NAMO's stats
- Review count210
- Helpfulness votes1,248
- First reviewJanuary 28, 2017
- Last reviewJuly 4, 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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Introducing the Crucial® P310 Gen4 NVMe™ SSD, delivering read speeds up to 7,100MB/s, making it a gaming storage leader in the Gen4 space. Engineered with the latest Micron® 3D NAND technology, the Crucial P310 can level up your gaming experience in generous capacities and offers backward compatibility, performing 2x faster than Gen3 SSDs.
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: The P310 is a speedy drive for not having DRAM. Most speeds are excellent, but its achilles heel is random read speeds.
The P310 does a great job at masking the limitations of QLC NAND and no DRAM. Using a portion of the drive for caching along with the HMB, sequential read and write speeds are very good. Easily keeping pace with other higher priced DRAM/TLC-based SSD’s on the market.
While the P310 can easily keep up with the latest PCIe Gen 4 x 4 speeds. Crucial claims read speeds of up to 7100MB/s and write speeds up to 6000MB/s. Those appear to be honest speeds and not some special optimized scenario. My install it and test it results matched Crucial’s speed claims (7009 / 6384), keeping pace with my P3 Plus and my T500. Well done.
NEGATIVES
First. Crucial claims up to 20% faster load and boot times. Comparing a fresh competitor’s drive in a new HP Omen 35L, real world speed improvements were minimal, at best. I could not tell any discernible difference in load and/or boot times.
First. Crucial claims up to 20% faster load and boot times. Comparing a fresh competitor’s drive in a new HP Omen 35L, real world speed improvements were minimal, at best. I could not tell any discernible difference in load and/or boot times.
Second. The real drawback of the drive is the random read speeds. Sequential read / write speeds are great for testing & allows manufacturers to put out huge numbers and speeds, but the real meat and potatoes is random read / write. That is what a majority of the drive will do. With this, the random reads are slow. Averaging only 60MB/s, less than ½ its random write speeds. This is a noticeable difference and the P310 will lag behind compared to its higher end competition.
CONCLUSION
A QLC NAND based, DRAM-less drive was once something that I would never recommend for purchase. There were just too many shortfalls impeding performance. Improvement to the firmware and controllers have closed the gap with TLC drives containing a DRAM cache. Most users nowadays won’t notice any real performance differences between these QLC drives and higher prices premium units.
A QLC NAND based, DRAM-less drive was once something that I would never recommend for purchase. There were just too many shortfalls impeding performance. Improvement to the firmware and controllers have closed the gap with TLC drives containing a DRAM cache. Most users nowadays won’t notice any real performance differences between these QLC drives and higher prices premium units.
The P310 falls into this category. It is a good drive with low power consumption to maximize battery life, an excellent 5-year warranty and should deserve a look for system upgraders.
RECOMMENDED.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy all of your favorite espresso beverages at home with the push of a button. Personalize and store your own recipes based on strength, length and temperature for premium handcrafted, quality espresso made to fit your taste.
Customer Rating
5
Versatile / Low-Maintenace / Excellent Results
on October 11, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: I’ve got similar machines from competing brands. This KitchenAid produces a hot drink far better than any other machine I’ve used. While labeled as a “Fully Automatic Espresso Machine” this machine does far more than just espressos.
INTRODUCTION / SET-UP
The KitchenAid KF7 handles all aspects of the coffee brewing process. From measuring the beans, grinding, extracting with water, frothing milk, rinsing, etc. The KF7 does it all with little to no human intervention.
Assembly is straightforward with minimal requirements. Set your machine on the counter, remove some packing material, add water, add beans, and turn it on. A machine with this many features and options and this amount of complexity has an intimidatingly large owner’s manual. Large and thorough enough that I’m sure some folks would find it off-putting. Not to worry. With the KF7, the onscreen display walks you through the entire set-up process. It is concise, but not frustratingly complicated. EVERYTHING required to get the machine up and running and making coffees and espressos is included in the first start-up menu. KitchenAid should be commended for making a machine so complicated so easy to set-up and get working.
USE / EXPERIENCE
You don’t have to be a coffee “connoisseur” to appreciate the quality of beverage produced in the KitchenAid. The problem with owning this machine is that other in-home appliances do not live up to the standards produced by the KitchenAid.
I know I’ve already sung high praise for the KF7, but so far it has deserved it. I’m far from a connoisseur. Honestly, I use my “pod” coffee maker nearly every morning. The ease and simplicity, especially when tired, is just hard to beat. Users of the pods will likely agree that no matter what brand, flavor, or strength, most just leave you wanting. It’s coffee, but it isn’t the greatest.
A short time ago, I was provided another model similar to the KitchenAid to test. While not as sophisticated as the KF7, it too grinds its own beans and makes fresh ground coffee. Users are more or less committed to Americanos with some form of milk available, but the selections are limited. While this machine produced better results than ANY pod I’ve ever tried, I still felt like there was something weird about it. No matter what bean I tried, it just was off. I tried different strengths, water amounts, etc. It was good, but just not great.
I’ll go ahead and say it now. The first cup of coffee (Americano) I made with the KitchenAid KF7 tasted better than any cup of coffee I’ve ever made in my pod machine or the competitor’s coffee grinding machine. The hardest part I’ve found with the machine is the amount of customization available. You can customize any available drink to your liking. Strength, temperature, water amount, milk amount, milk frothing, foaming, everything is customizable. You would be hard pressed to find a coffee drink this thing can’t make to your liking.
CONCLUSIONS
I find no real issues with the KitchenAid KF7. It makes a great cup of coffee or espresso or nearly any other form of coffee-based drink imaginable, even some I didn’t know existed.
The touchscreen display is intuitive and self-explanatory. First time users will have no problem finding their desired drink. KitchenAid claims 20+ different “recipes” are built-in. I haven’t tried them all, but the drink list is extensive. Even some lesser-known coffee drinks are included.
Being fully automatic, there isn’t much to do, and I REALLY like that. Keep a sufficient supply of water, keep the beans filled in the sealed hopper, and after 10 or so drinks, empty the used grounds bin and water that’s been flushed from the system. The machine takes care of cleaning itself after use. Even the milk tube and reservoir are easy to use and clean. KitchenAid has spent a TON of time and research to make a machine that is user-friendly and easy to maintain.
Unlike my competitors’ products, KitchenAid includes a water filter, a measuring spoon for using ground coffee, cleaning tabs, and even a hard water test strip with purchase. Aside from some beans and water, the product is complete and ready to go.
My Americanos, my espressos, my cappuccinos have all turned out excellently. While it did take me a couple of times to get them just right, once I did, the drinks have been great. So far, everyone I’ve made drinks for have all agreed that they tasted great, many saying that if they had this, they wouldn’t need to spend $8 on their name-brand drink anymore. That’s high praise in my book.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customizable performance awaits. Play with an AMD Ryzen processor and NVIDIA RTX graphics for powerful performance. Plus, toolless access and an industry standard form factor make it easy to upgrade and customize.
Customer Rating
4
Decent Power & Quiet. Questionable Choices
on October 7, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
KEY SPECS
Ryzen 5 8500G (6C / 12T)
16GB DDR5 5200MHz RAM
1TB NVMe SSD
nVidia RTX 4060 w/ 8GB
Ryzen 5 8500G (6C / 12T)
16GB DDR5 5200MHz RAM
1TB NVMe SSD
nVidia RTX 4060 w/ 8GB
PORTS
USB-A 3.0 x 4 (5Gb)
USB-C x 2 (10Gb)
USB-A 2.0 x 4
1 RJ-45
1 HDMI / 3 DP
3.5mm HEADPHONE / LINE / MIC
3.5” HDD Drive Tray x 1
USB-A 3.0 x 4 (5Gb)
USB-C x 2 (10Gb)
USB-A 2.0 x 4
1 RJ-45
1 HDMI / 3 DP
3.5mm HEADPHONE / LINE / MIC
3.5” HDD Drive Tray x 1
DESIGN
HP has come a long way with their Omen desktops. I was fortunate to receive an Omen 30L desktop several years ago for review. The 30L Omen case was abysmal. Air flow management was so horrible, that the processor and graphics card rapidly reached 100C and thermal throttled. Even with an old nVidia 1660 graphics card and 9th generation Intel processor, the PC was nearly unplayable.
HP has come a long way with their Omen desktops. I was fortunate to receive an Omen 30L desktop several years ago for review. The 30L Omen case was abysmal. Air flow management was so horrible, that the processor and graphics card rapidly reached 100C and thermal throttled. Even with an old nVidia 1660 graphics card and 9th generation Intel processor, the PC was nearly unplayable.
I spent several hundred dollars on the Omen just to make it usable. I had to buy an AiO and multiple case fans for cooling. Even then, you could tell that the results were adequate, at best.
Fast forward 3 generations later and HP has finally brought out an acceptable redesign. Gone are the gimmicky designs, going back to what works, a box with a lot of fans. 2 in the front drawing in air, 1 in the back exhausting air, and 1 on the AMD Boxed cooler. Combine that with airflow vents on the top, bottom, and back and HP has finally given the enthusiast market a case that allows for sufficient airflow and low noise levels, even after hours of gaming.
Going along with that re-design are honest, off-the-shelf compatible parts. Even with HP specific part numbers and builds, the installed items are standard sized components. Standardized items include: mATX motherboard, standardized 500W power supply, cooling fans, etc. Excellent. Should something fail, or should the end-user want to upgrade, he/she is not forced to ditch the entire PC and can upgrade when the need, budget, and time allows without being limited to vendor-specific parts.
GAMING PERFORMANCE
TLDR – On most AAA games, this PC is severely GPU bound. Some games like Forza are optimized pretty well for the CPU / GPU combo, but for most games, the GPU is running at nearly 100% while the CPU chugs along at a leisurely 35% (give or take). Not saying the Omen 35L can’t turn some decently respectable numbers, but there is quite a bit left on the table with pairing a base 4060 with this Ryzen processor.
TLDR – On most AAA games, this PC is severely GPU bound. Some games like Forza are optimized pretty well for the CPU / GPU combo, but for most games, the GPU is running at nearly 100% while the CPU chugs along at a leisurely 35% (give or take). Not saying the Omen 35L can’t turn some decently respectable numbers, but there is quite a bit left on the table with pairing a base 4060 with this Ryzen processor.
My go-to games for testing are usually Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, and F1 2023. Most are games I play on a fairly regular basis, but are also games that will demand a great deal from the GPU if you have it (Starfield). My test monitor is a 48” LG Ultra Gear 4k OLED 120Hz gaming monitor. My testing of the various games returns the following:
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
4k – 42fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option)
1440p – 106fps with DLSS / 117fps without DLSS
4k – 42fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option)
1440p – 106fps with DLSS / 117fps without DLSS
Forza Horizon 5
4k Ultra – 77fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option)
1440p Ultra – 93fps without DLSS / 101 with DLSS
4k High – 78fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option)
1440p High – 118 fps with and without DLSS
4k Ultra – 77fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option)
1440p Ultra – 93fps without DLSS / 101 with DLSS
4k High – 78fps (Native monitor resolution, no DLSS option)
1440p High – 118 fps with and without DLSS
Starfield
4k High – 27fps without DLSS / 62 with DLSS
1440p High – 55fps without DLSS / 109fps with DLSS
4k High – 27fps without DLSS / 62 with DLSS
1440p High – 55fps without DLSS / 109fps with DLSS
F1 2023
4k Medium – 37fps without DLSS / 63fps with DLSS
1440p High – 86 without DLSS / 127fps with DLSS
1440p Ultra – 51fps with DLSS (Unplayable without DLSS)
4k Medium – 37fps without DLSS / 63fps with DLSS
1440p High – 86 without DLSS / 127fps with DLSS
1440p Ultra – 51fps with DLSS (Unplayable without DLSS)
I did not test lower than 1440p resolution. For me, these framerates are more than enjoyable even if they aren’t competition level. Enabling the DLSS option at 1440p makes a discernible difference in video quality, sharpening images and reducing on-screen artifacts.
NEGATIVES
First – HP has no provisions to access the integrated graphics of the AMD processor. Unlike most manufacturers, there isn’t a separate HDMI connection on the rear header, forcing sole use of the RTX 4060. There is no way to save power and disable the discreet graphics card.
First – HP has no provisions to access the integrated graphics of the AMD processor. Unlike most manufacturers, there isn’t a separate HDMI connection on the rear header, forcing sole use of the RTX 4060. There is no way to save power and disable the discreet graphics card.
Two – I seriously question HP’s included selection of ports. Port selection feels like a desktop from 4 years ago. There are no Thunderbolt ports, no USB-C 4.0 ports, just basic USB A & C ports. In this day and age, there is no reason not to provide high-speed USB-C style ports. A simple USB-C 4.0 or Thunderbolt port to provide 40Gb output and access to the integrated GPU would be welcome and quite frankly, should be a standard addition for any desktop wanting to appeal to enthusiasts.
CONCLUSIONS
The Omen 35L is a decent entry-level gaming computer from HP. It has more than enough power for everyday workloads. Streaming 2 independent 1080p videos, while downloading games at more than 500Mb/s, reading emails, and updating some drivers in the background barely taxed the PC. CPU and GPU utilization was at a reasonable 40%. Not bad at all.
The Omen 35L is a decent entry-level gaming computer from HP. It has more than enough power for everyday workloads. Streaming 2 independent 1080p videos, while downloading games at more than 500Mb/s, reading emails, and updating some drivers in the background barely taxed the PC. CPU and GPU utilization was at a reasonable 40%. Not bad at all.
The new Omen design is a marked improvement over Omens from the past. Even after long, strenuous gaming sessions, CPU and GPU temps remained good with no signs of thermal throttling. Even better, even when being fully taxed, the whole system remains quiet and composed. I was shocked at how quiet the new PC is. Compared to my older Omen, the 35L is a night and day difference. You can hear the fans, but they are not obnoxious and considerably quieter than most desktops. HP should be commended for their improvements.
In the end, there are 2 things holding this desktop back. One is the underpowered graphics card compared to the CPU. A 4060Ti would go a long way in improving overall system effectiveness. Two is the anemic selection of ports. Even though there is a sufficient quantity of ports, they are substandard. Too slow for modern times and severely inhibit hooking modern devices to the desktop.
However, the desktop is still a decent entry-level gaming rig.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Elevate your vehicle’s safety and functionality with the REXING M2 Max Pro Mirror Dash Cam. This advanced system integrates seamlessly with your rearview mirror, featuring a 12" IPS touchscreen that displays high-quality video from the rear camera. Capture detailed footage with dual cameras, offering 4K resolution at the front and 1080p at the rear, ensuring comprehensive coverage from multiple angles. The M2 Max Pro is equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), including Blind Spot Detection, Rear Collision Warning, and Parking Assistance, enhancing your driving safety. It also boasts a built-in GPS Logger to record precise time, location, and speed data, alongside Blind Spot Detection and Lane Change Assist to facilitate safe driving maneuvers. Additional features include enhanced night vision for clear recordings in low light conditions, Wi-Fi connectivity for easy video management, and a G-sensor that locks videos upon detecting impacts. Loop recording ensures continuous coverage by overwriting old footage, while the included smart hardwire kit activates the Parking Monitor, providing round-the-clock surveillance by recording when vibrations are detected. This mirror dash cam not only improves your driving visibility but also offers crucial safety features, making it an essential upgrade for any vehicle.
Customer Rating
4
Feature Rich Dash Cam without a Subscription
on September 13, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: The Rexing M2 Pro Max has ton of features and built-in safety features perfect for an older car, but not so much for a truck.
KEY FEATURES
Advanced Driver Safety Suite
4k Front Camera Video
1080p Rear Camera Video
Wide Angle Cameras with HDR Support
Advanced Driver Safety Suite
4k Front Camera Video
1080p Rear Camera Video
Wide Angle Cameras with HDR Support
INTRODUCTION & SET-UP
The M2 mounts over your vehicle’s existing rear-view mirror. It takes just seconds to mount it via the 2 silicone straps and while they don’t appear very sturdy, don’t have any issues keeping the dash cam in place. Simple and effective.
The M2 mounts over your vehicle’s existing rear-view mirror. It takes just seconds to mount it via the 2 silicone straps and while they don’t appear very sturdy, don’t have any issues keeping the dash cam in place. Simple and effective.
Being a Best Buy exclusive, the M2 Pro Max includes 2 options for power: hard-wire and 12V plug. The 12V plug option is convenient and easy and what I’m sure most folks will use to power the M2. It is just too easy not to use. But, unlike Rexing’s competition, their 12V adapter does NOT include a USB pass-through for power. So, the included hard-wire connection kit is a welcome addition, as using the included 12V plug will completely tie-up a 12V outlet. Not a wise decision on Rexing’s part.
This Best Buy exclusive model also benefits from a full 18-month warranty, compared to other models and competitors’ 12 months warranties. The 18-month warranty is a welcome addition.
USE
Once installed and powered up the Rexing M2 is extremely easy to configure, adjust, and program. The Rexing GUI (Graphical User Interface) is simple and self-explanatory. All camera functions are baked into 5 different on-screen icons. There are no hidden menus and no extra pushes and swipes, everything is easy to find and operate. With an advertised resolution of 1920 x 380, I find the screen very detailed and legible in all lighting conditions, as well as responsive to user inputs with minimal lag.
Once installed and powered up the Rexing M2 is extremely easy to configure, adjust, and program. The Rexing GUI (Graphical User Interface) is simple and self-explanatory. All camera functions are baked into 5 different on-screen icons. There are no hidden menus and no extra pushes and swipes, everything is easy to find and operate. With an advertised resolution of 1920 x 380, I find the screen very detailed and legible in all lighting conditions, as well as responsive to user inputs with minimal lag.
The real attraction to this dash cam is Rexing’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS). It uses built-in logic to monitor items it “sees” in its cameras. This system can help warn a driver of impending forward collisions, rearward collisions, inadvertent lane departures, blind spot detection, and help to identify pedestrians and bicyclists around the vehicle.
The 2 cameras support up to 170 degrees field of view, sure to see nearly anything in front or behind the vehicle. Using the included on-screen icons, the driver can configure the detection zones to their liking. Using a series of on-screen boxes, the operator can tell the camera where the blind spots on their vehicle are and where the front and rear of the car is. The detection zones are overlayed on actual camera images on the mirror’s screen. Each detection box can be individually adjusted by moving one or all the 4 corners, with the front being just 2 simple lines to delineate the hood and the horizon. The camera takes care of the rest. Simple and intuitive.
The ADAS system works surprisingly well. I took a 4-hour road trip after installing the camera. Using the mirror primarily as a rear-view camera, the system goes about its business with no interference. However, should a car come up from behind, like on the interstate, the camera will show a yellow warning on the side of the detected vehicle warning the driver of a possible object in that blind spot, or if falling too closely, a potential for a rear end collision. It works well and it quick to respond to perceived “threats”.
Reviewing events on the dash cam can be accomplished in one of 3 ways. The least convenient is to pop out the SD card and look at the files on your PC. Second, you can use the mirror and its touch screen to scroll through the files and play them back on the mirror itself. Or you can access the mirror via the Rexing app and transfer the files to your phone via the mirror’s included wi-fi. I find myself just reviewing events on the camera more than any other, as the Rexing app is kind of flaky at times and not always rock solid. It’s just easier to scroll through and look for a specific time code than open the app, connect to the camera, etc. just to get to a file.
NEGATIVES
First. The Rexing app still has a couple of random bugs that could be squashed on my Android phone. They are random hiccups and lock-ups. Not horrible, but the app still needs a little more polish.
First. The Rexing app still has a couple of random bugs that could be squashed on my Android phone. They are random hiccups and lock-ups. Not horrible, but the app still needs a little more polish.
Second. Using the included driver assist features of the camera disables 4k video recording. The mirror doesn’t have enough processing power to cope with a 4k video stream and a 1080p rear stream while simultaneously looking for potential hazards. Using the ADAS features lowers resolution on the front camera to just 2.5k. Not a deal breaker by any means. 2.5k is still plenty sharp. Just a note.
Third. There is not enough wiring included for the rear-view camera and American trucks. There is enough to get the camera to the rear window on a crew cab truck, there isn’t enough to get the camera out to the back bumper. On a plus note, there is ample wiring with both the 12V plug and the hard-wire kit to reach any power source I needed on my full-size truck.
Forth. Because there isn’t enough wire to move the camera to the rear bumper, mounting the camera in the rear window of my full-size truck throws off the rearward ADAS alerts. My mirror constantly warns me of issues behind my truck when it is just the truck bed. The blind spots detection zones are horribly small, and you can’t fully exclude the truck bed, thereby increasing false positives. Along with that, the rear end collision alerts boxes must be so high to avoid the bed, that it makes the rear sensing collision feature nearly unusable.
Fifth / Last. Quality control. This Rexing M2’s front facing camera suffers from too much slop to be effective. Fine adjustments are impossible to achieve. When the front camera is dead center in its housing, there is a nice resistance to movement. However, move the camera slightly off center and there is nearly no resistance. The front camera either must be facing dead center or completely over to one side to keep it from moving and bouncing around. To compensate, I’ve had to place the mirror at a weird angle so that I can get the front facing camera all the way to its furthest position to keep it from moving and still pointing forward.
CONCLUSIONS
If I had a SUV or a car and was in the market for a dash cam, the Rexing M2 is tough to beat. It has a ton of features and if your car is a few years old and lacking some of the latest safety tech being offered today, the Rexing M2 is a great option. Front and rear cameras, plus a full suite of driver aids make for a very compelling product. To make it even more compelling, you get all these features fully unlocked and available immediately without the need of paying a subscription fee like one of Rexing’s primary competitors is now doing.
If I had a SUV or a car and was in the market for a dash cam, the Rexing M2 is tough to beat. It has a ton of features and if your car is a few years old and lacking some of the latest safety tech being offered today, the Rexing M2 is a great option. Front and rear cameras, plus a full suite of driver aids make for a very compelling product. To make it even more compelling, you get all these features fully unlocked and available immediately without the need of paying a subscription fee like one of Rexing’s primary competitors is now doing.
Truck owners still get a great dash cam, but the ADAS features are not quite as beneficial to them as small SUV and car owners.
I haven’t touched on all features of the camera, like GPS logging, audio recording, etc. there is just too many too much to list in a reasonable amount of space. I give this product a recommended rating and 4-stars, but just make sure you test the front camera prior to install to ensure it has adequate resistance throughout its range of motion. I’ve had other dash cams like the M2 and none have had as much slop in their front cameras as the M2.
RECOMMENDED.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Boost Wi-Fi like never before with the all-new TP-Link BE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Range Extender (RE655BE), the ultimate fix for expanding your Wi-Fi 7 coverage with ease. With Wi-Fi 7 Multi-Link Operation, wider 320 MHz channels, and a powerful 6 GHz band, enjoy tri-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 10.8 Gbps. Say goodbye to Wi-Fi dead zones and effortlessly boost your signal throughout your home. Whether you're a gamer, streamer, or have a busy household, the RE655BE has you covered. EasyMesh compatibility ensures a unified network for smooth roaming. Plus, the 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port offers lightning-fast stability for direct connections to smart TVs, computers, and game consoles.
Customer Rating
5
Wi-Fi 7 Speeds with Outstanding Range
on September 10, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
TLDR: The TP-Link BE11000 Range Extender is a must-have for those with spotty Wi-Fi coverage. The external antennas make a huge difference in coverage and the dedicated 2.5Gb ethernet port makes for rock solid communications.
KEY SPECS
Tri-Band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz)
1 x 2.5Gb LAN port
Easy Mesh Compatible
10.8Gbps Theoretical Throughput
Tri-Band (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz)
1 x 2.5Gb LAN port
Easy Mesh Compatible
10.8Gbps Theoretical Throughput
SET-UP
Initial set-up is relatively painless and straight forward. Even folks with limited networking skills can handle set-up of the BE11000. All configuration is handled via TP-Link’s intuitive Tether app. I find the Tether app very comprehensive and easy to navigate. There is next to no stress getting the BE11000 up and running. The Tether app walks you through the entire process. From copying your Wi-Fi SSID and password, to backhaul options, to firmware updates, the Tether app works and works well.
Initial set-up is relatively painless and straight forward. Even folks with limited networking skills can handle set-up of the BE11000. All configuration is handled via TP-Link’s intuitive Tether app. I find the Tether app very comprehensive and easy to navigate. There is next to no stress getting the BE11000 up and running. The Tether app walks you through the entire process. From copying your Wi-Fi SSID and password, to backhaul options, to firmware updates, the Tether app works and works well.
The BE11000 is EasyMesh compatible. For those unaware, EasyMesh is not a TP-Link protocol, it was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance with the hopes of simplifying setting up a mesh network for the average user. End users are no longer forced to buy all their devices from one manufacturer to add to or set-up a mesh system in their homes or offices. Products compatible with the EasyMesh standard all (supposedly) play nice with each other regardless of the manufacturer. I did not have the opportunity to try this, as my BE11000 is being used in conjunction with TP-Link’s BE11000 Pro router.
One thing that I must mention, that always seems to burn folks, is the placement of the extender. Not just this BE11000, but any range extender. Unless you have a dedicated ethernet backhaul to your primary router, for a range extender to work its best, you need to put it ½ way between where you want Wi-Fi and where you have Wi-Fi. Moving it too far away from your main router ruins performance and throughput. TP-Link is one of the few manufacturers that explicitly spells this out and I applaud them for it. I’ve had dozens of friends and family call me through the years over this exact issue. They put their range extenders where they want Wi-Fi, not halfway in between and it is just too far away from the main router and the range extenders won’t work.
PERFORMANCE
As much as I love my BE11000 Pro router, it struggles to get strong Wi-Fi to my detached workshop / garage. My devices will connect via 2.4GHz to my main router but trying to squeeze a ton a data to a dozen devices in my shop, left me wanting.
As much as I love my BE11000 Pro router, it struggles to get strong Wi-Fi to my detached workshop / garage. My devices will connect via 2.4GHz to my main router but trying to squeeze a ton a data to a dozen devices in my shop, left me wanting.
Fortunately, when I built my workshop, I used my brain for once and ran hardwired ethernet to it. It was a perfect spot for the BE11000 range extender. I queued up the Tether app and went to work. The app found the range extender nearly immediately and began the installation process. I programmed the BE1100 to use the 2.5Gb ethernet port as a dedicated backhaul to the BE11000 Pro router, thereby freeing up all available bands for use by clients (without a hardwired, dedicated backhaul, the BE11000 will use part of its available Wi-Fi bands and bandwidth for backhaul to the main router).
Speeds are now what I always hoped they would have been. Instead of my computers and Roku talking to the main router on the 2.4GHz band, they can now all access the 5 and/or 6GHz bands. Speeds have increased 10-fold for me. My PC’s, tablets, and Roku were struggling to maintain 40 – 60Mbs before the range extender on a good day. Between the distance to the main router and the congested Wi-Fi bands in my subdivision, it just made it difficult to achieve good, solid throughput. Now, my PC has no problems hitting 700Mbs or more. Not only do I have a HUGE increase in throughput, but my other IOT devices are much happier now, as well. These low performance devices struggled to maintain their connection at the distances I have them placed at. Now, there is no issues. Everything just works better and more reliably now.
As a bonus, because this is now part of an Easy Mesh system, my SSID and password get carried over between devices and my phones, tablets, etc. all roam and switch seamlessly between router and range extender. The handoffs happen all in the background with no interruptions or issues.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The external antennas on the BE11000 range extender make a huge difference in coverage. I wish more Wi-Fi routers used them. If you are lucky enough to have a network port close to the BE11000 you can use for it to talk back to the main router, I think you will love the range extender. Speeds are very fast. Easily able to take full advantage of my gigabit ethernet.
The external antennas on the BE11000 range extender make a huge difference in coverage. I wish more Wi-Fi routers used them. If you are lucky enough to have a network port close to the BE11000 you can use for it to talk back to the main router, I think you will love the range extender. Speeds are very fast. Easily able to take full advantage of my gigabit ethernet.
Add the Easy Mesh compatibility to the BE11000 and TP-Link has a solid winner on its hands. The Easy Mesh makes it so convenient for others that aren’t already on the TP-Link ecosystem to take advantage of their offerings.
The BE11000 Range Extender packs a plethora of features in one tidy package. Sporting all the latest Wi-Fi specs and tech, it is hard to beat this extender.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Congratulations—you hooked yourself up with a pair of Apple AirPods! Now protect them as best you can with the Best Buy essentials Silicone Case for Apple AirPods Pro 1st and 2nd Generations. Specifically designed for 1st and 2nd generation Apple AirPods Pro, this silicone case cradles and protects your AirPods Pro from drops up to 3.94 ft. A removeable carabiner ring attaches your case to lanyards, keychains and more. This case supports wireless charging, and precise cutouts allow constant access to your buttons and charging port. Finally, the classic black color looks matches your other accessories. Protect your AirPods with a silicone case that gets the job done and looks stylish while doing it.
Customer Rating
5
Inexpensive & Piece of Mind to Protect AirPods
on September 8, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
The Insignia Silicone case for the 1st and 2nd generation of AirPod Pros fits great. Even with the slick, white, Apple plastic, the silicone grips nicely and I have yet had the Insignia cover come off or loose from the Apple case.
A deal breaker for me would have been if the Insignia case prevented the AirPods from charging wirelessly. I am happy to report that even with the silicone case, the AirPods charge wirelessly, without issue, though it does take a wireless charger a couple seconds longer to register the AirPods.
There are only 2 minor drawbacks to the Insignia case. One is that the cover makes the status light on the front of the AirPods hard to see at times. The second is that I’m not sure of the longevity of the included key ring. It too is connected to the case with a just a bit of silicone, so I’m not sure of the long-term durability. But, I am happy to report with over a solid week of hard use, it shows no signs of failing yet.
The Insignia case is a solid value. Its fit is excellent and the price is reasonable.
Recommended.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The first XPS CoPilot+ PC has powerful on-device AI that delivers cutting-edge responsiveness and unmatched speed for navigating demanding creative and multitasking workloads with efficiency.
Customer Rating
4
Excellent CPU / Outstanding Battery Life
on August 15, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
KEY SPECS
Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor 12C / 12T
16GB DDR5 RAM
512GB NVMe Drive
OLED 2880 x 1800 Panel with HDR
PORTS
2 x USB-C (40GB/s supports DP and PD)
Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor 12C / 12T
16GB DDR5 RAM
512GB NVMe Drive
OLED 2880 x 1800 Panel with HDR
PORTS
2 x USB-C (40GB/s supports DP and PD)
INTRODUCTION
The Dell XPS CoPilot+ 9345 ushers in a new era of laptops for Dell. This is the first generation of laptops incorporating the Snapdragon X Elite processor with a built-in Neural Processing Unit for AI assistance and an ARM based operating system. Everything is going AI now. That is the buzzword of the year. The Snapdragon X Elite processor in this XPS is unique in that it can perform basic AI tasks “on chip” without the need of a constant internet connection to send and retrieve data from. This “on chip” approach also frees the main CPU from dedicating computing resources for AI related functions.
The Dell XPS CoPilot+ 9345 ushers in a new era of laptops for Dell. This is the first generation of laptops incorporating the Snapdragon X Elite processor with a built-in Neural Processing Unit for AI assistance and an ARM based operating system. Everything is going AI now. That is the buzzword of the year. The Snapdragon X Elite processor in this XPS is unique in that it can perform basic AI tasks “on chip” without the need of a constant internet connection to send and retrieve data from. This “on chip” approach also frees the main CPU from dedicating computing resources for AI related functions.
USE
This XPS CoPilot+ PC is fundamentally different than the status quo x86 / x64 operating environment we have known for the better part of 3 decades now (I say 3, as I consider Windows 95 the first real user-friendly OS on the x86/x64 environment). It can be confusing deciding between a “normal” computer and an ARM based product. A “normal” computer is what we have all been using for decades. An Intel or AMD chip with Windows x86 operating system. An app store, Windows Update, and easy to find drivers via the manufacturers’ websites or Windows Update.
This XPS CoPilot+ PC is fundamentally different than the status quo x86 / x64 operating environment we have known for the better part of 3 decades now (I say 3, as I consider Windows 95 the first real user-friendly OS on the x86/x64 environment). It can be confusing deciding between a “normal” computer and an ARM based product. A “normal” computer is what we have all been using for decades. An Intel or AMD chip with Windows x86 operating system. An app store, Windows Update, and easy to find drivers via the manufacturers’ websites or Windows Update.
ARM based computers are not like that. The easiest way to describe them are like cellphones on steroids. The ARM based operating system looks like normal Windows for the most part but has a bunch of stuff happening in the background to make Windows work. Some apps, like most Microsoft apps, work natively on the ARM OS. Other apps must work through an emulator to bridge the app to the ARM OS.
This should not be a major concern for the most part, as it is mostly transparent in the background with no user issues to speak of. But it can be an issue because some apps just don’t work quite right with the emulators. Honestly, it has been hit or miss. Some Windows apps perform flawlessly on the ARM OS, others don’t. I’ve averaging about a 75% success rate with apps. Most of my common apps work without issue, but there are some I’ve been forced to find alternatives for.
Same can be said for driver updates. ARM / Snapdragon based computers don’t get driver updates like you would get off a normal x86 computer. You can’t just go to a vendor’s website or Windows Update to do a driver search and expect to find the latest driver. Most don’t exist. Most are geared natively to Mac and/or Windows and trying to install one of those drivers will not work with these Snapdragon-based ARM computers.
Instead, the computer receives a driver update package. Almost identical to your Android phone when a carrier issues an update. This package is unique to the computer and is not something you can pick and choose from. Think of it like when your normal x86 computer gets a bios update. The process looks and feels nearly identical.
I find this good and bad. Being a techie, it is bad. A user can’t just go out to the interwebs and get an updated driver for something that doesn’t work. The user must wait for a system update to fix an issue. Sometimes this happens quickly, sometimes it doesn’t. When I first got this laptop, if would not connect to my TP-Link Deco router. I went several days hot-spotting off my phone for internet connectivity. Why? Because I couldn’t go out to the Wi-Fi card manufacturer and get an ARM based driver, they don’t exist. However, after two or three days, Dell released a system update to the laptop, and it cured the issues with the Wi-Fi. Had I had a “normal” computer, I could have fixed it in minutes.
DISPLAY
The XPS 9345 display is gorgeous. The 3k (2880 x 1800) display is crisp, colorful, and just awesome to look at. Color reproduction appears very accurate, and the blacks are so crisp and inky. The added pixel count of 3k resolution on a small 13” display makes the pixels nearly imperceptible. The small screen is packed with a bunch of detail. It looks amazing.
The XPS 9345 display is gorgeous. The 3k (2880 x 1800) display is crisp, colorful, and just awesome to look at. Color reproduction appears very accurate, and the blacks are so crisp and inky. The added pixel count of 3k resolution on a small 13” display makes the pixels nearly imperceptible. The small screen is packed with a bunch of detail. It looks amazing.
CPU
This is what sets the XPS CoPilot+ 9345 apart from its brethren. The Snapdragon X Elite is a 12-core processor with an ARM-based architecture. It is different than traditional Intel and AMD chips. Between 12 cores and the very efficient ARM architecture, the Snapdragon processor is fast. As fast or faster than the latest Intel i7 based laptops it competes against. In fact, I find the Snapdragon processor feels superior to its Intel and AMD based competitors in terms of responsiveness. Even with heavy multi-tasking the Snapdragon hasn’t felt overburdened like my x86 laptops tend to do. The whole ARM based environment feels more efficient under intense workloads.
This is what sets the XPS CoPilot+ 9345 apart from its brethren. The Snapdragon X Elite is a 12-core processor with an ARM-based architecture. It is different than traditional Intel and AMD chips. Between 12 cores and the very efficient ARM architecture, the Snapdragon processor is fast. As fast or faster than the latest Intel i7 based laptops it competes against. In fact, I find the Snapdragon processor feels superior to its Intel and AMD based competitors in terms of responsiveness. Even with heavy multi-tasking the Snapdragon hasn’t felt overburdened like my x86 laptops tend to do. The whole ARM based environment feels more efficient under intense workloads.
BATTERY LIFE
This is one area that I absolute must touch on. The XPS 13 is the longest lasting laptop I have used to date. This is the one area where an ARM based laptops excel. The Snapdragon gives the user the power and performance of a high-end x86 based computer with the efficiency of a tablet.
This is one area that I absolute must touch on. The XPS 13 is the longest lasting laptop I have used to date. This is the one area where an ARM based laptops excel. The Snapdragon gives the user the power and performance of a high-end x86 based computer with the efficiency of a tablet.
This is the first computer I’ve ever used that gives me all the computing power I need of a full-sized laptop without any performance penalties for battery saving. It is really that amazing. The biggest power draw of most laptop is the display. Even at full resolution and 50% brightness, the laptop returns a good 9 – 10hrs of life, sometimes more. While I have other laptops or 2-in-1’s that can do this too, it is not without a significant performance penalty or viewing penalty. The XPS allows me to run the processor at optimum speed, the screen at excellent brightness levels and still returns all day battery life.
Again, this the FIRST laptop I’ve ever used that has returned these results. It is amazing.
NEGATIVES
Upgradability. I said this in another review, but 2024 is the beginning of the end of upgradeable laptops. This XPS is no exception. Aside from the SSD, the laptop is not upgradeable.
Upgradability. I said this in another review, but 2024 is the beginning of the end of upgradeable laptops. This XPS is no exception. Aside from the SSD, the laptop is not upgradeable.
ARM. I see the ARM architecture as a like it or hate it affair. It is a decision left up to the end user. There are pros and cons to the OS. While it is very power efficient, it is also not (for the lack of a better word) user-friendly. By that, I mean for those of us that are not afraid to go in tweak drivers and make changes, this is not for the tinkerers. But, for those that don’t want to worry about that stuff and just want a turn it on and forget it experience, this is your machine.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Users buying a new laptop to experience the greatness that is AI will be disappointed. There just isn’t a ton of features available currently. My biggest use of AI to date has been in CoCreator in Paint. It has helped turn my ideas and renderings into something that looks legitimate and not like a 2nd grader did it.
Users buying a new laptop to experience the greatness that is AI will be disappointed. There just isn’t a ton of features available currently. My biggest use of AI to date has been in CoCreator in Paint. It has helped turn my ideas and renderings into something that looks legitimate and not like a 2nd grader did it.
The XPS CoPilot+ is an undeniably great option for those that need all day battery life. I easily got more than a full workday out of it, with power to spare. Most importantly, no matter how hard I have tried to cripple it, the laptop maintained its composure and most importantly, did so nearly silently.
I said it before in this review. I have never had a laptop that has provided me with this much performance for this amount of time without some type of penalty attached. The XPS has exceeded my expectations in nearly every important aspect of my testing. The battery life is OUTSTANDING. The screen is gorgeous. The performance from the new Snapdragon processor is VERY impressive.
I said it before in this review. I have never had a laptop that has provided me with this much performance for this amount of time without some type of penalty attached. The XPS has exceeded my expectations in nearly every important aspect of my testing. The battery life is OUTSTANDING. The screen is gorgeous. The performance from the new Snapdragon processor is VERY impressive.
While I’m not completely sold on the ARM architecture, it is growing on me. There still is some work to do. Some of my favorite apps don’t work on the XPS and when I do have issue like I had with my TP-Link router, I can’t just go in and fix it myself. I must wait until Dell fixes it. Unfortunately, that could take some time.
However, as of now, the pros are outweighing the cons. I’ll admit that I’m a die hard x86 person, but the ARM OS is growing on me, and I can see the appeal for most people. The processing power of the Snapdragon X and power efficiency of the ARM architecture is unmatched by any x86 computer.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Fully Automatic Belt-Drive Turntable
Customer Rating
3
Average Price / Average Sound / Average Build
on August 11, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
INTRODUCTION
The LP-70 is Audio Technica’s entry-level model. Featuring all plastic construction (aside from drive mechanisms) it is meant for folks getting their feet wet with spinning vinyl. While it does its job as intended, it is just like the title says: Average, at best, in every sense of the word.
The LP-70 is Audio Technica’s entry-level model. Featuring all plastic construction (aside from drive mechanisms) it is meant for folks getting their feet wet with spinning vinyl. While it does its job as intended, it is just like the title says: Average, at best, in every sense of the word.
USE
Assembly of the LP-70 was a no-brainer, even without using the included instructions. There was very little do aside from fitting the platter, affixing the belt to the drive pulley, and assembling the lid. Straight forward and easy. Should you need to reference the instructions, they are easy to follow and understand, which is something I can’t say about AT’s competition.
Assembly of the LP-70 was a no-brainer, even without using the included instructions. There was very little do aside from fitting the platter, affixing the belt to the drive pulley, and assembling the lid. Straight forward and easy. Should you need to reference the instructions, they are easy to follow and understand, which is something I can’t say about AT’s competition.
The new AT LP-70 does not follow AT’s design of its higher end siblings. The tone arm is unique to the LP-70. Buyer beware if you go to swap the headshell on the LP-70. One, I’m not sure AT’s excellent assortment of headshells are compatible, and two, even if they are, it would require rebalancing the tonearm after installation as the stock headshell is basic, at best.
Thankfully, AT does offer users the ability to swap out styli as they see fit, and AT offers a wide variety of styli for users to choose from. For an entry-level model, this is great that AT chose to use a standardized stylus system. One, everyone’s opinions are subjective, what one finds appealing, another won’t so it gives everyone an option to pick a stylus the like and two, let’s face it, the included blue stylus is mediocre, at best.
NEGATIVES
I don’t consider myself a vinyl snob. Honestly, for me, its much more of a novelty and hobby. But, there is something nostalgic and sentimental about a good, quality record. It captures something that today’s lossy audio rips can’t reproduce.
I don’t consider myself a vinyl snob. Honestly, for me, its much more of a novelty and hobby. But, there is something nostalgic and sentimental about a good, quality record. It captures something that today’s lossy audio rips can’t reproduce.
With that, compared to my current set-up that is only slightly more expensive than they LP-70, I see just how mediocre the LP-70 is. I know die hard AT fans are going to thumbs down my review, but my current model embarrasses the LP-70. I don’t know if it is the superior Ortofon stylus included with it, or the fact that it has a 5.5mV output, but it is far more dynamic, cleaner sounding, and punchier than albums played on the LP-70.
CONCLUSIONS
Therein lies the dilemma in rating the LP-70. On one hand the LP-70 is a reasonably priced turntable. Yes, the build is all plastic, but who cares? The LP-70 gets the job done and is easy to use. It has a switchable Line / Phono output to accommodate nearly anyone’s audio system and is a great example of an entry-level product.
Therein lies the dilemma in rating the LP-70. On one hand the LP-70 is a reasonably priced turntable. Yes, the build is all plastic, but who cares? The LP-70 gets the job done and is easy to use. It has a switchable Line / Phono output to accommodate nearly anyone’s audio system and is a great example of an entry-level product.
While the dynamic range and punchiness of the audio playback isn’t top-notch, it also not offensive either. I know I’ve been harsh on the product, but for the price, it does an admirable job at playback. Better than AT’s primary BestBuy competitor’s entry-level model, but also not nearly as good as products just a little bit more.
But that is also its Achilles heel. To make the LP-70 shine like it should, the buyer will most likely want to swap out the included stylus for an upgraded one that offers better sound quality and a more dynamic range. However, a good stylus costs as much as the LP-70. That hurts!
If it were just the cost of the turntable factored in, it would be a great value, but I would consider a stylus upgrade, an almost necessary purchase. At that point, it brings it within ear shot of much more feature-rich competitors, that have upgraded styli already included and most offering Bluetooth compatibility.
If it were just the cost of the turntable factored in, it would be a great value, but I would consider a stylus upgrade, an almost necessary purchase. At that point, it brings it within ear shot of much more feature-rich competitors, that have upgraded styli already included and most offering Bluetooth compatibility.
I will give the LP-70 a recommended rating, but only 3 stars. 3 stars is average & honestly that is what the sound quality is: average. The LP-70 is a good entry-level option into the world of vinyl and will give the buyer a decent, but good experience in their new vinyl experiences. But a stylus change should be considered an essential upgrade shortly after purchase, in my opinion.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Cobra SC 220C is a dual-view camera that captures the front and interior of your vehicle for comprehensive security. Add in Mayday notifications, remote wi-fi vehicle monitoring, and QHD resolution—and you have comprehensive security that never blinks.
Customer Rating
4
Big on features without the monthly subscription
on August 11, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
KEY SPECS
2560 x 1440 Front Camera Resolution
1920 x 1080 Rear Camera Resolution
16GB MicroSD Card Installed
Dual-Band Wi-Fi
Cloud Connectivity
2560 x 1440 Front Camera Resolution
1920 x 1080 Rear Camera Resolution
16GB MicroSD Card Installed
Dual-Band Wi-Fi
Cloud Connectivity
SUMMARY
The SC220 is one of Cobra’s new line of connected dash cams. It includes nearly the full suite of expected features in a premium dash cam, but does it without having to pay the monthly subscription fee to access.
The SC220 is one of Cobra’s new line of connected dash cams. It includes nearly the full suite of expected features in a premium dash cam, but does it without having to pay the monthly subscription fee to access.
INTRODUCTION
The SC220 is the entry-level model of Cobra’s offerings. This dual view dash cam not only records the view in front of the vehicle, but it also has a rear facing camera that constantly monitors and records the interior of the vehicle (this feature can be disabled for privacy). I can see this as a huge plus for the ride share drivers, especially since Cobra has given the SC220 infra-red night vision for the interior camera at night.
The SC220 is the entry-level model of Cobra’s offerings. This dual view dash cam not only records the view in front of the vehicle, but it also has a rear facing camera that constantly monitors and records the interior of the vehicle (this feature can be disabled for privacy). I can see this as a huge plus for the ride share drivers, especially since Cobra has given the SC220 infra-red night vision for the interior camera at night.
The SC220 includes nearly every option that one would expect from a premium dash cam. Dual cameras with dual view capability, dual band Wi-Fi to communicate and transfer videos to the Drive Smarter app, parking protection, GPS, and the ability to send MayDay alerts via the Drive Smarter app.
The SC220 has a bunch of nice features for the money. I’m going to say this many times throughout this review, all the SC220 features are available WITHOUT paying a monthly subscription fee, like Cobra’s primary competitor does now.
INSTALLATION
The SC220 installed without issue. Cobra includes a much need trim removal tool, some 3M adhesive tape, wire clips, and a 12V “cigarette” plug with a pass-through USB port. Thank you, Cobra. That passthrough USB port made all the difference of this being a no-go for me. I didn’t want to tie up my already used 12V port.
The SC220 installed without issue. Cobra includes a much need trim removal tool, some 3M adhesive tape, wire clips, and a 12V “cigarette” plug with a pass-through USB port. Thank you, Cobra. That passthrough USB port made all the difference of this being a no-go for me. I didn’t want to tie up my already used 12V port.
There is no OBD connector option or hard-wire connection option included with the installation kit. While those are available, they are provided only at an additional charge from Cobra. Furthermore, these items are required if you don’t have an always on 12V cigarette socket and you want to use features such as motion detection and parking event detection.
This is one of the few demerits to the Cobra SC220. Unlike many competitors’ products, there does not appear to be any form of battery back-up to record parking incidents or motion like the competition has.
DRIVE SMARTER APP
Once the camera was installed, I downloaded the Drive Smarter app to my Galaxy smartphone. App installation and set-up was easy and straightforward. Same with connecting my phone to the dash cam. The Drive Smarter app found my dash cam within seconds and immediately prompted me for a firmware update. It too, went without fuss.
Once the camera was installed, I downloaded the Drive Smarter app to my Galaxy smartphone. App installation and set-up was easy and straightforward. Same with connecting my phone to the dash cam. The Drive Smarter app found my dash cam within seconds and immediately prompted me for a firmware update. It too, went without fuss.
The Drive Smarter app is easy to use and navigate. After answering a few basic questions, mainly how much I wanted the dash cam to talk to the cloud, I was set-up and ready to go. The whole process took 3 minutes at best, including the firmware update. Kudos to Cobra.
As you know, if you’ve researched Cobra dash cams, their parent company Cedar also makes CB radios and most importantly Escort Radar Detectors. The Drive Smarter app is entry into the smart radar detector community. Newer escort radar detectors report locations of detected radar sites and upload that data to the cloud. Using your Cobra dash cam and the Drive Smarter app, the camera will pop up a warning on the display indicating the potential event ahead. Radar, Traffic, Accident, etc all get displayed on the screen of the SC220 or on the vehicle’s screen, if using CarPlay or Android Auto.
In addition to detected road hazards or police presence, the Drive Smarter app has its own built-in GPS and navigation function. Using the Drive Smarter app for navigation, turns your dash cam into your GPS screen. The phone will give you audible prompts about what to do, but those prompts are also shown on the SC220’s screen, as well. It’s slick and has worked without lag or hesitation. Cobra has done an excellent job on most of the Drive Smarter app.
NEGATIVES
First. As smooth and responsive as the Drive Smarter app is, the navigation is lackluster. Cobra uses Mapbox ?!?!? for mapping and navigation. I’m guessing to avoid licensing fees from Google / Waze thereby keeping costs down. Use the navigation app one time and you will see that Mapbox doesn’t even come close to Google or Waze.
First. As smooth and responsive as the Drive Smarter app is, the navigation is lackluster. Cobra uses Mapbox ?!?!? for mapping and navigation. I’m guessing to avoid licensing fees from Google / Waze thereby keeping costs down. Use the navigation app one time and you will see that Mapbox doesn’t even come close to Google or Waze.
There are several shortcomings compared to Google (Google owns Waze now). First, the traffic conditions lag woefully behind Google. There have been numerous times Google has reported congestion and Drive Smarter did not. Google was ALWAYS correct. When Drive Smarter finally indicated congestion, it had cleared. Same with police reports and accidents.
Second. The mapping algorithm employed by Mapbox / Drive Smarter isn’t nearly as accurate as Google. Drive Smarter indicated several times that I needed to make a U-turn to get to my destination, whereas Google directed me right to the destination. This is extremely frustrating in heavy, urban traffic.
Second. The mapping algorithm employed by Mapbox / Drive Smarter isn’t nearly as accurate as Google. Drive Smarter indicated several times that I needed to make a U-turn to get to my destination, whereas Google directed me right to the destination. This is extremely frustrating in heavy, urban traffic.
Second. The police reports and radar notifications are often stale by the time I have encountered the events. Let’s face it, the user community on Google Maps and Waze is so much bigger, it is hard to compete with so many users nearly all online at the same time. The information is fresher and far more accurate.
Lastly, the GPS accuracy is not nearly as good as using the standalone Google Maps app. I find that the Drive Smarter app consistently tells me I have 50 feet to my destination, when I am sitting the parking lot.
CONCLUSION
The SC220 has all the necessary features expected in a premium dash cam today. It has excellent image quality, dual facing cameras, a full suite of options available from the Drive Smarter app, and most importantly allows the buyer to access all these features at no additional charge after purchase.
The SC220 has all the necessary features expected in a premium dash cam today. It has excellent image quality, dual facing cameras, a full suite of options available from the Drive Smarter app, and most importantly allows the buyer to access all these features at no additional charge after purchase.
The SC220 is one of the fastest and most responsive dash cams I’ve paired my Galaxy phone with to date. The Drive Smarter app has not yet failed to immediately pair with the camera or get hung-up while accessing videos or features. Even simple changes to the cam itself via the capacitive touch buttons are quicker and more responsive than my other cameras. Cobra should be commended for giving the SC220 a robust processor.
In the end, if you are in the market for a full-featured dash cam, especially one like this geared clearly for ride share drivers, this should be on your list. It is quick, responsive, reliable, and easy to use. Most importantly, you have access to a bunch of advanced features and a community at no additional charge after purchase. I just wouldn’t rely too heavily on the Drive Smarter app for navigation, but it does everything else well.
RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Power, precision, and elegance define the 2024 ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring a premium aluminum chassis with customizable lighting, this laptop merges style and durability. Its ultra-slim 0.59” profile and lightweight 4.08lb 16” chassis redefines portability without compromising performance. Whether you're a gamer, creator, or both, the Zephyrus G16 stands ready, equipped with Windows 11, the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU. ROG Intelligent Cooling features liquid metal for reduced CPU temperatures and upgraded Arc Flow Fans for improved airflow to sustain peak performance on the Zephyrus G16. Immerse yourself in the OLED ROG Nebula Display and enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 2K resolution, and a smooth 240Hz refresh rate.
Customer Rating
5
Ryzen 9 Performance with a beautiful OLED display
on August 5, 2024
Posted by: NAMO
KEY SPECS
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU (12C / 24T)
32GB 7500Mhz DDR5 RAM
2TB NVMe SSD
NVidia RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB RAM
AMD Radeon 890M with 16 CU’s
OLED 2560 x 1600 Panel with HDR and 100% Color Reproduction
NVidia G-Sync and Dolby Vision Compatible
AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU (12C / 24T)
32GB 7500Mhz DDR5 RAM
2TB NVMe SSD
NVidia RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB RAM
AMD Radeon 890M with 16 CU’s
OLED 2560 x 1600 Panel with HDR and 100% Color Reproduction
NVidia G-Sync and Dolby Vision Compatible
PORTS
1x SD Card Reader
2 x USB3.2 Gen 2 Type A
1 x USB3.2 Gen 2 Type C with DP 1.4 and Power Delivery (NVidia GPU)
Full-Size HDMI 2.1 Port
1 x USB4 USB-C with DP 1.4 and Power Delivery (AMD Radeon Graphics)
3.5mm Headphone / Mic Port
1x SD Card Reader
2 x USB3.2 Gen 2 Type A
1 x USB3.2 Gen 2 Type C with DP 1.4 and Power Delivery (NVidia GPU)
Full-Size HDMI 2.1 Port
1 x USB4 USB-C with DP 1.4 and Power Delivery (AMD Radeon Graphics)
3.5mm Headphone / Mic Port
INTRODUCTION
Occasionally, a manufacturer will release a product in the same lineage as its ancestors but is so different that it can be considered revolutionary. The new ROG Zephyrus falls into this category. I have a ROG Zephyrus from only a couple of years ago and this ROG feels nothing like its predecessor. It is truly a new and revolutionary design. If you couldn’t see the logo or branding, you would never know the 2 were siblings.
Occasionally, a manufacturer will release a product in the same lineage as its ancestors but is so different that it can be considered revolutionary. The new ROG Zephyrus falls into this category. I have a ROG Zephyrus from only a couple of years ago and this ROG feels nothing like its predecessor. It is truly a new and revolutionary design. If you couldn’t see the logo or branding, you would never know the 2 were siblings.
DISPLAY
The G16 sports Asus’ new Nebula display. Quite simply, it is stunning. It has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 and supports 100% of the DCI color spectrum. Something that is extremely important for content creators and photographers. The Nebula display is rated for 500 nits in HDR and supports Dolby Vision. It is Pantone certified and add to that amazing accuracy a 240Hz refresh rate and a .2ms response time and you have a display that looks and performs AMAZING regardless of your task.
The G16 sports Asus’ new Nebula display. Quite simply, it is stunning. It has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 and supports 100% of the DCI color spectrum. Something that is extremely important for content creators and photographers. The Nebula display is rated for 500 nits in HDR and supports Dolby Vision. It is Pantone certified and add to that amazing accuracy a 240Hz refresh rate and a .2ms response time and you have a display that looks and performs AMAZING regardless of your task.
GAMING PERFORMANCE
I’ve played several games on the G16 as of late. My two favorites for some time now are Call of Duty MW 3 and Forza Horizon 5. For those who have not experienced the ray-tracing goodness of the new Nvidia 4000’s cards, you really need to. Combine ray-tracing with this new OLED display and visuals are stunning. Especially, when you enable the Auto HDR feature. The oversaturated world and graphics just pop!
I’ve played several games on the G16 as of late. My two favorites for some time now are Call of Duty MW 3 and Forza Horizon 5. For those who have not experienced the ray-tracing goodness of the new Nvidia 4000’s cards, you really need to. Combine ray-tracing with this new OLED display and visuals are stunning. Especially, when you enable the Auto HDR feature. The oversaturated world and graphics just pop!
My second go-to game is often MW3. Regardless of what people think of the game, it offers a good opportunity to test a panel’s ability to reproduce details in the darkest of scenes. Being an OLED, the G16 had zero issues. That is one of the best parts of an OLED display. They offer perfect black levels. Levels unparalleled by any other display technology. Having the power of a 4070 to play on changed the game for me. Even after playing the full campaign less than a year ago, the visual enhancements offered by the 4070 made the game feel new. The OLED panel produced shadow details I’ve never experienced before and with ray tracing combined with the performance of the 4070 produced details and intricacies I’ve never experienced before in the game. It made MW3 far more enjoyable.
But how much power is really on tap for gamers? I used a USB-C to DP adapter to make sure I was getting accurate readings. There are 2 USB-C ports on the G16. One is linked to the 890M integrated graphics and the other directly to the RTX 4070 discreet GPU. I ran each test using my new LG Ultra Gear 49” 120Hz OLED gaming monitor. These are the results I obtained using both the integrated and discreet graphics using both FSR for AMD and DLSS for NVidia:
Graphics Results
AMD @ 2560 x 1600 AMD 4k 4070 @ 2560 x 1600 4070 @ 4k
Forza 60 60 95 92
COD 48 17 108 59
F1 2023 58* 112*
AMD @ 2560 x 1600 AMD 4k 4070 @ 2560 x 1600 4070 @ 4k
Forza 60 60 95 92
COD 48 17 108 59
F1 2023 58* 112*
*F1 2023 was not tested at 4k as neither graphics chip could render playable speeds at 4k. Even at 2560 x 1600 I had to turn off all ray-tracing effects and lower the preset to High in order to make F1 playable on the RTX 4070.
I was surprised at how well the integrated graphics performed. Forza was smooth despite locked at 60Hz and MW3 would have been passible should I have lowered resolution to 1920 x 1080. Forza numbers were obtained using the Ultra preset for both graphics’ chips. MW3 numbers were obtained using Max settings for the RTX 4070, but only balanced for the integrated 890M, as the extra graphical details paid a heavy price in the game.
I have zero complaints about either graphics processor. Even the 890M plays well and is a decent option to the much more power-hungry 4070. The first laptop I’ve used that you can enjoy a game with integrated graphics instead of it ruining the entire experience.
CPU
The new Ryzen 9 is built on AMD’s new Zen 5 architecture. It is a low-power high performing processor containing what “the other” brand would call 4P cores and 8E cores. Just how well does the new 4nm Zen 5 hold up against the competition? For testing, I turned to Handbrake (my go-to for testing CPU’s). I took a 30 minute video recorded in 1080p and compressed it to 480p/30 using Handbrake’s HQ480p setting. Encoding times utilizing only the CPU for x.264 are:
The new Ryzen 9 is built on AMD’s new Zen 5 architecture. It is a low-power high performing processor containing what “the other” brand would call 4P cores and 8E cores. Just how well does the new 4nm Zen 5 hold up against the competition? For testing, I turned to Handbrake (my go-to for testing CPU’s). I took a 30 minute video recorded in 1080p and compressed it to 480p/30 using Handbrake’s HQ480p setting. Encoding times utilizing only the CPU for x.264 are:
Zephyrus G16: 5:10 @ 174fps average
Desktop i5-13400: 6:38 @ 141fps average
ROG Zephyrus i7-14700KF: 3:32 @ 255fps average
Desktop i5-13400: 6:38 @ 141fps average
ROG Zephyrus i7-14700KF: 3:32 @ 255fps average
The little low-power AMD keeps pace and even pulls ahead of comparable desktop competitors. While I knew it would be no match for the woefully more powerful i7 in my desktop Zephyrus, it is an impressive feat for such a low power chip. Especially one that was able to maintain 100% CPU utilization throughout the test without thermal throttling. It did spike to 98C during testing but was able to maintain no more than 97C after.
COOLING
After reviewing several gaming laptops over the years, the one thing that winds up either killing the mood or shutting down the gaming experience all together is heat / noise. There are a lot of heat producing components shoved into a tiny space. I swear I’ve heard F-15's spinning up for takeoff that are quieter than gaming laptops. Often so loud, even noise cancelling headphones can’t keep out the whine.
After reviewing several gaming laptops over the years, the one thing that winds up either killing the mood or shutting down the gaming experience all together is heat / noise. There are a lot of heat producing components shoved into a tiny space. I swear I’ve heard F-15's spinning up for takeoff that are quieter than gaming laptops. Often so loud, even noise cancelling headphones can’t keep out the whine.
The new G16 is one of the quietest gaming laptops I’ve used to date. Yes, it still has fans (3 of them), but Asus has switched to liquid metal for heat transfer and has built the chassis into the cooling system. Yes, the G16’s CNC machined aluminum construction becomes part of the cooling solution. This is especially noticeable after a good, long gaming session taxing the RTX 4070. Those fps benchmarks from above? That 4070 was working VERY hard during all of my COD gaming at 4k. I went to pick up the laptop and almost dropped it. I was not expecting it to be that hot. The whole body was hot. That’s a unique solution to help thermals. I’m sure if I put the G16 on a good laptop cooler with fans blowing against the aluminum underside would help with thermals even more. Either way, the computer never lost its cool or thermal throttled during testing, but it was close, REAL CLOSE (some testing saw thermals hit 97C on the GPU).
AUDIO
Normally, I wouldn’t comment on audio in a laptop. They all stink. However, this is the best sounding laptop I’ve used to date. Markedly better than any other laptop from any other vendor I’ve tried. Audio reproduction is impressive for such a small package. Not only is there a sense of some bass (Asus claims a frequency response to 100Hz) the inclusion of Dolby Atmos tech gives a convincing, semi-realistic sense of surround sound.
Normally, I wouldn’t comment on audio in a laptop. They all stink. However, this is the best sounding laptop I’ve used to date. Markedly better than any other laptop from any other vendor I’ve tried. Audio reproduction is impressive for such a small package. Not only is there a sense of some bass (Asus claims a frequency response to 100Hz) the inclusion of Dolby Atmos tech gives a convincing, semi-realistic sense of surround sound.
NEGATIVES
Asus claims it doesn’t exist, but there is panel wobble. I don’t think it’s as bad as others around the interwebs have made it out to be. There is some wobble, but I haven’t found distracting, at least not yet. That may change.
Asus claims it doesn’t exist, but there is panel wobble. I don’t think it’s as bad as others around the interwebs have made it out to be. There is some wobble, but I haven’t found distracting, at least not yet. That may change.
The MediaTek Wi-Fi chip. I’m not sure why Asus would choose to partner with MediaTek. This new Wi-Fi 7 chip is supposed to be great, but it isn’t. I’ve experienced spotty connections and even the chip reporting drivers not being installed after having been working perfectly for 3 hours. For this being a Wi-Fi 7 chip, I haven’t noticed any improvements in speed or performance, even using it in an MLO configuration, that I get from a Wi-Fi 6 chipset from MediaTek’s primary competitor. If there is one thing that makes this laptop feel cheap or half-baked, it’s the Wi-Fi card.
Upgradability. I’m going to say that 2024 may very well mark the year of the end of upgradeable laptops. This G16 is one of the first. The only upgradeable parts are the SSD and Wi-Fi card (thankfully). The writing is on the wall. Shortly, users will no longer be able to swap or increase RAM. So much for saving a few bucks and upgrading RAM later at a far cheaper price than you can usually buy it for from the manufacturer. It’s going to be an all or nothing game.
FINAL THOUGHT
I’ve heaped tons of praise on Asus’ new shining star. It is well deserved. This is a revolutionary change for Asus, and they should be commended for their efforts. It’s got computing power to spare, excellent graphics power, long battery life, and runs much quieter than any other gaming laptop I’ve used to date.
I’ve heaped tons of praise on Asus’ new shining star. It is well deserved. This is a revolutionary change for Asus, and they should be commended for their efforts. It’s got computing power to spare, excellent graphics power, long battery life, and runs much quieter than any other gaming laptop I’ve used to date.
EVERYTHING (except the Wi-Fi) feels premium. From its all-aluminum construction, to its stunningly beautiful display, to its tasteful lighting. This is a great piece of gear and if you need a gaming laptop or the power of a gaming laptop, without the size and weight penalties you would normally get with a machine like this, The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 should be on your very short list of options.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
I would recommend this to a friend!
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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.
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6 years ago
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NAMO
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7 years, 10 months ago
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NAMO
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Thanks. Hope this helps.
Thanks. Hope this helps.
8 years, 1 month ago
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NAMO
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8 years, 1 month ago
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NAMO