Share Sixshot's profile
Sixshot
Sixshot's stats
- Review count69
- Helpfulness votes341
- First reviewSeptember 18, 2007
- Last reviewOctober 24, 2023
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count9
- Helpfulness votes17
- First answerNovember 22, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 25, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Enhance your multimedia experience with this 15.6-inch Dell G7 gaming laptop. Its VR-ready NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics board provides seamless, stunning images on the Full HD display, and its hexa-core Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM handle extended multitasking. Run applications efficiently with the 256B solid-state drive of this Dell G7 gaming laptop.
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
Dell has been in the PC market for years. And they tend to make good quality desktop and laptop PCs without needing to be overly flashy. I guess that makes them more suitable to people who prefer the utilitarian style. But because Dell has been in the PC market for so long, it’s difficult to figure out what exact type and model you’re getting.
The model being reviewed here is a G7 Series 15 7588. It features an Intel Core i7 8750H processor that has 6 cores capable of 12 threads of execution. In layman terms, it means it can do more without bogging down your system. It has 8GB of RAM which should allow you to run several softwares at once. However, when it comes to gaming, more is usually better. 8GB is enough for most games today. Going forward, that may change. The 8GB of RAM is rated at DDR4 2666 or PC4 21300 and is preinstalled in 2x4GB. Upgrading the memory will mean purchasing a new set (in a pair) rather than a single. For storage, a 256GB SSD is installed using a M.2 interface. Dell’s support documentation list procedures for both M.2 and SATA drives but confusingly labels the 2.5” drive as hard drive and the M.2 as “Solid State Drive.” (Note: SSD can come in either 2.5” drive form factor using SATA interface or M.2 form factor.)
The laptop features a 15.6 inch display with a 1920x1080 resolution on a IPS panel. That display is powered by both Intel’s integrated graphics and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1060 “Max-Q” GPU. There is a dedicated 6GB of video memory which will allow the GPU to perform better without relying on system memory and its limited bandwidth. The performance review of the 1060 GPU will come shortly.
On the audio side, it is powered by RealTek and has stereo speakers on the front side of the laptop. However, the laptop design itself is angled so the speakers are aimed downwards. Unfortunately, the speakers aren’t all that good and doesn’t have good range on them. They’re more on the high side and the bass/lows are very lacking. (Tested using a few Beatles songs and Luv(sic) Part 2 by Nujabes) The only way to potentially get a better audio experience will be to use your own headphones, either through Bluetooth or the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Moving on, the keyboard is backlit and dims after a period of inactivity. The A, S, D, W keys have additional backlit design to let users easily find these movement keys. There is a number pad to the right. But given that this is supposed to be a gaming laptop, I wonder if this is a good design decision to include it. I suppose some MOBA players can use these for shortcuts. On the top of the keyboards are your usual function keys as well as special keys. By default, the special keys are enabled by default. To use the F1 through F12, one has to press and hold down the “Fn” key first. I’m fairly certain this behavior can be changed within the laptop’s BIOS/firmware.
On the connectivity front, there is a Gigabit Ethernet port, 3 USB 3.x ports, a USB3 Type-C port with Thunderbolt, a HDMI port, and a SD Card reader. Unfortunately, I do not have any Thunderbolt devices to plug into the Type-C port to test its capability. But it is comforting to know that one can plug one to the laptop for a variety of things. The Gigabit Ethernet port worked as expected and I was able to transfer about 36GB of data from my desktop over to the laptop. The bandwidth was saturated close to its maximum speed and made transferring the entire Guild Wars 2 data file very fast. The laptop’s wireless capability is powered by Intel Wireless AC-9560, which can handle 802.11ac standards. According to the product documents on Intel’s website, it also can handle Bluetooth 5.0. For wireless networking, observed speeds topped off at around 100mbit/s.
The laptop comes preinstalled with Windows 10 Home edition. This is the lowest full edition Windows 10 one can get. But at the same time, it’s a bit disappointing. While the feature differences between Home and Pro is fairly small, one feature that could be a plus for gamers is being able to defer and delay Windows Update through Group Policy. Group Policy editing is not included in WIndows 10 Home which could have helped in managing some of the other minor annoyances in Windows 10. As expected of any laptops and pre-made desktops, it comes with some additional software preinstalled. McAfee Security is also preinstalled but I have personally opted to not set it up or removed it entirely. The very thought of needing to pay after the free subscription expires bothers me.
On the gaming department, I ran around in Guild Wars 2 on battery power. With that alone powering the GPU, it barely handles 30fps in crowded areas. Unfortunately, Guild Wars 2 is one of those games where you won’t get better framerate with a faster video card. Instead, it’s heavily reliant on how fast your processor is. Other games tested within the limited time I’ve spent with the laptop are “Ikaruga,” “Mark of the Ninja,” and “Dust: An Elysian Tail.” All of them performed great as expected due to the abundance of processing power of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060.
In terms of battery life, the laptop can get by on normal operations for 4-5 hours. In gaming, and depending on the game itself, that will knock it down even further. On the other hand, if you’re going to be gaming, your best bet is to simply plug the laptop to the AC. On battery, I was able to run Guild Wars 2 for about 30-45 minutes, plus around 30 minutes of Dust: An Elysian Tail, and a little of Mark of the Ninja and Ikaruga. This is all before the battery level got down to around 21-22%.
There are negative aspects to this gaming laptop. The built-in speakers leaves a lot to be desired. Because of this, you may end up using headphones for better audio listening. The use of Windows 10 Home instead of Windows 10 Pro restricts the user’s ability to fine tune how Windows operates, especially in the update department. And then there’s the fan. With a powerhouse graphics processor like the 1060, heat is going to be a constant issue. And to cool this GPU down, fans are necessary. There are times when it can get audibly loud. This comes as no surprise for a laptop geared for gaming.
Overall, this is a pretty decent gaming laptop. Granted, I do not have the latest games to push the limit of the laptop. But I am certain it can run most games at decent level. On the other hand, if top performance is what you need, then a laptop should not be the option to take. This is a mid-range gaming laptop. Also consider that this is more of a portable gaming PC than a laptop. At over 5lbs, this is probably better suited at LAN parties instead of sitting at a Starbucks.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+24points
26of 28voted this as helpful.
Ensure maximum comfort from this Logitech mouse. The precise ergonomic design ensures you stay comfortable throughout the day even if you're a power user, and the additional side button lets you create a custom setup. Smooth gliding is assured from this Logitech mouse thanks to the low-resistance base that slips over any surface.
Customer Rating
4
Good For Some, Not For Others
on July 2, 2017
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
There isn’t much to review when it comes to mice. It’s a pointing device and there’s only so much you can do with it.
The MX Master 2S is the follow-up to the original MX Master. As far designs go, there’s nothing visually different. In fact, I daresay it’s identical. The only differences between the two are the accent colors. The original MX Master has a gold accent on the black color model. The 2S now has a silver accent. Internally, and according to Logitech themselves, there’s a better tracking sensor that’s capable of up to 2000dpi, up from 1600dpi of the original. It’s also supposed to have longer battery times -- 70 days of operating time for the 2S and 40 days in the original.
Connecting the mouse to any device is simple enough. The 2S and its original are capable of connecting using Logitech’s wireless dongle or through Bluetooth, should your device have this feature.
If you’re using the mouse for what it is, then using the Logitech “Options” software is unnecessary. Installing it only allows you to remap buttons to different functions and to customize the mouse performance according to your preference.
Having used the mouse in different scenarios, there are some pros and cons. On the plus side, I find its ability to dual connect via Logitech’s wireless receiver and Bluetooth to be convenient. The receiver is good for when you have a standard fare computer with a USB port. But some computers, ultra-portable ones especially, are now lacking this now. So being able to connect to a device that doesn’t have a USB port via Bluetooth makes the mouse more versatile than your typical/average wireless mouse. It also can connect to up to 3 different devices and switch to any of them. This is done by pressing the profile button located on the bottom of the mouse. The thumb wheel functions like a side scroller but only when the Option software is installed. Lastly, the mouse wheel has two scrolling modes -- smooth and clicky. Standard mouse wheels are the clicky type. But when you need to scroll through a long list, a smooth scroller can be a lifesaver, allowing you to scroll effortlessly through several pages instead of crawling.
The downside to this mouse is perhaps the gesture button. By itself, it works as an easy shortcut to all opened windows. And this is okay. But any multi-button mouse can do this same function with some playing around. The gesture button requires you to press on the button and moving the mouse in one of four directions (up, down, left, right). I personally find this to be too much trouble to do. Another bad side to this mouse is how it is unfit for gaming. On the gaming side, your mileage will vary. Some games will do just fine with the mouse. But you may find using this mouse with some other games to be lacking.
Overall, the mouse is excellent when used in a computing environment (ie. office apps). I especially like the mouse being able to connect either through Bluetooth or the receiver. My only concern is the asking price. While I do end up recommending it, I suggest getting it when it’s not at MSRP.
The MX Master 2S is the follow-up to the original MX Master. As far designs go, there’s nothing visually different. In fact, I daresay it’s identical. The only differences between the two are the accent colors. The original MX Master has a gold accent on the black color model. The 2S now has a silver accent. Internally, and according to Logitech themselves, there’s a better tracking sensor that’s capable of up to 2000dpi, up from 1600dpi of the original. It’s also supposed to have longer battery times -- 70 days of operating time for the 2S and 40 days in the original.
Connecting the mouse to any device is simple enough. The 2S and its original are capable of connecting using Logitech’s wireless dongle or through Bluetooth, should your device have this feature.
If you’re using the mouse for what it is, then using the Logitech “Options” software is unnecessary. Installing it only allows you to remap buttons to different functions and to customize the mouse performance according to your preference.
Having used the mouse in different scenarios, there are some pros and cons. On the plus side, I find its ability to dual connect via Logitech’s wireless receiver and Bluetooth to be convenient. The receiver is good for when you have a standard fare computer with a USB port. But some computers, ultra-portable ones especially, are now lacking this now. So being able to connect to a device that doesn’t have a USB port via Bluetooth makes the mouse more versatile than your typical/average wireless mouse. It also can connect to up to 3 different devices and switch to any of them. This is done by pressing the profile button located on the bottom of the mouse. The thumb wheel functions like a side scroller but only when the Option software is installed. Lastly, the mouse wheel has two scrolling modes -- smooth and clicky. Standard mouse wheels are the clicky type. But when you need to scroll through a long list, a smooth scroller can be a lifesaver, allowing you to scroll effortlessly through several pages instead of crawling.
The downside to this mouse is perhaps the gesture button. By itself, it works as an easy shortcut to all opened windows. And this is okay. But any multi-button mouse can do this same function with some playing around. The gesture button requires you to press on the button and moving the mouse in one of four directions (up, down, left, right). I personally find this to be too much trouble to do. Another bad side to this mouse is how it is unfit for gaming. On the gaming side, your mileage will vary. Some games will do just fine with the mouse. But you may find using this mouse with some other games to be lacking.
Overall, the mouse is excellent when used in a computing environment (ie. office apps). I especially like the mouse being able to connect either through Bluetooth or the receiver. My only concern is the asking price. While I do end up recommending it, I suggest getting it when it’s not at MSRP.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyCreating stunning presentations on this HP Spectre laptop. It has an Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM to power the latest Windows 10 applications, and its kickstand provides a stable surface, so you can draw or write with precision. The 360GB solid-state drive on this HP Spectre laptop enables quick startup.
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
The HP Spectre line of product is HP’s bid into the premium market. My first look into the Spectre came when they announced the Spectre laptop that had a very stylish and premium design. The unfortunate drawback to that is the high asking price for the laptop. Having now the opportunity to test and try out the Spectre X2, an update to the previous year’s X2, I now get to see how this device performs and feel when handled.
This year’s X2, model 12c012dx, features an updated Intel CPU. It’s a i7 7560U clocked in at 2.4GHz. There’s 8GB of RAM but part of it is allocated for Intel’s Iris GPU. For space, there’s 360GB of SSD capacity using M.2 interface. While this doesn’t allow much in terms of file storage, this can be offset using Microsoft’s OneDrive. However, free OneDrive users are limited to 5GB when signing up. This pales in comparison to the space you get when using Google’s Drive cloud storage. And other than the popular Dropbox, there are probably other cloud storage services that offer more space for free users.
The X2 is designed overall to be more like a tablet than a laptop. However, HP includes a detachable keyboard that’s designed akin to the Microsoft Surface tablet. There is also a pen stylus that integrates well with Windows Ink. The stylus requires a single AAA battery so this is something to keep in mind when using this device. It has a microSD card slot accessible with a pin to eject the tray. But this appear to be only used to access media stored on the SD card rather than used as an expandable storage. There’s a Windows Hello compatible front facing camera along with a rear facing camera for quick picture taking. And lastly, there’s stereo front-facing speakers (in landscape orientation) and a 3.5mm headphone jacks for audio output.
Setting up Windows 10 Home on the X2 is a breeze. It comes preinstalled with the Creators Update and its voice assistant, Cortana, helped guide me through the setup process. It was a surprise experience coming from a longtime keyboard and mouse user. But that doesn’t stop me from using the detachable keyboard to type in my password whenever I log in. While on that topic, using Windows Hello’s facial recognition is a new experience. Setup was simple and recognition is instantaneous. I believe that more Windows 10 devices should come with a Hello compatible front-facing camera in order to make the login process more seamless.
When using the X2 with the keyboard, it becomes just like a laptop. Yet at the same time, it doesn’t have the laptop feel. This is likely due to how the keyboard is also a cover and thus doesn’t have the sturdy feel that traditional laptops have. This isn’t a negative point but it does takes some time to get used to this different feel. The trackpad has no obvious mouse button but the button orientation is standard -- bottom left and bottom right for left mouse button and right mouse button respectively. The function row keys are set to special functions by default (ie. screen brightness, mute, volume control, media playback). And for those who like typing in the dark or in poorly lit rooms, the keyboard comes with backlighting. But beware of using this for long, as it’ll obviously eat away battery life.
The tablet slab has a 3000x2000 screen resolution, which looks quite amazing for a 12.3 inch display. Physically, it feels compact enough to be carried around with ease. However, on the flip side, it also weighs over 2.5lbs, much heavier than an Apple 12.9 inch iPad Pro. I personally feel weight is not much of an issue or factor when it comes to portable devices, as performance and battery life should be the top factors when shopping, with specs coming in behind.
As for specs, the device feels snappy thanks to the M.2 SSD and Intel’s i7 CPU. I could only wish I had more time to play with the X2 so I can find some heavy software to push the CPU. Its (slightly less) 8GB memory will make multi-tasking and switching between software responsive and fast. Wireless networking performance is as good as it gets, allowing me to download the Guild Wars 2 client and data and fully saturating the download bandwidth to the maximum allowed by my ISP (25mbit/s down, 15mbit/s up). Reviewing the Bluetooth side is a bit tricky, as I pushed myself into buying a Logitech MX Master mouse. Connecting took a couple of minutes but only due to how Logitech didn’t come with any setup guide on its ability to connect using two methods (Bluetooth or via Logitech’s wireless dongle). But once connected, using the BT mouse makes using Windows a little easier than trying to manipulate the mouse via trackpad.
On the software side, and like any manufacturer branded devices, the X2 comes preloaded with HP’s own suite of software, a couple of which I do not mind such as warranty status/registration. But Windows itself comes loaded with several unnecessities pinned to the Start Menu, all of which can be unpinned while some are just there for no reason at all. It also comes with McAfee, which I immediately uninstall due to its subscription requirement. There are other antivirus software that can do the same or better but without the subscription fee requirement.
As for the little things that makes this laptop/tablet very nice to use, there’s a kickstand that allows the tablet to stand up with or without the keyboard. The kickstand can be oriented for a wide range of angles, thus allowing you to use the X2 in many viewing scenarios. But the kickstand can only be used in landscape mode. There is, unfortunately, no other angle when in portrait mode. Charging the X2 is easy and simple, as it uses USB Type-C. There are two ports, one per side in landscape, and either side can be used for charging. Using Type-C makes charging faster. It took about maybe an hour to go from 20-30% left in battery to 98%. From there, I was able to get a good 2+ hours before it is down to 30% with very heavy usage. That ranges from video playback, music playback, typing this review up using Chrome, installing Ilomilo from Windows Store, and (still) downloading Guild Wars 2 data from the server.
Overall, I am liking the X2. The premium build and feel makes using it all the more better. The inclusion of a pen stylus in addition to the touchscreen only adds to the versatile value. The detachable keyboard is a good idea for how this device is designed. With a starting base price of $999, it’s $200 higher than the baseline Microsoft Surface Pro. However, with Microsoft’s current offering, and to come close to matching what the X2 offers, you’re looking at $1599 or $2199. And the Surface Pro is currently one CPU generation behind. The X2 is about as close to getting a Surface Pro without paying the high price of it.
(post-draft addition) After finally getting the game data downloaded for Guild Wars 2, I did a quick run to check for performance quality. At 3000x2000 resolution, the game is able to run but all settings and details needed to be dialed down to the absolute minimal. I have not yet tested its performance using windowed mode and sized as close to 1920x1080. But framerate hovers around 20fps in sub-sample rendering (as opposed to native rendering which would have crippled the rendering performance). Needless to say, it’s not the best performing GPU but it’ll handle light 3D games without a problem.
This year’s X2, model 12c012dx, features an updated Intel CPU. It’s a i7 7560U clocked in at 2.4GHz. There’s 8GB of RAM but part of it is allocated for Intel’s Iris GPU. For space, there’s 360GB of SSD capacity using M.2 interface. While this doesn’t allow much in terms of file storage, this can be offset using Microsoft’s OneDrive. However, free OneDrive users are limited to 5GB when signing up. This pales in comparison to the space you get when using Google’s Drive cloud storage. And other than the popular Dropbox, there are probably other cloud storage services that offer more space for free users.
The X2 is designed overall to be more like a tablet than a laptop. However, HP includes a detachable keyboard that’s designed akin to the Microsoft Surface tablet. There is also a pen stylus that integrates well with Windows Ink. The stylus requires a single AAA battery so this is something to keep in mind when using this device. It has a microSD card slot accessible with a pin to eject the tray. But this appear to be only used to access media stored on the SD card rather than used as an expandable storage. There’s a Windows Hello compatible front facing camera along with a rear facing camera for quick picture taking. And lastly, there’s stereo front-facing speakers (in landscape orientation) and a 3.5mm headphone jacks for audio output.
Setting up Windows 10 Home on the X2 is a breeze. It comes preinstalled with the Creators Update and its voice assistant, Cortana, helped guide me through the setup process. It was a surprise experience coming from a longtime keyboard and mouse user. But that doesn’t stop me from using the detachable keyboard to type in my password whenever I log in. While on that topic, using Windows Hello’s facial recognition is a new experience. Setup was simple and recognition is instantaneous. I believe that more Windows 10 devices should come with a Hello compatible front-facing camera in order to make the login process more seamless.
When using the X2 with the keyboard, it becomes just like a laptop. Yet at the same time, it doesn’t have the laptop feel. This is likely due to how the keyboard is also a cover and thus doesn’t have the sturdy feel that traditional laptops have. This isn’t a negative point but it does takes some time to get used to this different feel. The trackpad has no obvious mouse button but the button orientation is standard -- bottom left and bottom right for left mouse button and right mouse button respectively. The function row keys are set to special functions by default (ie. screen brightness, mute, volume control, media playback). And for those who like typing in the dark or in poorly lit rooms, the keyboard comes with backlighting. But beware of using this for long, as it’ll obviously eat away battery life.
The tablet slab has a 3000x2000 screen resolution, which looks quite amazing for a 12.3 inch display. Physically, it feels compact enough to be carried around with ease. However, on the flip side, it also weighs over 2.5lbs, much heavier than an Apple 12.9 inch iPad Pro. I personally feel weight is not much of an issue or factor when it comes to portable devices, as performance and battery life should be the top factors when shopping, with specs coming in behind.
As for specs, the device feels snappy thanks to the M.2 SSD and Intel’s i7 CPU. I could only wish I had more time to play with the X2 so I can find some heavy software to push the CPU. Its (slightly less) 8GB memory will make multi-tasking and switching between software responsive and fast. Wireless networking performance is as good as it gets, allowing me to download the Guild Wars 2 client and data and fully saturating the download bandwidth to the maximum allowed by my ISP (25mbit/s down, 15mbit/s up). Reviewing the Bluetooth side is a bit tricky, as I pushed myself into buying a Logitech MX Master mouse. Connecting took a couple of minutes but only due to how Logitech didn’t come with any setup guide on its ability to connect using two methods (Bluetooth or via Logitech’s wireless dongle). But once connected, using the BT mouse makes using Windows a little easier than trying to manipulate the mouse via trackpad.
On the software side, and like any manufacturer branded devices, the X2 comes preloaded with HP’s own suite of software, a couple of which I do not mind such as warranty status/registration. But Windows itself comes loaded with several unnecessities pinned to the Start Menu, all of which can be unpinned while some are just there for no reason at all. It also comes with McAfee, which I immediately uninstall due to its subscription requirement. There are other antivirus software that can do the same or better but without the subscription fee requirement.
As for the little things that makes this laptop/tablet very nice to use, there’s a kickstand that allows the tablet to stand up with or without the keyboard. The kickstand can be oriented for a wide range of angles, thus allowing you to use the X2 in many viewing scenarios. But the kickstand can only be used in landscape mode. There is, unfortunately, no other angle when in portrait mode. Charging the X2 is easy and simple, as it uses USB Type-C. There are two ports, one per side in landscape, and either side can be used for charging. Using Type-C makes charging faster. It took about maybe an hour to go from 20-30% left in battery to 98%. From there, I was able to get a good 2+ hours before it is down to 30% with very heavy usage. That ranges from video playback, music playback, typing this review up using Chrome, installing Ilomilo from Windows Store, and (still) downloading Guild Wars 2 data from the server.
Overall, I am liking the X2. The premium build and feel makes using it all the more better. The inclusion of a pen stylus in addition to the touchscreen only adds to the versatile value. The detachable keyboard is a good idea for how this device is designed. With a starting base price of $999, it’s $200 higher than the baseline Microsoft Surface Pro. However, with Microsoft’s current offering, and to come close to matching what the X2 offers, you’re looking at $1599 or $2199. And the Surface Pro is currently one CPU generation behind. The X2 is about as close to getting a Surface Pro without paying the high price of it.
(post-draft addition) After finally getting the game data downloaded for Guild Wars 2, I did a quick run to check for performance quality. At 3000x2000 resolution, the game is able to run but all settings and details needed to be dialed down to the absolute minimal. I have not yet tested its performance using windowed mode and sized as close to 1920x1080. But framerate hovers around 20fps in sub-sample rendering (as opposed to native rendering which would have crippled the rendering performance). Needless to say, it’s not the best performing GPU but it’ll handle light 3D games without a problem.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+18points
26of 34voted this as helpful.
Only at Best BuyJot notes down on paper or on your touch-screen device with these Insignia™ NS-MST32M styluses, which feature touch-compatible tips and function as writing pens for versatile use. Stainless-steel material delivers durability.
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
Not a fan of having to buy a 3-pack just to be more cost effective vs buying 1. But at the same time, it'll give me extra to use as spares should one break or is lost. Also wish that there were demo units on hand so I get a feel for whether or not the stylus would work.
Used this on my Pixel XL and Nexus 6 and both worked well. I intended to use this for the cold season when I am wearing gloves. So far, the stylus worked well. The tip is soft and bubbly, which is nice. I don't know how long it'll last but I'm satisfied with how it works for the time being. Both devices I've tested on had screen protector film so it's nice to know that it works through that.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Increase your gaming capabilities with the PS4 DUALSHOCK4 USB wireless adapter, and play your favorite PlayStation4 games on your PC or Mac. Made to work with Windows PlayStation Now and PS4 RemotePlay for Windows and Mac, this adapter lets you enjoy your favorite streaming games. Simply connect the PS4 DUALSHOCK4 USB wireless adapter to the USB port on your computer.
Posted by: Sixshot
Verified Purchase:Yes
The good thing about having this is not dealing with the USB cable running from the computer to the controller. But other than that, there's almost no other use for this adapter. Setup was fairly easy but not intuitive. And the adapter makes for a very dangerous item to have connected on a laptop, which can snap off easily if you're not careful.
The biggest drawback, which sadly outweighs the good, is not being able to use the DualShock 4 controller with anything else. Thus far, we're limited to using the controller on Remote Play and PS Now. There is no driver support and thus it is not recognized in other Windows software, even games. This is very limiting and very disappointing as this adapter could have done more than simply cut the USB cord for play. Sadly I cannot recommend this item even if you were to give it away for free. There's just no use for this.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Take your gaming to the next level with the exclusive content and exciting downloads of PlayStation Plus. This subscription card puts 12 months' worth of full-game trials, exclusive offers, free games, early demos and betas and much more right at your fingertips — and right through your PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PS Vita — for the incredible gaming experience you've always wanted.Get ready to enjoy an array of thrilling features that are available exclusively to PlayStation Plus members. Access exciting new titles each month that are added to the Instant Game Collection. Save up to 3GB of your gaming data with the online game save storage, save time with automatic game updates and enjoy early access to select betas and game demos. Get ready for premium features, thrilling games and amazing discounts as a PlayStation Plus member.
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
NOTE: This is a Playstation Plus subscription card. It is NOT a currency card, no matter what anyone else says.
Now that PS Plus subs are $60 per year, it makes sense to seek out deals that sells these sub cards for 50 or less. However, beware that Best Buy is very stingy when it comes to which sub card it promotes. They'll promote this particular SKU/item when others, which works EXACTLY THE SAME WAY, are not part of their promotional offer. You may have to bug a BB staffer to find it since it may be kept elsewhere that isn't visibly seen.
As for whether this item is good, it is if you want to play multiplayer and want the free monthly games that Sony pushes out. But other than that, there isn't a lot to make it worth the money spent. I recommend it only because there are times when their monthly free games happens to be a good one.... That is, when it's actually good for once.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Get two of the most acclaimed superhero games in one bundle in Batman: Return to Arkham. Remastered and restored for the PS4, the bundle has Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City along with all previously released content. In Batman: Return to Arkham, the people who wear their underwear on the outside are always the villains.
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
Even after several years (or just over 7 years) after its release, this game is still fun to play like before. Having played the original Arkham Asylum on the PC via 360 controller, going through the game again is still just as fun as it was before. The new visuals are interesting and the controls feel solid. This is the Batman game worth getting and playing, simply because the game held up well despite its age. All the DLCs that were released on Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are bundled with their respective games, thus making this the most complete Batman game.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Bring the power of Google directly to your fingertips with the Google Pixel. A large 32GB of storage keep data secure, while unlimited cloud storage transfers data as needed, and it's completely automatic. The large 5-inch screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 to ensure the Google Pixel remains scratch-free.
Customer Rating
5
Best Android Phone Yet
on October 22, 2016
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
(due to Best Buy complaining that my review is too long, I have to revise a lot of what’s on the original draft)
Original Review Draft: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13I_bewxTRSSZlst0NCWjG2uTsjRdEapUNmTp6hjaXUU/edit?usp=sharing
Let’s get this out of the way. This isn’t Google’s first time in the hardware business. And this isn’t their first phone either. The niche market Nexus brand is part Google and part manufacturer. In last year’s case, that was LG for the Nexus 5X and Huawei for the Nexus 6P. But if you really want to get technical or into specifics, then this is the first Google-branded phone.
I’ll start with the biggest barrier entry -- price. This isn’t cheap. Its price point is meant to take on the giants -- Apple and Samsung. Whether or not the high price point is justified depends on how you look at it. With a baseline starting price at $649 for 32GB storage capacity, it’ll definitely tear a “galaxy” sized hole in your wallet. I personally believe that a starting price at $500 would fit better for this phone. But again, this depends on how you view it.
Everything here will be compared to my 2 year old Motorola Nexus 6. Immediately, the first thing that gets me is the physical size of it. The Pixel is a 5 inch screen model so having it in my hands feels strange. But the feel of the phone in my hand makes for a nice comfortable grip. The small profile makes for easy reach from one edge of the screen to the other. Those who prefer being able to do things on one hand will find that this is the ideal size. On the other hand, those who prefer larger sized phones will find the Pixel too small. I like the feel of the edges on the Pixel, as it makes it easy to grip, unlike certain other phones.
The 5 inch screen is 1080x1920 using AMOLED. Colors look great but I cannot test it under sunlight due to weather. The sound is okay but is a big downgrade from the front facing speakers found in the Motorola Nexus 6 and the Huawei Nexus 6P. There’s only 1 media speaker and it’s located on the bottom edge on the left side (when holding it vertically). As to why Google designed it this way, I do not know.
Using the fingerprint reader is wonderful. I do not know why I did not pick up the Nexus 6P last year. But perhaps skipping that year was a good thing, for reasons that will be mentioned later on. The reader is quick and setting up is straightforward. If you opt in to use it on setup, it’ll ask you to use a finger to train it. Afterwards, you can add in more fingerprints (obviously, for your other hand). Unlocking the phone via fingerprint is quick and easy. Security is two layers, however. But it only applies upon the phone’s startup. The second (un)locking layer is through either a pattern, a PIN, or a password.
Hardware performance is fast. It is obviously faster than my two year old Nexus 6. But reading/writing to the internal storage should be faster than most other phones out there. The tech-savvy will recognize when I say that the storage interface is UFS 2.0 rather than the old eMMC. 3D rendering should also be fast (and possibly faster than Pixel XL) as it only have to render 1080p. 4GB of RAM makes for a smooth transition between apps and should be plenty for apps that uses a lot of memory.
Wi-Fi performance seems pretty good. But most of this is conjecture and subjective, as there are a lot of variables involved. I used “Adventures of Mana” to download and install to test this and the download process took a few minutes to complete, give or take a minute.
Using the launcher is a new experience. I’ve used Google Now Launcher for a long time but using the Pixel Launcher throws me off at times. The center button that used to call up the app drawer is now replaced by an app shortcut. So there are numerous occasions where I’d accidentally launch Gmail (the default app placed there) when I wanted to bring up the app drawer. The new Google Assistant is also new. It’s more natural and I’m really liking how it’s executed. The special keyphrase “Good morning” will give you a summary for the day, including weather, news, and any calendar agendas. These can be customized to suit your needs.
The camera is a major improvement from the Motorola Nexus 6. But technically there’s little difference betwen the Pixel and the Huawei Nexus 6P. Gone is the optical image stabilization, which may seem like a downgrade. But after testing the software-based video stabilization, I was really surprised in how smooth the test video turned out.
Exclusive to the Pixel and Pixel XL is unlimited photo and video storage. This is one of the big selling points, aside from the camera, and truly complements the fantastic camera that the Pixel is equipped with. Personally with this kind of perk, and with the camera, it’ll definitely push me to taking more photos. The selfie camera is also improved, providing a good 8MP sensor that should be able to get your good/sexy side.
Little was done to test on how well Pixel performed on Verizon’s network. But I did manage to test their “HD Calling” (aka VoLTE to the rest of the world). Call quality is definitely better, even though the difference is small. But it comes with drawbacks. Should your signal drop below LTE, it’ll drop your call. Another is that not a lot of smartphone comes with this ability. And it’s safe to assume that classic flip phones may not be capable of this too.
Overall, I like the Pixel phone. It’s fast. The experience is buttery smooth and snappy. It’s a great upgrade if you have a smartphone at least 2 years old. On the plus side, you’ll be getting the latest update from Google well before anyone would get theirs. Although you’re guaranteed 2 years of major Android upgrades, I question whether or not Google will change their stand for the Pixel. At least security updates will still roll out for a while. The camera is finally awesome and the unlimited photo/video storage perk that is exclusive to Pixel and Pixel XL owners is a major bonus.
Do I recommend this? I lean towards a yes, rather than an overwhelming yes. It’s the purest Android experience as designed and envisioned by Google. If the Pixel was $500 or $550 for the baseline model, then I would have recommended it in a heartbeat. But that’s the price set forth by Google. If and when I finally make my switch more permanent to the Pixel, I know I will be enjoying it more and more.
Pixel Camera Sample Archive: https://goo.gl/photos/a97VqGiHhRM1nj6T9
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
![The Jungle Book [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2016]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5094/5094600_sa.jpg)
Posted by: Sixshot
from Melrose, MA
Having remembered the animated Jungle Book, I was a bit skeptic on this version. But the movie did not disappoint. The sound and visuals are all fantastic as you would expect of CG these days. The story starts off quite well and it hits home when you see how it turns out. It's strange to hear/listen to the classic "Bear Necessity" in a live-action film but perhaps this is an element of film that we haven't seen in so long. This is a great movie to watch with the kids. Definitely a good buy.
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Browse the internet or play your favorite apps on this Acer tablet. It runs on an Android operating system and is powered by a quad-core 64-bit processor for full functionality. Google Mobile Services and Microsoft Office Suite are preloaded on this Acer tablet for out-of-the-box work or play capabilities, and DTS-HD Premium Sound lets you enjoy videos.
Customer Rating
3
Budget Build, Budget Price
on October 6, 2016
Posted by: Sixshot
Out of the box, the tablet feels like a high-tech piece of plastic. But that’s a given since it’s a budget oriented tablet. For those needing a no-frills kind of tablet, this Iconia One can fit the bill.
Setup is dead simple if you’ve used Android devices before. You go through the setup of wireless network connection, Google account login (or creation, if this is your first), and on the final step, it prompts you if you want to create an Acer account. I skipped this as I prefer a more pure Android experience. Granted, this won’t let me check on how Acer’s account fits into their ecosystem. But virtually everything can be done using any of the apps from the Google Play store.
The tablet ships with Android 6.0 “Marshmallow” out of the box. This is nice since Android 7.0 is still fairly new and probably won’t be found pre-installed on Android devices for another 3-6 months. Viewing the settings, Acer did not put any emphasis on creating their own system skin, which is good, as it stays more true to the original designs of Android 6.0. There are additional elements that are specific to this tablet. But overall, this is quite close to stock Android.
The display resolution is a mixed bag. At 1200x800, this is as barebone as it can get. You’ll be able to view 720p video content easily. But a 10” tablet should come with 1080p display. This is personal preference, but not a deal breaker.
The tablet comes with front facing speakers, a design that falls upon the category of a dying breed. With front facing speakers, you can really bring out the best in audio, if paired with speakers to complement it. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Using “Purple Rain” by Prince (bless his soul) as an audio test, and comparing it to my Motorola Nexus 6 phone (also with dual front facing speakers), the speakers on the Iconia One falls on the high frequency tinny side. Drums were not pronounced nor heard much when compared to my phone. No equalizer were used when testing, in order to check how well stock settings fare. This was further confirmed when I changed tune to “Party Hard” by Andrew W.K., in which the melody has a lot more drum beats. Like “Purple Rain,” the sound was tinny and on the high frequency side. So while dual front facing speakers should make for a better audio experience, it is not the case if the speakers used isn’t high quality.
But while the front facing speakers turn out to be well under par, I plugged in my ear buds to listen in to any potential difference. The earbuds used were Audio Technica brand but I’ve long since forgotten what model it was (sorry). The Iconia One sounds a lot better when listening using earbuds or headphones. However, I plugged my earbuds onto my Nexus 6 for comparison and there is some difference. The Nexus 6 produces a more deeper low frequency whereas the Iconia One sounded quite average. Whether or not an equalizer setting can help with that remains to be seen, as everyone has different listening and hearing preferences.
On the performance side, the Iconia One seems to do okay for a simple and basic tablet. For doing one task at a time, this is fine for anyone. As a quick test, I loaded up several websites in Chrome across several tabs -- ESPN, Ars Technica, CNN, and a Pokemon Go fansite. After letting the sites fully load itself into memory, viewing any tab seems good. Scrolling on any of them didn’t exhibit any stutter or hitches to indicate any possible performance issue. A quick Pokemon Go test (with no wandering, sorry) showed that it can handle 3D well. As to whether or not it’ll perform well in the long run, that remains to be seen. The Iconia One tablet has 1GB of RAM which can be limiting to apps that makes heavy use of it. Any large app or game may take a bit to swap out or close.
The Iconia One is a nice tablet for its size. The 10 inch display makes viewing content easier on the eyes. However, that also means the size of the tablet gets larger, which can make holding the tablet with one hand a trivial matter. As an interesting bonus, Acer included a little stand to prop up the tablet for easier viewing. This is probably a very good idea and something other manufacturers should try to include. It makes viewing content easier and I can easily see this being used in the kitchen. Viewing recipes as you prepare your ingredients, the stand will make this task a lot better.
As for charging, the tablet started up with about 80-90% power left. The charger’s spec calls for 5.2v 2amp power draw. However, the part that has me concerned was the LITEON brand on the charger itself. Having a bad experience with LITEON product, and the fact that it’s “Made in China,” I question whether or not the charger is 100% safe. When I plugged the tablet to the charger, I had about 48%. After an hour, it was at 52% or 54%. The tablet reports that it’ll be 5 hours until fully charged. Seeing this is a major disappointment. Whether or not this is due to the charger itself is unknown. Comparatively, the Nexus 9 has a 6700mAh battery and can be fully charged in a couple of hours. The Iconia One tablet has a 6100mAh battery and takes over 5 hours to fully charge from 48%.
Last is the camera, since I highly doubt anyone uses a tablet for taking photos, especially when traveling. Under low light conditions, such as indoor, the camera performs poorly. Granted, the sample photos I’ve taken did not have HDR turned on. Still, the camera did not do well when taking pictures indoors. Lots of blur and mostly unfocused, the camera has trouble trying to adapt to the lighting conditions. This changes when you move to outdoors where a lot of light can make a difference for a poor performing camera. And to test HDR, I took two photos. One as shot and one with HDR turned on. The photo with HDR turned on showed better details for subjects that’re in the shadow. (More photos at URL at the end.)
Overall, the Iconia One is a budget tablet with budget design and budget hardware. On the absolute basic level, this is a good tablet to have. It’s good for getting simple tasks done such as running simple apps, visiting websites, checking email, or posting on Facebook. It doesn’t have good speakers but a good pair of earbuds or headphones can somewhat fix that. The UI design is surprisingly close to stock Android, with very little changed (a couple of additional configuration elements in the Settings and a custom simple launcher). This is a good tablet to have if you have only simple needs. But start loading some high demands, such as needing a good camera, or using it as a media player, and you start to find the tablet to be lacking. Recommending this tablet is trivial. It’s a good recommendation for those who need a cheap tablet. But at the same time, I cannot recommend it to anyone who have used Android before or want more from a tablet.
Photos taken with the tablet are hosted in full at the following URL:
https://goo.gl/photos/WvTok6WuvVUMCW2g8
My Best Buy number: 0962387799
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Sixshot's Review Comments
Sixshot has not submitted comments on any reviews.
Sixshot's Questions
Sixshot has not submitted any questions.
Sixshot's Answers
Linksys Atlas Pro 6 with Velop Intelligent Mesh is a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that delivers next-level streaming and gaming to more than 30 devices per node. Access to 160 MHz unleashes the true power of Wi-Fi 6 technology—these are the least congested channels available on the 5GHz band and offer incredibly fast connectivity. Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) provides access to more channels, reducing interference from neighboring networks. Velop Intelligent Mesh technology offers whole home mesh Wi-Fi coverage that’s easily expandable by adding additional nodes. With easy setup, advanced security and parental controls, Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is an essential upgrade to any home.
What is the difference between the MX55EC3 and MX5503?
$50,speed rating of AX5400 and 5300, but seemingly otherwise identical. I just finished posting a review and I do not recommend the MX55EC3 at all. Not only does it have a slightly lower speed rating of AX5300, it also has a higher MSRP. If you're considering the Atlas Pro 6, get the MX5503 and avoid the former at all cost. The former is pretty much a "dead on arrival" product and the price makes absolutely no sense.
2 years, 7 months ago
by
Sixshot
Strike a perfect balance between study time and play time with Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 FE, the tablet designed to bring your projects to life.
Does this have a USB port? If so, is it type C, A, or what? And what version, 2.0, 3.1 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2, or what?
Physically, it's USB Type-C. As for what revision, GSMArena says it's 3.2.
2 years, 7 months ago
by
Sixshot
Experience legendary performance and sound of ASTRO Audio V2, with the convenience and freedom that comes without wires. The A50 Wireless + Base Station for PS5 /PS4 / PC delivers top-of-the-line acoustics, ergonomics, comfort and durability that gamers demand. The all-new Base Station provides clear, low-latency voice communication, while making headset pairing and charging simple. The ASTRO Command Center software allows gamers and streamers to tune every input and output parameter of the A50 precisely for their specific setup. Experience absolute audio immersion with the A50 Wireless + Base Station.
Does this astros come with bluetooth?
The A50 does not have Bluetooth connectivity.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Sixshot
Experience legendary performance and sound of ASTRO Audio V2, with the convenience and freedom that comes without wires. The A50 Wireless + Base Station for PS5 /PS4 / PC delivers top-of-the-line acoustics, ergonomics, comfort and durability that gamers demand. The all-new Base Station provides clear, low-latency voice communication, while making headset pairing and charging simple. The ASTRO Command Center software allows gamers and streamers to tune every input and output parameter of the A50 precisely for their specific setup. Experience absolute audio immersion with the A50 Wireless + Base Station.
How do some of you already have these headphones in possession to review?
There's a program with Best Buy called "Tech Insider Network" that allows its members to review products. Some of those products are offered to members prior to its general release while others are either close to release or is already released. TIN membership is through an invite process and is handed out via Best Buy themselves at their own discretion. As members, we have no control who can be invited.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
Sixshot
Polished, professional Full HD video calls. The C920S HD Webcam delivers remarkably crisp, clear and detailed images in vibrant colors. HD autofocus and light correction adjust to provide consistently high definition, and the dual mics on either side of the lens capture natural sound. The privacy shutter puts you in control of what you show.
Can I use an external microphone with this camera? If so can you tell me how?
This depends on the software you're using. Under Skype, this is possible as you can select the audio input line for your mic. I suggest that you check with the software you're using and view the settings available. I assume that most software will allow you to pick a different audio input line for your preferred microphone.
5 years ago
by
Sixshot
Take your playlist with you by using these noise-cancelling Sony headphones. Their 40mm drivers with liquid crystal polymer diaphragms fill your ears with booming audio to immerse you in songs, and they're ergonomically designed to provide comfort during extended listening sessions. These Sony headphones have a proprietary noise-cancelling processor, so you can immerse yourself in the music.Industry Leading Noise Cancellation. *As of August 30, 2018. According to research by Sony Corporation measured using JEITA-compliant guidelines. In headband-style of wireless noise-canceling headphones market.
How many watts does the adapter need to be to allow for quick charging?
There's no quick charging per se. However, going by typical 5v lines, Sony recommends a minimum of 1.5a. So if your charger can output 5v at 2 to 3 amp, then you may be fine. I wish Sony would publish their electrical input limit, or whether or not the headphone could handle a USB-PD source.
5 years, 7 months ago
by
Sixshot
Experience lag-free, immersive audio with this wireless Plantronics gaming headset. It has support for lifelike Dolby Atmos sound, and the sound-isolating ear cups and noise-canceling microphone keep your focus on the game. This lightweight Plantronics gaming headset has a 24-hour battery life and convenient analog adjustments for custom game audio settings.
This wireless headphones, cam I use it on a laptop and do the laptop need to be bluetooth or is there a adapter that I can plug to my laptop to make it wireless? Can you please let me know. Thanks
The headset does not use Bluetooth. Its connection is through a USB transmitter that you plug into the computer. By estimation, that transmitter is a small 3x3x1in block. As for whether it'll work on your laptop, it should. However, at last check, there is nothing with regards to additional drivers in the case of older versions of Windows. On Windows 10, it works out of the box.
5 years, 8 months ago
by
Sixshot
Enjoy superior sound and voice quality with these Jabra Elite wireless headphones. Integrated controls let you answer calls, adjust the volume or pause music with the touch of a button, while the included carrying case doubles as a charging station. External ambient noise keeps you aware of your surroundings, while a background noise filter delivers crisp, clear voice calls. With Bluetooth connectivity, these Jabra Elite wireless headphones are easy to pair to a mobile device.
Does anyone know what Bluetooth codec they will be implementing? Like AAC, or Aptx?
According to my Bluetooth setting on Android 8.1, it's using AAC for codec. I don't know if it uses anything else or if it's capable of anything else. But that's as much as I can tell at first glance.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
Sixshot
Take your gaming to the next level with the exclusive content and exciting downloads of PlayStation Plus. This subscription card puts 12 months' worth of full-game trials, exclusive offers, free games, early demos and betas and much more right at your fingertips — and right through your PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and PS Vita — for the incredible gaming experience you've always wanted.Get ready to enjoy an array of thrilling features that are available exclusively to PlayStation Plus members. Access exciting new titles each month that are added to the Instant Game Collection. Save up to 3GB of your gaming data with the online game save storage, save time with automatic game updates and enjoy early access to select betas and game demos. Get ready for premium features, thrilling games and amazing discounts as a PlayStation Plus member.
What is the difference from this psn card and the regular one without the GTA graphics on it?
There is no difference. It's just promotional graphics on the card. It's also a completely different SKU from each other. So whenever Best Buy puts a promo offer on this, the regular cards will not get any discount. Yes, they work exactly the same. I tried that argument at my local Best Buy but they won't budge at all. The next time they offer a promo/discount on this, make sure you ask a staffer to find it because they didn't put these where I can easily find 'em.
7 years, 5 months ago
by
Sixshot