Product review: coLorty Black on Yellow Laminated Label Tape for P-touch Labeler PT-D210, 24mm x 8m

I purchased coLorty 1" tape at the same time as I purchased my label maker (Brother PT-D210).  I relied on the Amazon product description saying tha "Perfecty compatible with PT-D210", however PT-D210 does not take 1" tape. It is unfortenate that the listing combines many different tapes yet the description does not clearly state which tapes are compatible with which models. PT-D210 only accepts tapes that from 0.13 (3.5 mm) to 0.47" (12 mm). When a tape wider then 1/2" is inserted the case does not close and the tape cannot be used. 

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★☆☆☆

Product review: Brother P-Touch PT-D210 Label Maker

This label maker produces laminated self-adhesive labels.  It take label tape that ranges from 0.13 (3.5 mm) to 0.47" (12 mm). It DOES NOT take 1" tape even though many compatible label tape makers state their tape is compatible with PT-D210 P-Touch the 1" tape does not fit (the case cannot be closed). 

The package includes the label maker, instructions, and a short sample label tape. 

The label maker can run on batteries (six AAA batteries) or AC adapter cord. This package does not include either the AC adapter cord or the batteries, they need to be purchased separately.

The size of the unit is 2.7 x 6.2 x 5.9 in. It does not need a computer to run, so it can be used anywhere.  Once the label is printed you need to push the button to cut the tape. I recently used it to help with a move and used it to label packing boxes.  I did not need a computer or power outlet, it was very convenient.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2017 (Tax preparation software for Windows and Mac, download or CD)

I have been using H&R Block tax software for many years. I keep using it because it does what I need and it has always been cheaper than TurboTax. I have been buying the Deluxe version of H&R Block because it covers the mutual funds sales, cost basis calculations are included (Schedule D), the form for Foreign Tax Credit from mutual funds is present (Form 1116), as well as stock sales. To get this functionality in TurboTax you need to buy the Premium version of the software.

I just completed my preliminary tax return and here are my observations.

INSTALLATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* If you are using a digital download you will need an activation code to install the software.
The activation code is shown in your Amazon Software downloads (it used to be also included in email confirming the purchase from Amazon but it was not included in the email this year). To locate it you need to do this:
1) Log into Amazon
2) Select 'Your account' and the section called 'Digital Content'
3) Select 'Your Games and Software downloads'
4) Then under H&R software entry you will see activation code

* Does H&R allow to install the software on two PCs?
No. The license agreement that one needs to accept during the install says this:
"Software copies. You may only install and use the Software on one computer. You may copy the Software for backup and archival purposes only, as long as the original and each copy are kept in your possession and control."

* WHAT IS INCLUDED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Using tax software includes two fees - one to use the software and the second one to e-file the returns with IRS. This package includes the cost of using both the Federal tax return and State return for one state. If you need to file tax in two states, you will need to purchase the rights to use the second state software. The package also include the cost of 5 free Federal e-files, but does NOT include the cost of e-file for the state return. Note that there is no limit on how many returns can be printed on paper for either Federal or State return, so you can print and mail any number of returns you desire.

Note 1: New York State law prohibits additional charges for State e-file (NY residents still have to pay for using the software).
Note 2: It is not possible to e-file a state return for New Hampshire, the NH returns have to be mailed.

* The state forms are not available as I write this review. H&R web site says they will become available in January. To see the latest status you can go to H&R website, click on "Download software", and select "State Editions". Currently it says "Coming soon in January 2018". When the state forms became available the state software can be downloaded directly from the H&R Block from the first screen of state tax preparation.

* GENERAL
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* In the past the interview started with a create that immediately prompted you to start a new return via a button on the screen, this year I had to 'File - Create New Return' to see the button to get started.

* This year there is an option to import old data not only from a data file but the a PDF file of 2016 tax return.

* The current forms are preliminary, the final versions will be available January 5, 2018.

* H&R Block starts the interview process with an annoying up-sell pitch, recommending an upgrade from Deluxe to Premium even when it is not necessary. In my opinion, they should have determined if the person would truly benefit from the Premium version first. That would have been useful. As it stands now it is just annoying.

What is the difference between Premium and Deluxe? The Premium version offers advanced tools for self-employed and rental property owners: cost basis of home sales, dividends, gifts, and inheritance assets. It has advanced schedule C guidance to maximize deductions for self-employment income. And finally it has guidance for rental property income and expenses. The rest of the Premium package is the same as Deluxe.

Note that the Deluxe package has support for self-employed income as well as stock sale cost basis calculations.

* This year I noticed an improvement in on-line help. In the past help was not context sensitive, it just brought up help dialog and it was up to you to think of the right keywords and find help. This year it actually opens up the right section of help! After so many years I lost hope that it will ever become context sensitive - I was pleasantly surprised!

* To combat stolen-identity tax returns H&R Block now requires you to provide state-issued ID number.

* H&R Block provided me some guidance for completing Form 1116 (foreign tax credit, for example foreign tax paid by a mutual fund). However, I needed to keep switching between the whole-form view to enter data and then back to interview to read the instructions. Even though the form where you can enter data is visible at the same time as instructions you cannot enter data into it until you switch into whole-form view. This is cumbersome, but at least there is some guidance for this form.

* I like DeductionPro which helps suggests reasonable prices based on condition of the donated used clothing items. It is nice not to have to come up with what is reasonable on my own.

* At the end of the interview process there is a check step (which you can run at any time, but the interview ends with this check). This step flags problems (e.g. missing information) and potential audit alerts (e.g. unusual deductions), and reminders (e.g. things you marked tentative). I find this check step very helpful.

* The final tax return can be saved in a .PDF format for future reference. I always do that so I can re-print an old return without having to run an old copy of H&R Block (especially down the road when a new computer may not even have an old H&R Block installed).

* H&R Block can print forms when Ethernet connection is disconnected. In 2014 TurboTax's introduced a requirement that the data had to be sent to Intuit's servers to be formatted for printing. H&R Block does not have this requirement.

* Does H&R has the ability to import TurboTax data from previous years?
Yes. TurboTax files have a .tax extension. Use the Browse button within H&R Block application to navigate to the folder you need and it will import the data from TT return. In addition this year you can also import pdf file of your return no matter what software you used to save the old return.

* If you owe taxes there are three options for payment: electronic withdrawal from your bank, mailing a check and paying by credit card from a secure web site. Is there a charge to pay by credit card? Yes. There are several web sites that provide this service with a "convenience" fee (lowest fee is $2.25 flat fee for a debit card and 1.87% fee for a credit card). If you search for "pay taxes by credit or debit" you will see the detailed fee schedule on the irs.gov web site.

PRICE considerations
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The price on H&R Block package changes often and you can catch some great discounts. I got H&R Block on Black Friday sale. If you missed that sale you can still get bargains by using a tool that alerts on Amazon prices discounts for any product. If you enter "Amazon price history alert" in Google it will come up at the top, my favorite has the word "camel" (repeated 3 times) in the name. You can set it up to send you an alert when you desired price drop is reached. During the last tax year season the price fluctuated between $20 and the list price of $44.99, dipping below $30 a number of times. It also qualifies for digital credits for No-rush Prime shipping.

Also note that Amazon adds the State sales tax to the final price of H&R Block (in states where it has physical presences such as Massachusetts).

SUMMARY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unlike last year, I did not run into any glitches during installation or using the software. The biggest difference in this year's return preparation was the improvements to on-line help. Making it context sensitive made it useful, in the past I used to do internet searches when I needed to get an answer. This year I actually used on-line help! If you have a question I have not covered leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Hunter House Handcrafted Solid Hardwood Bowl

This is a very attractive wooden bowl. The wood grain is very pronounced and makes the bowl look very pretty. It is polished and the finish is smooth and shiny.

6.5" wide and 2.75" tall. It holds 24 oz. It is just the right size for a candy dish or to use as a salad bowl. It is also pretty enough to use as decorative center piece on a coffee table. I hope the attached video will give you an idea how this bowl could fit into your décor.

The bowl came with instructions on how to take care of it:
1. Never put into microwave
2. Never use a dishwasher to wash it
3. Wash by hand with soapy water
4. Dry completely with paper towels or cloth
5. To restore patina coat with mineral oil, leave overnight, then wipe with a paper towel
6. Periodically sanitize the bowl with a solution made from 3 tablespoons of white vinegar mixed into 1 cup of water

This bowl is provided by Hunter house. It is beautiful and its size is very practical.


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: EnergeticSky Traction Ice Cleat Spikes Crampons

My shoe size is 7.5 and I wear size 8 hiking boots to allow for a thick sock.  I got size Large crampons, which start with size 7.5 women shoe.  I was a little worried that being at the start of the range would mean that the crampons will feel lose, but that worry was unfounded. As you see in attached video the crampon fit snugly, and they have a lot of stretch in the construction.  There is a tab on the clean that helps to pull the cleats off.

The metal cleats are are 3/8" long.  There are a total of 19 cleats.  The cleats are strong, they did not bend under my weight as I walked on the pavement (no snow yet).

I owned a number of cleats in the past and these look well built with the construction that should provide a lot of traction.

You can find these crampons on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: AVANTEK Laptop Cooling Pad - Ultra Slim Laptop Cooler with 2 Fans Quiet Speed Adjustable

This review is from: AVANTEK Laptop Cooling Pad - Ultra Slim Laptop Cooler with 2 Fans Quiet Speed Adjustable - for 15"-17" Dual USB and LED Lights (Electronics)
Length:: 1:18 Mins

I really like this cooling pad. I have a lot of experience with cooling pads and in this review I will highlight the features that I like.

I use a lot of cooling pads because I have a lot of computers with difference operating system so I can test the software I write on different machines. Having that many computers creates a real space problem, so I have various laptops, netbooks, and network computers tucked away in small places. All of them are on cooling pads to overcome the lack of natural circulation and to prevent overheating.

This cooling pad has two fans and a large mesh which allows a nice flow of air. The pad has two controls. On/off buttons controls of the LED lights are on or off (great! because I do not like when everyting electronic in my room insists on having a bright LED light). The second controls is wheel which allows me to select the speed of the fans or turn them off.

A cooling fan does not have to blow hard to do its job, it just needs to create circulation. A cooling pad should be blowing towards the device you are trying to cool. I select the lowest fan speed that makes a difference to cut down on noise. What is the best temperature? It is best when computer CPU core temperature is under 50°C, if it is in the range of 50°C it is a sign of not sufficient cooling, if it is the in 60°C or higher it shortens the life expectancy of the computer components.

This fan is practically silent at the lowest speed and produces a slight whirl on the highest speed. My video includes the sound it makes on various speeds.

How well it cools depends not only on the cooling pad but on how many ventilation holes the device itself has on the bottom. In addition ventilation holes on the computer tend to fill up with dust. If you are not getting good results with a cooling pad try vacuuming the ventilation holes.

I have a little netbook that tends to run too hot with core temperature of 65°C when it run unventilated. I was able to get it down to 61°C with this cooling pad. This is still a bit hot, I am probably pushing the little netbook beyond its design by doing a lot write disk operations.

Number of fans:_______________ 2
Air flow:_____________________ dial allows variable speed control
Cord:_______________________ detachable USB cord (25" long)
On/Off switch:________________ yes
LED lights On/Off switch:_______ yes
Size:________________________ 14.75"W x 10.875"L x 1"H (height with feet retracted)
Noise:_______________________ low almost none, high very slight whirl
Color:________________________ black case, blue LEDs (which can be turned off)
Feet:________________________ Has rubber pads
Stand:_______________________ 2 feet on the back that can be raised
Flaws observed:_______________ None so far
USB ports:___________________ Has two USB ports, one used to power it another is free for other use
Packaging:___________________ No manual, specs are on the box (in English)

So far (continuous use of several weeks) I had no issues, the fans are operating quietly. I hope the video helps to illustrate my review.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Allied Tools Portable Work Station Saw Horse

This work station has a nice size and shape.   The gap between the particle boards can be adjusted. The work stations folds up for storage.  I like its overall design.

The legs are made out of metal and the top particle board.   Unfortenately, the metal parts are extremely flimsy.  How flimsy? The corners of each leg got bent  during shipping and the metal is so soft that I was able to straighten most of the pieces with my bare hands. And I have very weak hands! If I can bend its metal by hand how is it going to hold when a heavy load put on it? Not well.  This workstation is not for heavy duty work. 


You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★☆☆

Product review: TopFit Back Cushion Lumbar Support Pillow Memory Foam With Fastening Strap Gray

I have a bad back so I have become a reluctant expert on lumbar supports. This lumber support is comfortable. It fits the my back very well. Its firmness feel comfortable - the foam is firm but not hard.

It is 15" wide and 16" high. At the widest point it is 4" wide. It has a rubber band with a closure in the back to attach to a chair. I am able to stretch it to 32" to go around my fairly large office chair. The strap is elastic and has a buckle so it can be shorted. 32" width is pretty close to its max. The cover is removable and can be washed in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and dried in the dryer using low tumble setting.

This is a very comfortable lumber support. If there was anything I would want to change it is to make it taller. My old (ratty looking) lumber support is 21" tall so it can support my upper back which gives me a better posture.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Synergee Gliding Discs Core Sliders. Dual Sided Use on Carpet or Hardwood Floors.

I was introduced to glider disks by Bender Ball Pilates Evolution exercise disks. The gliding disks add variety to exercise and make some exercises more challenging. Glider disks come in two shapes elongated or round. In majority of exercises (when only the toes or the heels rest on the disk, not the entire foot) you can use round disks. When you need to rest your entire foot on the slider the elongated disks work better.

The disks are used with the felt side down if you are using them on the wood floor. I have high polish floors and if they caused any damage I would see it right away. They do not. The felt side does not scratch the floor. On the carpet they can be used with the plastic side down (the felt side down does not slide on the carpet).

An alternatives to glide disks are "Furniture Movers for Heavy Furniture", however they are slightly smaller in size. Another option is to use paper plates instead of glide disks. They are more likely to cause damage to floors with high polish, however for carpets that offer a cheap alternative. I think the the paper plates do not work quite as well as real glide disks, but it is a cheap way to see if you like this type of exercises without spending any money.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Rosewill Quark Series 1000 Watt Full Modular 80 Plus Platinum Certified ATX12V/EPS12V

Rosewill offers several versions of the power supply. My review is for Rosewill Quark 1000. This is an excellent power supply with enough power for any personal computer. Its capacity of 1000w and it has a large number of connectors (total of 10) that gives lots of room for growth. Its size is 7.25" x 3.5" x 6". Quark 1000 uses heavy duty round cables (i.e. not ribbon cables). All connectors are modular rather than hard-wired. I prefer modular power supplies so the case has only what it needs and thus is less crowded, so this is a big plus.

The power supply can handle motherboards with both 20 pin or 24 pin connectors. It supports two SLI graphics cards. It is very quiet.

Connectors:

(1) One 20 +4 Main plug (modular)
(2) Two EPS12V CPU plugs (modular)
It supports two CPUs. This is useful for server systems, desktops have 1 CPU.
(3) Four PCIe plugs (modular)
It supports four high power PCIe cards, typically SLI graphics cards but there are other cards requirind extra power.
Most PCIe cards use only the power from the PCIe plug, but high performance high performance graphics cards use this plug (e.g. gaming graphics cards).
(4) Five SATA or Molex cable plugs (modular)
They use the same plugs and package comes with different cables that can be used as needed.
4 SATA cables, each with 4 SATA plugs for a total of 16 SATA devices supported
2 Molex cables, each supports 4 IDE drives or FANs

I measured the power supply with a power supply tester and all voltages are within tolerance. The attached video includes screen shots that show the power supply tester output. The top number for each rail shows the expected results, the number below (in a slightly larger font) shows the actual reading. 0.5V is the acceptable tolerance. All readings are well within the tolerance.

Its a good one!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Paper Bidet - Flushable Wipes 30 Individual Packs

Once I tried wet wipes there was no going back to dry only. At home I use Costco Kirkland baby wipes which are thick and generously sized and are perfect for adult wipes. But they come in bag packages which do not travel well and I wanted to have some along for work and travel. Paper bidet wipes are pretty good. They have a light aloe scent I don't mind, but the are not totally unscented like Costco wipes. They have the right balance of wetness - not too dry but also not too wet and sticky. They are smaller and thinner that the Kirkland baby wipes but they are good enough.

I like that they come in foil packs which keeps them moist, the foil pack is fairly small in size 3.75" x 2.5" and the packaging is not too loud. The foil packs come in non-resealable plastic bag. I moved them to a plastic bag with a zipper so I can keep them all together in a draw at work.

Overall: good even though not as good as Costco Kirkland wipes, but those do not come in individual packages.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: Gvode Kitchen 3-Piece Pasta Roller and Cutter Set for KitchenAid Stand Mixers

In attached video you see Gvode Pasta Roller & Cutter Attachments  with my Kitchen Aid mixer.  It fit well and feel sturdy while working.

It has three attachments. Pasta Roller  rolls 5.5-inch sheets of pasta with 8 thickness settings to adjust to your desired sheet thickness. This helps me make different thickness of fresh pasta, Ravioli, Tortellini, Lasagna, and Noodles. Spaghetti Cutter cut pasta sheets into classic Spaghetti noodles. Fettuccine Cutter Cuts pasta sheets into  Fettuccine noodles or linguine.  In addition to the three attachments the package includes a cleaning brush to help clean the attachments

In attached photos you see pictures of each of the attachment on the kitchen scale and they weigh between 25 oz and 26.25 oz.  Note that cleaning instruction say not to clean these attachments with water, only to brush them clean.  It explicitly says to wash the attachments in the dishwasher. Instead it instructs to clean attachments by hand or cleaning brush, or dry soft cloths. Perhaps not the entire unit is made of stainless steel.  The good news is that nothing got stuck to either the roller or the cutter and I felt okay dry cleaning them.

As you see in the attached video the attachments work very well.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product Review: Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote

The firestick works by connecting to WI FI of your home network. The two absolute requirements are that you have to have high speed internet and a WI FI connection. You don't have to Amazon Prime to use it, but then you will not have access to Amazon Prime Video and Music. You can connect it to other services you already subscribe to, such as Netflix or premium channels from your cable provider (such as HBO).

The overall installation process goes like this:
1. plug in the firestick into the TV
2. when it boots it prompts you to log into your Amazon account
3. then you can enable individual channels (the activation instructions will be displayed on the screen)

You can control the user interface with the remote included in the package. You can use arrows on the remote to navigate or you can use voice commands. The voice recognition is pretty good.

I am able to move the fire stick between several TVs. I am able to watch Amazon Prime content as well as Verizon FIOS channels I subscribe to. So far only one channel (Discovery) did not support Verizon FIOS. Prime content and whatever you already subscribe is free, if you select a channel that is not free you will have a chance to decline activation before you get charged. If you don't sign up for anything with extra charge, there is no additional monthly costs. Note that in-app purchases are enabled by default, and I disabled them in settings.

To power the firestick it comes with a standard micro USB cable which is long enough to reach from the back of TV to the floor where the power strip is located. The remote runs on two AA batteries (included). To open the battery compartment you need to slide the entire back of the remote. Be aware that it is tight and sliding it open is a little difficult.

To download apps you can either select them on the firestick from Apps menu (it took about 15 minutes for all of them to show up on the screen) or to install them my logging into digital content on your computer and selecting to deliver them to firestick as the digital device. I have done it both ways and both worked fine.

Overall, a convenient option to watch content on your own schedule. Enabling the channels could be easier but you only need to do the activation step once for each app.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★☆

Product review: portable bidet squeeze bottle

I purchased Portable Bidet after a surgery when I was not allowed to take showers for several weeks.  This portable bidet allowed me to feel clean without taking a shower and without getting the floor wet.  The best part of it is that it generates a good stream at the right angle without having to squeeze the bottle.  So if you are looking to use it while traveling (like an airport bathroom) rather than at home it makes no noise from escaping air or from squeezing.  It holds just enough water to give me a good rinse.

What makes this bottle bidet work is a special valve on the bottom that lets the air escape as you turn the bidet upside down.  The angle of the nozzle generates a stream at a good angle that makes the water go only where it is needed. No drips on the floor.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Pearl Necklace Freshwater Cultured Pearls with Heart Anniversary Gifts for Women - VIKI LYNN

This is a very nice pearl necklace made out of natural pearls.  The pearls are well matched but they do have the tiny variations is shape and size which is typical of natural freshwater pearls.  What I really like about this necklace is that both ends of it have a clasp and they latch on to the hear shape piece.  It is much easier to clip that other clasps - I can do it without having to look at it.  It is also possible to remove the heart and insert a different piece of jewelry or just clasps two claws together.

The size of the earring is rated as 7mm to 8mm and my digital caliper shows 8.83mm (measuring in the  direction) and 7.28 (measuring in the short direction). The silver heart has S925 stamp as well as VIKI LYNN logo. I think the necklace looks very classy.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Clorts Women's Suede Waterproof Hiking Shoe Walking Sneaker Trail Shoes HKL828

The is a super comfortable shoe, but it runs small. I normally wear size 7.5 and based on description recommendation to order 1/2 or 1 size larger I ordered 8.5 and it is a perfect fit. I can wear them with regular or hiking socks.  They weight 11.9 oz and feel pretty light.

The shoe is a combination of suede and mesh. Suede is the dark and the medium grey, the mesh is the light grey color.  The sole is knobby and has good traction.   The shoe has slight arch support and the shape of the sole is very comfortable, it feels slightly cushy.

The packaging was good, the shoes had paper inserts so they were not deformed in shipping.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★