Wraith's stats
- Review count219
- Helpfulness votes2,070
- First reviewAugust 18, 2014
- Last reviewJune 27, 2025
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentSeptember 25, 2016
- Last review commentSeptember 25, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count27
- Helpfulness votes28
- First answerAugust 18, 2014
- Last answerDecember 13, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers3
Transfer photos and videos to a different device with the Insignia 7' USB-C to USB-C Braided Charge-and-Sync Cable. The cable connects two USB-C ports to offer high-speed data transfer up to 20 Gbps. It also will quickly charge devices with 60W of Power Delivery. The 7 ft. cable offers plenty of length between the two devices with a durable white and gray braided cable jacket.
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding Cable At An Outstanding Price
on January 31, 2025
Posted by: Wraith
I wish I had a lot to write about this cable, but unfortunately I don't. That's mostly because it does exactly what Best Buy's Insignia brand says it does, and it does it very well. It also does it in a package that is both solid and stylish. I'll hit on a few of the things I really like, and the one extremely, positively minor quibble that I have with it:
1. Solid: This cable is THICK. It is so solid, I'm pretty sure I'll still be using this in the 2030s (if we're still around).
2. Robust: The plugs themselves and their strain-relief are top notch. If anything, they may be a bit TOO much for some, but not me. I've had it with flimsy cables. I'd rather pay more for a cable that lasts, but fortunately I didn't really have to with this one.
3. Price: Yeah, it's $20 bucks for a cable, but it is a perfect length, and SHOULD last you darn near forever. If it doesn't, you really need to reevaluate your relationship with tech.
My one and only quibble:
Color: While personally, I dig the silver/green of this cable, it's nice, I am a firm believer in tech 'blending' and this thing doesn't blend. Also, with the nice braided cover, it is going to get SO VERY DIRTY.
Oooh! Almost forgot! Another plus is the nice cable tie that is attached. Perfect for a cable like this.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Heavy, wet leaves and other stubborn debris are no match for the Greenworks 80V battery powered handheld leaf blower. The jet fan design provides up to 750 CFM of constant airflow for blasting through heavy, wet leaves and tough debris with ease; and a variable speed trigger delivers on-demand power and up to 170 MPH of high-velocity air speeds. It’s one of the most powerful battery-powered handheld blowers in the industry, with Greenworks exclusive Intelligent Power that combines Brushless motor technology, lithium-ion battery power, and ultra-fast control systems for power output equivalent to a 26cc gas-powered motor. Includes 2.5 Ah battery and rapid charger. Battery is compatible with 75+ Greenworks 80V products. Life. Powered. By Greenworks.
Customer Rating
5
Awesome but heavy/awkward.
on December 20, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
My previous blower gave up the ghost after about 20 years (it was pretty cheap so I wasn't too distraught), and I needed a new one obviously. I have a few other Greenworks tools and thought I might as well get their blower as well. This blower is just as good as my other Greenworks tools and is an outstanding tool just on its own. My only problem is that with the serious upgrade in power came a lot of weight and both the power/weight can make chores a tad awkward at times.
TLDR: Awesome blower for yard work but the power and the weight can make things awkward and tiring at times. Could use a top handhold.
I'll start out by stating that the Greenworks 80-volt 750 CFM blower is a heck of a lot more powerful than my previous blower (like several steps up the power chain), and with that comes a much bigger size and a much heavier blower. The weight doesn't bother me as much as the power/awkwardness. You could easily stand on a skateboard and use this as an 'outboard motor'! This thing is no joke. I would have appreciated it if the blower had a top handle like a gatling gun or some other yard tools to help keep things steady and to balance out the stress on my body. Granted, this is really only a problem for me when the blower is going full power which is perhaps half the time that I was using it, but still.
My bigger issue is that I have lost my helper because this thing is too big/powerful for her. My wife isn't a huge fan of yard work but she did like following me around with the old blower and helping tidy as I go. Now she is on the petite side but is pretty strong (does a lot of yoga and hiking), but this Greenworks blower is a bit too much for her. She never even got it fired up to 100%. Heck, I'd probably still be looking for her if she had gotten there and flew off into the next county over.
My only other gripe is the noise with the tapered nozzle (versus the flatter condenser nozzle that also comes with the blower). When you get this thing going with the tapered nozzle on, it sounds like one of the jet engines I was always around on the flightline in the Air Force. Heck, maybe that's what this thing really is! A handheld jet engine! Anyway, you should probably use ear protection if you are going to use this thing with that attachment. The noise wasn't as piercing with the flat nozzle, which is great because that is the one I prefer anyway.
Oh, and before I forget, while the 80 volt battery that comes with this thing is huge, so is the charger, and it pumps that battery full of juice in no time. The much smaller batter from my old blower took WAY longer despite having less than half the capacity/power.
All in all I'm happy with the Greenworks blower. The power and control options make it FAR better than my previous blower (or any other one I have ever used), but I might have to see about rigging up an extra handhold for better ease of use.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Blueair Humidifier rapidly provides humidification up to 500 sqft. Designed to create more comfortable sleep air through an easier, cleaner humidification experience. This humidifier uses cutting-edge InvisibleMist Technology, a technology that delivers up to 48 hours of clean moisture by first trapping water impurities within our anti-microbial coated wick, then releases pure water vapor into the air. No more stickiness, water residue or white dust - only pure water vapor released into the air without the mist. With the UV-powered water pump that recirculates water, the risk of bacteria growth in the water is heavily reduced. Easy maintenance with two ways to refill and an easy clean tank, which has a large opening for no hard-to-reach spots, or is dishwasher safe for a deeper clean of the unit. Achieve better sleep with the highly rated Blueair app, as the AutoHydrate feature uses sensors to monitor and adjust your specific environment. Want it to run through the night? Activate night mode for continuous, quiet humidification that works throughout the night for uninterrupted sleep.
Customer Rating
5
Compact, Easy to Use, & Stylish (for a Humidifier)
on December 5, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
Now that winter is setting in where we live, my wife asked for a replacement for her previous humidifier which went on the blink. She spends a lot of time in her home office and that is probably the coldest room in the house so she has a space heater going in there and that tends to dry out the air (in addition to the normal low humidity we experience). Her other humidifier was pretty simple but a pain in the rear to fill and the Blueair InvisibleMist humidifier looked a heck of a lot nicer and easier to use than her old one.
Setting up and filling the Blueair InvisibleMist was a piece of cake, especially since it doesn't require distilled water to fill it. Use tap! It has a filter that will hold on to the salts and minerals in your water, no problem. I was able to fill the reservoir bucket with its attached handle easily from the bathroom sink next to her office. Her previous humidifier's reservoir was odd shaped and when you flipped it over to put it back on its base, invariably water would leak out.
I didn't get a chance to show her how to operate the humidifier before she needed to use it but even being as tech-unsavy as she is, she got it going without a problem. Controls are pretty intuitive, though she didn't know that she could tap the 'Auto' mode several times to set a humidity percentage. All-in-all she thought it was great though she does like the fact that her previous humidifier shot a stream of humid air wherever she directed its nozzle. She would normally have this directed right towards her face to help keep her eyes moist. The InvisibleMist is a 360 humidifier and works more to bring up the entire room all at once. Still, once she got it up to about 60% in her office, she was comfortable.
The only drawback I could really think of for the Blueair InvisibleMist is that it sucks through water super fast! I think that is partially because of its method of humidifying the air, but also because of the Auto Dry feature which drys out the filter between uses to prevent mold and mildew from building up. Also, because the humidifier is more open, you lose more water from just general evaporation, while her previous system was a closed system and would lose very little between uses. That being said, at least I don't have to continue to shell out for bottles of distilled water any more! Though it does have a consumable wick filter and a smaller sponge filter for the pump. It does say that you can clean the wick filter with citric acid, though I don't know if that is enough to fully refresh it or whether you still need to replace the wick filter anyway.
My wife is very happy with the Blueair InvisibleMist humidifier and I think it would be great for any small to medium sized room. It is quiet, easy to use, and easy to maintain. Can't ask for much more.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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AI-Powered Performance for Days - Embrace the next level of AI performance where productivity is boosted, and ideas transform into reality. Swift 16 AI is your gateway to a smarter, more efficient digital life, powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor, with an NPU delivering up to 47 TOPS. Tap into a vast ecosystem of AI experiences across various apps, elevating your workflow to new heights..
Customer Rating
5
Capable PC w/Nice Screen & Chassis, OK Keyboard
on November 29, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
TLDR: The Acer Swift 16 AI is an outstanding laptop with a beautiful 3K screen, a sleek form factor, and more than capable power. The only thing that I don't like on it is the keypad that has been 'smooshed' on the right-hand side (but I'm not a fan of numpads on laptops in general). For the price, you'd be hard pressed to find as nice of a laptop as the Acer Swift 16 AI.
My wife wanted a new laptop for a variety of things (both work and leisure), and she required the laptop to have a LARGE screen (preferably OLED), be lightweight, and it needed a numpad on the keyboard. I ticked off all of those requirements and more with the Acer Swift 16 AI and my wife is super happy with it. I set it up for her and played around a bit on it for this review and here are my highs and lows for this laptop.
Highs:
1. Screen: Absolutely beautiful colors, super bright, and inky darks. Plus, the size is top notch for having enough room to work with multiple programs/windows and still be able to read everything. This laptop is almost worth it just because it packs such a nice and large screen at this price point.
2. CPU/GPU: While the Swift 16 AI won't be running AAA games, the ARC graphics chip and the Core Ultra 7 make quick work of a lot of modern games that don't need bleeding edge graphics. After I loaded up Steam to put on her games, I also threw on one of my new ones just to check it out, and even at maxed settings, the Swift stayed quiet and cool. Additionally there were no hiccups in the gameplay. Work programs run flawlessly and switching between programs, even with a few open and music playing, is seamless.
3. Power Brick: Thank you Acer for having just a simple, and small, brick with a single cord. If you could do me a favor and give it retractable prongs, that would make it outstanding!
4. Form Factor: The Acer Swift 16 is WAY lighter than you would expect it to be, and despite that svelte and light frame, it still feels solid to work with and type on. The hinge-side of the screen has two little feet (which I do wish were configured slightly differently since they can catch on things), that help kick the back end of the laptop up to not only allow better airflow but also give a nice typing angle.
5. Trackpad: I know that having a trackpad that actually moves when you press on it would be considered a step back for most since solid trackpads with haptics are the current state-of-the-art, but I actually realized when using the Swift 16 trackpad, that I kinda miss it actually 'clicking'. To me it feels more 'real', and I have not had a single missed click like I have with the solid trackpads.
6. Case: While the case that Acer packs in the box is relatively simple, it's great that right out of the box you have a nice and elegant case to protect your investment. It's perfect for protecting the laptop in larger luggage or for quick jaunts out and about, to say nothing of just keeping your laptop clean and dust free at home.
Mids:
1. Webcam: I'm fairly certain that I have some setting done wrong or I'm testing the webcam in bad environments, because I look worse on screen using that thing than I normally do, and that's saying something! Right now, I'm going to just put this in the 'Mids' and not the 'Lows' because there has to be a reason why it is doing that.
2. Audio: While the Swift 16 can get plenty loud, I wouldn't say that the sound is anything to write home about. While it's plenty clear and bright sounding, it lacks punch and may not be the best for gaming or movies (but should be good for most shows).
Lows:
1. Numpad: Look, I dislike numpads on laptop keyboards from the jump (they offset the keyboard and trackpad from being centered on the chassis and each other), and I dislike this one even more because it is a 'squished' numpad that doesn't even match the size of the keyboard keys. That last part is great because it keeps the keyboard nice and useful (if off center). But like I said earlier, this was a requirement from my wife, and she is plenty pleased with it, so I'm going to shut up about it now.
2. Junk Software: I finally thought that we had moved past the laptop coming with a bunch of useless software, but Acer seems to have gone back in time a bit and decided to throw a bunch of junk on this thing. Fortunately it is a lot easier now to remove this junk than it was in the olden days, but still.
Conclusion: The Acer Swift 16 AI met all of my wife's criteria that she wanted for her new laptop and then some. While there are a few things that I'm not a huge fan of, my wife thinks it is just fine. But the things I DO like are really very good and make the Swift 16 a great value even if it were priced higher than it is. If you can get it on sale, it would be a wicked good deal.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The upgraded Beats Pill is more advanced than ever. It’s more powerful. It’s lighter. It’s more portable. And it’s designed to sound incredible — in your home and beyond. Enjoy room-filling sound, bigger bass and better tonality across the audio spectrum. It features up to 24 hours of all-day battery life, and can even charge your phone on the go via the included USB-C cable. Compatible with both iOS and Android, the Beats Pill gives you instant one-touch pairing, automatic pairing across your other devices, plus Find My or Find My Device. Use your paired Beats Pill as a speakerphone and access your voice assistant. And you can easily pair two Beats Pill speakers for double the audio experience in Amplify Mode or Stereo Mode.
Customer Rating
4
Judge It By It's Size Do You Not!
on November 25, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
I'll admit it, I have long poo-poo'ed the Beats brand both before and after Apple bought it. When the line was launched, I was a hardcore audiophile and the brand was just almost an abomination with flabby bass, shrill highs, and plastic everything. They have gotten better (from my perspective), on almost all of those measures. Their sound profiles now have a bit more nuance, are better controlled, and they don't feel as cheap any more.
All that being said, I still wasn't going to get one for me. It was only when my wife saw it that she asked if we could get it for her office. She loves the Champagne Gold color and she wants something 'that just blends' and doesn't stand out as much as my audio gear tends to.
I'll admit that the Champagne color IS very nice, and the build quality is solid. Even though this is going to be sitting on her office credenza, I appreciate the IP67 rating. One simple plug for power is nice (though some people might miss an AUX IN - guess we are all in on Bluetooth now), and the integrated controls are easy to find without looking and responsive.
I ran the Beats Pill through my 'Audiophile Playlist' that checks everything from frequency response, separation, sibilance, attack, and then just runs through some songs that I know like I know the back of my hand to give a more subjective test. I was impressed with how good the Pill sounded in her office. Even at a relatively low volume (it IS a work environment after all), you get a nice level of sound with an appropriate amount of bass and treble without either getting into their flabby/shrill levels.
My wife also likes that she can use it as a speakerphone with Siri. We tried it out with me down the hallway with her and I talking in a normal voice and both of us came through loud and clear. I still prefer earbuds for calls but she hates things in her ears.
All-in-all, I came away impressed, and for the price I'm not sure if you could find a better small speaker with the sound/build quality, IP67 rating, and sedate look. The Beats Pill is a great choice if you want a nice speaker that blends in nicely, maintains a rocksteady connection, and sounds really good.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The XPS 13 Laptop. Effortless Mobility. Powerful AI. Create and work anywhere with our thinnest XPS notebook. Powered by the Intel Core Ultra processors Series 2, with more powerful AI.
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding Laptop For School, Home, or Work!
on November 3, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
It's been a while since I've had a Dell laptop, but I have always appreciated their XPS line. It's as 'Modern Day Classic' as the MacBook. This unit continues that tradition.
My niece started Jr. High this year and we thought the last laptop (a Chromebook) would get her through the year, but it seems about ready to give up the ghost. I picked up this Dell XPS 13 because it doesn't waste any space, is light, and will probably carry her well into her High School years, plus her school requires student laptops to be Chromebooks or Windows, so I thought it was time to get her used to the Windows environment.
I've spent the last several days setting it up for her and transitioning her files over to make it ready as soon as she goes back to school on Monday. There is a lot to like about this laptop and not much to dislike.
Likes:
Screen: While 'only' an FHD+, scaling it down to 125% gives a perfect amount of screen space for everything she might need to do on this. Also, she still has young eyes and can see everything perfectly. This thing also gets painfully bright if need be.
Keyboard: I wasn't sure what to think of the keyboard on the XPS 13 because of how it fills the lower chassis, but I've come to like it very much. I thought for sure that with the square keycaps, that I would be fat-fingering mistakes left and right, but I find it as easy to type on as some of my favorite keyboards. My niece's hands might have a bit more trouble with the keys, but she was doing well with it this morning when I was showing her the ins and outs of Windows and Office.
Battery: I charged the XPS 13 up fully prior to setting it up and I was able to do the entire set up process (which was a surprising slog given the day and age), as well as transition her files and programs, watch some videos on my own (for this review), and then show her the ropes all with the battery not having dropped below 40%. She'll probably get a full day, if not two, out of a charge.
Size/Weight: This poor girl already has to slog around a ton of books and the last thing she needs is a heavy laptop that takes up her entire bag. The XPS 13 is light and wastes no space. It does this while still having an aluminum enclosure which should help it take some of the knocks I'm sure are coming its way.
Trackpad: I was really surprised by the lack of a delineated trackpad, but I grew to appreciate the solid wrist rest and the responsiveness of what Dell put in this thing. It runs from the left side of the space bar to the right side of the right ALT key, and gives you plenty of room to be able to zip the cursor all around the screen.
Performance: Without a dedicated graphics card, this will not be a powerhouse for graphic design or games but the Core Ultra 7, 16gb of RAM, and 512gb SSD, are plenty powerful for her to handle anything she might need to do for her classes.
Copilot+: I don't have a strong opinion myself on the usefulness of Copilot, but the kids these days are all geeked out about it. As a former teacher, I know that I would take a dim view of it being used in assignments, but I can also see where it could be helpful in other circumstances. She had fun today having it make pictures of bunnies riding on turtles. It made cute pictures of bunnies riding on turtles.
Don't Like:
Set-Up: I have set up quite a few laptops lately for myself, friends, and family, and the Dell XPS took the longest from start up to finishing updates out of ANY of the other laptops I've done (several of which are not as nice as the XPS 13). SO MANY RESTARTS. This may not be as big of a deal with some laptops but the XPS 13 seems to take a bit longer to get to the desktop so it made it seem like forever between these cycles.
Power Brick: With a computer as compact and light as the XPS 13, a power brick with a detachable wall cable is almost a crime. I didn't even take the Dell power brick out of the box. Instead I got a 100w wall plug with dual USB-C ports and a 10' long high powered cable for her computer. This way she can keep her laptop charged no matter where she is in the classroom, and has an additional plug to charge her phone (though those are now verboten in class). Dell really should have included a better charger for this thing. Fortunately, since it charges via USB-C, you have tons of 3rd party options.
Conclusion: This Dell XPS 13, is a great laptop for pretty much any use short of gaming or serious photo/video editing (though to be fair, I did not load up Photoshop to check it out). What is was powerful enough to do was have tons of open tabs in Edge, while also having YouTube playing a video, and editing a document in Word. That's exactly what I wanted it to do for her and the Dell XPS 13 delivers in spades and does it all in a nice, light package.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The BedJet 3 is our newest and most luxurious BedJet ever. The BedJet 3 uses air-based convective cooling which is extremely efficient for removing moisture and sweat from the bed, so you sleep cool, comfortable, and dry. Looking for warmth instead? In seconds, BedJet's ultra-rapid warming mode turns your sheets toasty warm in just 60 seconds — like they just came out of the dryer! Just want to stay sweat-free? BedJet's unique Dry mode is proven to keep you sleeping drier and fresher all night.
Customer Rating
5
Wife thought it was silly, now she's a huge fan!
on November 1, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
When I first told my wife that I had ordered this from Best Buy, she thought it was a silly idea. She thought it would be loud, that it wouldn't do much, and that it would be uncomfortable. A week on now of having it on our bed and she is a convert! I overheard her talking to one of her friends at work yesterday and saying how much she loved it.
TLDR: The BedJet does exactly what it says it will (especially if you get the matching sheet for your bed), but you will definitely need to examine your bed frame set-up to make sure that it can properly accommodate the system.
I had originally wanted to get this for our summers here on the California Coast. I HATE air conditioning and would always rather have a window open to cool the place down, but there are some weeks where that isn't possible. I thought that this would be a great way to keep us cool and dry during those times. I unfortunately (well, fortunately) did not get to test this idea during this week because Fall hit hard the day or two before this arrived.
Now my wife and I love it when it is super chilly outside of the covers and nice and toasty under them. We sleep like babies when we can get it right. The BedJet has made it so that we can ALWAYS get it right. Now, when we are getting ready for bed, I turn on the BedJet at a 40% fan and 87 degrees and we crawl into a nice and toasty bed and are usually zonked out before the timer shuts it off 30 minutes later.
We have the Queen sized BedJet sheet that goes with the system and I think it is a must have. It may not coordinate with the rest of your bed set but it is a simple white layer that is pretty much like a duvet cover without the duvet inside. This lets the BedJet properly inflate and get the warm or cool air all around you. You might also think that this is the only thing you can have on your bed, but like they tell you in the instruction manual, it actually works better with a blanket overtop, and I can confirm that that is indeed the case.
The BedJet was easy to set up once I had the bed made up with the new BedJet sheet. Unfortunately though, our bed frame is not very conducive to having the BedJet tucked away like most people would want. There is neither the clearance under the bed to hid it away, nor can I easily have it at the foot of the bed due to our storage bench and an extended footer to the bed. If all you have is a simple frame and headboard, this will be an easy set-up for you. Otherwise you are going to have to either use the side ports in the sheet or be OK with the BedJet just being out in the open. Oh, there is also a mini-version of the BedJet that might fit better so be sure to measure your bed set-up first and see which would be best for you.
My wife likes the BedJet so much that she wants to get a different bench for the foot of the bed so that it can be set up underneath and just have the hose run to her side of the bed (of course). That's really not a big deal because we have the single zone sheet so we will both still get the benefit, she just gets more. You can always get the dual zone sheet and two units if you want to have individual temps for each of you.
Other than us not having the ideal bed set-up for the BedJet, I really can't think of any big negatives to give. If you want a climate control system for your bed, the BedJet is awesome. If I were to give any criticism it would probably be over the remote control because it is probably A LOT bigger than it needs to be. That being said, you can control everything from an app on your phone, I just refuse to put yet another app on my phone. I have too many apps as it is.
As 'Winter' sets in here in Southern California, I'm going to try setting up one of the Biorhythm programs they talk about on their website (they should really give this in the instruction book). You can set a program that warms you, then cools you, and then warms you again to help you go to sleep, stay asleep, and then wake up nice and refreshed. I may not need to do it because even just using this to go to sleep has already taken our sleep quality up several notches, but I'll see if the Biorhythm program takes us to sleep nirvana.
I realize that the BedJet is not exactly cheap, but even if it just gives us the sleep boost it already has and nothing more, it will be worth it. If next summer I can also keep from having to run the AC at night in our house, it will be worth WAY more than what it cost.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sound worth obsessing over. VIRTUOSO MAX harnesses the passion of audio experts and the power of cutting-edge technology to produce immersive harmonics on Xbox and more. State-of-the-art Graphene drivers produce spectacularly clear and precise audio, broadening the highs and lows of every soundscape. Dolby Atmos expands the play past the screen and into your world, with each conflict, conversation, and cutscene unfolding around you. Band together with friends and strategize over voice channels with the broadcast-grade omni-directional microphone. Perfectly balance in-game sound and team chat with on-ear audio controls. Active noise cancellation eliminates all other distractions, leaving you with all-encompassing gaming audio that sounds so good.
Customer Rating
5
Great Sounding, Hampered By Dolby ATMOS On Xbox
on October 20, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
TLDR: If you are looking for a pair of outstanding sounding (to both you and others on the other side of your microphone), majestically built, and solid gaming headphones, you can not go wrong with the Corsair Virtuoso Max. The only hang ups I had with these is the lack of even a simple connection guide in the box, and the inability to switch up profiles on the fly while playing on my Xbox.
I have owned A LOT of different gaming headphones over my many, many, many years of gaming, and I believe that I can say quite confidently, that these are the nicest pair I've ever owned (short of using my super high-end audiophile headphones back in the day). When you pull these out of their case, you KNOW you have a solid set of 'cans' here. I'm going to run through a quick list of some highs and just a couple lows, for the Virtuoso Max headphones that I have experienced over the last week of using them.
Highs:
1. Build Quality: Spectacular. You pull these out of their nicely appointed case and they feel solid, the buttons and dials all activate smoothly, and the padding/stitching really takes the style up a notch.
2. Sound: This is arguably the most important thing next to comfort in a pair of headphones, and the Virtuoso Max has a phenomenal range and an impressive amount of power. If your game doesn't sound good when wearing these, it's the audio engineer's fault, NOT these headphones. That is actually a bit of a problem, especially if you play some older or non-AAA games. My games from Bethesda and Microsoft sound beautiful and the spacial cues are all correct. Some of my older games and some smaller studio games weren't able to put the love into the audio of their games that the bigger studio/budget games were. These games can come off 'boomy' and shrill at times. Also, these are nicely tuned for voice reproduction as well, and I've been able to understand the dialogue in a few games better than I ever have before.
Music streamed from my phone also sounded spectacular and while they will not replace my main music headphones, it was nice that when I was playing some boring and repetitive sections of the game, I could put on some music, and grind away at the game and then dial back in the audio when I needed the game cues.
Voice Clarity: When playing with a team online or using these to take a phone call through the dual USB/Bluetooth connection, the other side will be able to hear you loud and clear. You can also dial in the sound from the game/phone with just a twist of, well, the dial on the ear cup.
Ease of Connectivity: Once I figured everything out, it was super easy to set up the connection through both the wireless transmitter plugged into my Xbox Series X as well as my iPhone 15. Once that was set up I could use the Dolby app on my Xbox to change settings and equalizers.
Battery Life: I charged these things fully immediately upon taking them out of the box and have used them every day for up to 4 hours at a stretch most of the days of the last week and I still haven't had to charge them up again. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find an indicator that would tell me the battery level (other than a generic low/medium/high). Perhaps that is only in the actual Corsair iCUE app for computers.
Mids:
1. Comfort: While the materials used by Corsair are top-notch, I can still only wear these for a few hours before needing a break. That happens all the time with even the softest headphones for the bridge of my head, but the Corsairs also had a pretty strong clamping feel on my head. While great for stability, I did have to give my ears and sides of my head a break independent of the top of my head.
Lows:
1. Software: The Dolby app that you use on the Xbox is fine, but if you need to switch up profiles and settings for your headphones while playing, you are going to have to exit the game completely (not just hit the dashboard button), make your changes, and restart your game. This made it really hard for me to A-B between profiles to see which one was best for each game, since I have not found a single equalizer setting that sounds best for all of my games. Perhaps if Corsair puts out an iCUE app on the Xbox, we might get some more control.
2. Documentation: C'mon Corsair, you put in actual paper guides for the warranty and safety details, but couldn't put in even a single sheet 'Quick Start' guide? I shouldn't have to scan a QR code to get the manual for a headset, especially when said QR code does not go to an active page yet.
3. ANC: To tell the truth, I was unable to tell when the ANC was on or off when using these. I didn't get any of the 'ear pressure' you get with a lot of ANC headphones, but they did keep out quite a bit of outside noise passively. It would be nice if there was a definitive tone or announcement of which mode you were in. Or perhaps if the medial control toggle was changed to an on/off button since you need to use your phone to control a lot of settings during calls/music anyway (though it was nice to have the start/stop and forward/back settings close at hand).
Conclusion: I would like to point out that I only used these on my Xbox Series X, and so if you are using these on a PC, a lot of the 'lows' may not even apply to you since you have the iCUE app to use.
If you really dig Corsair's other gaming gear (as you rightly should), and want their latest and greatest headset that now supports the Xbox, head on out to Best Buy and pick these up, you will enjoy them.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Introducing the ultimate solution for effortlessly preserving and revitalizing your cherished memories. Say hello to our cutting-edge photo scanner and PictureStudio photo editing software, designed to breathe new life into your old, faded photos with just a single touch. Gone are the days of sifting through endless photo albums in search of that one special moment. With our seamless search feature, navigating through your digitized photo collection has never been easier. Simply enter a keyword or filter by tag, and watch as your memories come to life before your eyes. Whether it's restoring colors to faded photographs, organizing your entire photo collection in one convenient location, or effortlessly sharing and backing up your memories, AMBIR has you covered.
Customer Rating
3
Good, but unfortunately not what I was hoping for.
on October 14, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
First off, let me say that if you currently do not have any type of scanner or photo editing software, then the AMBIR photo scanner will probably be all you'll ever need as long as you aren't doing large batches of scans. That being said, I got this because I have a HUGE scanning project ahead of me and I was hoping that this would help speed up the process, but I don't think it will.
My father-in-law died a few years ago and my wife and her brother were the only living relatives here in the US. Her brother was still a young guy and didn't want all the photo albums and said he would never care about them. Well, fast forward almost ten years and he's now married and has two boys and would like photos to show his kids. His death also really drove home to me the absolute waste that comes with cleaning out a life's worth of stuff. I want to streamline our own photos so that when we pass, no one is left with a metric ton of photo albums (which are horribly bulky and heavy). I would like to make digital archives that I can distribute to family and friends and it won't take up any more than an external hard drive.
I have a scanner at home built into my printer but it is not the best for photos. I used to have a flatbed scanner dedicated to photos but even that would have been a pain. The AMBIR Photo Scanner seemed to be a better way to speed up the process with automatic feed/scan and digital correction. In practice over the last few days, it has been just as much of a pain as my dedicated photo scanner would have been, and the software is not up to what I was hoping. Let me go into a few things I like and don't like about this scanner.
Good:
1. Picture Quality: Better than the scanner built into my multi-function printer, but not better than my dedicated photo scanner at the same settings.
2. Software: Easy to use with dedicated buttons for red-eye removal, auto-correction, adding color/tone, and framing to the photos. It also makes it easy to upload your projects to a ton of different online repositories. You can also easily tag individuals in your photos if you want to make them searchable for specific people. Could be a valuable tool for someone who needs that function.
3. Compact: Doesn't take up a lot of space on my desk and allows plenty of room for stacks of photos to be ready to be scanned, and to collect after scanning. Also, with its single cable for power and data, you don't have to worry about cables going everywhere.
Don't Like:
1. Single Scan At A Time: I don't know why, but when I was initially looking at this scanner I got it in my head that I would be able to drop a stack of photos into it and it would scan away, but I was wrong, and that's on me. That being said, the fact that you have to drop each photo individually into the scanner, even with the auto-scan feature on, makes this not much better than placing a bunch of photos onto a flatbed scanner, or better yet, having a scanner that will feed from a stack.
2.. No Guides: The other problem with the feeding mechanism of the scanner is that there are no guides like you would see on other printers/copiers. Now the scanner doesn't seem to be all that picky about getting the picture in the exact center but with the auto-scan on, the scanner has repeatedly pulled the picture at an odd angle. Now the software seems to do a pretty decent job of straightening things out for the final image but I've noticed that when it has to auto-rotate like that, artifacts tend to pop up in the photo.
3. Initial/Post-Processing Quality: Like I said in the intro, if you don't have ANY other scanner or photo editing software, or the skill to use a dedicated photo editor, you will probably be fine with the results from the AMBIR system. I used to be a semi-pro photographer and while I was not going for super fine resolution and the ability to enlarge photos, I WOULD like the photos to be relatively free of artifacts on the initial scan. If the scans aren't clean from the start, you either need to run them again (which sometimes does help with the AMBIR system), or you are stuck with photos that are probably not going to take editing well. While the software that AMBIR packages with the system is serviceable, it is not up to the quality that can be achieved with a dedicated image editor. And while I was impressed at how well the software removes red-eye and can even use AI to colorize a photo, again, if the base image isn't the best, then neither will the final image. If fact, there were a lot of times (probably more than half) when the auto-enhance was noticeably worse than the original.
Conclusion:
If you have a ton of time on your hands and aren't looking for super fine quality in your scanned images, then this system will probably help you out. If you were hoping for something to speed up your workflow and you have more than a passing ability with photo-editing, you will probably be disappointed in this system.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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The Ninja Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fryer is a convection oven, air fryer, and toaster that crisps and flips up and away. Get extra-large capacity without sacrificing counter space with its unique design that allows you to flip it up against your backsplash when not in use so you can save 50% more space on your countertop. OvenCrisp Technology combines infrared heat with rapid, circulating hot air all around your food for quick, edge-to-edge even cooking providing you with optimum cooking results. The Ninja Flip includes 8 functions so no matter what you’re craving, you can make it all in this countertop appliance—air fry, roast, broil, bake, pizza, toast, bagel, dehydrate all in one.
Customer Rating
5
Great Space-Saving Oven w/One Hitch
on October 12, 2024
Posted by: Wraith
I already am a convert to the joys of owning a toaster oven. I have a great one now that I love but I had been looking for one with a bit more cooking area but without the added bulk that normally comes with such an increase and what do you know, the Ninja Flip Toaster Oven comes through!
I can't tell you how much time and energy I have saved by doing most of my cooking with a toaster oven. It heats faster, cooks faster, and doesn't bake the entire house while running. I have two, yes two, regular ovens in my kitchen and I have NEVER used the big one under my stove top, and only use the smaller one under my microwave for baking big items. Virtually everything else is done in my toaster oven.
Like I said, I loved my previous oven but I've been wanting a bit more space for about the last year now, because I have either had to do cooking in batches or just scaling down recipes, when I'd rather just have some leftovers. You can see in the picture of the respective baking trays that the Ninja has a much nicer and larger surface area to work with.
Also in the pictures you can see how a baking test with the Ninja compares to a batch done in my regular oven. I have never tried to do cookies just in my toaster oven, but after this test, I will be doing my cookies ONLY in my toaster oven! The bake was faster and more consistent across the baking tray than the larger regular oven.
This thing heats up wicked fast. I started both ovens at the same time and the Ninja hit the proper baking temp just before my regular oven hit 200 degrees. The first batch of cookies was almost done before the bigger oven hit the proper temperature. That's also because the Ninja also bakes even faster than my other toaster oven. And that is the one catch I mention in the title of this review; I'm going to have to learn all new baking times for all the things I make. I had it down to a science before and new I have to learn a whole new advanced quantum version of that science.
I actually don't care about flipping the Ninja Toaster Oven up to save counter space, because I have tons of that and the toaster oven just shows a bunch more stainless steel with smudges and fingerprints (the bane of my existence). I was even worried about having a device such as a toaster oven flip up or even being so close to walls and cabinets, but the Ninja Flip has some great thermals on it and it puts out less heat than my previous toaster oven does. It's actually very impressive.
I only have one other little quibble with the Ninja Flip, and that is that I wish that the handle on the left side could be swapped to the other side. I'm left handed and normally have a utensil or my oven mitt on that hand and open the door with my right hand. I can't do that without it being awkward now. Having the option to move the handle or putting a handle on both sides would make this thing absolutely perfect.
I can't wait to try out all the other modes with the Ninja Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fryer, but it's going to be fun, tasty, and fast doing so!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Wraith's Review Comments
Make driving routines more enjoyable with this OverDryve car system. Its voice assistant capabilities let you read and send text messages by command and also play music in your car without taking your hands off the wheel. The built-in dash cam of this OverDryve car system lets you record trips and capture every moment on the road.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5No-Brainer If You Want A Great All-In-One System
By Wraith
I wondered about creating a GPS system nowadays with so many people having their smartphones with their own GPS functionality or with most cars coming with some kind of infotainment system, but after using the OverDryve 7 for the last two weeks, I think it is a great system and is a no-brainer for anyone looking to add GPS functionality to their car.
First off, my favorite thing about this device is the mounting bracket. I kid you not. One of the things I always hated about car GPS systems was having to lock it in place and reconnect the power and such. In the process of doing that I would invariably mess with my carefully set up positioning and would have to do it all over again. The Overdryve has an awesome bracket that you keep set up in your car and plugged in to everything and the Overdryve unit itself links via magnets and the connections are made through little contacts on the back. Easy-peasy. On top of that, the basestation also has an additional GPS antenna to improve location accuracy. Now I have rarely had problems with previous GPS devices and but the additional antenna could probably help when you are in the 'canyons' of the city, though I haven't gone downtown to try it yet.
The GPS system is great. While my car has one built in, it acts a bit too much like my mother and won't let me input anything if I am not at a complete stop. My wife can't even do it from the passenger seat because if we are moving at all it completely locks out the GPS controls. I understand why, but it would be nice for some kind of override. With the Overdryve, we don't have to worry about that. She just plucks the device from the mount, types in the destination and clicks it back into place. The guidance voice is kind of grating but so is my wife yelling directions at me from her phone!
I played around with the handsfree and entertainment applications and they are fine, but my car handles that pretty seamlessly, so I don't think I will be using that function of the Overdryve. The voice commands are much more responsive than those for my car system so I will give it that. The other thing I don't have to worry about is the backup camera or tire pressure monitor, because my car already has that, but if your car doesn't, this is a really cool feature. While each of those systems is an add-on, they are both only about $150 each and I guarantee I paid more for that functionality from the auto maker.
As for the Overdryve also being an Android tablet, and can be used off the mount like any other tablet, it is true that it can do so, but it is a little bulky for that and it is an Android tablet with all that entails. Sorry, I have an iPad and I can't really see myself ever using this as just a regular tablet, but perhaps if you forgot yours and you have a fussy kid in the back and want to send it to the back seat to quiet them down, this could be a lifesaver.
Now for my few quibbles with the device. I had a little trouble syncing it to my phone for the first few tries but after I did a phone restart I didn't have a problem and it had maintained the sync no problem, so it could have been my phone and not the Overdryve. My only other problem is the name. Seriously, Overdryve?! I realize that Overdrive was probably taken but I kind of feel like some hipster should be on TV telling me how 'swaggy' this thing is. Every time I have had to type Overdryve into this review, I have had to roll my eyes and they are getting tired.
In summary, if you want a great functioning GPS system, and that is all, this is a phenomenal GPS and it costs about the same as other 7-inch GPS systems. If you need the functionality of an infotainment system, and want the ability to add safety features like a back-up camera and tire pressure monitoring, this is a no-brainer because you get all of that for the price of a basic 7" GPS. On top of all that, you get a fully functional Android tablet! I really can't see why anyone would buy any other standalone car GPS system now that this is out. Even if you don't need the other functions, they are nice to have and Rand McNally has created the best GPS device I have ever used, for the same price as other systems. Seriously, this is the unit to get.
Wraith
Rochester Hills, MI
Dash Cam!
September 25, 2016
I totally forgot about the dash cam function of this. Yet another feature that makes this a no-brainer. I have not had much experience with dash cams but this one works well. Now let's just hope I don't end up on one of those dash cam compilation videos on YouTube!
0points
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Wraith's Questions
Wraith has not submitted any questions.
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
Will these head phones need to be connected tot he phone to use the noise cancelling function or can they operate as noise cancelling headphones whithout having to be connected to anything?
They DO NOT need to be connected to a phone for the noise cancelling feature to work. You can just have them on to give yourself some peace and quiet.
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Wraith
Listen to your playlist in peace with these Sony headphones. They have a 40mm dome driver to deliver the full depth of audio, and the noise cancelling feature minimizes outside disturbances for a better listening experience. These Sony headphones have a battery life of up to 30 hours for extended jam sessions.
Really wanna buy these headphones, but does the ANC from these (Sony) create an undesirable pressure to the eardrums? Tried the Bose, they hurt my ears after a while...
NO! I'm with you on that. I have always wanted a pair of NC headphones but couldn't stand that pressure after more than 30 minutes. I have listened to these for almost six hours straight and no pressure. It is fabulous!
7 years, 8 months ago
by
Wraith
Create gorgeous hairstyles quickly with this high-velocity Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. The rapid air flow and a temperature gauge that monitors the heat level 20 times per second ensure efficient drying without overheating tresses. The motor of this Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is in the handle for better balance and reduced arm fatigue during use.
Hello does the Supetsonic blow dryer sold at Best Buy come with the leather case?
No, that is only for the dryers bought directly from Dyson. I know, stinks. I'm attaching a photo of what is in the box.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
Wraith
Orbi Whole Home WiFi System delivers up to 3.0Gbps high-performance WiFi. Sleek, modern design with high-gain internal antennas for up to 5,000 square feet of coverage. FastLane3 Technology creates a dedicated Tri-Band WiFi for seamless 4K streaming and gaming everywhere in your home. Keep a single WiFi name for uninterrupted connections as you move from room-to-room. Circle Smart Parental Controls runs on Orbi Routers for a smart way for families to manage content and time online, on any connected device. Provide internet access to guests without sharing your personal network password. Orbi is ready right out of the box and compatible with your ISP. Just use the Orbi app to get started with better WiFi, everywhere in minutes.
I have a 1400 sq ft home and an RV parked on the side. My current Router plus an add on won't do it for the RV. Will this cover the home and the RV?
I have a 3200 sq ft home that has walls like a fort and I can get a great signal from all throughout the house and my entire yard (which is admittedly not in proportion with the house). If you put the main base station in your home and the satellite system in the RV, the system will tell you if you have a good signal (which you should), and then you will be bathed in glorious wi-fi.
8 years, 9 months ago
by
Wraith
Only at Best BuyTote entertainment options with you via this HP Spectre x360 laptop. The 13.3-inch touch screen lets you navigate tablet-style for casual app gaming, and a flip-and-fold design lets you set this computer on a table to enjoy streamed entertainment while multitasking. This HP Spectre x360 laptop weighs just over 3 lbs. for easy portability.
Finally! so glad i seen this before i bought!!! when can i get it? i've asked everywhere.
I have seen it in every Best Buy store I have been in to over that last two weeks (four in total), so check your Best Buy, it is probably there.
9 years ago
by
Wraith
Only at Best BuyChoose this HP Spectre 13 notebook for its crisp 1080p display and 13.3-inch screen. It comes with a sixth-generation Intel processor and 8GB of onboard RAM for efficient multitasking, and its solid state drive ensure that programs load quickly. The slim design on this HP Spectre 13 notebook provide enhanced versatility.
I ordered this laptop from a friend to buy it for me. I live in Europe (Macedonia) so we have 220v electricity + other kind of power plugs. Will it damage the laptop if i use it constantly with an adapter to change the socket to fit our plugs ?
You should not have any problems doing this. The power supply clearly states that it can handle all the way up to 240v and convert it to what the computer needs. All you should have to do is get the plug adaptor.
9 years ago
by
Wraith
Learn more about Magnolia Premium Installation These Sennheiser HD650 stereo headphones provide balanced and transparent sound for audio with minimal distortion. The headphones feature an over-the-ear design with an innovative elliptical shape adapted to the shape of ears.
Which headphone amplifiers would you suggest for the HD650 and would a headphone amplifer help add a deeper bass to the sound??
I use mine with a Schiit Magni (and Modi for the DAC), and I have no problems with the bass. If the music is supposed to have bass, you will get it. It won't be thumping bass but there is only a small segment of the music spectrum that really needs that emphasized. Cheap headphones bump up the bass to cover up how bad they are.
10 years, 10 months ago
by
Wraith
Rochester Hills, MI