Bren's stats
- Review count265
- Helpfulness votes1,766
- First reviewDecember 27, 2016
- Last reviewJuly 2, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.8
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- Answer count11
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- First answerDecember 27, 2016
- Last answerNovember 4, 2021
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Oura Ring 4 brings you closer to what matters most ~ your health. With an updated all-titanium design, this smart ring features Smart Sensing, a new sensing platform that doesn~t just measure your biometrics but also adapts to you. It provides insights into over 50 biometrics including sleep, readiness, activity, heart health, stress, metabolic health and women~s health.
Customer Rating
5
A true lifestyle, health, and longevity device!
on November 2, 2024
Posted by: Bren
I am in love with this new Oura Ring 4. Not only does it eliminate some of the annoyances of the Oura Ring 3 that I will mention, but it just seems to integrate perfectly into my active and on the go lifestyle. I am also an Apple Watch user, but I find that I am inconsistent about wearing my Apple watch all day and I strongly dislike wearing watches in bed. Therefore, a fitness/health ring is exactly what I needed to get full 24 hour, go anywhere health metrics information and to keep myself accountable to my fitness goals like total daily steps.
Unboxing and set-up: As with the Oura Ring 3, OURA has managed to ensure that the packaging is minimal, discrete, and environmentally friendly. In the box were some printed instructions, the ring, the excellent and sturdy charging base, and the USB-C charging cable. Set up with the Oura app was ultra simple with step-by-step instructions to get you started. I selected to integrate the Oura app with my Apple Health app and information to keep health metrics updated across the board. As a note, if you are interested in getting a spare Oura Ring charger, they are size and model specific but can be acquired for around $60 on the Oura website for this ring. With the insane battery life though, I am adequately assured I will have no need for a spare charger at this time.
Ring Build quality: This Oura Ring 4 is a MAJOR upgrade from the Oura Ring 3. It is thinner, seems to be made in a sturdier manner with full titanium (e.g., feels less “plastic-y”) and it does not have the annoying and often painful prominent internal sensor nubs of the Oura Ring 3. It is smooth inside and out with recessed sensors (opposite of protruding!) and is overall incredibly discrete, save for one small vertical indented line on the outside surface to help you visually and tactilely line up the ring’s sensors centered on the palm side of your finger as Oura recommends. The stealth finish of this ring is incredibly handsome and, from a distance, could easily be mistaken as a high-quality tungsten ring or other darker-finish metal ring. I elected to use the measuring kit to fit my Oura ring to my ring finger on my left hand to replace my preferred silicon wedding bands I normally wear as a frequent gym goer and vehicle enthusiast. The stealth finish has thus far held up really well to the stresses of the gym, but it is unfortunately getting some light scratches on the outside surfaces from the knurling on barbells and dumbbells. Oura themselves recommends that users wanting to avoid scratches may want to remove the ring during weightlifting sessions. I think this is reasonable and leaves it up to the user whether they care that much about the aesthetics of the ring or not. Maybe one day they will make a premium finish that is designed for the rigors that individuals like mechanics and weightlifters will put their rings through.
Fitness Monitoring: As far as my testing has gone, I feel that this ring is highly accurate in both its counts of steps and its measurement of HR and blood oxygenation. I work in the medical field, and I have access to medical grade vital measurement devices, and thus far this ring is always within margin of error accurate on HR and blood oxygenation. Whatever witchcraft gyrometric technology they have built into this ring; my step counts seem to be in line with my Apple Watch if not sometimes higher by a few hundred steps a day. This works for me and again, because this ring is on my hand almost every hour of every week, I prefer the step counts I am getting from it. I am on an active health journey (16 pounds lost so far!) and aim for 7,000-10,000 steps a day. This watch helps me keep those steps counted and even encourages me to do more if I am well rested and I have a high readiness score on the app. I like this feature as it sort of feels like having a personal wellness coach right to hand at all times. I have used the ring to measure my VO2 max score and I got 44 (woohoo!) doing their 6-minute walking test in the app. It will be great to track my VO2 max as the current great thinkers in medicine like Dr. Peter Atilla highly emphasize high VO2 max as a health metric for longevity. The ring also does a reasonably good job of tracking my workouts. My Apple Workouts flow into the Oura app via the Health app integration. I sometimes find that, unfortunately, the Health app information sends over my phone’s data and not my watch’s workout data, which means that in activities like weightlifting where my phone is rarely on my body, I get severely under-measured calorie burn that can’t be edited in the Oura app. My solution to this is to use the Oura ring app’s “record workout HR” feature and to just select walking (there is no weightlifting support for activities monitored yet) while I am in my weightlifting sessions. The calories burned that the Oura app tracks as well as HR measurement line up with my Apple watch Workout tracker and have given me the confidence to start leaving the Apple watch at home and track with my ring only.
Health monitoring: I will not go into detail of every feature of the app, but there are a couple of key developments in the app that I am really coming to appreciate. One is the tracking of daytime stress and recovery. The Oura ring has helped me realize that in spite of my generally low resting HR, the ring is detecting I spend time in the “stressed zone” a lot of the day and do not relax much at all, let alone get any daytime restoration. I am going to start using this information to be more intentional about working in relaxation time during the day and to try to even meditate during my lunches as a means to slough some of my stress off. As for how the ring tracks my sleep, it subjectively seems very accurate to me. I can certainly see the difference in the nights when it is my turn to look after our 6-month-old and I am getting up 2 or 3 times a night to do baby cares, versus the nights I sleep through the night. This ring has other useful health features that will interest most people. One is that you can opt to select nighttime blood oxygen monitoring. This can be useful for detecting if you are possible dealing with sleep apnea or other nocturnal hypoxic events that need further screening and consultation with your medical provider. This comes at the cost of reduced battery life, but to me it is worth it. This ring also is capable of tracking body temperature which can be useful for tracking whether you are possibly becoming sick and can also help females monitor their menstrual cycle.
Altogether, this ring is a perfect fitness and overall health device that I think will interest many people, particularly in terms of the upgrade of this ring model in quality and battery life. As a healthcare worker and fitness enthusiast, I have no critiques to offer, only excitement and enthusiasm to have this ring in my health monitoring arsenal! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy your purchase! Remember to get the ring fitment kit first to determine what the right size is for you since they ring sizes do not always perfectly match up with typical wedding band size etc.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the CSTM80: an enthusiast desktop centerpiece that~s doing customization differently. Introducing a never-before-seen component, purpose-built decorative top case, and it fits magnetically~and seamlessly~onto the CSTM80~s specially designed polycarbonate case. Designed with a refined aesthetic that~s both minimalist and classic in the ever-popular tenkeyless layout. The CSTM80~s sleek keycaps with front-facing shine-through legends to complement the enthusiast specified south facing per-key RGB lights. Inside this case, the CSTM gasket-mounted system with easily replaceable gasket pegs and a full array of foam for the best sound performance. The CSTM80 is a performance keyboard with plenty of room for customization.
Customer Rating
5
This keyboard maker wants you to tinker with it!!!
on October 18, 2024
Posted by: Bren
This is positively one of the most encouraging mechanical keyboards I have ever encountered when it comes to supporting a DIY mentality and egging its users on to take it apart and explore what makes the essence of a great keyboard. The price, the quality, the sound, the unique aesthetics, and the performance of this keyboard in composite launch it into what I believe is one of the, “best of the best” for the price in the home customizable keyboard category.
When I say the keyboard is built well, I mean it. This is a hefty, solid keyboard with factory characteristics that make messing with it a dream come true for those who are hesitant or new to custom keyboard tinkering. The top white plate is magnetically attached, similar to the magnetic shells of the Scuf gaming controllers, and pops right off with some strategic finger pressure and light prying with the other hand. Underneath the shell, you are welcomed with a landscape of user-serviceable features, including high quality Philips head screws to disassemble the body of the keyboard. The key caps and switches pull up easily with the included puller tool in the box. I can imagine people are going to have a field day getting to know these keyboards and playing with them.
Speaking of playing with this keyboard, I love its feel for gaming. Out of the box, this keyboard utilizes Gateron Ks-3 Milky Yellow Linear Mechanical Switches. I am very impressed with these. I have always preferred linear switches for gaming, particularly in FPS games where I am prone to mashing keys a lot and find that the smooth action and rebound of linear switches is more in line with my style. I far prefer clicky type switches for typing, so it is great to know that if I ever retire this keyboard from gaming, I can easily swap out the switches for some clicky ones and take it to work to type on.
The ergonomics of the keyboard as a whole are fantastic! I usually don’t like taller keyboards like this but Drop managed to perfectly angle and stratify the keys to where I feel like both my typing and gaming experiences are comfortable on it without a wrist rest! While no wrist rest is included, a beautiful variety of custom wrist wrests are available from the Drop website; it does not appear that Best Buy has them for sale on their website at this time.
I am really into the aesthetics of this keyboard. It stands out in the best way on a desk. My wife was super confused at first when she saw me typing on it and she asked, “Where are the letters?” She laughed when I showed her where they were and she confessed that she finds that pretty unique and nifty, even if she does think it makes me even more of a nerd than I already am. The keycaps themselves are nice to type on and seem relatively resistant to staining from the oils of my fingertips, which is great because I am quite the sweat when I game on a keyboard, haha!
Altogether, this keyboard EASILY gets 5 stars. I can’t imagine that anyone who is into customizing keyboards or wants to give it a try would be unhappy with this keyboard. It is an unbelievable price an is packed with features you are going to want to play with both on the work bench and in your gaming setup! Thanks for reading and I hope this review helps encourage you to pick up this awesome keyboard.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the Ninja ProChef Wireless Thermometer, a durable, app-connected thermometer that can withstand up to 700~F. Whether cooking indoors or outdoors, in direct flame or low and slow, the Ninja ProConnect App provides a guided cook system and uses an advanced algorithm to give you updates and even more accurate finish times, so you always end up with an expert-level meal~no guesswork required.
Customer Rating
5
A very handy tool for the kitchen and the porch!
on October 16, 2024
Posted by: Bren
I am glad that Ninja has joined the wireless thermometer game and put out this thermometer that pairs so well with their outstanding app. I have wanted to add one of these to my cooking and grilling arsenal for a while now and I am glad that I finally get to!
The build quality of the thermometer and charge case is awesome. It is more of an industrial kitchen look than the wood cases of the main competition wireless thermometers, but I think it looks good and is built to last. I wish that the wireless case was USB rechargeable and that it had a built-in hook for hanging the case from the grill, my crockpot, etc. since the case (as with other wireless thermometers) has to be within 5 feet of the actual thermometer to get the readings that can then transmit via Bluetooth to your phone app.
The thermometer itself is great to use and what I would hope for at this price. It went inserted perfectly into my chuck pot roast and allowed me to get the temperature up to and sustained in the range of what I wanted to get the perfect, melt-in-your mouth pot roast. I have a really unreliable crockpot at this time, and it was great to be able to keep track of when the ambient temperature was getting too hot inside the crockpot and to adjust the crockpot accordingly.
The only downside I am noticing with the thermometer and case combination is that it seems like the thermometer and case have a hard time staying connected when the thermometer is inside my crockpot. I was about to go nuts with the amount of disconnection alerts I was getting on my phone from the thermometer. I ended up having to balance the case on the class lid just to maintain a reliable connection that didn’t drop out every two minutes. Gratefully, I know that Ninja stands behind their products and I am certain they are going to release a firmware update eventually that will probably help address finicky issues like this.
Altogether, I will give this thermometer 5 out of 5 stars. It helps to safely and accurately cook my food and is altogether built into a great package made and sold by a most excellent company. Thanks for reading and I hope that my review helps encourage your purchasing decision!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed for easy hands-on espresso exploration, take your espresso based drinks to the next level - create wherever your curiosity takes you - from Espresso, Americano, Latte, to Cappucino and much more.
Customer Rating
5
No-brainer option in this price range!
on October 12, 2024
Posted by: Bren
This KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is an easy pick at this price when looking at the competitions offerings, especially when this veast is on sale! We are so pleased with how great this machine is performing in making us all the espresso we need to sate the caffeine addictions of two adults and our friends when they come over.
The build quality of this espresso maker is amazing and leaves no room for disappointment. It is packed with clever features that you will enjoy, including a handy little storage bin in the drip tray for stashing away all of your portafilter adapters in a quick and convenient location! This espresso maker provides all of the fun aspects of the manual part of making great espresso, including hand tamping your grind in the convenient flat bottomed portafilter and making your own preferred dairy-based toppings and foam with the wand. What this machine automates and has built in are exactly the features I want like a grinder with fifteen of its settings and other bits and pieces that nice and convenient to have included. A few of the aspects of this espresso maker that I like better than my well-loved and used De'Longhi Specialista Arte are that grinder and portafilter require no adapter to hook up and that there is no need for a special “tamping pad” since the portafilter body is flat on the bottom with recessed spouts as I mentioned earlier. These features are highly convenient, plus the handy storage is very welcome too!
Overall, I give this espresso make 5 out of 5 stars. I think that this segment of the espresso maker competition is getting pretty dialed in with manufactures seeming to have finally figured out what we want in our home espresso makes.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Oura Ring 4 sizes are slightly different from standard ring sizes, so it is important to size yourself using our tools and to follow our sizing instructions. The Oura Ring 4 Sizing Kit allows for you, and those around you, to find the ideal fit before purchasing. You can also size yourself in stores where there is an Oura Ring 4 display. A properly fitting Oura Ring will result in the highest possible data accuracy, comfort, and overall experience.
Customer Rating
5
Exactly what I needed to be sure of my ring size!
on October 9, 2024
Posted by: Bren
There is no replacement for using one of these kits to ensure you know the exact size of Oura ring you need for your application. The rings are molded and designed to match perfectly in width and internal structure to the Oura Ring 4 so you are certain how it fits and feels. I used mine for over 24 hours and found that my ring size was a match in size to my wedding band (size 9) now that this new generation of Oura ring does not have the annoying bump sensors internally as the old ones did.
The ring and the kit size availability are far more comprehensive now. Sizes 4 through 15 are available now; a far broader range than the older models and this provides much more flexibility for potential users seeking to find exactly the right ring size for their needs. The only thing I would say is that I perhaps would have preferred a darker color than bright white so that the test ring wasn't as conspicuous while I was doing my 24-hour size and comfort trial. Otherwise, this kit is an easy 5 out of 5 star recommendation!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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You deserve the absolute highest quality HDMI has to offer, and Rocketfish is prepared to deliver. This Ultra High Speed HDMI Certified cable boasts an incredible 4K @ 120 Hz, 8K @ 60 Hz and even up to 10k video experience. It features a blistering fast bandwidth speed of 48 Gbps for flawless picture quality and is certified for in-wall use. It supports must-needed performance enhancers such as Quick Frame Transport, Dynamic HDR and Variable Refresh Rate for an overall unbeatable video experience. Sound quality is equally important, with support for DTSMaster, DTS-X and Dolby TrueHD/Atmos formats. It's also backwards compatible to work with all HDMI components..
Customer Rating
5
A professional and future proof HDMI Cable!
on September 21, 2024
Posted by: Bren
I have been on a journey recently trying to get the right HDMI cable for my home entertainment setup that actually suits my needs. I have a 4K OLED TV and a 4K Apple TV unit that I could just not seem to get the proper cable combination for in order to get the benefits of both HDMI Arc and a full 4K Dolby Vision picture. 3 cables later, I am pleased finally be using this cable and to know that what I have is a cable that is essentially future proof for the next 5-10 years. It is an 8K 48gbps cable, which means that this in-wall certified cable will be up to the task of providing in-wall certified connection as 8K televisions start to proliferate in the next years, and I eventually acquire one. This cable is pricey, but trust me, it is far cheaper compared to some out there. There are legitimately HDMI cables that run in the hundreds and THOUSANDS of dollar ranges. I would say this cable is an excellent balance of price to performance and is far and above any flimsy HDMI cable you are going to get included with a Blu-ray player or gaming console. 5 out of 5 stars for sure for finally being the cable to solve my connection issues and that will keep me supplied in gorgeous pixels and device control for years to come!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Discover the GMMK 3 PRO, the world~s most customizable gaming keyboard, capable of over 1 billion possible configurations. It offers gamers complete control over every aspect of their experience, enhancing gaming performance, typing feel, and aesthetics like never before. Crafted with a full aluminum body, the GMMK 3 PRO premium quality material. The CNC-machined top and bottom cases provide a robust weight and durability, while the sleek anodized finish ensures an enduring, sophisticated aesthetic that stands out in any setup. Customization reaches new heights with the GMMK 3 PRO~s 9 points of modularity. This highly modular design allows you to easily swap out parts, tailoring the keyboard~s look, sound, and feel to your exact preferences. The innovative Modular Gasket System (MGS) further enhances this flexibility, enabling you to adjust the internal gaskets for a firmer or more flexible typing experience. Whatever your preference is, you are in the driver~s seat. Take your typing experience to the next level with 5-pin MX hotswap support. Easily plug and play with a wide range of Glorious MX switch styles to define your GMMK 3 PRO~s typing sound and feel, all without the need for soldering. The keyboard also features sound-dampening foam, with two layers of dense foam within the case that absorb unwanted resonance, providing a satisfyingly clean acoustic profile. The GMMK 3 PRO is equipped with GPBT double-shot Keycaps, designed for durability and clarity. These keycaps are built to last, resisting fade and shine over time, and allowing your RGB lighting to shine through brightly, adding a vibrant and clear touch to your setup. Elevate your gaming and typing experience with the GMMK 3 PRO, where every detail is designed to provide unparalleled customization and performance.
Customer Rating
5
A factory pro level keyboard ready to customize!
on September 21, 2024
Posted by: Bren
I am incredibly impressed with this keyboard. It feels so good to leave the expensive but often underfeatured mainstream gaming PC peripheral companies behind to try out a keyboard from a company trying to do things differently for the price. The marketing for this device says that Glorious makes the world’s most customizable gaming keyboards, and I am pretty inclined to endorse this claim judging from what I am seeing.
This keyboard is fully equipped for users to try things out and get the experience they want from this device. It comes equipped in this model with Glorious Fox red linear switches, and they are absolutely some of the nicest red switches I have ever tried. The accuracy, smoothness, and repeatability of these keys are astonishing and refreshing in standard typing and gaming scenarios with frenetic and rapid key tapping. As if it wasn’t enough to have the factory switches ready to go out of the box, Glorious includes a sample pack of switches for you to sample, complete with puller tools and instructions. I found that the included sample of the Raptor (crisp and clicky) switch felt really good and that may be where I go in the future with my keyboard. Customizability features such as RGB and macros programming are excellent in the Glorious Core software. They are easy to navigate and far more intuitive than other competing gaming peripheral software I have tried, like iCUE. Good on you, Glorious!
A cool and unique feature of this keyboard is the true support it offers for MacOS users. Rather than just being a plug-and-play keyboard that misses out on some of the shortcuts and features of a proper MacOS keyboard, Glorious gives you the means to make that a reality! They included two option keycaps and two command keycaps (crucial for those great shortcuts in productivity work), and there is even a switch built into the keyboard on the back that switches it from Windows OS features to MacOS! That is super awesome and supports that this as a highly flexible and dynamic keyboard for all users.
The build quality of this keyboard is amazing and judging from what I can tell, is on par with some of the higher-end customizable keyboards out there. The all metal construction results in this being a solid and heavy keyboard which speaks highly to its pro status. I chose this specific wired model because, as a streamer and a gamer, I have realized that wireless devices often introduce reliability and connectivity issues into the mix that can mess up a stream or my gaming performance. Furthermore, battery life anxiety is something I don't particularly appreciate having to tolerate for multiple devices. My headsets are always wireless, but I do not mind my keyboard and mouse being wired, plain and simple.
Altogether, relative to the crap household brand companies are trying to stuff down our throats as a good value when they aren’t in this price range, I am going to give this keyboard a solid and well-earned 5 stars out of 5. I will be recommending this keyboard to all of my friends. Thanks for reading and hope this review has helped you out!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Hercules Stream 100 is a an easy-to-use and effective audio controller that lets you stop worrying about audio settings during your livestreams, and react quickly. Thanks to this audio controller with a built-in LCD screen, you can manage all your audio sources in real time: games, chat software, music, USB microphone, and more. Hercules Stream 100 lets you individually view and control the sound level of each audio track directly onscreen. Instantly enable, turn down the volume, turn up the volume, mute or unmute the sound! More than an audio controller, Hercules Stream 100 is also a command center: you~ll love using the 4 handy assignable action buttons to customize your controls (multiple mute, URL launcher, scene change). Stop worrying about audio settings and focus on your viewers. See your sound..
Customer Rating
5
Better value than big-name competitors!
on September 6, 2024
Posted by: Bren
This stream deck and audio mixer is honestly one of the better accessories I have added to my streaming gear arsenal. It is highly versatile, customizable for my purposes, and comes in at an excellent price that is perfect for an aspiring streamer who doesn’t want to spend too much money out the gate on something they aren’t sure they need. It is due for some optimization in the firmware, but I am confident that will come with time.
This Hercules Stream 100 is perfect for non-XLR, USB mic users like me who need a simple, physical interface for controlling the mix of audio in their computer and the ability to have some handy quick launch buttons for things like specific websites or actions like “push to mute” for their microphone. This audio mixer is really simple to set up with just one single USB-C to USB-A cable included to plug into your computer. From there, you download the software from the Hercules website. I will fully admit that I am not a fully optimized streamer with my audio. I use a simple Wireless Headset/Mic combo, and I usually only have a few things running in my streams like my game, Spotify, and Discord for communication. Thus, when I saw how intuitive the Hercules Stream Control software was to drag and drop my different programs into custom control slots, I was absolutely thrilled! Being able to have control over my most important audio sources in a stream without having to individually control them via their separate software interfaces or other digital means is amazing. I can turn them up and down with ease on this mixer. Furthermore, I have my three most commonly used websites set for quick launch: My Twitch page, Twitch Stream Manager, and Nightbot. Each can now launch with just the press of a button on my second page of controls on this mixer.
There is a small area for improvement. I believe it is related to the current firmware iteration 1.40 at the time of this review. I am having issues with the device going to sleep with my Windows 11 equipped computer but not waking up and being able to be interacted with from time to time. I have to physically unplug the back of the device and then plug it back in for it to work. It's not a huge deal to me, but it’s definitely rather irritating.
Overall, I will give this mixer a 5 out of 5 stars. Any trouble I am having is purely software/firmware related and has nothing to do that I can tell with this excellently built and eminently handy audio mixer/streaming device. Thanks for reading and I hope this review has helped you out!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing a 27~ QHD IPS gaming monitors that checks all the boxes with impeccable visuals, lightning-quick speed and optimized ergonomics. The UltraGear is a compact 27-inch QHD IPS display, delivering crisp vivid visuals with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels that makes games look great from virtually any viewing angle. And with an ultra-fast 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms GtG (Gray-to-Gray) response time, every frame renders silky smooth, and offers virtually blur-free gameplay even in the most action-packed moments. The display shows off vivid color and contrast with HDR10 and up to 99% sRGB color gamut coverage. From vast gaming landscapes to intense battles, details are brought to life with astonishing clarity. And screen tearing and stuttering are virtually eliminated thanks to NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible~ and AMD FreeSync technologies, which synchronize the monitor's refresh rate with your graphics card, delivering tear-free, smooth gameplay. On your desktop, immerse yourself in the action with the 3-side virtually borderless design, which minimizes distractions from your field of view. And optimize the display to your specs with tilt, height, and pivot adjustable stand, allowing you to find the perfect viewing angle for maximum comfort. Whether you're gaming for hours on end or tackling productivity tasks, UltraGear ensures you stay comfortable and focused as you ascend your game.
Customer Rating
5
A great purchase for PC and Modern Console users!
on August 29, 2024
Posted by: Bren
I am super pleased with this gaming monitor. This monitor is what I would describe as “up to date” for what gamers should be looking for in this price range in terms of performance and connectivity options. First, the HDMI ports on this monitor are HDMI 2.1. This means that PS5 and Xbox Series X users can get the maximum 120FPS frame rate out of their consoles when hooked up to this monitor, if they game and graphic settings support that high of frames, of course. For PC gamers running newer GPUs, you can take advantage of the single display port on this monitor (wish there were two) or the HDMI 2.1 ports to connect up to your GPU and get buttery smooth frames as high as 180FPS thanks to the 180hz screen on this monitor. I ran this monitor off of a display port connection on my 4070 Super GPU and enjoyed high-refresh gaming at my favorite resolution of 1440p. I feel like 1440p gaming is still the sweet spot resolution-wise for gamers. It is not as demanding as 4K, nor as expensive a panel as a 4K monitor would have, but it still offers crisp images at this 27” inch size. Many professional gamers, esports players, and streamers prefer 24” to 27” monitors to this day for highest performance capability.
LG is always a go-to display device brand for me, from its TVs to its monitors. Many other companies use LG panels in their monitors, and there are good reasons for this.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Connect BRAVIA CAM for an even more dynamic viewing experience and enjoy video chat on the big screen along with Ambient Optimization Pro for great picture and sound wherever you are in the room. Compatible with select 2022 Sony TVs ~ Z9K, X95K, A95K, A90K, A80K, X90K, X85K, X80K, 2023 Sony TVs - A95L, A80L, X95L, X93L, X90L, select 2024 Sony TVs ~ BRAVIA 9, BRAVIA 8, BRAVIA 7
Customer Rating
3
An exciting but niche offering for Sony TV users
on July 17, 2024
Posted by: Bren
Unboxing: When I took it out of the box, it came with a USB C adapter, some paperwork and the camera itself in a eco-friendly box.
Setting it up was super easy, I plugged it in, and the Sony TV immediately brought up the message “Set up Bravia Cam.” I went through the process. It Was super easy, like 5 total clicks as I navigated through the set up.
The build quality of this camera is outstanding, which you would hope it would be given the premium price you are going to pay. The camera has a little slide on top to physically cover the camera lens, which is good for people who are privacy-minded when they are not using the TV.
Using the camera was a cool experience. It walks you through a tutorial how to turn off the tv with your hand and media controls/volumes. The clarity on the webcam is pretty good, but it definitely has a premium tax since it is Sony.; it is not top-of-the-line quality in the world of webcams but good enough for its purpose. When you get more than 5 feet away, it will really struggle to track your hand gestures, so it is best used in a small viewing area unless you get up to go in front of the TV to do it, but at that point, using your remote makes a whole lot more sense.
Features as of July 16, when this camera was initially reviewed: Hand Gesture: Hand gestures let you control media play by showing your palm, and it brings a little UI pop up where to move your hand, to power off the TV show palm, and then close hand. The second feature is keep distance; in case you have like a kid or something, it will give a little pop-up on the bottom saying keep distance if you continue to ignore it, it covers your screen, saying once again Keep distance, and then will talk to you saying it, and your screen eventually goes black. This is great if you have any wild toddlers around who may threaten to walk the TV with their Tonka truck, hah! The third feature is Eco Save Sensing, which uses the camera to see if there is any movement or anybody in the area to keep the TV on, if not at a set time you choose, it will dim the TV after an amount of time and turn off sooner if no one is around.
Overall, I would give this camera a 3/5 for most average users and a 4/5 for Sony fans, since this does fit seamlessly into the Sony TV ecosystem experience and offers some cool tricks and features that, if nothing else, serve as great parlor tricks to show you friends when they come over for movie night. Thanks for reading this review and I hope it has helped with you purchase decision!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Only at Best BuyPlay your way to the top with this HP OMEN notebook. The Intel Core i7 processor provides lightning-fast response times, and the 1TB hard drive is enough for all your favorite games and apps with room to spare for music and video files. This HP OMEN notebook has a full-size backlit keyboard for fast, easy typing.
What is the RPM of the 1 terabyte hard drive?
7200rpm, much better than the 5400rpm hard drive found in my $1600.00 MSI Stealth Pro :(
9 years, 6 months ago
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Bren