Batlacit's stats
- Review count193
- Helpfulness votes909
- First reviewFebruary 13, 2016
- Last reviewMay 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.4
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- Answer count55
- Helpfulness votes96
- First answerSeptember 21, 2016
- Last answerJanuary 21, 2022
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Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 router and reach speeds of up to 3 Gbps for a buffer-free 4K/HD streaming and gaming experience. Use the 2.5 Gigabit port to create fast, reliable wired connection that can take full advantage of internet plans up to 2.5 Gbps.
Customer Rating
4
Easy WiFi - better than the cable company!
on July 13, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
The Archer AX3000 is a small, stylish router with an easy setup process, excellent performance, and a few neat extras to help it stand apart from the competition.
There aren't any real surprises in the setup for anyone who's installed a router before, and if you haven't I don't think you should run into many issues. You have the option of either using a web interface or going through a proprietary app (tether, in this case) which will help walk you through the directions and add in some capacity for remote management to boot. By default the internet is connected to a single 2.5gbps ethernet port, though if you don't have a fiber line and would rather reserve that for high speed intranet you can switch it over to a more conventional gigabit port. All in all it should only take about twenty minutes for you to get up and running, and once you do you have full access to WiFi 6 speeds that can easily match (and occasionally rival) a wired connection.
The configuration options for both the web interface and the app are decent, though not exceptional. TP-Link seems very much aware that they're building for general consumers more than power users, so you're not going to find much in the way of bells and whistles. Still it has everything I'd consider essential in a modern router (single SSID support, guest networks, WPA3, etc.) as well as a few nice to have features such as support for mesh networking for particularly large homes. Range is as good as you'd expect from a WiFi 6 device too - placing this thing next to a window let me get all the way across the street from my home before the signal cut out.
There is some room for improvement though. The presence of a single 2.5gbps networking port and the fact that it defaults to the WAN hookup seems a little odd to me, as it's pretty hard to find a residential internet connection that can actually make full use of it. And if you could, you'd probably want to be able to take full advantage of it with whatever workstation or gaming PC you're feeding with it. It seems to me that if you're going to include the high speed ethernet port you should allow for two at a minimum or preferably just bite the bullet and upgrade the entire switch so you don't have to choose. I'm also a little concerned by the fact that the WiFi antennas seem to be permanently attached rather than removable as you get with most routers these days, as I'm always concerned about the cat deciding to play with one and doing something I come to regret later. But, to be fair, I'm also a bit of a power user.
I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a high powered WiFi 6 system without any of the fuss that often comes from more complicated units aimed at gamers and other prosumers.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Willen BT Portable Speaker
Customer Rating
5
Stylish, substantial speaker
on July 11, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
I don't think I've ever seen a Bluetooth speaker that's working harder to exude a sense of class and sophistication as this one. At least in my experience, most portable speakers this size border on being disposable items. The Willen makes it clear right out of the box that it's aiming for something a little higher.
Build quality is very sturdy, clearly trying to evoke the amps it's based on. The entire thing is wrapped in a thick rubber shell that makes it reasonably resistant to both water and impact. There's a very nice rubber wrist strap on the back that can completely disappear when you're not using it, or serve as a mounting point to attach to a bike rack or phone mount in a pinch. Controls are fairly minimal (as is labeling) but all seem very well protected. I do have some concerns that the brass paint on the Marshall logo might wear down fairly quickly, but that's the only thing I found that seems likely to break or wear here.
The setup process is about as painless as you can get as well. Turning it on brought up a pop-up on my phone inviting me to install the Marshall software and get it paired, which only took a few minutes. As one might expect it comes tuned for the guitar heavy rock that Marshall has been associated with since their founding, and while you can't truly reproduce that kind of sound with something this small it makes a pretty good effort nonetheless. It does end up being just a bit bass heavy for other uses, though you can tweak that in the app to get better results.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Designed for Xbox and PC, the Revolution X controller is built for competitive gamers looking for the ultimate in customization. Featuring a dedicated app from the Microsoft Store on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10/11, the Revolution X App provides limitless customization options. Map buttons, set thumbstick sensitivity, trigger dead zones and much more. Create and store up to four game profiles in the controller to suit a range of games. Four programmable rear panel triggers for extra control. Seamlessly unlock Dolby Atmos® for Headphones the moment you plug in your controller, giving you access to precise 3D Audio (headphones required). React faster and more accurately as you can detect the distance and direction of your threats.
Customer Rating
4
For those who miss the wires
on July 8, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
The Revolution X controller is a capable, if slightly odd, third party wired-only controller for the Xbox. it's got a decent amount of customization on display with spacers for the sticks, alternative thumbstick caps, configurable weights, and reprogrammable back buttons (configurable via app or on the controller itself. But, as with many of these kinds of controllers, it's certainly not for anyone.
Build quality is decent overall. Pretty much everything on the surface is plastic and it feels very light in the hand without the optional weights. The USB-C cables is long and sturdy. And the entire thing comes in a well designed and stylish looking carrying case. The triggers lack the tactile feel of the first party controllers and the paddles feel a little insubstantial, but once you start playing you tend to stop noticing pretty quickly.
Functionally, everything is very good. As expected with a wired controller there are no issues with lag or interference, the sticks center well, and all the buttons are responsive even if the slight differences in design does take a little getting used to. Switching between control profiles (or turning them off completely for a stock experience) is easily accomplished. The audio passthrough is also very good, though to be honest despite it being one of the advertised features on the box I found it to be fairly comparable to the standard controllers. The only issue I really had was getting used to the alternate buttons on the back. Most controllers I've used with this feature have used centrally mounted paddles, while this one has a set of triggers and buttons placed fairly low on the grips. It's very easy to accidentally hit the lower buttons in particular just by holding the controller until you get used to it, and even after a few days I still found myself accidentally throwing grenades in Halo.
All in all this is a good choice for a third party controller, particularly for anyone who finds the first party ones a bit too heavy or want to be able to more precisely tune the controller's balance. But if you're very used to using rear paddles, you might not appreciate the change in button placement.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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When you’re looking for a new type of ride, give our Hover-1 & Go-Kart Combo a try. This exciting product magically turns your Hover-1 hoverboard into a fun and powerful buggy that can cruise along just as fast as your hoverboard but with an entirely new experience! Featuring a hand operated rear wheel control, and adjustable frame, and a quick-attach connection, Hover-1 Turbo Go-Kart Combo completely transform your hoverboard experience. “Travel at the speed of life.”
Customer Rating
3
Fun, if finnicky
on June 25, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
I will gladly admit that one of my main motivations for picking this up was to have something fun in my back pocket to pull out when visiting with my nephews. I've never really been a skateboarder, hoverboarder, scooter person, or followed any of the other conventional paths to hoverboard ownership. And as a raw beginner who probably has no business getting on a hoverboard without wearing a bear suit for protection, I found this combination to be a good starting point.
Build quality overall is somewhat of a mixed bag. The parts are all sturdy and look fairly good when put together, but there is a notable lack of attention being paid to fine details. One of the nuts welded into the shaft holding the go kart's steering handles was misaligned by about five degrees, requiring the use of some thread locker to secure the matching bolt to make sure it wouldn't work its way out as you used it. I also found that the adjustable crosspiece/footrest could have stood to be a bit longer, as if you fully extend it there isn't enough material left inside the frame to properly support it and the entire thing has a worrying amount of flex even without a rider. The hoverboard itself looks very impressive with plenty of lights and a glossy black finish, however right out of the box that finish was marred by some of the shrink wrap it shipped in which had melted into the glossy finish around the center. The glossy plastic is also quite fragile for something you'd expect to be taking outside all the time, and easily picks up scuffs and scratches during normal operation. And, as a final note, the plug meant to protect the charging cable was constantly falling out and was completely lost within the first day of having it. Everything seems to be fine mechanically at least, but I do feel like a more rugged case with a less revealing finish may have been a better choice.
The actual user experience, fortunately, was a bit better than initial impressions might have suggested. The Turbo hoverboard isn't the fastest or most hard riding option out there, but it's got plenty of power and a great deal of responsiveness. It took me a few hours of cautious experimentation before I was up and riding around on it, and while I've yet to get confident enough to try and get it up to full speed I was able to maneuver around the garage for about twenty minutes. I don't know if this is a typical experience but I found the hardest part of the whole thing was the initial process of getting up on to it, as once I stepped down on the first wheel the other one would often start running away with it. I did note that starting with the right foot seemed to produce better results, and seemed to match what a set of indicator lights were telling me to do, but there's nothing in the documentation saying that this is necessary so my guess would be that either the documentation could stand to be improved or I simply imagined the difference.
Fortunately, using it as a go-kart is also an option. It's still definitely a bit on the twitchy side, with the cart often trying to slowly run away without a rider, but there's much less of a learning curve and the third wheel makes it a lot easier to take full advantage of how nimble this thing is. I can't lie that I felt a little ridiculous zipping around the driveway at times, but the nephews certainly enjoyed seeing it and I can't say that I wasn't having fun either. It's certainly not a precise vehicle - I'm not sure I'd feel safe using it around cars or anything that might be damaged by me launching myself into it - but you feel like you're going much faster than the six miles per hour it's limited to.
While the issues with overall build quality and durability keep me from rating it higher, I do think that this is a good option for anyone looking for a low-cost go-kart or trying to hedge their bets in case they discover hoverboarding isn't for them. Though with the overall size and slightly twitchy nature of the steering I'd definitely recommend it more for slightly older children with enough common sense to know when not to gun it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ideal for espresso-based drinks such as cappuccinos, cortados, and flat whites, the new Ember Cup, 6 oz, offers a premium coffee experience that does more than keep your coffee hot. Our smart mug allows you to set your preferred drinking temperature, so you can enjoy your expertly crafted hot drink —just the way you like it— from the first sip to the last drop. Ember Cup’s built-in battery maintains your precise drinking temperature for up to 1.5 hours or all day with the included charging coaster.
Customer Rating
2
I should have just gotten the mug.
on June 9, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
I've seen the battery powered Ember mugs in Starbucks before, and while I was always somewhat intrigued by the concept the cost always kept me from trying one out. So when the opportunity to try out the cup came up, I figured it would be a great way to satisfy my curiosity and perhaps enhance my espresso/tea drinking experience. However I'm sad to say that after a few days with the Ember cup, I'm less than impressed.
One thing that I can say is that the product is not poorly made. The build quality seems solid, it is pleasant to look at (particularly with the included charging base/coaster,) and the app is quite well designed. It's very easy to clean in the sink (for obvious reasons it is not dishwasher safe.) And it does everything it says on the box. My drinks stayed warm for as long as the battery lasted, keeping that freshly poured taste. In fact they got slightly warmer as I drank them, since the main heating element seems to be at the bottom of the cup. The tech works.
...But it's a six ounce cup.
To me, the appeal of this thing is that it lets you keep sipping and savoring your beverage over several hours. But even at my most conservative, I don't spend hours finishing off six ounces of liquid unless I'm out in the field occasionally sipping out of a thermos. At first glance this looks like something you can nurse, but that's only because a full third of the cup is taken up by electronics. What's more the electronics add a ton of weight to the bottom, making it a bit uncomfortable to hold without a handle. The best use case appears to be to keep it right next to a carafe so you can pour small portions and have them heated back up - but when you do this it doesn't keep that fresh poured taste and I'm left wondering if I'm actually any better off than I would be if I'd just nuked it.
I'm sure that somewhere out there there are people who like to go through an espresso one tiny sip at a time, and they will probably love this thing. But for everyone else, I'd recommend you just spring for the mug.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Esports has a new apex predator. As successor to the award-winning Razer Viper Ultimate, our latest evolution is nearly 22% lighter and armed with all-round upgrades for enhanced performance. With one of the lightest wireless gaming mice ever, there’s now nothing holding you back.
Customer Rating
5
Tournament Grade
on June 8, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
There is a certain image that comes to mind when you say "gaming mouse." You generally expect something with almost as many buttons as your keyboard, enough LEDs to light your house, and more gimmicks than a theme park. And a lot of that comes from the past products produced by Razer, who will happily remind you that they were the first company to bring gaming focused mice to market back when they were still using rubber balls instead of optical sensors. The Viper V2 Pro, however, is something very different. You will find no RGB, a bare minimum of buttons, and not a single gimmick that you'll configure once then forget about within the space of the hour. All the bling and prestige features have been ruthlessly stripped away to deliver a performance focused product aimed squarely at professional gamers.
The first thing you'll notice on unpacking the mouse is the feel in your hand. The base assumption for most gaming mice is that less weight means less inertia means faster response times and precision. Ultralight mice generally start at around 80g. The original Viper (which, it has to be pointed out, was a wired rather than a wireless mouse) weighed in at 70g. This one came in at 59g. And unlike most mice in this range, it does it with a solid case rather than cutting away material to leave you with more of a mouse wireframe. And it's a pretty nice case too. It's got a pleasantly grippy matte texture all around and on the buttons, with a few pre-cut strips of rubber grip tape included for those who want to be sure of their hold even if their palms start to sweat a bit. I personally taped up both sides of the mouse as I found it slightly more comfortable (and a bit better looking) that way, and found the process to be very simple. Button response is nice too. They're using optical switches for the main buttons which should offer longer lifespans and better durability, but you wouldn't necessarily know it if they hadn't told you. They've got just as much tactile response as conventional mechanical switches, and make the same satisfying clicky noises you expect.
The second thing that makes this stand out as a gaming mouse is the sensor, which goes up to 30,000DPI and is fully tunable via their Synapse software utility (though for those who don't want to use it, there is also a button on the bottom which cycles through a variety of preconfigured modes.) this thing is about as responsive as anything I've ever seen when turned all the way up, to the point where it's almost a hindrance. Since it's designed for tournament play it omits a sniper switch or any other dedicated buttons to allow you to retune sensitivity on the fly, so it's definitely more of a "set it and forget it" device. It does, however, work on almost every surface I tried (with clear glass being the standout.) Best performance did come from using it on a mousepad though - which is also the most comfortable since the teflon pads on the bottom are pretty shallow, and thus harder to move on a less than perfectly flat surface. Wireless performance was, as one would expect, great. Latency seemed virtually non-existent, battery life is solid, and it comes with a nice angular USB-C extension for those who want to manage EMI and keep the receiver as close as possible to the mousepad.
If you're looking for a mouse for tournament play (or even just preparing for tournament play) this is absolutely worth checking out. The weight, build quality, adjustability, it's all dialed in about as much as it can be. If you're more of a casual gamer or looking for something for everyday computing though, I think you might want to consider something else. As high quality as the Viper V2 is, the fact that it is so focused on the professional circuit means you're missing a lot of things that other gaming mice can provide which are quite useful for things other than gaming. There is no horizontal scroll system, no sniper button to let you retune sensitivity on the fly for fine detail work, and no ability to fine tune the weight if you want something a little more solid in the hand. This is not the mouse for everyone and anything, and it doesn't want to be. It is a precision tool, and for the right kind of user I think it'll serve them well in that capacity for a long time.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Govee Glide Hexa Light Panels are composed of 7 panels that can be assorted into various shapes. It can be controlled using your favorite voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant as well as the Govee Home App. You can even customize your design, effects, colors, and more.
Customer Rating
4
Looks great, but setup could be improved a bit.
on May 25, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
This is my second experience with a light panel product like this, and I'm somewhat torn. If we go soley by the finished product, the Govee Hexa is amazing. The quality of the lighting effects is the best I've yet seen. They're designed to cast an interesting backlighting effect that helps blend them into the wall a bit better. The app offers a ton of different utility and decent integration with Google Home and Amazon Alexa assistants. But the experience is marred somewhat by the setup process required to get there.
The last time I installed light panels they all clipped together Lego style, with rigid clips serving dual duty as both alignment guides and power hookups. The Govee Hexa doesn't have this. Each of the tiles is free floating, requiring the use of an (included) alignment tool and level to make sure they end up straight on the wall. And they're linked together using thin ribbon cables soldered to small PCBs. According to the instructions, we should have had all we needed for the installation plus two spares. We only ended up getting one spare, and two of the cables had sharp bends in them out of the box which rendered them non-functional. Fortunately I was able to rehabilitate one of them to get the full set working, but I'm not exactly encouraged to see parts missing out of the box.
The good news though is that once we got through that, the rest of the setup was relatively painless. The included paint-safe adhesive strips do a good job holding the tiles in place, and once you get a few up they start to lose some of their play and help reinforce one another so that you can skip the alignment tool. The app guides you every step of the way as well (essential given that it needs to be sure the lights are being linked up the way it expects to produce the desired effects.) Getting everything up and running took about an hour and a half, and most of the calibration was essentially automatic. The wire running to the control box is a little obvious at the moment due to it holding the shape it had when it shipped, but it's been gradually loosening up over the last few days and I hope should eventually sit tighter to the wall. And, as mentioned, the RGB effects do a great job setting the mood and look so much better than options that only allow a single color per panel.
Ultimately I wouldn't say you should necessarily avoid this product because of the ribbon cable issue - getting a replacement does seem relatively simple and I imagine that most wouldn't have to deal with a missing part - but it does raise the barrier of entry in my opinion. This is a product that needs someone with a decent amount of patience and a steady hand if you're going to get the best results.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Automate your audio experience with ultralight headphones that feature smart technology to connect your online and offline worlds like never before. Seamlessly shift from ambient sound to advanced noise canceling and enable automatic playback that learns from your behavior. LinkBuds S deliver the right sound for whatever world you’re in.
Customer Rating
4
Not quite perfect yet, but getting there...
on May 21, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
The LinkBuds S are a fascinating product. Lightweight, compact, and yet packed to the gills with features and party tricks. And after spending a few days with them, I think they might have earned a spot as my new daily drivers.
As far as I can tell, the design goals here were to create a set of earbuds you simply never need to take out. You’ve got active noise cancellation, passive noise blocking, and audio pass through at your disposal, which is fairly standard at this point. What makes these particular stand out is the fact that they are designed to try and make the process of switching between these options completely automatic. If it detects you talking to someone it immediately pauses your audio and switches to voice amplified passthrough. If it detects you’re currently driving it switches back to full audio cancellation. If you’re going for a run it’ll switch to full passthrough, and so on. I haven’t decided yet if this is a brilliant idea or not, as so far at least it seems to be a little hit or miss in regards to its decision making, but it’s certainly an approach that I haven’t seen before and I can see the appeal.
The smarts don’t end there, however. There’s also tools to help you select the correct ear cushion size for your ear canals, a monitor to determine if you’re listening to content that could damage your hearing in the long term, and even a tool to scan the shape of your ears to optimize 3D audio performance (though it doesn’t seem to be particularly useful for earbuds. Overall it comes across as an almost excessive attention to detail which really does make this feel like a premium experience. The only issue I have is the system to remap the touch controls on the earbuds. Most apps will let you map specific actions to each gesture the system supports. With these, however, you have to pick between a short list of available presets which often aren’t making full use of the commands available. To give an example, out of the box there are no volume controls at all. The right earbud has media controls, and the left controls noise cancellation. I would like to be able to replace the two empty “quick action” slots (which seems excessive since there’s currently only one thing I can map to them, and it’s something I never use) with volume controls, but it won’t let me. Switching the left earbud to volume control will remove the mapping for noise cancellation control, which I use much more often. It’s very puzzling to me how Sony hasn’t figured out that this is a bad design when practically everyone else in the industry has fully programmable controls, and I hope that they can eventually address it with a future software update.
Which brings us to one of the more important aspects: how do the actual earbuds perform? Overall, I’d say very well. The default equalizer setting offers a good mix of highs and lows, audio is crisp, and mic performance for calls is great. It’s got a bit less bass than I’m accustomed to from Sony stuff, but given that I often find their low end response to be excessive I’m fine with it. Battery life is very good, though not exceptional, with the earbuds on their own being able to last through most of the day and the case having a generous power reserve that claims to be able to stretch total endurance to 20 hours. They grip in the ear very well, and are so lightweight that they tend to stay where you put them without causing any discomfort. Touch detection can, admittedly, be a little hit or miss. There’s no clear indicator for where you should tap the casing to trigger a command, and sensitivity varies depending on where you hit. Aiming for dead center seems to elicit the best response, but it’s very easy to accidentally hit one of the edges when you’re wearing them. It’s a minor thing, ultimately, but some kind of nub or shift in texture to give some tactile response would be nice. And the active noise cancellation is better than anything I’ve previously tried from Sony, with very little discomfort from prolonged use and excellent performance.
Overall, these earbuds aren’t perfect. They do have a bit of a prototype feel to them, with a lot of the features feeling like early implementations. But it also feels like you’re looking at the first crack at where earbud design is ultimately going, and I think that future firmware and software updates will probably improve a lot of the current shortcomings. As such I’d recommend them for anyone looking for earbuds that can do it all without losing the ability to be discrete.
As far as I can tell, the design goals here were to create a set of earbuds you simply never need to take out. You’ve got active noise cancellation, passive noise blocking, and audio pass through at your disposal, which is fairly standard at this point. What makes these particular stand out is the fact that they are designed to try and make the process of switching between these options completely automatic. If it detects you talking to someone it immediately pauses your audio and switches to voice amplified passthrough. If it detects you’re currently driving it switches back to full audio cancellation. If you’re going for a run it’ll switch to full passthrough, and so on. I haven’t decided yet if this is a brilliant idea or not, as so far at least it seems to be a little hit or miss in regards to its decision making, but it’s certainly an approach that I haven’t seen before and I can see the appeal.
The smarts don’t end there, however. There’s also tools to help you select the correct ear cushion size for your ear canals, a monitor to determine if you’re listening to content that could damage your hearing in the long term, and even a tool to scan the shape of your ears to optimize 3D audio performance (though it doesn’t seem to be particularly useful for earbuds. Overall it comes across as an almost excessive attention to detail which really does make this feel like a premium experience. The only issue I have is the system to remap the touch controls on the earbuds. Most apps will let you map specific actions to each gesture the system supports. With these, however, you have to pick between a short list of available presets which often aren’t making full use of the commands available. To give an example, out of the box there are no volume controls at all. The right earbud has media controls, and the left controls noise cancellation. I would like to be able to replace the two empty “quick action” slots (which seems excessive since there’s currently only one thing I can map to them, and it’s something I never use) with volume controls, but it won’t let me. Switching the left earbud to volume control will remove the mapping for noise cancellation control, which I use much more often. It’s very puzzling to me how Sony hasn’t figured out that this is a bad design when practically everyone else in the industry has fully programmable controls, and I hope that they can eventually address it with a future software update.
Which brings us to one of the more important aspects: how do the actual earbuds perform? Overall, I’d say very well. The default equalizer setting offers a good mix of highs and lows, audio is crisp, and mic performance for calls is great. It’s got a bit less bass than I’m accustomed to from Sony stuff, but given that I often find their low end response to be excessive I’m fine with it. Battery life is very good, though not exceptional, with the earbuds on their own being able to last through most of the day and the case having a generous power reserve that claims to be able to stretch total endurance to 20 hours. They grip in the ear very well, and are so lightweight that they tend to stay where you put them without causing any discomfort. Touch detection can, admittedly, be a little hit or miss. There’s no clear indicator for where you should tap the casing to trigger a command, and sensitivity varies depending on where you hit. Aiming for dead center seems to elicit the best response, but it’s very easy to accidentally hit one of the edges when you’re wearing them. It’s a minor thing, ultimately, but some kind of nub or shift in texture to give some tactile response would be nice. And the active noise cancellation is better than anything I’ve previously tried from Sony, with very little discomfort from prolonged use and excellent performance.
Overall, these earbuds aren’t perfect. They do have a bit of a prototype feel to them, with a lot of the features feeling like early implementations. But it also feels like you’re looking at the first crack at where earbud design is ultimately going, and I think that future firmware and software updates will probably improve a lot of the current shortcomings. As such I’d recommend them for anyone looking for earbuds that can do it all without losing the ability to be discrete.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Keep your CPU temperatures cooler at any load with Razer Hanbo, an All-In-One Liquid Cooler designed for maximum thermal performance. Available in an addressable RGB Pump Cap version, you can personalize your cooler further with Razer Chroma™ software.
Customer Rating
5
Capable, flashy, little loud.
on May 9, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
Build or modify your own PC:Yes
Level of Expertise:Expert
Primary reason for building/modifying PC:Gaming
I made the switch to AIO watercoolers a few years back, and haven't regretted it since. The first one I got though was a fairly functional and, as it turned out, undersized unit that I'd been thinking about replacing for a while. So when I found out that Razer, noted purveyor of over the top premium gaming accessories, was getting into the water cooler game I was quite intrigued and figured the classy black curves would go quite well in my primary work/media PC. After a couple weeks of getting used to it I'm finding it to be a definite improvement over my old cooler in just about every way but one.
First up I'd like to say that Razer did a phenomenal job securing this thing for shipping. Everything is packed tightly in thick foam, with a few flat black boxes containing all the parts you need. On the top is an oversized instruction sheet that should walk you through just about everything but cable management, and getting it installed took about forty minutes. It's using the same basic Asetek mounting system that everyone else does, so experienced builders shouldn't find any surprises there. And if you haven't ever installed an AIO cooler, don't worry. Getting the radiators mounted and the cables run can be a little awkward, but overall it's a lot easier to manage than most air coolers. It does have an unusually large pump head though, so if you're trying to build in an ITX case or have something else in your build that leaves you with less than the usual amount of space around your CPU socket it might be worth looking elsewhere.
The pump does have some features that help make up for it though. First up, the pump cap is magnetically attached and can be rotated to match the orientation of your build (albeit you'll likely only notice if you've looked enough at the Razer logo to recognize which side is up.) This means you can orient your pump however best fits your build, which does simplify the issue of cable routing somewhat. There's nothing particularly special about the cabling here - it's the usual mess of Y adapters and RGB chains leading back to a removable cable on the pump and a USB-C to USB 2.0 header to hook everything up to the motherboard. I found this cable to be just a hair on the short side, but worked it out with some rearrangement of my existing wiring. I'm not particularly concerned about this either, as if I were building the machine from scratch this would likely be one of the first cables I ran and I wouldn't have to work around everything from the power supply.
Getting the radiator attached was the first actual issue I ran into. The mount is fine, the radiator itself is fine, but the included screws are a bit chunky. Installing them correctly created a clearance issue between the case and my fan filter, requiring me to swap them out for some broader flat headed screws so I could go without the washers. It's a minor thing, but it would be great if future versions offered something with a lower profile. Fortunately getting the fans installed was very easy by comparison. These fans are perhaps the most elegant ones I've yet seen for a PC, and they definitely elevate the look of the cooler.
Once I had everything installed and tucked away I fired the PC up and got everything configured in Razer's synapse utility. Overall I like Synapse. It's robust, has a lot of fun little features built in (as well as support for many games) and produces decent results. Unfortunately it's also the point that I became aware of the one downside I found with this design: the noise. While this isn't the loudest 240mm AIO I've ever seen, it's far from the quietest. At higher speeds you can definitely become aware of both the fans and the pump going. After a day or so of trying to get used to it I gave in and adjusted the fan curve to something a bit more conservative, accepting a slightly higher idle temp in return for a quieter built.
Fortunately, there are other advantages. The lighting effects look genuinely gorgeous, and almost restrained by Razer's usual standards. And its cooling performance, particularly on full, is dramatically improved over what I'm used to. My i7 is a little older and runs pretty hot as a rule, but with this thing it's staying below 80 for all but the heaviest loads.
Ultimately I'd recommend this for anyone looking for a high performance cooler that can also serve as a visual centerpiece for a gaming build. But if your primary goal is decibel reduction, maybe look elsewhere.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Features
5
Quality
5
Value
4
Ease of Use
3
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Discover the power of X! The new Philips Sonicare Power Flosser creates an X-shaped stream of water that reaches deep between teeth for a gentle, thorough clean. This X-shaped water stream, known as Quad-Stream technology, covers more surface area for a faster, deeper clean versus manual floss. Because of Quad-Stream technology, Philips Sonicare Power Flosser enables you to improve your gum health by 50% in just 1 minute per day!
Customer Rating
4
Fantastic hardware, okay software
on April 20, 2022
Posted by: Batlacit
from Madison, WI
I've been using an older Sonicare toothbrush in combination with an air flosser for a few years now and by and large have loved them, so when the opportunity to try a new and improved version of both came around I was quite excited. After spending a few days with the set I have to say that I still love the overall user experience and quality... but as often happens when moving to a more complicated and feature-rich product I've also found a lot more areas that could potentially be improved on.
Before I get into that though, I'd like to cover the highlights. Both the toothbrush and irrigator are attractive, sturdy, and thoughtfully laid out. Not needing two plugs to power both the flosser and the toothbrush is almost worth the price of admission alone. The brush is built for what I believe are their third generation of brush heads, but is still backwards compatible with the older first generation ones I already had. You also get a carrying case for both the spare flosser heads and the toothbrush, as well as a stand-alone charger you can bring with you if you plan to take it with you when you travel. I am a little puzzled why Philips designs their toothbrushes to have out of the box support for only three different cleaning modes when the ecosystem is built around four, though it's possible that this is simply a labelling issue rather than a qualitative one as I struggled to tell what the actual difference was between the "whiten" mode that my old brush had and the "deep clean+" mode this new one has instead, even though the instructions seem to imply that they are different features. If you've never used one of these electric toothbrushes or flossers before you should expect a bit of a transition period, as it can feel quite intense before you get used to it, but you do eventually get used to it in my experience. And both brush and flosser feature variable intensity controls to help you adapt as well, including an automated system on the brush that will gradually turn things up over several sessions to ease you into things. The flosser doesn't have the same automated process, but it does have a lot more options with ten different intensities, four different modes, and three different nozzle styles. Of the three I'd recommend the basic round nozzle for beginners, as it's the easiest to maneuver and understand, while you might want to wait to try out the new x-head until you've gotten a bit more proficient unless you don't mind accidentally spraying your bathroom from time to time. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the added power it brings, but I also know that I'm not nearly good enough with it to apply it properly yet.
Unfortunately while Philips has clearly accumulated a lot of experience in designing excellent dental hardware, their software experience still leaves a bit to be desired. It's not that it's bad, per se, so much as it is simply failing to live up to the standard set by the physical equipment. To give an example, earlier I talked about how there's a learning curve with both of these devices. Given that, it would seem obvious that the app would be designed to actively teach users in the best uses and practices for both parts of the kit. But it really doesn't do that. The manual tells you that brushing should be broken up into six segments, each one targeting a different set of teeth. It would seem like an obvious feature then to have the app define these segments and guide you through each one, perhaps highlighting the specific techniques for each that'll get you the best results. Instead all you get is a timer counting down the seconds until the brush automatically turns itself on to signal that you've carried out the recommended two minutes of brushing per session - which really doesn't feel like something that's worth pulling out my phone to have. And it doesn't connect to the flosser at all, which is particularly unfortunate as I feel it's the bit that would benefit the most from active guidance. What's slightly more galling is the fact that there is a tips and tricks area with a "how to use" button to press, but using it only shows you what's basically an ad for the higher end version of this brush that can apparently not only do what I mentioned above, but go so far as to point out specific teeth you should be working on. I get wanting to have some stuff be exclusive to the higher end products to justify their added expense, but giving us a map to reference without the active guidance (or just an instructional video that's actually relevant to the product we have) seems perfectly reasonable.
That being said, there are certainly other features in the app that I do appreciate. It offers fairly detailed information on the remaining lifespan of your brush head based on your use habits and how much pressure is actually being applied when you use it. And since this data is actually stored in a small chip on the brush itself, you don't even have to worry about confusing it if you're swapping heads for multiple users on a regular basis. I've also been appreciating the gentle reminders about how I can improve my brushing habits, which for once is NOT being delivered by an endless parade of passive aggressive push notifications.
Overall I'd recommend this set to anyone looking to improve their brushing habits (or monitor their kids') without having to be too overbearing about it.
Quality
5
Performance
5
Durability
5
Value
5
Ease of Use
4
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From the rock revolution of the ‘60s, to the art scene of the ‘80s, to the forefront of hip-hop culture – Wayfarer has become an enduring icon across endlessly shifting horizons. Now the journey continues with the latest in wearable tech. Ray-Ban Stories Wayfarer integrates the best of your phone with the timeless frame, bringing you a new way to capture and share your adventures.
I'm unable to find a phone compatibility list, does anyone know if this works with android phones too?
Yes, it works just fine on Android. No idea why they don't advertise it on the box.
2 years, 4 months ago
by
Batlacit
This Element 27" frameless gaming monitor provides everything you need for premium gameplay or everyday tasks. This 1440P resolution monitor is equipped with FreeSync Technology for avoiding tearing and reducing stuttering. With easy set-up for multiple screens, you're able to expand your view and get more done. The 16:9 widescreen resolution partnered with a 1ms response time and 165hz refresh rate allows a vivid, realistic picture so you can be immersed in your gaming world. Built-in speakers and a sleek, frameless screen enable the monitor to blend with your decor for a clean aesthetic.
Is this monitor good for an Xbox one s gaming? I'm new to monitors and this one would be my first one
The integrated audio is pretty bad even by monitor standards, but apart from that it should work fine for console gaming. It's not going to deliver an exceptional experience, but it should be able to beat most TVs as far as latency goes.
2 years, 4 months ago
by
Batlacit
This Element 27" frameless gaming monitor provides everything you need for premium gameplay or everyday tasks. This 1440P resolution monitor is equipped with FreeSync Technology for avoiding tearing and reducing stuttering. With easy set-up for multiple screens, you're able to expand your view and get more done. The 16:9 widescreen resolution partnered with a 1ms response time and 165hz refresh rate allows a vivid, realistic picture so you can be immersed in your gaming world. Built-in speakers and a sleek, frameless screen enable the monitor to blend with your decor for a clean aesthetic.
Is this a good monitor for competitive gaming on the ps5 ???
This Element 27" frameless gaming monitor provides everything you need for premium gameplay or everyday tasks. This 1440P resolution monitor is equipped with FreeSync Technology for avoiding tearing and reducing stuttering. With easy set-up for multiple screens, you're able to expand your view and get more done. The 16:9 widescreen resolution partnered with a 1ms response time and 165hz refresh rate allows a vivid, realistic picture so you can be immersed in your gaming world. Built-in speakers and a sleek, frameless screen enable the monitor to blend with your decor for a clean aesthetic.
Does it have a hdmi?
Yes, it has two HDMI ports and does come with both an HDMI and DP cable.
2 years, 4 months ago
by
Batlacit
This Element 27" frameless gaming monitor provides everything you need for premium gameplay or everyday tasks. This 1440P resolution monitor is equipped with FreeSync Technology for avoiding tearing and reducing stuttering. With easy set-up for multiple screens, you're able to expand your view and get more done. The 16:9 widescreen resolution partnered with a 1ms response time and 165hz refresh rate allows a vivid, realistic picture so you can be immersed in your gaming world. Built-in speakers and a sleek, frameless screen enable the monitor to blend with your decor for a clean aesthetic.
Does it have integrated speakers?
Yes. But they sound horrible and require you to go through two menu layers to change the volume. I wouldn't consider them as a selling point.
2 years, 4 months ago
by
Batlacit
An industry defining 49” 1000R curved screen, equipped with a cutting edge Quantum Matrix HDR2000 panel, 240hz refresh rate, G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro support, 1ms GTG response rates, and fully customizable Odyssey Infinity Core lighting.
DP 2.0?
No, it's still using 1.4. Getting DP 2.0 certified is turning out to be a lot trickier than it was initially expected, most are saying we probably wont' see them hitting the market until 2022.
2 years, 5 months ago
by
Batlacit
An industry defining 49” 1000R curved screen, equipped with a cutting edge Quantum Matrix HDR2000 panel, 240hz refresh rate, G-Sync and FreeSync Premium Pro support, 1ms GTG response rates, and fully customizable Odyssey Infinity Core lighting.
My new g9 arrived in the box for the old g9. Even though the box has a sticker that says "Neo G9 Odyssey" sticked on it, the box itself is for the old model. Does anyone else have the same issue? Why is that the case?
They're just using up the old boxes and foam. The shape and size of the product hasn't really changed, I don't think it's anything you need to worry about so long as the monitor itself has the right model number.
2 years, 5 months ago
by
Batlacit
The Ninja Foodi Dual Heat Air Fry Oven gives you versatility in the kitchen with 11-in-1 functionality from Air Fry and Sear Crisp to Rapid Bake and Toast. With Dual Heat Technology, unlock up to 500°F cyclonic air and a directly heated SearPlate, which allow for fast cooking and restaurant-worthy results. Cook up your favorites and then flip the oven up and away to reclaim your counter space.
Can both trays be used at once?
Explore a new world of personalized home theater audio. The SRS-NS7 Wireless Neckband Speaker uses Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology to envelop you in the rich audio of your favorite shows and movies, while being unobtrusive to others in your home.
Do these have 3.5mm jack or do they only connect via bluetooth?
They will only work with bluetooth or optical connections.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
Batlacit
Extend your PC’s RGB lighting with the CORSAIR iCUE LT100 Smart Lighting Towers Starter Kit, part of the iCUE Smart Lighting Ecosystem. 92 RGB LEDs light up your room with ambient lighting that dynamically integrates with your games and media for a truly immersive experience. Cycle through 11 lighting profiles out of the box with push-button control or connect to CORSAIR iCUE software to synchronize your RGB lighting effects across all compatible CORSAIR devices in your system and all external iCUE Smart Lighting devices. The Starter Kit includes two lighting towers with 46 customizable LEDs each, housed in light-diffusing casing that softens and blends light. With an included removable headset holder, LT100 Smart Lighting Towers add convenient, versatile, and stunning RGB lighting to any setup.
how tall are they
Per the spec sheet, 422mm. The headphone holder adds another 2mm or so.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
Batlacit