SD card included -- upgradeable to 32GB


• Allows Grouping of Icons in App Drawer


• Comes with Swype

Cons:

• No Notification LED


• Only 4GB of internal memory


• Back is slick, so I had to get a case


• Not on Ice Cream Sandwich yet


• Wifi range seems to be smaller than my Droid X


• Social Networking Widgets/Apps not as slick as MotoBlur

Comments:

• Battery Life seems middle of the road (1830mAh)


• Icons are bright and cartoonish


• Speakerphone volume is sufficient


• Price: $199 with 2 year contract, buy one get one free

Compaq CQ61-420US Review

I have recently purchased a Compaq CQ61-420US from Staples for $399.

Specs:

• Official Specs on HP's website
• AMD Athlon II X2 M320 2.1GHz
• 3GB DDR2 Memory
• ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200 Graphics (shared memory)
• 250GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive

Pros:

• Price
• Keyboard has a dedicated number pad
• Large bright 15.6" Display
• Built in Wireless N support
• Windows 7
• Responsive, quick web browsing
• Touchpad switch to turn off touchpad when using external mouse
• Processor supports virtualization

Cons:

• No latch to keep screen closed
• Screen has a shiny finish instead of matte
• Microsoft Office Nagware
• Norton Anti-Virus Nagware
• 3 DVD writable media to create backup disks
• Keyboard has half size arrow keys
• Keyboard is not backlit
• No HDMI Out
• No Bluetooth
• No built in webcam

Overall:
I am very happy with my purchase. Most of the negatives are just things that are omitted to just keep the price low. The laptop excels at web browsing and word processing. It has average battery life at about 2 hours.