dustinw
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dustinw's Stats
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- First ReviewOctober 5, 2010
- Last ReviewMay 23, 2024
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- Average Rating4.8
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- Answer Count16
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- First AnswerAugust 9, 2013
- Last AnswerDecember 10, 2021
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Claw A1M-051US, a groundbreaking handheld gaming device that marks a new era in portable gaming experiences. Powered by Intel Core Ultra processors and featuring Intel® XeSS technology, ensuring a smooth and immersive gameplay experience even on AAA titles
Excellent Hardware, Improving Software
Customer Rating
4.0
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The MSI Claw is a very interesting piece of tech. Using Intel’s new Core Ultra processors and running Windows gives it a wide range of compatibility. However, since Intel’s processors are on the newer side, there seems to be a few little wrinkles on the software side. Intel does seem to be moving rapidly to improve its drivers and, in turn, performance.
- Hardware –
The physical feel and appearance of the Claw are excellent. Its weight feels very balanced, and it is extremely comfortable to hold, even for extended periods. I am one of those that like to rest my hands on a surface while I’m using a handheld, and I’ve found that the Claw is very comfortable for this. The grips feel great, and button placement feels natural as well. It’s also nice that where your hands are resting while using the Claw that they don’t block the speakers. The hall effect thumbsticks feel great too. Control feels precise and there are options to tweak them to suit your needs as well. Face buttons feel good too. Triggers are also a high point for me. The bumpers are not quite as satisfying feeling as the triggers, but they still feel good. The screen is excellent, 1080p resolution, high refresh rates, with good colors and the added benefit of VRR. Touch also works very well in my time using it.
The physical feel and appearance of the Claw are excellent. Its weight feels very balanced, and it is extremely comfortable to hold, even for extended periods. I am one of those that like to rest my hands on a surface while I’m using a handheld, and I’ve found that the Claw is very comfortable for this. The grips feel great, and button placement feels natural as well. It’s also nice that where your hands are resting while using the Claw that they don’t block the speakers. The hall effect thumbsticks feel great too. Control feels precise and there are options to tweak them to suit your needs as well. Face buttons feel good too. Triggers are also a high point for me. The bumpers are not quite as satisfying feeling as the triggers, but they still feel good. The screen is excellent, 1080p resolution, high refresh rates, with good colors and the added benefit of VRR. Touch also works very well in my time using it.
- Software –
On the software side, there are a few things to be aware of. Like I mentioned before, some of the software is in its early stages, so, like other handhelds, it has a few issues but is rapidly improving. MSI’s control center has had a few updates already in the short time I’ve had the Claw, improving with each release. Graphics drivers and BIOS updates have also been rapidly improving. Each offering more performance and options. In fact, I was going to post a review earlier, but read about an upcoming BIOS release (109) that offered significant improvements, so I waited to get it installed and test some more. To MSI’s credit, the new update did bring significant improvements. They included a new “Overboost” mode along with other improvements that added performance in every game I tested. I imagine that each release of new Intel graphics drivers will offer further improvements as well. But the rapid pace that MSI is releasing BIOS and other updates shows they’re committed to the Claw. The other side of the coin is Windows. I really wanted a handheld that ran Windows natively. Not only are you able to run Steam on it, you get the added benefit of running any other launcher on there as well. For me, the big one being Xbox Game Pass. Having a subscription (which the Claw comes with a trial for), is an excellent way to play and try out games. Being able to play games from any launcher without jumping through a bunch of hoops is a huge plus to me. The downside of that being that some things aren’t quite optimized for the smaller screen, or without an actual mouse. Though the Claw’s thumbsticks do work to move the mouse cursor, and the Claw’s overlay will allow you to initiate the on-screen keyboard at any time. One issue I did have, was during the initial setup of Windows. The keyboard to enter information never showed. This seems to be a known issue, as MSI suggest you just restart the Claw using the power button, and this did allow me to continue setup. The overlay was very useful to me in general though. It includes options for screenshots/recording, switching performance profiles, getting frame information and more. Another benefit of running on Windows though, you also get the opportunity to use MSI’s Android emulator. Making it possible to play Android games on the Claw as well. Many of which support controllers, so it just adds another platform of games that are playable.
On the software side, there are a few things to be aware of. Like I mentioned before, some of the software is in its early stages, so, like other handhelds, it has a few issues but is rapidly improving. MSI’s control center has had a few updates already in the short time I’ve had the Claw, improving with each release. Graphics drivers and BIOS updates have also been rapidly improving. Each offering more performance and options. In fact, I was going to post a review earlier, but read about an upcoming BIOS release (109) that offered significant improvements, so I waited to get it installed and test some more. To MSI’s credit, the new update did bring significant improvements. They included a new “Overboost” mode along with other improvements that added performance in every game I tested. I imagine that each release of new Intel graphics drivers will offer further improvements as well. But the rapid pace that MSI is releasing BIOS and other updates shows they’re committed to the Claw. The other side of the coin is Windows. I really wanted a handheld that ran Windows natively. Not only are you able to run Steam on it, you get the added benefit of running any other launcher on there as well. For me, the big one being Xbox Game Pass. Having a subscription (which the Claw comes with a trial for), is an excellent way to play and try out games. Being able to play games from any launcher without jumping through a bunch of hoops is a huge plus to me. The downside of that being that some things aren’t quite optimized for the smaller screen, or without an actual mouse. Though the Claw’s thumbsticks do work to move the mouse cursor, and the Claw’s overlay will allow you to initiate the on-screen keyboard at any time. One issue I did have, was during the initial setup of Windows. The keyboard to enter information never showed. This seems to be a known issue, as MSI suggest you just restart the Claw using the power button, and this did allow me to continue setup. The overlay was very useful to me in general though. It includes options for screenshots/recording, switching performance profiles, getting frame information and more. Another benefit of running on Windows though, you also get the opportunity to use MSI’s Android emulator. Making it possible to play Android games on the Claw as well. Many of which support controllers, so it just adds another platform of games that are playable.
- Perfomance –
Performance can vary greatly between games on the Claw. I believe this is largely due to the lack of maturity of Intel’s Arc graphics. Some games, like the Forza games (Forza Motorsport 2023 and Forza Horizon 5) perform very well on the Claw. In the previous BIOS (106), there was some stuttering present in these games, but the latest BIOS (109) seems to have largely eliminated these issues. I don’t think the stuttering was a lack of performance, it seems related to something else, as it would be fairly consistent, then stutter for a moment. Going from framerates in the mid-30s to the mid-40s with the 109 update. Cyberpunk 2077 is another example of the performance gains. I was also about to get into the 40s with it as well. There’s plenty of room for tweaking to get added performance as well. I’m sure there will be even further gains as Intel and MSI make continued updates as well. I would say this is in line, performance-wise as other handhelds. Though it will vary between games.
- Audio –
I wanted to take a moment to point out how excellent the speakers are on the Claw. It has the best sounding speakers of any of the handhelds I’ve used. Far surpassing several of them. There is software that enhances the audio as well, imitating surround sound, that is very believable. This is also made even better by the speaker placement, making sure your hands don’t block the speakers as you’re holding the Claw.
Performance can vary greatly between games on the Claw. I believe this is largely due to the lack of maturity of Intel’s Arc graphics. Some games, like the Forza games (Forza Motorsport 2023 and Forza Horizon 5) perform very well on the Claw. In the previous BIOS (106), there was some stuttering present in these games, but the latest BIOS (109) seems to have largely eliminated these issues. I don’t think the stuttering was a lack of performance, it seems related to something else, as it would be fairly consistent, then stutter for a moment. Going from framerates in the mid-30s to the mid-40s with the 109 update. Cyberpunk 2077 is another example of the performance gains. I was also about to get into the 40s with it as well. There’s plenty of room for tweaking to get added performance as well. I’m sure there will be even further gains as Intel and MSI make continued updates as well. I would say this is in line, performance-wise as other handhelds. Though it will vary between games.
- Audio –
I wanted to take a moment to point out how excellent the speakers are on the Claw. It has the best sounding speakers of any of the handhelds I’ve used. Far surpassing several of them. There is software that enhances the audio as well, imitating surround sound, that is very believable. This is also made even better by the speaker placement, making sure your hands don’t block the speakers as you’re holding the Claw.
Pros: Great physical design and comfort, nice buttons and thumbsticks, good screen, excellent audio, rapid improvements to software
Cons: Software inconsistency, some performance issues (though seemingly greatly improving), user experience isn’t super friendly just yet (also improving)
Cons: Software inconsistency, some performance issues (though seemingly greatly improving), user experience isn’t super friendly just yet (also improving)
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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The Pixel Tablet is designed to be helpful at home and with work. Control your smart home, and say “Hey Google” for hands-free help, ¹. It’s powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip, and it’s the perfect companion to your Pixel phone.
Elegant hardware and refined software
Customer Rating
5.0
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The Google Pixel tablet has become more and more refined since it was launched, and this latest release lets it shine at the many things that it does very well. The tablet is very lightweight, has an excellent screen, performs very well, and is great for practically anything you would like to use it for.
- Hardware -
The tablet itself is very elegant feeling. The soft-feeling material of the back of the device isn't slippery and is very easy to hold. Its light weight helps it from feeling too heavy, even for long sessions of holding it. Performance is another strong suit. It has performed very well at every test I've thrown at it. From games to using drawing apps. I purchased a stylus to use with it, and it feels great to draw on as well. I must say that I am also very happy with the hazel color. It looks very elegant and is not something you find very often.
- Software -
This is likely where I think most people will be impressed with the tablet. There are many little things that it does that you don't even realize. Using it as a controller for your smart home is an excellent use-case. The Google Home app not only works very well on the tablet, but its layout is also very well optimized for it. Another thing I find very useful is the ability to have multiple accounts. My wife and I both use the tablet, and having quick, easy access to both our accounts, while keeping them separate, is great. I can use the tablet for gaming or drawing, then hand it over to her for something she's learning to bake. The ability to split the screen with multiple apps, or browser tabs is also very useful. I often will have a live-streaming auction app open, along with a browser or another app for any research I need to do while the auction is running. It's also very useful to be able to drag and drop things between apps. Like dropping a photo into an email. It's intuitive and easy to do.
- Battery Life -
The battery has been pretty good in our use as well. Browsing and things like that don't really seem to tax the battery all too much. Gaming, of course, will drain it more quickly. I'd say we get probably around 7-8 hours of mixed use. Some of that is heavy gaming time, other things are simple browsing, or viewing videos on YouTube.
- Pros -
Nice feeling, and looking, hardware. Excellent software experience that is continually improving. Multitasking and split screen experience is great. Good battery life. Nice looking screen.
- Cons -
Battery life could be a bit better but is actually pretty good. I do wish it came with a charging brick.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience the height of gaming innovation with the ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring an all-new premium aluminum chassis with customizable lighting, this laptop merges style and durability. Its ultra-slim 0.59” profile and lightweight 4.30lbs 16” chassis redefines portability without compromising performance. Powered by Windows 11, an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, the Zephyrus G16 seamlessly aligns with your lifestyle, meeting all your gaming and creative demands. ROG Intelligent Cooling features liquid metal for reduced CPU temperatures and upgraded Arc Flow Fans for improved airflow to sustain peak performance on the Zephyrus G16 no matter the task. Immerse yourself in the OLED ROG Nebula Display and enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 2.5K resolution, and a smooth 240Hz refresh rate.
Incredible Performance
Customer Rating
5.0
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I think you would be hard pressed to find a better gaming laptop that is currently on the market. This laptop is absolutely stacked with features, including some that aren't readily available anywhere else, like the OLED screen. The screen is truly impressive. With its native resolution of 2560x1600, it's very sharp, but being an OLED screen, the contrast, color reproduction and viewing angles all benefit and far surpass its competition. Then, you add the ability to use up to 240Hz refresh rates, and you can see how special this laptop is already. Using the screen is an absolute pleasure. This combined with the performance and design, makes this laptop an equally good choice for creatives.
As someone who's daily work uses Adobe's suite of products (Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, Illustrator), along with 3D rendering software which includes Blender and other tools, gaming machines are often the best machines to use for my variety of work. It's refreshing to see a laptop that is clearly a gaming laptop in spec and capability, but its design makes it welcome for professional use too. The color reproduction also helps in this area, as the screen has very accurate color. The outer casing of the laptop looks sleek, the slash is a subtle, and nice touch. The lighting can be disabled if you find it distracting. It doesn't gather lots of fingerprints either. Its weight isn't overly heavy either. ASUS has managed to check nearly every possible box.
Of course, I also do a lot of gaming, and the laptop does not disappoint here either. I have ran benchmarks in some of the more demanding games, or ones that have good benchmarking tools so I could share my results. Needless to say, this laptop handled everything I threw at it without much trouble. I'll start with probably one of the most demanding tests, Cyberpunk 2077. Using its Overdrive Ray Tracing mode will bring many machines to their knees. If you're playing using the OLED screen on the laptop at 2160x1600 resolution, you can easily get 60 FPS utilizing Nvidia's frame generation. As I often game on my TV or Monitor. I connected the laptop to those to push it harder at 4k for most of my testing. Cyberpunk, still using its overdrive ray tracing and ultra settings was able to run at 45-50 FPS, which is truly impressive. When using a VRR display, this makes for a very playable and incredible looking experience. This was by far the hardest test for this laptop, and I'd say it was a huge win. With minor tweaks, you could be running at 60 FPS easily. Or if you're using the laptop's OLED screen, you wouldn't have to do any tweaks and just play it maxed out. Other games were easily maxed out as well. Forza Horizon 5 is another game I like to use for testing, since its benchmark tool usually shows any weak points as well. Forza Horizon 5 was a locked 60 FPS at 4K. I imagine you could easily run at higher framerates on the laptop's screen as well. I also tested using Gears 5. It's a bit older game, but it has a great benchmarking tool, and it helps to show just how well this laptop performs. It easily pushed 60 FPS at 4k with every setting maxed. I'm positive it could push higher framerates too. I also wanted to mention that all these tests were utilizing ASUS's Armory Crate software to dial in the performance of the laptop. I used the "Ultimate" GPU setting and the "Performance" CPU setting. You could likely squeeze out even more performance by switching the CPU to use the "Turbo" setting. I liked to keep the laptop on the "Performance" setting, since the fan didn't have to work as hard while using the "Performance" setting. This laptop has the capability to be your gaming machine for quite some time.
If you are in the market for a high-end gaming or creative laptop, this laptop easily handles both. Its performance combined with an incredible OLED screen make it an easy choice. It's clear a lot of thought has gone into the design of this laptop as well. While you can charge using a USB, that won't quite provide enough power if you're trying to game on it as well. Using the included charger will allow you fully utilize the machine, and while it may seem like a minor feature, it's one that I really like. The plug for the laptop is reversible, sort of a like a USB 3 cable. There's no fumbling trying to figure out which way to plug it in. My only minor complaint is that there is no ethernet port. Not a deal breaker, since you could use a USB hub to utilize one, but it would be nice to have on the laptop itself.
Pros: Incredible Performance, Beautiful Screen, Well Designed, Good Battery Life, Compact and lightweight for a gaming laptop
Cons: No built in ethernet port
Cons: No built in ethernet port
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
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The Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra high-performance wireless smart game controller with charge dock is built for gamers who demand the best. Lag-free wireless quickly connects to Xbox consoles, and Windows PCs, plus Bluetooth for Android devices & supported Smart TVs. Tactile microswitches throughout provide fast, reliable response and last up to 5X longer than standard buttons, while AntiDrift thumbsticks eliminate drift for precise, customizable control and adjustable triggers suit your game on the fly. The Connected Command Display lets you customize the RGB lighting, audio, thumbsticks, mappable buttons and more, plus patented technology receives social notifications from your phone. Best of all, adjustable power modes provide up to 30 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Full featured controller
Customer Rating
5.0
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It's clear there was a lot of thought out into the Stealth Ultra. Having primarily used an Xbox Elite Series 2 since it's release in late 2019, I haven't really found anything that was close to the feel of it. The Stealth Ultra May just fill that position. It has many of the features that made the Elite great, while adding new features and improving in some respects. First, the feel of the Stealth Ultra is excellent. The hand grips are nice and comfortable, the buttons have a nice clicky feel, which was one of my biggest complaints against the Elite. With the elite, sometimes my button presses wouldn't register, and I haven't had that problem with the Stealth.
The controller is also very lightweight. Which is something I think I prefer from the Elite. The Elite seemed to nail the weight, though I'm sure other will very much prefer the lighter weight of the Stealth. I really like the thumbsticks of Stealth. Especially with the optional cross-type caps that come with it. I much preferred those to the more grippy ones that also come with the controller.
One of the Stealth's features that stood out to me was the addition of hall effect thumbsticks. These are supposed to combat stick drift, which is a constant annoyance of most controllers. The Elite would occasionally suffer from this as well.
Probably the feature that most are curious about, would be the screen. The screen allows you to modify settings and see social notifications directly on the controller. While this may seem like a gimmick, it's actually quite useful. Even if you decide to never use the social features, being able to make modifications quickly using the screen is really handy. You're able to adjust the LED color and brightness directly on the controller. You can also adjust the screen brightness, as well as many button configurations. All of which you can save to profiles. You can also edit these profiles on the Xbox, your phone, or on a Windows PC. I will say the app takes a bit of getting used to, as sometimes it's not the most intuitive. It took me a moment to realize changes weren't being saved because I wasn't syncing the changes.
Finally, I've had a few instances of the controller seemingly getting "stuck" in button presses or directions. I'm not sure if this is related to some sort of interference, or a bug. But in these instances, it was like they were being continually pressed. This would range from my character spinning constantly, as if I were holding a direction down, or constantly firing a weapon as if I was holding the trigger. To be clear, I did make sure the controller was up to date, as both the dongle and controller were updated before the issue. Also, these problems seemed to only happen when I was trying the Stealth with the Xbox. I didn't have this problem on PC.
This makes me wonder if the Stealth supported the Xbox wireless protocol, if this would still happen. That's another thing I was a little apprehensive about with the Stealth, since it needs a dongle to work. Though, Turtle Beach was very smart in letting you plug it in the dock that charges the controller and it works very well.
Pros: Excellent feel, nice buttons and thumbsticks, screen is very useful and a nice addition, fast charging, and includes a charge dock
Cons: software is a little difficult to understand at first, occasional glitches with "stuck" buttons or thumbsticks that may be related to software bug or interference, uses a dongle and not native Xbox wireless protocol, though this is handled very well by including it in the dock.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+5points
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Stay protected from a power spike with the Rocketfish RF-HTS2223 12-Outlet/1-USB-C/1-USB 4,680 Joules Surge Protector. It absorbs power surges up to 4,680 joules, keeping your devices safely connected. A USB-C port and USB port efficiently charge your mobile devices with 32 total watts, and additional jacks give your modem/router and cable protection. This surge protector also combines the best of both worlds with six standard-spaced and six wide-spaced outlets to connect your wall chargers. Finally, it includes 3-line protection and status LED lights, so you know when your devices are being protected from surges that can enter all three lines.
An easier way to handle odd-shaped plugs
Customer Rating
5.0
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This surge protector is almost necessary these days with all the varying sizes and shapes of power bricks. From phones to the multitude of other chargers that I have, this easily handles all of them and prevents them from blocking other outlets, which is the problem I have with most other surge protectors and power strips. The added indicator lights are a nice touch, though they may be almost too bright in a dark room. Another great feature of this surge protector is the angled plug. In many cases you may want to tuck a surge protector behind your entertainment stand or something else, only to have to allow more room for the surge protector's plug, since the usually go strait out from the wall. The Rocketfish surge protector has a handy angled plug, so you could easily move furniture closer to the outlet, without having to allow much more room for the surge protector's plug. The added benefit of USB ports is also very welcome, since many devices aren't including the power brick any longer, and only provide a cable for charging.
Pros: Easy to use, smartly designed with spaced and turned outlets, plug is made at an angle so it doesn't interfere with furniture that you'd like close to the wall
Cons: it may be a bit large for some (though this is how they allow the space between outlets), the indicator lights can feel a bit bright in darker rooms.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Surface Laptop Studio 2 is a versatile laptop for creativity and entertainment, combining cutting-edge design with incredible performance to power the most demanding apps.
Well designed and powerful
Customer Rating
5.0
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The Surface Studio 2 is an elegant laptop that offers a few differentiating features that most other laptops can match. Some trade-offs are made for these features, but the result is an incredibly nice and capable laptop and tablet. First things first, the Surface Studio looks very elegant. The finishes feel premium, and the laptop itself also feels very compact. It immediately feels somewhat heavy to hold in comparison to other laptops, but that weight actually feels quite nice when you're using it as a table with the pen for sketching, keeping it firmly in place as you're working. The display is excellent, touch and pen response is great. I do wish that it came with the pen as well. It really allows this laptop to shine, and not including it almost feels liked a missed opportunity. The Surface Studio even has a nice place on the bottom-front that allows you to store and charge the pen. While this isn't a review of the pen, I want to add that the haptics while using the pen on the Surface Studio screen feel outstanding. The added feedback you get that feels like you're drawing on a surface that isn't smooth, like glass.
Performance is another standout feature of the Surface Studio 2. The i7 processor is able to handle most tasks you throw its way, and add in the RTX 4050, and you have a potent portable studio tablet. I do wish the lowest model of RTX card they used was the 4060 though. Just to up the performance a bit and to get more VRAM. Speaking of the video card, while this isn't really intended as a gaming laptop, I couldn't help but run a few benchmarks on it to see what its capable of. I've included them in my review as well. I ran Cyberpunk 2077 and Gears 5, since they both have excellent benchmark tools. Cyperpunk's raytracing is very heavy and I was able to get it playable on the Surface Studio at medium raytracing settings with framerates consistently above 30fps. If you wanted to sacrifice any of the raytracing, you could easily get much higher framerates. Gears 5 could easily be maxed out with Ultra settings and have a steady 60fps. To be fair, it's a bit older now, but it still looks great and runs very well on the Studio.
For most people, creative apps like Photoshop or Fresca will likely be their use-case for the Studio. Both run exceptionally well and again, pen input is superb on both. However, Photoshop doesn't seem to currently support the pen's haptic feedback as of yet. I was able to load up a couple of scenes in Blender and the results were better than expected as well. Cycles renders were in line with my previous desktop machine with a 30 series NVIDIA card.
Specs and performance aside, the Surface Studio 2 is a pleasure to use in all tasks that I've tried with it. The different screen positions really add to its usability. The "Stage" mode as they refer to it is a nice way to bring the screen closer and will be great for plane rides. It angles the screen and would be a great way to watch movies, or game. Moving the screen into this position, there's what feels like a magnetic connection just above the trackpad that holds it in place there. Moving into the "Studio" mode with the screen flat against the base is probably what most people are interested in. The Surface Studio feels excellent in this mode. Also, while in either Stage or Studio mode, Windows 11 will adapt to allow for larger touch targets, which makes it easier to tap whatever you're trying to touch. It also has a nice inking feature that allows you to customize what happens when you press buttons on the pen. It works seamlessly and is a clear sign of how inking has evolved on the Surface line of machines. I've owned several throughout the years (including the original Surface Pro).
If you're a creative, and you're looking for a laptop and/or a drawing tablet, this may be the best of both worlds for you. It's powerful, compact, and very nice to use.
Pros: Excellent hardware, feels and looks very premium, touch and pen input are excellent, gaming performance is good
Cons: Does not include the pen, can seem heavy
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Unlock your car’s smart potential with the latest Nextbase iQ 2K Smart Dash Cam that’s always on duty. Predict threats and protect your car from anywhere using Live View, powered by 4G connectivity. See what your car sees and get custom alerts wherever you are. Park with confidence using Smart Sense Parking, as your iQ constantly scans the surrounding area of your vehicle, detecting potential intruders or vehicles backing up too close, allowing you to intervene using voice or an alarm.
A smart evolution in dash cam
Customer Rating
5.0
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I've been wanting to upgrade my dash cam for years now. There seems to have been a slow innovation in the dash cam market. I believe Nextbase has finally pushed the industry forward. They combined the features that I was looking for in an upgrade and added many that I had not considered. The dash cam features that I was most looking for before upgrading were to be powered by the OBDII, so the camera could monitor parking and be always on, and to have cellular connectivity, so I could check in and monitor the camera at any time, as well as get updates from the camera sent to my phone. The Nextbase iQ has both of these features and more.
I'll start with installation, since that may be a concern to some. I'd like to say that I'm very particular about things that I put in my car too. Not only do I want them to look nice, but I don't want them to cause any cluttered appearances. Thankfully, neither was an issue here. I believe the camera to not take up much space, and routing and hiding the cable to the OBDII was easy and is not visible. The cable was tucked into the trim pieces of my car, around the headliner, down the trim along the side of my windshield and finally under my dash. The cable is not visible. The unit itself also looks nice. It has subtle lights that are not only functional, but also elegant. It warns when events are detected with the lights and with an audible sound.
Along with the installation, setup was also very easy. The app walks you through installation and first-time setup. It's as simple as scanning a QR code within the app the begin the setup process. It was a simple and seamless process. Sticking the camera to the windshield with the adhesive was also very easy, and the camera feels firmly in place.
Video quality has been overall pretty great. It handles the fast movement required for recording while driving at speed. Both inside and out, the views are high quality and would be great for protection or evidence if necessary.
There are also many other useful features, like being able to give others the ability to view the camera as well. Like a significant other. The parking monitoring is one of the features that I wanted most. My previous camera had this functionality, and I wanted to make sure my replacement had it as well. The notifications for any parking events come through pretty quickly, so you can assess any possible problems. There are also driving event detections, like possible impacts that may occur, with the iQ making a clip for these and noting why it marked the event.
The app itself is excellent as well. You can see a feed of events, with thumbnails for all available views (inside, out, and rear if you have the added rear cam). Tapping on the event will, of course, let you view the clip, but you can also see additional information, like the GPS coordinates of where it happened, speeds and time. There are also some pretty neat things, like the SOS mode. Which, in the event of a detected impact will notify emergency services that you need assistance. Or what Nextbase refers to as "Witness Mode", which will record and send the clip to someone that you have designated. There's also the promise of future updates that will further increase the already impressive feature set. The one issue I did have was related to the app. It can sometimes take a long time to start the app, or to move between sections. There's also a bit of time that it may take to connect to the iQ, since it may have powered off to save your car's battery. Hopefully there will be some performance upgrades to the app itself. It's not bad by any means, but if it was possible to speed it up a little, that would make it all the better. Another issue is that recorded audio seems very loud at times. An option to adjust the mic sensitivity may help as well.
This is an excellent dash cam and easy to recommend if you're in the market for an upgrade or your first camera.
Pros: Well-designed, great quality, plenty of nice features, ability to improve with over-the-air updates
Cons: The app can sometimes feel a bit sluggish, audio recording seems overly loud at the moment, and blown out at times. An option to modify the mic gain or sensitivity would be a welcome update in the future.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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Own the moment with the Ray-Ban Meta collection. Iconic style meets the latest in wearable tech that’s designed to help you make the most of [everyday and extraordinary experiences/life as you live it]. Get to know new places with Meta AI as you ask it to take photos, give you information or create captions based on what you see. Capture and share your point of view with a video call or livestream, bringing people closer to your world. Move through your day with your favorite playlist or make a hands-free call or text, without stopping your flow. All while you stay present in the moment.
Impressive style and quality
Customer Rating
5.0
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First things first. These glasses are both stylish and functional. They are comfortable to wear, albeit slightly heavier than typical glasses. But they look great, which is not too surprising since Ray-Ban is involved. But where they really shine is their thoughtful design decisions. Everything seems well thought-out and elegant. Case in point is well, the case. It looks very nice and the glasses charge in them. The glasses snap into the case to charge, and you're shown a subtle light around the case's clasp that indicates the charging level. Again, it's such an elegant design. Setup was equally elegant and easy. The app guides you through the process, which only took a couple of minutes. The app also gives you a quick introduction to using the glasses. All of it is done so well. On to the glasses themselves. I must say, the camera quality is significantly better than I was expecting. Taking a photo is as simple is hitting the button on the frames. It shoots pretty quickly and has an LED indicator letting others know what's happening. Taking videos is equally easy. You just hold that same button for a moment. Video quality is also pretty great. Again, better than I was expecting. I was experimenting with wearing them and shooting video while walking and the stability is impressive as well. It makes for some dynamic and interesting video. The one negative of video recording is that you're limited to about a minute at a time. Though, that is somewhat understandable, considering the video processing that needs to be done. Audio quality of the recordings is another highlight. I was very impressed at how good the audio sounded in the videos I recorded. I was also impressed with how good the audio sounded coming from the built in speakers. I've used other glasses that have Bluetooth headphones built in, and these glasses meet or exceed their quality. You can also use voice commands to do things as well. Saying things like "Meta, take a photo". The responsiveness is excellent in this regard, though the available voice commands aren't quite as expansive as your typical voice assistant. Overall, these are excellent, and do everything they set out to do with elegance and style.
Pros: Look great, Good camera and video quality, great audio quality, easy to use, nicely designed, good battery life, excellent case and design
Cons: A bit heavier than typical glasses, one minute video restriction
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy your cookout with the fully connected Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect Premium XL Outdoor Grill & Smoker. With Ninja ProConnect, monitor and control the cooking of 2 different proteins, get real-time notifications to your phone, and even access recipes and cooking charts, all from the palm of your hand. Master Grill, BBQ Smoke, and Air Fry with 100% authentic smoky flavor you can taste.
Excellent Outdoor Grill and Smoker
Customer Rating
5.0
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The Ninja Woodfire Grill is an excellent addition to our home, and I think it will likely be a great addition to anyone else's. It is easy to use and the different functions of it make it very versatile. In our time with the grill so far, we've tried smoking, grilling, air frying and dehydrating. The Ninja makes each of these easy and having the app to help keep track of your cooks just makes things even easier. I think my favorite thing that we've tried so far on this grill was some St. Louis style ribs. We started by prepping the ribs and seasoning them. We then started smoking them on the grill, which took about an hour. Using the built-in thermostats to measure the temperature is helpful and getting a notification from the app that the ribs had come up to temperature. We pulled them from the smoker and then wrapped them in foil with some more sauce and then set the Ninja to grill, to let the ribs braise for about an hour as well. Finally, removing the foil and adding a little more sauce before putting them back on the grill to set. They turned out very nice. The Ninja made each step so easy to do and keep track of, and the ability to do it all in one place was convenient. I really like the built-in thermostats, especially having two of them so you can monitor two temps at once. Using the Ninja to air fry some chicken was very easy as well. The included air fryer tray is much bigger than any other air fryer we've used. The preheat time was fast and cooking the chicken went exactly as expected. We prepped the rest of the meal (a sauce and some veggies) as the chicken was cooking. It just makes things so very easy. We also tried making some beef jerky using the dehydrator option. While the jerky didn't quite come out as we would have liked, that was no fault of the Ninja. We need to experiment with how we marinate and season the meat a little more. We added the smoke to the jerky along with other seasoning and it tasted good but wasn't quite how we like our jerky. Speaking of which though, the smoking works very well on the Ninja. It's impressive how well everything works in such a small footprint. I do wish that it came with a stand (though you can buy one separately) and a longer power cable. The cable is pretty short, and if your outlets are lower, like ours, you won't be able to set it on anything without an extension.
As someone who has never smoked anything before, I can't believe how easy the Ninja made things for me. I've never made beef jerky before either. Again, the Ninja made the process very simple too. The Ninja woodfire is a great addition for us and will be seeing plenty of use. It's ease of use and ability to tackle different cooking types make it well worth the small space it takes.
Pros: Very easy to use, excels at all it attempts, smart features and app
Cons: Short power cord, would be nice to have a stand included
Cons: Short power cord, would be nice to have a stand included
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Level up with QuietComfort Ultra headphones – immersive, personalized sound meets premium, next-level noise cancelling headphones. Pushing the boundaries with breakthrough spatial audio, these wireless headphones take what you’re hearing inside your head and place it in front of you for more natural, real sounding music. Whatever your music source, it’s just like listening to it live when you’re wearing the QC Ultra headphones. Unique to Bose, the QC Ultra headphones feature CustomTune technology which analyzes your ear’s shape and adapts the audio performance so everything you listen to hits exactly as it should. You won’t want to take them off because of the refined and premium materials. The cushions wrap your ears in a soft hug. The headband spreads pressure evenly. And sleek metal arms add a statement of sophisticated design. Connect to your devices with advanced Bluetooth 5.3 headphones and keep track of what you have paired in the Bose app. It also walks you through setup, gives you access to Adjustable EQ settings, and more. The QuietComfort Ultra headphones, sound just got real. Available in Bose Black or Smoke White.
Enjoy the Silence
Customer Rating
5.0
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Bose's latest version of their QuietComfort Headphones excel in almost every aspect. Their noise cancelling is top tier, they're very lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods, they sound excellent.
Starting with their sound, they have excellent audio quality. Highs and lows are easily distinguished. Bose touts their immersive audio in these headphones, and it's an impressive feature to be able to sort of have audio seeming to emanate from its source. Say you have your phone on a desk, the sound would seem to come from that area, so turning your head would keep the audio coming from there while you move your head around. It's an interesting feature that works well. I also feel I should comment on how great these headphones sound. They truly are excellent sounding.
Setup and connection are very easy. Especially using Bose's app. You just select the headphones in the app, and it easily guides you through getting them ready for use within a couple of minutes. Even letting you sample the immersive audio options. Connecting to dual devices is also easy and works very well. I like to wear the headphones while I'm working and using them to edit or watch videos on my PC, or anything on my phone will moving seamlessly between the two are handled very well. Bose also has a neat feature that plays a special audio tone that helps map your ear's unique properties and caters to you. It does this each time you put the headphones on, and you don't even notice.
Another headline feature of these headphones for me is how comfortable they are. Wearing for extended periods of time doesn't get too uncomfortable over time. I'm able to wear them for hours at a time while I work without feeling the need to take them off. They seem lighter than other competitor headphones that are at this level.
The fast charging is another standout feature. Being able to get an extra 3 hours of listening time after a 15-minute charge is great. If you forget to charge them before starting to work on a project, or hop on a flight, you can get enough battery from a quick charge. The battery life itself is also very good. Bose claims 24 hours of life without using the immersive audio, and I'm getting right around that battery life in my experience. Truly impressive. I also really appreciate how seamless and quickly it is to start using the headphones. The sensor in the headphones detects when you take them off and puts them in a sort of standby mode to save battery. If you put them back on within 24 hours of last taking them off, they automatically turn back on and reconnect to your devices. It works so well that using them is such an easy and pleasant experience.
If you use headphones frequently, you owe it to yourself to get a nice pair. And if you're considering these, you won't be disappointed.
Pros: Excellent audio quality, comfort, features, ease of use, lightweight
Cons: I wouldn't mind if these hand controls on both earcups to skip tracks, etc.
Cons: I wouldn't mind if these hand controls on both earcups to skip tracks, etc.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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iRobot - Roomba i6 (6150) Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum - Light Silver
The Roomba i6 robot vacuum unleashes powerful cleaning when, where, and how you want with a single command to your Google Assistant or Alexa voice assistant. When messes happen, just say, “Tell Roomba to clean under the kitchen table.” Smart navigation maps specific objects in your home, guiding it to the mess, right when the mess happens. With 10x the suction* and automatic, personalized schedules—even recommendations during pollen and pet-shedding seasons— its vacuuming that fits seamlessly into your life. *(compared to the Roomba® 600 series cleaning system) *(Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com or its affiliates. Google is a trademark of Google LLC)
What comes in the box for the IROBOT Roomba 6150?
You get the vacuum itself (of course), charging dock and power cable.
2 years, 5 months ago
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dustinw
iRobot - Roomba i6 (6150) Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum - Light Silver
The Roomba i6 robot vacuum unleashes powerful cleaning when, where, and how you want with a single command to your Google Assistant or Alexa voice assistant. When messes happen, just say, “Tell Roomba to clean under the kitchen table.” Smart navigation maps specific objects in your home, guiding it to the mess, right when the mess happens. With 10x the suction* and automatic, personalized schedules—even recommendations during pollen and pet-shedding seasons— its vacuuming that fits seamlessly into your life. *(compared to the Roomba® 600 series cleaning system) *(Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com or its affiliates. Google is a trademark of Google LLC)
Can the vacuum mop??
This model does not mop. Though it is capable of working with a mop robot as well.
2 years, 5 months ago
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dustinw
TUF Gaming VG289Q is a 28-inch, 4K UHD, IPS display with superior images, 90 % DCI-P3 color space designed for professional gamers. It also features FreeSync/Adaptive-Sync technology, for extremely fluid gameplay without tearing and stuttering. VG289Q supports HDR technology across a range of luminance to deliver a wider color range and higher contrast than traditional monitors. The brightest whites and the darkest blacks bring out details like never before. It also delivers DCI-P3 90% color gamut and contrast performance.
Can this monitor be turned for a vertical view as well?
Sony's intelligent noise-cancelling headphones with premium sound elevate your listening experience with the ability to personalize and control everything you hear. Get up to 30 hours of battery life with quick charging capabilities, enjoy an enhanced Smart Listening feature set, and carry conversations hands-free with speak-to-chat.
One of my biggest pet peeves with headphones I have had is that I cannot charge them while I am using them. Can these be charged while in use so I don't have to interrupt what I'm listening to?
They cannot be used while being charged. You can however use them with a 3.5mm cable, even if they are dead. These will also fast-charge, meaning you can get about 5 hours of life with a 10 minute charge.
3 years, 9 months ago
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dustinw
Microsoft - Surface Book 3 15" Touch-Screen PixelSense - 2-in-1 Laptop - Intel Core i7 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD
Performance meets versatility. From intensive video and graphics files to high-octane gaming, the most powerful Surface laptop yet combines speed, graphics, and long battery life with the versatility of a laptop, tablet, and portable studio. Tackle your biggest demands with quadcore powered 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, blazing NVIDIA® graphics, and high-resolution PixelSense™ Display designed for Surface Pen* and touch.
What is realistic battery life of the 15 inch Surface Book 3 (i7 - 16GB - 256GB) if only running Microsoft Office software and surfing the internet ? Does this computer have a longer battery life than the 15 inch Surface Laptop 3 (i7 -16GB - 256 version?
I've been really impressed with the battery life I'm getting. In less demanding tasks, like browsing or code editing (probably similar to Office software as far as the power required). I'm getting over 12 hours with the factory battery settings.
3 years, 10 months ago
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dustinw
Fossil - Gen 5 Smartwatch 44mm Stainless Steel
Train like a pro with this 44mm Fossil Carlyle HR smartwatch. Bluetooth functionality enables syncing with your smartphone, while the internal storage lets you work out with your favorite tunes. This swimproof Fossil Carlyle HR smartwatch features GPS to track your activity outdoors, and the heart monitor keeps tabs on your cardiac rate.
I am just starting to look at smartwatches and this caught my eye. I have a Samsung android smartphone and I would like to be able to download my iTunes library from my computer or ipod to it. Is this possible? Then can I sync it to my wireless beats?
I'm not positive on how it would be with iTunes, as I haven't tried that. You definitely can download songs onto the watch though, and leave your phone at home while you listened just using your watch. I'm just not positive on the iTunes library.
4 years, 6 months ago
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dustinw
Owlcam - 4G LTE Smart Dash Cam - Black
Secure detailed proof of vehicular incidents with this Owlcam smart dual dash camera. The 1440p outside-facing and 720p inside-facing cameras capture high-definition video, and 4G LTE connectivity enables instant video alerts and remote access to live and recorded footage via smartphone. This Owlcam smart dual dash camera supports voice commands for hands-free operation.
What is the recurring fee?
The recurring fee is for the LTE service. This is like the cell service you have on your smartphone. This allows the Owlcam to be accessed while you're away from your car.
4 years, 11 months ago
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dustinw
Oculus - Rift S PC-Powered VR Gaming Headset - Black
Step into virtual reality with this Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset. The advanced optics produce a sharp display with bright, vivid colors, and Oculus Insight tracking removes the need for external sensors to convert movements into virtual reality. This Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset has a fit wheel that secures the headset with a quick twist.
Ok so there is the oculas quest no cables nothing like that but limited space and this one has wires and more games and more which one should i get?
The Rift S requires a PC and the Quest does not. The biggest difference will be quality of games. Rift S games will look much better, but require a decent PC. The Quest has roughly the graphical capabilities of a very high end phone, but doesn't require a PC, which allows you to just jump in and play.
4 years, 11 months ago
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dustinw
Microsoft - Office 365 Home (Up to 6 People) (12-Month Subscription-Auto Renew) - Windows
One solution for your family across all your devices. With Office 365 Home, you and your family get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Work anywhere with apps that are always updated with the latest features. 12-month automatically renewing subscription for up to 6 people including 1TB OneDrive cloud storage for each person.
I want a surface and my wife loves apple. If I get the package that allows up to six people, can she use the apple version and I can use the windows version?
Sharp - 60" Class - LED - 2160p - Smart - 4K UHD TV with HDR
Only at Best BuyEnjoy television and movies in stunning clarity with this 60-inch Sharp Smart TV. Its 4K panel resolution delivers a clear, crisp picture, and its three HDMI inputs and one USB input let you connect accessories and stereo receivers. This Sharp Smart TV is Netflix certified for simple, fast streaming of digital content.
This te is good for nextflit YouTube
I think it works really well for both. It even has dedicated buttons on the remote to quickly access both.
6 years, 3 months ago
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dustinw