NAMO's stats
- Review count148
- Helpfulness votes1,061
- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewMay 13, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count16
- Helpfulness votes13
- First answerJune 2, 2017
- Last answerDecember 9, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Tackle tough pet spills and stains - like muddy paw prints and dropped food - with the power of HydroSteam Technology. Proven to clean sticky messes up to 20% better, this machine uses a combination of specialized cleaning formula with HydroSteam Technology to clean across multiple surfaces. Additionaly, Two-Tank Technology ensures you always clean with fresh water and formula. Plus, it features a self-cleaning cycle that allows for ease of clean after the clean up. And this machine doesn't just clean up after pets, it helps save them! BISSELL proudly supports BISSELL Pet Foundation® and its mission to help save homeless pets.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent Alternative to Mops or Wet Sticks
on July 30, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
PROS
Almost completely self-cleaning
Great with hair
Much less maintenance than a carpet cleaner
Almost completely self-cleaning
Great with hair
Much less maintenance than a carpet cleaner
CONS
Limited range of motion in tight spots
Not so much steam as hotter water
Limited range of motion in tight spots
Not so much steam as hotter water
INTRODUCTION
I’ve owned Bissell products for many years. Everything from vacuums to carpet cleaners, Bissell has been a go-to brand when I needed something more than a vacuum. I’ve owned my Bissell carpet cleaner for over a decade now and was excited to see what amounts to a cleaner / shampooer for hard surfaces. I had to give it a go.
I’ve owned Bissell products for many years. Everything from vacuums to carpet cleaners, Bissell has been a go-to brand when I needed something more than a vacuum. I’ve owned my Bissell carpet cleaner for over a decade now and was excited to see what amounts to a cleaner / shampooer for hard surfaces. I had to give it a go.
USE
Included with the purchase of the product is a multi-surface microfiber brush roll, 3 trial-sized samples of Bissell’s Floor Sanitizer, Floor Cleaner, Vacuum Cleaning solution, and a storage / cleaning base for the product. Bissell sells larger bottles of their cleaners, as well as offers a variety of brush rolls that may be more tailored to your needs. These include the Pet Roll, Hardwood Floor Roll, and Carpet Roll. The Multi-Purpose brush roll included with the cleaner does an admiral job at filling all the roles (pun intended) without neglecting specific surfaces. A jack of all trades, master of none so to speak.
Included with the purchase of the product is a multi-surface microfiber brush roll, 3 trial-sized samples of Bissell’s Floor Sanitizer, Floor Cleaner, Vacuum Cleaning solution, and a storage / cleaning base for the product. Bissell sells larger bottles of their cleaners, as well as offers a variety of brush rolls that may be more tailored to your needs. These include the Pet Roll, Hardwood Floor Roll, and Carpet Roll. The Multi-Purpose brush roll included with the cleaner does an admiral job at filling all the roles (pun intended) without neglecting specific surfaces. A jack of all trades, master of none so to speak.
The Hydrosteam includes 3 different cleaning modes: Steam, Area Rug, and Hard Floors. Area Rug and Hard Floors allows you to use the product as a lightweight vacuum, while the steam option allows the user to dispense a heated cleaning solution on sealed floors that makes spills and other sticky messes easier to clean.
How well does the Hydrosteam clean? Surprisingly well. We consider ourselves clean people. We thoroughly clean our house every 2 weeks and lightly clean in between. Every 2 weeks includes washing the hardwoods and tile floors throughout. Having just done a good cleaning this past Thursday, I was doubtful the Hydrosteam would give much of a return. After all, we had just cleaned and we don’t wear our shoes in the house.
Well, that theory went out the window. I’ve included a picture of the water returned from cleaning just the tile floors. DISGUSTING. The steam cleaning function and cleaning solution picked up a bunch of junk that our mop / wet cleaning stick just smeared around. UGH. Time to rethink how we clean house. Embarrassing. Great job Bissell. The tile floors have NEVER felt cleaner.
CLEAN-UP
One thing that has kept me from ever wanting a steamer is my experience with my Bissell carpet cleaner. While the carpet cleaner does a decent job, it absolutely SUCKS to clean up after you are done. Figure a good 30 – 45 minutes cleaning the cleaner after use. Cutting hair, cleaning the inside of the vacuum, rinsing the parts and hoses. You name it and I hate it. Too awkward, too time consuming, too messy.
One thing that has kept me from ever wanting a steamer is my experience with my Bissell carpet cleaner. While the carpet cleaner does a decent job, it absolutely SUCKS to clean up after you are done. Figure a good 30 – 45 minutes cleaning the cleaner after use. Cutting hair, cleaning the inside of the vacuum, rinsing the parts and hoses. You name it and I hate it. Too awkward, too time consuming, too messy.
Bissell has done a very good job eliminating the mess of owning this machine. While there is some stuff to do, it is nothing like owning a carpet cleaner. Once done with your cleaning, bring the machine back to the plastic storage base. Fill the recessed brush roll area with some of Bissell’s citrus cleaning fluid and sit the machine in the storage base. Plug it in and the machine knows it has been placed in its home. The self-cleaning light comes on and in about 30 seconds the machine has run, cleaned itself and sucked nearly all the water out of the storage base. EASY.
You still must pull both the clean and dirty water tanks after use and clean them, but it isn’t horrible. I was able to pull the tanks, rinse them out, and clean out the storage base in less than 10 minutes. Not bad. Bissell has done their best at trying to eliminate the cleaning the cleaner chore.
NEGATIVES
I found the range of motion of vacuum very short. Working in a tight space like a bathroom you can easily get the handle just a little too far vertical. I’m not talking perpendicular to the ground either. Once you do, the protection device kicks in and blocks suction. While I get that it is supposed to protect the cleaner, it is just too fast at blocking airflow. When it does, you MUST shut the cleaner off and let the suction stop to resume cleaning. Annoying.
I found the range of motion of vacuum very short. Working in a tight space like a bathroom you can easily get the handle just a little too far vertical. I’m not talking perpendicular to the ground either. Once you do, the protection device kicks in and blocks suction. While I get that it is supposed to protect the cleaner, it is just too fast at blocking airflow. When it does, you MUST shut the cleaner off and let the suction stop to resume cleaning. Annoying.
While marketed as a Hydrosteam, I would consider it more of a hot water cleaner. I never really ever saw any true steam from the cleaner. I could see a little, but a true steam cleaner, it is not. A true steam cleaner sanitizes during use due to the extreme temperature. This machine will sanitize, but only using the Bissell Sanitizing formula and only if it is allowed to remain damp on the surface for more than 5 minutes. The steam I see in Bissell’s videos and photos seem to be overly dramatic.
CONCLUSIONS
The Bissell Crosswave Hydrosteam is a good cleaning tool. As long as the user knows this isn’t a “true” steaming machine, they won’t be disappointed. The Bissell does a very good job at cleaning hard surfaces. My tile floors look and feel great. Most importantly, they dried very quickly, as the Bissell leaves little to no water behind.
The Bissell Crosswave Hydrosteam is a good cleaning tool. As long as the user knows this isn’t a “true” steaming machine, they won’t be disappointed. The Bissell does a very good job at cleaning hard surfaces. My tile floors look and feel great. Most importantly, they dried very quickly, as the Bissell leaves little to no water behind.
The Crosswave Hydrosteam is easy to care for and you can tell Bissell has devoted a lot of time making the machine user friendly and easy to maintain. That is a huge and welcome addition to their product line. While this is not a replacement for either my existing carpet cleaner or my carpet vacuum (it cannot compare to either one), it is a keeper compared to my current hard floor cleaning products, whether they be my cleaners for tiles or my sealed hardwoods.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+9points
9of 9voted this as helpful.
The Crucial P5 Plus SSD with integrated heatsink delivers remarkable speed and data protection with sequential reads up to 6,600MB/s for transformative computing. Designed specifically for intensive workloads, high-quality creative content, and gaming, the P5 Plus with heatsink is ideal for use with PlayStation 5, supports Microsoft DirectStorage, and is also backward compatible with most Gen3 systems for ultimate flexibility. Engineered by Micron with Gen4 NVMe technology, the Crucial P5 Plus includes advanced features like full hardware-based encryption, dynamic write acceleration, and adaptive thermal protection to keep your data safe while enhancing system reliability.
Customer Rating
4
AVERAGE PERFORMANCE / MICRON QUALITY
on July 26, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
INTRODUCTION
The P5 Plus is a new offering from Crucial / Micron. Sporting a PCIe 4.0 interface, integrated heat sink, and a DRAM cache, the drive has a lot going for it. Crucial backs the drive by a good 5 year manufacturer’s warranty, which is decent in this day, considering some manufacturer’s offer only a 3 year warranty, 5 is a welcome benefit. Crucial claims speeds up to 6600MB/s, more than enough to satisfy the PS5’s minimum read/write speed requirements.
The P5 Plus is a new offering from Crucial / Micron. Sporting a PCIe 4.0 interface, integrated heat sink, and a DRAM cache, the drive has a lot going for it. Crucial backs the drive by a good 5 year manufacturer’s warranty, which is decent in this day, considering some manufacturer’s offer only a 3 year warranty, 5 is a welcome benefit. Crucial claims speeds up to 6600MB/s, more than enough to satisfy the PS5’s minimum read/write speed requirements.
INSTALLATION
The Crucial P5 installed into my older i7-9700k based desktop PC without issue. The older PCIe Gen 3 desktop required no drivers and was instantly recognized and Windows 11 installed with no fuss. If you are installing this on a newer computer like my 13th gen i5, you will most likely need a VMD driver to get Windows to recognize the drive in the PCIe Gen 4 interface. The VMD driver is readily available from Intel, and once I installed the driver, Windows recognized the drive, formatted it and installed quickly, quietly, and without any issues.
The Crucial P5 installed into my older i7-9700k based desktop PC without issue. The older PCIe Gen 3 desktop required no drivers and was instantly recognized and Windows 11 installed with no fuss. If you are installing this on a newer computer like my 13th gen i5, you will most likely need a VMD driver to get Windows to recognize the drive in the PCIe Gen 4 interface. The VMD driver is readily available from Intel, and once I installed the driver, Windows recognized the drive, formatted it and installed quickly, quietly, and without any issues.
PERFORMANCE
The Crucial P5 Plus offers average performance compared to similar PCIe 4 drives. The P5 had no problems sending and receiving data from my older desktop’s PCIe 3.0 interface. The 3.0 interface could not even begin to reach the limits of the 4.0 interface. The P5 handled all the data as fast as my old workhorse could throw at it.
The Crucial P5 Plus offers average performance compared to similar PCIe 4 drives. The P5 had no problems sending and receiving data from my older desktop’s PCIe 3.0 interface. The 3.0 interface could not even begin to reach the limits of the 4.0 interface. The P5 handled all the data as fast as my old workhorse could throw at it.
However, once I pulled the drive from my older desktop and installed it into my current desktop, speeds were not nearly as impressive. Crucial touts speeds up to 6600MB/s, but I was not able to reach their claimed performance numbers. It wasn’t a fault of the desktop, as my current PCIe 4.0 drive from another manufacturer handily beats the Crucial offering. My current NVMe 4.0 drive outpaces the Crucial by over 900MB/s, roughly 6900MB/s vs 6000MB/s.
The integrated heatsink is a nice feature and may pay dividends in the future. However, repeated read/write tests of this drive compared to my faster NVMe drive, which is not equipped with a heatsink, showed little difference in overall temperatures. The Crucial P5 maintained its cool, running only around 41C during testing. My non-heatsink drive was only 3 – 4 degrees warmer after repeated tests, so the addition of the heatsink may not be an absolute necessity with decent airflow in your machine.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The P5 Plus is a solid offering from Crucial. I have always had excellent luck with Micron memory and have no reason to believe this drive won’t be nothing but reliable.
The P5 Plus is a solid offering from Crucial. I have always had excellent luck with Micron memory and have no reason to believe this drive won’t be nothing but reliable.
The P5 Plus isn’t the fastest drive on the market, but it is a solid choice. An integrated heatsink and a DRAM cache should ensure any user will be able to get the most from their drive. Whether you are shopping for desktop drive or a PlayStation 5 drive, this one should be worthy of your consideration.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Body Comp offers a total body assessment with weight precise up to 50g, plus full body composition metrics (body fat and water percentage, plus muscle and bone mass), cardiovascular assessment (Standing Heart Rate, Vascular Age), and an Electrodermal Activity Score, providing the most complete and accurate overview of body metrics ever offered. Every weigh-in appears in the Withings app automatically, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth sync. And unlike many smart scales, with Wi-Fi sync, you don’t have to have your phone with you when you weigh-in to synchronize your data.
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: While the Withings is an interesting take on health, it is just another product that doesn’t do much more than you can get with your phone and/or smart watch.
INTRODUCTION
The Withings Body Comp Scale packs a bunch of features and tech into a product most probably never give 2 thoughts about. The scale wants to be your one-stop place for health and fitness information and offers insights into not only your weight, but your body’s overall health and condition. The Withings scales measures: Body Composition, Heart Health, Electrodermal Activity, Nutrition, and even includes the weather forecast and air quality.
The Withings Body Comp Scale packs a bunch of features and tech into a product most probably never give 2 thoughts about. The scale wants to be your one-stop place for health and fitness information and offers insights into not only your weight, but your body’s overall health and condition. The Withings scales measures: Body Composition, Heart Health, Electrodermal Activity, Nutrition, and even includes the weather forecast and air quality.
Subscribing to Withings+ unlocks even more features within the app and allows for tracking trends, nutrition, and exercise guidance, etc. Withings has wisely chosen to integrate their scale with (according to their website) over 100 different fitness apps. This includes the heavy hitters like Apple Fitness, FitBit, and in my case, Samsung Health. Great job Withings.
USE
The best & worst part of the Body Comp scale is the ability to measure your body composition, including Fat Mass, Muscle Mass, Bone Density, and Visceral Fat. In addition, the scale can give you an overview of your cardiovascular health by giving you an estimate of your vascular age determined from body fat, heart rate, etc. This is great and with the Withings+ app you can see trends and improvements in your health as time moves along. However, as great as the measurements are, they are also a curse. I’m sure if the scale could say I was fat & lazy, it would. Ugh. Time to get off the couch.
The best & worst part of the Body Comp scale is the ability to measure your body composition, including Fat Mass, Muscle Mass, Bone Density, and Visceral Fat. In addition, the scale can give you an overview of your cardiovascular health by giving you an estimate of your vascular age determined from body fat, heart rate, etc. This is great and with the Withings+ app you can see trends and improvements in your health as time moves along. However, as great as the measurements are, they are also a curse. I’m sure if the scale could say I was fat & lazy, it would. Ugh. Time to get off the couch.
Set-up of the scale is completed through the Withings app available on your iOS or Android device. It is a simple process and walks you step-by-step through the set-up and it never seems daunting or difficult. It is a well-designed process and includes everything you need to get started from account creation, WiFi configuration, firmware updates, etc.
A full measurement, minus the Withings+ plus features takes about a minute total. There is nothing to do but stand on the scale during this time. It doesn’t get any easier. During this minute, your weight is recorded, your heart rate measured, your electrodermal activity (sweat glands) recorded and your data is uploaded to the Withings app. Once all measurements are taken and uploaded, the scale gives you the weather forecast and the air quality index all on the color display. It is quite elegant.
APP AND WEBSITE
Once the initial set-up is completed, that is where things go downhill, rapidly downhill. The app and website are not intuitive or user friendly. I fully admit that it may get easier, the more I use it, but as a new owner, it is not easy to get to what I want immediately.
Once the initial set-up is completed, that is where things go downhill, rapidly downhill. The app and website are not intuitive or user friendly. I fully admit that it may get easier, the more I use it, but as a new owner, it is not easy to get to what I want immediately.
Furthermore, the app, while it says is fully compatible with Samsung Health is WAY off. As of this moment, I have recorded 6611 steps according to my Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and Samsung Health. The Withings app shows I have taken 14392 steps today. While I like that number much better, it is inaccurate and I’m not sure where the data is being pulled from. Other metrics being pulled from Samsung Health also appear to be off target as well.
FINAL VERDICT
At the end of the day, I cannot give the Body Comp Scale a recommendation. The scale itself looks very upscale (pun intended) and the color display is clear, easy to read, and looks very high end. But, as of now, that is where my endearment for the product ends.
At the end of the day, I cannot give the Body Comp Scale a recommendation. The scale itself looks very upscale (pun intended) and the color display is clear, easy to read, and looks very high end. But, as of now, that is where my endearment for the product ends.
The Withings app is clunky and difficult to navigate. Settings that should be easy enough to find seem to take multiple button taps to get to and only after trial and error. The website is also just as cumbersome.
To put it quite frankly, this scale has little to offer that you don’t already have available with a smartwatch and phone.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
Deco BE85 is the next-gen Wi-Fi 7 whole home multi-gig mesh Wi-Fi system that combines the technologies and premium hardware. The powerful BE22000 Wi-Fi 7 with TP-Link Mesh technology delivers strong Wi-Fi signal throughout your home and even connects up to 200 devices. Tri-Band technology reduces lag that originates from network congestion. The Mesh system automatically connects your devices to the least crowded Wi-Fi band depending on the devices' data usage. Achieve all the performance benefits with peace of mind with TP-Link's HomeShield protection. Stay secure with WPA3 encryption and provide a safe online-playground for your kids with parental controls.
Customer Rating
4
The Wi-Fi 7 Future With No Devices To Use It
on June 8, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
INTRODUCTION
The Deco BE85 ships with 3 identical devices. Whichever one you hookup first becomes your main unit and the others are satellite devices. TP-Link has endowed each unit with a tremendous amount of tech, not seen in many consumer-grade devices to date. Included, and most obvious is Wi-Fi 7. The latest generation of the Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 7 supports the ability to transmit data at speeds better than 4x the current Wi-Fi 6 standard. Additionally, each unit is equipped with two 2.5Gbe ports, two 10Gbe ports, as well as a combo port that can be used with fiber, and the obligatory USB 3.0 port. Wow!!!
The Deco BE85 ships with 3 identical devices. Whichever one you hookup first becomes your main unit and the others are satellite devices. TP-Link has endowed each unit with a tremendous amount of tech, not seen in many consumer-grade devices to date. Included, and most obvious is Wi-Fi 7. The latest generation of the Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 7 supports the ability to transmit data at speeds better than 4x the current Wi-Fi 6 standard. Additionally, each unit is equipped with two 2.5Gbe ports, two 10Gbe ports, as well as a combo port that can be used with fiber, and the obligatory USB 3.0 port. Wow!!!
Most important to me, is the Deco BE85 is the first consumer mesh Wi-Fi system I have really given any consideration to, simply because it is one of, if not the only unit, to support what TP-Link refers to as MLO (Multi-Link Operation). This means the nodes all can communicate with one another on all available connection methods. No longer is the consumer tied to a single 5GHz backhaul channel for communication between nodes. Get those nodes just a little too far apart and their communication speed plummets. Not with these BE85’s. These can use the 2.4Ghz, 5GHz, 6GHz, and Ethernet for backhaul. Not only can they pick and choose which one to use, the BE85 can use all the bands, including ethernet, simultaneously for communication. OUTSTANDING!!!!!
INITIAL SET-UP
The TP-Link Deco BE85 does its best to make setting up a new Wi-Fi network a piece of cake. But, make no bones about it, if you are doing it yourself, it helps to have a decent understanding of networking and most importantly, make sure you know how to access your existing equipment before starting the installation. I consider myself decently adept at networking and thankfully I have some experience as there were several hiccups getting everything up and running properly with my existing AT&T Fiber Internet.
The TP-Link Deco BE85 does its best to make setting up a new Wi-Fi network a piece of cake. But, make no bones about it, if you are doing it yourself, it helps to have a decent understanding of networking and most importantly, make sure you know how to access your existing equipment before starting the installation. I consider myself decently adept at networking and thankfully I have some experience as there were several hiccups getting everything up and running properly with my existing AT&T Fiber Internet.
My most important recommendations prior to beginning installation of the TP-Link system are as follows: 1. Make sure you go into your existing modem (often provided by your ISP) and disable the Wi-Fi radios for all bands, including any guest networks. This will prevent it from competing with the new Deco kit after hookup. 2. It isn’t necessary, but I recommend changing the DHCP settings on the ISP modem to only allow for 1 DHCP address assignment. This will be for the main Deco unit. Let the main Deco unit handle the DHCP server responsibilities after that. 3. For the utmost ease in converting to a new system, make your Deco’s SSID and Wi-Fi password the same as your existing system (assuming you are satisfied with your current password security). This way, once the Deco comes online all client devices will find the network and automatically connect, eliminating the need to manually configure every single device. On my network this is close to 70 different devices.
CONFIGURATION
99% of all Deco configuration is handled through the nicely designed Deco app available for both Android and iOS. I found the Android app my preferred method of accessing and configuring my system, as the iOS app seems to lag slightly behind, with the Android version providing much faster refreshing and near real-time statistics.
99% of all Deco configuration is handled through the nicely designed Deco app available for both Android and iOS. I found the Android app my preferred method of accessing and configuring my system, as the iOS app seems to lag slightly behind, with the Android version providing much faster refreshing and near real-time statistics.
TP-Link has really done a good job at making the system set-up possible for even the tech challenged. While it is entirely possible to have little or no experience in networking and still set-up the system, if a problem does arise (I had numerous issues) a good networking background is needed to avoid unwanted calls to family members and/or TP-Link Tech Support. The Deco app will attempt to guide you through the installation and configuration, but there are some things that you will just want the experience for. Not a knock against TP-Link, that is just the way it is when configuring a new whole home Wi-Fi system. Honestly, TP-Link deserves applause for trying their best to make the set-up as intuitive and pain-free as possible. Their hard work really shows.
TESTING
I have an older home that is approximately 4600 square feet. It has been reliably served by a TP-Link Archer AX11000 router since 2020, just as Covid was ramping up and things began to become scarce. The single Archer AX11000 covered every part of my home and most of my yard without issue. Granted, speeds weren’t the best at the fringes, but the main part of the living areas were covered great. Even the far ends of the house could reliably achieve 30 – 50Mbps downloads even during the worst of times.
I have an older home that is approximately 4600 square feet. It has been reliably served by a TP-Link Archer AX11000 router since 2020, just as Covid was ramping up and things began to become scarce. The single Archer AX11000 covered every part of my home and most of my yard without issue. Granted, speeds weren’t the best at the fringes, but the main part of the living areas were covered great. Even the far ends of the house could reliably achieve 30 – 50Mbps downloads even during the worst of times.
Because I have a single-story house, I placed the main Deco nearly dead center in the house and a satellite node toward each end. After buying the house, I made sure to run Cat5e throughout, so I was able to utilize the tried-and-true copper connection for backhaul. The Deco’s recognized the copper connection instantly, but because of their proximity and transmit/receive efficiency, each Deco also states it is connected to each other by the 2.4, 5, and 6GHz bands too.
Those exact same clients that were getting only 30 – 50Mbps down, are now averaging more than 300Mbps down. Places in my house that would cause my phone, in particular, to change from the 5GHz band to the 2.4GHz band causing a brief interruption in performance are now fully blanketed in Wi-Fi and the phone maintains not just a Wi-Fi 5 connection throughout the entire house, it is able to maintain a full Wi-Fi 6 connection throughout the home. EXCELLENT!
NEGATIVES
I wish each unit, or at least one of the units, had 8 ethernet ports instead of just 4.
I wish each unit, or at least one of the units, had 8 ethernet ports instead of just 4.
There are still some bugs that need squashed in the TP-Link app and firmware. While the firmware is drastically better than it was initially, there are still random hiccups, slow connections, and inexplicable data freeze ups where nothing seems to be getting sent or received (even though my modem shows a connection to my ISP).
I would like to be able to manage my device configuration from the actual Deco’s webpage versus using the app. I find it cumbersome to manage the intricate details of the device from my phone. I like to be able to use a full-size monitor to see more information at once. Give the users and Advanced tab where they can make configurations to the Deco’s via a computer like I can on my AX11000.
Not sure if I received an old unit, or refurbished unit, but mine was shipped by the RMA department and is version 2.0. TP-Link has already released a hardware revision to V2.6. There is no way of telling what changes have occurred, but something has changed to warrant a hardware revision.
The HomeShield protection suite is not included in the purchase price of the unit and available only through a monthly subscription after the 30 day trial period.
SUMMARY
This is the current cutting edge for Wi-Fi. The addition of the MLO option to the Deco’s make it a true game changer in the world of consumer mesh devices. It eliminates the trial and error needed to make sure each node is in just the perfect position, or it doesn’t work right.
This is the current cutting edge for Wi-Fi. The addition of the MLO option to the Deco’s make it a true game changer in the world of consumer mesh devices. It eliminates the trial and error needed to make sure each node is in just the perfect position, or it doesn’t work right.
My Wi-Fi coverage has never been broader or as seamless. Weak and dead spots have been all but eliminated and every device has a much more reliable, stable connection. While it is true there are no Wi-Fi 7 client devices readily available, there will be. In the interim, the Deco BE85 will ensure you can wring every last bit of performance out of your existing devices and ready your home for the future.
The only thing holding this back from getting a 5-star review is the random bugs that I still experience from time to time (surely to be squashed by a firmware update in the future) and the inability to perform what amounts to be Network Administration duties from a computer browser. This is HUGE to me, as I feel it would have immensely helpful in helping pinpoint the initial installation issues I experienced trying to get the Deco's to work properly with my AT&T Fiber.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+4points
5of 6voted this as helpful.
Turn your content into immersive experiences with enhanced audio features and versatile modes on the new Inspiron 14 2-in-1 laptop.
Customer Rating
4
Nice 2-In-1 For Everyday Use
on June 2, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
INITIAL CONFIGURATION & INSTALLED APPS
Like many Dell products, this Inspiron proved to be issue free during initial set-up and configuration. Between Windows update and the Dell Owner Website, any initial configuration, set-up, or driver issues were easily rectified. I highly recommend browsing the Dell driver update website based on your Dell Service Tag, as Windows update failed to identify the most recent bios update. Windows update found 1 bios update, but Dell had an updated one on their website.
Like many Dell products, this Inspiron proved to be issue free during initial set-up and configuration. Between Windows update and the Dell Owner Website, any initial configuration, set-up, or driver issues were easily rectified. I highly recommend browsing the Dell driver update website based on your Dell Service Tag, as Windows update failed to identify the most recent bios update. Windows update found 1 bios update, but Dell had an updated one on their website.
The first bios update to 1.2.1 was extremely nerve racking and took nearly 10 minutes. Most of that with no movement on the progress bar. Fortunately, the update installed without issue & there have been no performance or driver issues.
Dell doesn’t deliver the laptop to you with a pure, unaltered version of Windows 11. Instead, there is a moderate amount of bloatware. Included in the unnecessary bloatware is McAfee Anti-Virus (installed by default & always has issues being totally wiped clean), numerous Dell assistants and software, 3 full versions of Office 365 (English, Spanish, and French), as well as McAfee Web Advisor. While this may not normally be an issue (other than McAfee), but with only 512GB of NVMe space, every little bit counts.
DISPLAY AND KEYBOARD
The 14” display is very crisp and clear. The touchscreen supports a better than full HD resolution of 1900 x 1200. The display has quite a bit of glare, as it is a very reflective surface, but it is very nice to look at once you get the color adjusted.
The 14” display is very crisp and clear. The touchscreen supports a better than full HD resolution of 1900 x 1200. The display has quite a bit of glare, as it is a very reflective surface, but it is very nice to look at once you get the color adjusted.
Speaking of the display, initial color accuracy is way off. Honestly, when I first got the laptop, I was kind of put off by the out of the box color reproduction. It was yellowy and unpleasant to look at. After several hours of use, I finally got tired of the colors and grabbed my colorimeter. Using the colorimeter and profiling software, the color accuracy was VASTLY improved and almost dead on. Now the display is bright, crisp, clear, and very pleasing to look at. Colors are now much truer to life.
The keyboard is equally as pleasing to use. Even with a more compact size than I am used to, the keys have a nice, responsive feel, without a lot of the membrane style mushiness. Overall, the keyboard and display provide for a premium feel, better than its current price point.
UPGRADEABILITY
This is one of the few areas that leaves the consumer wanting. The specs for this machine are what is considered entry-level at this point. 512GB of hard drive space and only 8GB of RAM. Not that it is a bad thing, as most computers can be upgraded as time progresses and users’ needs increase. Unfortunately, the Inspiron 14’s RAM is not upgradeable, as confirmed by the Dell associates. The NVMe drive and Wi-Fi adapter are upgradeable. The NVMe drive shipped with the Inspiron is a 2230 drive, but Dell has wisely opted for the ability for an end-user put a normal 2280 sized NVMe drive. Wi-Fi card is a standard Key A or E card and replaceable as well, but I have experienced no issues with the RealTek Wi-Fi 6E card installed from the factory, as Wi-Fi connections have proven consistent and reliable with good speeds.
This is one of the few areas that leaves the consumer wanting. The specs for this machine are what is considered entry-level at this point. 512GB of hard drive space and only 8GB of RAM. Not that it is a bad thing, as most computers can be upgraded as time progresses and users’ needs increase. Unfortunately, the Inspiron 14’s RAM is not upgradeable, as confirmed by the Dell associates. The NVMe drive and Wi-Fi adapter are upgradeable. The NVMe drive shipped with the Inspiron is a 2230 drive, but Dell has wisely opted for the ability for an end-user put a normal 2280 sized NVMe drive. Wi-Fi card is a standard Key A or E card and replaceable as well, but I have experienced no issues with the RealTek Wi-Fi 6E card installed from the factory, as Wi-Fi connections have proven consistent and reliable with good speeds.
BATTERY LIFE
Battery life has been averaging around 3 hours, more or less. I’m sure this could be increased by using the Battery Saver function built into Windows 11 or by lowering the brightness down from 120 nits as recommended by my monitor calibration software. However, the display is so crisp and natural looking at these settings, I hate to reduce overall brightness.
Battery life has been averaging around 3 hours, more or less. I’m sure this could be increased by using the Battery Saver function built into Windows 11 or by lowering the brightness down from 120 nits as recommended by my monitor calibration software. However, the display is so crisp and natural looking at these settings, I hate to reduce overall brightness.
CONCLUSION
This would make a good laptop for anyone needing a basic and dependable machine. This display is nice to look at (once calibrated) and the overall feel and functionality of the 2 in 1 design is quite good. Battery life is decent for being such a small battery, but I still wish it had more reserve capacity. The only thing holding this back from a 5-star rating, is the inability to add more RAM and the McAfee Anti-Virus installed an active immediately from start-up. Speed and responsiveness have never been an issue.
This would make a good laptop for anyone needing a basic and dependable machine. This display is nice to look at (once calibrated) and the overall feel and functionality of the 2 in 1 design is quite good. Battery life is decent for being such a small battery, but I still wish it had more reserve capacity. The only thing holding this back from a 5-star rating, is the inability to add more RAM and the McAfee Anti-Virus installed an active immediately from start-up. Speed and responsiveness have never been an issue.
A small, lightweight laptop with good performance, crisp display, and excellent ergonomics.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+4points
5of 6voted this as helpful.
Introducing the Outdoor Premium Full-Motion TV Mount - Designed to handle the elements, this weatherproof mount is built with a corrosion-resistant coating and stainless-steel hardware for durability. 25-inches of extension offers flexible cable access, and the perfect viewing angle so you get the best seat wherever you are. Motion lock knobs keep your TV securely in place to prevent unwanted movement. With Virtual Axis(TM) fingertip tilt technology, you can tilt and swivel your TV to reduce glare and improve the viewing angle. The slim profile of this mount blends seamlessly into your décor, placing your TV just 2.74 inches from the wall for a sleek and stylish look. Upgrade your outdoor entertainment space with the perfect mount. For TVs 40"-85"
Customer Rating
5
Built Like a Proverbial Tank
on June 1, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
Like my intro states, this mount is made like a tank. Crafted from heavier gauge steel than most ordinary mounts, the Sanus is made to withstand the extreme conditions of the outdoors. How much stronger is the Sanus steel than other cheaply made mounts? Considerably. This mount can support up to 120 pounds and weighs in at a hefty 20 pounds without the TV. It is so sturdy, that it weighs as much as the TV I have it mounted to.
Included in the box with the mount is the requisite hardware to mount the TV to its bracket. Sanus includes a good variety of mounting hardware and spacers, that will surely accommodate most, if not all TV’s made in the past decade. To ensure a long life in even the most extreme conditions, the Sanus kit includes all stainless-steel mounting hardware. No cheap galvanized or painted fasteners here. Also included, are 4 large lag bolts to and washers to screw the mount to a standard 2x4 or better wall.
The mount can extend to a maximum length of 25 inches but sucks in to a svelte 2.75 inches when tucked up against the wall. I have numerous articulating mounts in the past, but none have ever been so smooth and effortless at moving. The Sanus glides with a smooth and confident precision that no other mount I’ve used to date can match. All my previous mounts were either too stiff and felt like you were about to break the TV when you wanted to move it or were so flimsy, they failed to hold the TV in my desired position. Not sure what Sanus has done, but like Goldilocks and her porridge, this mount is “just right”. No matter what position you want your TV, the Sanus mount will accommodate. It rotates, swings, tilts, and maybe most importantly has a spot for a padlock to help deter theft and damage when not in use.
The only real quibble I can find with this mount is that for the price it does not include mounting hardware for any other wall types than wooden studs. They provide you with the instructions for mounting it to other types of material, like concrete, but do not include the hardware. I get that 95% of us will mount the TV to wood studs, but it would be a minimal cost to manufacturer to give out a few concrete anchors with the mount.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
The PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED Gaming Headset was designed with the world’s best pro players to remove any barrier between you and the win. Engineered for comfort and confidence with award-winning PRO design, 50mm Graphene drivers for advanced sound quality, LIGHTSPEED wireless with up to 50-hour on a single charge, multiple connection options, clear communications with a 6mm cardioid microphone on a detachable boom arm, DTS Headphone:X 2.0 Surround Sound, improved comfortable design, and durable aluminum and steel frame.
Customer Rating
3
Potential Is There, But Not There Yet
on May 31, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
SYNOPSIS
The Pro X2 has potential, but needs a firmware update to fix the odd sound quality using the lightspeed connection, until then, look elsewhere.
The Pro X2 has potential, but needs a firmware update to fix the odd sound quality using the lightspeed connection, until then, look elsewhere.
INITIAL SET-UP
I am fortunate to own several Logitech G products. As with any other of my G products, initial set-up is simple and straightforward. Once you download and install the G Hub software, you plug in the device and are good to go. The G Hub software is simple and gives you full information on your products including battery level, onboard memory settings, current profile, and firmware. It is slick and reliable.
I am fortunate to own several Logitech G products. As with any other of my G products, initial set-up is simple and straightforward. Once you download and install the G Hub software, you plug in the device and are good to go. The G Hub software is simple and gives you full information on your products including battery level, onboard memory settings, current profile, and firmware. It is slick and reliable.
USE
Like all my other G branded Logitech products, these headphones continue to impress with their premium look and robust design. Logitech has wisely chosen to stray from the rest of their competition and omit all traces of RGB lighting?!?! Just when you thought a premium product couldn’t be found that didn’t have some form of EDM lightshow, Logitech comes through. Nice touch Logitech. Much appreciated.
Like all my other G branded Logitech products, these headphones continue to impress with their premium look and robust design. Logitech has wisely chosen to stray from the rest of their competition and omit all traces of RGB lighting?!?! Just when you thought a premium product couldn’t be found that didn’t have some form of EDM lightshow, Logitech comes through. Nice touch Logitech. Much appreciated.
The new Pro X2’s have just about any and every connection you could think of, or need, covered for use. They can be hooked up via an old school 3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C, Bluetooth, and via their Lightspeed dongle. As a bonus, if you don’t have a 3.5mm connection & desire its use, there is one built-in to the Lightspeed dongle. Super thoughtful!
The Pro X2’s feature the requisite 50mm drivers that are now standard and expected in premium headphones. The sound quality is good without being bass heavy like many of Logitech’s competitors. Logitech has done a good job of tuning the headphones for accuracy vs bass heavy sound reproduction. It works well for gaming, keeping the audio clearer without muffling footsteps and ambient noises during FPS games, but leaves a little on the table for music.
The mic plugs in via a single 3.5mm connection but does not flip up and down. Some like that feature where flipping the mic up shuts it off and pulling it back down turns in on. Whatever your tastes are there is no argument that the sound quality of the mic is very good. Voices come through clear, clean, and intelligible and Logitech’s Blue Sound algorithms do a great job at evening out and cleaning up spoken words even during the most intense battles.
NEGATIVES
As far as negatives, I’ll get right to it and the reason I can’t recommend the headphones – It’s the weird audio quality using the Logitech Lightspeed dongle. The G Hub software says it is using DTS audio processing with the Lightspeed dongle, but if it is, something is amiss. Audio is muffled, muted, and is often hard to understand spoken words from games or other players. This problem can be alleviated by plugging in the included 3.5mm audio cable, but at that point what is purpose of buying a wireless set of headphones? No matter what setting I tried in the G Hub software, I could not get decent audio quality from the Lightspeed connection. Even turning all audio processing off failed to correct the issue.
As far as negatives, I’ll get right to it and the reason I can’t recommend the headphones – It’s the weird audio quality using the Logitech Lightspeed dongle. The G Hub software says it is using DTS audio processing with the Lightspeed dongle, but if it is, something is amiss. Audio is muffled, muted, and is often hard to understand spoken words from games or other players. This problem can be alleviated by plugging in the included 3.5mm audio cable, but at that point what is purpose of buying a wireless set of headphones? No matter what setting I tried in the G Hub software, I could not get decent audio quality from the Lightspeed connection. Even turning all audio processing off failed to correct the issue.
This odd sound quality is only exhibited while using the Logitech Lightspeed connection. The sound quality is restored to normal when using any of the other available connections: Bluetooth, 3.5mm audio or USB. The Lightspeed dongle is supposed to provide a high-speed, wireless connection between the headphones and the PC eliminating the dreaded Bluetooth audio lag. Unfortunately, the sound quality is so poor, I resorted to using my PC’s Bluetooth connection and letting my DTS Sound Unbound app (which includes DTS Headphone X) to control the audio processing.
Thinking it surely was a user error or computer issue, I installed the G Hub software on my son’s computer and let him try the Pro X2’s. After about an hour into a gaming session and multiple different attempts at using the G Hub software, he came out and gave them back to me. He was not impressed. Said the sound quality was terrible and went back to using his much less expensive headphones from a Logitech competitor.
Lastly, and this is only a matter of preference, not a necessarily a ding on Logitech, is the fact that the mic doesn’t swing up and down. Like my son, I also like the convenience of being able to swing the mic arm up and down to quickly disconnect the mic. Not a deal breaker by any means, but a matter of preference.
CONCLUSIONS
The Pro X2’s have a lot going for them. They have a premium look and feel. Come with 2 different ear cup materials and are light enough that they would surely satisfy any gamer. In addition, they offer an impressive 50 hours of battery life.
The Pro X2’s have a lot going for them. They have a premium look and feel. Come with 2 different ear cup materials and are light enough that they would surely satisfy any gamer. In addition, they offer an impressive 50 hours of battery life.
These headphones have the ability to reproduce good audio quality, but the Lightspeed dongle and connection that Logitech wants you to love and use isn’t ready yet. Plugging in the dongle deactivates any form of PC audio processing, relying solely on the Logitech software and it doesn’t work correctly. Quite honestly, audio quality using the Lightspeed dongle and Logitech software is quite poor whether it be for games, movies, or music.
Fortunately, the Pro X2’s have many different connection options and you can defeat the Lightspeed dongle and enjoy that premium Logitech sound, but that also defeats the purpose of these headphones. I have no doubt Logitech can fix the issues with a firmware update, but until they can, I would look elsewhere.
NOT RECOMMENDED
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+7points
8of 9voted this as helpful.
Customer Rating
4
All Natural & Good For Certain Circumstances
on April 23, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
The Hylands ear drops work decently for mild, non-medical related ear pain. They have provided temporary relief for my son that gets earaches after gym class and other sports. He normally just toughs it out and, in an evening, or so, his ears don’t bother him, but he commented that these drops did provide for some relief during the evening hours when his ears would normally bother him the most. He states that they provide a soothing effect when applied, and while the drops don't eliminate all his discomfort, they do help take the edge off.
I found the Hylands drops particularly nice after wearing soft, foam ear plugs for extended periods of time. Whether it be for yard work, or long afternoon rides on the motorcycle, those soft, foam ear plugs irritate my ears, especially if sweating. A drop or two of the Hylands takes the discomfort away.
Just note, that these are not a substitute for actual doctor prescribed drops if you are experience ear discomfort due to a true medical condition.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Holmes 45” Stack-N-Connect Digital Tower Fan #12095 is a convenient way to cool your space. This unique fan features 3 sections plus the base that can easily be assembled and dissembled with no tools and stowed away under a bed or in a closet when not in use, comes with a bonus storage bag. Features a large easy-to-read ClearRead LCD display and digital controls to easily operate the fan. Includes 4 speed options, up to 19.7 ft/sec high-speed velocity with 800 cubic ft/min output and 4 operation modes; normal, sleep, breeze, and power breeze to customize your cooling experience. This large tower fan is ideal for larger living areas where floor space is limited, such as bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and home offices and has an integrated carrying handle to easily move from one room to the next. Rest easy with the soothing sleep mode option and up to 8 hour auto-shut off timer to conveniently turn off the tower fan. Motorized 90° oscillation delivers cool airflow for wide areas and the convenient remote control lets you operate the fan from across the room. Includes a sturdy base, matte black finish and 3-year limited warranty.
Customer Rating
2
Better Options Available for Less Money
on April 16, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
ASSEMBLY
This is a unique take on a tower fan. It conveniently comes in 4 sections for easier portability or less space in storage. The 4 sections include: the base, the power supply aka bottom section, fan section, and top section which houses the remote receiver and controls. Assembly is a no-brainer and couldn’t be simpler with the pieces fitting together and turning approximately a quarter turn to lock into position. The 4 sections are not optional. All 4 pieces are required for operation, so you cannot shorten the fan or omit sections to customize the height.
This is a unique take on a tower fan. It conveniently comes in 4 sections for easier portability or less space in storage. The 4 sections include: the base, the power supply aka bottom section, fan section, and top section which houses the remote receiver and controls. Assembly is a no-brainer and couldn’t be simpler with the pieces fitting together and turning approximately a quarter turn to lock into position. The 4 sections are not optional. All 4 pieces are required for operation, so you cannot shorten the fan or omit sections to customize the height.
CONTROLS
The Holmes Stack and Connect has all the expected and needed controls. Power, Constant Speed, Breeze, Oscillation, and a Timer function. A simple array of buttons on the top of the fan controls the settings, as does the remote control. The large, easy to read, display indicates all modes and essential functions and thoughtfully turns off after 15 seconds to keep from lighting up your room at night.
The Holmes Stack and Connect has all the expected and needed controls. Power, Constant Speed, Breeze, Oscillation, and a Timer function. A simple array of buttons on the top of the fan controls the settings, as does the remote control. The large, easy to read, display indicates all modes and essential functions and thoughtfully turns off after 15 seconds to keep from lighting up your room at night.
USE
This is one of those products that are better in theory than in actual implementation for several reasons.
This is one of those products that are better in theory than in actual implementation for several reasons.
First. While the fan is touted at being 45” tall, the actual fan itself is only 16” of those 45. I measured it with a tape measure. There is too much wasted and un-utilized space. There should be more actual fan and less plastic used merely to elevate the device.
Second. The overall diffusion of air is quite narrow. The exhaust fins could use some tweaking to make the overall output of air a little wider. While the oscillation function works quite well and has a good sweep of motion, using the fan without the oscillation feature makes for a very narrow column of air.
Third. The fan does not maintain a consistent speed. All my other fans maintain the speed without fault. This fan cannot and does not. Using it on any speed setting other than max results in inconsistent sound and droning. For those that like to sleep with a fan at night, this is extremely frustrating and distracting while trying to sleep. This is not because of the having the breeze function selected either. The fan does not maintain a constant speed and the sound level and noise fluctuate while it runs.
Lastly. While the fan comes with a carrying / storage bag. I cannot see the need or the desire to take the fan apart. One, it is inconvenient and two, the plastic feels quite flimsy and brittle and I don’t think the fan will hold up for more than just a few times of breaking it down and putting it back together without breaking.
At the end of the day, there are far better fans with better features and performance.
NOT RECOMMENDED
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+6points
6of 6voted this as helpful.
AORUS 15 redefines high-end gaming laptops. Combining powerful performance and mobility with the latest 13th Gen Intel Core Processor H-Series and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs, powered by NVIDIA DLSS 3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and Max-Q Technologies. The high refresh gaming panel with a high screen-to-body ratio, enables gamers to be immersed in high-quality visuals similar to a movie theater or top-tier e-sports room.
Customer Rating
3
Frustratingly Slow For So Much Potential
on April 11, 2023
Posted by: NAMO
KEY FEATURES
nVidia GTX 4050 Graphics Card with 6GB Dedicated VRAM
Display capable of 100% DCI-P3 Color Range
Intel Core i5-13500H – 12 Cores / 16 Threads
DDR5 Memory Support
Upgradeable to 64GB RAM and Larger NVMe SSD’s
nVidia GTX 4050 Graphics Card with 6GB Dedicated VRAM
Display capable of 100% DCI-P3 Color Range
Intel Core i5-13500H – 12 Cores / 16 Threads
DDR5 Memory Support
Upgradeable to 64GB RAM and Larger NVMe SSD’s
INITIAL SET-UP AND CONFIGURATION
The Aorus 15 ships with the latest edition of Windows 11 Home, 64-bit. Windows set-up and initial configuration proved trouble-free with all initial necessary drivers included. This is not a totally clean install of Windows 11, as Gigabyte throws in their share of software, they believe to be a value add. Among the included software is their Gigabyte Control Center and Realtek Dragon Network monitoring tool. The Gigabyte Control Center is supposed to be your one-stop shop for customizing the laptop and for driver updates, while the Realtek Dragon software monitors your network throughput and allows you to prioritize traffic and applications if you so choose.
The Aorus 15 ships with the latest edition of Windows 11 Home, 64-bit. Windows set-up and initial configuration proved trouble-free with all initial necessary drivers included. This is not a totally clean install of Windows 11, as Gigabyte throws in their share of software, they believe to be a value add. Among the included software is their Gigabyte Control Center and Realtek Dragon Network monitoring tool. The Gigabyte Control Center is supposed to be your one-stop shop for customizing the laptop and for driver updates, while the Realtek Dragon software monitors your network throughput and allows you to prioritize traffic and applications if you so choose.
All was going well as Windows Update ran and updated 11 as well as found any additional driver updates that occurred since manufacture and shipping. Once all was updated, I started the Gigabyte Control Center to check for any pending Bios and/or Firmware updates. The program found several updates and that is when things took a turn for the worse. While this was a VERY time-consuming process, most went without fuss (although the length of time required to make some updates was quite worrisome), some did not.
A keyboard firmware update downloaded and installed, immediately bricking my RGB lighting and keyboard. The trackpad worked and a USB mouse worked, but all the RGB lighting and keyboard were dead. This lasted quite some time. Had I not had an extra USB keyboard, I would have been dead in the water. After several restarts and yet another keyboard firmware update, things began to work properly again, but not after close to a half hour of fussing and troubleshooting.
USE
My go-to program to test CPU power is always Handbrake. Scouring through some old home videos, I found a 21:12 minute video that was recorded in 1080p and weighed in a lofty 8GB. I set up Handbrake to compress the 1080p home video to a much smaller 480p/30fps file. Using only the CPU to render the encode, the new Intel Raptor Lake CPU was able to compress the video in 2 minutes, 47 seconds, averaging 191 fps with an average CPU utilization of 40%.
My go-to program to test CPU power is always Handbrake. Scouring through some old home videos, I found a 21:12 minute video that was recorded in 1080p and weighed in a lofty 8GB. I set up Handbrake to compress the 1080p home video to a much smaller 480p/30fps file. Using only the CPU to render the encode, the new Intel Raptor Lake CPU was able to compress the video in 2 minutes, 47 seconds, averaging 191 fps with an average CPU utilization of 40%.
As a comparison, I took the same video file and performed the same compression on a 2022 gaming laptop. This laptop sports a Ryzen 7 5800X processor that has 8 physical cores and 16 threads. The Aorus’ competitor was able to match the average framerate and completed the file compression in 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Within the margin of error. What wasn’t in the margin of error, was the CPU utilization. While the Aorus kept its cool, barely breaking a sweat at 40% utilization, the Ryzen 7 used all 100% of its available resources to complete the task with the cooling fans at a much less tolerable sound level.
GAMING
Gigabyte bills this laptop as a gaming system and in theory, it is. It has the power potential to play nearly anything and everything that is out today. However, that low amount of RAM kills the overall performance. Even so, it wasn’t a total wash. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 played excellently at high settings. With a GPU utilization of 85% and a RAM utilization at 90%, I was still able to achieve 150fps on High. CoD MW2 looked great and played smoothly, free of any lags or stutters.
Gigabyte bills this laptop as a gaming system and in theory, it is. It has the power potential to play nearly anything and everything that is out today. However, that low amount of RAM kills the overall performance. Even so, it wasn’t a total wash. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 played excellently at high settings. With a GPU utilization of 85% and a RAM utilization at 90%, I was still able to achieve 150fps on High. CoD MW2 looked great and played smoothly, free of any lags or stutters.
Next up was Forza Horizon 5. Using the built-in benchmarking software, the game reported back a lackluster 72fps with only 45% GPU utilization. This was all on Low and Medium settings. What? How can that be? This is a GTX 4050. Time to manually tweak settings. I set everything to Ultra, the highest setting allowed in FH5. Manual testing revealed 95% GPU utilization, 90% RAM utilization, and 88fps. AWESOME!! Why didn’t the game pick this to begin with? I left everything as is and went straight to a race. After about 30 seconds into a race, I found out while the system had dialed itself back. Low System Resources. Forza kept producing errors and giving low resources warning. Ultra? Nope. High. Nope. Medium? So-So. Low? Yes. There just isn't enough RAM.
I encountered the same issues queuing up Microsoft Flight Simulator too. With 98% GPU utilization, I was able to achieve a best of 60fps with most time spent in the 40’s. There was just not enough overhead to allow the computer for function as it should.
CONCLUSIONS
For a laptop that has this long of a list of high-end parts, this is the most frustratingly slow laptop I’ve used in quite some time. It honestly feels like a much less powerful machine than it is. Most of this can be blamed on the limited amount of RAM installed in the system. One stick of 8GB DDR5-4800 memory is all that is installed, and it is NOT enough. After all updates and restarts were performed and the machine sitting idle, RAM usage did not drop below 42%, often hovering in the mid to high 70% range. Opening any applications or additional software immediately caused a spike and RAM usage that was not uncommon to be in the 90% range.
For a laptop that has this long of a list of high-end parts, this is the most frustratingly slow laptop I’ve used in quite some time. It honestly feels like a much less powerful machine than it is. Most of this can be blamed on the limited amount of RAM installed in the system. One stick of 8GB DDR5-4800 memory is all that is installed, and it is NOT enough. After all updates and restarts were performed and the machine sitting idle, RAM usage did not drop below 42%, often hovering in the mid to high 70% range. Opening any applications or additional software immediately caused a spike and RAM usage that was not uncommon to be in the 90% range.
As it ships from Gigabyte, I can’t give it a recommendation. There is just too much left wanting. The machine is powerhouse and can easily be brought to life, but not without additional hardware, at an additional expense. Most any gamer will find the results garnered from buying the laptop and leaving it as is, as unacceptable.
Not only is the laptop crippled by its lack of RAM, it is also frustrating to use on a day-to-day basis. Powering up the laptop from fully off takes what seems like FOREVER. I can power up the Aorus, then power up my Ryzen-based gaming laptop or my other 12th generation i7 based gaming machine and be playing Call of Duty before the Aorus even boots to the Windows login screen. Not sure what Gigabyte has done in the bios, but startup times are unacceptably slow. It is comparable to an old school machine I’ve got a spinning hard drive in. What gives? Not sure. I haven’t been able to figure out a setting to make it boot faster in the bios.
Can the laptop be fixed to perform as intended? Yes, it can. But what did it take? For me, it involved purchasing a Predator Gen 4x4 1TB NVMe drive rated at a throughput of 7000MB/s and 32GB of Crucial DDR5-5600 RAM. The extra RAM, working in dual channel configuration, was a game changer for this machine. It was a night and day type of difference. EVERYTHING was much more peppy and snappy feeling. RAM utilization went from highs in the 90’s to highs in the 40’s. It was sorely needed and should be considered an essential change, if not 32GB, then at least increase RAM to 16GB. Not only is the laptop crippled by low amount of RAM, it is also hobbled by the slowest DDR5 RAM available. The i5-13500H is capable of supporting 5200MHz RAM and my addition of 5600MHz DDR5 immediately triggered faster RAM timings and clock speeds in the system bios, matching the 5200MHz spec by Intel. Sadly, even with the additional RAM and much faster SSD, bios boot times failed to improve.
The laptop’s potential alone are the only thing earning this a 3 star rating. The addition of extra RAM and a bigger hard drive would encourage me to give a 4 star rating, but that isn’t the point. The fact of the matter is, there are better performing laptops with more accurate displays at this price point.
NOT RECOMMENDED.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
+2points
7of 12voted this as helpful.
NAMO's Review Comments
NAMO has not submitted comments on any reviews.
NAMO's Questions
NAMO has not submitted any questions.
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.
4 years, 10 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.
4 years, 10 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.
6 years, 9 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.
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.
6 years, 9 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.
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.
6 years, 11 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.
6 years, 11 months ago
by
NAMO