len_mullen

https://www.techradar.com/news/best-3d-printer

I can't believe you are giving StationChief love for my idea!

The good news is that you can check out the sets in person over the next three weeks to make sure the inexpensive doorbuster is going to work for you.

@brad Did this work for you? Did it accomplish your goals? If the answer is YES, may I suggest that you immediately open a new thread for 2018-2019? I think opening the thread now will attract people who were gone before the thread started last year. I really enjoyed this and hope you do it again.

I have two of the TCL sets. One did fail and TCL sent a guy to my home to fix it. Tech support was awesome and I am happy with the set and my purchase.

Anyone have this specific 6.5' tree? What do you think? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Home-Accents-Holiday-6-5-ft-Pre-Lit-LED-Wesley-Spruce-Artificial-Christmas-Tree-with-300-Color-Changing-Lights-TG66M3W89D13/305124632

11/1: I win!

Kindle or Kindle Fire?

First question: What kind of entertainment do you own or plan to buy? Second Question: How do you like to be entertained when you travel? When I was traveling a lot, I carried a Kindle Fire with me. I had the biggest one that fit in the front pocket of my pants. I had a couple games installed, copied some movies the device and a bunch more to one of these... https://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Wi-Drive-64GB-Wireless-Storage/dp/B0081LJ0QK and I had a lot of books and magazines on the Fire. I thought that worked great.

How about a counter top Aerogarden for the cook who has everything? Very small footprint yields fresh herbs year round... https://www.amazon.com/AeroGarden-Sprout-Gourmet-Herb-Black/dp/B010NBJLZU

So, here is a $449 laptop... https://www.staples.com/hp-laptop-17-by0062st/product_24327018 Operating system: Windows 10 HomeProcessor: 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-8250U ProcessorDisplay: 17.3-inch diagonal HD+ SVA BrightView WLED-backlit Display (1600x900)Memory: 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (1 x 8 GB)Internal storage: 1 TB 5400 RPM SATA hard driveOptical drive: DVD-WriterGraphics: Intel® UHD Graphics 620Webcam: Front-facing HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated digital microphoneProduct weight: 5.42 lbThat CPU is about half the performance of the top CPU on the list and rated 18th. Probably worth an in person visit to Staples.

if you know someone who just returned from Ireland (or wishes they had)... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250056594 beautiful photography.

No. A solution looking for a problem. http://i.imgur.com/wps7Ht4.gif

I guess I am always passively surfing for a great deal on a good laptop. It's really confusing these days because we have lots of CPU, screen, memory, and storage options. Then there is the keyboard layout, whether it is backlit, the camera, battery life, and the speakers. Finally there is build quality. Right now, I feel like Lenovo and Dell are building the best laptops. I have worked on a lot of laptops and most have some specific challenge you should be aware of (non-replaceable battery, hard to reach RAM or disk, or a case that is difficult to disassemble/reassemble either due to special tools or egress -- I hate to remove those zero insertion force ribbon cables. If you are willing to upgrade a laptop, find a video on disassembling any model you are considering. Search for upgrading the component you are interested in upgrading plus the model of the laptop you considering. If upgrading is overwhelming for you, just get enough memory and disk to get you to your next purchase and make sure you can replace the battery. Screen size and resolution are very subjective. For me, I want a big screen, but do not particularly care about resolution because my eyes are not as great as they used to be. If you are the kind of person who notices every detail or edits photos, visit local retailers to make sure your eyes are not going to be disappointed. As soon as you get your laptop, open paint, fill the screen with red then go full screen. Look for defective pixels. Most laptop warranties do not cover a few dead pixels, but most retailers let you return without a restocking fee for a certain period -- take advantage. I'm looking for a 17" screen that looks OK with two documents or web pages side by side. Some people love a touchscreen. If you put your finger on my screen, you may not get it back. To each his own, but no need spending for a touchscreen if fingerprints drive you nuts. When will Corning give us a beautiful screen that is print-proof? Most people think you should get an SSD. Not me. I've had two fail at work and cost per unit of storage is still too high. Frankly, I think they solve a problem that does not exist -- mechanical disks are fast enough for me. In fact, I prefer 5400 to 7200 just to keep the heat and noise down. I want 1t. More RAM is better. No less than 6GB, 8GB is fine, but 12GB is better. 4GB is not enough these days. They keyboard is something else you should try before you buy. Some games (and accountants) make use of a numeric keypad. Check the speakers out while you are in the store. Two things about the battery: 1) make sure it suits your use. If you plan to use a laptop on long commutes, get a battery rated at least 3x the duration. 2) If you rely on a battery, make sure your laptop includes one which is easily replaced. Nothing like a spare battery in the bag for long trips. Then there is the CPU -- the brains of the laptop. I used to get a current or last gen i5 and have ignored AMD chips in laptops due to heat. Looks like heat is no longer an issue with current gen AMD chips... https://www.digit.in/laptops/amd-ryzen-5-2500u-vs-intel-core-i5-8250u-intel-is-not-longer-the-only-option-40141.html Here is a chart that compares 60 current/recent chips. The fraction on the end is the relative performance. Some surprises for me... from https://laptopmedia.com/top-laptop-cpu-ranking/ 1. AMD Ryzen 7 2700 8 / 16 3.20 GHz 4.10 GHz 10.0/10 Check price2. AMD Ryzen 7 1700 8 / 16 3.00 GHz 3.70 GHz 9.5/10 $1449.003. Intel Core i9-8950HK 6 / 12 2.90 GHz 4.80 GHz 9.3/10 $3279.974. Intel Core i7-8750H 6 / 12 2.20 GHz 4.10 GHz 8.2/10 $699.995. Intel Core i7-8700 6 / 12 3.20 GHz 4.60 GHz 7.8/10 $2899.006. Intel Core i7-8850H 6 / 12 2.60 GHz 4.30 GHz 7.8/10 $2108.507. Intel Core i5-8300H 4 / 8 2.30 GHz 4.00 GHz 5.8/10 $699.008. Intel Core i7-7820HK (@ 3.8GHz) 4 / 8 2.90 GHz 3.90 GHz 5.6/10 $2201.129. Intel Core i7-7920HQ 4 / 8 3.10 GHz 4.10 GHz 5.4/10 $5989.0010. Intel Core i7-7820HK 4 / 8 2.90 GHz 3.90 GHz 5.4/10 $1400.0011. Intel Core i7-8550U 4 / 8 1.80 GHz 4.00 GHz 5.3/10 $589.0012. Intel Xeon E3-1505M v6 4 / 8 3.00 GHz 4.00 GHz 5.3/10 $1899.1413. Intel Core i7-8705G 4 / 8 3.10 GHz 4.10 GHz 5.3/10 Check price14. Intel Core i7-7820HQ 4 / 8 2.90 GHz 3.90 GHz 5.1/10 $1140.0015. Intel Core i7-7700HQ 4 / 8 2.80 GHz 3.80 GHz 5.0/10 $719.0016. Intel Core i5-7300HQ 4 / 4 2.50 GHz 3.50 GHz 5.0/10 $649.0017. Intel Core i7-8650U 4 / 8 1.90 GHz 4.20 GHz 4.9/10 $1099.0018. Intel Core i5-8250U 4 / 8 1.60 GHz 3.40 GHz 4.8/10 $431.2919. Intel Xeon E3-1535M v6 4 / 8 3.10 GHz 4.20 GHz 4.6/10 $2199.0020. AMD Ryzen 7 2700U 4 / 8 2.20 GHz 3.80 GHz 4.6/10 $559.9921. AMD Ryzen 5 2500U 4 / 8 2.00 GHz 3.60 GHz 4.0/10 $431.2922. Intel Core i5-7440HQ 4 / 4 2.80 GHz 3.80 GHz 3.9/10 $719.9923. Intel Core i5-8265U 4 / 8 1.60 GHz 3.90 GHz 3.4/10 Check price24. Intel Core i7-7660U 2 / 4 2.50 GHz 4.00 GHz 2.8/10 $1199.9925. Intel Core i7-7560U 2 / 4 2.40 GHz 3.80 GHz 2.6/10 $1255.5626. Intel Core i7-7600U 2 / 4 2.80 GHz 3.90 GHz 2.6/10 $846.7727. Intel Core i5-7267U 2 / 4 3.10 GHz 3.50 GHz 2.5/10 $1529.0028. Intel Core i7-7500U 2 / 4 2.70 GHz 3.50 GHz 2.4/10 $346.9929. Intel Core i5-7360U 2 / 4 2.30 GHz 3.60 GHz 2.4/10 $1279.0030. Intel Core i7-4600M 2 / 4 2.90 GHz 3.60 GHz 2.3/10 $1299.9931. Intel Core i5-7300U 2 / 4 2.60 GHz 3.50 GHz 2.3/10 $469.9932. Intel Core i3-8130U 2 / 4 2.20 GHz 3.40 GHz 2.3/10 $319.0033. Intel Core i5-7200U 2 / 4 2.50 GHz 3.10 GHz 2.2/10 $391.9934. AMD FX-9830P 4 / 4 3.00 GHz 3.70 GHz 2.1/10 Check price35. Intel Core i3-7130U 2 / 4 2.70 GHz - 1.9/10 $384.9936. Intel Core i7-7Y75 2 / 4 1.30 GHz 3.60 GHz 1.8/10 $629.9937. Intel Core i3-7100U 2 / 4 2.40 GHz - 1.8/10 $349.8738. AMD FX-9800P 4 / 4 2.70 GHz 3.60 GHz 1.8/10 $469.9539. Intel Core m3-7Y30 2 / 4 1.00 GHz 2.60 GHz 1.7/10 $398.9240. Intel Pentium 4415U 2 / 4 2.30 GHz - 1.7/10 $549.0041. AMD PRO A12-9800B 4 / 4 2.70 GHz 3.60 GHz 1.6/10 $599.9942. AMD A12-9700P 4 / 4 2.50 GHz 3.40 GHz 1.6/10 $399.9943. AMD A10-9600P 4 / 4 2.40 GHz 3.30 GHz 1.6/10 $419.0044. Intel Core i3-6006U 2 / 4 2.00 GHz - 1.5/10 $335.0045. Intel Core i5-7Y54 2 / 4 1.20 GHz 3.20 GHz 1.4/10 $839.9946. Intel Celeron N3450 4 / 4 1.10 GHz 2.20 GHz 1.3/10 $229.6347. Intel Pentium N4200 4 / 4 1.10 GHz 2.50 GHz 1.3/10 $248.0048. Intel Pentium Silver N5000 4 / 4 1.10 GHz 2.70 GHz 1.1/10 Check price49. Intel Celeron N3160 4 / 4 1.60 GHz 2.24 GHz 1.0/10 $219.9950. AMD A9-9420 2 / 2 3.00 GHz 3.60 GHz 1.0/10 $262.0051. AMD A9-9410 2 / 2 2.90 GHz 3.50 GHz 1.0/10 $500.0052. Intel Celeron 3855U 2 / 2 1.60 GHz - 0.9/10 $290.0453. Intel Pentium N3710 4 / 4 1.60 GHz 2.56 GHz 0.9/10 $269.7954. AMD A6-9220 2 / 2 2.50 GHz 2.90 GHz 0.9/10 $176.7055. AMD A4-9120 2 / 4 2.20 GHz 2.50 GHz 0.8/10 Check price56. Intel Atom x5-Z8350 4 / 4 1.44 GHz 1.92 GHz 0.8/10 $249.0057. Intel Celeron N3350 2 / 2 1.10 GHz 2.40 GHz 0.7/10 $165.0058. AMD A6-9225 2 / 2 2.60 GHz 3.00 GHz 0.6/10 Check price59. Intel Celeron N3060 2 / 2 1.60 GHz 2.48 GHz 0.5/10 $152.0060. Intel Celeron N3050 2 / 2 1.60 GHz 2.48 GHz 0.5/10 $102.99 https://www.howtogeek.com/223020/what-are-the-meanings-of-intel-processor-suffixes/ What Do the Suffixes Mean? C – Desktop processor based on the LGA 1150 package with high performance graphicsH – High performance graphicsK – UnlockedM – MobileQ – Quad-coreR – Desktop processor based on BGA1364 (mobile) package with high performance graphicsS – Performance-optimized lifestyleT – Power-optimized lifestyleU – Ultra-low powerX – Extreme editionY – Extremely low powermore information on intel chips... https://www.trustedreviews.com/best/best-intel-processor-3517396 Let's talk about this!

I don't even see those. Show me a price, or I'm not looking!

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-MMEF2AM-AirPods-Wireless-Bluetooth/dp/B01MQWUXZS It kills me to pay so much for Apple products, but these are worth it.

Know someone who loves beef jerky? https://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-2900ECB-Dehydrator-Adjustable-Temperature/dp/B001NZPP6U

Here's another awesome kitchen gadget... https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-33969A-Programmable-Temperature/dp/B00EZI26GO Hamilton Beach (33969A) Slow Cooker, Programmable, 6 Quart With Temperature Probe, Sealing Lid and Transport Clips, Stainless Steel I used this yesterday to cook a four pound chicken, potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, and a bunch of spices. The probe enters the chicken through a hole in the cover and plugs into the side of the cooker. You set the cook temperature and the done temperature. When the internal temperature reaches done, the cooker switches to warm mode. I walked in the door at 6:00pm and we were eating dinner by 6:25pm. Better, the cooker has clips on the cover so that you can lock it for transportation. This weekend, I will be bringing chili to a hallowe'en party inside this cooker in the trunk of my car. No worries, no bags, and no bungy cords. Highly recommended by a picky guy.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DDXWFY0 Dash Rapid Egg Cooker: 6 Egg Capacity Electric Egg Cooker for Hard Boiled Eggs, Poached Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, or Omelets with Auto Shut Off Feature - Black One of my favorite purchases of 2017 2018. Hard boil a half dozen eggs at a time without paying attention then lift the tray out and drop it into a bowl of iced water. Perfect eggs and easy clean up without taking up a heating element on your stove top.

Might as well get a couple of those TCL Roku TVs to go along with all those thumb drives... https://www.amazon.com/TCL-55S405-55-Inch-Ultra-Smart/dp/B01MTGM5I9 CR likes them: https://www.consumerreports.org/lcd-led-oled-tvs/hisense-tcl-high-end-tvs-are-they-worth-it/Rtings.com likes them: https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/tcl/s-series-4k-2017-s405Great for dorms: https://www.tclusa.com/blog/dorm-room-wifiTrickplay for OTA TVAnd they are cheap. Got one from Amazon last BF for $314.49 (plus 5% back on my Prime card). I have two of these and one crapped out this summer. No worries -- TCL sent a guy to my home to fix it.

Buy a hundred of these and sprinkle them over the top of the stockings... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005FYNSZA Put one on your laptop then use Microsoft's FREE SyncToy to back up your data... https://freetvforme.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/backupyourdata.pdf Plug one into one of those TCL Roku TVs we've been talking about and play your own media OR pause, rewind, and fast forward through 90 minutes of OTA television. Merry Christmas!

CR: Hisense vs TCL https://www.consumerreports.org/lcd-led-oled-tvs/hisense-tcl-high-end-tvs-are-they-worth-it/

Some dorms will not allow microwave, toaster, or coffee maker. Dorm size fridge is a good idea.

Got to start with a list. There are some things he will just need like supertwin bedding and toiletries, some kind of computer and clothes. Then there are the things he will want like a television, an iPad, a printer, and a netflix streamer. I like the TCL Roku TVs because they are made for a dorm and include the streaming functions... https://www.tclusa.com/blog/college-dorm-room-tv plus you do not have a lot of wires and devices to manage. For a printer, I have to say I love the Canon all-in-ones. Great text, pictures, double sided scans and prints, automatic document handler, and cheap third party ink. This is the one I use... https://www.bestbuy.com/site/canon-pixma-mx922-network-ready-wireless-all-in-one-printer-black/7919046.p If your student is not particularly technical, the Epson Workforce printers might not need ink replaced over four years... https://www.walmart.com/ip/Epson-Expression-ET-2650-EcoTank-Wireless-Color-All-in-One-Supertank-Printer-with-Scanner-and-Copier/115292538

I suggest you keep an eye out for a TCL Roku TV. These are particularly nice for a dorm since they integrate QAM tuners (for dorm cable television) with Prime/Netflix apps (binging) and 'to go' apps (so they can leverage your premium account features). https://www.tclusa.com/blog/college-dorm-room-tv Maybe you can win one! https://steamykitchen.com/47000-tcl-roku-smart-led-tv-giveaway.html Or just buy one at Walmart for $150... https://www.walmart.com/ip/TCL-32-Class-HD-720P-Roku-Smart-LED-TV-32S305/55577812