nickcal's stats
- Review count323
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- First reviewFebruary 22, 2014
- Last reviewJuly 11, 2025
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- Average rating4.7
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- First answerMay 23, 2016
- Last answerSeptember 7, 2020
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Blueair - ComfortPure Most Powerful 3-in-1 HEPASilent T10i Air Purifier: Heat + Cool + Purify - Gray
Blueair's ComfortPure 3-in-1 is the most powerful* triple-function air purifier designed to look good and perform to your preferred comfort year round. The TripleFlow Hot&Cool Technology features three unique outlets, which are designed to always deliver purified air through all three boosted modes of heating, cooling, and purifying. Independently evaluated for safety standards and third-party tested for performance as part of the AHAM Verifide Program for air cleaners, the fast purification takes only 12.5 minutes to clear the air, removing 99.97%** of all airborne pollutants down to 0.1 microns. Easy control with direct User Interface, app or through the Blueair app; 350 degree oscillation, Night and Eco mode for ultimate personalization and comfort. *Blueair 3-in-1 T10i in Boosted purification mode tested on CADR (AHAM AC-1) vs Dyson & Shark 3-in-1 air purifiers at max fan speed **Tested on PM2.5 up to 90 minutes. Tested on bacteria (S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa), virus (MS2) and mold allergen (A.niger) with a minimum reduction rate of 99.8% in 60 min. Blueair does not claim to prevent transmission of airborne illnesses.
Customer Rating
5
A nearly perfect device
on December 3, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I surprised my fiancé with this amazing air machine. She works from home and spends a lot of time in her office. Because of where that room is located in our house, it gets hot and cold when it’s not supposed to be hot and cold. Our dogs also frequently hang out in there so having a dedicated air purifier for that space seemed like a great idea. She was shocked when she found out that it was not only an air purifier, but also a heating and cooling fan.
Setting up the ComfortPure was very easy. We removed it from the box, pulled off all the stickers and removed the plastic from the filter. Once the filter was back in place, we turned on the machine and connected it to our WiFi network. Within just a few minutes, the ComfortPure was up and running. The app is easy to use but you can’t turn on the heat function with it due to safety regulations. There is a graph that reports on the temperature and the air quality in the area.
The heater is very, very strong. It pushes out a good amount of warm air and because it oscillates, it can make a room very comfortable, very quickly. The fan speed is adjustable and you have the ability to set the desired temperature and have the ComfortPure automatically maintain that temp — but only on the heat setting. The Cooling mode is not an air conditioner — it only cools through the fan.
The ComfortPure is on the large side of air purifiers, but the functionality of the device beats out the size inconvenience. It is quiet unless you have it on high fan and even then, it’s not super loud. There is a handle on the back of the unit which I really appreciate because it makes it easy to move it between rooms. One of the only complaints I have about this air machine is the fact that it is not compatible with HomeKit. You can connect it with Alexa or Google but not HomeKit. Since that is our preferred smart assistant, it was frustrating that we couldn’t use the two things together.
Overall, I would say that this is worth the investment since it can heat, cool, and purify the air in a space.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Wireless Earbuds, Now Playing. For Glory. Arctis GameBuds for Xbox bring gaming-grade 2.4GHz wireless with Quick-Switch Wireless for Bluetooth. Easily connect to Xbox, PC, handhelds, Switch, and more with a slim USB-C dongle. Tune out the noise with active noise cancellation and immerse deeper with 360° Spatial Sound while enjoying 10-hour sessions.
Customer Rating
3
Great concept, less than stellar execution
on December 1, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve been a fan of SteelSeries products for many years and as I’ve dived into mobile gaming, I’ve searched and searched for headphones that will work as I need them to for a FPS game. I’m an avid COD: Mobile player and I’ve tried many different types of earbuds and over-the-hear headset and just haven’t found that ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to gaming-on-the-go. The SteelSeries Arctis series headphones have been a good fit, but when I’m traveling, I would prefer to have earbuds. That’s why I was super excited to get these SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds. Like most tech product experiences, there are many ups and downs for these earbuds.
TLDR: The earbuds provide an above-average sound quality, but the features are quirky and there might be some Bluetooth connectivity consistency issue.
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES: The Gamebuds come in a compact charging case. The case contains the earbuds as well as the 2.4 Ghz USB-C dongle. I like this because it means that you always have a place for your dongle to live. I wish that more over-ear headphones would provide something like this on the headset so you don’t chance losing it. The earbuds come with a USB-C to USB-A charging cable and an extension connector. This is intended for the adapter so that it can connect to USB ports easily. The earbuds also come with three sets of ear gels. I found that the set that was pre-installed was a good fit for me. You want to make sure that there is a firm fit inside your ear otherwise you will get an audio leak and the sound quality will suffer. The medium size was good for me and I didn’t notice any major sound issues.
SETUP: I was able to get the earbuds setup quickly and easily. My initial devices (iPhone 16 Pro) detected the Bluetooth connection right away and the app detected them as well. I had the same experience with my iPad Pro (FYI - the companion app is not optimized for iPad). There are lots of presets available in the mobile app (SteelSeries Arctis Companion) but in order to customize your own preset you need to connect to the SteelSeries GG Client (available for macOS and Windows). I found that the same was true for Firmware updates. While the companion app does seem to give you a lot of features, there is still a lot that can’t be controlled without the desktop studio app.
One thing I was particularly disappointed with — aside from having to use a desktop app to customize my experience — was the fact that I couldn’t simply connect the earbuds using the companion app or the device’s Bluetooth settings. I had to do both. In addition, it was disappointing to find that the Quick-Switch feature only applied to switching between the 2.4 Ghz dongle and Bluetooth — not between two Bluetooth devices. Another small annoyance I had was that the app didn’t stay connected to the earbuds/case when they weren’t in use. I’m sure this is a power-saving feature but I would have liked to at least see a charging status/battery level on them, but nothing was available until the earbuds were actively in use.
COMFORT: I sometimes have trouble with the ‘fit’ of earbuds. They seem to cause too much pressure or cause me to have headaches. Fortunately, the Arctis Gamebuds didn’t have that effect on me. They were comfortable and easy to set directly in my ear. I wore them for longer listening sessions and was very happy with how I felt after wearing them. They were easy to pull out of my ears, too.
NOISE-CANCELLATION FEATURE: Because I had a good fit with the Gamebuds, I didn’t perceive any ambient noise leak and there was a fair amount of noise isolation without any ANC enabled. When I enabled ANC, I could tell that some of the room noise was deadened, but it wasn’t the same ANC experience I get with other headsets. The Transparency mode was a feature I was particularly interested in and it was a disappointment, too.
SOUND QUALITY: I did find the sound quality to be above average. I listened to music and played a few rounds of Call of Duty: Mobile and thought everything was crisp and there was good overall depth to the sound experience. The voice prompts, however, sounded as if they were recorded using an analog telephone. I tested this before and after my firmware update and there was no change. I also found that there was some digital interference when listening to music on Bluetooth mode. This issue seemed to resolve when I quit the SteelSeries companion app and just let the device do the audio processing. There was an FAQ on steelseries.com that addressed audio distortion, but the directions were to us the ‘flat’ EQ setting and I experienced my digital glitches while the EQ was flat and I was only listening to music. The only way I got the distortion to stop was to quit the app completely.
FINAL THOUGHTS: So many of my headset experiences claim to ‘mobile compatible’ but those devices end up just connecting to mobile devices via Bluetooth and many of the features are not available unless you connect to a desktop computer or console gaming device. I was looking forward to these earbuds being mobile first but it seems as though SteelSeries only adapted their over-ear headset experience to a smaller listening devices. I was happy with the sound quality (minus the digital distortion) and appreciate the feature set that should be available. I was disappointed, however, with the execution of these earbuds since I feel there is a certain expectation to be met at the mid-to-premium level earbud experience.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Unleash the limits of immersion with the Razer Kraken V4—a wireless gaming headset powered by Razer ChromaRGB. Supercharged with 3 modes of connectivity, a super wideband mic, and 9-zone earcup lighting, redefine how you play in every way imaginable.
Customer Rating
4
Superior Sound Quality - if you can use Synapse
on November 25, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve been a fan of Razer gear for a long time. The only issue I really have with their products is the lack of support for Apple devices. Razer products do work with iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers, but functionality is usually limited because their customization hub, Synapse, is only available for Windows devices. This is the only thing that kept these from getting a higher rating. That said, the Razer Kraken v4 are some of the best-sounding headphones I’ve used in a long time. I usually look at a few main areas when testing out headphones — comfort, functionality, and sound quality.
Comfort: The headset is light and the earpieces are fabric-lined. The ear cushions are very plush and the padded on the headband was soft enough that I didn’t notice the headbands at all. All the controls are easy to reach, but it was a little hard to distinguish between each of the buttons only by touch. It’s easy to pull the microphone out and replace it when you are done with it. As comfortable as they are, the earpieces are not very breathable and I found my easy getting quite warm the longer I was using them.
Functionality: As I already mentioned, Razer provides limited functions to Apple products, but it does have full features on Windows machines. I connected the headset using the 2.4Ghz receiver and the system set it as my input and output sound device. I downloaded Razer Synapse, the hub for all of Razer’s products, to my Surface Pro and it immediately detected the headset and gave me the option to select THX Spatial Audio in stead of the standard stereo. Then I unplugged it and connected it via Bluetooth to my iPad and was able to still enjoy the spatial surround sound feature. Razer Synapse stores settings directly into the device’s internal memory so customizations will still be accessible — even when you plug it into a different device. I learned about this little trick not too long ago with a different set of headphones and given Razer’s OS restrictions, I wasn’t sure if it would work with the Kraken’s but it did.
Operation of the headset — aside from the customizations you get with Synapse — is pretty standard. You turn the headset on by pressing and holding the power button located next to the USB-C port. I noticed that it went into pairing mode right away, but you can switch the connection method by double clicking the SmartSwitch button on the left ear piece. There are only two buttons on that side of the headset and the other is the game chat/balance button, which is much longer. I still found it a little hard to discern which button was which just by feel so it would be great if there was a raised bump on it or something like that to make it easier.
I love that the headset has an extendable microphone that can also be retracted when necessary. It seemed to work well and adjusting the sidetone within Razer Synapse also made it possible for me to hear myself talking in the microphone. This setting also carried over to my MacBook Pro when I switched input devices. I have been very impressed by how easy it is to switch devices by just clicking the SmartSwitch on the earpiece.
Sound Quality: With the THX Spatial Audio enabled, I was incredibly surprised about how wonderful everything sounded. I watched the opening five minutes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, which has a wide array of sound effects and advanced sound design layered together. This is something I use to test sound quality with headphones and there were some sounds that came through much cleared than they do on other headphones. Then, I listened to the soundtrack from the Charlie Brown Christmas, which is a much older recording and it was still very clear and well-defined. Finally, I listened to tracks from Wicked (the film version) and was shocked how much the reverberation on certain notes came through. The sound quality is pure and you have the ability to fine-tune your settings in Synapse.
I think the Kraken headphones are well worth the investment. They are comfortable, built well and since settings save to the device itself, as long as you have the ability to use Synapse, you can use them on multiple devices and still have the same type of sound experience no matter what device you are using.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience revolutionary home protection with eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Camera Kit. This revolutionary home security solution provides unparalleled surveillance with pro-level technologies and user-friendly features. View exceptionally detailed video footage in 4K UHD clarity. Delivering day-like image quality even in ultra-low light evening conditions without the need for a spotlight thanks to exclusive MaxColor Vision™ technology. View crystal-clear faces and license plates up to 30 ft (9 m) away even in minimal ambient light as AI-powered image processors deliver vivid colors, high dynamic range, and sharp details. Choose from four unique night vision modes to suit any lighting condition: Human Vision Mode, MaxColor Vision™ Mode: See in full color in ultra-low light conditions, Adaptive Spotlight Mode: View clear, colorful images at night, and Infrared Night Vision Mode: Delivers crisp black-and-white visuals. Enjoy up to 365 days of battery life with integrated solar panels featuring SolarPlus™ 2.0 technology. Requiring just 1 hour of daily sunlight to stay fully charged, the refined solar panel ensures partial shade won't hinder the ability to initiate charging of the camera and internal 13000mAh rechargeable battery for continuous, reliable power. Expand your power options with the included external solar panel. Minimize false alerts with dual motion detection that combines radar and passive infrared (PIR) technology. Enjoy added peace of mind with precise notifications for human and vehicle movements, ensuring you never miss important events. The motion-activated Adaptive Spotlight adjusts lighting for optimal footage quality and energy efficiency. With 16GB of built-in local storage*, when connected to the included HomeBase S380, you gain up to 16TB expandable storage with no monthly fees. As a centralized eufy home security hub, HomeBase S380 allows you to manage connected eufy Security devices seamlessly, compile footage, and create unified event overviews—all accessible via the eufy app anytime, from anywhere. The eufy app allows you to set customizable detection zones, enjoy 24/7 smart snapshots that capture periodic images for efficient surveillance, and communicate in real-time with delivery drivers or visitors, The camera's dual-mic array and AI-driven noise reduction technology, captures voices up to 26 ft (8 m) away.
Customer Rating
5
Great Local Security System
on November 11, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve always wanted to ensure my property was kept safe — even when I wasn’t there to look after it. I remember watching people rifle through my garbage that was set out for heavy trash pickup simply because it was accessible. The problem with that is that if someone were to get injured while on my property, I become liable for that. So, I like to make sure that my bases are covered with security cameras. I have several around the house, including eufyCams. When the opportunity to add these two solar-powered cameras and the newer HomeBase to my system, I couldn’t pass that up.
The first thing I did — even before unboxing it — was to see if my current Eufy products were compatible (2 x eufyCam 2 Pro, Smart Drop, Floodlight Cam, Video Doorbell E340). Fortunately, they all were, but I had to transfer them from the HomeBase 2 over to the HomeBase S380, which comes with the eufyCam S3 Pro. This should have been a painless process. Eufy has it set up to where you can transfer devices from one hub to another as long as they are both connected to the same network. One of my cameras had to be charged, and the Smart Drop never gave me the option to transfer it. This was disappointing because it meant that I had to remove the Smart Drop and re-add it from its default state.
One of the reasons I like Eufy products is because they are extremely easy to use and set up. Aside from this transfer issue, I’ve never had any problems with getting them connected and working as they should. So having this little mishap was unfortunate. All that said, if this is your first eufyCam setup, it’s a very straightforward process.
First, you connect the HomeBase to Ethernet and power. The app will prompt you to update the firmware, which takes around 5 minutes. Next, you’ll add your cameras. The app will direct you to press the sync button on the bottom of the camera and wait for the HomeBase to capture the device. This should only take a moment or two. Then you are up and running.
The image quality is outstanding. I was absolutely amazed at how well images and video were picked up by the cameras — especially at night. I set one of the new cameras up on our front patio and one on our back patio. The back patio is much closer to the HomeBase than the front patio, so that camera does seem to be quicker to respond to connection requests than the other.
One of my favorite features of the Eufy cameras is that the HomeBase stores the recordings locally — not in a cloud somewhere. I’m grateful that these cameras have built-in solar panels. I did charge them completely before setting them up outside, so the solar panels keep them powered up. This was one of my biggest complaints about other cameras — having to charge them.
This is a great camera system, and I love the upgrades that Eufy has made in the past few years. I would recommend these to anyone looking to get a local security system.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Small but mighty, the Nextbase Piqo 2K delivers premium performance in an ultra-compact design. This dash cam captures every critical detail in stunning 1440p HD, whether you're driving in bright sunlight or on dark roads. With built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, the Piqo 2K offers seamless connectivity and real-time tracking, letting you easily access, edit, and share footage through the Nextbase App. The Piqo 2K goes beyond capturing footage—it's designed to be your complete driving companion. Smart Parking ensures your vehicle is monitored while you're away, automatically recording any knocks or bumps and notifying you via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Guardian Mode Lite allows you to set limits for anyone borrowing your car, so you're always in control. In emergencies, the Piqo 2K’s Emergency SOS system contacts services and sends your GPS location, while Witness Mode Lite alerts a loved one if something goes wrong. Piqo 2K doesn’t just provide protection—it offers peace of mind every time you’re on the road. With its powerful features, the Piqo 2K is more than just a dash cam—it’s a smarter, simpler way to safeguard what matters most.
Customer Rating
4
Robust Dash Camera System
on November 4, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
One of the more important add-ons someone can get for their car is a dash cam. I’m a big proponent of dash cams and think that everyone should have one. It gives a lot of peace of mind when driving. The problem I think most people have is integrating them into their cars. Installation and preparation of the camera can be burdensome. Fortunately, this particular dash cam is the answer to that problem. The Piqo 2K Dash Camera is a great travel companion. It’s easy to use and very affordable. Here are some things I really like about it.
First, it comes with a microSD card. The camera can accept up to 256GB SD card. I can never seem to find an SD card when I need one, which is why I’m glad that a 32GB one is included. Next, it comes with all the tools needed for a successful installation. One of the big issues I have with dash cams is running the power cable. The Piqo comes with a 13-foot USB-C cable and a car power adapter. If you place the dash camera behind your rearview mirror, which is where the installation guide suggests, you should have plenty of cables available to route around your windshield. A fitting tool is included so that you can properly manage the cable and tuck it into the car’s frame.
Once the camera is physically installed, you can make sure that all your settings are set just the way you want using the mobile app on your phone. Now, here is where I found a little bit of an issue with the system. Any time you want to access the camera, the app has to establish a WiFi connection between your phone and the camera. While you typically wouldn’t be accessing data on the camera while you are driving, this poses a problem for me since I use a device that has wireless CarPlay functionality when I’m driving. Since you can only be connected to one WiFi network at a time, this is a bit of an issue for anyone who wants to use a device that requires a WiFi connection.
I also think that some of the features’ names are a bit confusing. For example, the Smart Parking feature is designed to record events when there are hits or knocks on your car. While I love that this feature exists, I thought ‘Smart Parking’ would somehow provide assistance while I was in the process of parking.
I did find the recording functionality to be superb. It is very sensitive and actually recorded some actions when I was setting up the camera. I guess I bumped it a couple of times, and the camera interpreted that as an event it needed to record. I thought the quality of the video was excellent, and it was easy to tell what the events were from the thumbnails in the video library. I love the Live View mode, but again, I wish the connection could be made without establishing a WiFi network between the camera and the phone.
This is a very robust dash camera system for the investment you make. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone and I would get it again.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Take your aerial photography and videography skills to the next level with the F28 Foldable GPS Drone and. The F28 is designed to cater to the needs of both adults and kids alike, making it perfect for families. With a 2K Full HD Time-Lapse photography feature you will be able to create stunning time lapses of scenery, construction projects or events for marketing and personal use.
Customer Rating
4
App Needs Work, but it’s fun to fly
on October 28, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
When I sat down to set up the Contixo F28 GPS Drone, I had some doubts. I read many of the reviews that were published about it, and since I saw that there were a lot of issues with connecting to the drone and setting up the app, I was concerned that my experience wouldn’t be very positive. While I did dislike some of the design choices of the manufacturer, I ended up having a lot of fun flying the drone.
DESIGN
The overall design of the drone could use some work. It’s made with very lightweight, cheap-feeling plastic. It looks like the design was mocked up after other foldable drones from more premium brands. This isn’t really where I had my issues. It was the controller. At first glance, it looks and feels like a child’s toy. It is functional, but its parts are so lightweight and not easy to manipulate (unfold from its body) that I had a hard time getting past its design to its function. When I flipped it over and saw a battery door, I almost gave up entirely because the last thing I wanted to deal with was disposable batteries. When I opened the door, I found a Lithium-ion battery pack (702030 3.7V 300mAh) that was connected to the controller. This battery pack is rechargeable, but the connector for it is micro USB, which was a letdown since it’s such outdated technology at this point. In my opinion, I believe this controller was probably an older design and repurposed for this particular drone without being updated.
SET UP
The setup requires a couple of different steps. First, you need to download the app. I was using an iPhone 16 Pro running iOS 18.0.1, and the version of the Contixo F28 app was version 1.03. I didn’t have any issue with connecting to the drone’s WiFi network and once I did, the app opened up the camera and I could use it while I was flying. I followed the instructions in the manual and didn’t have any major issues with getting the drone in the air.
THE APP
There were several reports I read of the app not being compatible with the latest iOS version. I was fortunate in that the app had been updated just a few days before I set up the drone. That said, it’s not 100% optimized for iPhone 16 Pro. The edges of the app go to the edges of the iPhone, and it is only viewable in landscape mode. That means that the Dynamic Island ends up covering some of the menu controls. While you can still access the menus, you can’t see them. You have to tap on a certain area and then hope you are getting the right thing. Aside from that, I was able to access photos and videos that I captured and save them to my phone. The app kept giving me a ‘no SD card warning,’ but there was no place to put an SD card on the drone. Media was simply saved to my Photo library (after I gave it permission).
FLIGHT EXPERIENCE
I had a lot of fun flying the drone. It was actually very peppy, and while I didn’t have a speedometer, I thought it was pretty quick. I only flew the drone in my backyard, but it’s fairly sizable. I flew it from one end to the other and stopped quickly when I let off the controls. I didn’t find that it did automatic avoidance of obstacles, and I did fly it into a pine tree once. The drone immediately lost connection and dropped to the ground. I estimate that it was about 10-12 feet in the air when it fell. Surprisingly enough, the drone was unharmed, and once I straightened out its legs, it was able to fly again with no issues.
I’m not 100% sure I would recommend this for beginners since it took some technical experience to get started with this drone, but it was a lot of fun to fly, and it’s very cost-effective. It comes with a very handy travel case, which is great for storage of the entire set-up. It’s not perfect, but a person can have fun with it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Eye is moving—and it’s fallen onto our Mech Keys community. What began as a keycap set has now taken shape as a full board. Meet the Drop + The Lord of the Rings Black Speech Keyboard: a Mordor-inspired centerpiece poised to conquer your desktop. New to this build is a matching black aluminum case with custom artwork by OSHETART depicting the Eye of Sauron atop Barad-dûr. Beyond the aesthetics, the typing is scary-good, too, thanks to our Phantom Stabilizers paired with our Holy Panda X Switches for a tactile feel worthy of the Dark Lord himself. One does not simply walk into this keyboard.
Customer Rating
5
Great gaming keyboard, switches a bit stiff
on October 20, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
Being a fan of LOTR and mechanical keyboards, I felt this Drop + was a sure winner for me. What I found was that the keys are a little too stiff for me to enjoy fully. It’s a very unique keyboard. Right from taking it out of the box, you feel the influence of LOTR. I love the little details, such as the ‘one ring’ as the FN key on the right side of the spacebar and the ESC key. Since I don’t speak ‘black speech,’ I have no idea if the characters provided correspond in any fashion to the American-English alphabet. And, even though I have a lot of muscle memory built up from years of typing experience, it’s helpful that the English alphabet is included on the keys as well.
There is a unique curve to the keys that almost makes them feel concave. I rather like it, and instead of a little carat on the F and J keys, the dip in the key is larger and more noticeable than the other surrounding keys. I thought this was another nice touch.
Pros
Unique design
Nice curve to keys
The keyboard is responsive overall
The 75% layout has all the main keys in a layout that I like.
Nice curve to keys
The keyboard is responsive overall
The 75% layout has all the main keys in a layout that I like.
Cons
It’s not directly compatible with macOS
The switches have stiffer actuation than I am used to.
Not wireless
The switches have stiffer actuation than I am used to.
Not wireless
One thing I wasn’t a huge fan of was that it wasn’t directly compatible with macOS since I use both systems. I was, however, able to change the modifier keys in the macOS System software. This made it much closer to the layout I’m familiar with on that system.
The DROP keyboard is very heavy. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. To mean, that means ‘quality’ with a keyboard like this. The aluminum body is solid, and it, combined with the Holy Panda X Tactile switches and MT3 keycaps, is a great combination. The lighting of the keyboard left something to be desired. It doesn’t get very bright, and there are no options for changing to a different color. Another downside to this particular keyboard is that it is not wireless.
Even though the Holy Panda switches are supposed to be good for typing, I found them to be quite stiff, and they actually hindered me from being as accurate as I normally am. As a gaming keyboard, it’s fantastic. I didn’t have any issues with finding the keys I wanted, but for long-form typing, it’s just not the best companion.
All in all, I think this keyboard is fantastic, and for LOTR fans, it’s a great piece of memorabilia for the franchise.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience unrivalled comfort with LinkBuds Fit earbuds. With excellent sound and call quality, and improved Ambient Sound Mode, staying connected to the people and content you love has never been easier.
Customer Rating
5
Comfortable, compact earbuds
on October 11, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
The box for the LinkBuds has an outer wrap to it that seals on the bottom. The inner box has a magnetic closure and when you lift the lid you’ll find a 1-2-3 illustrative instruction graphic. You are instructed to download the app, put the earbuds in your ears, and then connect to the app. If you pull on the tab that has the graphic on it you will lift out the inner carton, which contains the earbuds in their charging case, a packet with the user manual and safety information, ear gels, and a short USB-C charging cable.
Pairing the Sony LinkBuds is effortless and when you connect to multiple devices, the LinkBuds automatically recognize what device you are using. The earbud controls use a unique tap control mechanism, allowing you to tap in front of your ear rather than directly on the earbud. It also supports hands-free control through head gestures, such as nodding to accept calls or shaking your head to reject them. However, the wide-area tapping system can take some time to adjust to, as it may feel unintuitive at first and can lead to occasional misinterpretations or inconsistencies in response.
Sony’s companion app, Sony Headphones Connect, provides control over many features, including noise-canceling levels, equalizer settings, and firmware updates. While the app offers a lot of functionality, it can also be frustrating at times. Updates may take longer than expected, and some users report difficulty navigating through its more complex features, particularly for new users unfamiliar with the app’s layout and functionality.
The earbuds are very comfortable, even when you wear them for longer periods of time. I didn’t notice any soreness and I found them to be remarkably lightweight. I didn’t do an extensive workout with them but I did ride my bike and walk around our neighborhood with them in. They stayed in place securely and I wasn’t worried about them slipping at all.
The sound quality is impressive. They deliver a very rich listening experience. The bass is punchy without being overwhelming and you can fine-tune your settings using the EQ in the app. I really appreciate the adaptive noise canceling (ANC) feature because it intelligently adjusts to your surroundings. It blocks out background noise well, but the ANC can be less crisp than the normal listening mode. I found call quality to be better than other earbuds and calls generally come through crisp and understandable. I’ve used them for both work and personal use.
The battery life is good and thanks to the charging case provides up to 21 hours of total playback. They aren’t wireless charging compatible which was a letdown, but they do have a quick charging feature. The design of these earbuds stood out to me even though the charging case is a little thicker than some other earbud cases. They are remarkably small and it’s nice that several different colors are offered.
The Sony LinkBuds offer a great balance of comfort, sound quality, and innovative features. Their seamless setup, tap controls, and adaptive noise canceling provide a versatile and enjoyable user experience.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Type, sketch, view and read with the Combo Touch keyboard case. A flexible kickstand and a full-size, detachable keyboard give you multiple use modes for any task. Take iPad further with a bigger trackpad that gives you superior, intuitive tracking experience with familiar Multi-Touch gesture controls.
Customer Rating
5
Very nice accessory for iPad Pro
on October 9, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I’ve used keyboard cases with my iPads for years. I find they are the most logical option for using an iPad as a personal computing device. Some of them connect via Bluetooth, but they just aren’t a good option, in my opinion. They tend to lag more than a direct connection, and you have to worry about making sure they are charged. This is why I really like the cases that connect using the magnetic connector on the iPad. I’ve been so impressed with this Logitech case because of its direct connection.
DESIGN
I was so impressed with the design of this case. It’s in two pieces, so you can use the bumper case portion autonomously from the keyboard or stick the keyboard on and be on your way. The material that is used as the covering has a smooth, soft feel to it. While this material makes fingerprints and smudges show up a bit more than other cases, I have found it fairly easy to clean. The case doesn’t feel overly bulky or heavy, in my opinion. The kickstand folds into the case so that it’s almost invisible. One of the big downsides I found with the design of the case was the function of the kickstand. It is best suited for a solid, flat surface, so it doesn’t work particularly well in a person’s lap. I used my iPad a lot in my lap, so I’m not a big fan of how awkward it is to hold in that manner. The other downside is that when the iPad is in the bumper case, it won’t mount magnetically to my articulating desk mount.
EASE OF USE
Because the case utilizes the iPad’s magnetic connector, the setup was very quick and easy. It was a little difficult to install the iPad into the bumper case since its corners are rigid, but if you start on the camera system side and press it into the case first, you should be able to work the rest of the case around the border of the iPad. The keyboard feels great, and the keys are very responsive. I typed quite a bit on it before writing this review and even completed a typing test online. While my average typing speed and accuracy were a little slower than normal, it wasn’t so much lower that I thought the keyboard was hindering my skills.
Overall, this is a great option for a protective, useful keyboard case.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed for easy hands-on espresso exploration, take your espresso based drinks to the next level - create wherever your curiosity takes you - from Espresso, Americano, Latte, to Cappucino and much more.
Customer Rating
5
Make fancy coffee from the comfort of your own kit
on October 8, 2024
Posted by: nickcal
I enjoy a nice cup of coffee every once in a while. My fiancé drinks it every morning, though, and we were both thrilled to add this espresso machine to our kitchen appliances. Not only does it have a stainless steel finish, which matches most of our other appliances, but it makes fantastic coffee drinks. Plus, we love KitchenAid devices. They hold up well and we’ve never really had one fail on us.
The unboxing process was a bit cumbersome as there were a lot of pieces and parts included. The machine itself is all one piece and no assembly is required, but there are a lot of parts that are wrapped up with tape and plastic that have to be unwrapped before you can start using it. Many years ago we had a ‘fancy’ coffee drink maker, but it used coffee pods instead of coffee beans. So, this machine presented a whole new adventure to us. In fact, we had to purchase whole coffee beans since we only had ground coffee at home when this machine arrived. The truth is that you could probably use pre-ground coffee and just press it, but the freshly ground coffee just tastes so much better.
So, the first thing you do is grind your beans into a powder. You have the ability to select how fine or coarse you want your coffee grounds to be. Once you have your coffee grounded up, you press it into a firm disk inside the portafilter and put the entire assembly under the Group Head to brew the espresso. This part of the process isn’t difficult, and within just a few minutes, you can have your fancy coffee. There are various settings to go through to fine-tune your drink how you want it. You have the option to steam milk if you want and, of course, you can add different flavors to your coffee.
To me, this is a great way to have a premium coffee drink at home. The only downside is the clean-up. It’s a fairly messy process — especially if you make the steamed milk. The machine doesn’t take up too much more space than a full-size coffee maker does. And, as an added benefit, there are rollers on the back so that you can slide it in and out on a counter easily.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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nickcal's Answers
Life’s extraordinary moments deserve to be captured with smooth video. DJI OM 4 is a magnetic gimbal designed to complement your smartphone, allowing you to start recording right away. Ultra-compact, easy to use, and bursting with intelligent features, OM 4 is the ultimate solution for capturing and sharing your world.
Does the magnetic sticker phone attachment interfere with wireless phone charging?
Ensure meals are cooked evenly with this Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1e microwave. The grill, convection oven and microwave functions provide a variety of cooking options, while the Element IQ technology precisely delivers the right cooking temperature for optimal results. This Breville the Combi Wave 3-in-1 microwave features a Power Smoothing inverter for automatic adjustment of power to enable even heat distribution.
Is this an air fryer, microwave and convection oven
Simplify your everyday life with the Google Home, a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant. Use voice commands to enjoy music, get answers from Google and manage everyday tasks. Google Home is compatible with Android and iOS operating systems, and can control compatible smart devices such as Chromecast or Nest."
Will Google Home work with ECOBEE Thermostat?
No. Unfortunately, Google has limited functionality to only the Nest thermostat. At this time, I don't see them opening up support for third parties as they are probably trying to push it with their own hardware, but that could always change.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
nickcal
Enjoy a compact tablet that fits neatly in your pocket with this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet. It includes a quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM that deliver powerful processing to play all your games and apps, and the 16GB of flash memory ensure this Acer Iconia One 8-inch tablet and store your files.
can i download skype
Depends on the Google Play store. If Microsoft has a version of Skype for Android then yes.
9 years, 1 month ago
by
nickcal