optimummind's stats
- Review count155
- Helpfulness votes4,844
- First reviewJune 28, 2014
- Last reviewSeptember 24, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.7
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- Answer count23
- Helpfulness votes25
- First answerAugust 30, 2017
- Last answerMarch 4, 2021
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Light up any room with the SmartThings smart bulb that's easy to control from your smartphone or tablet. Turn on the living room lamps as you're heading home, dim the lights from movie night, or schedule them to turn off before bed. It's a smarter way to light your house while saving money on energy costs.
Customer Rating
5
Good, Simple, Value Smart Bulb
on June 20, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
=== The Review ===
The SmartThings Smart Bulb, for the price group it's in, is a simple and nice smart bulb. Its brightness level is acceptable and normal (~800 lumen), it's dimmable, and it can be scheduled to turn on or off easily via the easy-to-use SmartThings app.
Voice control is possible as well through the Google Assistant/Google Home app and Samsung Bixby AI assistant (for Samsung phone owners).
Compared to other smart bulbs that connect via a hub, however, I found one feature to be missing - bulb statistics such as Power Consumption, Online Time, Power Cycles, and Power. This isn't a critically important feature but it would've been nice to include inside the SmartThings app.
With that said, the bulb works well and it carried out its essential duties very well including automation commands. The pricing is good value as well. Good stuff.
_____
*Pros:
_____
*Pros:
-Easy installation and setup.
-Also compatible with Google Assistant/Google Home & Samsung Bixby.
-Dimmable between 1% to 100%.
-$9.99 is great price for a smart LED bulb.
-Stable & reliable connection & operation inside my home.
-I like the 2700K color. It blends well with my other lighting around the house.
_____
*Neutral:
-Also compatible with Google Assistant/Google Home & Samsung Bixby.
-Dimmable between 1% to 100%.
-$9.99 is great price for a smart LED bulb.
-Stable & reliable connection & operation inside my home.
-I like the 2700K color. It blends well with my other lighting around the house.
_____
*Neutral:
-I wish it was a bit brighter, like 1000 lumen.
-Can't be placed too far away from the SmartThings hub.
_____
*Cons:
-Can't be placed too far away from the SmartThings hub.
_____
*Cons:
-Doesn't show detailed bulb statistics.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+9points
12of 15voted this as helpful.
Control your small appliances from a smartphone by plugging it into this Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi smart plug. Compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant enables seamless voice control. This Samsung SmartThings Wi-Fi smart plug lets you trigger lights to automatically turn on and off, and it extends the range of your devices when plugged into a wall outlet.
Customer Rating
5
Useful addition to a smart home.
on June 19, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
=== The Review ===
The Samsung SmartThings Smart Wifi Plug is a simple yet highly functional component for a smart home. By plugging in lights, electronics, and small appliances to it, you can easily control the Power On and Power Off state from anywhere in the world.
Installation is super simple. Plug in the Smart Plug into a wall outlet, wait for it to blink (pairing mode), launch the SmartThings app and click "Add device," and scan the QR code sticker inside the packaging. Now all you have to do is to plug in something to it.
I chose to plug in my living room lights to it and I'm using the SmartThings app to automate when it turns on and off. Setting up an automation routine was also very easy. I clicked on "Add automation," "Smart Lighting," "New Lighting Automation," selected the Smart Wifi Plug as the device I want to control, and I told it to turn on at 5:30 AM and turn off at 6:15 AM Monday through Friday.
I used the time trigger in the above example but there are numerous other triggers to choose from such as Motion, Open/Close, Lock, Button, At Sunrise/Sunset, etc.
You can also voice control the Smart Wifi Plug via the Google Assistant after linking the SmartThings service into Google Home. If you have a Samsung phone, such as my Galaxy S10+, then the Bixby assistant can also be used for voice control. Super handy~!
Google Home, like the SmartThings app, also offer automation controls (Google calls them Routines). Between the two, however, I prefer using the SmartThings app because I like its layout better & it's much easier & faster to set up automation commands (way less menus to jump through).
Another cool functionality found inside the SmartThings app for the Smart Plug is the display of Energy Consumption and Power Meter. According to the app, my living room light has consumed 530.0 Wh of energy with 52.0 W of power.
All in all, this is a smartly designed product that is easy to setup and start using right away. Highly recommended.
_____
*Pros:
*Pros:
-Very quick & simple installation.
-Worked very well with both the SmartThings and the Google Home app.
-Setting up automations/routines was very simple.
-Voice control possible with Google Assistant and Samsung Bixby.
-SmartThings app shows Energy Consumption and Power Meter.
_____
*Cons:
-Worked very well with both the SmartThings and the Google Home app.
-Setting up automations/routines was very simple.
-Voice control possible with Google Assistant and Samsung Bixby.
-SmartThings app shows Energy Consumption and Power Meter.
_____
*Cons:
-None
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+10points
10of 10voted this as helpful.
Step into virtual reality with this Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset. The advanced optics produce a sharp display with bright, vivid colors, and Oculus Insight tracking removes the need for external sensors to convert movements into virtual reality. This Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset has a fit wheel that secures the headset with a quick twist.
Customer Rating
5
LOVE IT. So MUCH fun. BLEW me away.
on June 7, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
=== Summary ===
The Oculus Rift S virtual reality system BLEW me away with its immersion, fun games, excellent controllers, superb motion tracking, and its ability to transport me away into wonderful & engrossing virtual worlds. The headset is very comfortable and weighted in a balanced way. I can game for hours and not feel head or neck fatigue. The audio is just so-so but a pair of good headphones or speakers can take care of that. There aren't a lot of triple-A games but there are some really fun ones out there and the library is continually growing. All in all, the Rift S is a FANTASTIC piece of VR kit that is highly entertaining & fun to use. Even better, setup is fast and simple thanks to no external sensors, the Passthrough camera, and great Inside-Out tracking. Highly recommended.
_____
*Pros:
*Pros:
-Simple, quick, & easy installation and setup.
-Only one cable connection needed to PC (the end of the cable neatly splits up into a USB Type A & Display Port).
-Display Port to mini-Display Port adapter included.
-3.5mm audio jack included for connecting your own headphones.
-The Halo-style headset is very comfortable & weight is well-balanced. Doesn't put pressure on the nose.
-Easy to adjust for different head sizes with top velcro strap & back adjustment knob.
-The Touch controllers are light and very intuitive & easy to use.
-Inside-Out Tracking worked precisely to detect my head, arm, and hand movements. Also makes setup easier & quicker compared to using external room sensors.
-"Passthrough mode" is cool & enables one to see his or her surroundings even with the headset on.
-The "Guardian" feature is very helpful by setting up a "safe zone" in the room to play and move around in.
-Worked flawlessly with my gaming desktop (RTX 2080) & gaming laptop (Alienware m17, RTX 2070 Max Q).
-Depends on the game or video but the graphics are very nice & immersive.
-The pricing is right.
-Thanks to the cord, no batteries to recharge or heavy powerpacks to carry around.
-If you have a laptop that meets the requirements, the Rift S can become a portable VR gaming system. Good for family & friend gatherings.
-The Oculus Store app is easy to navigate, make purchases from, and adjust Rift S settings.
-Worked well with the "SteamVR" and "HTC Viveport Infinity" game store apps.
-The future of VR seems bright & there is a consistent influx of games including triple-A, Oculus exclusives.
_____
*Neutral:
-Only one cable connection needed to PC (the end of the cable neatly splits up into a USB Type A & Display Port).
-Display Port to mini-Display Port adapter included.
-3.5mm audio jack included for connecting your own headphones.
-The Halo-style headset is very comfortable & weight is well-balanced. Doesn't put pressure on the nose.
-Easy to adjust for different head sizes with top velcro strap & back adjustment knob.
-The Touch controllers are light and very intuitive & easy to use.
-Inside-Out Tracking worked precisely to detect my head, arm, and hand movements. Also makes setup easier & quicker compared to using external room sensors.
-"Passthrough mode" is cool & enables one to see his or her surroundings even with the headset on.
-The "Guardian" feature is very helpful by setting up a "safe zone" in the room to play and move around in.
-Worked flawlessly with my gaming desktop (RTX 2080) & gaming laptop (Alienware m17, RTX 2070 Max Q).
-Depends on the game or video but the graphics are very nice & immersive.
-The pricing is right.
-Thanks to the cord, no batteries to recharge or heavy powerpacks to carry around.
-If you have a laptop that meets the requirements, the Rift S can become a portable VR gaming system. Good for family & friend gatherings.
-The Oculus Store app is easy to navigate, make purchases from, and adjust Rift S settings.
-Worked well with the "SteamVR" and "HTC Viveport Infinity" game store apps.
-The future of VR seems bright & there is a consistent influx of games including triple-A, Oculus exclusives.
_____
*Neutral:
-No physical mechanism to adjust for IPD (only software).
-Not a lot of triple-A titles at the moment.
-Audio quality could be better. I wish Oculus would make some snap-on headphones for the Rift S.
-Performing bow and arrow movements are awkward. The tracking "loses" my hand position when I pull the arrow back too far behind my head.
-Although MUCH better than Samsung Gear VR level of VR headsets, I wish the resolution was higher & denser. I can see pixels and jaggies often times. Still, it's good enough for most.
_____
*Cons:
-Not a lot of triple-A titles at the moment.
-Audio quality could be better. I wish Oculus would make some snap-on headphones for the Rift S.
-Performing bow and arrow movements are awkward. The tracking "loses" my hand position when I pull the arrow back too far behind my head.
-Although MUCH better than Samsung Gear VR level of VR headsets, I wish the resolution was higher & denser. I can see pixels and jaggies often times. Still, it's good enough for most.
_____
*Cons:
-The cord becomes tangled up severely pretty easily. It's very annoying & time consuming to untangle.
-No demo modes to try out games before purchase inside Oculus Store. Use the free trial of the HTC Viveport Infinity game service to try out games before buying.
-No demo modes to try out games before purchase inside Oculus Store. Use the free trial of the HTC Viveport Infinity game service to try out games before buying.
=== My VR Background ===
The Rift S is my first "real" VR headset and I LOVE this thing. It has made me into a "believer" in VR and I like how my gaming spectrum has been expanded as a result. Having used a Samsung Gear VR before when I used to own a Galaxy S7 Edge, I feel like I am being taken to the next, higher level with the Rift S. With superior optics, "inside-out" motion tracking from its five sensors, and precise Touch controllers, there is simply no comparison. Whereas the Gear VR got used less than a handful of times from me, the Rift S has been used daily ever since I got my hands on one. My wife and 4-year-old daughter also LOVE it~! :D
=== Design: Ergonomics & Handling ===
Almost all of the hardware aspects of the Rift S are excellent. It looks cool, it's well-weighted & comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, headset adjustments are quick & simple to perform, the controllers are light & intuitive in operation, the single cord makes setup fast & easy, and the lens provide crisp & immersive visuals (my IPD is ~65mm).
I like the Touch controllers a lot for their light weight, great button layout, and precise movements in the VR environment.
The "Inside-Out Tracking" from the five sensors located on the headset worked very well in all the games I played except for when using the bow & arrow in some games. My arrow hand would get "lost" sometimes when I pulled the arrow back too far behind my head. Otherwise, everything just worked very well when grabbing objects, picking up & throwing things, slashing objects & foes, and shooting guns, etc.
The Inside-Out Tracking feature also brings in other benefits such as the super convenient & helpful "Passthrough Mode" and "Guardian system." Passthrough Mode allows one to see and view their real-life surroundings even with the headset over their face so you can avoid bumping & tripping into things inside the room. The Guardian system allows you to "draw" a Safe Zone inside your room and helps you stay inside of it so that, again, you are protected from bumping into things. They are both very slick and well executed.
The audio was the only aspect that was underwhelming. With no ear muffs physically covering over your ears, there is a lot of sound leakage in and out. The volume doesn't get very loud either. On the other hand, however, this is good because you can easily hear and respond to people talking to you.
In order to improve my audio experience, I played games & viewed content using my in-ear earphones, over-the-head headphones, or my 5.1-channel soundbar system connected to my PC. It made a HUGE difference & increased sense of immersion and engagement.
Besides the audio, I only have one other complaint - the cord. I don't mind that there is a cord connection to the PC. I do mind, however, the tendency of the cord to easily become tangled upon itself. Although it's not hard, it is very time-consuming to untangle each time. I wish Oculus would've used some sort of braided design to prevent the cord from tangling up in the first place, kind of like how HP includes a nicely braided power cord for their Spectre x360 laptops.
With that said, I'm nevertheless tremendously satisfied and happy with the overall Rift S package. It is such marvelous engineering that makes access to virtual worlds so easy and fun.
=== Game Library & VR Experience ===
Compared to other gaming systems (consoles, PC), the amount of games out there are relatively small which makes finding quality games kind of hard. Each respective VR game store that I used - the Oculus store, SteamVR, and HTC Viveport Infinity - hosted many games from different genres that was easy to sort through and read reviews on. None of the stores, however, allowed me to download a Demo version of the game to try out before making a purchase. I heavily relied on YouTube reviews before making a purchase decision. Each game store, however, did a pretty good job making recommendations.
During my search, I discovered some really fun games such as Beat Saber, Racket NX, Lucky's Tale, Superhot VR, Robo Recall, Lone Echo, and Sairento.
My current FAVORITE VR game is Beat Saber and it is tremendous fun. Although the game comes with a decent selection of music to dance/play to, my Beat Saber experience shot up exponentially after I installed some mods and enabled custom music tracks. To install custom tracks, I used two apps - Mod Assistant and BeatDrop 2. Both apps are free and I used them to import and play tens of custom soundtracks. If you want a good workout, I recommend Psy's "Daddy" and "Gangnam Style." Black Pink also has many catchy and fast-paced songs.
Mod Assistant for Beat Saber can be downloaded here:
https://github.com/Assistant/ModAssistant/releases/
Link to BeatDrop 2:
https://bsaber.com/beatdrop/
Another game I had lots of fun with was Sairento. Using super ninja skills with guns and swords, I shot & sliced through enemies feeling like an action hero.
After experiencing VR gaming through the Rift S, I can say that I'm now a fan of VR gaming and I'm super stoked for its future. The immersiveness and experience are so cool and fun, I currently put on hold playing "traditional" games such as Resident Evil 2 Remake, Rage 2, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
With no motion sickness and vertigo, I'm having a blast with the Rift S. I highly recommend that everyone try it out.
=== Verdict ===
Being my first true VR system, the Rift S has opened my eyes and heart to the wonderful world of VR gaming. With a well-designed and comfortable headset, superb motion tracking, great clarity, excellent controllers, and fun selection of games and other media, the Rift S has brought me joy, wonder, and much fun. Thank you, Oculus, for such an awesome experience~!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+121points
144of 167voted this as helpful.
Observe proper speed limits while driving with this Escort iXc radar detector. The GPS-enabled AutoLearn technology and improved IVT Filter prevent the reoccurrence of false alerts for precise tracking and reduction of unwanted distractions. This Escort iXc radar detector is compatible with Wi-Fi-connected cars for automatic firmware and software updates.
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Detector with Many Useful Features
on April 30, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
==== Summary ====
The Escort iXc radar & laser detector is an excellent early-warning system that provides drivers with peace-of-mind, safety, and protection from speed radars, speed cams, and speed traps. Via useful features such as Intelligent Speed Sensitivity scanning, updatable IVT filters, AutoLearn, and Defender Database, the frequency of false alerts are greatly reduced & true "threats" are quickly identified. In addition, the design & build-quality is top-notch with nice extras such as the 12V SmartCord USB cord & the ability to connect via Wifi or Bluetooth for easy updates. It is a fantastic and very helpful road companion.
_____
Pro's:
Pro's:
-Easy to install & setup.
-Uses a very sturdy & quick mounting system with a STRONG magnetic mounting mechanism.
-Looks cool.
-Comes with a nice, durable carrying case.
-Bright, easy-to-read, and informative OLED screen.
-Updatable Defender Database alerts for Red Light Camera & Speed Trap locations.
-Auto-Learn GPS tech rejects false alerts.
-Updatable IVT (In-Vehicle Technology) filter prevents false alerts.
-SmartCord USB power cable can also charge your phone at the same time (at up to 2A).
-The Escort Live companion app offers numerous settings to fine-tune the detection range.
-The iXc's mounting mechanism is compatible with Escort's M1 dashcam that reduces cord clutter.
-Easily & quickly connects to Wifi (car Wifi, mobile HotSpot) and Bluetooth that unlocks extra functionality and fine-tuning.
-Uses a very sturdy & quick mounting system with a STRONG magnetic mounting mechanism.
-Looks cool.
-Comes with a nice, durable carrying case.
-Bright, easy-to-read, and informative OLED screen.
-Updatable Defender Database alerts for Red Light Camera & Speed Trap locations.
-Auto-Learn GPS tech rejects false alerts.
-Updatable IVT (In-Vehicle Technology) filter prevents false alerts.
-SmartCord USB power cable can also charge your phone at the same time (at up to 2A).
-The Escort Live companion app offers numerous settings to fine-tune the detection range.
-The iXc's mounting mechanism is compatible with Escort's M1 dashcam that reduces cord clutter.
-Easily & quickly connects to Wifi (car Wifi, mobile HotSpot) and Bluetooth that unlocks extra functionality and fine-tuning.
_____
Neutral:
Neutral:
-Defender Database updates require a subscription after the 1-year complimentary period. It's $49.95 for 3 years. If this service was free, I'm sure a lot more people would contribute to the crowd-sourced database.
-Voice alerts aren't very clear & sound a bit artificial.
-Doesn't come with a physical user manual that explains all the detector settings & what they are for. I had to look up information online. At least a concise paper guide with settings recommendations for different states would've been nice to have.
-Voice alerts aren't very clear & sound a bit artificial.
-Doesn't come with a physical user manual that explains all the detector settings & what they are for. I had to look up information online. At least a concise paper guide with settings recommendations for different states would've been nice to have.
_____
Cons:
Cons:
-None
==== Design, Build Quality, & Usage Experience ====
The Escort iXc is quite a handsome & durable detector kit. The unit feels solid and well-made with tight manufacturing tolerances. Its design, I believe, will allow it to easily blend in with most car interiors.
The "EZ Mag Mount" mounting mechanism is super solid & secure. Not once did I feel afraid that the iXc will become loose from its magnetic mount. Because of the strong magnet being used, one has to apply a bit of pressure when detaching it but that is a good thing. You don't want your $450 investment becoming loose & getting dinged up. My petite wife, who weighs about 100 lbs, had no problem attaching and detaching the iXc.
Although I didn't find the audio quality to be "Crystal Clear" during voice alerts per Escort's marketing, the volume level was good & easily adjustable. For the most part, speech was intelligible. I wish the voice alerts sounded a little less robotic & more natural like Google's voice assistant. The beeps and bloops coming out of the iXc, on the other hand, are loud & clear and grabs your attention immediately.
The iXc comes with a 12V SmartCord USB cord and it is great because in addition to providing power to the iXc, the extra USB receptacle on it can be used to charge up a mobile device such as a tablet or a smartphone. It doesn't support fast-charging but the 2A it offers should suffice for most situations and people.
Another nice extra is that the "EZ Mag Mount" mounting system can also accommodate Escort's new M1 dashcam camera. By being able to use just one mounting system and one power cord, clutter is greatly reduced for a cleaner install and look.
Inside the hardware, Escort claims that the iXc (which replaces the outgoing iX detector) offers up to 70% increase in alerting range thanks to their new "M4+" platform that gives you 3-4 dB more in sensitivity over the iX. Although I don't have the older iX detector to make a direct comparison with, my impressions so far have been very positive.
As far as I am aware, there have been no false alerts when driving around town & on highways from the usual suspects (e.g., IVT from other cars, automatic door openers). The alerts I did receive have been quick, accurate, and timely. The iXc detected from very far away speed cameras in residential neighborhoods and other heavy-traffic areas.
As far as I am aware, there have been no false alerts when driving around town & on highways from the usual suspects (e.g., IVT from other cars, automatic door openers). The alerts I did receive have been quick, accurate, and timely. The iXc detected from very far away speed cameras in residential neighborhoods and other heavy-traffic areas.
I live in southern California so I adjusted the detection settings within the Escort Live app accordingly. I turned off POP, X-Band, and RDR. Laser, Ka-Band, and K-Band detection were all turned on & I made sure that the radio frequencies most often used by my local law enforcement agencies were also turned on - Ka-Band Narrow 2, 5, and 8. For extra peace of mind, the following settings were also turned on - "Other," "Speed Trap," "Speed Camera," and "Red Light Camera."
Driving around in unfamiliar territory can sometimes make one feel anxious and nervous. With the iXc inside my car, I definitely felt safer and more confident in my environments. With crowd-sourced & official Escort updates that arrived & continue to arrive frequently via my Wifi & Bluetooth connection to my smartphone (Galaxy S10+), I feel good knowing that I'm constantly "protected." I look forward to adding my own contributions to the Database.
==== Verdict ====
I can highly & confidently recommend the iXc to anyone who seek "road protection" from those pesky speed cams, speed traps, and speed radars. No one I know likes to feel ambushed by such sneaky traps. The Escort iXc - with its quick-reacting reflexes, great detection range and capability, and updatable IVT & false alert database updates - offer a great peace of mind and sense of security. It's good stuff.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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23of 27voted this as helpful.
Protect yourself in the event of an accident with this ESCORT dash cam. The built-in collision detection system stores important footage in the event of a crash, and Wi-Fi connectivity lets you instantly share data with your insurance company. This ESCORT dash cam uses super-capacitor technology to keep recording, even in extreme temperatures.
Customer Rating
5
Nifty, Well-Integrated Dashcam for Escort Detector
on April 29, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
==== Summary ====
The Escort M1 Dashcam is a small, lightweight, & smartly-designed dashcam with good performance & some nice features. The 1080P videos it captures are of good quality - especially at daytime.
Its strong suites are its direct integration with an Escort radar detector's mounting & power system, easy-to-use Escort M1 smartphone app, and its simple "set it & forget it" automatic operation. The M1 dashcam will serve you well.
_____
Pro's:
_____
Pro's:
-Quick & easy to mount (followed instructions from the BILT app).
-Small, light (0.17 lbs/53 grams), & unobtrusive when mounted to windshield.
-Runs off the same power source & mounting hardware as the Escort radar detector --> less wires & clutter.
-Can use the M1 by itself as a dashcam even without an Escort detector attached.
-Records up to 1080P at 30FPS --> smooth footage.
-Has Continuous Loop recording.
-Video quality is pretty good at daytime & dusk.
-Dynamic range and color spectrum are good.
-Can record in 1-, 2-, or 3-minute clip sizes.
-Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) lens with 160-degree viewing angle covers the entire front windshield + lanes around the car.
-Escort M1 smartphone app is easy to use (view, move, edit files & change M1's settings).
-3 flexible ways to extract video files from the M1 - via Wifi Direct connection to phone, microSD card to computer, or M1 to computer via micro-USB cable.
-Records audio with good clarity & volume.
-Has a G-Sensor inside that detects an impact & automatically saves & locks down the footage so it can't be deleted or overwritten.
-Worked well with my Samsung 128GB microSD card (despite Escort saying maximum size is 32GB).
-Small, light (0.17 lbs/53 grams), & unobtrusive when mounted to windshield.
-Runs off the same power source & mounting hardware as the Escort radar detector --> less wires & clutter.
-Can use the M1 by itself as a dashcam even without an Escort detector attached.
-Records up to 1080P at 30FPS --> smooth footage.
-Has Continuous Loop recording.
-Video quality is pretty good at daytime & dusk.
-Dynamic range and color spectrum are good.
-Can record in 1-, 2-, or 3-minute clip sizes.
-Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) lens with 160-degree viewing angle covers the entire front windshield + lanes around the car.
-Escort M1 smartphone app is easy to use (view, move, edit files & change M1's settings).
-3 flexible ways to extract video files from the M1 - via Wifi Direct connection to phone, microSD card to computer, or M1 to computer via micro-USB cable.
-Records audio with good clarity & volume.
-Has a G-Sensor inside that detects an impact & automatically saves & locks down the footage so it can't be deleted or overwritten.
-Worked well with my Samsung 128GB microSD card (despite Escort saying maximum size is 32GB).
_____
Neutral:
Neutral:
-Dark nighttime videos aren't as clear & sharp as daytime videos with some graininess and slight pixelation. This was expected. Quality is still acceptable.
-Compared to other ~$200 dashcams, it is missing a couple of nice-to-have features such as built-in battery for Parking Mode & GPS geo-tagging.
-Videos don't contain extra telemetry data such as GPS, G-Force, and speed. Just shows Escort watermark, date, and time.
-Compared to other ~$200 dashcams, it is missing a couple of nice-to-have features such as built-in battery for Parking Mode & GPS geo-tagging.
-Videos don't contain extra telemetry data such as GPS, G-Force, and speed. Just shows Escort watermark, date, and time.
_____
Cons:
Cons:
-None.
==== Design & Build Quality ====
I really like the design & build quality of the M1 dashcam. It is small, compact, light, and all the buttons and ports are placed in logical and easy-to-use locations. The build is mostly plastic but it is of good quality & results in low weight. Important buttons such as the Wifi button on the top and the Power button on the rear of the M1 are easy to locate by feel and button presses are tactile and responsive.
Popping in and out the microSD card was easy to do as well. As long as the M1 is firmly mounted, the force required to pop out the microSD card will not move the camera position around.
I LOVE that if I want to, I can use the M1 by itself as a dashcam without connecting it first to my Escort radar detector (I have the Escort iXc). Even without the detector connected, the M1 recorded all of my driving sessions just fine (see my YouTube video upload here & look for blinking green light):
https://youtu.be/jaqgZE7y5Q8
Another pleasant surprise was that I could use a microSD card bigger than 32GB. Escort's manual specifies maximum size of 32GB but my 128GB Samsung Evo Select worked perfectly (Class 10, U3).
My preferred method of exporting videos from the M1 to my PC was via a USB Type C adapter (see my pictures). I just plug in the microSD card to the adapter and then stick the adapter into either my PC or my phone. Easy peasy.
==== Ease of Setup & Usage ====
Setting up the M1 dashcam for the first time was a breeze thanks to the very clear visual & audio instructions provided inside the BILT app.
Using the M1 was another uncomplicated & simple affair. Upon staring the car, the M1 automatically turns on the Wifi and begins recording video (a green light blinks on and off to indicate that it is recording). Turn off the car and it stops.
Using the Escort M1 app, I connected to the M1 dashcam from my Galaxy S10+ smartphone & began to change some settings to my preference. I set video recording quality to 1080P at 30FPS, changed Loop Recording duration to 3 minutes, and set G-Sensor Sensitivity to Level 2 to minimize false accident alerts.
Using the M1 dashcam is pretty much a set-and-forget affair. That is, once everything is properly set up, there is nothing more maintenance-wise you need to do.
Although I really like Escort's first attempt at a dashcam and I love the tight integration of the M1 to an Escort detector's mounting & power delivery system, I do wish there were a few more features. At its current $200 price range, I expected a couple of nice-to-have features such as a built-in battery that allows for motion & collision detection during "Park Mode" and the availability of optional telemetry data in the videos such as GPS and speed.
With that said, Escort still did a wonderful job with the M1 dashcam and I'm very happy and delighted with it. I have the M1 dashcam and Escort iXc detector inside my Hyundai Sonata and the video & audio recording quality have been highly satisfactory and good.
Here are a couple of my footages taken with the Escort M1 - one during cloudy daytime & one during nighttime:
Here are a couple of my footages taken with the Escort M1 - one during cloudy daytime & one during nighttime:
https://youtu.be/PrZ_JxKXFZ8
https://youtu.be/2GsNkCXh6CM
==== Verdict ====
Escort has created a really good dashcam that is small, compact, and light with great integration with a line of Escort detectors & their mounting & power delivery systems. As a result of such a harmonious integration, there is less clutter and wiring to bother you. By designing the M1 to be so simple to operate (Auto Wifi, Auto Record), this is a great dashcam to use personally and to recommend to friends & family. The video & audio recordings are great and its no-fuss, virtually no maintenance makes the M1 highly competent, especially for current Escort detector owners.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+24points
25of 26voted this as helpful.
Get the tools to achieve victory with this 17.3-inch Dell Alienware gaming laptop. Featuring an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card with Max-Q design, this laptop smoothly handles visually intensive titles at high settings. This Dell Alienware gaming laptop delivers vivid colors and makes games look sharp and detailed with its 17.3-inch Full HD display.
Customer Rating
5
Superb Build Quality + High Performance = Win
on March 20, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
======= Summary =======
The Alienware m17 is a high-performance gaming laptop that looks & feels great, is powerful and speedy, and is relatively light & thin. It has top-of-the line specs, fit-and-finish is great, and the cooling system is efficient. The m17 completely fulfills its raison d'être - playing games at their max visual settings with high & smooth framerates in a portable package. Very well done, Alienware~!
_______
Pro's:
_______
Pro's:
1. Crisp 1080P IPS display with great viewing angles and colors.
2. Relatively light (~5.9 lbs) and thin (23 mm) for a high-performance gaming laptop.
3. Excellent fit-and-finish, build materials, build quality, and attention to detail.
4. Excellent keyboard for both gaming and regular productivity tasks.
5. Smooth & accurate Precision touchpad.
6. LED lighting customizations available.
7. Good variety of ports.
8. Excellent performance in all scenarios.
9. Easy to open up & upgrade.
10. Great cooling design.
11. Non-gaming battery life is good (4-5 hours).
12. Supports the Alienware Graphics Amplifier for future-proofing.
________
Cons:
2. Relatively light (~5.9 lbs) and thin (23 mm) for a high-performance gaming laptop.
3. Excellent fit-and-finish, build materials, build quality, and attention to detail.
4. Excellent keyboard for both gaming and regular productivity tasks.
5. Smooth & accurate Precision touchpad.
6. LED lighting customizations available.
7. Good variety of ports.
8. Excellent performance in all scenarios.
9. Easy to open up & upgrade.
10. Great cooling design.
11. Non-gaming battery life is good (4-5 hours).
12. Supports the Alienware Graphics Amplifier for future-proofing.
________
Cons:
1. None
==== Design & Build Quality ====
Unboxing & handling the Alienware m17 was a pure pleasure. The m17's blend of magnesium alloy, steel, and polycarbonate materials look and feel premium and the attention to detail Alienware has put into crafting the m17 is readily apparent. The fit-and-finish is excellent, it feels tough and durable as a tank, and I find the design to be attractive and not over-the-top.
It is amazing how far gaming laptops have progressed throughout the years. You can now have powerful desktop-class gaming components inside a laptop that weighs less than 6 lbs & less than an inch thick.
It is amazing how far gaming laptops have progressed throughout the years. You can now have powerful desktop-class gaming components inside a laptop that weighs less than 6 lbs & less than an inch thick.
Easy 10 out of 10~!
==== Display ====
The 17-inch 300-nit 1080P IPS display of the m17 is bright, crisp, and vibrant. It is perfectly suitable & satisfactory for my PC gaming, multimedia, and multi-tasking needs. Coming from 13- and 15-in laptop screens, I truly enjoyed having a larger screen real estate that allowed me to have several windows open at the same time without feeling cramped.
Some may bemoan the fact that the display isn't a 144-Hz unit. If one is a pro-gamer or into competitive shooters, then it would definitely be a legitimate concern. But I think for the majority of gamers out there, this 60 Hz display will be a non-issue. It certainly wasn't an issue for me when playing the latest games such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry New Dawn, and Metro Exodus. The games ran smoothly and looked fantastic without any visual anomalies. 9 out of 10.
==== Speakers ====
The speakers on the m17 delivered loud and clear sound with a little bit of echoing at its default sound profile setting. I used the Alienware Command Center software to adjust the sound characteristics more to my liking.
Many preset sound profiles are offered - Racing, Role Play, Strategy, Shooter, Com, Movie and Music. Custom user profiles can also be created with control over the Equalizer settings plus additional audio effects such as Bass Boost, Treble Enhancer, Voice Clarity, Smart Loudness, Reverb, and 7.1 virtual surround sound.
Although the speakers are decent, I recommend that most use quality headphones when playing games for an extended amount of time due to fan noise that can become distracting. For doing all the other stuff, the speakers of the m17 were adequate & satisfactory. 8.5 out of 10.
==== Network & Connectivity Options ====
The m17 offers a plethora of excellent networking options - Killer E2500 Gigabit Ethernet, Killer 1550 AC Wifi (2x2 MIMO), and Intel Bluetooth 5.0. I experienced no connectivity or speed issues and everything was peachy. 10 out of 10.
==== Ports ====
The m17 offers a variety of useful ports - 1x USB Type C/40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 port, 3x USB Type A Gen1 (one with Powershare), 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x Mini-Display Port 1.3, 1x Audio Out, and 1x Alienware Graphics Amplifier Port for an external GPU enclosure.
I absolutely LOVE not having to use a dongle on the m17 to plug in my older USB flash drives and I applaud Alienware for being both forward-looking and backward-compatible at the same time. 10 out of 10.
==== Performance ====
My favorite part of the review! The m17, with its powerful components, blew away my expectations of what to expect from a gaming laptop & impressed me deeply. I own other gaming laptops but they are nowhere as powerful as my m17 (my second most powerful gaming laptop only has an nVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti).
With an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 hexa-core CPU, 16GB of DDR4, a 512GB NVME SSD from SK Hynix, and a 1TB Seagate hybrid SATA-3 SSHD, the m17 performed supremely at everything I demanded of it - Chrome browsing with >25 tabs open, photo & video editing with Cyberlink PowerDirector, general multi-tasking, and of course, PC gaming.
I'm playing 3 games right now on the m17 - Metro Exodus, Far Cry New Dawn, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. All of them played and ran very well with all the eye-candy settings turned on to Ultra/Highest except for Metro Exodus.
Here are some benchmark numbers:
On Geekbench 4.3.3, the m17 scored 4797 Single-core & 20,789 Multi-core. In Geekbench 4 Compute, the m17 scored 222,483 (30% lower than my desktop RTX 2080).
On CrystalDiskMark 6.0.2, I got 2704.5 MB/s Sequential Read & 1283.7 MB/s Sequential Write.
In the Far Cry New Dawn in-game benchmark at 1080P, the m17 scored 43 FPS minimum, 56 FPS average, and 81 FPS max. When compared to my gaming desktop with an nVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 at the same resolution, the m17 scores were 67% (72 vs 43), 86% (104 vs 81), and 96% lower (159 vs 81), respectively.
In the Shadow of the Tomb Raider built-in benchmark, the m17 scored 60 FPS minimum, 98 FPS average, 170 FPS maximum, and 78 FPS 95% percentile. My desktop RTX 2080 at the same resolution scored 94 FPS minimum (+57%), 121 FPS average (+24%), 204 FPS maximum (+20%), and 99 FPS 95% percentile (+27%).
Playing Metro Exodus on the m17 was a fun and smooth experience as well. I did have to dial back some graphics settings, however, such as Ray Tracing and Texture Quality to High instead of Ultra.
As for the thermals and noise level, I found both to be highly adequate and working well as advertised. Alienware claims good results from its Cryo-Tech 2.0 thermal management technology with its dual-intake/dual-exhaust cooling system and I experienced no overheating or worrisome CPU and GPU temperatures. The real test will be during the summer months here in California.
As mentioned earlier, I highly recommend playing games with some quality headphones. Over extended gameplay, the fans will kick in and become distracting eventually.
All in all, PC gaming on the Alienware m17 is a supremely enjoyable and fun experience. 10 out of 10.
==== Keyboard & TouchPad ====
Typing on the keyboard & operating the Precison Touchpad are delightful. The buttons are tactile, responsive, and have great key travel (1.4 mm). Having full-size arrow keys as well as a Number Pad are great. 10 out of 10.
==== Battery Life ====
For a big gaming laptop with a 17" screen, the m17 surprised me with its stamina from its 60 WHr battery. When using the m17 as a regular productivity machine, I experienced uptime between 4 to 5 hours. When using Chrome heavily, a known battery eater, my battery life ranged from 3 & 1/2 hours on the low end to 4 & 1/2 hours (>75% brightness). When watching just movies & videos, it lasted longer.
I didn't play my games on battery that much because I didn't want to sacrifice CPU and GPU performance (the m17 operates in lower performance mode when on battery power). If I cranked up the power profile to Performance and ran the games anyways, I would expect about 1 to 1 & 1/2 hours of uptime.
Upgrading to the optional 90 WHr battery to extend my uptime is tempting. 8.5 out of 10.
Upgrading to the optional 90 WHr battery to extend my uptime is tempting. 8.5 out of 10.
==== Software ====
The m17 came preloaded with the latest Windows 10 version 1809, Dell/Alienware apps, & the usual assortment of bloatware from Microsoft and its third-party partners. I counted 18 Dell/Alienware apps. Removing these apps, as is usual for Windows 10, is easy to do from Settings.
My favorite Alienware apps are the Alienware Command Center & Alienware Update. With the Command Center app, I'm able to customize & adjust the LED lighting options for the power button, keyboard, and the Alienware head logo on the lid. In addition, one can activate different preset sound profiles or create a custom one. Other notable features include managing system overclock, custom CPU and system fan settings, and choosing and/or creating a thermal profile.
As its name suggests, the Alienware Update app is used to check for system updates such as BIOS & driver updates.
Good stuff! 10 out of 10.
==== Upgradeability ====
The m17 is an easily upgradeable machine. After removing the bottom cover, one has access to the memory, the battery, the M.2 Wifi module, and the hard drives (SATA HDD, NVME HDD).
One can also purchase an Alienware Graphics Amplifier, put an nVIDIA or AMD GPU inside of it, and connect it to the m17 to add additional GPU power when the need arises in the future. It is a nice future-proof feature. 10 out 10.
==== My Verdict ====
The Alienware m17 - with its premium, rugged, and tank-like design - is an excellent gaming laptop. It has fantastic build materials and quality, great-looking design, slim & lightweight formfactor, superb keyboard & touchpad, powerful internals for high-definition PC gaming, plenty of ports, good thermals, and very decent battery life for a gaming system.
All in all, Dell/Alienware has crafted a fantastic, powerful, and portable gaming laptop that is thoroughly enjoyable and delightful. Love it~!!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+37points
47of 57voted this as helpful.
Experience smooth performance and flexibility with this 13.3-inch HP Spectre x360 convertible laptop. Featuring a 13.3-inch Full HD touch display and HP Digital Pen, this flexible laptop lets you write, draw and navigate the interface with precise touch controls. This HP Spectre x360 convertible laptop easily handles a variety of software with the power of an Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM.
Customer Rating
5
Fantastic High-Performance Laptop
on February 23, 2019
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange
======= Summary =======
The HP Spectre x360 - with its fantastic design, build quality, ergonomics, bright display, performance, and long battery life - is an All-Around Winner~! This is the BEST laptop I’ve ever used. HP FTW~!!
_______
Pro's:
_______
Pro's:
1. Bright, crisp, & responsive 1080P touch-screen (1-Watt, 400-nits).
2. Relatively light (~2.9 lbs) and thin (~14mm) for a 360-degrees convertible laptop.
3. Tent and Tablet modes are useful and nice to have.
4. Pen support.
5. Excellent keyboard and touchpad.
6. Great design & excellent build materials and quality.
7. Good selection of ports - both USB Type C & USB Type A. No need for dongles~!
8. Excellent performance from the Intel Core i7, SSD drive, and 8GB of RAM.
9. SSD is upgradeable (NVME M.2).
10. Fantastic battery life.
11. Great cooling design = quiet operation.
________
Neutral:
2. Relatively light (~2.9 lbs) and thin (~14mm) for a 360-degrees convertible laptop.
3. Tent and Tablet modes are useful and nice to have.
4. Pen support.
5. Excellent keyboard and touchpad.
6. Great design & excellent build materials and quality.
7. Good selection of ports - both USB Type C & USB Type A. No need for dongles~!
8. Excellent performance from the Intel Core i7, SSD drive, and 8GB of RAM.
9. SSD is upgradeable (NVME M.2).
10. Fantastic battery life.
11. Great cooling design = quiet operation.
________
Neutral:
1. Fingerprint magnet on this dark surface material.
________
Cons:
________
Cons:
1. No Microsoft Precision Touchpad driver. But there is a workaround...
==== Design & Build Quality ====
The HP Spectre x360’s new Gem-Cut design language is sleek, modern-looking, unique, and very pleasing to my eyes. It reeks premiumness and feels great in the hands as well. It feels dense, high-quality, and solid as a tank. Love it~!!
HP did an ingenious job by placing the power button on the top-left corner of the laptop base and the charging port on the top-right corner. Not only is this an excellent use of space, it is also very practical by avoiding clutter with other accessories and preventing accidental power-on and power-off. Brilliant~!
HP did an ingenious job by placing the power button on the top-left corner of the laptop base and the charging port on the top-right corner. Not only is this an excellent use of space, it is also very practical by avoiding clutter with other accessories and preventing accidental power-on and power-off. Brilliant~!
Other thoughtful & smart design decisions include the user-facing speakers located right above the keyboard area as well as the fingerprint scanner located right below the arrow keys.
As a result of its placement, any music and videos you watch and hear will sound louder, more detailed, and fuller.
The fingerprint scanner worked very well and I was easily & quickly able to log-in to my Windows account.
The touchscreen worked accurately and in a very responsive fashion allowing the switch to Tent or Tablet Mode to be seamless and frustration-free.
The only thing I can complain about, and it is a small First-World complaint, is its tendency to easily show fingerprint smudges and marks. With that said, I have owned several darker laptops before in the past and I’m used to cleaning it up frequently.
10 out of 10~!
==== Display ====
The special Intel-developed 1-Watt 1080P display, which can still get as bright as 400 nits, is crisp, has great color accuracy and contrast, and is a pleasure to stare at. For peace of mind, it is good to know that HP is using the protective and durable Corning Gorilla Glass on it.
Touch functionality worked flawlessly as did writing with the HP pen.
10 out of 10.
10 out of 10.
==== Speakers ====
The sound on this thin & light ultrabook from its quad-speaker configuration is great. Bass, of course, is weak but that is normal for a thin ultrabook. The intelligent placement of the speakers above the keyboard area results in sound that is direct-facing, loud, crisp, and more fuller-sounding compared to laptops that have their speakers underneath.
10 out of 10~!
==== Network & Connectivity Options ====
The excellent Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11AC Gigabit Wifi is inside the Spectre x360 and it performed very well in my home network. Also included in the Intel package is Bluetooth 5.0 which is forward-looking and up-to-date. I experienced no connectivity or connection speed issues. Everything was peachy.
10 out of 10~!
==== Ports ====
I absolutely LOVE not having to use a dongle on the x360 to plug in my USB flash drives~! My older HP Spectre 13 laptop from 2017 had no USB Type A ports and it has been a frustrating and annoying affair on a consistent basis. That’s why I chose the x360 this time around for its better port selection.
With one USB Type A port, two USB Type C Thunderbolt ports (40Gbps), a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader, I’m set and satisfied.
10 out of 10~!
==== Performance ====
With an 8th-Gen Intel Core i7 Whiskey Lake quad-core CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a Western Digital SN720 NVME SSD, the x360 performed fantastically at everything I demanded of it - Chrome browsing with >25 tabs, photo & video editing with Cyberlink PowerDirector, and general multi-tasking.
On Geekbench 4.3.3, the x360 scored 4775 Single-core and 12,789 Multi-core.
On CrystalDiskMark 6.0.2, I got 3023.4 MB/s Sequential Read and 1615.8 MB/s Sequential Write.
I only wish the storage size was bigger, like 512GB. I’m planning on upgrading to the new Samsung 970 Evo Plus 1TB NVME SSD in the near future.
10 out of 10.
==== Keyboard & TouchPad ====
Typing on the keyboard is a delightful and supremely pleasant experience. HP, very wisely, is NOT following the design decisions of Apple Macbooks & certain Dell XPS line of laptops and is instead using a very comfortable, responsive, and tactile keyboard mechanism with great key travel. As a result, the keys have good spring, great damping, and are very quiet in operation. I absolutely adore this keyboard.
The same cannot be said, however, of the touchpad. HP, for some reason unknown to me, is STILL not using the excellent Microsoft Precision Touchpad drivers. Instead, HP is using Synaptics drivers which is vastly inferior in functionality and custom gesture support. So I did what I did with my older 2017 HP Spectre 13 laptop. After uninstalling the Synaptic touchpad driver from Device Manager, I manually installed the Microsoft Precision Touchpad driver from the Lenovo website. The specific driver version I used was 19.3.4.111 and it is for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen6 laptop model. If you Google it, you should still be able to find that older driver.
To prevent Windows Update from automatically updating the Lenovo Precision driver to the newest non-Precision HP Synaptics driver, I used the Microsoft “wushowhide.diagcab” utility to hide the Synaptics driver update.
With the Precision Driver installed, I was back to creating my own custom three- and four-finger gestures and getting tremendous pleasure using the touchpad.
HP seriously needs to terminate whatever agreement they have with Synaptics and start installing Microsoft Precision drivers in their Spectre laptop lines ASAP.
9 out of 10.
==== Battery Life ====
This is the best battery life I’ve ever experienced from any laptop I’ve owned & used throughout the years. I didn’t achieve the crazy 22-hour battery life that HP is marketing but got about 8 hours out of it with brightness set to 100%. Fantastic...Simply fantastic.
10 out of 10.
==== Software ====
The Spectre x360 came loaded with Windows 10 1803 which I promptly upgraded to 1809. There was the usual assortment of bloatware from both Microsoft and its third-party partners. I counted 10 third-party apps, 17 HP apps, and some Microsoft apps such as Xbox and Skype. Removing them, as is usual for Windows 10, is easy to do from Settings.
I found some of HP’s apps to be genuinely useful such as the HP Support Assistant (firmware & driver updates), HP Audio Control (speaker sound effects & equalizer), and HP Command Center (setting laptop thermal profiles).
10 out of 10.
==== Upgradeability ====
The Spectre x360, being a thin & light ultrabook, doesn’t offer meaningful upgrade options except for the NVME SSD drive. So one needs to be thoughtful about their current and future computing needs and select the components wisely. With my particular model, I feel confidently fine with the Core i7 CPU with 8GB of RAM. I just need bigger storage down the line (at least 1TB SSD).
9 out of 10.
==== My Verdict ====
The HP Spectre x360 with its Gem-Cut design is an excellent laptop that gets almost everything right. Fantastic build materials and quality, great-looking design, slim & lightweight form-factor, superb keyboard, excellent touchscreen display with pen support, flexible viewing options (e.g., Tent Mode), and all-day battery life. The only subpar area is the lack of the Microsoft Precision Touchpad driver which, fortunately, can be “fixed” by installing the Lenovo Precision Touchpad driver.
All in all, HP has crafted a fantastic and unique laptop that I thoroughly enjoy using. It is a very delightful machine.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+57points
60of 63voted this as helpful.
Play to your full potential with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop. Fluid gaming is ensured with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 series graphics and an Intel Core i7 processor, running on Windows 10 Home. Make a statement with customizable RGB lighting and a transparent side panel, and perform easy toolless upgrades in adherence to micro-ATX standards with this HP OMEN Obelisk desktop.
Customer Rating
5
Powerful & Splendid Gaming System
on December 14, 2018
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange, CA
==== Summary ====
The HP Omen by Obelisk desktop PC is a great-looking, powerful, well-built, and fantastic gaming system~! With its powerful components inside, the Omen can run pretty much all the games at their max visual settings (depending on your monitor resolution, of course). However, future upgrade path is a bit limited and the cooling performance is slightly lacking. All in all, though, it's a great gaming PC and I love it.
*Pros:
-Cool angular black design with glass sidepanel.
-Quality materials & build quality.
-Excellent fit-and-finish.
-LED color and lighting animation control.
-Powerful components (Intel Core i7 8700, nVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, 16GB DDR4, SSD boot drive).
-nvidia RTX 2080 = gaming bliss and full eyecandy mode.
-Lots of USB ports - USB Type C & USB Type A 3.1 Gen 2 included~!
-Pretty quiet for a gaming PC.
-Compact footprint makes it easy to place.
-Pretty lightweight.
-Quality materials & build quality.
-Excellent fit-and-finish.
-LED color and lighting animation control.
-Powerful components (Intel Core i7 8700, nVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, 16GB DDR4, SSD boot drive).
-nvidia RTX 2080 = gaming bliss and full eyecandy mode.
-Lots of USB ports - USB Type C & USB Type A 3.1 Gen 2 included~!
-Pretty quiet for a gaming PC.
-Compact footprint makes it easy to place.
-Pretty lightweight.
*Neutral:
-Supports only 2x SATA-3 hard drives & requires right-angle SATA-3 cables.
-Only one small 80mm rear cooling fan.
-Top vent is mostly blocked off by a plate.
-Bottom vent design is not ideal.
-Wish the PSU was at least 750W.
-Only one small 80mm rear cooling fan.
-Top vent is mostly blocked off by a plate.
-Bottom vent design is not ideal.
-Wish the PSU was at least 750W.
*Cons:
-No additional PCI Express expansion ports.
==== Design & Build Quality ====
I love the design & build quality of the HP Omen. Although I'm usually a fan of the color white for my PC peripherals, the Omen won me over with its nice black paint job and its chiseled and angular design. The Omen logo on the front that lights up is really cool and adds just enough bling without going overboard. Same for the LED lighting inside the case. I love how I can customize both the color of the LED lighting as well as its animations via the Omen Command Center application. I unexpectedly had lots of fun playing around with the different lighting options.
I also love the inclusion of all the modern & up-to-date ports that the Omen offers. On the top of the case are 2x USB 3.1 Type A ports (Gen1, 5 Gb/s), 1x headphone jack, & 1x microphone jack.
On the rear of the Omen, there are 4x USB 3.1 Type A ports (Gen1), 1x USB 3.1 Type A (Gen2, 10 Gb/s), 1x USB Type C (Gen2, 10 Gb/s), 1x ethernet, 3x audio, and 5 additional ports from the RTX 2080 GPU (1x USB Type C, 1x HDMI, 3x Display Port). For me, these ports were enough to accommodate all of my PC accessories (e.g., speakers, keyboard, mouse, monitor stand with USB & audio ports, external USB drives, flash drives).
Coming from a Full Tower-size case, the Omen looked shockingly small to me at first. On the positive side, it is good because it is relatively so light and its compact dimensions doesn't take up too much space. On the negative side, airflow isn't as good and it is harder to improve it in such a small space. To complicate things even more, HP made some head-scratching design choices.
For one, there is only one small 80mm fan on the rear of the case. The other active blowers are the CPU fan, the PSU fan, and the GPU fan. HP should've put in at least a 120mm fan in the rear and added a front intake fan.
Second, HP curiously blocked off most of the top vented grille with a plate that impedes the warm airflow inside from escaping out through the top (see my picture). The plate is held in place by some Philips screws so at least it is removable. It would've been nicer if HP placed a fan up there instead of the plate.
Third, on the bottom of the case, there is a vent protected by a removable filter. Because the vent is on the bottom of the case and many people will try to put the Omen down on top of the floor (e.g., carpet), cooling performance is again somewhat compromised and not ideal. A workaround would be to put something underneath the front and rear sides of the Omen to lift it up a bit and make clearance for the bottom vent. I did exactly that using two reams of printer paper as a temporary measure until I find a more suitable and aesthetically pleasing solution.
Despite these shortcomings, I still love my Omen and it will be replacing my current Full Tower-size custom-built PC as my daily driver desktop.
==== Operating System & Software/Bloatware ====
The Omen came with Windows 10 1803 (2018 April Update) pre-installed with the usual amount of both Microsoft and third-party bloatware apps and games (e.g., McAfee Security,
LinkedIn, Spotify, Candy Crush Saga, Fitbit Coach). They are all easily removable from Settings.
There were many HP apps as well but most are useful utilities to help you with system maintenance, troubleshooting, and driver & firmware updates. The Omen Command Center is a nifty app I enjoyed using to customize the LED lighting.
==== Performance ====
Hooked up to the nVIDIA RTX 2080 is my 27" Asus MX27AQ monitor with WQHD resolution (2560 x 1440 IPS). Instead of using the crappy mouse and keyboard that came inside the box, I'm reusing my mechanical gaming keyboard and Logitech mouse from my previous gaming rig.
Gaming on the HP Omen is PURE pleasure. At maximum eye-candy graphic settings, I'm thoroughly enjoying playing games such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Far Cry 5, Assassins Creed Odyssey, and Monster Hunter World. They all run fast, smooth, and perfectly.
I ran the built-in benchmark in Shadow of the Tomb Raider (at Ultra settings) and I got the following scores:
Average FPS: 74
CPU Game: 66 FPS min, 163 FPS max, 104 FPS avg, 73 FPS (95% percentile)
CPU Render: 74 FPS min, 294 FPS max, 140 FPS avg, 99 FPS (95%)
GPU: 61 min, 121 FPS max, 76 FPS avg, 63 FPS (95%)
CPU Game: 66 FPS min, 163 FPS max, 104 FPS avg, 73 FPS (95% percentile)
CPU Render: 74 FPS min, 294 FPS max, 140 FPS avg, 99 FPS (95%)
GPU: 61 min, 121 FPS max, 76 FPS avg, 63 FPS (95%)
The 256GB Toshiba NVME SSD performed well as well. On the CrystalDiskMark benchmark, the Omen achieved 1523.4 MB/s Sequential Read and 718.1 MB/s Sequential Write. Random Read was 682.5 MB/s and Random Write was 275.8 MB/s.
I didn't benchmark the 2TB 7200 RPM Seagate Baracuda hard drive but it performed well and quietly.
Overall, I'm very, very happy with the performance and responsiveness of the Omen. I'm coming from a custom-built PC with a 2nd-generation Core i7 2600K, 16GB DDR3, Samsung SSD (SATA-3), and nVIDIA Geforce GTX 1080. The improvements are very tangible and perceptible. It's awesome.
==== Future Upgradeability ====
Unfortunately, the upgrade potential of the HP Omen is pretty limited due to no extra PCI-E slots and only one extra SATA-3 connector on the small micro-ATX motherboard. Still, I managed to make the best of it.
Thankfully, the HP Omen comes with a single stick of 16GB DDR4 RAM with one RAM slot open. So I purchased a matching stick of 16GB Kingston HyperX Fury memory to make it 32GB.
As for the hard drives, I added a 6TB Western Digital Black HDD on the SATA3 port and swapped out the 256GB Toshiba NVME SSD for a 1TB Samsung 970 Evo NVME SSD. In order to install the WD Black HDD, I had to purchase a slim, right-angle SATA3 cable. Otherwise, I wasn't able to close the sidepanel cover.
In the future, I'll be upgrading the PSU to a higher wattage one when I perform a GPU upgrade.
==== Misc Notes ====
The included USB keyboard and mouse are very so-so and basic. Both are cheap- and flimsy-feeling. I can't type comfortably on the keyboard due to its shallow and unresponsive keys that are worse than most laptop keyboards.
==== Closing Thoughts ====
Despite some head-scratching design decisions made by HP in terms of airflow and expansion slots, the HP Omen is still a fantastic gaming system. It looks great, it has quality build materials with excellent fit-and-finish, it has many useful ports, and its powerful components make it a superb gaming system that allows for maximum visual fidelity and quality. I LOVE it~!!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+60points
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Capture your biggest adventures with this AirSelfie2 portable drone with leather carrying case. This drone records 1080p Full HD and features a 12MP still camera for high-quality results, and the compact size makes it easy to take this drone with you when traveling. Featuring a vibration-absorber system and multiple sensors, this AirSelfie2 portable drone records clear, blur-free images.Fly Responsibly:Before takeoff, update all software and firmware, and read the instructions thoroughly.See the FAA website for registration requirements and information about flying a drone safely: https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/. Additional state or local requirements may apply. Check your local jurisdiction. The following websites may help you make informed decisions about flying your drone: www.knowbeforeyoufly.org and www.modelaircraft.org.
Customer Rating
4
Fun Little Camera Drone
on November 30, 2018
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange, CA
==== Summary ====
The AirSelfie 2 is a fun little camera drone that takes pretty decent quality pictures & videos. It is sleek & lightweight, has excellent fit-and-finish, and is very durable. There are, however, some room for improvements. The drone launching height should be a bit lower to avoid crashing into ceilings and the AirSelfie2 app requires further refinement for better compatibility with Android phones (especially those running the newer 9.0 Pie build). And the price should be either lower or the package should include more extras such as a portable powerbank. All in all, it is a delightful device to capture pictures & videos with.
*Pros:
-Small & lightweight. Easily fits inside pockets.
-Quality build materials & great build quality.
-Excellent fit-and-finish.
-Nice leather carrying pouch.
-Flexible flight control options - Easy, Medium, & Expert.
-Worked very well on iPhone & older Android phones.
-Battery charges up quickly.
-Good picture quality under ideal lighting conditions.
-The "CaptureMe" mode is cool & worked well.
-1080P videos looked good & decent.
-Easy to transfer pictures & videos to PC.
-Quality build materials & great build quality.
-Excellent fit-and-finish.
-Nice leather carrying pouch.
-Flexible flight control options - Easy, Medium, & Expert.
-Worked very well on iPhone & older Android phones.
-Battery charges up quickly.
-Good picture quality under ideal lighting conditions.
-The "CaptureMe" mode is cool & worked well.
-1080P videos looked good & decent.
-Easy to transfer pictures & videos to PC.
*Neutral:
-It's a bit of a struggle to push the drone into the leather pouch case.
-Finicky Power On/Off button.
-Battery life is too short (~5 minutes).
-Airselfie 2 app is buggy on Android Pie 9.0.
-Video stabilization could be better.
-Picture & video quality degrades in low light situations.
-Finicky Power On/Off button.
-Battery life is too short (~5 minutes).
-Airselfie 2 app is buggy on Android Pie 9.0.
-Video stabilization could be better.
-Picture & video quality degrades in low light situations.
*Cons:
-Too expensive. Should include a powerbank at least.
==== Design ====
The AirSelfie 2 is a solidly built camera drone with excellent fit-and-finish & quality build materials with a solid and durable feel. Made of aluminum, it's pretty light, smooth to the touch, and does not feel cheap. Due to its small size, handling the AirSelfie 2 is a breeze and it comfortably fits within the hand and inside most pockets.
Its four propellers are located within the body frame, thus being well-protected in case of a crash.
There are 3 visible components underneath the AirSelfie 2 - a Power On/Off button, a Visual Sensor, and a Sonar Sensor. At the front side is the camera that is capable of taking 12MP pictures and 1080P 30FPS videos.
There is also an LED indicator that lights up in different colors to denote battery charge status & drone status (Red LED for Charging, Blue LED for drone power on).
I found the Power On/Off button to be somewhat finicky and unpredictable. Sometimes I will be able to power the drone on or off right away on the first try. Sometimes, it will take me multiple attempts.
I highly appreciate the presence of a USB Type C port on the AirSelfie 2. It makes my life so much easier since most of my other devices also use USB Type C for charging (e.g., laptops, phones).
Despite initially experiencing charging issues with the AirSelfie on the first day - the drone would not begin charging and the red LED kept turning off - I've experienced no other hardware issues since then. The Selfie charges up very quickly and when it's connected to a PC, it is quickly recognized as a USB device and I'm able to transfer my pictures & videos easily.
To sum it up, I like the design & build quality of the AirSelfie 2.
==== Controlling & Flying the AirSelfie 2 ====
Despite the helpful video tutorial and User Manual provided, I initially had difficulty correctly launching the Selfie. When I first hand-launched the Selfie, it was inside my living room while I was standing straight up. The Selfie quickly took off right into my ceiling and continually rubbed against it across the room until I pressed the "Emergency Power Off" software button on the phone app. Since then, I've learned to kneel down first then hand-launch the Selfie so it won't scrape into the ceiling again. When outdoors, kneeling down first was not necessary but still recommended to keep the hover height more manageable. You can always fly the drone up higher later if you want to.
I also experienced some difficulty at first making a connection between the Selfie and my phone(s) in a consistent manner. I discovered, through trial-and-error, that the best way to connect the Selfie and a phone together is by performing the steps in this order:
(1) Power on the AirSelfie 2 and wait until it stops its intro beeping noises.
(2) On the phone, go into Wifi Settings and select the "AirSelfie2" network. Wait until the phone says the connection is complete.
(3) Open the AirSelfie2 app & choose a flight mode.
(2) On the phone, go into Wifi Settings and select the "AirSelfie2" network. Wait until the phone says the connection is complete.
(3) Open the AirSelfie2 app & choose a flight mode.
When I followed that sequence, I was able to consistently make a strong and reliable connection between the Selfie and all the phones I tested with (Galaxy Note 4/Android 6, Galaxy S9+/Android 9, Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact/Android 9, and iPhone SE/iOS 12).
Once successfully paired up, the AirSelfie 2 offers 3 different flight mode options - Easy, Medium, and Expert. My favorite method of control is the "Expert" mode (i.e. joystick mode) since I'm able to control the Selfie in a more precise and faster manner. My prior experience with other drones definitely helped me to get quickly used to the onscreen joystick method of flying.
Using the "Easy" mode was too frustrating for me because there are just too many different navigation buttons to keep track of and tap on. Plus, I found the Selfie to react a bit too slowly & unpredictably.
Once in the air, the Selfie turned out to be a decent flyer. It maintained its height & hovered stably, it reacted quickly and accurately to my phone control inputs, and flew around smoothly (up and down, left to right, and left & right rotations). Depending on the setting I was in, I terminated the flight by either just grabbing it with my hand or using the phone app to initiate the landing sequence.
Knowing that the Selfie's propellers are well-protected within its frame, flying the Selfie has been a fun and low-stress experience. I only wish it could fly for at least 10 to 15 minutes. It would've been even more awesome if the Selfie offered swappable battery packs I can carry around.
==== Camera & Video Performance ====
The AirSelfie 2, equipped with its 12MP camera, does a pretty job taking clear photos and smooth 1080P 30FPS videos. As long as you have good lighting, the pictures & videos come out nicely.
I highly enjoyed using the "CaptureMe" mode whereby the Selfie recognizes your face and locks on to you. When you move left and right, the Selfie automatically rotates itself and keeps you centered. It works really well in good lighting conditions but in low-light, the Selfie will sometimes lose you.
Like most cameras out there, the Selfie's photos become blurrier, a bit smudgy, and less detailed in low-light scenarios. The video quality also takes a hit with introduction of some grain & noise.
Even in the most ideal lighting situations, however, the Selfie's photos and videos aren't as good as pictures & videos taken with my Galaxy S9+. But frankly, that's to be expected considering its small size and price point. If you want higher-quality photos and well-stabilized videos from a drone, then expect to spend between ~$800 to $1,000.
With that said, I'm still very satisfied and content with the camera & video performance of the AirSelfie 2 & look forward to using it more often.
==== Room for Improvement ====
When it comes to compatibility of the AirSelfie2 app and my phones, I found the app to be a bit buggy on newer builds of Android - more specifically, Android Pie 9.0. Both my Galaxy S9+ and Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact are on Android 9.0. Although I can reliably connect to the Selfie and fly it smoothly from those phones, I'm not always able to see the pictures and videos inside the Selfie's gallery. Sometimes they are there, sometimes the gallery is just completely empty. I did not experience this issue on my iPhone SE on iOS 12 and my Galaxy Note 4 on the older Android Marshmallow 6.0.1.
I'm hoping that with newer firmware & app updates, the performance & reliability will be improved.
==== Closing Thoughts ====
The AirSelfie 2 is a well-built and durable camera drone that is fun to fly and operate. It takes good to great pictures & videos as long as there is good lighting. In order to continually use the AirSelfie while out-and-about, I highly recommend taking a powerbank with you to keep it always charged up. At $250, I feel the Selfie is a bit overpriced for what it can do. Therefore, I can only rate it 4 out of 5. Still, I recommend it for those who wants to up their selfie game and take unique pictures & videos from a flying camera drone that is highly portable and simple to operate.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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14of 14voted this as helpful.
Add high-quality audio to video content with the Samson Go Mic Mobile Lavalier Wireless System. The system’s two-channel receiver comes with a variety of mounting hardware and cables to connect your digital device, and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery lets you record for up to 13 hours. In addition to the receiver, the system features Samson's PXD2 Beltpack Transmitter and LM8 omnidirectional Lavalier microphone for up to 100-feet of uncompressed digital wireless operation.
Customer Rating
4
Quality Recording from a Light & Portable Package
on November 23, 2018
Posted by: optimummind
from Orange, CA
==== Summary ====
The Samson Go Mic Mobile is a great mobile recording device with excellent audio quality, flexible mounting & connection options, and long battery life. It is ideally suited for YouTubers, Vloggers, and both casual- and prosumer-level audio & video productions.
*Pros:
-Flexible & versatile audio connections available.
-Comes with all necessary accessories & tools to get started recording right away.
-Offers various mounting options for different recording equipments.
-Both the Go Mic Module Receiver & microphone Transmitter units are lightweight & easy to carry around.
-Comes with a nice, solid carrying case.
-Recording quality is great - much better than smartphone microphones.
-Receiver range is good & didn't drop any sounds (tested up to ~40 feet).
-Works with iPhone seamlessly.
-Long battery life.
-Comes with all necessary accessories & tools to get started recording right away.
-Offers various mounting options for different recording equipments.
-Both the Go Mic Module Receiver & microphone Transmitter units are lightweight & easy to carry around.
-Comes with a nice, solid carrying case.
-Recording quality is great - much better than smartphone microphones.
-Receiver range is good & didn't drop any sounds (tested up to ~40 feet).
-Works with iPhone seamlessly.
-Long battery life.
*Neutral:
-Losing line-of-sight results in slightly garbled audio.
-"USB Audio" function didn't work on any of my Android smartphones & their default "Camera" apps.
-The charging port on the GMM isn't USB Type C but the older mini-USB connector.
-"USB Audio" function didn't work on any of my Android smartphones & their default "Camera" apps.
-The charging port on the GMM isn't USB Type C but the older mini-USB connector.
*Cons:
-Compatibility with Android phones & their default "Camera" app is poor.
==== Design ====
The Samson Go Mic Mobile (GMM) is a cleverly designed recording equipment that is simple to operate, lightweight, and very versatile.
The adjustable mounting arm extends widely enough to easily clamp onto big phones such as my Galaxy S9+ and Galaxy Note 4. The rubber grips on the mounting arms offer secure holding power and the rotating knob locks tightly together the mounting arms to the attached device.
Thanks to the numerous accessories & tools included in the box, one can also attach the GMM to a tablet, a tripod, and a cold shoe adapter.
The rubber Power Button, which can also be used to pair the GMM with up to 2 different transmitters, is very tactile and responsive (one pre-paired transmitter is included in the box).
All the other control sliders on the GMM work equally well and are frustration-free.
I say that the Samson GMM is very versatile because it can connect up to 2 different transmitters, supports 3 different Analog Outputs, supports digital USB Audio for higher-quality audio recordings, and it can even output sound to an audio device such as headphones and speakers.
When it comes to compatibility with my phones, however, I had mixed results.
When I paired the GMM to my Galaxy Note 4 running 6.0.1 Marshmallow and used the default "Camera" app, I was not able to get any audio recordings. I had tried with both the 3.5 mm audio cable & the microUSB-to-microUSB cable through the USB Audio port on the GMM.
I also received no audio on my Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact (Android Pie 9.0) from its default "Camera" app when using the microUSB-to-USB Type C cable.
On my iPhone SE, recordings worked perfectly with the microUSB-to-Lightning cable and the default "Camera" app.
On my Galaxy S9+, audio recordings only worked when I used the 3.5 mm audio cable in the default "Camera" app.
On the Android side, choosing the correct third-party app that supports USB Audio recording is very important. It would've been nice if Samson had some app suggestions in the User Manual.
When it comes to charging the GMM receiver, it is done via a mini-USB cable and the AC adapter, both of which are provided. It would've been nice if the charging port was either microUSB or USB Type C instead. Still, it's no deal-breaker.
Connection strength between the GMM receiver to the transmitter was strong and instantaneous. I never once lost connection between the two during my video & audio recording sessions.
The transmitter, which runs on two AA batteries, is lightweight and easy to handle. The omni-directional Lavalier microphone, which connects to the transmitter, worked very well and recorded high-quality audio free of echos, static, and other noise.
Besides the issues of compatibility on some Android phones, the Samson GMM is a great product that offers flexible mounting options and direct connections to smartphones and other A/V devices for high-quality mobile video & audio productions.
==== Functionality & Performance ====
When testing the performance of the Samson GMM, I used my iPhone SE and my Galaxy S9+ with their respective default "Camera" apps.
On both devices, my voice sounded very clear and robust with no digital noise. It was clean, rich, and very clear. The quality of the recordings from the Samson GMM, when compared to smartphone microphones, was much, much better and of higher quality. There's simply no comparison. If you're serious about producing quality videos for YouTube or vlogging, you definitely want something like the Samson GMM. Your audience will appreciate the higher fidelity audio.
When it comes to transmitter range, I tested up to ~40 feet away from the receiver. At that distance, the audio recording quality was excellent and sounded fantastic. It sounded as if I was sitting right next to my smartphone.
I also tested the GMM by purposely losing line-of-sight from the receiver. When the distance between the GMM and the transmitter was below ~25 feet, the audio recording continued to work with no drop-outs. At about ~40 feet away, however, the audio recording had some garbled noise when line-of-sight was lost.
Overall, I'm very happy with the quality of the audio recording capability of the Samson GMM system.
==== Closing Thoughts ====
Despite some compatibility issues with some Android phones, I still like the Samson GMM a lot. Once I found the right combination of which type of audio connection to use & the appropriate recording app on my smartphone, producing high-quality audio and video was super simple and consistent. Samson has created a unique, versatile, and powerful audio recording system that I can easily recommend.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+21points
21of 21voted this as helpful.
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ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop. Enjoy everyday gaming with this ASUS notebook PC. The Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM let you run graphics-heavy games smoothly, while the potent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics produce high-quality visuals on the fast 15.6-inch 144hz FHD display. This ASUS notebook PC has 512GB SSD that shortens load times and offers ample storage.
HI everybode. Can u let me know some info? I think it is normally GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU or GeForce RTX 3060 Max-Q? THank you
ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop. Enjoy everyday gaming with this ASUS notebook PC. The Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM let you run graphics-heavy games smoothly, while the potent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics produce high-quality visuals on the fast 15.6-inch 144hz FHD display. This ASUS notebook PC has 512GB SSD that shortens load times and offers ample storage.
Are the Usb ports Usb 3.0 or higher?
ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop. Enjoy everyday gaming with this ASUS notebook PC. The Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM let you run graphics-heavy games smoothly, while the potent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics produce high-quality visuals on the fast 15.6-inch 144hz FHD display. This ASUS notebook PC has 512GB SSD that shortens load times and offers ample storage.
Can i add an internal hard disk? It makes an issue with warranty especially i am in middle east?
Yes, you can add another NVME drive. There are two slots total inside the laptop.
3 years, 6 months ago
by
optimummind
ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop. Enjoy everyday gaming with this ASUS notebook PC. The Intel i7 processor and 16GB of RAM let you run graphics-heavy games smoothly, while the potent NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics produce high-quality visuals on the fast 15.6-inch 144hz FHD display. This ASUS notebook PC has 512GB SSD that shortens load times and offers ample storage.
does the key board back lite change colors like the tuff rizen 7
Bose Sleepbuds II deliver relaxing sounds that help you fall asleep, and use Bose noise-masking technology so you stay asleep. Tiny, wireless Sleepbuds II are designed for comfort with sleep technology clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster. Sleepbuds II play content only from the Bose Sleep app, which gives you full control of the Sound Library and helps you personalize features. Discover tranquil tones and soothing sounds from nature. Or, use Bose noise-masking sounds to cover unwanted nighttime noise. Download your favorite sounds directly to Sleepbuds II, control volume, and set a personal wake-up alarm. Sleepbuds II feature proprietary eartips made of soft silicone for a comfortable, secure fit. Sleep on your back or side, or rollover during the night, they’ll stay put. Get up to ten hours of battery life from a single charge, enough for a full night’s sleep — and three additional charges from the portable case.
I live in an apartment with the loudest bunch of people above me,Do you think it might mask a dog's bark?Or loud thuds? Thanks!
The reason I got the original Sleepbuds was to mask out the neighbor's barking dogs. The Sleepbuds II, like the first-gen ones, does a fantastic job blocking out dog noises (mine inside the house as well as the neighbor's).
If you increase the Sleepbud loudness level from inside the Bose app, you can also easily block out noisy people (conversations, shouting, their music, etc).
If you increase the Sleepbud loudness level from inside the Bose app, you can also easily block out noisy people (conversations, shouting, their music, etc).
3 years, 11 months ago
by
optimummind
Bose Sleepbuds II deliver relaxing sounds that help you fall asleep, and use Bose noise-masking technology so you stay asleep. Tiny, wireless Sleepbuds II are designed for comfort with sleep technology clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster. Sleepbuds II play content only from the Bose Sleep app, which gives you full control of the Sound Library and helps you personalize features. Discover tranquil tones and soothing sounds from nature. Or, use Bose noise-masking sounds to cover unwanted nighttime noise. Download your favorite sounds directly to Sleepbuds II, control volume, and set a personal wake-up alarm. Sleepbuds II feature proprietary eartips made of soft silicone for a comfortable, secure fit. Sleep on your back or side, or rollover during the night, they’ll stay put. Get up to ten hours of battery life from a single charge, enough for a full night’s sleep — and three additional charges from the portable case.
I have the original Bose - Sleepbuds....are these the same thing or improved in some way?
The Sleepbuds II is way better. The Sleepbuds II are flatter and more oval-shaped, making them even more comfortable inside your ears. Probably due to the better fitment, passive noise isolation has been significantly improved. Also, when you rub your head on the pillow while lying sideways, there is no more rubbing noise.
The charging mechanism has also been improved. The charging pins and the magnet are no longer on the same row but separated into two, making it easier and faster to position the Sleepbuds correctly when putting them into the charging case. Due to the redesign, I don't think the magnet is going to eventually fall out like they did with the original Sleepbuds.
The charging mechanism has also been improved. The charging pins and the magnet are no longer on the same row but separated into two, making it easier and faster to position the Sleepbuds correctly when putting them into the charging case. Due to the redesign, I don't think the magnet is going to eventually fall out like they did with the original Sleepbuds.
3 years, 11 months ago
by
optimummind
Bose Sleepbuds II deliver relaxing sounds that help you fall asleep, and use Bose noise-masking technology so you stay asleep. Tiny, wireless Sleepbuds II are designed for comfort with sleep technology clinically proven to help you fall asleep faster. Sleepbuds II play content only from the Bose Sleep app, which gives you full control of the Sound Library and helps you personalize features. Discover tranquil tones and soothing sounds from nature. Or, use Bose noise-masking sounds to cover unwanted nighttime noise. Download your favorite sounds directly to Sleepbuds II, control volume, and set a personal wake-up alarm. Sleepbuds II feature proprietary eartips made of soft silicone for a comfortable, secure fit. Sleep on your back or side, or rollover during the night, they’ll stay put. Get up to ten hours of battery life from a single charge, enough for a full night’s sleep — and three additional charges from the portable case.
Can they play the music on your phone
Step into virtual reality with this Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset. The advanced optics produce a sharp display with bright, vivid colors, and Oculus Insight tracking removes the need for external sensors to convert movements into virtual reality. This Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset has a fit wheel that secures the headset with a quick twist.
Ok so there is the oculas quest no cables nothing like that but limited space and this one has wires and more games and more which one should i get?
I personally prefer the Rift S because of better game visuals, game modding possibilities, and a larger library of games I have access to. I do not mind the cord except for its tangling up tendency.
5 years, 3 months ago
by
optimummind
Step into virtual reality with this Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset. The advanced optics produce a sharp display with bright, vivid colors, and Oculus Insight tracking removes the need for external sensors to convert movements into virtual reality. This Oculus Rift S PC-powered headset has a fit wheel that secures the headset with a quick twist.
Will this work for someone with an IPD greater than 70? What is your IPD and how is it working for you?
My IPD is 66mm and the focus and clarity are great.
5 years, 3 months ago
by
optimummind
Play your favorite PC games with this 15.6-inch Lenovo laptop. Its Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB of RAM let you run multiple programs without performance lag, and its 1TB hard drive provides plenty of file storage space. This Lenovo laptop has a powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti graphics card for fast rendering of images and videos.
Is this the 144hz model? How can we know the refresh rate of each variant?
This is NOT the 144 Hz variant. It is 60 Hz. Frankly, you don't need a 144 Hz display as the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti won't be able to hit frames that high in most games.
6 years, 1 month ago
by
optimummind