NAMO's stats
- Review count225
- Helpfulness votes1,273
- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewSeptember 15, 2025
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- Average rating4.1
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- Answer count16
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- First answerJune 2, 2017
- Last answerDecember 9, 2021
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Valuable Gen4 performance is here. Introducing the Crucial P3 Plus Gen4 NVMe SSD, delivering impressive speed with sequential reads/writes up to 5000/4200MB/s1 while providing data protection for optimal security. Engineered by Micron with the latest Gen4 NVMe technology, the Crucial P3 Plus comes in generous capacities2 and offers flexible backward compatibility for most Gen3 systems.
Customer Rating
5
Great Performance from QLC NAND
on August 9, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INTRO
The P3 is Crucial’s entry into the value NVMe market. The P3 Plus is a step above the base Crucial P3, as the P3 Plus supports the newest Gen 4 NVMe architecture. To keep costs down, the P3’s use QLC NAND, instead of the more desirable TLC, MLC, or SLC NAND. However, the P3’s use high quality NAND manufactured by Micron and come with a very generous 5-year warranty with up to 440TBW. While the Terabytes Written is slightly less than some of its competitors, it is still a generous amount and likely more than anyone would see in the drive’s lifetime.
The P3 is Crucial’s entry into the value NVMe market. The P3 Plus is a step above the base Crucial P3, as the P3 Plus supports the newest Gen 4 NVMe architecture. To keep costs down, the P3’s use QLC NAND, instead of the more desirable TLC, MLC, or SLC NAND. However, the P3’s use high quality NAND manufactured by Micron and come with a very generous 5-year warranty with up to 440TBW. While the Terabytes Written is slightly less than some of its competitors, it is still a generous amount and likely more than anyone would see in the drive’s lifetime.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
My test computer is a new 2022 Acer Nitro 5 laptop. The laptop sports the latest 12th generation Intel Alder Lake Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and most importantly, supports the latest Gen4 NVMe interface.
My test computer is a new 2022 Acer Nitro 5 laptop. The laptop sports the latest 12th generation Intel Alder Lake Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and most importantly, supports the latest Gen4 NVMe interface.
While it seems illogical to put a drive in a new laptop, I’ve been less than impressed with the performance of the Micron drive installed in the computer. The OEM drive offers mediocre performance, at best, often on par with a Gen3 NVMe drive. Stress testing the factory drive quickly revealed that the Micron drive was unable to maintain thermals during testing, quickly reaching maximum temperature and slowing performance for survival.
Hoping for improved performance, but expecting to be less than impressed, I installed the P3 Plus, a fresh copy of Windows 11 and began testing. How did the Crucial P3 Plus perform? In one word; EXCELLENT. Sequential Read and Write speeds were exactly on point of what Crucial said they would be. Often real-world results are dramatically less than manufacturer’s marketing hype, but not with the P3. It easily matched the manufacturer’s rated specs. Outstanding. As pleased as I was with the speed of the drive, I was even more impressed with its efficiency. The same stress tests that quickly over-heated my Acer installed Micron drive, proved no challenge for the Crucial. The P3 Plus saw a maximum temperature of only 52C, well below the maximum limit allowed. The drive was speedy at the beginning
of the testing as stayed consistently fast throughout.
of the testing as stayed consistently fast throughout.
After running my Crystal Disk Mark tests, I wanted to test the ability of the drive to recover from heavy sustained usage. Having a clean installation of Windows 11 meant that the drive had no previously installed games, a perfect chance to see if the drive could keep up with the PC. Turning to Call of Duty: War Zone seemed like a proper challenge. The game clocks in at a ridiculous 186GB. Could the P3 Plus keep up with my gigabit internet service, or would it tank and start chugging after being bombarded with so much data?
I’m happy to report that the Plus handled the workload without falter. The download varied anywhere from 75MB/s up to approximately 105MB/s (rates slowed due to network traffic and congestion) for the entire 186GB transfer. The P3 didn’t break a sweat. The drive kept taking in data as fast as my ethernet connection could provide it, never slowing and never overheating. Max temperatures during this long, sustained write to the drive never topped 40C. Great work Crucial.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This is one of the very rare products that I can’t think of any negatives about. Honestly, I’m at a loss for words. To be on the safe side, I wish it would come with a heat spreader. But, I can’t knock the product because it didn’t, as the temps never reached the point to where a heat sink would have been necessary.
This is one of the very rare products that I can’t think of any negatives about. Honestly, I’m at a loss for words. To be on the safe side, I wish it would come with a heat spreader. But, I can’t knock the product because it didn’t, as the temps never reached the point to where a heat sink would have been necessary.
At the end of my use and testing, I have nothing negative to say about the P3 Plus. It is very fast, keeps its cool even under heavy workloads and even comes with that odd, little Phillips screw that you never seem to have when you want to add or install an NVMe drive. A pleasant addition. I wish all drive makers would include that screw with their drives.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Spacetalk Adventurer 4G Kids Smart Watch Phone and GPS tracker gives kids more freedom and parents greater peace of mind. The Adventurer kids cell phone watch lets families call and text their child and see their location with GPS location on demand. Adventurer also comes with safety features like SOS alerts, Safe Zones, Safe Contact lists and School Mode for distraction free learning. Plus, no open access to the internet or social media makes Adventurer a safer smart phone watch for kids. Made specifically for kids aged 5 ~ 12, the Adventurer 4G kids smart watch phone was developed by Spacetalk, the global leader in children~s wearables. Parents can download the free Spacetalk app on their mobile devices to customize everything from safety settings, contacts, communication, location on demand and many other features. Spacetalk Adventurer requires an activated nano SIM card and works with most US Mobile and Canadian wireless operators, except Sprint. We recommend using the bonus JumpySIM card provided for the best cellular service in the US. Alternatively, choose a SIM from your preferred mobile carrier. Spacetalk suggests a cellular plan with unlimited talk and text and at least 2 GB of data. JumpySIM plans include unlimited talk, text and data*, with roaming coverage to Canada and Mexico. JumpySIM plans start from just $18 a month. Note: JumpySIM plans are designed for Spacetalk devices. Using JumpySIM in other devices may result in limited service or cancellation. Please note, upon activation, JumpySIM incurs ongoing charges. Terms and Conditions apply. Visit www.jumpysim.com for further information. Activation and use of the SIM Card constitutes acceptance of JumpySIM terms and conditions. *Subject to Fair Use Policy.
Posted by: NAMO
SET-UP
The Spacetalk Adventurer watch requires a little more technical knowledge to get up and running than most other devices, but it isn’t impossible. The Adventurer includes service provided by JumpySim which rides on the AT&T 4G network. It was a bit of an ordeal to get up and running, but after some trials and tribulations, I was able to get it set-up and activated. Spacetalk has a very good tutorial to assist you in the set-up process, as well as some excellent documentation walking you through the SIM installation and set-up process. Within 30 minutes of SIM installation and powering on the watch, it was registered on the AT&T network and ready for use.
The Spacetalk Adventurer watch requires a little more technical knowledge to get up and running than most other devices, but it isn’t impossible. The Adventurer includes service provided by JumpySim which rides on the AT&T 4G network. It was a bit of an ordeal to get up and running, but after some trials and tribulations, I was able to get it set-up and activated. Spacetalk has a very good tutorial to assist you in the set-up process, as well as some excellent documentation walking you through the SIM installation and set-up process. Within 30 minutes of SIM installation and powering on the watch, it was registered on the AT&T network and ready for use.
SPACETALK APP
I thought the Spacetalk app was very well designed. I downloaded the app from the Google Play store and was able to install the app and set-up an account with zero fuss or troubles. Excellent work. The app is intuitive and easy to figure out. It is a great way to monitor your little ones, as it includes a lot of unique features. One notable feature was the safe zone. With GPS activated, the watch will notify you when it leaves or enters a pre-defined safe zone. This could be your house, school, grandparents, etc. The app allows you to set multiple safe zones and the parent receives a message anytime the watch enters or leaves a safe zone and which one. Slick.
I thought the Spacetalk app was very well designed. I downloaded the app from the Google Play store and was able to install the app and set-up an account with zero fuss or troubles. Excellent work. The app is intuitive and easy to figure out. It is a great way to monitor your little ones, as it includes a lot of unique features. One notable feature was the safe zone. With GPS activated, the watch will notify you when it leaves or enters a pre-defined safe zone. This could be your house, school, grandparents, etc. The app allows you to set multiple safe zones and the parent receives a message anytime the watch enters or leaves a safe zone and which one. Slick.
By default, the app (aka watch) blocks calls and texts from unknown numbers, which I think is a great thing. The parent must go in and manually add numbers that are allowed pass to and from the watch. Not only does this protect your child from getting unwanted calls from potential strangers, but also prevents them from adding friends on their own without your consent.
The school feature is great addition. Using the Spacetalk app, you can control when the phone enters “school mode”. This mode disables most of the features of the watch and keeps the watch from becoming too much of a distraction during school. You can lock it all the way down to just a plain old watch if you want. Once set, this mode starts and stops automatically when you want it to.
USE
Usage is a mixed bag. I find the watch does some things very well and others not so much. But, to be fair to Spacetalk, this applies to everything you buy.
Usage is a mixed bag. I find the watch does some things very well and others not so much. But, to be fair to Spacetalk, this applies to everything you buy.
The watch is easy to make calls and do chats with. Super easy, actually. My kid had no issues figuring it out immediately. Audio quality in a quiet environment is quite good and easy to hear. As good as my Galaxy Watch 4. Finding contacts and apps to use on the watch are easy and can be picked up by most kids quickly. The watch seems like a blend of the iOS operating system and Android. Taking cues from both.
The screen is small, as a lot of the available real estate is occupied by the camera and speaker. But the watch does make the most of what little room it does have. While text is small, especially for my aging eyes, it is legible and easily readable in all but the brightest of lights.
The Adventurer comes with all the essential smart watch functions that people have come to expect from their devices. It includes things like heart rate monitoring, weather, step counter, activity monitoring and alerts, and of course, GPS.
The watch charges easily via a magnetic base like the Galaxy Watches. The base “sticks” to the back of the watch to charge it and thankfully uses a USB-C cable. I wish more things did. One thing I dislike about the charging situation is that the magnetic base is not that magnetic. The silicone bands of the watch are thick for durability, but that also limits their flexibility. Because of this, the base does not seem to want to “stick” very well to the watch and without a great deal of caution, often comes loose and stops charging. The battery lasts about a day with average use.
One thing that is not intuitive is the keyboard. Because the screen is so small, Spacetalk is forced to split the keyboard into 2 different screens. This is entirely too cumbersome and annoying to use for any texts other than the simple premade ones. While it isn’t as bad as an old T9 style keyboard, it is annoying in how much you must swipe left and right to type.
CONCLUSIONS
As much as I like the Spacetalk app and what the watch has to offer, there is one thing that kills the deal for my 11 year old. The Spacetalk Adventurer is just too big and bulky. Even though he is on the older side of the scale that Spacetalk has geared the product for (Ages 5 – 12), it just looks ridiculous on his wrist. So much so, that after about a week of use, my boy no longer wants to wear it. I can’t imagine what this would look like on a younger kid. It is so huge that my 46mm Galaxy Watch 4 seems small by comparison.
As much as I like the Spacetalk app and what the watch has to offer, there is one thing that kills the deal for my 11 year old. The Spacetalk Adventurer is just too big and bulky. Even though he is on the older side of the scale that Spacetalk has geared the product for (Ages 5 – 12), it just looks ridiculous on his wrist. So much so, that after about a week of use, my boy no longer wants to wear it. I can’t imagine what this would look like on a younger kid. It is so huge that my 46mm Galaxy Watch 4 seems small by comparison.
While there is a lot to like about the watch and the app, I have to rate the product as “Not Recommended” at this time. Should Spacetalk find a way to miniaturize the watch, my decision would most likely change, but right now it is so big, it just looks odd and out of place.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Get super-portable sound to go. The XG300 wireless speaker plays as hard as you do, with up to 25 hours of battery life and IP67 waterproof and dustproof. Its rich full sound and booming bass are perfect for when you want quality audio that goes wherever you go.
Customer Rating
4
Bass Heavy Full Sound / Lacking in Highs
on July 15, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
USB-C, 3.5mm Headphone, Bluetooth 5.2 Connections
Up to 25 hours of playback on a single charge
70 minutes of playback on a 10 minute charge
Lots of Bass & Entertainment in a Small Package
USB-C, 3.5mm Headphone, Bluetooth 5.2 Connections
Up to 25 hours of playback on a single charge
70 minutes of playback on a 10 minute charge
Lots of Bass & Entertainment in a Small Package
INITIAL SET-UP
Sony’s SRS-XG300 has the basics covered for connecting to a variety of peripheral equipment. Included in the connection options are: USB-C, 3.5mm stereo headphone connection, and Bluetooth 5.2. The speaker also includes a USB-A connection, but at this time, it is for charging a connected device only.
The SRS-XG300 is equipped with the newest Bluetooth 5.2 standard that incorporates fast pair. I was skeptical at first, but the new fast pair feature worked awesome during the initial set-up, flawlessly and effortlessly syncing to my Galaxy S21.
Sony’s SRS-XG300 has the basics covered for connecting to a variety of peripheral equipment. Included in the connection options are: USB-C, 3.5mm stereo headphone connection, and Bluetooth 5.2. The speaker also includes a USB-A connection, but at this time, it is for charging a connected device only.
The SRS-XG300 is equipped with the newest Bluetooth 5.2 standard that incorporates fast pair. I was skeptical at first, but the new fast pair feature worked awesome during the initial set-up, flawlessly and effortlessly syncing to my Galaxy S21.
After the absolute minimal fuss pairing the speaker to my Android-based phone (Fast Pair does not work with iOS devices), I opened the Sony Music Center app and it immediately recognized the speaker. The Music Center app is Sony’s control app for customizing the variety of options in their speaker offerings. The app controls everything from the graphic equalizer, LED lighting and effects, Mega Bass, etc. While it is not my favorite app, it works well enough and is just easy enough to use without needing to be a geek to find the functions and settings.
USE
The SRS-XG300 is made to play loud and does it unashamedly so. The speaker is designed to fill larger venues with powerful sound and good bass. The speaker sports two 20mm tweeters, two woofers approximately 3 inches in diameter (yes, I used diameter even though they are square), and two passive radiators. Should you decide that the XG isn’t enough for your venue, the speaker is compatible with other Sony Bluetooth speakers, allowing it to be seamlessly linked to make your backyard concert even bigger.
The SRS-XG300 is made to play loud and does it unashamedly so. The speaker is designed to fill larger venues with powerful sound and good bass. The speaker sports two 20mm tweeters, two woofers approximately 3 inches in diameter (yes, I used diameter even though they are square), and two passive radiators. Should you decide that the XG isn’t enough for your venue, the speaker is compatible with other Sony Bluetooth speakers, allowing it to be seamlessly linked to make your backyard concert even bigger.
Sony has geared the speaker toward maximum volume and SPL levels. The XG300 can play all day long at loud listening levels without sounding tinny, thin, or shallow indicating that the speaker has reached its maximum load off the internal amp. Used with restraint, the speaker can play up to 25 hours without needing a recharge. I played it for hours over the course of the past few days and still haven’t charged the battery back-up. When that day does come, I can use the included AC adapter, or a USB-C cable with a healthy fast charger. Reaching a full charge takes a while, but if you are in a hurry and want your tunes back on right now, a person can get up to 70 minutes of playback with only a 10 minute charge. Awesome!!!
Sony has done a great job making the XG300 your go-to speaker regardless of when and where you want to use it. The speaker is IP67 rated against dust and water intrusion making it an ideal travel companion for the beach or pool during these hot summer months. The buyer won’t have to worry about protecting the speaker, as it is resilient to the normal dangers associated with use by the pool or the beach.
SOUND QUALITY
This is not my first Sony speaker. This is the next generation of speaker that I hope would address the shortcomings I experienced in their 2 previous generations of Bluetooth speakers. That is the middling performance of the tweeters. Did Sony correct the shortcomings of their previous speakers and make the highs sound as great as the lows? The answer is: NO.
This is not my first Sony speaker. This is the next generation of speaker that I hope would address the shortcomings I experienced in their 2 previous generations of Bluetooth speakers. That is the middling performance of the tweeters. Did Sony correct the shortcomings of their previous speakers and make the highs sound as great as the lows? The answer is: NO.
Once again, I am let down by the audio quality of the tweeters. Ugh. Sony. You like to brag how the speaker covers the entire audible range, 20Hz – 20,000Hz. While this may be true, the audio quality from the tweeters is nowhere near as pleasing as the audio from the woofers. This isn’t the first time I’ve been left disappointed by the upper frequency reproduction of Sony speakers. My XB72 also left me unimpressed. I was hoping for a turnaround this go, but alas, it didn’t happen.
I will fully admit, most people would call me an audio snob. I would trade features and fancy lights for accurate music reproduction any day. I know that I am in the minority and that is not what sells this day and age, but to me, it is what sells. The XG300 doesn’t sound awful, it just doesn’t have the clarity that it should. It feels like Sony focused all their attention to the bottom end and didn’t care about the higher octaves.
CONCLUSION
Sony has packed a lot into a little package. This speaker brings back memories of the old 80s and 90s boomboxes. That is a good thing. The XG300 can throw down some serious sound and do it all day without needing a charge.
Sony has packed a lot into a little package. This speaker brings back memories of the old 80s and 90s boomboxes. That is a good thing. The XG300 can throw down some serious sound and do it all day without needing a charge.
The bass from such a small package is impressive and would definitely be a good addition to a party atmosphere. The audio and lighting are customizable and the XG can even be paired with other Sony speakers to add even more sound and volume to your party.
I’m still left wanting, though, in the highs. The tweeters just don’t do the speaker justice and this would not be my first choice for quiet, casual listening. It just doesn’t have the crystal clear highs that I want. However, as a go anywhere, do anything, live through the obstacles approach that Sony intended this to be, I think they did a great job. I’ll happy recommend it and give it a 4 star rating, held back only by the lack of clarity in the tweeters.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Blaze through battlefields with a competition-ready wireless gaming mouse with 26,000 DPI, a slimmed-down design and magnetic-snap fast-charging.
Customer Rating
4
Lightweight & Comfortable, Software is Half-Baked
on July 5, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
26k DPI Resolution
Customizable Buttons
No Overdone LED lighting effects
26k DPI Resolution
Customizable Buttons
No Overdone LED lighting effects
I have gaming mice from nearly every manufacturer. The manufacturers include: Razer, Corsair, Logitech, Roccat, Steel, and Microsoft. Much like a car or truck, peoples’ opinions vary widely and differently and what one likes, the other may not. Designing a mouse to appeal to a wide variety of folks can be a challenge. Did Alienware do it correctly? The short answer is: Hardware-wise: Yes, Software: No.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Hardware-wise, Dell aka Alienware, knocked it out of the park. The mouse has a nearly perfect weight for me and a very nice design. Unlike my G303 Shroud, the Alienware’s curves are comfortable and the buttons all line up perfectly for my average sized hands.
Hardware-wise, Dell aka Alienware, knocked it out of the park. The mouse has a nearly perfect weight for me and a very nice design. Unlike my G303 Shroud, the Alienware’s curves are comfortable and the buttons all line up perfectly for my average sized hands.
I especially appreciate the actual physical buttons and switches on the bottom of the mouse. So many manufacturers are trying to eliminate buttons and switches, it is refreshing to know that I can set the mouse exactly how I like it (as far as DPI and transmission mode) without relying upon button programming and the manufacturer’s software. The bottom of the Alienware has dedicated switches for power, DPI resolution, and wireless connection method. Simple, effective, intuitive. Thanks, Alienware!
Speaking of connection method, this tri-mode gaming mouse has what I consider the single, most important, must have feature for any mouse. The ability to work via wired, Bluetooth, or wireless 2.4G. The AW720 checks all my boxes. It can use Bluetooth 5.1, thereby saving battery life, you can use the included USB-C wireless dongle for ultra-fast, low latency response times in gaming, or if you are running out of juice, you can just plug it in via the included USB-C cable. I’ve concluded, that if a mouse, gaming or otherwise, doesn’t have these 3 communication methods built-in, it is instantly stricken from my list of consideration. Being a frequent traveler, I don’t want to have to pull out my wireless receiver to use a mouse. Those receivers are often so small and if you lose it, it renders a mouse useless.
USE
As I stated above, the AW720 has an awesome weight and feel. It is light and comfortable. It is not near as heavy as my Corsair Dark Core Pro, but more in line with my Razer, Roccat, and Logitech Shroud. The Alienware supports some VERY impressive specs. According to Dell, the AW720 supports a sensor resolution of up to 26k DPI, up to 140 hours of gaming using the 2.4G receiver and mind boggling 420 hours of battery life via the Bluetooth connection!!! Wow! Impressive. Even more, should you need a charge, you can get up to 20 hours of extra juice with only 5 minutes of charge. Excellent work Alienware.
As I stated above, the AW720 has an awesome weight and feel. It is light and comfortable. It is not near as heavy as my Corsair Dark Core Pro, but more in line with my Razer, Roccat, and Logitech Shroud. The Alienware supports some VERY impressive specs. According to Dell, the AW720 supports a sensor resolution of up to 26k DPI, up to 140 hours of gaming using the 2.4G receiver and mind boggling 420 hours of battery life via the Bluetooth connection!!! Wow! Impressive. Even more, should you need a charge, you can get up to 20 hours of extra juice with only 5 minutes of charge. Excellent work Alienware.
NEGATIVES
Software and firmware. Ugh. What a debacle this thing is. I was able to connect the mouse initially via Bluetooth with little to no issue. Everything was going smoothly. So, I tried the included USB-C cable. Everything worked as expected. But I hate having a tethered mouse, and I was ready to try a few games. I plugged in the wireless dongle and after several frustrating attempts, the mouse paired to the receiver, and all was good. But my laptop only has 1 USB-C connection. So, I tried the USB-C splitter, giving me a place for my 2.4 receiver and an extra USB-C port. Problem solved? Nope. That when everything went downhill.
Software and firmware. Ugh. What a debacle this thing is. I was able to connect the mouse initially via Bluetooth with little to no issue. Everything was going smoothly. So, I tried the included USB-C cable. Everything worked as expected. But I hate having a tethered mouse, and I was ready to try a few games. I plugged in the wireless dongle and after several frustrating attempts, the mouse paired to the receiver, and all was good. But my laptop only has 1 USB-C connection. So, I tried the USB-C splitter, giving me a place for my 2.4 receiver and an extra USB-C port. Problem solved? Nope. That when everything went downhill.
My laptop lost its connection to the mouse. I unplugged the adapter, oh wait, its magnetic. The USB-C connector is just barely long enough to fit in my laptop. So, Alienware includes a metal “gripper” to put around the connector. But it makes the connector stick out too far and doesn’t allow for a secure connection. So, I ditched everything and went back to a wired connection, and everything started working again. My next thought; firmware update. So, I headed to the Dell website and sure enough, there were 2 firmware updates listed, one for the mouse, and one for the receiver. After downloading them and following the instructions, I hoped it solve my problems. Did it? Nope. 2.4 mode still didn’t work. So back to the Dell support site I went. Ah, the Alienware Control Center, I must need that to control the mouse. After installation, my computer, nor the Alienware app recognized the mouse. Not even with it plugged directly into the PC. Back to the Dell support site for a 4th time. Yet another file is available that must be installed to get the PC and the Alienware software to recognize the mouse.
Ugh. What a joke. But at least I have it working now. Right? Nope. As soon as I launched the Alienware Control Center, it told me I needed 2 mandatory updates for the mouse and receiver. The same 2 I just updated less than 10 minutes earlier. Seems the firmware updates on the Dell support site did nothing. After nearly 30 minutes of troubleshooting, downloading, updating, flashing, I am happy to report that the mouse now works properly now matter which connection method I use, and the receiver now works whether its plugged directly into the laptop or into the splitter. FINALLY.
The Alienware Control Center (AWCC) lies my next negative. As much as I dislike software to control peripherals, some companies offer a ton of features and options for their devices. Anyone that has used the Razer Synapse software, Corsair iCue, or Logitech G-Hub knows how you can fine tune nearly any and every aspect of the peripheral attached. There are so many parameters in some of these that it makes you nauseated.
The AWCC is half-baked, at least half baked for this mouse anyway. Selecting certain features, disables other options, etc. For example, I like to dim the lighting on the mouse. I don’t need a glaring LED light show on my mice, so I like to lower the brightness & conserve battery. Great. My choice. However, if I select my desired illumination theme, I can’t adjust the brightness, nor can I use the mouse as a temperature gauge showing me the current temp of my CPU like I can with my Corsair products. These are just two of my frustrations with the Alienware software. The AWCC feels like a beta software.
MY THOUGHTS & CONCLUSIONS
I really want to like the Alienware AW720 mouse. The hardware seems to be first rate. The mouse has a great feel, excellent ergonomics, and the best battery life I’ve seen to date in a gaming mouse. I love the fact that Dell has shown great restraint in not blowing the mouse up with unnecessary and tacky RGB lighting. The glowing Alienware logo is just the right amount of RGB.
I really want to like the Alienware AW720 mouse. The hardware seems to be first rate. The mouse has a great feel, excellent ergonomics, and the best battery life I’ve seen to date in a gaming mouse. I love the fact that Dell has shown great restraint in not blowing the mouse up with unnecessary and tacky RGB lighting. The glowing Alienware logo is just the right amount of RGB.
The mouse tracks true and consistent, glides easily on all my mouse pads, and even after long gaming or working sessions, does not make my hand and arm feel tired. I have no issue giving the Alienware hardware a 5-star rating.
However, the initial device setup and Dell support site stinks. It took me longer just troubleshoot this mouse and get the bugs worked out than it did to set up ALL my other gaming mice combined. In this day and age, that is totally unacceptable. Like I stated earlier, I have a lot of experience with the competitions’ products. Not a single other manufacturers' software failed to recognize their device. Not a single manufacturer put out firmware update files that didn’t update firmware. Not a single manufacturer makes you manually install a separate file and program to get its own program to work correctly with its peripheral. I give the overall setup, configuration, and software a 2-star rating.
I’ll be generous and give this product a 4-star rating. I really do like the mouse. It is enjoyable to use and checks all my necessary boxes for connections. It is a shame that Dell / Alienware has not included a USB-C to USB-A adapter with the product. My laptop has 4 USB-A ports and only 1 USB-C. While they do include a small splitter / hub, it isn’t very robust and the half-hearted metal gripper (it looks like the metal levers on a binder clip) doesn’t work right for me and that is on one of Dell’s own laptops.
While I’m giving it a 4-star rating, I CANNOT recommend the product at this time. Once Dell is able to work out the kinks in the software, which I’m sure they will, I’d be willing to change my review, but as it stands now, there are too many other products that do the same, without the frustrations.
NOT RECOMMENDED.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Designed to meet the needs of small offices, the MAXIFY GX6021 delivers high-quality, low-cost printing, and outstanding wireless connectivity. Get serious print productivity with a high page yield of up to 6,000 Black / 14,000 Color pages per full ink bottle set7 and a combined 350 sheet plain paper capacity. Save up to 80% on the cost of ink compared to high-yield laser cartridges with a low cost per print of less than 2 cents per page.7 Each printer comes with a full set of ink, plus 2 bonus black ink bottles, and a 3-year or 80,000 pages* limited warranty so you can print with confidence. The MAXIFY GX6021 is easy to setup and maintain and delivers superior versatility thanks to an auto document feeder for scanning and copying ~ plus, print on a variety of media types and sizes, including labels, envelopes, and banners. Produce crisp, colorful documents quickly and cost-effectively thanks to fast print speeds and a 4-color pigment-based ink system. Easily connect and print through high-speed USB, Ethernet, or wirelessly5 from computers or mobile devices.
Customer Rating
5
Mega Tank Ink is a Game Changer for InkJets
on June 21, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
50 Sheet Auto Document Feeder
250 Sheet Paper Tray
Canon claims up to 6,000 Pages B&W / 14,000 Pages Color on Ink
3 Year / 80,000 Sheet Warranty
45,000 Sheets per Month Print Capacity
50 Sheet Auto Document Feeder
250 Sheet Paper Tray
Canon claims up to 6,000 Pages B&W / 14,000 Pages Color on Ink
3 Year / 80,000 Sheet Warranty
45,000 Sheets per Month Print Capacity
INITIAL SET-UP
The Canon GX6021 was relatively simple to set up and start to use. Someone with an existing Canon printer will find the set-up process familiar, but those coming from another brand of printer will find the set-up process archaic. Luckily, Canon includes a QR code on the box and in the instruction manual to help new users through the process. Not that getting the GX6021 going is a chore, but compared to the HP Smart App or the Epson app, the Canon app feels like it was lifted directly from the Windows 95 days and teleported to 2022. Canon, it is time for a major overhaul of your software. Not only that, between Windows, Mac, and Mobile, there is a total of 9 apps for the printer. Come on Canon. You can do better.
The Canon GX6021 was relatively simple to set up and start to use. Someone with an existing Canon printer will find the set-up process familiar, but those coming from another brand of printer will find the set-up process archaic. Luckily, Canon includes a QR code on the box and in the instruction manual to help new users through the process. Not that getting the GX6021 going is a chore, but compared to the HP Smart App or the Epson app, the Canon app feels like it was lifted directly from the Windows 95 days and teleported to 2022. Canon, it is time for a major overhaul of your software. Not only that, between Windows, Mac, and Mobile, there is a total of 9 apps for the printer. Come on Canon. You can do better.
After removing the packing material and shipping tape, I plugged the Canon in and began to get it set up directly from the built-in touchscreen. After, being thoroughly disappointed by the Canon apps, I had little hopes for the UI of the printer. I hate having to refer to directions for setting up new tech and I did not have to with the Canon, only because I have experience with their products. A new user may find it frustrating. Luckily, the device’s 2.7” touch screen did a thorough enough job to get me through the whole process. It was cumbersome, but it worked. Canon has an excellent ink fill / refill system. Not only do they provide you with the color and color code for each ink on the reservoir, but the ink bottles are also keyed to where they will only fit in their appropriate slot. Very slick and a great idea to keep from inadvertently mixing the ink in the wells.
USE
This printer is first and foremost a business-class printer. A buyer needs to understand that it is made for durability and sustainability in mind. I would not consider this a multi-purpose photo / business printer. While it does print well, it’s overall print resolution is just average for this day and age and would not be a suitable candidate as a photo printer. With that caveat being said, the GX6021 is a worthy companion to a home or home office environment. Canon rates the capacity of the GX6021 up to a whopping 45,000 printed pages per month. That is a huge amount.
This printer is first and foremost a business-class printer. A buyer needs to understand that it is made for durability and sustainability in mind. I would not consider this a multi-purpose photo / business printer. While it does print well, it’s overall print resolution is just average for this day and age and would not be a suitable candidate as a photo printer. With that caveat being said, the GX6021 is a worthy companion to a home or home office environment. Canon rates the capacity of the GX6021 up to a whopping 45,000 printed pages per month. That is a huge amount.
This printer is a welcome and much appreciated improvement to my existing Canon MB5320. The MB has served as my workhorse for many years. It has been robust and reliable, never failing to do what was needed (unless I forgot and ran out of ink). The GX6021 is an improvement in the older MB in almost every way. The user interface is much more refined and responsive. I consider a touchscreen display nearly mandatory these days. It is great to be able to load documents into the scanner and have them scanned to your PC without having to make trip after trip between computer and printer. While my older MB worked well, it would take it, what seemed like forever to start printing, especially if switching between computers. It would take 1 – 2 minutes of thinking and processing to finally start printing. The GX, takes only 10 seconds or so. A huge improvement and time saver.
Printing is clean and crisp with little to no bleeding. This printer will throw down some ink on standard and high print quality. If you use anything but economy for printing, I highly recommend buying a better / heavier quality of paper than the cheapest stuff you can get at Office Max or Wal-Mart as the ink really gets saturated into the cheap paper. Economy printing is no issue. Any of the cheap stuff will do. But that is also a benefit. Economy printing is plenty dark and detailed enough for my liking and saves ink in the process. Economy printing on the GX no longer feels like and looks like your machine is running out of supplies.
The scanner is one of the best I’ve used, even better than my Epson. Pages are sucked through the ADF and scanned without drama. All my scans have been straight, clean, and true. Something that I can’t say about my Epson 580 scanner, where every sheet seems to be a little crooked. The scanner has an optical resolution of 1200 x 1200 dpi for extremely crisp scans. However, even scans as low as 200dpi still turn out clean and legible, with almost no hint that you scanned at a low resolution. Excellent work Canon. I’m not sure if it’s your software doing the compensation or the scanner itself, but it works and works well.
NEGATIVES
1. I can’t get the GX to play nicely with Microsoft Edge. Everything I’ve tried to print from within the browser fails. I’m not sure if it is a Canon issue or a Microsoft issue, but it is an issue and it is frustrating. Thankfully, I have had no similar hiccups with either Chrome or Firefox. But, to this day, Edge is a no-go.
1. I can’t get the GX to play nicely with Microsoft Edge. Everything I’ve tried to print from within the browser fails. I’m not sure if it is a Canon issue or a Microsoft issue, but it is an issue and it is frustrating. Thankfully, I have had no similar hiccups with either Chrome or Firefox. But, to this day, Edge is a no-go.
2. Compared to my older MB5320, this GX does feel less robust. Not significantly less, but it does feel more cheaply made. To be fair, the MB5320 felt like a tank and had a heft to go along with it. But to be fair to Canon, compared to my HP OfficeJet Pro 8035, the GX6021 feels like a tank. The HP is the cheapest feeling and flimsiest printer I’ve ever tried to use in my office. Good riddance.
3. While the GX6021 does produce good looking prints and razer sharp text, it is relatively low resolution at only 1200 x 600dpi. That is one of the lowest resolution inkjet printers I’ve seen in a long time. Low enough, that you can’t even scan an image and print it at the same resolution as the scan. That seems like a mistake. To be a true multi-function printer, I think the Canon needs a higher resolution print head.
CONCLUSIONS
Epson turned the inkjet world upside down when they introduced their EcoTank printers a few years ago. It really was revolutionary. I remember watching a video where someone compared the price of printer ink per ounce to price the of gold per ounce and printer ink was WAY more expensive.
Epson turned the inkjet world upside down when they introduced their EcoTank printers a few years ago. It really was revolutionary. I remember watching a video where someone compared the price of printer ink per ounce to price the of gold per ounce and printer ink was WAY more expensive.
Having a Canon MegaTank printer is a game changer for the consumer or small business owner. The days of needing an expensive laser printer to support a business are over. The Canon GX6021 provides the ease of use and reliability of an inkjet with the capacity of a laser. Ink is now affordable and lasts much longer than a hundred or so pages you get with cartridges. Canon gives you enough ink that they claim up to 6,000 pages B&W and up to 14,000 pages in color. That is revolutionary in the inkjet world. Canon even included the ability to replace the print heads separate from the ink and printer should they get worn out with continued use.
Canon has a full line of apps that a person can use to never be out of touch with their printer. The ability to print remotely, from the cloud, etc is great. This is by no means a Canon thing, others have been doing it for years, it is a must have feature for business owners. While it works, it is much more cumbersome with the Canon than with Canon’s competitors.
While the initial investment cost of a MegaTank printer is more than that of a regular inkjet printer, the payback is quick. The savings in ink alone, is a game changer for anyone running a small business or prints in any volume. There is no more worry of running out of ink during a print job. There is no need to buy remanufactured ink cartridges because the genuine ones are SOOOOOO expensive. There are no more messy toner cartridges of a laser printer to deal with.
The Canon GX6021 MegaTank printer is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The CORSAIR HS80 RGB USB Gaming Headset delivers incredibly detailed sound through custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers. Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound puts you in the middle of the action, while a broadcast-grade omni-directional microphone captures your voice with outstanding clarity. Play in plush comfort with memory foam earpads and a stress-free floating headband design, with years of durability thanks to sturdy construction reinforced with aluminum. A USB wired connection offers high-fidelity 24bit/96kHz sound. Powerful CORSAIR iCUE software enables in-depth customization of audio settings and RGB lighting, letting you hear every shot, step, and shout like never before.
Customer Rating
4
Gaming Headphones w/o RGB Overload
on June 14, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL SET-UP AND CONFIGURATION
The Corsair HS80's check all the boxes for a common set of gaming headphones this day and age. They sport 50mm drivers, are compatible with Windows Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, and support audio resolutions up to 24bits/96kHz. Additionally, as is a near requirement for all headphones these days, the beloved RGB lighting. Thankfully, Corsair has done a great job, showing a lot of restraint, by not pushing RGB overload to where you want to puke at the gaudiness. It is one of the best and most tasteful implementations of RGB lighting I've seen to date.
The Corsair HS80's check all the boxes for a common set of gaming headphones this day and age. They sport 50mm drivers, are compatible with Windows Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos, and support audio resolutions up to 24bits/96kHz. Additionally, as is a near requirement for all headphones these days, the beloved RGB lighting. Thankfully, Corsair has done a great job, showing a lot of restraint, by not pushing RGB overload to where you want to puke at the gaudiness. It is one of the best and most tasteful implementations of RGB lighting I've seen to date.
USE AND PERFORMANCE
The HS80's do a good job at their intended purpose. Thankfully, Corsair has integrated their headphones into their iCue software. The iCue software is Corsair's version of the Logitech G-Hub, Razer Synapse, etc. All of Corsair's peripherals can be controlled and configured via the iCue software.
The HS80's do a good job at their intended purpose. Thankfully, Corsair has integrated their headphones into their iCue software. The iCue software is Corsair's version of the Logitech G-Hub, Razer Synapse, etc. All of Corsair's peripherals can be controlled and configured via the iCue software.
I love how the iCue software integrates with your system's bios and monitoring. Without any tedious tweaking, the iCue software allows you to monitor the systems' vitals in real time without any additional add-ons. My favorite feature is that you can configure the RGB lighting on nearly any of their iCue peripherals based on any one of the numerous parameters the iCue plug-ins monitor. I typically have the iCue software monitor CPU and GPU temps. As those temps climb, I have the iCue give me visible feedback by color based on their current temps. It is slick and works seamlessly without eating into a ton of the system's overhead. Any iCue peripheral can be programmed with this visual feedback or all of them combined, or any other number of lighting options. Each peripheral is treated separately and uniquely in the software, allowing for different lighting customizations and options.
The iCue software also allows you to tailor the headphones sonically. While the effects are noticeable, the HS80's definitely play on the warm side. Regardless of the EQ setting, the headphones perform better in the lower octaves than the higher ones. While this isn't a huge pitfall playing FPS games, it does rear its ugly head during music and movies. I won't say they sound awful, far from it, but the HS80's do not have the upper frequency clarity that many of their competitors do. I tried numerous built-in EQ settings, manually adjusting the EQ settings, and finally just setting the EQ to flat, and I was never able to fully liven up the upper octaves. They are a "laid back" sounding set of headphones, geared toward what I would consider a single mission.
NEGATIVES
The included USB-C cable is too short. Clocking in at only 6 feet, it didn't cut it for me. Someone with a PC at the far edge of desk or on the floor will immediately need at least a 10 foot USB-C cable to be comfortable.
The included USB-C cable is too short. Clocking in at only 6 feet, it didn't cut it for me. Someone with a PC at the far edge of desk or on the floor will immediately need at least a 10 foot USB-C cable to be comfortable.
While I applaud the iCue software for its versatility and thoroughness, it all comes at a price. That price is space. The iCue software has now ballooned to almost one full gigabyte. That is a ridiculously large size. That is also just the installation file, not once it has been extracted and installed. Ugh.
The HS80's are capable of reproducing audio at 24bits / 96kHz. However, the iCue software does not do an adequate job of allowing you to setting the audio quality or giving you feedback at what is playing. While I understand the audio quality is fully dependent on the source material, the iCue software only allows you to turn the surround sound on or off and I did not see any real way to go and fully optimize the surround sound. For that, I had to open the Windows Audio property app to fully tailor the sound. This should all be able to be accomplished in the iCue software. My JBL headphones allow me to do it within the app, even allowing me to enable my Dolby Atmos or DTS:X Headphone extensions within their app. An oversight on Corsair's part.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If I needed a set of headphones geared specifically for gaming, these HS80's are a worthy consideration. Game playback is first rate and the included microphone picks up voices clearly and intelligibly without transmitting every single background noise it can hear. The 50mm drivers do an awesome job at reproducing the lower octaves, even if they give up detail and clarity in the upper frequencies. Games sound awesome on the HS80's. However, for me, headphones needed to be able fulfill different missions. They not only have to excel at games, they have to be great at movies and music too. In that regard, the HS80's come up short in my book. I will give them 4 stars because of the awesome gaming prowess, but only 3 stars for music and movies.
If I needed a set of headphones geared specifically for gaming, these HS80's are a worthy consideration. Game playback is first rate and the included microphone picks up voices clearly and intelligibly without transmitting every single background noise it can hear. The 50mm drivers do an awesome job at reproducing the lower octaves, even if they give up detail and clarity in the upper frequencies. Games sound awesome on the HS80's. However, for me, headphones needed to be able fulfill different missions. They not only have to excel at games, they have to be great at movies and music too. In that regard, the HS80's come up short in my book. I will give them 4 stars because of the awesome gaming prowess, but only 3 stars for music and movies.
Recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Samsung T7 Shield 1TB, Portable SSD, up to 1050 MB/S, USB 3.2 Gen2, Rugged, IP65 Rated, for Photographers, Content Creators, and Gaming, External Solid State Drive, Blue.
Posted by: NAMO
INTRO
The Samsung T7 Shield is the newest 1TB external SSD from Samsung. It is an NVME drive inside an external enclosure and wrapped in a rubberized sleeve. It is shock rated for drops and is IP65 rated against moisture and dust intrusion. The drive includes a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable. Samsung claims a theoretical throughput capability of up to 1000MB/s.
The Samsung T7 Shield is the newest 1TB external SSD from Samsung. It is an NVME drive inside an external enclosure and wrapped in a rubberized sleeve. It is shock rated for drops and is IP65 rated against moisture and dust intrusion. The drive includes a USB-A to USB-C cable and a USB-C to USB-C cable. Samsung claims a theoretical throughput capability of up to 1000MB/s.
SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
My test rig is the Asus ROG Zephyrus. It has a 12th generation Core i9 processor, 16GB of DDR-5 RAM, and Windows 11, with all the latest updates and drivers installed. The Asus sports the latest generation Thunderbolt 4 port, capable of transfer speeds up to 40Gb/s, which is more than enough to test the limits of the T7.
My test rig is the Asus ROG Zephyrus. It has a 12th generation Core i9 processor, 16GB of DDR-5 RAM, and Windows 11, with all the latest updates and drivers installed. The Asus sports the latest generation Thunderbolt 4 port, capable of transfer speeds up to 40Gb/s, which is more than enough to test the limits of the T7.
Windows 11 immediately recognized the drive after connecting it and no further interactions were required to get the drive up and running. I downloaded the latest version of the Samsung Magician software and CrystalDiskMark to get the information from the drive. I am happy to report this external SSD is equipped with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface. While not as fast as Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 is still very fast and supports speeds up to 10Gb/s or 1250 MB/s.
TEST RESULTS AND SAMSUNG MAGICIAN SOFTWARE
How did the T7 Shield perform? Speed are listed below:
Sequential Read: 763 MB/s
Sequential Write: 866 MB/s
Sequential Read: 763 MB/s
Sequential Write: 866 MB/s
Both results are with Queues of 1 and Thread Counts of 1. Excellent performance. The drive is speedy and responsive. While it doesn’t live up to Samsung’s 1000MB/s claim, it comes very close. Closer than most drives do with manufacturer’s advertised speeds. For comparison, I included a screen shot of the speeds from the latest Western Digital Black 2TB Game Drive. I know it is an apples to oranges comparison, putting an SSD up against a HDD, but the differences in performance are phenomenal. If anyone is still using an external HDD for storage and is on the fence of whether they should upgrade, the performance improvement should answer your questions.
The Samsung Magician software, as always, is polished and very refined. The software allows you to manage nearly every aspect of the T7 and is user-friendly and intuitive. Samsung wisely includes the option to password protect the T7 which is a great feature for travel.
NEGATIVES
This is one of the very few times I am at a loss for words.
This is one of the very few times I am at a loss for words.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Samsung T7 Shield is an excellent external USB SSD. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android. It is small, light, and is rated against dust and water intrusion. The rubberized covering helps to protect it from the inevitable drops. Samsung has long been a standout in the world of solid-state drives. Their drives always boast some of the best performance and warranties in the business. I see the T7 Shield fully living up to Samsung’s well-deserved reputation.
The Samsung T7 Shield is an excellent external USB SSD. It is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Android. It is small, light, and is rated against dust and water intrusion. The rubberized covering helps to protect it from the inevitable drops. Samsung has long been a standout in the world of solid-state drives. Their drives always boast some of the best performance and warranties in the business. I see the T7 Shield fully living up to Samsung’s well-deserved reputation.
Easily Recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are composed of 7 panels that can be assorted into various shapes. It can be controlled using your favorite voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant as well as the Govee Home App. You can even customize your design, effects, colors, and more.
Customer Rating
4
Bright & Colorful Game Room Addition
on May 25, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS & SET-UP
The Govee Hexa Wall Panels are a bit of a challenge to set-up and configure. Though not impossible by any means, they are a bit more complicated than similar units. Luckily and wisely, Govee has included a tutorial video on how to hook-up, connect, and program the panels. Thankfully, the tutorial is very detailed and thorough. If not, I can see many people being frustrated by the whole process. Govee has provided a QR code linking the user to their installation video and once I watched the process, it was much easier to understand what the minimal amount of directions were trying to convey.
The Govee panels attach to any flat surface via a generic 3M Command style adhesive. The adhesive works well, and I was able to remove a panel from my wall without any damage. While it is a simple solution for installation, I won’t exactly say it is refined or necessarily my favorite. While the Command style adhesive works OK, every wall in my house is textured. Even though the texture is light, there is still a great deal of the product that does not make contact to the wall. Placing one hex tile to the next other often leads to unevenness between the panels, based upon the texture behind the tile. While not horribly unsightly, these do look their best when affixed to a flat surface.
The Govee Hexa Wall Panels are a bit of a challenge to set-up and configure. Though not impossible by any means, they are a bit more complicated than similar units. Luckily and wisely, Govee has included a tutorial video on how to hook-up, connect, and program the panels. Thankfully, the tutorial is very detailed and thorough. If not, I can see many people being frustrated by the whole process. Govee has provided a QR code linking the user to their installation video and once I watched the process, it was much easier to understand what the minimal amount of directions were trying to convey.
The Govee panels attach to any flat surface via a generic 3M Command style adhesive. The adhesive works well, and I was able to remove a panel from my wall without any damage. While it is a simple solution for installation, I won’t exactly say it is refined or necessarily my favorite. While the Command style adhesive works OK, every wall in my house is textured. Even though the texture is light, there is still a great deal of the product that does not make contact to the wall. Placing one hex tile to the next other often leads to unevenness between the panels, based upon the texture behind the tile. While not horribly unsightly, these do look their best when affixed to a flat surface.
USE
The Govee’s are a ton of fun to play around with. Anyone that loves the RGB look, this will take it over the top. The Govee app has a bunch of pre-configured effects built in. The sheer number of animations and effects is quite impressive. However, Govee has not forgotten about the DIY’ers either. The app allows you to fully customize the panels to your liking in nearly any way imaginable, should you want something different and unique and have the patience.
The Govee’s are a ton of fun to play around with. Anyone that loves the RGB look, this will take it over the top. The Govee app has a bunch of pre-configured effects built in. The sheer number of animations and effects is quite impressive. However, Govee has not forgotten about the DIY’ers either. The app allows you to fully customize the panels to your liking in nearly any way imaginable, should you want something different and unique and have the patience.
The panels are controllable together, or individually. The panels can be dimmed anywhere from 1% to 100%. At 100%, the panels are impressively bright. So bright, I find myself using them at about 50% brightness most of the time.
The Govee app is compatible with both Android and iOS and the panels are also compatible with Amazon’s Alexa, and Google Home.
NEGATIVES
The Govee panels work via Bluetooth and via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. There is no support for 5Ghz Wi-Fi. If you are like me and have one SSID, it can be a challenge to communicate with the Govees. This isn’t necessarily a negative to the product, as Govee clearly states they only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, just know that if you are having difficulty connecting and configuring the product, your device may be on the 5 GHz band.
The Govee panels work via Bluetooth and via 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. There is no support for 5Ghz Wi-Fi. If you are like me and have one SSID, it can be a challenge to communicate with the Govees. This isn’t necessarily a negative to the product, as Govee clearly states they only support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, just know that if you are having difficulty connecting and configuring the product, your device may be on the 5 GHz band.
The Hexa Panels and the Govee app are difficult. The panels are difficult to assemble and configure initially. At least harder than most of Govee’s competitor’s’ products. Not only that, but the app also isn’t the most intuitive either. While neither is insurmountable, the whole user experience leaves me wanting. Even my 11 year old computer whiz kid gave up on the Govee app. Tried a couple of things and handed me back the iPad. Too frustrating was his words.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Govee Hexa Wall Panels are a neat concept that adds more RGB bling to anyone looking for an additional pop of color to any room. As frustrating as the installation was, and the app is, I still like the Govee’s. They add a unique flair to any room. Adding them to a game room, brings back the retro, old-school vibe of the neon in the 80’s arcades.
The Govee Hexa Wall Panels are a neat concept that adds more RGB bling to anyone looking for an additional pop of color to any room. As frustrating as the installation was, and the app is, I still like the Govee’s. They add a unique flair to any room. Adding them to a game room, brings back the retro, old-school vibe of the neon in the 80’s arcades.
Recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Steelcase Series 1 chair has a LiveBack flexor system in the backrest which conforms to your body and moves with you to support the spine as you change postures. The tilt mechanism is synchronized; the seat and back work in harmony with each other, keeping the body securely supported in the chair and feet firmly planted on the floor so you can recline without leaving your optimal zone for seeing and reaching your work. Feature set includes an adjustable seat depth, fully adjustable arms, adjustable lumbar, pneumatic seat height adjustment, recline tension adjustment (weight activated with adjustment and lock), flexing back with mesh upholstery, upholstered seat and wheels for hard flooring. The seat features strong yet pliable foam which conforms to the body and creates pressure-free comfort. Flexible seat edge offers a bit of bend, right where you need it ~ relieving pressure points under your thighs. This chair will arrive unassembled and require some assembly and is covered by a 12-year warranty.
Customer Rating
4
Well-Made, Low Spousal Acceptance Factor
on May 22, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
Steelcase is one of, if not the largest, office furniture suppliers in the U.S. Rightfully so. Their products are robustly made and come in a nearly endless variety of styles, colors, configurations. One visit to the Steelcase website and one will wonder how many different variations of seating and furniture are available. If you want it, Steelcase most likely makes it and, in a color, you can find to blend into any décor. While Steelcase is a well-known, go-to brand in the business workplace, they have only recently attempted to enter the consumer market.
The Steelcase Series 1 is no exception to the company’s well-made and comfortable office chairs. The Series 1 is constructed of high-quality plastics and materials that not only appear to be long-lasting but are easy to clean and resist stains and dirt. The Series 1 includes all the conveniences of any modern office chair, including height adjustment, swivel, etc. as well as the ability to lock those features out.
The arms are height adjustable to fit nearly anyone’s torso comfortably, as well as have an integrated swivel on the armrest. While I never thought about a swiveling armrest, now that I’ve seen it, I don’t understand why others don’t follow Steelcase’s lead. A simple design element that pays huge dividends.
The Series 1 is comfortable and quite firm. Much firmer than any other office chairs I’ve had come through my house. The seat padding is very firm, but not so much so that it becomes tiring. One thing that is much better on the Steelcase than many office chairs, is the excellent back support.
There are a total of 9 supports that stretch horizontally across the chair’s back, lending to excellent rigidity and support. The material stretching across the back is fully ventilated to prevent that nasty sweaty back scenario so common in cheap office furniture.
NEGATIVES
There in lies my biggest, or should I say my spouse’s biggest gripe of the Series 1. It would be right at home in a business or office environment, but it feels woefully out of place in a home setting. Even with someone that uses a home office as their business or a WFH location, the Series 1 just doesn’t have that appeal like a nice leather office chair normally would. Quite honestly, the Series 1 looks like something your employer would have given you for your WFH during COVID or something you snagged from a conference room on your way out.
There in lies my biggest, or should I say my spouse’s biggest gripe of the Series 1. It would be right at home in a business or office environment, but it feels woefully out of place in a home setting. Even with someone that uses a home office as their business or a WFH location, the Series 1 just doesn’t have that appeal like a nice leather office chair normally would. Quite honestly, the Series 1 looks like something your employer would have given you for your WFH during COVID or something you snagged from a conference room on your way out.
CONCLUSIONS
I can’t find any faults in the Series 1’s build quality or construction. Materials appear to be very durable and are easy to clean and care for. The back supports are top notch, and the seat cushion remains cool and firm throughout a full day of work.
I can’t find any faults in the Series 1’s build quality or construction. Materials appear to be very durable and are easy to clean and care for. The back supports are top notch, and the seat cushion remains cool and firm throughout a full day of work.
The Steelcase Series 1 would be a great addition to any business needing a long lasting, durable office chair for meetings or employees. But, as an office chair for home, I can’t see it being a popular choice. It just looks out of place in the house and does not blend into most decors.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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When it comes to gaming performance, the slightest disadvantage can be the difference between winning and losing a match. With a 165Hz refresh rate, lightning fast 1ms (GTG) response time and full adaptive G-Sync compatability and FreeSync Premium support, you can be sure that the Odyssey G50A won~t let you down on the battlefield.
Customer Rating
5
QHD Resolution / Low Input Lag / Accurate Color
on May 10, 2022
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS AND DETAILS
The Samsung Odyssey G5 represents a solid entry for smaller gaming monitors. It has QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), a fast 1ms response time, and is compatible with AMD FreeSync and nVidia G-Sync.
The Samsung Odyssey G5 represents a solid entry for smaller gaming monitors. It has QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), a fast 1ms response time, and is compatible with AMD FreeSync and nVidia G-Sync.
USE
The G5 has the basic, but most important inputs covered. A total of 2 inputs are offered: A DisplayPort 1.2 port and an HDMI port. I could find no reference on what version of HDMI the monitor supports either on the Best Buy website or on the Samsung website. My guess is that it is 1.4 at best. The monitor also has a USB port for service as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. The monitor does not support older inputs like DVI and VGA, but quite honestly these are past their prime and are not really missed at this point.
The G5 has the basic, but most important inputs covered. A total of 2 inputs are offered: A DisplayPort 1.2 port and an HDMI port. I could find no reference on what version of HDMI the monitor supports either on the Best Buy website or on the Samsung website. My guess is that it is 1.4 at best. The monitor also has a USB port for service as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. The monitor does not support older inputs like DVI and VGA, but quite honestly these are past their prime and are not really missed at this point.
Like I stated earlier in the introduction, the 27” panel is very sharp with a lot of available real estate. This is helped by the fact the monitor supports an excellent resolution of 2560 x 1440. This is much higher than the standard “full HD” monitors with only 1920 x 1080 resolution. The increased resolution makes texts and objects MUCH sharper. As a bonus, games can display a lot more information to the user as there is far more pixels that can be used over a full HD monitor.
The G5 has the gamer in mind. It includes an excellent LED panel with a fast 1ms response time. This is also one of the few monitors that not only supports nVidia’s G-Sync tech, but also includes AMD FreeSync Pro. Outstanding!!! I wish all monitors supported both technologies, unfortunately few do. The panel has an impressive 165Hz refresh rate with the ability display HDR content. However, HDR content needs to be taken with a grain of salt. While this monitor will display HDR content, it is only rated at 350 nits of brightness, so HDR is a bit of a stretch.
Even though the monitor doesn’t have retina searing brightness for HDR material, it makes the most of what it does have. The pictures and images are clear, vibrant, and very well detailed. Text is razor sharp. Much, much sharper than text on a “full HD” monitor. Out of the box, the monitor came fairly-well calibrated, but it wasn’t perfect. Using my DisplayPort connection and X-Rite i1 Display Pro, I has able to fine tune the image quite nicely. While it strays to the warm side, it isn’t unnatural looking by any means and reproduces a very good image that rivals my even my high dollar Omen and UltraSharp monitors.
NEGATIVES
1. Samsung needs to take a page out of Dell’s playbook when it comes to assembly and cable management. Dell has it down when it comes to ease of assembly and cable management. Even the lowliest of Dell monitors come with tool-free assembly. Not to mention the horrible cable management that Samsung cheaped-out with on this monitor. The stand has a little rubber strap the pushes into a hole in the stand. It doesn’t work. It can’t even keep the power cord tight against the stand. After 2 or 3 minutes, the strap pops out, leaving the cord to dangle. With a DP cable added to the mix, it is useless. Zip ties to the rescue.
1. Samsung needs to take a page out of Dell’s playbook when it comes to assembly and cable management. Dell has it down when it comes to ease of assembly and cable management. Even the lowliest of Dell monitors come with tool-free assembly. Not to mention the horrible cable management that Samsung cheaped-out with on this monitor. The stand has a little rubber strap the pushes into a hole in the stand. It doesn’t work. It can’t even keep the power cord tight against the stand. After 2 or 3 minutes, the strap pops out, leaving the cord to dangle. With a DP cable added to the mix, it is useless. Zip ties to the rescue.
2. This monitor is quite large to be used on an average desk without being curved. While it is by no means a deal breaker, I can see why most Samsung monitors at this size and larger are curved.
CONCLUSIONS
I like this monitor. It has a lot going for it. The resolution is sharp and crisp and color accuracy is quite good. The monitor has not failed to play any game I’ve tried on any platform flawlessly. I have graphics cards from all 3 major vendors, including: nVidia, AMD, and Intel and they have all performed flawlessly without once failing to recognize the synchronization tech built in. Games are smooth and I have not noticed one artifact from the video card ever being out of sync with the display.
I like this monitor. It has a lot going for it. The resolution is sharp and crisp and color accuracy is quite good. The monitor has not failed to play any game I’ve tried on any platform flawlessly. I have graphics cards from all 3 major vendors, including: nVidia, AMD, and Intel and they have all performed flawlessly without once failing to recognize the synchronization tech built in. Games are smooth and I have not noticed one artifact from the video card ever being out of sync with the display.
Samsung has made a very good product. If you are in market for a decent desktop monitor and are considering a full HD, model, you should really consider trying this over a full HD display. The additional real estate afforded by the increased resolution is a no-brainer. It really does make things that much clearer. Add to that, including both nVidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync tech both to the monitor makes it an easy display to recommend.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Quality
5
Value
5
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HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
How many cores are there in this pc
8 Cores / 8 Threads. Intel has disabled hyper-threading on its i7 processors.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
NAMO
HP OMEN Obelisk by HP Desktop: Play graphically intense games with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer. You can easily store large amounts of media and other data on the 1TB hard drive and install games and programs on the 256GB SSD for fast access. This HP OMEN Obelisk desktop computer has 16GB of memory for multitasking effectively, and the Intel Core i7-9700 processor handles resource-intense programs efficiently.
The advertisement and stated processor says its a 9th gen i7-9700 however if you click on the pdf information for this computer it states that it is an 8th Gen i7-8700? Also indicates that graphics are onboard and not the GPU?
It is the 9th Generation 9700 processor with an nVidia GTX 1660Ti graphics card. I believe all the Intel processors include onboard graphics.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
can a windows 7 computer boot from this drive ?
You should have no issues as long as your bios supports this feature.
8 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO
This Pioneer BDR-XD05S external drive allows you to archive up to 128GB of data on BD-R QL media and up to 100GB of data on BD-R TL media, plus supports DVD and CD formats, so you can burn your favorite movies and music to discs.
Is this compatible with a Surface Book?
Mine did not work correctly with a Surface Pro, even with a powered hub. It has worked perfectly with every other computer and/or laptop I've tried it with, though.
8 years, 1 month ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
Difference between the 2016 vs 2017 models? Any one what the pros/cons?
From my research, it appears the big differences are that the 2017 models come with LG's latest OS installed (WebOS 3.5 vs WebOS 3.0). LG has also worked some magic on the video processing too. They are now able to get more detail in the very darkest portions of an image, where the 2016 models would sign off on the darkest details earlier & just represent them as total black. Lastly, they able to tweak the light output on the panels to improve overall brightness, which was a common complaint of the 2016 models that were installed in fairly bright rooms from what I have heard.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
8 years, 3 months ago
by
NAMO
Relax and enjoy your favorite films, sporting events or shows on the expansive 65-inch screen of this LG 4K HD TV. Active HDR with Dolby Vision creates an immersive experience with clear images. This LG 4K HD TV features a thin OLED design, giving the television a slender silhouette that doesn't take up much space.
When is bestbuy going to sell the LG B7 65 inch model?
I don't think they will. It is my understanding that the B7 is identical to the C7, but intended for Costco and/or Sam's only.
8 years, 3 months ago
by
NAMO