MnstrMike
Top 250 Contributor
MnstrMike's Stats
- Review Count169
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- First ReviewAugust 5, 2011
- Last ReviewSeptember 2, 2026
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- Average Rating4.1
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- Review Comment Count2
- Helpfulness Votes5
- First Review CommentNovember 26, 2015
- Last Review CommentJune 18, 2017
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- Answer Count41
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- First AnswerNovember 22, 2010
- Last AnswerDecember 8, 2021
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Attention-grabbing design meets an evolution of the award-winning Pixel Camera. On Google Pixel 11 Pro, Gemini Intelligence manages details so you can live the moment.~
P11 Pro Power
Customer Rating
5.0
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Very sleek
Love the color options. It was between the Canyon and Olive for me, and I chose the Canyon.
The phone build and quality is very nice and feels the same and nearly identical size to the Pixel 9 Pro (my previous phone), but the 11 Pro screen seems to pick up my fingers better.
Being a Pixel, the UI/UX is the same so the learning curve is near zero. There are new features to learn with the camera settings and few other tricks throughout, but it's still a Pixel.
I LOVE the camera!!!
The new zoom is fantastic, and grouped with the editing functions I think this is the best phone camera I have ever had. Pictures can be tweeted to perfection, or altered with a preferred artistic flare.
The magic capture is fun! I tried it twice to see which shots it decided to grab as pictures. They were ok, but the best part was being able to pause the video where I wanted and grab a picture. Then I took one of those pictures and did AI enhancement, and then zoom enhance, they details in the end result were amazing.
Then I took that picture and and used Google Create to turn it into an oil painting. It was awesome!!
The new update changed the way my icons look, but I don't mind the subtle change.
The new update changed the way my icons look, but I don't mind the subtle change.
The speaker is a little less hollow sounding which is nice. It doesn't hurt my ears so much.
I have no complaints about this phone. This is my third Pixel Pro starting with the 8 Pro, 9 Pro, and now 11 Pro. So far this one feels the most polished and meaningful updates.
Not a big fan of the Pixel line getting rid of the physical SIM card slot and requiring eSIM only (I know that started with the 10 series). There is a QR code to start the transfer process even going from a Physical SIM to an eSIM with the transfer. I cannot comment on that process as Mint Mobile does not work with that feature, but it was easy to do it via Mint Mobile directly and I had my eSIM setup in no time.
According to Gemni, Google Fi is the only MVNO at the time of writing that can utilize the SIM Transfer Tool, but the main carriers (AT&T, TMo, & Verizon) can.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The RF45mm F1.2 STM lens is a great option for creators who want an affordable and lightweight setup. It delivers wide-aperture performance, stunning low-light results, and soft, expressive imagery. Whether you~re taking portraits, lifestyle content, or everyday stories, it~ll give your work a polished look, even straight from the camera.
Shots, Shots, Shots
Customer Rating
5.0
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I’ve been using my Canon RP Mirrorless for about a year now. I purchased it for a safari trip last year and purchased a variable lens only, which was great for that purpose, but I hadn’t used it much for anything close up.
The RF45mm is perfect for regular shoots when free to get as close to the subject as you want; understanding this is not a Macro lens. Canon states that the subject minimum distance is 1.5ft or 17.7 inches, while I did not measure specifically I can confirm this true as trying to get closer on my pepper was “fruitless”.
Shooting Auto is fine for the majority of the situations, but switching to Manual allowed me to fine tune with some more tricker lighting conditions.
My shot of a dried up pepper in the shadow of a decorative block was a little tricky with the lighting conditions at the time, switching to manual I was able to fine tune and get a better shot.
Overall I am super happy with the level of the lens for the cost and the depth it can capture is fantastic. I haven’t been able to test low light yet with anything worthy, but looking forward to testing it out further.
The lens is quite light and so does not add any off balance situations when shooting one-handed.
In the industry they say date your body, marry your glass. Well, I don’t spend that much on either and don’t make a living with photography, but I can say with the value of the RF45mm F1.2STM, it definitely meets my expectations and needs and will provide me with the shots I want to achieve for years to come!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Lightweight and ready to move. OpenRun Air 2 is designed to feel light and airy. With the signature open-ear design, it~s effortless to wear from the first step to the last. Upgraded with an even smaller profile and ergonomic fit, it stays secure and comfortable through every run and workout, while PremiumPitch~ 3.0 delivers rich, balanced audio. Up to 10 hours of battery life, Quick Charge, and IP67-rated protection keep you ready for sweat, rain, and daily training.
Shake My Nerves & Rattle My Brain
Customer Rating
5.0
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I’ve been interested in trying the bone conduction headphones for a while. I typically use earbuds, but when mowing and other activities generate sweat they can fall out.
When mowing it is always better to have ear plugs in and while I don't mind being lost in my thoughts, I do like listening to a Podcast or music too.
The bone induction gives you the best of both worlds!
In the gym or surrounded by others, even at high volume it will not disturb anyone around you as the sound is being applified through your bone to your ear.
The feeling is not weird and feels as natural as an earbud or headphone.
When wearing ear plugs, I will say it muffles the sound a bit but it is still clear enough for the spoken word or music.
I feel like the sound via this method contains more treble than bass and so there are definitely better sounding ear buds out there, but the OpenRun Air 2 are not trying to meet that need.
These are perfect for anyone that still wants to be aware of their surroundings and/or like my use case, mowing.
Another perk is as a headset replacement. Because these are clip style, they never rest on the soft part of the ear and there is no fatigue, so long conference sessions are not an issue.
For running, as the name suggests, the “band" has a stiffness to it that forces the clips towards each other to create a gentle grip effect keeping the set in place.
When using on calls, audio came through perfect on my end and others heard me just as well; background noise was not intrusive.
My first bluetooth earbuds were an over the ear band style, these are highly reminiscent of them but better!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Bip Max is built for those who want an everyday smartwatch that can keep up with everything they try. From gym sessions and group classes to first runs and recovery days, this versatile fitness tracker supports your hybrid training in a simple, intuitive way. A bigger, brighter display keeps your health metrics front and center, while the long battery lifedelivers up to 20 days of power so you never have to stop and recharge. With upgraded onboard storage, this reliable sports watch gives you plenty of space for every downloaded workout, your favorite podcasts, and whatever challenge comes next. More screen. More power. More possibility.
Long Time Listener & Multiple Caller
Customer Rating
4.0
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I have used the Amazfit brand for a long time. It was traditionally my go to for an economical smartmatch that delivered battery life still measured by a single-digit but the metric shifted from day to month (“OG” Amazfit Bip had 45 day battery life!). Back then it was achieved with smaller screens and limited features (still had BPM and Sp02). Today however, the Bip MAX is a full-featured smartwatch with a bright and spacious AMOLED display, and still getting amazing battery life…double digits if measured by days and single digits if measured by weeks.
The feature set has everything you could want. For my testing, I setup the wearable to to mirror my Notifications and capture my movements and remind me when I have been stationary too long. I wanted to MAXimize battery life.
The ZEPP companion software is very extensive in its capabilities. Setting up the device does not require an account to turn and get the time, etc. But if you want integrations, a ZEPP account is necessary.
Once in the watch, you can set it up as typical companion device or go all in and use ZEPP as a primary source for a multitude of features. Some like the Zepp Messenger app, which is supposed to combine all of your messages in one place from your selected apps, are not fully featured yet. As of now, only SMS is available.
The Amazfit Bip MAX is a bit larger than I was expecting coming from a 44mm round display. However the build materials keep it light and it doesn't feel as large as it looks. Once jacket weather comes around I may need to rethink my attire game, but for summer livin' I haven't had any issues. The band is comfortable and breathable and should accommodate larger wrists.
The strap attachment was a little tricky as the spring pin rotates in the band to slide out of the way when wearing, it just means it takes a couple tries to get it to seat.
11 days of use and I'm sitting at 52% battery so the 20 days battery life should hold true.
This marks the 4th or 5th Amazfit product I have had as the “OG” Amazfit I bought 4 for myself and family members. And still have all of them, which do work when charged.
I can easily recommend this wearable, I would recommend seeing it in person if possible as the size for smaller wrists may be too large.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The ROG Zephyrus G16 features a premium aluminum CNC-machined chassis that delivers exceptional durability in a slim 0.7" profile and a lightweight 4.30 lbs build. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G16 delivers the performance needed to play games, create content, and multitask. The 16" OLED ROG Nebula Display HDR brings gaming experience to life with a 240Hz refresh rate, ultra-fast 0.2ms response time, 1100 nits peak brightness in HDR, and VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000 for deeper contrast and richer colors. Dolby Atmos audio with dual woofers delivers immersive sound, while ROG Intelligent Cooling~paired with an upgraded exhaust vent design~improves airflow to help sustain performance during intense gaming sessions.
Sleek Portable Gaming and Creating
Customer Rating
4.0
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This screen is gorgeous! OLED is the default for most premium or high-end ultra portables, but this one just pops so much more. Coming from an ultra-portable, that valued design over function, I’m happy to have squared edges instead of round edges again.
The brightness I think is a key factor here and it makes any content look fantastic. Playing Forza and Hogwarts Legacy, was truly stunning and while larger TV’s are great, if you are “portable” gaming your definitely going to have a great experience.
I thought I would miss not having a touch screen, but honestly I don’t want to touch this screen because it’s so pretty!
Keyboard
The keyboard is excellent. My last ASUS G14 had a different material for the keys and my nails scratched the keys like crazy (they are kept trimmed). But on the G16 GU606, they glide effortlessly over the semi-slick keys. Key travel and touch are great and satisfying. Can easily type in a quite place and not disrupt anyone. The spacebar has the most sound, but just saying that is only to compare to the others keys; not to say its is actually loud.
The keyboard is excellent. My last ASUS G14 had a different material for the keys and my nails scratched the keys like crazy (they are kept trimmed). But on the G16 GU606, they glide effortlessly over the semi-slick keys. Key travel and touch are great and satisfying. Can easily type in a quite place and not disrupt anyone. The spacebar has the most sound, but just saying that is only to compare to the others keys; not to say its is actually loud.
RGB lighting is nice touch for the cool factor.
The trackpad is also quite nice and responsive. I was worried the size of the trackpad would be too large, but the width is just short enough to where my palms to the thumbs just glances over the trackpad and has not triggered any cursor jumps, so the palm rejection is pretty good.
Build Quality is solid, definitely does not feel cheap or low quality and the 4.5lbs are displaced evenly and so one-hand pic up is not a concern.
The upward firing speakers offer excellent sound and get quite loud.
Opening the lid is effortless with just two fingers and the laptop stays seated/unmoved when opening. I do wish the lid went further back than it does; I would say it is around 125-135 degrees, 150 or even 180 would have been welcomed.
The Slash Lighting feature on the lid is a nice touch, but apparently the LED’s are only white. Searching the ASUS site shows other variants have colored or RGB LED’s, but this one does not. In the Armory Crate software, you can customize the blink pattern, but nowhere did it give me the option to change colors like it does for the keyboard.
Thinking of the ports, there is good amount of them. Thankfully a USB-C Thunderbolt 4 on either side with 100w output capabilities. I haven’t tinkered to see if there is a way to use a USB-C 100w charger to input in those ports. That would be useful for travel so I don’t have to carry the 240watt included power brick…its a beast!
Fan noise is loud in Performance mode. Turbo mode, it’s stupid. It is definitely keeping things cool though. After 1.5 hours of gaming the CPU was at 65C and the GPU was at 53C. The speakers are louder than the fans though, so you can definitely drowned them out, but if you plan on doing a gaming or editing session with the RTX 5070TI running in a quiet environment…you may get a lot of stares.
My battery life is still sorting itself out. My first two weeks have had more Software updates than I think I have ever had on a just released laptop so my times of use have not gone as quickly to move over from my last laptop. Since it has the dedicated GPU, there is a reality that there would be more updates, but honestly the NVIDIA drivers and updates were the least amount. Windows and ASUS specific updates were crazy.
For daily use I have it set to use the iGPU in the Armory Crate when on Battery as well as Windows Battery Saving mode. That definitely helped as when it is in Performance mode on Battery, the rated hours until depleted was 1hr15min @93% sitting idle.
Energy Savings mode in Windows Settings turned on doesn't seem to consistently give expected battery life unplugged as I'm guessing it is shutting down that part of the background processes. I haven't been able to time how long it should last, but at least when having it in that mode having several tabs open in the browser didn't have any issues.
I definitely plan to get between six and seven hours per charge on the battery saving mode I now have it on and with the size of this screen, I think that is quite good.
If you are doing any gaming or content creation…keep the power brick handy.
One aspect I do love about the Nvidia Drivers Profile is you can setup the machine for either a Gaming-centric platform or Studio (content creation) platform. You cannot have both driver profiles installed at the same time.
Specs
The 3 Series Ultra 9 is definitely a powerful chipset. I downloaded Geekbench which is now at version 7. I had it on my other machines too, but needed the v.7 for better comparison. I included the snapshots in my pics. Comparing to my most recent machines in use it does score the best in Multi-Core processing by a very narrow margin and is 3rd out of 4 on Single-Core.
The 3 Series Ultra 9 is definitely a powerful chipset. I downloaded Geekbench which is now at version 7. I had it on my other machines too, but needed the v.7 for better comparison. I included the snapshots in my pics. Comparing to my most recent machines in use it does score the best in Multi-Core processing by a very narrow margin and is 3rd out of 4 on Single-Core.
The 5070TI though trounces anything else I have in the stables. The closest is an Intel Arc B390. I also tested the iGPU of the Ultra 9 processor and that matched the a Intel Arc 140v in a Galaxy Book5 Pro that I have been primarily using as a do-it-all. That renders short videos and long videos pretty good, minus the heat from being so thin.
So even on battery mode with the ROG G16, I know I can still get some editing done using just the iGPU if necessary and it not glitch too much while editing.
The weakest link in the G16 is memory amount. Like with most things if you can afford the upgrades, memory is one area it’s worth it. Just doing one task at a time 16GB RAM is sufficient, but doing some heavy research and running heavy apps, and you will definitely want to invoke some RAM saving features in your browser.
Overall I am pleased as punch with the computing chops of this machine. Outside of wishing for more memory…I hope RAM-aggedon brings back RAM Slots and soldered goes the way of the Dodo, it has a ton of processing power and the power to cost ratio isn’t as bad as I would have thought.
1TB of storage is definitely good for starting out, but I will definitely be making use of the second M.2 slot and thankfully it does have that.
For me this build has the right kind of minimal-flare to show-off, but not look gaudy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the invisible power of effortless tracking. The new Google Fitbit Air is the unbelievably comfortable, exceptionally smart activity tracker designed to transform your health.~ The lightweight, micro-adjustable fit sits quietly and securely, so you can wear it through work, workouts, and sleep without noticing it. Google Health brings out your best with effortless tracking and personalized coaching that~s built with Gemini and made for you.~ And with up to a week~s worth of battery, it keeps up with your busy life.~
Old School is the New School
Customer Rating
5.0
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The age of removing distractions and simplifying our digital lives are up on us and the Google Fitbit Air is front and center of that movement. Harkening back to the early days of fitness trackers it ditches the screen and notifications to focus on one thing and one thing only, Health; both physical and mental.
Sticking to the basics is what this is all about and it does that well. Focusing on exercise activity, sleep wellness, heart rate, Sp02 (blood oxygen level), and skin temp seems to be fairly accurate. I always think there is some margin for error, but not as bad as my past Samsung smartwatches.
The included arm band Google calls Performance as it is very breathable, made from recycled materials and offers a velcro like closure system to get the best fit for your wrist. There are 2 other band styles sold separately, Active and Elevated. The Active is a traditional watch band style made of silicone with a sport clasp. The Elevated mimics the Performance design but swaps the build material for silicone and different color clasps. It also appears to be micro-adjustable as the clasp is magnetic.
The Performance and Elevated are both one size fits all (130mm-210mm) and the Active band has two options for size.
After using a traditional smartwatch for some years now and dabbling with a smartring, I can honestly I say I prefer the activity tracker to the smartring. I’m on the fence about leaving my smartwatch features as they are step removed from pulling out the phone for some basic things ( I still have my original calculator watch!).
The battery life alone could convert me at 8 days of usage it is at 49%, so a solid 2 weeks is to be expected with normal wearing and with regular health activity I would say Google’s estimate of charging weekly should be accurate. While airport hopping across the globe does give you some good step counting, its not the same as good high bpm activity.
Already having the Pixel 9 Pro, the device was paired fairly quickly and up and running out of the box after going through all the Health App permissions.
I can highly recommend it if you are in the market for a simple fitness tracker from a USA brand.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The COOLiFY C2S Pro delivers instant, powerful cooling and heating for personalized comfort anytime. With a single press of Turbo Mode, it generates a refreshing 12~C chill, while its patented wind tunnel and quad-vent system maximize airflow through a high-speed, multi-directional 3-in-1 360~ comfort system, seamlessly combining cooling, airflow, and heat therapy. Powered by a high-efficiency 5000mAh battery enhanced with variable-frequency synchronous rectification technology, it offers improved power savings, supports 18W Type-C fast charging to fully recharge in just 2~2.5 hours, and allows uninterrupted use while charging. Intelligent temperature control is achieved through an NTC smart sensor that continuously monitors and adjusts output for stable cooling or heating, while Bluetooth connectivity and the TORRAS App enable remote operation and effortless OTA updates. Weighing only 428g (0.94 lbs), its minimalist design delivers lightweight, unrestricted comfort, with a patented dual-directional pivot and adjustable neckband that lets you aim airflow precisely and hold it securely at any angle. Built for long-term reliability, the COOLiFY C2S Pro features comprehensive circuit protection, sweat and splash resistance, premium V-0 flame-retardant materials, and a bladeless, hair-friendly design~ensuring safe, durable, and dependable comfort for every adventure.
Fantastic Device For Personal Climate Control
Customer Rating
5.0
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I must confess I had only known of the Torras brand for making economical phone cases, but it appears they have been in this niche market of personal cooling/heating devices for a few years now.
Testing it out this past week brought back those great memories of seeing devices in that “one store” that had fun travel accessories.
With summer temps getting ready to smack East TN, I will definitely get a use out of the cooling feature this unit provides. Having the heating feature as well has made for some nice evenings sitting on the back porch where there is just enough of a breeze to bring a chill to the air.
The cooling/heating plates are naturally cold to the touch, so if you are wanting heat, I would turn it on and let it warm up for a couple seconds before putting it on.
For obvious reasons the device does not get too hot since it is designed to go against bare skin. So if you are in a situation to where ambient temps are quite low, having a neck wrap will aid in holding the heat.
The fans only come on for the cooling or fan only options so there is no concern for fabric to be sucked in to the intake (bottom) side of the device.
Included in the box beyond the device itself is nicely molded carrying case, USB-C to USB-C cable, a few instruction booklets (with a few mistranslated words in English), and a Thank You note from the founder.
The instructions booklets are pretty simple and detail instructional use, but I will say that the button press is not that intuitive. Both buttons pull double duty to access features and control the device. The instructions mention “gear” changing, which I take to mean speed or intensity setting. I could never get the device to just be in Fan mode (no cooling), but thankfully there is bluetooth and an app.
Using the QR Code in the instructions takes you to a Chinese only website. But searching the Google Play Store I quickly found the app and looking at the Data Privacy, they collect no data and this app needs no permissions to operate.
It was easy to connect to the device in the app and way easier to change the settings. In addition to the on device settings there is a Power Mode, which automatically overrides whatever setting you are on and turns the fan on full blast. There is also a timer that does 30 minute increments.
I wish it had 15 minute increments or even the ability to set exactly how many minutes you want the device on. As it is, it goes up a maximum of 4 hours.
Also, it appears when using the power button in the app, it just stops the device from whatever the current operation is, but does not fully turn off the device. As when the device is fully off, it will then disconnect from the app as it is no longer transmitting bluetooth. I found when powering the device on it quickly reconnected to the app each time.
The device will eventually power off fully, but there is around a 30 sec delay when using the app.
I have enjoyed using this device and having both hot and cold is fantastic. Looking forward to this summer when its really hard to cool down.
How hot or cool you look while wearing the device may vary!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Creativity needs room to breathe. With the world~s largest haptic touchpad and an included MPP 2.5 tilt~enabled stylus, Acer Swift 16 AI transforms touch into an extension of your imagination. Its stunning OLED touch display and intelligent AI performance bring ideas to life with fluidity and precision. Powered by the Intel~ Core~ Ultra X7 processor 358H with up to 50 TOPS NPU, it opens the door to AI experiences that elevate every creative moment.
Great Laptop, Extra Features Let Down
Customer Rating
4.0
The allure of the top specs in CPU, Screen, and build quality are enough to make you want to take a serious look at the Acer Swift 16 AI. But the large touchpad... that one is enough to make me want to say only get it if you are NOT going to use it on your lap.
The touchpad has a really good palm rejection, like it never picked up my palm while typing...as long as you don’t hit the bottom edge of the touchpad. That is where the left/right buttons are and your forearm will hit that spot as most people are used to having a palm rest there. So, I had to retrain myself on trying to keep my arm off the edge.
I work from the couch a lot with my feet elevated; this angle is where I ran into my issue.
If you use it on a desk/table and have proper typing technique, then this should not be an issue for you.
Not to be misleading the entire touchpad is haptic, however, only the bottom right portion from center to right acts as the right-click section, up to around an inch from the edge. Beyond that, the rest of the touchpad is left-click. This edge where it does still act as a mechanical button, so palm rejection is not really achievable since the touchpad moves.
I understand Acer trying something unique here with the large touchpad and Pen integration. However, the Pen is not useful. It only works with the touchpad and not the touch screen, and its accuracy is extremely off. Testing the feature with Acer’s own Apps, I thought would yield the best experience, but it did not.
For each app you open, depending on the location of the tiles/tools and then upper row taskbar, those areas then correspond to the touchpad, so that when you hover the Pen over that area a tracker dot appears on screen and when you touch the touchpad, then it touches that portion of the screen to activate the tile/button/menu etc. However, it does not always accurately select what you are trying to select.
It also means that the “drawing” portion of the touchpad is reduced. And this changes per App. So each App has its own learning curve. If the Pen was accurate for drawing/taking notes, then I could see it as a useful feature and to be a replacement for a drawing tablet, however, it definitely does not fulfill that. Or if it also worked with the touchscreen, then it would at least have another use. The Pen does feel high quality and it feels good in hand at least.
I did also find one feature that BestBuy lists on their webpage, but Acer does not, which is the Per-Key LED Backlighting system. The keyboard is LED backlit, but its the standard OFF/LOW/HIGH setting of most laptops.
From what I could find the Per-Key LED system is reserved for the Gaming Laptops in Acer’s lineup and that software cannot be downloaded from the Acer website without the proper device serial number to bring up the list of available software for my system. This is typically called RGB lighting.
Speaking of Acer Apps...there are a lot! They don’t take up a bunch of space and most are trying to push a creative angle...and not very well.
I would keep the AcerSense which lets you change some Battery settings for Charging and Fan Speed. Also has quick access to Serial Number and such. But going through and trying them all out, I personally didn’t find much value.
My only recommendation would be, if you have it in your budget, go for the 32GB RAM option, as that is not upgradeable. The 1TB SSD offers loads of space for most people, but thankfully those are still upgradable...if you can afford to with these current prices.
The GPU can use up to 9GB VRAM, leaving just 7GB for system use. Depending on what you are doing and needing the GPU to do some lifting, then you are severely limited. Even a 24GB configuration would have been great giving the GPU 8GB dedicated and leaving the rest for system use.
Acer also includes a sleeve, while I appreciate the gesture, I don’t get any use out of sleeves. It going in a backpack or in use.
Acer states the battery charging input is between 65 watt and 100 watt, meaning not to try charging below the 65watt threshold. The included charger is a 100 watt brick. I wish they would have just gave us a 10ft USB-C to USB-C cable and a slim charger to go with the protability of this device.
I think the best use case because of the large touchpad is a desktop replacement (if that is even a term anymore). Had Acer not included the very small 10-Key pad, then the keyboard could be centered on the chassis (my OCD prefers this) as the touchpad is centered on the chassis, and then the edge touch would not be an issue. Again with proper typing technique this is not an issue, but how many of us actually use that!? And if you type with index fingers only, then you won’t have any issues.
Other areas of appreciation
Screen, I love the size 16” size and the 16:10 aspect ratio. The OLED crispness and the 3K (2880x1800) pixel size is great. Out of the box the scale is set at 200%, wasting so much screen real estate. I set it at 125% and can run multiple windows easily or just do side-by-side windown when focusing on a single research task.
I also love that it has squared corners and not rounded. That trend has never made any sense to me.
Sound
Is really good on this. Full and rich and loud. Defitnitely will have to turn it down when working next to others.
Build
Lightweight for the size, slim, and sturdy. No creaking of the keyboard or chassis. And enough ports to tackle the modern day needs.
The graphite and gold color scheme is also pretty nice to look at.
CPU/GPU
Running Geekbench6 I got single core results of 2786 and Multi-Core of 14891.
That put it just behind a desktop with an Intel Ultra 7 265 w/ 20 Cores and above a i7 Ultra 256v with 16 cores and an older i9 Ultra 185H with 16 cores.
The GPU though beat out every other device with an iGPU/ARC GPU (54047) besides the older gaming laptops with an i5 paired with a GeForce RTX 3050 Ti (65599) and i9 Ultra 189H paried with a GeForce RTX3050 (63170).
The older laptops still in my stables with Intel Arc scored 40840 and 31984 on two different machines one with 32GB RAM and the other 16GB.
I can definitely recommend this laptop for anyone needing/wanting a dedicated GPU that couples portability and battery life.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Upgrade your mobile gaming setup with the GameSir G8 Plus MFi Type-C Mobile Controller ~ the official Apple-certified controller built to deliver true console-level performance on your iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Designed for gamers who demand precision, speed, and comfort, this controller replaces unreliable Bluetooth connections with a stable, low-latency Type-C wired link, giving you instant response time in every match. Featuring Hall Effect joysticks and analog triggers, the G8 Plus offers drift-free accuracy and long-lasting durability, making it perfect for competitive shooters, racing titles, RPGs, and cloud-gaming platforms. Two remappable back buttons let you trigger advanced moves faster, while the ergonomic, textured grip ensures all-day comfort during intense gaming sessions. The adjustable stretch design securely fits most smartphones and compact tablets (125~215 mm), and pass-through charging keeps your device powered while you play ~ so the action never has to stop. With customizable faceplates and interchangeable thumbsticks, you can tailor the controller to your personal style and gameplay preferences. If you~re tired of touchscreen controls and want a premium, console-style experience on mobile, the GameSir G8 Plus MFi is the perfect upgrade.
Great For Gaming
Customer Rating
4.0
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Design and build is super premium in hand. I love the quick screenshot button and the passthru charging and audio jack for those times when your bluetooth headphones die.
The spring grip is strong and sturdy, but not so much you cannot pull it part. The USB-C tip is flexible so it makes it really easy to slide the phone in at an angle and then slide the grip a part.
I tested this with both my S24 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Compatibility is a little hit and miss with games, sort of. Technically it is compatible with ALL games, however, that is because it runs a macro/button map to simulate screen touch for games that are not or do not already have compatibility with the Gamesir platform.
So on the one-hand that is pretty awesome that you can make any game compatible, on the other, it can mean that the on-screen touch controls are still there, so you don’t get a full screen immersion.
I tested four games during my first week of use:
GTA: Vice City
COD: Mobile
TMNT Arcade
Warplanes: WW2 Dog Fight
COD: Mobile
TMNT Arcade
Warplanes: WW2 Dog Fight
For COD:Mobile I use my XBOX controller via Bluetooth and have never had any issues with it recognizing the controller.
GameSIR does not have a direct connect option like these other controllers via Bluetooth for the S8+ MFi, but there was already a community macro/button map, so all I had to do was select it for use while in the game. I went to the Shooting Range to do so so i can tweak it if need be as will depend on screen size for accuracy.
The downside(?) is you will not be put on a server with other players with controllers since the game does not recognize the Gamesire G8+ and you are just emulating/simulating touches on the screen. This also means the touchscreen buttons are still on the display and the mapped buttons R1, L1, R2, L2, etc are on the screen over those locations that they are mapped to.
And of course, you can remap or setup your own button map.
I did find strafing and direction were pretty slow and had to crank that up in the COD settings. It was passible, but was still pretty slow. So while you will have a definite advantage in some areas over players on the Server using touchscreen, you are at a disadvantage for how fast you can turn/look. But you can also still shoot and run with more ease while doing it.
As for the other games on my list, I had to go into settings and turn on Controller in each game menu. GTA and TMNT do not have the on-screen touch areas when doing this and so it is full immersion on-screen.
Warplanes: WW2 Dog Fight was in the GameSir app for lists of compatible games. I am glad I found it as it is pretty fun. While it is compatible, the onscreen buttons are still visible, but the mapped buttons are not as the game itself adds the button map to the on-screen buttons.
Overall the controller performs as you would hope. It does require having the GameSir app running in the background for all games for it to work and with that does require quite a bit of permissions for the app.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the new SANDISK Extreme Portable SSD, built for anyone who needs fast, reliable storage for backing up big projects, clearing device space, or keeping content organized across devices. It~s what you need to work seamlessly, wherever you go.
Snappy SSD!
Customer Rating
5.0
Images for this Review
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With the costs going up on RAM and Storage, the quality of the product matters even more.
Been using the SanDisk Extreme SSD for almost a week and I am loving these read/write speeds. Mostly using to transfer between my S24 Ultra and Galaxy Book5 Pro as the direct connection is painfully slow, and “Quickshare” is neither convenient or quick.
Most of my videos are short and/or small. Choosing a 1.07GB MP4 took around 3 seconds to transfer from the S24 Ultra and then a batch of 6 videos that were of various sizes not larger than 240MB at 911MB total also only around 3 seconds to transfer. And moving all of it to the Book5 Pro via Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, took about 3 seconds.
I have always been a fan of SanDisk when buying Flash/Thumb drives, SD Cards, etc. The quality remains the same with this SSD and the Extreme definitely feels like it will live up to that expectation.
The casing is a matte plastic on the front and soft tpu type rubber on the back giving just enough grip to not slip, but also easily slide in and out of a clothing or backpack pocket.
As for size comparison, its not the biggest or the smallest, but with the best IP Rating (65) of my trio, its nice to know if I did drop it, its covered. Having the plastic casing is probably what helps achieve that rating as the other T7 and X10 Pro are both Aluminum cases. The T7 is “shock resistant” and the X10 Pro is IP55, so the SanDisk comes in for the win on protection.
I use the drive mainly for storage and file swapping. I did run some videos directly from the drive and did not notice any heating, but I am sure if you are using it to edit directly to the drive it will get warm as all do.
If you are in the market for an SSD, especially one that is IP rated, then I can highly recommend the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Element Electronics - Element 27" IPS LED 1080p Full HD Frameless Monitor - Black
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
Can this monitor be rotated to sit vertically?
Not with the included stand. An third party stand it could, just make sure you have the power cord side down...it is barely 3ft long.
4 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
Element Electronics - Element 27" IPS LED 1080p Full HD Frameless Monitor - Black
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
What kind of ports are on this monitor?
Element Electronics - Element 27" IPS LED 1080p Full HD Frameless Monitor - Black
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
does it have a camera
Element Electronics - Element 27" IPS LED 1080p Full HD Frameless Monitor - Black
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
Does it come with a built in speakers?
Yes, but I could not get them to work attached to my ASUS laptop. Not the first time for a monitor with built-in speakers. These are typically pretty minimal quality, so don't think it would be like a TV setup.
4 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
Element Electronics - Element 27" IPS LED 1080p Full HD Frameless Monitor - Black
This Element 27" FHD 1080P LED Frameless Monitor provides simple connectivity to get straight to work. Whether you're adding to your current work from home set-up or purchasing a new monitor to stay in touch with loved ones, this full HD monitor will do the trick. This Element monitor offers a 1080P, full high-definition screen for a clear, vivid picture. Whether you're watching videos, video chatting, or playing basic games you'll find this full HD monitor provides a crisp viewing experience. Element's frameless monitor screens enable your monitor to blend in with your decor for a clean aesthetic. The thin bezel allows for a full-screen experience. Expand your view and get more done by adding a second or third monitor to your office set-up with easy HDMI and VGA connectivity. *No built-in speakers
What is the desktop resolution and refresh rate?
1080P 75hz refresh and 14ms response per the manual
4 years, 8 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
Beats - Fit Pro True Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Earbuds - Black
True wireless noise cancelling Beats Fit Pro with comfortable, secure-fit wingtips are engineered for all-day activity. The flexible wingtip design conforms to your ear to comfortably lock in place so you can experience powerful, balanced sound during your work day or your workouts. With two distinct listening modes, you are in control of what you hear. Fully adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) uses real-time audio calibration to continuously pinpoint external sounds and optimize sound output, and when you need to be aware of your surroundings, easily switch to Transparency mode. Beats Fit Pro supports Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for immersive music, movies, and games.~ These earbuds are powered by the Apple H1 chip. The result ~ instant one-touch pairing~, Automatic Switching~, Audio Sharing~, and hands-free ~Hey Siri~~ for Apple devices. For Android users, easily connect via Class 1 Bluetooth right out of the box. With the Beats app for Android~~, you~ll get enhanced features like one-touch pairing, customized controls, battery levels, firmware updates, and a Fit Test to help you get the best sound and fit out of your earbuds. Each earbud has up to 6 hours of listening time~ with 18 additional hours~ provided by its matching, pocket-sized charging case to give you up to 24 hours of combined playback.
Can you use these to answer calls? Or are they strictly headphones for music? A lot of times when I'm working on a car I can't get to my phone, these would certainly come in handy for that...
Strictly music. buds can change volume only. Cannot turn on/off noise cancellation, transperancy mode, or both off. Nor do they have a command for an assistiant...unless you have voice command on.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
eufy - Indoor Wired 2K PTZ Security Camera with AI Detection - White
Make a smart solution to upgrade your home security to IndoorCam Mini. Never second-guess what you see in clear 2K resolution, and give yourself control with pan and tilt functions to monitor your home~s most vital areas. IndoorCam Mini features On-Device AI Human Detection, a technology that identifies humans in the frame and only sends you the notifications that matter. After returning home, you can turn on Home Privacy Mode, which turns off the camera and rotates it to your preferred privacy angle. Best of all, there~s no monthly fee after your purchase.
Can this new Indoor Cam Mini connect to the Eufy HomeBase? I would like for the IndoorDam store data on the base for easy access and control.
Unfortunately, no. I have the Homebase2 and it does not integrate with that storage; the SoloCam series are the same way. It can utilize cloud storage in a subscription, MicroSD card, or if you have a local Network Attached Storage device it can save clips there. Those last two options also allows the device to be able to do continuous recording.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
eufy - Indoor Wired 2K PTZ Security Camera with AI Detection - White
Make a smart solution to upgrade your home security to IndoorCam Mini. Never second-guess what you see in clear 2K resolution, and give yourself control with pan and tilt functions to monitor your home~s most vital areas. IndoorCam Mini features On-Device AI Human Detection, a technology that identifies humans in the frame and only sends you the notifications that matter. After returning home, you can turn on Home Privacy Mode, which turns off the camera and rotates it to your preferred privacy angle. Best of all, there~s no monthly fee after your purchase.
Can this indoor camera be set up in a window to record outdoor activity? I can’t use a doorbell camera due to a porch pillar blocking the view of the mailbox. I am looking for something to capture both the mailbox and the porch steps.
No, the glare off the window would cause issues with it properly recording movement. At night you would also have to disable night vision as the IR sensors would bounce back and distort the image. The placement guide suggests not having anything within 8 inches on both sides and 10 inches above.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
Blink - Smart Wifi Video Doorbell Wired/Battery Operated with Sync Module 2 - Black
Smart security that is designed for every home. Set up in minutes, and receive notifications from the app whenever a visitor presses your Video Doorbell or motion is detected. You can also choose to wire it to sound your existing home chime. Blink Video Doorbell lets you answer your door no matter where you are. Receive customizable alerts right from the Blink Home Monitor app, and experience helpful features like HD day and night video and two-way audio. Best part ~ Blink~s long-battery life technology provides peace of mind for up to two years.
Is it true if you buy the module you won't have to pay for monthly to get my videos? Please tell me all the benefits for buying the Module
https://support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/sync-module-2/sync-module-2-faqs
4 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike
Blink - Smart Wifi Video Doorbell Wired/Battery Operated with Sync Module 2 - Black
Smart security that is designed for every home. Set up in minutes, and receive notifications from the app whenever a visitor presses your Video Doorbell or motion is detected. You can also choose to wire it to sound your existing home chime. Blink Video Doorbell lets you answer your door no matter where you are. Receive customizable alerts right from the Blink Home Monitor app, and experience helpful features like HD day and night video and two-way audio. Best part ~ Blink~s long-battery life technology provides peace of mind for up to two years.
Do you need sync module to have video
https://support.blinkforhome.com/en_US/sync-module-2/sync-module-2-faqs
4 years, 10 months ago
by
Posted by:
MnstrMike