explore42's stats
- Review count140
- Helpfulness votes557
- First reviewFebruary 26, 2016
- Last reviewApril 22, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
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- Answer count24
- Helpfulness votes236
- First answerFebruary 26, 2016
- Last answerDecember 23, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers8
The ROG Zephyrus G14 has been redesigned with an all-new premium aluminum chassis for increased durability and elegance. At 0.63 inches thin and weighing in at just 3.31lbs, this gaming powerhouse combines portability with cutting-edge technology. Featuring Windows 11 and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, the Zephyrus G14 achieves unparalleled gaming performance. The AMD Ryzen™ 9 8945HS processor further enhances productivity with 16 TOPS in AI Performance. The Zephyrus G14 features an OLED ROG Nebula Display. Enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 3K resolution, and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Elevate your audio experience with new upgraded woofers, offering a 252% volume increase, 100Hz bass frequency, and Dolby Atmos support. For intense gaming sessions, the ROG Intelligent Cooling integrates liquid metal and aerodynamic 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans to sustain peak performance.
Customer Rating
5
Powerful with Beautiful Display but Can get Hot
on April 22, 2024
Posted by: explore42
Bottom Line: Even though this Asus G14 Zephyrus laptop is super light and thin it still performs as a great gaming and business laptop. The OLED display is really spectacular due to its rich color, contrast and details and this was evident as soon as I started up Forza Horizon 5. Any game with high quality graphics will really excel on this laptop. The only concern I have is that this laptop does get hot when pressed to the gaming limits – see my comments below.
Here are things that you need to know about this laptop’s performance and upgradability
- This OLED display has 3k ( 2880 x 1800) resolution with a 120 hz refresh rate. The Nvidia 4070 supports G-Sync so its game ready.
- The CPU is the new Ryzen R9 8945 HS cpu which has 8 cores and 16 threads.
- There are two USB 3.2A ports, one USB 3.2C port and one USB 4.0C port. There is also a proprietary power port and a micro SD card slot.
- Because the laptop is so slim the rear exhaust vents are not very big so the laptop goes from slightly warm when web surfing or doing office type work to downright hot when gaming intensely. I measured 116 F degrees on the area directly above the center of the keyboard while gaming and running some test. While this wont burn you its not something you will leave your hand on for very long. The top row of keys got warm but the rest of the keys were fine. Note that during my stress testing the cpu hit 95 C degrees even with the fans running on high and the laptop on a flat surface. See the Time Spy photo for temp ranges.
- The laptop comes with 32 gb of 6400 Mz ram in the form of four DDR5 8 gb sticks. This provides quad channel memory which is great for gaming but Note that the ram is soldered into the motherboard and cannot be replaced or upgraded.
- The laptop comes with a 1tb NVMe drive and there are no open slots to add additional storage. Mine came with a WD SN560 drive and it was covered with a heat sink shroud. (See Photo) Accessing the drive is easy and you can replace the existing drive with a higher capacity drive if necessary.
- The laptop has venting holes in the bottom as well as the back. Due to the slim design the base feet are small which means the vent holes in the base do not sit very high off the surface for air flow. When you game or drive the cpu/gpu hard you need to make sure the laptop is seated on a flat surface and that vents are not blocked. If you are using it on your lap the heat is enough to remind you to move it onto something besides your legs.
- The keyboard keys are low profile and feel soft but they do provide decent feedback when pressed. The touch pad is large, responsive and has a fairly quiet click when engaged. Using Armoury Crate you can set the RGB lighting and modes for the keys as well as set the mode for the while LED strip in the lid.
- The speakers perform better than you would expect from such a thin laptop. When playing movies, music and gaming I found the soundstage and sound quality to be surprisingly good.
- There are four customizable keys that can be configured in the Armoury Crate app. They are defaulted to speaker volume up and down, Microphone on/off and Launch the Armoury Crate app. You can also use Armoury Crate to create key macros.
- This OLED display has 3k ( 2880 x 1800) resolution with a 120 hz refresh rate. The Nvidia 4070 supports G-Sync so its game ready.
- The CPU is the new Ryzen R9 8945 HS cpu which has 8 cores and 16 threads.
- There are two USB 3.2A ports, one USB 3.2C port and one USB 4.0C port. There is also a proprietary power port and a micro SD card slot.
- Because the laptop is so slim the rear exhaust vents are not very big so the laptop goes from slightly warm when web surfing or doing office type work to downright hot when gaming intensely. I measured 116 F degrees on the area directly above the center of the keyboard while gaming and running some test. While this wont burn you its not something you will leave your hand on for very long. The top row of keys got warm but the rest of the keys were fine. Note that during my stress testing the cpu hit 95 C degrees even with the fans running on high and the laptop on a flat surface. See the Time Spy photo for temp ranges.
- The laptop comes with 32 gb of 6400 Mz ram in the form of four DDR5 8 gb sticks. This provides quad channel memory which is great for gaming but Note that the ram is soldered into the motherboard and cannot be replaced or upgraded.
- The laptop comes with a 1tb NVMe drive and there are no open slots to add additional storage. Mine came with a WD SN560 drive and it was covered with a heat sink shroud. (See Photo) Accessing the drive is easy and you can replace the existing drive with a higher capacity drive if necessary.
- The laptop has venting holes in the bottom as well as the back. Due to the slim design the base feet are small which means the vent holes in the base do not sit very high off the surface for air flow. When you game or drive the cpu/gpu hard you need to make sure the laptop is seated on a flat surface and that vents are not blocked. If you are using it on your lap the heat is enough to remind you to move it onto something besides your legs.
- The keyboard keys are low profile and feel soft but they do provide decent feedback when pressed. The touch pad is large, responsive and has a fairly quiet click when engaged. Using Armoury Crate you can set the RGB lighting and modes for the keys as well as set the mode for the while LED strip in the lid.
- The speakers perform better than you would expect from such a thin laptop. When playing movies, music and gaming I found the soundstage and sound quality to be surprisingly good.
- There are four customizable keys that can be configured in the Armoury Crate app. They are defaulted to speaker volume up and down, Microphone on/off and Launch the Armoury Crate app. You can also use Armoury Crate to create key macros.
Once I opened it, charged the battery and upgraded all the software and firmware I ran it through several benchmarks and then some gaming to see how it would hold up. The RTX 4070 combined with the Ryzen 9 processor was plenty enough to deliver great results as shown below.
3DMARK
Time Spy Score = 11519
Graphics Score = 11676
CPU Score = 10709
Battlefield V @1080p Ultra = 165+ FPS
Battlefield V @ 1440p Ultra = 110+ FPS
Apex Legends@1080p Ultra = 140+ FPS
Apex Legends@ 1440p Ultra = 135+ FPS
GTA V @1080p Ultra = 175+ FPS
GTA V @ 1440p Ultra = 70+ FPS
Fortnite @1080p Ultra = 265+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1440p Ultra = 60+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 @1080p Ultra = 120+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2@ 1440p Ultra = 40+ FPS
Time Spy Score = 11519
Graphics Score = 11676
CPU Score = 10709
Battlefield V @1080p Ultra = 165+ FPS
Battlefield V @ 1440p Ultra = 110+ FPS
Apex Legends@1080p Ultra = 140+ FPS
Apex Legends@ 1440p Ultra = 135+ FPS
GTA V @1080p Ultra = 175+ FPS
GTA V @ 1440p Ultra = 70+ FPS
Fortnite @1080p Ultra = 265+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1440p Ultra = 60+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 @1080p Ultra = 120+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2@ 1440p Ultra = 40+ FPS
Geekbench 6
Single Core Score = 2583
Multi Core Score = 12894
Open CL Score = 115747
Vulkan Score = 32588
Single Core Score = 2583
Multi Core Score = 12894
Open CL Score = 115747
Vulkan Score = 32588
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience a comfortable, clean shave every day with 27 self-sharpening ComfortCut blades and SkinProtect Technology.
Posted by: explore42
While this isn’t the most feature rich razor it has everything you need for a decent shave and trim. This is an entry level razor that is good for someone just getting into shaving or needs a shaver to use at the gym or for travel. I would recommend checking out Norelco’s more advanced shavers for anyone who has very course hair or very sensitive skin.
Shaving Experience: After several shavings I have not experienced any razor burns even though my facial skin is somewhat sensitive. Note that I have been using an electric razor for some time so my skin is acclimated to electric razors. Norelco claims it takes 21 days for your skin to be fully adapted to an electric razor. As with any electric shaver I do make several passes over my facial hair to make sure the razor gets everything. This razor can be used wet or dry but I prefer to shave dry so that I can see and feel if the hairs are cleanly shaved. The three floating heads do a good job of keeping the skin-to-razor contact and I was able to get a clean shave on my upper lip and chin without much downward pressure. One plus for Norelco razors is the included trimmer and although its not as powerful or as refined as a dedicated trimmer it is more than adequate to do some touch ups. The overall look and feel of the razor is that of a typical Norelco but due to the minimum amount of grippy surface and plastic build it’s a tad more slippery especially when wet. Cleaning the razor after use is simple with the razor head opening up for easy access for cleaning with a brush or water. The sound/noise from the rotary blades are typical of what I have experienced with other electric razors and I didn’t find it to be bothersome.
Shaving Experience: After several shavings I have not experienced any razor burns even though my facial skin is somewhat sensitive. Note that I have been using an electric razor for some time so my skin is acclimated to electric razors. Norelco claims it takes 21 days for your skin to be fully adapted to an electric razor. As with any electric shaver I do make several passes over my facial hair to make sure the razor gets everything. This razor can be used wet or dry but I prefer to shave dry so that I can see and feel if the hairs are cleanly shaved. The three floating heads do a good job of keeping the skin-to-razor contact and I was able to get a clean shave on my upper lip and chin without much downward pressure. One plus for Norelco razors is the included trimmer and although its not as powerful or as refined as a dedicated trimmer it is more than adequate to do some touch ups. The overall look and feel of the razor is that of a typical Norelco but due to the minimum amount of grippy surface and plastic build it’s a tad more slippery especially when wet. Cleaning the razor after use is simple with the razor head opening up for easy access for cleaning with a brush or water. The sound/noise from the rotary blades are typical of what I have experienced with other electric razors and I didn’t find it to be bothersome.
The shaver comes with a cable that is a USB-A to Norelco proprietary plug but it does not include a charger. It also does not include any type of cleaning brush or storage bag. It does include a cover for the blades to protect them. The razor has a low battery level indicator that warns you when you only have 5 minutes left on the charge.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Logitech Zone 300 is the essential wireless Bluetooth headset with great audio quality for work and downtime. Move freely about your home or office and stay reliably connected with multipoint Bluetooth, up to 98 ft away. Meet with anyone on your preferred calling platform with this wireless headset with microphone. Dual noise-canceling mics on the extended mic boom suppress background sound and allow others to hear you clearly. Enhanced speakers mean you can also hear just as well.
Posted by: explore42
This Logitech Zone 300 headset is a good all rounder. Its lightweight and compact design make it nice for commuting as well as keep it from being an overstatement in the office. The only drawback on these is that they have an “on the ear” vs over the ear fit. When I first started using them it took some time to get used to having something actually on my ear instead of around my ear. The plus side is that they are not as isolating as over the ear headphones which I found helpful when using around others. They were isolating enough to limit most room noise without needing to have someone scream at me to get my attention. Overall I like these headphones for conference calls and listening to music but you may have to adjust to the “on ear” fit and feel.
Pros:
- Solid build quality with compact and lightweight design
- In-line controls are intuitive and easy to access
- Good overall voice and music quality
- Bluetooth connectivity was simple and never an issue
- Microphone boon moves out of the way and mutes when up
- Noise Cancelling microphone helps eliminate room noise
- Audio notifications that update you to the headphone’s status
- A days worth of use without needing to be recharged
- Solid build quality with compact and lightweight design
- In-line controls are intuitive and easy to access
- Good overall voice and music quality
- Bluetooth connectivity was simple and never an issue
- Microphone boon moves out of the way and mutes when up
- Noise Cancelling microphone helps eliminate room noise
- Audio notifications that update you to the headphone’s status
- A days worth of use without needing to be recharged
Cons:
- The ear pads can feel warm after extended use
- The headphones do not fold flat for easy storage
- The ear pads can feel warm after extended use
- The headphones do not fold flat for easy storage
Fit and Feel: These headphones are easily adjusted and generally sit comfortably due to their light weight. The headpiece is fully padded with soft foam so even after extended sessions I didn’t feel like I had anything pushing or pulling down on my head. The ear pads are covered in a soft leatherette type cover that is gentle to the touch. Because these pads sit on your ears I have found that my ears seem to get a tad warm after I use them for an extended period. The design of the headpiece allows plenty of clearance for glasses and I can easily take my glasses on and off without disturbing the headphones. The on/off/paring button, the volume up/down and the answer button are located on the left ear cup and are fairly easy to access and use.
Sound Quality and Mic Performance: In calls the voices always sounded clear and distinct. The mic has noise cancellation so most of the local noise is not heard on the other end. I liked the mic boon because its not obstructive in either the up or down mode.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Annihilate your competition with this ASUS ROG gaming desktop. The Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM deliver rapid performance during fast-paced action, while the 2TB SSD provide plenty of storage for large files and downloads. This Bluetooth-enabled ASUS ROG gaming computer features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060Ti graphics card for tear-free rendering of 4K games.
Customer Rating
5
No Upgrades Required – Cool Performance
on March 26, 2024
Posted by: explore42
Bottom Line: All too often I have found prebuilt gaming systems that have cut corners which impact the performance of the quality components in the build but this Asus desktop was properly spec’d to get the most out of its high performance components. This desktop is a mid-tier prebuilt computer that should meet the demands of most gamers without needing any upgrades or modifications.
Here are things that you need to know about this Desktop performance and upgradeability:
- I ran this pc through multiple stress test (see photos) as well as several intense gaming sessions and at no point did the cpu or gpu ever reach a temperature that concerned me. I game with a 2560 x 1440 QHD monitor that runs at 165 hz.
- Because the liquid cooler does such a great job the fans run at lower rpms so the computer is generally quiet. When I game I run the computer usually in Performance mode via Armory Crate however even when I run in Turbo mode the fans are less noisy than other prebuilt systems I have used.
- The case is small and tight so there is a very limited amount of space to add anything in the main cavity. Because of its small size and built in fabric handle its easy to move around.
- My system came with two 16 gb SK Hynix DDR5 5600 mhz memory sticks which is the fastest stock ram you can get for the Intel 14700F cpu. Asus does not lock down the bios and there are lots of options for those who like to tweek their systems.
- There is enough space and mounting for a single internal hard drive next to the power supply. Asus does provide extra power and Sata cables. See the photo of the hard drive mounting space. It’s a tight fit but if you want to add a hard drive its certainly possible.
- The case has ventilation holes in the top and the front of the chassis and the rear exhaust fan is 120 mm fan. Combined with the liquid cooler the system stays reasonably cool even when stressed. See the photo of the 3D Mark stress test and the temps reported.
- The CPU cooler is an Asus liquid cooler that uses dual 150 mm fans which are mounted in the top of the case.
- There is enough space and mounting holes to mount a 150 mm fan in the lower front of the case. I don’t think this is necessary with the current components. See the photo of the fan mounting on the lower front panel.
- The RGB lighting is supplied by two led strips inside the cabinet and a single strip on the front cover. None of the fans or memory sticks or liquid cooler are RGB. The RGB colors and patterns are set using the Aura Sync function in Asus’s Armoury Crate. The end result is a nice RGB set up but its not as flashy as having RGB colored fans in the front panel.
- The storage drives are two single 1 Tb NVMe SSD drives. The primary drive is located under the video card and has a heat sink. The second drive is easier to access but does not have a heat sink. My drives were SN560 Western Digital drives. Because the drives are already installed I would recommend adding an internal hard drive vs upgrading one of the SSDs.
- The power supply is a 750 watt gold which should be plenty for this build. The supply is semi-modular and there are open connector slots for adding power cables to the power supply.
- Asus’s Armoury Crate software is easy to use and provides good monitoring data as well as the ability to help manage the desktop.
- Because the liquid cooler does such a great job the fans run at lower rpms so the computer is generally quiet. When I game I run the computer usually in Performance mode via Armory Crate however even when I run in Turbo mode the fans are less noisy than other prebuilt systems I have used.
- The case is small and tight so there is a very limited amount of space to add anything in the main cavity. Because of its small size and built in fabric handle its easy to move around.
- My system came with two 16 gb SK Hynix DDR5 5600 mhz memory sticks which is the fastest stock ram you can get for the Intel 14700F cpu. Asus does not lock down the bios and there are lots of options for those who like to tweek their systems.
- There is enough space and mounting for a single internal hard drive next to the power supply. Asus does provide extra power and Sata cables. See the photo of the hard drive mounting space. It’s a tight fit but if you want to add a hard drive its certainly possible.
- The case has ventilation holes in the top and the front of the chassis and the rear exhaust fan is 120 mm fan. Combined with the liquid cooler the system stays reasonably cool even when stressed. See the photo of the 3D Mark stress test and the temps reported.
- The CPU cooler is an Asus liquid cooler that uses dual 150 mm fans which are mounted in the top of the case.
- There is enough space and mounting holes to mount a 150 mm fan in the lower front of the case. I don’t think this is necessary with the current components. See the photo of the fan mounting on the lower front panel.
- The RGB lighting is supplied by two led strips inside the cabinet and a single strip on the front cover. None of the fans or memory sticks or liquid cooler are RGB. The RGB colors and patterns are set using the Aura Sync function in Asus’s Armoury Crate. The end result is a nice RGB set up but its not as flashy as having RGB colored fans in the front panel.
- The storage drives are two single 1 Tb NVMe SSD drives. The primary drive is located under the video card and has a heat sink. The second drive is easier to access but does not have a heat sink. My drives were SN560 Western Digital drives. Because the drives are already installed I would recommend adding an internal hard drive vs upgrading one of the SSDs.
- The power supply is a 750 watt gold which should be plenty for this build. The supply is semi-modular and there are open connector slots for adding power cables to the power supply.
- Asus’s Armoury Crate software is easy to use and provides good monitoring data as well as the ability to help manage the desktop.
After setting up the system and upgrading all the software and firmware I ran it through several benchmark test to see how it would perform and how good it was at handling heat generated by the cpu and gpu. The RTX 4060 Ti did a respectable job but if you want to game at 4k you might want to consider this same system with a RTX 4070 or RTX 4080 instead. Heat was never an issue whether I was doing benchmarks or playing one of my sim racing game the temps never got above 70 degrees Celsius.
3DMARK
Time Spy Score = 14196
Graphics Score = 13607
CPU Score = 18817
Battlefield V @1080p Ultra = 200+ FPS
Battlefield V @ 1440p Ultra = 130+ FPS
Apex Legends@1080p Ultra = 140+ FPS
Apex Legends@ 1440p Ultra = 140+ FPS
GTA V @1080p Ultra = 185+ FPS
GTA V @ 1440p Ultra = 85+ FPS
Fortnite @1080p Ultra = 290+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1440p Ultra = 70+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 @1080p Ultra = 145+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2@ 1440p Ultra = 55+ FPS
3DMARK
Time Spy Score = 14196
Graphics Score = 13607
CPU Score = 18817
Battlefield V @1080p Ultra = 200+ FPS
Battlefield V @ 1440p Ultra = 130+ FPS
Apex Legends@1080p Ultra = 140+ FPS
Apex Legends@ 1440p Ultra = 140+ FPS
GTA V @1080p Ultra = 185+ FPS
GTA V @ 1440p Ultra = 85+ FPS
Fortnite @1080p Ultra = 290+ FPS
Fortnite @ 1440p Ultra = 70+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2 @1080p Ultra = 145+ FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2@ 1440p Ultra = 55+ FPS
Geekbench6
Single Core Score = 2722
Multi Core Score = 18000
Open CL Score = 130977
Vulkan Score = 127975
Single Core Score = 2722
Multi Core Score = 18000
Open CL Score = 130977
Vulkan Score = 127975
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL, a fast and easy way to get the perfect crisp with up to 450F of heat. MaxCrisp Technology surrounds your favorite foods with superheated air for hotter, crispy results. Cook up to 9 lbs (6.5 QT) of wings using little to no oil and enjoy your favorite foods guilt-free. With 6 cooking functions, you can satisfy any craving, from crispy snacks to full meals. With Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate, the options are endless. Plus, cleanup is a breeze with a nonstick and dishwasher-safe crisper plate and basket.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect for anyone who cooks
on March 14, 2024
Posted by: explore42
We really love this Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL and it is by far the best one we have used yet. We use this to cook various meats and vegetables so it’s more than just something that heats up wings and fries. The XL version is perfect for a family of two to four people and it cuts down on the cooking time drastically compared to a regular oven or fryer. The reason we love this is because the main basket is very large and not as deep as the original air fryers which means that more food gets cooked evenly without the need to be constantly stirred or rotated off the bottom to the top. Also because it is more square and stout it is easier to store and there is more clearance between the top of the unit and the cabinets when it’s on the countertop. The basket and crisper plate are coated with a non-stick surface so clean up is quick and simple. The six preset functions make using the air fryer simple and it really does a great job browning and crisping the food. The only concern I have is that the crisper plate is thinner than most and it fits very snuggly in the basket which makes it slightly more difficult to remove for cleaning. There are silicone/rubberized feet that extend out on the side of the crisper plate that help it seat in the basket but also cause some resistance when inserting or removing the plate. Since the sides of the basket and crisper plate are non-stick surfaces you have to be careful to not scratch either one as you seat the crisper plate in the basket. Operating this air fryer is simple. First you select one of the six functions which are Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate. Then you select the time and temperature and hit the start button. The functions have a default temperature setting but you can adjust it up or down to meet your cooking needs. They include a fairly large recipe book to give you some recommended items to cook and what settings to use. The bottom crisper plate and the basket are coated with non-stick so the surfaces are very easy to clean by hand or if you prefer they are dishwasher safe.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Stand out from the crowd with superior skill and distinctive design. The CORSAIR K65 PLUS WIRELESS is a 75% gaming keyboard that maxes out on performance and personality. Step up your switch game with pre-lubricated CORSAIR MLX Red linear switches that make each keystroke silky smooth and responsive. Integrated sound dampening tempers annoying clacks and pings, so you can enjoy subtle, pleasant acoustics as you play and type. Easily connect to PC, Mac, and other devices via ultra-fast 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth, and power through your playing sessions for longer than ever – up to 266 hours on a single charge. On the K65 PLUS WIRELESS, skill meets style.
Customer Rating
5
Perfect compromise between Size and Function
on February 15, 2024
Posted by: explore42
It’s hard to improve on a great keyboard but Corsair has done it with this K65 Plus keyboard. I own both the full size and mini Corsair mechanical gaming keyboards and this keyboard makes improvements over both. I included a photo showing the size difference between this keyboard and the mini K70 and the full size K70 keyboards. The sound damping definitely makes this keyboard much quieter so you can use it on conference calls without everyone hearing you type in the background. They incorporated the rotating dial function that is in the larger keyboards but did it in a more space saving fashion. And they addressed the biggest complaint I had with the mini keyboard, they moved the dual-purpose symbols off the front side of the keys and put them on the top so you quickly identify all the key functions just by looking at the top of the key! Bottom line is that this keyboard is fantastic whether you are using it for work or for gaming and it doesn’t matter if you are using a windows pc, an imac, a tablet or a Sony Playstation.
Corsair has combined the functionality of a larger keyboard and the space savings of a small keyboard in this K65 plus. Like all their keyboards the base is solid and has some heft to it so you know it wont bend or twist if you want to use it as a portable keyboard. The MLX Red mechanical switches make this a very responsive keyboard and perfect for gaming. Note that the W, A, D and S key caps do not have a special texture to help in gaming but you can assign special lighting or use the included key cap puller to replace them with optional key caps. The two layers of sound dampening doesn’t totally eliminate the clatter of the mechanical keys but it definitely makes them much less noticeable. You connect the keyboard using a USB cable or Wireless dongle or Bluetooth. If you use Bluetooth you can pair with three different devices and easy switch between them with a simple keystroke. When connecting via Bluetooth or Wireless they estimate that the keyboard can go over 250 hours between charges if you aren’t using the RGB lighting. But one of the nice features is the RGB lighting so don’t plan on going that long between charges. You can control the RGB lighting via iCue or by using the Function key combined with a number key. There are 10 different RGB patterns stored on the keyboard or you create your own pattern using iCue. One of the best features is the rotary dial function which allows you to quickly control numerous functions on the keyboard. You can quickly and easily change the dial’s mode to perform the functions you need the most depending on how you are using the keyboard. There is also full media support on the function keys and rotatory dial. You can perform macro recording using the keyboard or you can use iCue which also allows you to do key assignments, set the lighting effects, configure functions and short cuts and much much more. With all these functions and the quality of the build and keys this has to be one of the best keyboards available.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the new Dell 25" Gaming Monitor - a super fast gaming monitor featuring an incredible 280Hz over-clocked refresh rate (240Hz Native) and 0.5ms minimum Gray-to-Gray response time for fast fluid gaming experiences.
Posted by: explore42
I have always liked Dell Monitors for the quality and design and this monitor is no exception. When looking at gaming monitors you have to decide how large the display needs to be, the resolution FHD, QHD or 4k and how responsive it needs to be for your games. At FHD 1920 x 1080 the resolution on this monitor is not the best but on a 25 inch screen it still provides good detail. On the plus side the refresh rate is very high which allows the details to be less blurred in high movement games especially FPS or any type of fast moving action game. If you are into high speed action games the responsiveness of the display should be more appealing than one with a higher resolution. Overall I found this monitor provided good image quality on all my games while still being acceptable for watching movies or working on office work. I think the impact of the refresh rate is really going to depend on the type of games you play and the refresh rate of your current monitor. Naturally you need a gpu that can support the higher refresh rates to get the most out of this monitor.
Features: This display is an ISP panel that supports FHD 1920 x 1080 with an overclocked refresh rate of 280hz. With this higher refresh rate and fast panel you can expect less motion blur and image drag. I was able to get the color and contrast I like for my games by using the presets and configuration options. Dell includes presets for Standard (default), FPS, MOBA/RTS, RPG, Sports, and three configurable presets. I use the Standard for office type work and general browsing, the FPS for shooter games and Sports for my racing sim games. To get the overclocking on the refresh rate you have to enable it and select the higher rate from the menu system. Note that HDMI only supports refresh rates up to 240hz. This monitor also includes Vision Engine options that enhance the visibility in the games. I highly recommend checking out the owners manual to better understand all the options which are many. The monitor comes with a HDMI port, two DP ports, a 3.2 USB upstream port and two 32. Downstream ports. They include one DP cable, one USB upstream cable and one DP to USB-C for connecting laptops for video. One of the main complaints I have about this monitor is that they put the joy stick control and function buttons on the back of the right side of the monitor so if you plan on using multiple monitors it’s a hassle to get to the buttons. Luckily you can do a lot of the configuration by using Dell’s Display manager app instead. Dell’s stands are great, they have a reasonably sized footprint and allow the monitor to be tilted, raised/lowered and swiveled to meet every possible requirement.
Setup: Putting the monitor together is simple and straightforward and toolless. Once I powered up the monitor I ran it through several test to check for pixel issues and overall uniformity of the display. I didn’t find anything that I would not expect in an IPS panel and after adjusting the brightness, contrast and saturation to my liking I was quite pleased with the results. To access the main menu you have to access the buttons and joy stick on the back of the monitor. Using the joy stick I enabled the overclocking and set the refresh rate to 280 hz. Next I set the response time to Extreme and then started comparing the various preset modes. The presets are good general setting for game types but I found that I ended tweaking them to meet my expectations.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With two 10 GbE ports and Wi-Fi 7 technology, eero max 7 can provide more than twice the speed of Wi-Fi 6. This isn't a minor upgrade, this is a whole new level of fast.
Customer Rating
4
Great Coverage and Speed but Costly Subscription
on December 7, 2023
Posted by: explore42
Overall the eero Max 7 mesh routers deliver great wireless coverage and fast throughput. Each node has two 10gb and two 2.5gb ports for Lan, backhaul and local ethernet connections. There is no usb connector for attaching a usb device but it does support Zigbee and smart home devices. The one negative with the eero Max 7 is the high subscription cost ($10 monthly or $100 yearly) to get parental control and access to more of the router’s performance data such as security statistics, blocked threats and scans against your network. There are other components included with the subscription but most of them aren’t necessary if you already own a total protection virus software.
Setup and Performance: Setting up the eero routers were very simple and straightforward. After downloading the app on my iphone I decided to install the base station first to see how much of my house it actually covered. Using the same SSID and password allowed most of the devices to rehome without issue but some I had to power off and power back on to get them to connect. I was delighted to see that the new eero router actually provided better coverage than my older router. Next I put the remote eero in my office where I had a backhaul ethernet cable to the base station. I connected the two using the ethernet 10gb port and then added the second eero router in the app. Everything showed up correctly and the remote unit obtained the wireless credentials automatically. I have no way to verify this but the app shows that the backhaul connection between the two routers is connected at a 10gb rate. In my office I have an eight port switch which I connected to the remote eero router via the 2.5 gb ethernet port and all my devices worked as if they were directly attached to the base station with little to no delay or loss of throughput. I did several speed test to verify that connecting via the switch through the remote eero to the base station eero saw very little to no difference to connecting directly to the isp router. I have 1gb to the house and I was able to get speeds over 900 gb on my pc connected to the remote router which is connected via the backhaul cable to the base station so wired connectivity at 1gb rate is no issue. The wireless connectivity proved to be better than my existing wifi 6e router as well. Sitting within line of site I consistently would get low to mid 300 gbs on my existing router. With the eero Max 7 I would get in the mid 400 gbs which is a nice improvement. I did this testing using my iphone 15 Pro and a high powered laptop with both of them connecting using wifi 6e protocols. When testing with my older laptops using 802.11ac (wifi 5) the numbers dropped into the mid 200 gbs to 300 gbs depending on the distance from the routers. Overall I have seen an improvement in coverage as well as an improvement in speed from a wi-fi standpoint over my prior wi-fi 6e mesh router configuration. I do not have any wi-fi 7 devices yet but its nice to know that this router will work with them when I do upgrade the devices. Also because each router has multiple high speed ethernet connections on the back I have found that they are great for wired connection such as a connecting a NAS or a switch.
App and Subscription: This is where I think the eero Max 7 loses a star. While the app is simple to use it limits the information that the administrator has to control and understand his network. To get more control and information beyond the basics you have to subscribe to a $10 monthly or $100 yearly plan. This means to have parental control or information on websites accessed by your children you have to pay a premium. The subscription does offer VPN and additional protection such as safe search, adblocking and anti-malware protection but if you already own a full protection antivirus software you don’t need any of this. Lastly the subscription does give you insight into the network traffic and activities of the routers which sadly should be included for free with every router.
App and Subscription: This is where I think the eero Max 7 loses a star. While the app is simple to use it limits the information that the administrator has to control and understand his network. To get more control and information beyond the basics you have to subscribe to a $10 monthly or $100 yearly plan. This means to have parental control or information on websites accessed by your children you have to pay a premium. The subscription does offer VPN and additional protection such as safe search, adblocking and anti-malware protection but if you already own a full protection antivirus software you don’t need any of this. Lastly the subscription does give you insight into the network traffic and activities of the routers which sadly should be included for free with every router.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Make sure that your accessories can keep up with your busy lifestyle. The Insignia NS-AWB45BNYS Braided Nylon Band for Apple Watch 42mm, 44mm, 45mm and Apple Watch Ultra 49mm (All Series) delivers the unmatched comfort of soft, braided nylon. It adjusts by way of a stretchy 1-piece construction with clasp, ensuring a comfortable fit regardless of your wrist size. A simple loop closure keeps your watch snugly on your wrist. Take on the challenges of everyday life by upgrading your watch band today.
Customer Rating
4
Nice Band but not the best for Thin Wrist
on November 13, 2023
Posted by: explore42
This band is great if the width of your hand is not too different when compared to the width of your wrist. The reason I say this is my wife has very thin wrist so adjusting the band so that she can easily get it over her hand then leaves the band way too loose for her wrist. The band’s loop closure is easy to adjust when the band is off however it is difficult to adjust especially to tighten the band once you have the watch on. For me the band works great because my wrist is larger so I can adjust the band to fit my wrist snuggly and still get it easily over my hand. I like the fact that the band allows some stretch because I was constantly adjusting the original Apple sport band throughout the day as my wrist expanded especially from walking distances. Overall the quality of the band and clasps are solid and I do not worry about the watch coming loose or the band breaking. For me this band is a five star band but for my wife it was a three star band thus I opted to give it four stars.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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No matter how fast life moves, you can take it all with ACCENTUM Wireless - the perfect, on-the-go headphone for every journey. Experience high-quality, take-anywhere wireless audio with an unrivaled 50-hour battery playtime and hybrid ANC for distraction-free enjoyment throughout your day. ACCENTUM's listening experience is elevated by the captivating, high-quality sound delivered by Sennheiser's meticulously engineered transducer system. This fantastic audio can be personalized with sound modes, including Bass Boost or Podcast mode, or precisely tailored via the built-in 5 Band equalizer. Take on any environment without distraction with the hybrid ANC, which lets you listen on your terms, even in busy outdoor environments or crowded places. Need to hear your surroundings without removing your headphones? Transparency mode lets in external sounds at a touch. ACCENTUM gives you fuss-free, everyday simplicity and effortless ease of use. Control is direct and intuitive, with dedicated buttons and one-touch voice assistant access. From your morning commute to your late-night chillout, ACCENTUM keeps you incredibly comfortable thanks to its lightweight, ergonomic design and soft-touch headband. Thanks to robust Sennheiser build quality, fold-flat design for easy portability and fast USB-C charging, it's ready for every day's adventures.
Customer Rating
4
Good Audio but Tight Fit and Limited Features
on November 9, 2023
Posted by: explore42
Overall I think the Accentum provide competitive sound quality and noise cancellation for their price range. They would be good for the typical commuter, office worker or anyone who wants headphones that provide a good listening experience without having to spend big bucks. The downside is that these headphones have a limited feature set and fit somewhat tightly.
Pros:
- Good Adaptive Noise Cancellation
- Good audio quality
- Equalizer in the App
- Long battery life
- Good Adaptive Noise Cancellation
- Good audio quality
- Equalizer in the App
- Long battery life
Cons:
- The fit is tight and snug. The ear muff’s opening feels small.
- Very small control buttons
- No ability to change button functions
- Limited voice prompts
- Doesn’t auto pause when the headphones are removed
- No storage bag or case
- The fit is tight and snug. The ear muff’s opening feels small.
- Very small control buttons
- No ability to change button functions
- Limited voice prompts
- Doesn’t auto pause when the headphones are removed
- No storage bag or case
Performance: Setting up the headphones was easy. They quickly paired via Bluetooth and I added them to the Sennheiser Smart Control app on my phone. I found the overall sound quality and ANC to be the biggest plus for these headphones. The mids and highs are very clear and the bass is solid without being overwhelming. With the fit so tight I think heavy bass in these headphones might be painful. The ANC noise cancellation is good – again the tight fit also helps eliminate the environmental sounds. On the down side the control buttons are on the right ear muff and they are very small and can be difficult to differentiate. There is a separate switch that provides on/off/pairing and a row of three switches that provide the volume and play controls. The on/off switch and play control button have multiple functions depending on the number of taps or length of tap. Because the buttons are so small they can be problematic especially if you have larger fingers or wear gloves. The headphones do have a few voice prompts but most indications are tone based. For example if you put the headphones in pairing mode you hear a tone but when they connect you hear a voice prompt say connected! I find the mix a tad strange and surprised that headphones of this quality use anything but voice prompts. The headphones don’t auto-pause when you remove them but they do auto-pause when you turn off the ANC. Using the Sennheiser Sound App you can set up a custom equalizer, add bass boost, turn on/off the ANC and adjust the Sidetones for phone calls. The app is very simplistic and straightforward. If you create a Sennheiser account you can use the Sound Check and Sound Zone features to create custom equalizers and setting for specific music and zones. Note that the app doesn’t let you change the functions of the buttons on the headphones. While the build quality feels and looks solid they do not include a bag or carrying case to help protect them when in transit.
Fit: The overall build and look of these headphones are great but the fit feels tight and because of this they really push on glasses if you wear them. The ear muffs feel smaller than other headphones I have used and the top bar which sits on your head isn’t the softest padding which adds to the tight fit. They are light and ear muffs themselves are made with a soft material that conforms to your fit.
Fit: The overall build and look of these headphones are great but the fit feels tight and because of this they really push on glasses if you wear them. The ear muffs feel smaller than other headphones I have used and the top bar which sits on your head isn’t the softest padding which adds to the tight fit. They are light and ear muffs themselves are made with a soft material that conforms to your fit.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Enjoy true high-definition surround sound from your home theater with this Definitive Technology speaker. With powerful left/right speaker dispersion and balanced surround sound, this speaker immerses you in an enjoyable audio experience. Sized to fit unobtrusively into home theater systems, this Definitive Technology speaker includes iconic design elements that enhance the visual aesthetic of your system.
Can I use them as atmos speaker setup
These are surround speakers. For full atmos sound you need speakers that bounce the sound off the ceiling. Def tech makes speakers specifically to do this. They attach on top of the tower speakers.
6 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
This Danby Designer DDW1899BLS-1 built-in dishwasher's water-softener system helps eliminate select water-based minerals in locations where hard water is an issue. The 7 wash cycles provide versatile options to suit a wide range of cleaning needs.
Air Dry and Turn off Manually?
Can you confirm or clarify please. It says no heated dry so that means they have to air dry? One person said you have to manually hit button to turn off at end of cycle. Is this true?
Good question but not sure how to answer this. Its kind of magic because it uses some type of evaporation process. My old dishwasher had a heated dry and an air dry. If you used the air dry the dishes were still wet at the end of the cycle. With this unit the dishes are fully dry without using a heater element. The manual explains the technology but bottom line is works fine for me and uses less electric.
8 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
Clean every inch of every dish. This Samsung appliance washes away heavy foods without the need for you to pre-rinse. Plus, the quiet operation mean you won’t be interrupted by loud noises while the dishwasher is running.
Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Contractor needs to know: Is this hardwired or does it plug into an outlet?
Mine is hard wired. I would suspect it is whatever the installer chooses to do.
8 years, 2 months ago
by
explore42
Whirlpool Gold 24" Tall Tub Built-In Dishwasher: Ensure a deep and sanitized clean with this high-powered dishwasher. Its soil-sensing technology, along with a unique silverware spray mechanism, produces exceptionally clean dishes for a generous amount of family and guests.
Rotating spray arm?
Wondering if this dishwasher has a rotating spray arm that sits under the class rack? There are no photos that show the interior.