YourMainDude's stats
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- First reviewNovember 4, 2016
- Last reviewMay 2, 2024
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- First answerNovember 1, 2018
- Last answerNovember 1, 2018
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Meet Pixel 7a, engineered by Google. The Google Tensor G2 chip makes it fast. The Pixel Camera takes amazing photos and video. VPN by Google One protects your online activity. Pixel 7a features are rated highest in security. [1] And the battery lasts all day. [2] All for less than you think.
Posted by: YourMainDude
Coming in with a 6.1-inch display, nearly 2 days of battery life with extended day-time use, a screen refresh rate that peaks @ 90 HZ, wireless charging and a system that is "pure" Android - the Pixel 7a is a phone that has a hard time convincing the owner or perspective owner that it is some kind of meager, entry level phone. I've toyed around with the Pixel 7 and I have to say this mobile device seems to be simply a little more polished version of that device. The display is amazingly bright, buttery smooth and looks fantastic in everyday use.
Being a Google device, the bloatware is a below average compared to competing devices but functionality is all top-shelf and snappy. In my mind there really isn't one 'stand out' feature of this phone because it simply rocks strong equally across all facets. The FHD+ screen is well optimized for its size and the feel in one's hand is balanced and essentially perfect, the unit charges fast on a capable power brick and connectivity on both the T-Mobile & Verizon 5G networks is solid & reliable. Wi-Fi 6 performance is equally stellar. Google's powerful suite of photo tools may be the biggest highlight of this phone as the one standout feature that augments an already fantastic camera system - distancing this device from the competition. But in all honesty, everything this phone offers at the price-point is well evolved.
At list price the Google Pixel 7a is a tremendous value and any sale price is simply going to be icing on the cake.
If you're looking for a cost-effective phone on a budget but want the look, feel and performance of a MUCH more premium device … look no further.
Highly Recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience a balanced sound, with crisp, soaring teble and controlled, runbling bass. Built-in Dynamic Loudness adjusts the tonal balance of the sound, ensuring your music sounds brilliant at every volume, while Placement Compensation corrects for any nearby reflective surfaces that may affect the sound. Marshall has taken its signature rock 'n' rollhome speaker line-up and given it a stripped-back look that makes a loud statement. Its iconic design knocks all other speakers off the shelf. Generation III is ready for the future of Bluetooth technology and has been built to deliver next-generation Bluetooth features the moment they are available. Over 55 years of sound knowledge is combined with future-proof technology to completely immerse you in your music.
Posted by: YourMainDude
Having owned a bunch of Marshall audio products I have to say I had high expectations on how good this product refresh would be. In summary - I was not disappointed!
The Marshall - Acton III is remarkably small for the amount of high impact, high fidelity sound it produces. Setup was super quick and I was blasting all my favorites in a mere matter of minutes.
The build quality is typical Marshall and the only gripe I have is the rather flimsy "rocker" switch on the top control panel section that allows for skipping forward & back... along with play & pause control of the connected devices audio app. Perhaps I'm just too picky but the action of this rocker switch feels a little lacking. But really, only time will tell how it holds up. It does function properly and is a convenient feature to have 'on board'. The onboard LEDs are clear & bright. All the knobs feel top-shelf and the aesthetics are ALL "Marshall".
In the week or so I've demo'd the Marshall - Acton III, I've not experienced a single connection drop and the Bluetooth connectivity with high rez material has been astounding. With the basic tone controls on the top, you can dial this speaker in with great range of contour. The precise bass reproduction is kind of mind blowing and the mid-range & treble clarity is awesome out of the box. The soundstage the Marshall - Acton III creates is also pretty amazing. Botton line: I can only assume that this speakers sound will improve with use - as it breaks in.
The Marshall - Acton III gets pretty darned loud for its size and I wasn't left wanting for anything more. No matter if I was using in the garage, on the patio or inside a large great-room, the dBs were massive - with great bass and treble response & no distortion.
At the time of the writing this review, I did find the mobile app for the Marshall - Acton III somewhat shallow. Hopefully that part will improve with time.
All-in-all I am very happy with the Marshall - Acton III. It hits it out of the park each & every time. Would it have been nice to have some kind of detachable handle or strap? Certainly. Could it have been better to have an internal battery to make it more "on the go" portable. Sure thing. But that would have increased the cost and undoubtedly changed how this thing is tuned regarding the cabinet and the drivers. So, no bigs!
Pros:
Very compact for the amount of high-fidelity sound it produces.
All the controls one would need right there on the top.
Big, full, high-fidelity sound that doesn't disappoint.
Solid wireless connectivity and easy as pie setup.
And it's Marshall ... so it looks Good!
Very compact for the amount of high-fidelity sound it produces.
All the controls one would need right there on the top.
Big, full, high-fidelity sound that doesn't disappoint.
Solid wireless connectivity and easy as pie setup.
And it's Marshall ... so it looks Good!
Cons:
None
None
Sidenotes:
The playback toggle control on the top feels a tad bit flimsy to me. YMMV
The mobile app is thin in features and pretty much useless in terms of functionality.
The playback toggle control on the top feels a tad bit flimsy to me. YMMV
The mobile app is thin in features and pretty much useless in terms of functionality.
I can confidently recommend the Marshall - Acton III to anyone looking for a nicely priced, high performing - compact Bluetooth sound system.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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All hail the new king. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro Multiplatform Wireless Gaming Headset brings the best premium features to your gaming multiverse for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One, PlayStation, Windows PCs, Mac, Nintendo Switch and mobile. Featuring the most versatile noise cancelling system ever in a gaming headset, with the ability to control noise-cancelling levels from anywhere. Experience ultimate audio immersion with powerful, hand-selected 50mm Nanoclear drivers for a vast soundstage; and the TruSpeak noise-cancelling boom mic or dual built-in microphones offer ultra-clear comms. Our softest memory foam ear cushions enhance noise isolation and provide all-day comfort, and the Stealth Pro is built to last with a durable steel-reinforced headband and frame.
Posted by: YourMainDude
The Turtle Beach - Stealth Pro are a solid entry into the competitive field of wireless gaming headsets. What astounded me right away was the build quality, the sound quality and the completeness of the package.
From the moment you take this headset out of the box, you'll feel just how substantially they are built. Don't worry if they come off feeling too heavy in your hand; once you put them on, you'll likely see how well balanced and comfortable they are to wear. Size, fit & comfort is subjective though.
I made sure to fully charge one of the two provided batteries. Yeah, that's right - they came with two batteries! The transmit/receive unit seconds as a battery charger which is really convenient. I then proceeded to connect the Turtle Beach - Stealth Pro to my Windows 11 PC to see just how good the Turtle Beach Audio Hub software was. Wow! For once, a well-designed, intuitive and powerful arrangement of settings that includes a full complement EQ for personalized listening as well as settings for power conservation, mode button configuration, noise cancellation adjustments and microphone sensitivity - just to name a few top categories.
I made sure to demo the Turtle Beach - Stealth Pro with both my Xbox X and my PC. But to be quite honest, I can see these cans being very useful for listening to music on-the-go via my phone. They are that good. The default 'signature sound' profile these ship with is pretty amazing for drivers that will certainly need to be broken in a little bit - but I keep finding myself going back to the Bass Boost setting. Very few wireless headsets I've tried and/or owned produce a sound quality matching the Turtle Beach - Stealth Pro's. These things do Bass proper while not missing a bit of the clarity that is so important. Another facet worth mentioning is loudness. Too many headsets now days have capped volume output. The Turtle Beach - Stealth Pro aren’t in the camp. They crank up plenty loud and do so in a full range manner without rattles or distortion. Noice!
This headset took me by total surprise. Turtle Beach really stepped up to the plate with these and as far I can attest - they hit a grand slam. I detected no lag whatsoever when using these with my Xbox in conjunction with the provided transmitter/receiver mode, no random disconnects... and the setup was a breeze. Kudos to Turtle Beach for making the Turtle Beach - Stealth Pro truly “plug & play”.
Pros:
No blingy RGB nonsense. These are all about form, function and comfort.
They are beefy but very pleasant to wear and I had no issues wearing them for hours.
Very comfortable earcups and headband. YMMV
The fold away microphone/mute function is something I appreciate.
Unrivaled sound quality and virtually limitless tweak ability regarding EQ/sound profiling. These cans get loud, stay clear & focused and do Bass in a very authoritative way.
Excellent wireless performance with both PC and Xbox. Up to 30 feet is no sweat with these, even around corners & through walls.
These can work on either the TB wireless mode or Bluetooth. I'm certain the Bluetooth range will be somewhat shorter in distance.
Simple to set up and get running; literally takes a few minutes to do. Piece of cake!
The Turtle Beach Audio Hub software is probably the best headset software I've ever used. You can customize just about everything on these and the EQ sound tailoring part is just over-the-top.
No blingy RGB nonsense. These are all about form, function and comfort.
They are beefy but very pleasant to wear and I had no issues wearing them for hours.
Very comfortable earcups and headband. YMMV
The fold away microphone/mute function is something I appreciate.
Unrivaled sound quality and virtually limitless tweak ability regarding EQ/sound profiling. These cans get loud, stay clear & focused and do Bass in a very authoritative way.
Excellent wireless performance with both PC and Xbox. Up to 30 feet is no sweat with these, even around corners & through walls.
These can work on either the TB wireless mode or Bluetooth. I'm certain the Bluetooth range will be somewhat shorter in distance.
Simple to set up and get running; literally takes a few minutes to do. Piece of cake!
The Turtle Beach Audio Hub software is probably the best headset software I've ever used. You can customize just about everything on these and the EQ sound tailoring part is just over-the-top.
Cons:
None really
None really
Nitpicks:
Would have been nice to see some click detents in the adjust headband extensions - but that's just me. They have enough inherent friction in them to work just fine and they slide smoothly.
Would have been nice to see some click detents in the adjust headband extensions - but that's just me. They have enough inherent friction in them to work just fine and they slide smoothly.
Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Philips Norelco OneBlade 360 Face + Body trims, edges and shaves any length of hair, even on body. OneBlade 360 Face + Body includes one blade for your face, and another blade with a click-on skin guard for your body. The unique OneBlade shaving technology integrates a fast moving cutter (12000x per minute) with a dual protection system to give you an efficient comfortable shave on longer hairs. OneBlade does not shave too close, so your skin stays comfortable. Click on the 5-in-1 stubble comb for face or use the additional blade with click-on skin guard and 3mm body comb for a fast and even trim on your body and below-the-belt. The Lithuim Ion battery delivers up to 60 minutes of run time after a 4 hour charge. Forget about using multiple tools. OneBlade Face + Body does it all. Completely waterproof so you can even use in the shower- with or without foam. Pack includes: 1 handle, 1 360 blade for face, 1 blade for body, 1 5-in-1 stubble comb for face, 1 skin guard for body, 1 body comb, 1 USB-A charging cord (adapter not included), 1 protective cap.
Posted by: YourMainDude
The OneBlade 360 Face & Body is good, well-rounded kit.
Having now used both the face & body heads, I found the trimming experience to be precise and tug-free. This is my first time using this product and considering the diminutive size of the blade surface I honestly wasnt' expecting much.
This little kit is perfect. especially good for maintaining facial hair and I found myself using both blade options for just that purpose. The handheld unit charges quickly, is relatively quiet and very ergonomic. The blade heads snap in & remove easily.
Some people may want to opt for the larger & expensive, more elaborate kits but I personally prefer this unit over the larger ones simply for the fact that the main body of the OneBlade Face + Body is easier to handle when you're attempting to make small adjustments. The 60 minute run-time is accurate.
Never once did I encounter any skin abrasion or knicks, even when using the body blade on my face - open ended. The "guard" is there if you need it.
I wouldn't really call this a full-fledged facial hair shaver. To me, it's more like a "once in the while" tool to have handy if you want to knock down beard, only to finish off with a real shaver. But for grooming side burns and cutting clean lines for a beard & mustache ... this thing is a MUST.
I can only imagine that it will perform admirably for tasks stretching beyond the face.
Pros:
Simple, diminutive and precise.
Small & agile handheld form factor.
I really like that it's water proof and easily cleaned simply via the faucet.
Not too noisy in operation.
No tug or catching; cuts quick and clean.
Worry free trimming.
Simple, diminutive and precise.
Small & agile handheld form factor.
I really like that it's water proof and easily cleaned simply via the faucet.
Not too noisy in operation.
No tug or catching; cuts quick and clean.
Worry free trimming.
Cons:
Absolutely none!
Absolutely none!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One & Windows 10 & 11 PCs equips you with immersive, accurate controls for navigating air and space flight simulation & combat games on Xbox and PC. High resolution non-contact sensors provide precise response and extended longevity to the main stick controls, while throttle and flap levers control main engine power and make for quick adjustment of secondary control surfaces. Plus, the levers can be customized with swappable throttle heads to suit the aircraft you are flying. Precision detents at the minimum and maximum positions allow activation of full reverse thrust at minimum, and afterburner, boost or Take Off/Go Around thrust at maximum. An ultra-precise nano trim wheel allows for fine tuning of attitude, and an analog POV hat allows freelook in cockpit views or strafe thrusters in space simulation games. An OLED Flight Management Display makes for easy adjustments to control profiles, trim wheel input mode, rudder lock and more. Navigate the FMD using an intuitive rotary dial with click at the base of the stick to configure, and update product performance in real-time with all information stored in on-board memory. 27 programmable buttons, stick mounted buttons, dual throttle lever detents and 8 programmable base buttons equip you with an arsenal of adjustable controls to your most critical simulation functions. Pilot fighter jets or airliners thanks to an ambidextrous right and left-handed design with a reversible wrist rest, and programmable base buttons allow the entire setup to be configured for right, or left-handed controls. Take customization a step further and adjust the color, brightness and response of multiple RGB LED zones. Familiar Xbox controls allow for easy console operation, and you can switch input mode to PC to play across a wide range of simulation titles.
Posted by: YourMainDude
The Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick Universal may have "Universal" in the product label but it is far from being universally applicable.
I was excited to test this product out as it had been a while since I've seen a flightstick that commanded any attention. What I hoped to be a good all-in product turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. PC Buyers beware that unless you use a third party 'mapper' driver, you will encounter a good deal of frustration getting the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick Universal to universally "play nice" with a good cross section of games.
I set out to try this joystick on three PC based games; 'War Thunder', 'Ace Combat 7' and the final & obvious choice of Microsoft's "Flight Simulator". Of the three titles, I was confronted with a range of results. With 'War Thunder' I was able to finally get the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick Universal to work with a good deal of time spent training/programming the multitude of settings. With this flightstick having been out for fair amount of time I expected at the very least to find some form of generic configuration matrix to set up this stick. That was not the case. I was however able to get it to work and with the full-array of buttons and controls offered on this bit of kit, I managed to get a little more than the basic "set" of paramters to head into Battle. My system is Windows 11 based and the windows control panel confirmed all the basic input telemetry of the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick. Game play was satisfying and I didn't encounter any pitch misalignment issues or input lag. Thumbs up!
Moving on to 'Ace Combat 7', I was unable to get the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick to be recognized by the software and therefore was left perplexed.
Lastly, I moved into Microsoft's 'Flight Simulator' and here I was most pleased with the results. From what I can gather, MFS is probably the most 'game ready' experience with this Turtle Beach stick. The software recognized the unit straight away and I didn't need to calibrate anything. It just worked and worked beautifully.
So now lets talk about the overall design and the ergonomics of the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick from a purely hardware point of view. Being that this unit is Xbox ready, it makes sense regarding the layout and labeling of all the controls. I would go so far as to say that even though this product is PC compatible, for all intents & purposes - it really is primarily a Xbox product designate. And here's the dead give away... You need to set the input control to Xbox if you wish to use the Windows based app to check for any available firmware update.
The info screen is logically laid out and easy to read & navigated through. All the buttons feel solid and built to withstand long-term use. The overall weight & balance of the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick is solid in my opinion and ticks all the boxes in my mind.
During gameplay, I found the input sensitivity to be precise & well balanced. Serious gamers & sim players are certainly going to want to add an additional set of foot pedals and/or throttle controller because as a stand alone unit... this thing simply leaves you wanting for more control.
Pros:
Well constructed with good ergonomics & positive feeling precision
Vertical adjustable hand wrest is very cool.
It is designed to be ambidextrous... so kudos to the Turtle Beach design team on that.
The lighting is subtle and dare I say, soft to the eyes... which I prefer.
Nothing over-the-top flashy here.
The flush scroll dial is nice feature.
Generally speaking, the entire design looks good and not goofy or outrageous.
Well constructed with good ergonomics & positive feeling precision
Vertical adjustable hand wrest is very cool.
It is designed to be ambidextrous... so kudos to the Turtle Beach design team on that.
The lighting is subtle and dare I say, soft to the eyes... which I prefer.
Nothing over-the-top flashy here.
The flush scroll dial is nice feature.
Generally speaking, the entire design looks good and not goofy or outrageous.
Cons:
Not widely compatible with PC games.
The Windows app available thru the Microsoft does one thing and one thing only; firmware updater.
It would nice if there was a way through software (Turtle Beach software...) to put this thing in some form of basic 'emulator' mode to make it broadly compatible in the PC realm.
Not widely compatible with PC games.
The Windows app available thru the Microsoft does one thing and one thing only; firmware updater.
It would nice if there was a way through software (Turtle Beach software...) to put this thing in some form of basic 'emulator' mode to make it broadly compatible in the PC realm.
I am only giving the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick three stars because contrary to the naming convention, it is not "universal" in the PC environment. I would recommend that you study reviews by those primarily focusing on Xbox performance to help you make a more informed decision in that regard. And if you ARE a PC gamer looking for an affordable flightstick controller, it's best to do your homework first to see if your specific game titles are going to work with this thing.
I can only recommend the Turtle Beach - VelocityOne Flightstick for a very niche segment of the market.
Beginner and intermediate 'Flight Simulator' players should be very satisfied with this stick!
Beginner and intermediate 'Flight Simulator' players should be very satisfied with this stick!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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From across the room or across the country, Sensi makes it easy for you to remotely control and schedule your home comfort - Anytime. Anywhere.
Customer Rating
3
Solid Attempt at a Non-Touch Stat ...
on August 13, 2022
Posted by: YourMainDude
I was excited to get my hands on the Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat. Not a huge fan of any of the 'dial' type or touch screen thermostats currently available, so I was looking for more of the hybrid approach; the blending of a more traditional button-oriented unit with a fully interactive app via WiFi.
The installation is highly driven via the mobile app and that part of the experience was superb relating to getting the unit up-and-running. The guided visuals make it very palatable for the average person and pretty much fool proof. The terminal base of the unit is pretty standard but clearly labeled and the screw pass-thru cut outs allow for small adjustments to facilitate getting the thermostat lined up and leveled. Hard mounted in that back plate is a bubble level that is filled with some higher viscous fluid, making the leveling process easier albeit a touch longer as the ball indicator moves slow. I did experience some points of frustration getting the Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat sync'd to my WiFi network because of the way the process works. So if you're like me, expect to perhaps run through that process more than once. It took 2 times to get the unit to connect to the router but since then, it's not had any issues remaining connected.
I replaced a Honeywell unit that has been operating flawlessly for years but I wasn't happy with the murkiness of the backlit display. The Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat has a very sharp and clean display that is well organized and if you're walking by to see what is going on and/or to make adjustments, it's great.
The buttons on this unit are a tad bit clunky tho. I expected more of a quality, firmer feel to them. But stuff like this is highly subjective. But that display! This is one of the best I've seen or used and the button configuration is all logically organized. Kudos to Emerson.
Now on to the more questionable stuff. My old thermostat was a champ and never gave us any grief. It provided us years of reliable control. Being very familiar with its performance, one thing I noticed with the Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat - leaving it all configured on its 'out of box' defaults - is that the Sensi is obviously not going to save us any money on our utility bills in its default configuration. Temps here in our area were averaging around 100-degree F for quite some time. And we are fully accustomed to how often our old stat was cycling on & off during cooling. Out of the box, this Sensi stat was cycling two to three times more often during a one-hour period. There are settings to address that but I'll get to that part in a minute. Suffice it to say, touted as an Energy Star product, I'm a little shocked this unit wasn't configured for the maximum efficiency settings as a default.
Onto the frustration details. The Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat has a wealth of settings in it and accessing them via the mobile app is very, very convenient. The problem therein is with the explanation of what those settings mean in a 'regular Joe' semi technical way. There are 'Boost' settings for both heating & cooling; Cycle Rate controls, again for both heating and cooling; various offsets and even lock outs & limits ... with the latter ones being pretty straight forward and intuitive. What isn't so great is the complete lack of detailed explanations of what the Boost, Cycle Rate and AC Protect actually do. And the user manual and Emerson website is even more devoid of these necessary details. I believe a highly customizable unit such as this deserves way better explanation of these functions.
Aren't we wanting to promote education in this greener tech environment? And specific to the AC Protection, most AC systems of the last 20 years already have controls built into the hardware for this type of protection. So is this control for much older systems? Emerson fails to explain.
Aren't we wanting to promote education in this greener tech environment? And specific to the AC Protection, most AC systems of the last 20 years already have controls built into the hardware for this type of protection. So is this control for much older systems? Emerson fails to explain.
One thing that is clear is that the Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat doesn't obviously incorporate any kind of Ai layer like many other modern thermostats. This is something that will definitely appeal to a large segment of the consumer base. The app, lack of explanation for some of the controls notwithstanding, is overall very pleasant and user oriented in presentation. You can quickly make temporary changes between scheduled events with ease and completely reconfigure the sched with equal ease. There's a Statistics tab which is 'decent' but not detailed. ( another oversight by Emerson IMHO ). It's a good app overall despite its flaws and it's easy on the eyes.
The Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat has the facilities to control humidity if your HVAC system has that ... but even if you don't ... having a humidity monitor is a much-welcomed Bonus.
Overall I think the Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat scores between 3 and 4 stars ... but I'm 'rounding down' in this case because of the short comings of 'information' which is key the customer experience and because of the higher cycle counts, with default settings straight out-of-the-box. There is a huge potential for users to experienced utility bill shock with this thing.
Pros:
Clean modern looking yet traditional design facets.
Beautiful display that is nicely formatted
Great button layout
Easy, guided physical installation with the mobile app
A mobile app that isn't cluttered, ugly or hard to maneuver ... but
Clean modern looking yet traditional design facets.
Beautiful display that is nicely formatted
Great button layout
Easy, guided physical installation with the mobile app
A mobile app that isn't cluttered, ugly or hard to maneuver ... but
Cons:
A mobile app that doesn't do much in the way fully explaining the advanced settings
and secondary & tertiary locations (physical manual and website) that lack even more details
Temp sensor guard-bands that are too tight (or something else) that leads to too frequent of on cycles, with no numeric calibration settings provided; e.g., degrees C or F sensitivity
Didn't come with a backing plate surround to cover up & beautify the area around the stat
(this is like a 99 cent part to manufacture in volume)
A mobile app that doesn't do much in the way fully explaining the advanced settings
and secondary & tertiary locations (physical manual and website) that lack even more details
Temp sensor guard-bands that are too tight (or something else) that leads to too frequent of on cycles, with no numeric calibration settings provided; e.g., degrees C or F sensitivity
Didn't come with a backing plate surround to cover up & beautify the area around the stat
(this is like a 99 cent part to manufacture in volume)
Not sure I can fully recommend the Sensi Smart Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat at this time, so I'll answer the binary choice with 'No'. This really depends on the magnitude of the increase utility bill I expect and future firmware/settings updates to address performance AND the user experience.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Introducing the ROCCAT Burst Pro Air Lightweight Optical Wireless RGB Gaming Mouse for Windows PC. The Burst Pro Air brings ROCCAT’s symmetrical lightweight shape with its rich feature set, comfort and performance, into wireless. Meticulously crafted from the ground up, its shape delivers maximum comfort. Featuring ROCCAT Stellar Wireless technology, gamers get exceptional signal strength for a virtually latency-free connection and up to 100 hours of battery life. Running low on battery? Connect the detachable Phantom Flex cable with USB-C rapid charging to get back in the game quickly with 5 hours of battery life with just a 10-minute charge.Designed and engineered by ROCCAT, the Titan Switch Optical delivers improved durability and faster click speed with unparalleled precision. The ROCCAT Owl-Eye 19,000 DPI optical sensor with 400 IPS tracking speed equips gamers with incredible tracking accuracy and responsiveness.The ROCCAT Burst Pro Air features four RGB lighting zones with signature AIMO intelligent lighting that shine through a water and dust resistant, translucent Bionic shell. The Burst Pro Air also features our coveted heat-treated pure PTFE glides, pre-tuned for an incredibly smooth glide right out of the box.
Customer Rating
3
Great Hardware ... Meh Software
on July 4, 2022
Posted by: YourMainDude
The ROCCAT - Burst Pro Air Lightweight Wireless is solidly designed & constructed mouse. If your hands are average to small, this is a great ultra-lightweight offering. All the buttons are quick and positive in their responses. The scroll wheel is robust and doesn't rattle. The glide action is exceptional due to the well-balanced weight distribution and the massive glide pads on the bottom. I seriously cannot fault anything with this mouse on a purely hardware level. It simply revivals all the other ultralights I have tried. I especially like the honeycomb, translucent design (versus any of the open honeycomb competitors...) and the lighting presentation - which is easily customized via the Swarm software. The sheer scope of adjustments is mind boggling.
Using the Burst Pro Air in BT mode works as expected for everyday computing and the 2.4 GHz mode is crisp & responsive during gaming. Being 2022, most top tier gaming mice usually accel in this area and the Burst Pro Air is no exception. Using the mouse ‘wired’ is equally impressive and the cable is diminutive and equally feather light.
Using the Burst Pro Air in BT mode works as expected for everyday computing and the 2.4 GHz mode is crisp & responsive during gaming. Being 2022, most top tier gaming mice usually accel in this area and the Burst Pro Air is no exception. Using the mouse ‘wired’ is equally impressive and the cable is diminutive and equally feather light.
Speaking of Swarm, in aggregate it is a wealthy software suite and gives the user FULL control over the entire device and includes all the provisions to keep the mouse up-to-date. The problem with Swarm is the stability side of things and this is where I apply all the demerits of the low score.
On a 12th Gen, gaming laptop - running Win 11 - I experienced repeated instances where Swarm would just freeze up. After multiple attempts at uninstalling/reinstalling the software and verifying that everything was update, I was pretty much left dumbfounded. I've used Roccat mice before and had never experienced any instability issues but something has obviously changed. Swarm simply stops working when opened and subsequently throws Windows Reliability errors.
Pros:
Superbly balanced and lightweight
Outstanding glide
Pleasing RGB presentation with the translucent, honeycomb chassis
Precision button activation and quick response
High quality scroll wheel
Superbly balanced and lightweight
Outstanding glide
Pleasing RGB presentation with the translucent, honeycomb chassis
Precision button activation and quick response
High quality scroll wheel
Cons:
Swarm software is buggy
Swarm software is buggy
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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The CORSAIR HS65 SURROUND Gaming Headset delivers all-day comfort and sound with memory foam leatherette ear pads and Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound on PC and Mac, bolstered by lightweight construction reinforced with aluminum. Sonarworks SoundID Technology personalizes your headset settings to match your audio taste. An omni-directional microphone picks up your voice loud and clear, and custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers offer great sound quality and range. A 3.5mm audio connector ensures wide compatibility across most devices, including PC, Mac, PS5 with Tempest 3D AudioTech support, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. Powerful CORSAIR iCUE Software unlocks audio equalizer settings, multi-channel 7.1 surround sound, and more. Complete with convenient on-ear volume control, the HS65 SURROUND enables you to press play on great sound.
Customer Rating
5
Budget Friendly Price ... Premium Performance!
on June 19, 2022
Posted by: YourMainDude
The Corsair HS65 Surround Gaming Headset, in Carbon, is the perfect gaming headset for the cost conscious gamer looking for premium performance, with quality construction - and without all the bling. And just because they aren't flashy doesn't mean they don't look slick.
I was immediately taken by how well this gaming headset is constructed. The overall look & feel are really top shelf. I was apprehensive about the design of the head band but after playing Sandstorm for many hours over many days, I can attest to the fact that the HS65's are very comfortable. No crown soreness or fatigue. YMMV. The ear cups are also a combination of pleather & breathable cloth - something I hadn't really considered or experienced before, and again - great comfort for hours - with no heat build up or that clammy feeling. Nicely done Corsair!
The individual ear pieces do rotate a bit, extend with a satisfying amount of friction points and the flip-away microphone is pretty ingenious. I suspect some users with larger head geometry may find these a bit constricting, but for the average adult or younger gamer I think comfort will be very satisfying.
These can be used either via the mini jack or in conjunction with the USB dongle. Those pieces are also quality built. Personally, I'm not a big fan of headsets that incorporate all the RGB bling - there's plenty of other places for that - and as an understated design, I find these to be a perfect compliment to my entire Corsair keyboard & mouse ecosystem. There's really nothing to gripe about with these. My impression is as the title suggests; budget friendly with premium performance. But what was really surprising was the actual audio performance. Upon unboxing and connecting these up to my Legion 7i gaming laptop, I ran thru the SoundID calibration tests and found the resulting audio quality to be spot-on. Having tried similar customization on other sound products, I didn't expect good results but Corsair did a great job with respect to the HS65's. Bass is articulate, plentiful and balanced. The mids and highs are equally clear & balanced and overall - this headset sound phenomenal. I wasn't expecting it - in this price segment - but these do deliver! Music sound equally good. If one isn't into the personalized SoundID calibration, the iCue Software gives you all the EQ and sound profile control you'll ever need. But for me, once I clocked in the first full day of Insurgency: Sandstorm and I heard all the nuanced stuff I had been previously missing - I was sold on my personalized SoundID profile. It was honestly a quick, one-and-done run-thru process. Foot steps, commander calls, the entire soundstage (near & far field) presentation while in-game is very remarkable. There is a rotary volume control and some might find themselves wanting for a tad bit more volume - but for me - these get plenty loud enough and the isolation from the outside environment is simply perfect.
The fold away microphone is also pretty cool. I would have preferred an in-line mute switch but I learned quickly to adapt to this new way of shutting off the microphone. I am going to assume some people won't like it... but that's to be expected. To each their own.
Over all, these are a very high performing, solidly constructed headset and the performance level is a well above their 'Weight Class'. Since audio is SO highly subjective, I would simply say to go give them a try for yourself. What you will save buying these can be spent on other key essentials.
Pros:
Solid build quality
Comfortable head band even though it looks meager
Very comfortable, dual-material ear cups
Ingenious fold-away microphone armature
Excellent imaging and sound fidelity with no perceivable distortion
The bass on these is excellent!
Great Corsair iCue integration with surprisingly effective & personalized SoundID calibration
Solid build quality
Comfortable head band even though it looks meager
Very comfortable, dual-material ear cups
Ingenious fold-away microphone armature
Excellent imaging and sound fidelity with no perceivable distortion
The bass on these is excellent!
Great Corsair iCue integration with surprisingly effective & personalized SoundID calibration
Cons:
None really
None really
Notables:
Some may find themselves wanting for a touch more volume/gain
May not be suitable for people with larger head geometry
Some may find themselves wanting for a touch more volume/gain
May not be suitable for people with larger head geometry
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink for next-level computing. With a PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ interface, get up to 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe® 3.0¹ while remaining compatible with PCIe® 3.0. ¹Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe® 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs.
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
The 980 PRO Heatsink 1TB is a huge step-up in speed and it stays as cool as my 970 EVO Plus under sustained load. This Gen 4, x4 NVMe SSD installed easily into my system which I will detail out below:
Gigabyte X570 Xtreme
AMD 5800X
Team Group 32 GB of 3600 LL RAM
Windows 11
AMD 5800X
Team Group 32 GB of 3600 LL RAM
Windows 11
I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly the Samsung Magician software identified the presence of the 980 Pro and prompted me to update the firmware after a Win 11 boot up. Following the firmware flash, the system needed a reboot and without any intervention - Windows 11 had already allocated the drive for me. Truly plug-and-play!
I've been running a Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1 TB drives for several years now and was eager to step up to a true, Gen 4 x4 solid state drive. Without invoking any of the enhanced performance modes (via Samsung Magician), Standard mode produced the following, excellent results:
Over 6500 MB/sec - sequential read speeds
Over 5000 MB/sec - sequential write speeds
That is pretty amazing considering this is only Standard Mode and more than double the speeds of my 970 EVO Plus.
Over 5000 MB/sec - sequential write speeds
That is pretty amazing considering this is only Standard Mode and more than double the speeds of my 970 EVO Plus.
My desktop case moves a lot of air so YMMV, but what struck me immediately is how cool the 980 Pro with Heatsink operated under normal loads. My 970 EVO Plus relies on the chip-set/storage heat sink complex that came with my motherboard and typically operates at around 43 C. I had to remove part of that complex to accommodate the 980 Pro's included heat sink but was amazed to find that this new SSD kept pace in terms of thermal performance... with normal operating temperatures around the same 43 C level. I've heard and read a lot of complaints about Gen 4 SSDs running too hot but haven't experienced one myself - until now. And I can say with confidence that this device stays cool under pressure - only hitting the high 50's with sustained, large file transfers. Perhaps my case airflow compliments the heat sink mounted on the 980 Pro.
This is an excellent upgrade if your mother board supports it. I trust Samsung SSDs and their warranties are a testament to their reliability. I've used Samsung solid state drives for many years and haven't had a single one fail on me. Just kind in mind that any Gen 4 x4 setup is going to require proper airflow.
Pros:
Solidly constructed
Easily installed, plug-and-play with Windows 11
Fantastic speeds for both reads & writes
The included heat sink keeps this baby cool
Samsung Magician software is comprehensive and helps to keep the SSD up to date & performing well
Solidly constructed
Easily installed, plug-and-play with Windows 11
Fantastic speeds for both reads & writes
The included heat sink keeps this baby cool
Samsung Magician software is comprehensive and helps to keep the SSD up to date & performing well
Cons:
None
None
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Performance
5
Quality
5
Value
5
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+6points
7of 8voted this as helpful.
The CORSAIR M65 RGB ULTRA Tunable Gaming Mouse boasts a durable aluminum frame and pinpoint accuracy powered by a 26,000 DPI MARKSMAN optical sensor and optical OMRON switches. Sensor fusion technology enables convenient tilt gestures for in-game actions, while CORSAIR AXON Hyper-Processing Technology transmits those actions up to 8x faster than other gaming mice. With customizable weight between 97g and 115g, a lightweight paracord cable, and CORSAIR QUICKSTRIKE buttons, all your movements and actions register with the utmost speed. Take control with iCUE software to program the M65 RGB ULTRA’s eight buttons, customize its dynamic RGB backlighting, and save your profiles to onboard storage to take on the go. Pick up the M65 RGB ULTRA to make all your clicks count.
Posted by: YourMainDude
from The South
The Corsair - M65 RGB Ultra takes it to the next level. I'm a big fan of the Corsair product ecosystem and have been using the M65 RGB Elite for paired with the Corsair K70 mkII, low-profile keyboard on my dedicated 11th Gen gaming notebook. The M65 Elite was already a stupendous offering, with great balance & control. Upgrading to the M65 RGB Ultra was an unexpected, eye-opening experience.
The presentation of this gaming mouse looks identical to the prior 'Elite' version so I wasn't expecting much. The RGB zones are basic & understated - which is something I actually prefer. The cable sheathing is smooth & agile but only time will tell if bunching and wear will become a issue. The tunable weight system is well engineered and very flexible. But the improvements in the main buttons alone were worth the wait.
Compared to the 'Elite' version, the Ultra primary buttons feel much faster and give a heightened level of confidence while gaming. I didn't experience any mis-registered clicks or double activation glitches in some 50+ hours of gaming on platforms like Insurgency & C o D Cold War. Aiming and firing were the best I've experienced on any gaming mouse and with the weight system uninstalled, I can confidently state that this mouse rivals ANY of the ultra-light mice I've tried in the past 24 months. With the 'Elite' I found myself preferring to have the weight retention screws in place for that small bit of added mass and a lower center of gravity... but on the Ultra, I hands-down preferred the feel & response immediately upon using it... leaving the tuning system in the packaging.
For my preference, the Corsair - M65 RGB Ultra feels the most natural at it's lightest configuration.
In terms of control, the iCue control software has progressed with many updates over just a few months and I find the software to be intuitive and well organized. No bugs or glitches experienced with the software and no Windows error events encountered.
The mouse is near-perfect with respect to ergonomics and should satisfy most owners with medium to large sized hands. Glide is excellent and again, bests any ultra-light I've experienced. The way in which Corsair implemented the dedicated, sniper button is also a very satisfying aspect of this mouse. I actually use it a lot and the positioning is perfect in my mind. Many competitors just never seem to get that right. The scroll wheel rolls nice and doesn't rattle or feel sloppy. Kudos to Corsair for not cutting corners on this important component.
There is one area that I do need to mention though. The way the Left & Right buttons are mounted to the inner frame of the Corsair - M65 RGB Ultra results in a rather metallic sound during activation. This is distinctly different from the prior 'Elite' version and I noticed it right away. I mention it because it may bother some people. Personally, beyond simply noticing the dramatic change in that sound character to other mice I own, it doesn't bother me in the least... but it is and will be readily apparent to some in the diehard Corsair community.
All-in-all, I think Corsair nailed it with the Corsair - M65 RGB Ultra. It is now my favorite gaming mouse and I'm a long-time G903 aficionado. Size, glide, button reaction time and software control are all top-shelf in my humble opinion and this mouse is proper compliment to the gaming notebook and the K70 keyboard I game on.
Pros:
Very customizable weight tuning system
Bests any of the ultra-lights I have tried
Superior glide
Precision button speed
High quality, scroll wheel action. NO slop!
Smooth and non-binding cable
Excellent ergonomics for right handed use
Very customizable weight tuning system
Bests any of the ultra-lights I have tried
Superior glide
Precision button speed
High quality, scroll wheel action. NO slop!
Smooth and non-binding cable
Excellent ergonomics for right handed use
Cons:
None
None
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Quality
5
Value
5
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+4points
4of 4voted this as helpful.
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