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len_mullen

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Everything posted by len_mullen

  1. Ode to Walmart's $148 55" TCL 4K Roku TV There once was a man from New Hampshire Whose favorite month was November He searched with great zeal For the best kind of deal Then bought it and boasted forever
  2. So what is the prize?I don't doubt it will be great.Please don't make us wait...
  3. C-E-S a bust N-F-L ratings now dust Goodbye big screen lust
  4. Say more. You were going somewhere people need to go more often. I got my hair cut this morning. The place I go is sports themed and the employees wear really unattractive uniforms. Today, they were watching Christmas movies and in street clothes. What a difference in the atmosphere. Also, I look marvelous! We spent the next five hours shopping. That was awesome. The stores were full. Associates and shoppers were in holiday spirits. Now it's time to wrap. My oldest will be home in a couple hours. Baked scallops, asparagus, and au gratin potatoes tonight. Prime rib, sweet potato casserole, green been casserole, twice baked potato, and cranberry sauce tomorrow. Good thing I have two days to recover before returning to work. Merry Christmas!
  5. Thank you. Been out of the pocket a bit. I bought fewer gifts this year and the ones I bought required little research or discussion. I thought there would be discussion of the new consoles. Other than how difficult they were to find, there wasn't. I bought a couple televisions, but nothing expensive or bleeding edge -- nothing worthy of discussion. Besides, with Pnambic AWOL, TV talk isn't the same. I planned to spend more time in stores and I have. Not what I expected, but I got what I wanted. Generally, unpleasant. I don't like masks. I got the feeling CSA were hoping to limit their efforts to toting merchandise to the curb. Just the same, I did not buy much from the online behemoths and I feel good about that... Staples (BenQ Home Theater TH685 DLP Projector)Best Buy (Xbox Series X console, gamepassx2)Sams Club (Legends Ultimate Arcade)Walmart (55" TCL Roku TVx2)Kohls (Kalorik 26-qt. Digital MAXX Air Fryer Toaster, meat slicer, Nutribullet, 2x4K Fire TV Sticks, UV sterilizer, roadside emergency kit, stocking stuffers)Home Depot (Aria Air Fryer Toaster Oven)Amazon (Xbox controller, gaming headset, rechargable batteries, stocking stuffers)Wayfair (TV stand)Harbor Freight (TV wall mounts)Amazon got almost nothing from me this year. And they earned it! Late shipments, damaged deliveries, and meh prices defined Amazon in 2020. I bought some parts for my snow blower from MTDParts.com because Amazon returned too many matches for the specific part numbers to sift through. My subscribe and save queue is shrinking. Won't renew my Prime membership once my college student loses his discount. Walmart got $300 of my money, but that was for two 55" 4K televisions. Not sure they got the best of the deal. They should have won my Xbox sale, but their online store was so terrible, I abandoned 5% cash back for a certain sale at Best Buy. I have a little more shopping to do. Finally going to visit a Sam's Club next Wednesday on my way home from work. I cooked my first turkey for Thanksgiving. It was amazing. We're doing prime rib for Christmas. It's just me and my two sons. Very quiet and very nice. Merry Christmas!
  6. Posting in a shirt With no BF flair or flirt Discharge to avert
  7. This thread still gives me tingles.
  8. You're welcome. Our PC experts are not around this year and the deals are not spectacular, but, in general, machines are fairly spectacular these days. There are a LOT of gaming laptops out there. If anyone is seriously shopping for a gaming laptop, I would be interested in recommendations. It looks like the sweet spot in gaming laptops this year is a 1650/1650TI discrete GPU, a 256GB SSD, AC wireless, and 8GB of RAM. The least expensive include a Rizen 5 CPU while the rest have a 10th gen i5 chip. My bias is towards Intel chips, but the Rizen 5 seems to be faster. I'm intrigued by a couple reasonably priced options... https://deals.dell.com/en-us/productdetail/69n5 Processor: 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-10300H (8MB Cache, up to 4.5 GHz, 4 cores)Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit EnglishGraphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1650 Ti 4GB GDDR6Display: 15.6 inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits WVA Anti- Glare LED Backlit Narrow Border DisplayHard Drive: 256GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State DriveMemory: 8GB DDR4-2933MHz, 2x4GWireless: Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (2x2) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.1 Right now: $649.99 https://www.bestbuy.com/site/acer-nitro-5-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-256gb-ssd-obsidian-black/6413247.p?skuId=6413247 Backlit KeyboardScreen Size 15.6 inchesScreen Resolution 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)SSD 256 gigabytesSolid State Drive Capacity 256 gigabytes8 gigabytesNVIDIA GeForce GTX 16502.5 gigahertz Intel 10th Generation Core i5-10300HBattery Life 9 hours Right now: $599.99 Lenovo Legion 5i 15" Gaming Laptop w/ Core i5, 8GB, 512GB, 1650 Ti https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/legion-laptops/legion-5-series/Legion-5i-15/p/88GMY501434 $599.99 at Lenovo.com on 11/27 at 9:00am HP - Pavilion 15.6" Gaming Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 - 256GB SSD - Shadow Black https://www.bestbuy.com/site/hp-pavilion-15-6-gaming-laptop-amd-ryzen-5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-256gb-ssd-shadow-black/6427566.p?skuId=6427566 $449.99 at Best Buy on 11/22 ASUS - TUF Gaming 15.6" Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti - 256GB SSD - Black https://www.bestbuy.com/site/asus-tuf-gaming-15-6-laptop-intel-core-i5-8gb-memory-nvidia-geforce-gtx-1650-ti-256gb-ssd-black/6425894.p?skuId=6425894 $599.99 at Best Buy on 11/22
  9. GottaDEAL 2021 Black Friday Prize Club Posting Thread T-shirt
  10. I am mostly using 17" laptops these days, but my personal laptop is a 15.6. You did not mention your budget. I won't assume it's unlimited since you are inquiring here. ********** RIGHT NOW ********** I like this computer. Asus is a great manufacturer. i7, 8GB, SSD, and AC radio should make this a blazing fast computer. High res screen, backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, 8 hour battery, and $520 earn this laptop a look. You may want to check out the TN screen in person. Some people do not like TN screens. https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/6606531/ASUS-VivoBook-15-Laptop-156-Screen $519.99 ASUS® VivoBook 15 Laptop, 15.6” Screen, Intel® Core™ i7, 8GB Memory, 256GB Solid State Drive, Windows® 10, F512JA-OH71 Item # 6606531 15.6" anti-glare LCD with FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution presents a bright, clear picture. Features LED backlighting for a thinner, more energy-efficient screen.Get the processing power you need from a 10th Gen Intel Core i7. Multitask like a pro while playing, working or surfing the Web.8GB of memory is available to run your programs and games.256GB solid state drive holds your digital files. Solid state drives are generally lighter, quieter, more cost-efficient and may consume less energy than the traditional hard drive.Wireless-AC (802.11ac) delivers high-performance, cable-free networking. Send files to the Cloud, surf the Web and check up on social media.microSD™ card reader helps make file transfers simple.Features 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 USB 3.2 port and 1 USB 3.2 Type-C port for ultra-fast data transfers.720p HD webcam lets you video chat with friends, family and colleagues.SonicMaster audio helps bring your media to life with rich, clear sound.Bluetooth® wireless technology makes it easy to pair with enabled printers, headphones and other devices.Use the HDMI™ port to view content on an HDTV (HDMI cable sold separately).Backlit keyboard makes it easy to work late into the evening.Fingerprint reader provides security.Stays powered for up to 8 hours. Battery life will vary depending on the product configuration, product model, applications loaded on the product, power management setting of the product, and the product features used by the customer. As with all batteries, the maximum capacity of this battery will decrease with time and usage.Runs on Microsoft® Windows 10 Home.Backed by the manufacturer's 1-year limited warranty.Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, the Intel Inside logo, Intel Core, Intel Atom, Celeron, Pentium and Pentium Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. ***** BLACK FRIDAY ADs ****** I kind of like this laptop for $430... https://www.staples.com/hp-17-by3065st-17-3-notebook-intel-i5-8gb-memory-128gb-ssd-1tb-hard-drive-windows-10-silver/product_24439846 1GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1 quad-core processor with up to 3.6GHz speed and 6MB cache memory128GB SSD and 1TB HDD enable you to store thousands of filesWindows 10 Home gives you the familiar feel of Windows with enhanced capabilities8GB memory smoothly runs your games, photo and video editing applicationsDDR4 RAM: with its higher bandwidth, everything from multitasking to playing games gets a performance boostHD+ 1600 x 900 display: enjoy your photos, movies, and games with the crisp quality of 1.4 million pixelsGet comfortable with an expansive 17.3" screen that makes streaming, scrolling, and multitasking easy and enjoyableIntel UHD Graphics provides everyday image quality for Internet use, basic photo editing, and casual gamingImproved 802.11ax 2 x 2 Wi-Fi antenna delivers a stronger, more reliable Internet connection than before41Wh lithium-ion battery with a run time of up to 9 hours1-year manufacturer limited warrantyYour old eyes probably will be forgiving of the 1600x900 screen. If not, you can return it. If you are feeling a little less thrifty and do not need 1TB of local storage, I love Lenovo laptops. My personal laptop is a Lenovo 310-15isk (i7-6500u, 12GB, 1366x768). This one costs $500. https://www.staples.com/lenovo-ideapad-3-17iml05-81wc-17-3-notebook-intel-i5-8gb-memory-256gb-ssd-windows-10-81wc0014us/product_24437974 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-10210U quad-core processor with up to 4.2GHz speed and 6MB cache memory256GB SSD keeps your running programs active while your computer resumes from suspension in secondsWindows 10 Home gives you the familiar feel of Windows with enhanced capabilities8GB memory smoothly runs your games and photo and video editing applicationsDDR4 RAM: with its higher bandwidth, everything from multitasking to playing games gets a performance boostFeatures Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution for unbelievable pixel-by-pixel image performanceGet comfortable with an expansive 17.3" screen that makes streaming, scrolling, and multitasking easy and enjoyableIntel UHD Graphics provides everyday image quality for Internet usage, basic photo editing, and casual gamingImproved 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 2x2 Wi-Fi antenna delivers a stronger, more reliable Internet connection than before42Wh lithium-ion battery with a run time of up to nine hours⚠ WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.govAt 15.6" there are a couple attractive laptops. https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lenovo-ideapad-3-15-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i5-1035g1-12gb-memory-256gb-ssd-platinum-grey/6426712.p?skuId=6426712 Lenovo - IdeaPad 3 15" Touch Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5-1035G1 - 12GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Platinum Grey for $350 For $500, this one has a backlit keyboard and a really nice screen... https://www.staples.com/hp-pavilion-15-cs3065st-15-6-notebook-intel-i5-8gb-memory-16gb-ssd-1tb-hard-drive-windows-10-home-13q25ua-aba/product_24441414 1GHz Intel Core i5-1035G1 quad-core processor with up to 3.6GHz speed and 6MB cache memory1TB SATA HDD with 5400 rpm spindle speed provides enough space to store all your documents and multimedia content, while 16GB PCIe NVMe Intel Optane memory allows for storage accelerationWindows 10 Home: do great things confidently with the familiar feel of Windows, only better8GB RAM memory seamlessly handles multiple programs togetherDDR4-2666 SDRAM: with its higher bandwidth, everything from multitasking to playing games gets a performance boostFeatures Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution for unbelievable pixel-by-pixel image performance15.6" screen allows a great view of movies and TV shows and yet is small enough to carry easilySmoothly stream content and play your favorite games with Intel UHD graphicsFeatures a full-size island-style backlit keyboard with numeric keypadEnjoy a smoother wireless experience with Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11b/g/n/ac (1x1) and Bluetooth 4.2 comboThree-cell 41Wh lithium-ion battery with a run time of up to 8 hours and 30 minutesPair with an MU-MIMO router for a smoother online experience in multi-device homesGo from 0 to 50% charge in approximately 45 minutes with HP Fast Charge technologyHP Wide Vision FHD IR camera with integrated dual-array digital microphone has an 88-degree wide-angle field of view for video chats with the whole familySoftware included: Wild Tangent Games for HP, HP BIOS protection, HP Jumpstart, HP Support Assistant, Netflix, HP Audio Switch, HP Connection Optimizer, Dropbox cloud storage, HP 3D DriveGuard, and a free 30-day McAfee LiveSafe trialFeatures mineral silver aluminum top cover and natural silver aluminum keyboard deck with a sandblasted finishEquipped with Kensington Nano Security lock slotMeets or exceeds ENERGY STAR and EPEAT Silver standards1-year manufacturer limited warranty; 90-day limited technical support for software and initial setupNot really a good year for inexpensive laptops. A lot of low end gaming machines, but they are not inexpensive. If I come across something else, I'll add it to this post.
  11. First, post the specs of your current computer. Tell me what kind of things you will be doing on your new computer (Office, engineering apps, games -- specific examples of apps/programs, if you can). Let me know how long you need your battery to last, range of display sized (at least but no more than preferring...) and what your budget is.
  12. My friend got two of the 55s after buying a 50. The 50 is a good deal, but..
  13. Rookie! Go back and re-add the tv to your cart. Choose local pickup. I may grab a couple more as stocking stuffers ;-) Also, they are re-stocking every half hour. Get a cup of coffee and enjoy the ride.
  14. I'd be happy to share what I know. I have just created my first original (derivative) recipe and I am getting ready to refresh some of my equipment based on my learnings. It's a perfect time to document the first part of the journey. Right now, I am up to my neck in things, but, when things slow down a bit for me, I'll head over to the lounge and bore all of you to death.
  15. T-shirts. Always T-shirts. https://www.halo.com/the-essentials-gildan-adult-ultra-cottonandreg-6-oz-t-shirt-3440-g200.aspx Hoodies because it gets cold in line: https://www.deluxe.com/products/promotional/sweatshirts/Coffee mugs because people at work will be exposed: https://bargainmugs.com/promotional-coffee-mugs-c-1?zenid=46f8aa8fbfd31404f0cf93d42896b6c0Thermal mugs because it gets cold in line: https://www.4allpromos.com/category/travel-mugsPortable chargers to keep people online while in line: https://swag.com/product/square-charger-1
  16. Sam's Club: $449.98 Legends Ultimate Arcade Home Depot: $129.00 Aria 30 qt. Air Fryer Oven Walmart: $148.00 TCL 55S20 55" 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with Roku Best Buy: $99.99 Ninja Mega Kitchen System Blender Best Buy: $169.99 Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Air Fry Grill $996.96
  17. $119.99 right now! https://www.homedepot.com/p/ARIA-30Qt-Touchscreen-Air-Fryer-Toaster-Oven-with-3-Cooking-Levels-Dehydration-Accessories-Recipe-Book-ATO-898/312660091?sfalias=PT_Hero_CTA&cm_mmc=hd_email-_-PRICING_TRIGGER-_-20201029_PRICETRIG_3718934-_-PT_Hero_CTA&et_rid=40572653
  18. I have GREAT news for you! I love this toaster. I stumbled upon it. It had some nice features -- like the light, the fact that it is an air fryer, and the included trays. I also like that it has a pre-heat feature. Unfortunately, I bought the last one...forever. Here's the great news: these are sold as ARIA branded toaster ovens. AND they have a no hassle Lifetime warranty. AND they will be on sale at Home Depot for $129 beginning 11/8... https://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridayScans/HomeDepot/9 Yesterday I discovered that this thing was a better dehydrator than my Excalibur. Happy shopping!
  19. Eggnog Ingredients 6 large egg yolks1/2 cup granulated sugar1 cup heavy whipping cream2 cups milk1/2 teaspoon ground nutmegpinch of salt1/4 teaspoon vanilla extractground cinnamon (for topping)Instructions Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a medium bowl until light and creamy.In a saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cream, milk, nutmeg and salt. Stir often until mixture reaches a bare simmer. Add a big spoonful of the hot milk to the egg mixture, whisking vigorously. Repeat, adding a big spoonful at a time, to temper the eggs. Once most of the hot milk has been added to the eggs, pour the mixture back into the saucepan on the stove. Whisk constantly for just a few minutes, until the mixture is just slightly thickened (or until it reaches about 160 degrees F on a thermometer). It will thicken more as it cools.Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.Pour the eggnog into a pitcher or other container and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled. It will thicken as it cools. If you want a thinner, completely smooth consistency, you can add the entire mixture to a blender with 1 or 2 tablespoons of milk and blend until smooth.Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon, and fresh whipped cream, if desired.Store homemade eggnog in the fridge for up to one week.Nutrition Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 246mg | Sodium: 58mg | Potassium: 155mg | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 960IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 0.5mg
  20. I check in a lot to see who has liked my posts You need to treat this year -- every Christmas season -- as a shopping event. Compile a list of stuff you want and the prices you'd be happy to pay. As you peruse the ads, jump of deals that exceed your expectations. You can always return/price adjust. I expect popular items to sell fast as there is almost certainly limited supply and the other stuff to get cheaper going forward as demand is just as certainly limited. Exactly. Buy, price match, return/rebuy. It's time to get started. I've been feeling like this might be the last year here. It feels like things may be winding down...
  21. When you buy from Walmart, there is little risk. If you do not like the set, they have a generous return policy. TCL competes with these on price, performance, features, and customer service. Price is easy to compare. It's tough to beat a 70" TV for $300. Performance is a little more challenging. You need to watch the programming that matters to you to ensure picture quality under the specific conditions you plan to watch. Is the set reflective, what happens when the picture gets very dark, how things look when the room is brightly lit or you are sitting at an angle, and what happens when things are moving fast on the screen. It's hard to test these things in the store. Customer service is harder to measure. I had a 55" TCL set fail under warranty. They sent a guy to my house to repair the inexpensive tv. That's uncommon. I posted a question about their new android sets on bestbuy.com. They monitor the questions and comments and called my home to clarify my question. Two features I really like about the TCL Roku sets are their EPG and support for 'trick play'. Both features benefit cord cutters. The TV uses PSIP data to populate a grid style Electronic Program Guide. That means you do not need a service or even an internet connection to have a very nice program guide. Great at my sister's camp and my in-laws home where there is no internet service. Trick play is pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding through a program. Plug a 16GB thumb drive into one of these sets, and it creates a two hour buffer for trick play. You can pause a program while you take a phone call or eat dinner. I have a couple of the 55" sets. One sits above and to the left of my desk. At that angle, the picture looks great. I do not see motion blur when watching sports (hockey is a good test). My kid sits two feet back from the other one to play games on an Xbox One. He claims there is no lag and the picture looks great. That is the one that failed. Still working two years later. Walmart has the 55" TCL Roku TV for $148 in their second event. The sale is online only. Happy shopping!
  22. I would hire this guy for drywall work!
  23. https://www.consumerreports.org/tvs/should-you-buy-walmart-onn-tvs/
  24. I got a Sams membership JUST to buy the Legends Ultimate Arcade... https://youtu.be/HxZ34zWOoe0https://arcades.atgames.net/350-games/
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