conceptual23
conceptual23's Stats
- Review Count10
- Helpfulness Votes19
- First ReviewMay 20, 2016
- Last ReviewJune 24, 2016
- Featured Reviews0
- Average Rating4.5
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- Answer Count4
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- First AnswerMay 22, 2016
- Last AnswerMay 24, 2016
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conceptual23's Reviews
Hauppauge - HD PVR 60 USB Video Recorder - Black
Capture your gaming skills in real time as you play through your favorite video games with this Hauppauge HD PVR 60 1600 USB video recorder, which features 1080p recording resolution for clear visuals. The no-delay pass through minimizes lag time in your recordings.
King of the Budget Capture Cards!
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
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Before I dive into my review of the product, allow me to explain what I mean by "budget capture card". (Anything sub $120.00) Now that I've gotten that out of the way I'll begin my review. I've had tons of experience with Hauppauge capture devices over the years using the HD PVR 2 as my "daily driver" capture card to record footage for my Youtube Gaming Channel.
Hardware:
The hardware is fairly small (3.2 x 7.5 x 8 inches) and doesn't take up too much space. It's sleek with a silver finish across the top with that actually looks pretty nice. I was skeptical about the color scheme at first but it works well with the black finish around the device. To my surprise there is a blue LED strip that lights up when the device is powered and during recording. It looks great! Also, there's a push-to-record button at the top corner edge to trigger recording if you're unable to get to your computer. Just press the button and the recording process begins instantly. The rear I/O of the device has three ports, an HDMI IN (from the source) HDMI OUT (to connect to your TV) and a USB port.
The hardware is fairly small (3.2 x 7.5 x 8 inches) and doesn't take up too much space. It's sleek with a silver finish across the top with that actually looks pretty nice. I was skeptical about the color scheme at first but it works well with the black finish around the device. To my surprise there is a blue LED strip that lights up when the device is powered and during recording. It looks great! Also, there's a push-to-record button at the top corner edge to trigger recording if you're unable to get to your computer. Just press the button and the recording process begins instantly. The rear I/O of the device has three ports, an HDMI IN (from the source) HDMI OUT (to connect to your TV) and a USB port.
Setup:
The HD PVR 60 setup process is a breeze (as with the HD PVR 2) and can be done in as little as two minutes. Just connect the provided USB cable to the device along with your HDMI cable to the "HDMI IN" slot, download the Hauppauge Capture software and you're good to go!
There is no power cable to connect as the device is powered from your computer's USB port. (this is extremely practical and a welcomed change as the older devices included a bulky ac adapter.)
The HD PVR 60 setup process is a breeze (as with the HD PVR 2) and can be done in as little as two minutes. Just connect the provided USB cable to the device along with your HDMI cable to the "HDMI IN" slot, download the Hauppauge Capture software and you're good to go!
There is no power cable to connect as the device is powered from your computer's USB port. (this is extremely practical and a welcomed change as the older devices included a bulky ac adapter.)
Software
The Hauppauge Capture Software is streamlined and user friendly. Its very simple to use! The video quality settings, microphone input levels, game sound levels, and face cam settings are all located on the main screen for easy access. In addition the tabs across the top of the program allow for easy video editing, streaming and uploading to Youtube. There is also an option for skip back recording which I rarely use but it's useful if you're playing a game and forget to hit record. Bottom line is it just gets the job done. There are other 3rd party applications that are compatible with the PVR 60 but I won't mention them in this review. The software allows you to export recordings in MP4, MT2S and TS formats. It is also can capture video at a bitrate of up to 16Mbps and 48k audio at 384kbps. I find the software extremely simple to use. It just works!
The Hauppauge Capture Software is streamlined and user friendly. Its very simple to use! The video quality settings, microphone input levels, game sound levels, and face cam settings are all located on the main screen for easy access. In addition the tabs across the top of the program allow for easy video editing, streaming and uploading to Youtube. There is also an option for skip back recording which I rarely use but it's useful if you're playing a game and forget to hit record. Bottom line is it just gets the job done. There are other 3rd party applications that are compatible with the PVR 60 but I won't mention them in this review. The software allows you to export recordings in MP4, MT2S and TS formats. It is also can capture video at a bitrate of up to 16Mbps and 48k audio at 384kbps. I find the software extremely simple to use. It just works!
Video Quality
The video quality of the card captures is quite impressive. It uses a H.264 AVCHD high definition video encoder, which allows recording resolutions to 1080p 60 frames per sec at up to 16mbps. Simply put, the recording a crystal clear, crisp and super smooth! The image quality will rival any non PCIE capture cards. Personally, I record gameplay at a constant 16Mbps bitrate and capture about ten minutes of gameplay at at a time. The file sizes range anywhere from 4GB -5GB per file. (NOTE: this can be easily adjusted for lower file sizes by adjusting the bitrate. I just wanted to give you an example of file sizes to obtain the best possible image quality)
The video quality of the card captures is quite impressive. It uses a H.264 AVCHD high definition video encoder, which allows recording resolutions to 1080p 60 frames per sec at up to 16mbps. Simply put, the recording a crystal clear, crisp and super smooth! The image quality will rival any non PCIE capture cards. Personally, I record gameplay at a constant 16Mbps bitrate and capture about ten minutes of gameplay at at a time. The file sizes range anywhere from 4GB -5GB per file. (NOTE: this can be easily adjusted for lower file sizes by adjusting the bitrate. I just wanted to give you an example of file sizes to obtain the best possible image quality)
Cons
Despite the many things that I love about this card, there are a handful of negatives that I must list here because this card/software are not 100% perfect.
- The software (or hardware) sometimes disconnects after long periods of continuous recording. Could be a USB connectivity issue or perhaps overheating? Or Firmware? I'm not really sure
Despite the many things that I love about this card, there are a handful of negatives that I must list here because this card/software are not 100% perfect.
- The software (or hardware) sometimes disconnects after long periods of continuous recording. Could be a USB connectivity issue or perhaps overheating? Or Firmware? I'm not really sure
- Image quality sometimes appears fragmented or pixelated. To be fair this has only happened once so it may be an anomaly but still it's worth mentioning.
- 16Mbps bitrate recording. This is just my personal preference but I'd like to see this a bit higher. I've seen other competitors cards offer bitrates up into the 20's and I'd like to see this product up into that range as well.
Conclusion
This is an amazing product that I highly recommend! Image quality is great, sound is great, and despite a few cons its still an amazing capture card. Especially at this price point. You won't be disappointed.
This is an amazing product that I highly recommend! Image quality is great, sound is great, and despite a few cons its still an amazing capture card. Especially at this price point. You won't be disappointed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
+6points
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WD - My Book 3TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive - Black
Save plenty of media and other files on this WD My Book external hard drive, which features a 3TB capacity for ample storage space. WD SmartWare Pro software backs up your files automatically for simple use.
Perfect Backup Storage for Content Creators
Customer Rating
5.0
I'm a Youtube content creator by night and this device is perfect to store my backup videos after they've been uploaded. Each video is approx 500mb to 1gb and rather than delete each video I store it away for safe keeping on this nifty drive.
The write speed is solid enough to do the job (but nowhere near my raid configuration) thought I have noticed a slight lag when playing back a file directly from the drive on occasion. No biggie. The drive gets the job done, and simply put that's all you can ask for. Thumbs up!
The write speed is solid enough to do the job (but nowhere near my raid configuration) thought I have noticed a slight lag when playing back a file directly from the drive on occasion. No biggie. The drive gets the job done, and simply put that's all you can ask for. Thumbs up!
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
+1point
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Madden NFL 16 Standard Edition - Xbox One
Be the playmaker in Madden NFL 16 with all-new controls that allow you to dominate in the battle for air supremacy. New QB mechanics including body-relative throws and touch passes provide unprecedented depth and control while under center. Combined with a new risk/reward catch and pass-defend system, get ready for the biggest WOW moments in franchise history.
One of the best versions in a while!
Customer Rating
5.0
As you can see there are thousands of reviews for this game so instead of regurgitating what was already written I'll just stick to the basics. This is a great game! Period. I've had the most fun with this year's Madden more so than any other. Its 100% must own if you're a fan of the franchise.
The issues that I have with the game are pretty significant in my opinion but not enough to warrant any less than a 5 star review. Complaints about the passing mechanics, run fits, defensive pressure are all something that should be noted. But like with any game you play there are always things to tweak or that can be improved. Yes the impact the game but they're aren't overbearing by any means.
Graphics: 10
Fun Factor: 8
Controls: 8
Fun Factor: 8
Controls: 8
Overall review 9/10
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
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Sony - DSCWX220 18.2-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Use this Sony DSCWX220 digital camera's motion-shot video technology to trace subject movement, delivering stable, high-definition recordings in 1080p. The 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor enables optimized low-light image capture.Memory card sold separately.
A Perfect Camera for Vlogging!
Customer Rating
4.0
This little guy is the perfect camera for all of you vloggers out there! That's primarily what I use it for. Since I rarely use it for taking photos I can't really comment on it in that regard. But for vlogging this thing flat out gets it done! My biggest surprise was how great the audio sounded as well. Though its not entirely perfect. In my experience the camera has a tendency to overheat and power down during long recordings. (which is kind of annoying because half of the time I rarely notice it's off and I'm still talking) Also the battery life isn't really that great either. I always carry a few spares to bypass that issue.
Image Quality 9
Sound Quality 7
Sound Quality 7
An awesome point n shooter that's records amazing video. Highly recommended
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
+10points
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Fitbit - Flex Wireless Activity Tracker - Red
Fitbit Flex Activity Tracker: Maintain a healthy, active lifestyle with help from this wireless activity tracker, which tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes and sleep patterns for 24/7 monitoring. A wireless sync dongle is included for easy connectivity to your Windows, Apple® or Android device.
A Perfect Fit for the Health Enthusiast
Customer Rating
5.0
I received this as a Christmas Gift and thought that it would be a complete waste of time. Boy was I wrong! This little device has become one of my favorite gadgets in my collections. I rarely leave the house without it.
At first I did have a little difficulty with syncing it to my phone but that was due to user error. It does a great job of tracking steps, sleep patterns and even allows me to complete step challenges with friends. Its a great device! Highly recommended.
At first I did have a little difficulty with syncing it to my phone but that was due to user error. It does a great job of tracking steps, sleep patterns and even allows me to complete step challenges with friends. Its a great device! Highly recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
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Apple - iPhone 6s 16GB (Verizon)
A 4.7-inch Retina HD display with 3D Touch. 7000 series aluminum and stronger cover glass. An A9 chip with 64-bit desktop-class architecture. All new 12MP iSight camera with Live Photos. Touch ID. Faster LTE and Wi-Fi. Long battery life and iOS 9 and iCloud. All in a smooth, continuous unibody design.
Another solid Iphone! Nothing more Nothing Less
Customer Rating
5.0
Posted by: conceptual23
on May 22, 2016
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Another solid version of the Iphone here folks! Without a doubt I wish I could go further in details about it's extraordinary features and the new revolutionary advancements but unfortunately I can't. Apple is good at what it does and has no reason to change the formula. If you've used an Iphone before, you know exactly what I mean.
What I will tell you is that this is a rock solid product that is stable, snappy, flat out gets the job done! Oh and I forgot to mention it's amazing camera! Pound for pound this phone brings it, and despite this just being my work phone I sometimes use it as much as my daily driver. Thumbs up!
What I will tell you is that this is a rock solid product that is stable, snappy, flat out gets the job done! Oh and I forgot to mention it's amazing camera! Pound for pound this phone brings it, and despite this just being my work phone I sometimes use it as much as my daily driver. Thumbs up!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sony - Gold Wireless Stereo Headset for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 - Black
Sony Gold Wireless Stereo Headset: Pinpoint which direction the action is coming from with this 7.1 virtual surround sound headset. Download the Headset Companion app to experience exclusive custom audio settings for supported PlayStation games.
Money down the drain.
Customer Rating
2.0
My 2 of 5 star rating has nothing to do with the functionality or performance of the product. Simpy put the headset worked and did exactly what it was supposed to. (when I could use it)
The issue that I had with this headset was it's poor build quality. I owned this product for less than a year and with moderate, the headset practically disintegrated. Ok of course I'm exaggerating a bit here but after six to eight months of use, the arc band between the speaker began peeling off and exposing the styrofoam. Six weeks later the entire arc collapsed inward rendering the entire product inoperable. As a consumer, I am annoyed that such a low quality product can be manufactured and sold for $100.00
Save your money and look elsewhere for better quality headphones.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
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Microsoft - Windows 10 Home Operating System - Other - English
Windows 10 Home Operating System: Stay productive with a new web browser that lets you draw notes directly on a web page, and with Cortana, a personal digital assistant that helps you browse for information, write emails, and more. When it's time for gaming, stream your favorite Xbox One games directly onto your Windows 10 PC, laptop, or tablet.
Microsoft hits a homerun with Windows 10!
Customer Rating
4.0
Before I begin this review lets just all pretend the days of Windows 8 never happened. Going back to Windows 7 Microsoft built a platform that was both stable, sleek and easy to use for all. Simply put this was the OS that we'd been waiting for since this beginning.
Fast forward us now to Windows 10. This OS takes everything that Windows 7 did right and builds on that. The first thing I notices about it is how responsive or snappy the software is. Accessing programs, opening closing windows, and navigating through multiple apps are as quick as snapping a finger. (Of course the responsiveness is predicated on hardware to some degree. Mine is a I7 3930K, RF4, 16GB Ram, GTX 980, 240GB SSD in case you were wondering) But I've used the OS on much lesser hardware and the experience is just about the same. Now the most obvious change for Windows 10 is the clever search field in on the home screen. Its about time Windows implemented this feature. I find myself using this for everything from loading programs to searching for drivers. I love it! Simply put this is the OS to own if you're still one of the few who are considering whether or not Windows 10 is for you.
Now I would've given this a complete five star review but this OS isn't flawless. I've noticed that the system hangs during startup from time to time after updates. And also, the updates are mandatory! You can no longer avoid them. I don't fully understand the logic behind this but it is what it is. I've been forced to do several clean installs over the last year due to this. (Pretty annoying)
Overall I'd say this is a great product and its a huge leap in the right direction for Windows. Thumbs up
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
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Dragon Ball Xenoverse - Xbox One
The Dragon Ball universe has evolved into a familiar, well-loved world filled with vibrant, memorable characters over the years, thanks to series' creator Akira Toriyama — but sometimes traditions are meant to be broken. Dragon Ball Xenoverse — the newest addition to the Dragon Ball legacy — delivers a new-world setup and new gameplay design, incorporating familiar elements from the Dragon Ball universe with new, exciting possibilities and features. Explore an enigmatic city shrouded in mystery in Dragon Ball Xenoverse.A clock that once had stopped will start to tick again in Dragon Ball Xenoverse, which is set in an all-new futuristic city. Engage in epic encounters between Goku and his fiercest foes, including Vegeta, Frieza and Cell. With improved gameplay, you'll be able to unleash destruction on opponents in the form of fast-paced, savage battles, as well as transforming in real-time. Who's that new fighter? Reveal the identity of an unheard-of figure that appears with a uniform, cape and scouter. Your favorite manga will never be the same again after being depicted on the Xbox One console for the first time ever. Rebirth the hostility between Goku and his enemies in Dragon Ball Xenoverse.
A Must Buy for Dragonball fans!
Customer Rating
5.0
For anyone who is a Dragonball Z fan or a fan of the Dragonball Z game in general, this game is for you! First and foremost, this review my seem a bit biased because I'm a big fan of DBZ so I have nothing but positives to say about this game.
Gameplay: 10
Graphics: 10
Fun Factor: 8
Music/Sound: 8
Gameplay: 10
Graphics: 10
Fun Factor: 8
Music/Sound: 8
I would have given the game 10 overall across the board except for the fun factor tends to lessen as the fight sequences tend get a little repetitive. The game doesn't always clarify it's objective as well at times and forces you to wander around aimlessly until you stumble onto the correct path to complete a mission. Also the difficulty gets a little ridiculous after while and gets pretty frustrating. As for the voice acting and sound goes, the voice actors do a solid job in portraying the show's characters but something sounds a tad off to me. I may be knit picking here but some of the voices get annoyingly monotone from time to time. Regardless its still a great game that anyone should check out.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
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Polaroid - ZINK Photo 2" x 3" 20-Count Paper - Black
Print fun snapshots instantly with this Polaroid ZINK photo paper, which works with select Polaroid instant cameras and printers to create 2" x 3" prints. The sticky back design lets you display your photos easily.
Solid Product Works as Advertised!
Customer Rating
5.0
I purchased this product as a gift for a gift to go with the portable Polaroid camera and it works flawlessly. It's a great product that works as described. My only gripe with it is the product pricing vs bang for buck. I'd like to see the product offered for a little less because if you take a lot of pictures, 20 sheets can run out pretty quickly. Other than that I recommend it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
My Best Buy number: 2849480067
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Seagate Game Drive for Xbox Officially Licensed 2TB External USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive - Green
Nothing says “Game Over” for the Xbox experience like an overloaded drive. Boost your console’s storage capacity with the Seagate® Game Drive for Xbox, the only external drive designed exclusively for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. In a slim size that fits in your pocket, you can store your current game collection and downloadable content—with tons of space left over for your next most anticipated games.
Will this work on the Xbox 360S?
I've used it with my XB1 before.
8 years ago
by
Posted by:
conceptual23
WD - My Book 3TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive - Black
Save plenty of media and other files on this WD My Book external hard drive, which features a 3TB capacity for ample storage space. WD SmartWare Pro software backs up your files automatically for simple use.
Is this compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 8.1?
The reason that I'm asking is that I have a Seagate external hard drive that I used to back up my computer that just crashed that had Windows XP on it. I now have a computer with Windows 8.1 on it. When I went to transfer my files from my Seagate external hard drive to my new computer with Windows 8.1, the Seagate is NOT compatible with Windows 8.1 so I had to manually transfer my files and I lost ALL of my emails because no one seems to know how to manually transfer them to my new computer. Whenever my new computer crashes, I would like to know that the WD external hard drive will be compatible with Windows 10 system.
I'm using it with Windows 10 just fine! It's just been plug n play for me. I hope this helps.
8 years ago
by
Posted by:
conceptual23
Microsoft - Windows 10 Home Operating System - Other - English
Windows 10 Home Operating System: Stay productive with a new web browser that lets you draw notes directly on a web page, and with Cortana, a personal digital assistant that helps you browse for information, write emails, and more. When it's time for gaming, stream your favorite Xbox One games directly onto your Windows 10 PC, laptop, or tablet.
I have an old operating system, Windows XP. Will I be able to install Windows 10 with a flash drive?
Well if you're still running XP the question should be whether your hardware can support Windows 10. Windows 10 requires:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster.
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Free hard disk space: 16 GB.
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
A Microsoft account and Internet access.
Also if your hardware is compatible I doubt you will be able upgrade directly from XP. You will likely need to do a clean install. Hope this helps
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster.
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Free hard disk space: 16 GB.
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
A Microsoft account and Internet access.
Also if your hardware is compatible I doubt you will be able upgrade directly from XP. You will likely need to do a clean install. Hope this helps
8 years ago
by
Posted by:
conceptual23
Microsoft - Windows 10 Home Operating System - Other - English
Windows 10 Home Operating System: Stay productive with a new web browser that lets you draw notes directly on a web page, and with Cortana, a personal digital assistant that helps you browse for information, write emails, and more. When it's time for gaming, stream your favorite Xbox One games directly onto your Windows 10 PC, laptop, or tablet.
Fixing BSOD
I want to know if installing a new operating system will fix my black screen of death. I had windows 7. Can I install windows 10 or do I have to stay with 7. Thanks for your help.
Not necessarily. You need to research the cause the BSOD and address it prior to installing your new OS.
8 years ago
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Posted by:
conceptual23