nhtechie's stats
- Review count135
- Helpfulness votes811
- First reviewMarch 30, 2011
- Last reviewApril 27, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.3
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentApril 20, 2015
- Last review commentApril 20, 2015
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count5
- Helpfulness votes15
- First answerJanuary 16, 2017
- Last answerApril 27, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Versatile and portable, the IdeaPad™ Flex 3 Chromebook measures just 19.6 mm thick and weighs 1.2 kg with a full keyboard and spacious trackpad, and can be viewed in tent, tablet, laptop or stand modes. Watch crisp visuals in high definition with its 10-point touchscreen on the 11.6" IPS display while being more productive with help from Google. Just say “Hey Google*,” to manage tasks, enjoy your entertainment, get answers, or control smart home devices.
Customer Rating
4
Small and good for casual use
on October 26, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from Nashua, NH
Holy moly tiny! An 11 in. screen is an adjustment coming from a 13.3 in. Chromebook!
TL;DR for my frequent readers and details below.
Pros:
Battery Life
Compatibility with phone-centric Android Apps
USB-C for power
USB-C also for data
microSD Card Reader
Sleep button and volume button on same side
Camera Cover slide
Battery Life
Compatibility with phone-centric Android Apps
USB-C for power
USB-C also for data
microSD Card Reader
Sleep button and volume button on same side
Camera Cover slide
Cons:
Only 1 USB-C port, shared for data & power
Track pad click sensitivity
Fair responsiveness for
- Screen touch sensitivity
- Scrolling
Should have a basic pen / stylus included
Only 1 USB-C port, shared for data & power
Track pad click sensitivity
Fair responsiveness for
- Screen touch sensitivity
- Scrolling
Should have a basic pen / stylus included
Meh:
Folding / unfolding is a bit tough but to be expected, I guess?
WiFi is only 802.11AC (WiFi 5)
Folding / unfolding is a bit tough but to be expected, I guess?
WiFi is only 802.11AC (WiFi 5)
There’s no way you can fault a 11 in. Chromebook for its size, so let’s just put that out there to start.
After letting the Chromebook charge for a few hours, the initial setup was a breeze as expected for Google. With only 4GB of Memory and a 32GB eMMC, I was torn on what to expect from a performance perspective, but that’s what I’m here to comment on.
After that initial charge and setup, off I went. I created myself a profile and was able to use my Titan Key C when prompted for 2FA without issue. I was partially expecting a “please choose another method” but there was no issue when using the Titan Key with a USB-C to A adapter because the labeling made it look like the USB-C port was power only - which I know now it’s not.
I was able to remove most of the old apps that Google re-installed without my guidance and got on with basic usage. I use a Pixel Slate daily and that has a ton of space (128GB, I think) so I don’t need to be so picky on what’s installed - but at 32GB, I’d rather play it lean.
Adding a Canon printer was effortless and so was printing out some math worksheets for the kiddo.
From a ‘snappiness’ perspective, scrolling is a bit slow and the touch / responsiveness speeds aren’t all that great. When looking a bit further, it’s only WiFi 5 / AC vs what’s been in my phone for 2.5 years, WiFi 6 / AX (see pic).
With those points, you can see the budget-focus of the Chromebook.
Now, flipping it inside out and using it as an (roughly) iPad-sized tablet is cool and so is making it a tent, but there’s a TON of bezel at the top of the tent and it’s a narrow bottom, making it a bit awkward to hit buttons at the bottom of the screen (see pic).
Having a camera cover slide is slick, as I don’t have to use a piece of a post-it note and pairing Bluetooth was just as easy as any other Android device (see pic).
So, overall this is a nice budget Chromebook that can double as a tablet when flipped around.
Do I recommend this? Sure. Do I recommend it as a laptop replacement? No - but it’d be fine for kids. How about recommending it as a couch computer / web browser during commercials? Heck yeah!
Side note: I used this for 5 nights and my wife used it during the day and it only got to 50% battery.
Second side note: I used it to write this review.
Slick.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+22points
26of 30voted this as helpful.
Skip the coffee shop! With its convenient 3-in-1 functionality—frozen, iced, and hot coffee—the Mr. Coffee Single-Serve Frappe + Iced + Hot Coffee Maker & Blender makes it easy to create your favorite coffee drinks right at home.
Customer Rating
4
Nice, but with some quirks
on September 28, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from FL
Since COVID hit, I’ve been more focused on good coffee during the day; cold brew, iced and hot - all have their purpose. Now, Mr. Coffee gives me the ability to make frozen coffee - yes!
Here’s the TL;DR to help you guys out, feel free to read further for more details!
Good:
Small footprint
Good directions/labels
Two insulated cups + reusable straws
Blender / Frozen Mode
Hot coffee taste
Scoop / scoop holder placement
Small footprint
Good directions/labels
Two insulated cups + reusable straws
Blender / Frozen Mode
Hot coffee taste
Scoop / scoop holder placement
Meh:
Grounds basket is messy
Grounds seem to escape to the coffee quite often
“Over ice” brews too hot
No audible beep when it’s done brewing
Coffee splashing when brewing into mugs
Grounds basket is messy
Grounds seem to escape to the coffee quite often
“Over ice” brews too hot
No audible beep when it’s done brewing
Coffee splashing when brewing into mugs
Review:
This coffee maker has a nice minimalistic footprint for something that has 4 brew modes. 16oz is the largest cup size that can be brewed, so don’t think of rigging a carafe for placement underneath.
This coffee maker has a nice minimalistic footprint for something that has 4 brew modes. 16oz is the largest cup size that can be brewed, so don’t think of rigging a carafe for placement underneath.
Following the directions, the first drink I made was a “frozen” coffee; think Coffee Coolatta. After filling the blade jar with milk, ice and flavoring, you have to brew around 8oz of coffee and then transfer it to the blender’s base unit. With 60 seconds of automatic variable blending, the blended coffee came out great; using the insulated cups kept it icy and frothy for longer than I had anticipated.
Iced coffee seems to brew hotter than expected. I am used to “over ice” and “cold brew” in my other maker, so when I made an “over ice” I was confused to see every bit of ice melted.
When brewing hot coffee, my most common brew, I found that using smaller (12oz) mugs puts it a bit far below the basket so the drips can turn into splashes and leave coffee dots all over the counter. I ended up taking out the removable grounds basket and using a filter. Then, taking that basked, I flipped it upside down and put my mug on it, to make it closer to the drip spout and that lessened the splashing.
The flavor of the coffee is great, so the temp is on-point.
Finally, when the brews are done, you have to wait to hear the steam gurgle to know that it’s ready, there isn’t a beep - so that’s ‘odd’ to me.
Do I recommend this coffee maker? Sure, given you have a need for a single serve maker that uses grounds & can blend. Want it solely for single-serve iced coffee? I’d say look elsewhere.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+8points
8of 8voted this as helpful.
The new Bella Pro Series 9-qt. Digital Air Fryer with Dual Flex Basket is every multi-tasker’s dream come true. You can now cook two different foods two different ways, simultaneously, and still have them finish at the same time. Our innovative touch screen display gives it the touch of sleek and allows you to easily customize your method with 6 built in smart cooking functions. Make a full load of the same dish using the extra large 9-quart capacity by easily syncing the cook settings across both baskets. Thoughtfully designed and easy to operate, this product is what you need to take your cooking up a notch.
Customer Rating
5
9 Qt. of Awesomeness
on September 21, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from FL
I have to admit, I love using an air fryer and with mine being over 2 years old, I was due for a change. Enter the Sensio Bella Pro 9 QT Flex Basket Touchscreen Air Fryer!
Super simple packaging & not a lot of was was a nice thing to see!
At first, it looks massive and in reading the instructions before plugging this guy in, the features are massive as well.
First usage impressions:
In the basket is a groove down the middle for the basket divider, should you want to separate the cooks, or cook two different things at once - or even, just a smaller cook and half the heat. Lining the bottom of each side is its own crisping tray. Easily removed, the ultralight trays appear to have a little flex in them.
I ran a cycle as instructed to burn off some of the manufacturing oils, etc and boy could I smell it. Standing behind the blowers when this was on ‘full blast’ definitely felt like a hair dryer on Medium.
The touchscreen is quite responsive and I didn’t have any issues messing with the menu items.
On to usage:
Keep the book with the unit and be prepared to reference it. While the touchscreen is very telling and gives you options, I kept forgetting how to do one basket with a divider vs the whole thing.
From frozen French Fries and crab cakes, to reheating sausages and left-over chicken tenders, this thing is great! I even used the last few minutes of ‘bake’ to throw my sub roll in and benefit from some of the heat and crisping as to not need the toaster.
The number of options from Bake, Air Fry, Dehydrate, Reheat … and on … and on … makes this more valuable than just for air frying.
As you often need to remember to shake the contents of the Air Fry, this unit even has a ‘reminder’ beep that happens when it’s 2/3 of the way through so you can shake it and get a better cook!
Cleaning is simple. Once you pop out the divider & the lightweight crisper trays, their coating makes cleaning a breeze. Soapy water & a rinse makes it seem like it may not even need to be dried, but it does.
Overlooked Con:
Even if you use just one side, you still have to wash the entire basket.
Even if you use just one side, you still have to wash the entire basket.
Cooking is spot on with other air fryers and has a nice even cook, even spread across both ‘sides’ of the basket.
The whole Air Fryer is a “Pro” to me.
A 9 Qt footprint can’t be tiny but it’s not overwhelmingly large either
Touch screen vs buttons that can wear & crack over time
Good instruction manual and recommendations for cook times / mode usage
Even cooks
"Reminder to flip" beep
So many features that I haven't even totally gotten into yet!
A 9 Qt footprint can’t be tiny but it’s not overwhelmingly large either
Touch screen vs buttons that can wear & crack over time
Good instruction manual and recommendations for cook times / mode usage
Even cooks
"Reminder to flip" beep
So many features that I haven't even totally gotten into yet!
Do I recommend it? Sure do! This Air Fryer has driven daily in this household!
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+17points
17of 17voted this as helpful.
The Beurer BR60 Insect Bite Healer uses natural heat to dissolve saliva, venom, and other irritants caused by insect bites. Direct heat application via a ceramic hot plate acceleratres the body's natural healing response to reduce itching and swelling, chemical-free. There is a 6 second application time for regular use, or a short 3 second treatment for sensitive skin. For best results, use immediately after insect bites. Suitable to soothe all types of insects bites like mosquito, spider, bee, chigger, flea, bed bug, wasp, ants, etc. For adults and kids ages 12+ with adult supervision.
Posted by: nhtechie
from Florida
Of all the things I never imagined was a product, it was absolutely the Beurer Insect Bite Healer.
Let's get to it.
It's tiny; it looks like a Google Chromecast Remote (see pic) and takes 2 (included) AAA batteries.
Turn it on, tap the button, put it on your sting/bite and in a few seconds, your bug bite/sting is hit with heat. Heat, like - you had a lighter on for a while, forgot and immediately picked it up by the metal, then placed it on your bug bite.
You can burn that little area for 3 (half circle glows - see pic) or 6 seconds, depending on if you hit the button once, or tap it twice.
Is it comfortable? Heck no. Does it work? Heck yes!
So far, I’ve managed to stay away from stings, but I do get a bunch of little bites on my ankles and arms. I feel the itch and when I scratch it and see the ‘white dot’ - I grab this thing and zap it. Every. Single. Time I’ve used it on myself, or family members - we’ve all had no further itching.
Insanity. 5 stars. Buy one just to have and some more for stocking stuffers.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+17points
23of 29voted this as helpful.
Who’s in the garden? Are the kids doing their homework yet? Nest Cam is wire-free, so it goes almost anywhere, outside or in. It knows the difference between people, animals, and vehicles, so you can get the alerts that are important to you. Listen and speak through the camera right from the Google Home app. Check in anytime with 24/7 live view.* If you miss a notification, you can always go back and see what happened with 3 hours of free event video history.* And it’s easy to install yourself – no outlet or wires required. Nest Camera Battery requires the Google Home app and a Google Account – it’s not compatible with the Nest app or the home.nest.com site. *** Stand and cable sold separately
Customer Rating
3
It's fine - but there are better options out there
on September 3, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from Nashua, NH
I have reviewed roughly six different cameras over time: Arlo (two types), Eufy (two types), Blink, Lorex and now Google. Of all of them, this sits right in the middle.
Unboxing, set-up and initial use was easy. Scan the QR code with the Google Home App that you likely already have on your phone/tablet; then you’re off to the races.
The magnetic mount is solid, however Google really sticks it to you (pun intended) because in order to have it face forward or down-ish, you need “their” stand which stinks in my opinion. If you try to lay it down to get a straight-on view, it rolls, as you’d expect from a round camera.
To get around this, cut the end off of a 4x2 about the size of the diameter of the bracket and screw the mount into that; you get the flat edge from keeping the camera from rolling around and it faces forward without the need for a mount (see pics).
To get around this, cut the end off of a 4x2 about the size of the diameter of the bracket and screw the mount into that; you get the flat edge from keeping the camera from rolling around and it faces forward without the need for a mount (see pics).
After a full charge, the battery indicator said I had 6 weeks of battery. After a week (but not a crazy amount) of motion, but motion nonetheless, I also had 6 days left of battery - so the estimations seem pretty off. I’ve even moved it around the house to areas with not-so-great WiFi & it still seems to do well on battery life. Another saving grace here, is that the camera is only 1080p and doesn’t need to do all that extra processing.
This camera is more of an “observation” camera vs something you’d use for stealthy security, as it does a few odd things. First, you can “dim” the status LED, but you can’t turn it off all together. I don’t like this as I don’t want the camera to illuminate anything green and obvious at night when it detects motion. Next, if you go to say something out of the two-way microphone, it plays a tone first. The only reason I know this, is I was messing around with the App and hit the mic button accidentally and the people outside started looking around and asked me about it.
From a color and clarity perspective, Google is a bit darker for video quality (see pics). From within the App, you can download a local copy of your video but you can’t take a picture of what’s on the screen - you have to “screenshot” your phone/tablet to get a picture. That’s pretty weak.
There isn’t any local storage and you have to save your videos (without a subscription) within 3 hours. So, your house was broken into while you were at Disney World for the afternoon? Sorry, those clips are gone by the time you returned home; want to avoid this - pay more money to Google. With the subscription it’s cool to be able to ‘not alert’ when I get home, but do I really want that much _more_ facial recognition to be handled by these guys?
I’ll start with the Pros and Cons then wrap it up.
Pros:
Easy set up
Sturdy
Strong Magnet
Clarity / Quality
MagSafe-like magnetic charging cable
Battery Life
Easy set up
Sturdy
Strong Magnet
Clarity / Quality
MagSafe-like magnetic charging cable
Battery Life
Cons:
ONLY 3 hours of saved video playback for free
No local storage
Can’t take a picture within the App
Google Home as the interface (and the buried menus)
Non-customizable notification sounds
Status LED can't be disabled
Overly bright Red IR lights
Activating Microphone plays a chime out of the camera
Isn't designed to sit flush on a table so they sell a mount that I have to buy
Subscription for: 30 days of video ( or 60 days for a premium price ) and the cool services
ONLY 3 hours of saved video playback for free
No local storage
Can’t take a picture within the App
Google Home as the interface (and the buried menus)
Non-customizable notification sounds
Status LED can't be disabled
Overly bright Red IR lights
Activating Microphone plays a chime out of the camera
Isn't designed to sit flush on a table so they sell a mount that I have to buy
Subscription for: 30 days of video ( or 60 days for a premium price ) and the cool services
Do I recommend this camera? I’d say ‘No’ because there are better quality (2k/4k) cameras out there that allow for on-site/local storage without a subscription.
Mobile Submission: False
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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+91points
110of 129voted this as helpful.
Fast data transfer speeds reduce the time used to copy large files, while the 256GB provides ample storage space for your favorite data. This SanDisk Ultra Type-C USB flash drive has SanDisk SecureAccess software, which helps you encrypt sensitive files easily.
Customer Rating
4
Nice form factor and storage capacity
on July 31, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from Florida
Having just moved, finding my thumb drives and accessories has been a chore, so this came at just the right time. When this 256G thumb drive hit my doorstep and I opened the package, I was shocked to see how thin it was; so much so that I had to go try to find an old thumb drive for comparison.
I must say, this is my first USB-C thumb drive and I like the fact that I don’t have to use an adapter for most of the machines I’m using these days.
Unlike other brands, there isn’t a usb protector cap you slide over the end, but it’s built into the case itself. I find sliding the case is a bit difficult when you put pressure in the wrong place.
The matte style case is noticeably not slippery and has a distinct different feel to other glossy thumb drives. The Red activity LED can be seen from both sides of the thumb drive when in use. The plastic seems a bit thin, so I’m not keen on the idea of throwing a keychain ring around it.
It comes with “Memory Zone” software for phone backup. I used Memory Zone with my S10+ (don’t laugh) for about two hours at first and it didn’t seem to progress over 80% even running in the foreground (vs background) and everything got super hot. Running it days later seems to do a ‘don’t back up the files again if they already exist’ style (incremental) backup and eventually finished as I’d have expected in the first place - but this time well under 2 hours. Once completed, it gives me a restore option, which is pretty cool. Backing up my SD card is a different process and is more of a copy/paste action of the app and can’t be run in the background.
I also tested simple drag/drop speeds but I don’t use benchmark tests because I find them to be unrealistic as there’s overhead depending on the filesystem that the device is formatted with. If you don’t care about files over 2GB, then the ‘out of the box’ FAT32 is fine for you, but going to NTFS for large file support will drop android/Mac ease of use.
As for the speeds … you’re always as fast as the slowest component. USB bus, extender, spinning disk, NVME, M.2, SSD - all contribute to how fast this can be.
My tests were perfectly fine from my perspective - and this is coming from a guy that works on Enterprise Storage for a living and where IOPS and Throughput mean different things.
If I had to suggest improvements, it’d be a better slide mechanism and a keychain loop that feels a bit more sturdy.
Overall, a nice drive and will make it part of my EDC.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Touch, Talk, Record and View- observe and control all your Lorex cameras and connected devices from a central location— the Lorex Home Center. The easy-to-use touch screen provides live and recorded views from multiple cameras simultaneously. The highlights of this versatile and expandable security system are the Home Center, two wire-free indoor/outdoor cameras and built-in storage, without monthly fees.
Customer Rating
4
Great Cameras and cool Google-esque Hub
on July 20, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from Nashua, NH
I received the Lorex Home Center, two 2K QHD Wire-free cameras and a range extender for review.
I fired up the Home Center and configured it -- Hub name, password, Wifi network (can be hard-wired too) and then held off for a bit while I clicked through the menus. I don’t have any complaints from a touch-screen perspective -- a common swipe from left edge to the right is the way to go back from every page.
Right off the bat, I noticed that there was no AC Adapter to charge the cameras, so I had to locate a few - which was somewhat annoying. The MicroUSB cables are quite long, which is nice and the connection to the camera is quite snug; no way water is getting in there.
While charging on my desk (where there was a MicroUSB cable attached to a USB Hub), I added one camera at a time and then proceeded to play with the customizations. At first, I messed around with the activity zones, which just about every system with motion detection has. No concerns there, drag to un-blue the areas you want to “not” trip the sensor.
There are a ton of features and the best bet for you would be to click through each of them & see how they may help you. For example, how bright the spotlight can be, if you want it to activate during option & how loud the alarm can sound; each one fits people’s lifestyles differently.
There’s a “camera” on the Home Center that has a sliding cover to turn the camera off, or at least that’s what the screen says. What the camera does, or how to use it is unknown. I’m led to believe that the home center can be a camera itself, but I don’t think so.
I run one camera off battery & another off continuous power outside. My “Front Door” camera was charged to 75% 5 days prior to writing this review and the battery life is at 71% with intermittent /low motion detection and I find that to be great.
You’re able to record and take ‘snapshot’ photos on the fly as well save files locally to your Phone/Tablet, or use the included MicroSD card in the Home Center to transfer recordings. I’ve used other security devices before and being able to save a copy locally to my phone was a lifesaver. A solid quality of the photo snapshots are great in day or night and the same goes with the video.
Lastly, in the bundle I got a Range Extender / Repeater (AX62TR-Z) for cameras that are further from the Home Center, stretching the wireless range. I did have a tech support contact in case I ran into issues, but that email bounced saying I wasn’t allowed to email them - so here’s my experience as of July, 2021 … it doesn’t work with the new Home Center & there’s nothing on their website about it. Seriously, try to find it. The repeater blinks blue for pairing mode ** until the home center _or_ app try to add an extender ** -- then it blinks red permanently (lost communication with the Home Center), until it’s reset by holding the button on the bottom for 10 seconds. I even went as far as to add the ID on the sticker underneath, but there was no repeater in the menus to tie it to. I guess the alternative is, mine is faulty. Not good.
Now, here’s a breakdown of the good, the meh, and some things that caught me by surprise …
The Good:
Physical:
-Size of the Home Center
-Size of the 2K UQHD cameras
-Water-tight power cable
-Wireless coverage
-Battery Life
Physical:
-Size of the Home Center
-Size of the 2K UQHD cameras
-Water-tight power cable
-Wireless coverage
-Battery Life
Software:
-Motion Zones
-Snoozing Alerts
-Adding new Cameras
-Motion Zones
-Snoozing Alerts
-Adding new Cameras
The Meh:
- Lorex voice assistant
- Both the App and Home center allow for a 1 or 4 camera view, not customizable for say, 2 cameras
- Lorex voice assistant
- Both the App and Home center allow for a 1 or 4 camera view, not customizable for say, 2 cameras
The surprising:
- No AC Adapter for the charging cables
- MicroUSB cables (vs USB-C)
- Intermittent Google Home Hub connectivity (once connected to Google Assistant)
- My repeater doesn’t work
- No AC Adapter for the charging cables
- MicroUSB cables (vs USB-C)
- Intermittent Google Home Hub connectivity (once connected to Google Assistant)
- My repeater doesn’t work
Overall, I recommend this system, especially if you want a little camera station that doesn’t involve a TV or your phone. This may be great for an older couple that’s hesitant to get into technology but still wants a bit of ‘visual’ piece of mind.
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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0of 0voted this as helpful.
Victory awaits with the Razer Battle Bundle. Complete with everything you need for next-level gaming. Embrace the sound of esports with the Razer BlackShark V2 X—a triple threat of amazing audio, superior mic clarity and supreme sound isolation. With our best headset mic and audio drivers packed into a unique aviation-style headset, your competitive play is destined to turn pro. Trounce your opponents at every game with the Razer DeathAdder V2 wired gaming mouse. The durable switches and 20,000 dpi optical sensor deliver lightning-fast responsiveness, and the lightweight ergonomic design supports several hours of comfortable gameplay. This Razer DeathAdder V2 wired gaming mouse has a Speedflex cable and robust customization features for increased performance. Now that you have a killer mouse, round out your setup with the right mouse mat to make it a deadly combination. The Razer Gigantus V2’s textured micro-weave cloth surface is optimized across all mouse sensors. Up your game with fluid swipes and pixel-precise aim, while the soft mat cushions your wrist as you take care of the competition.
Posted by: nhtechie
from Nashua, NH
I play a handful of PC games and am always looking for new accessories to “up” my “low” gameplay.
In the combo pack, I got the BLACKSHARK V2 X headset, GIGANTUS V2 mouse pad and the DEATHADDER V2 mouse.
I’ll highlight the things I like (Good) & am a bit skeptical about (Meh), for each piece of the kit.
BLACKSHARK V2 X:
I noticed pretty quickly that my ears became warm during an hour or so of continuous play. With only a short 3.5mm non-removable cable, distance was an immediate concern. To extend the cable, an audio/mic splitter is included, but you need to light up each 3.5mm port. To me, that’s silly and I used a DAC that I had from my Logitech G Pro X. While it doesn’t solve the short cable issue, it does allow me closer access, as I can use a front USB port and not have to string a long cable to the back of the tower.
I noticed pretty quickly that my ears became warm during an hour or so of continuous play. With only a short 3.5mm non-removable cable, distance was an immediate concern. To extend the cable, an audio/mic splitter is included, but you need to light up each 3.5mm port. To me, that’s silly and I used a DAC that I had from my Logitech G Pro X. While it doesn’t solve the short cable issue, it does allow me closer access, as I can use a front USB port and not have to string a long cable to the back of the tower.
There are no ridges for the headphone height adjustments to fall into. While this can be good, as there’s a more accurate fit - it’s a bit of an issue as it constantly needs slight adjustments to fit properly after taking them off, hanging them, putting them back on and so on.
GIGANTUS V2
This medium sized pad is like glass. When combined with the DEATHADDER v2, it’s a seamless movement. Compare it to a whole-desk pad - this is insanely slick. Medium is noted as the size which is good - about 12x14 and encompasses the amount of space I need for FPS, which is my game of choice. Having an anti-slip grip is great as well, because I don’t like having to adjust the pad during play.
This medium sized pad is like glass. When combined with the DEATHADDER v2, it’s a seamless movement. Compare it to a whole-desk pad - this is insanely slick. Medium is noted as the size which is good - about 12x14 and encompasses the amount of space I need for FPS, which is my game of choice. Having an anti-slip grip is great as well, because I don’t like having to adjust the pad during play.
DEATHADDER v2
A wired mouse that feels bigger than I’m used to, coming from a G604; lighter is an understatement. But it’s not bigger, it’s just angled differently, but it’s much lighter. The G604 drops off at the left/right click while the DEATHADDER v2 extends out straighter; this took some getting used to and my wrist felt it. Whether the new grip or position, I found much better accuracy in my games and that was a welcoming change, as I’m normally trash. I do have to say however, having only two buttons on the left/inside of the mouse is limiting, I use four with my G604. Add a few more mappable buttons inside and this is a 110% winner. During gameplay, I felt that the clicks were instantaneous and that’s an expectation with any wired gaming mouse. Moving to a more claw-like click action lessened the wrist strain and increased reaction time; LOVE IT.
A wired mouse that feels bigger than I’m used to, coming from a G604; lighter is an understatement. But it’s not bigger, it’s just angled differently, but it’s much lighter. The G604 drops off at the left/right click while the DEATHADDER v2 extends out straighter; this took some getting used to and my wrist felt it. Whether the new grip or position, I found much better accuracy in my games and that was a welcoming change, as I’m normally trash. I do have to say however, having only two buttons on the left/inside of the mouse is limiting, I use four with my G604. Add a few more mappable buttons inside and this is a 110% winner. During gameplay, I felt that the clicks were instantaneous and that’s an expectation with any wired gaming mouse. Moving to a more claw-like click action lessened the wrist strain and increased reaction time; LOVE IT.
Software:
RAZER Synapse runs alongside every other RGB / DAC that you may have running on your PC. Allowing you to remap EVERY key is great and control over the RGBs helps for those that are pickier than me.
RAZER Synapse runs alongside every other RGB / DAC that you may have running on your PC. Allowing you to remap EVERY key is great and control over the RGBs helps for those that are pickier than me.
TL;DR:
Headphones:
Good:
No notches for sizing - more accurate fit
Sound depth
Single-side, on-headphone adjustments for volume & mute
Sturdy microphone w/ foam windscreen (removable)
Good:
No notches for sizing - more accurate fit
Sound depth
Single-side, on-headphone adjustments for volume & mute
Sturdy microphone w/ foam windscreen (removable)
Meh:
No DAC - uses 3.5mm cable / 3.5mm splitter
They look chintzy
Slides easily, needs constant fitting adjustments
Ears constantly warm, need an “air break”
No DAC - uses 3.5mm cable / 3.5mm splitter
They look chintzy
Slides easily, needs constant fitting adjustments
Ears constantly warm, need an “air break”
Mousepad:
Good:
Like glass
Thickness
Cleanly stitched label
Non-skid base
Good:
Like glass
Thickness
Cleanly stitched label
Non-skid base
Meh:
Nothing
Nothing
Mouse:
Good:
Smooth operation
Light
Lighting clicks - no delays
Good:
Smooth operation
Light
Lighting clicks - no delays
Meh:
Not enough side buttons for keymaps
Software
Not enough side buttons for keymaps
Software
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
PI7 True Wireless In-Ear Headphones is like a pair of bookshelf speakers adapted for True wireless listening. A bi-Amplified 9mm midbass driver and Balance Armature High Frequency Driver delivers clarity, power and separation so you can hear your favorite music in all its glory. True high-resolution audio performance with a 24-bit connection between the right and left earbuds for superior sound quality. With Qualcomm aptX Adaptive, PI7 adjusts dynamically and optimises connection reliability for a great Bowers & Wilkins listening experience.
Customer Rating
4
Jitter during walks knocked this to 4 stars
on May 17, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from Nashua, NH
I love earbuds, earphones, headphones and everything audio. When I got the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 “True” Wireless Headphone I wasn’t too sure what to expect, as features aren’t always consistent and sometimes focus goes to features over sound.
Simple packaging that utilizes a cover over a magnetic flap box is nice and the earbud case + some extra ear caps & cables (usb-c to usb-c && usb-c to 3.5mm) are included (see pic!).
I have a half-dozen Bluetooth earbuds and the setup for these was a pain. Initial pairing shows a case & earbuds to pair to -- and errors on the case. I had to hard-reset these and start over when the App couldn’t talk to the earbuds, but I could hear music through them.
After the reset, I took my time & followed the insert step-by-step and it all worked; I’ve never had to read instructions before for earbuds so it came as a surprise to me.
Overall, the App is pretty robust, even letting you use the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature and even allow you to combine it with nature soundscapes - to help relax.
ANC has two settings - Auto and “not Auto.” When activating it in either setting, it takes away any and moderate sounds, which includes all click sounds, say, from the sounds of a Red Linear keyboard typing. I mean completely. Taking them off and then continuing to type this sentence really shows the difference they make. From another perspective of how the ANC portion works amazingly, taking them on a walk and feeling the wind hit you from all sides, while hearing the music - uninterrupted - is something out of the movies. The hear-through / Ambient Pass-Through is fantastic; cars coming up behind you are made pretty obvious while walking.
Controlling the amount of Pass-Through you prefer is great because walking outside & going to the grocery store have different level needs. Additionally, the App keeps track of battery levels and I haven’t seen that before in the other buds I use, so it was interesting to look at. I found that when looking at the Left, Right or case, Right bud wears out faster than the left leaving it in a bit of an imbalance (see pic!).
The case allows for wireless charging, so take advantage of all the Qi devices around the house and charge away; it even works with the angled Samsung Fast charger without issue (see pic!). The case size is smaller than the Sony 1000XM3s but bigger than the Jabra Elite 65T and Sennheiser CX400s (see pic!).
Onto the sound: FANTASTIC. There’s enough bass to be meaningfully noticeable but there’s no way to change the EQ - take it the way it is.
I found the preinstalled earpiece size to be perfect for me. I used them for about 10 miles of brisk walks and only ever found myself touching them to pause/skip/invoke the Google assistant.
A start-remover is the fact that the earbuds had too much cutting in/out when the phone was in my pocket on walks. If I held it close to my chest, it was fine, dropping it into my pocket made it cut in and out. It seemed, as the battery ran down (not by much), the jitter increased. Making the connection more stable would keep it at 5 stars, but the further the phone moved from the earbuds, the more the jitter happened.
Overall:
Pros:
Fantastic ANC
Fantastic pass-through
Case nicely sized
Great sound / bass
Great App for battery level / feature use
Fantastic ANC
Fantastic pass-through
Case nicely sized
Great sound / bass
Great App for battery level / feature use
Cons:
Lots of jitter while moving as the battery wears down
No EQ
Lots of jitter while moving as the battery wears down
No EQ
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+7points
7of 7voted this as helpful.
The BlueParrott M300-XT Bluetooth headset is engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments. Its ultra-light discreet design blocks out 80% of background noise using 2-microphones, it connects to 2 Bluetooth devices for more flexibility, and has a long battery life that offers up to 14 hours of talk time for all-day conversations. The ability to roam up to 300ft/100m gives you the freedom to leave your paired Bluetooth device behind. It is equipped with a customizable BlueParrott button which can be programmed for mute, speed dial or Push-to-Talk in the BlueParrott app. Included are 3 different size EarGels for a secure comfortable fit and the headset is adjustable to wear on the right or left ear. It is built to last with IP54-rated protection against dust and moisture and is covered by a one-year warranty. For optimal headset performance, the M300-XT headset should be used only with a Bluetooth enabled smartphone/tablet device. Not intended to be used with a laptop/PC.
Customer Rating
5
Great headset when you're on the road!
on May 6, 2021
Posted by: nhtechie
from Nashua, NH
I love headphones, ear phones, earbuds etc. - so when a new mono piece to wear in the car came out, I actually liked the idea because sometimes a car full of people and a car-wide conversation don’t mix.
This headset takes a well known form and adds some proprietary tech behind it thanks to blueparrot (lowercase on purpose). What proprietary tech? How about push-to-talk without a Nextel or walkie talkie? Yeah, it has that.
Once paired and the blueparrot App is installed, you can configure what the center button does. Personally, I use it to mute but it can be set to a number of different things, including the aforementioned walkie talkie, speed dial or launching another App like your navigation software.
This headset is said to be small - but I’m not keen on that description, because I don’t think it’s small - it efficiently uses the space it takes up. It’s also said to be light - and I 110% agree with that. The way it sits in your ear is a little different than people that wear earbuds expect - it sits on the outside of the canal and doesn’t much inside, so that takes some getting used to.
When I first got it, it charged for about an hour and then I went through pairing - which was seamless. Updating the firmware was possible with the blueparrot App and it took around 15 minutes and had some pretty explicit instructions: don’t close the App, reboot it, etc. - else you’re going to need to play tech support engineer if you do. 15 was way better than the 40 that the App warned me about.
During the initial use, I found it extremely comfortable and during some basic use testing at home, dozed off and found it still attached to my ear - exactly the way it was left when I woke up a number of hours later. This comfort hasn’t changed, I don’t notice any pains using it.
My side of the conversation was crystal clear, exactly as I’d hope from something designed to be an extension of your phone. The caller at the other end did notice a bit of ‘distance’ - not speakerphone like, but … just not the same as me holding the phone. No complaints from them and they didn’t request that I pick up the handset - it was just ‘different.’
I took it into noisy environments and was able to hear just fine. My car doesn’t have much for sound isolation, so that was a perfect test. Nice and clear and the other side said there was a faint amount of noise - but nothing like they were used to.
Hearing music through this mono headset was a bit better than expected. Yes, it’s not an audiophile’s headphone but it’s not as tinny as I’d expect; there was a little vibration to indicate a subtle amount of bass. Dig it.
Overall, if you’re doing a long drive - pick this up but get used to the buttons first because you need to know how to answer/hang up without thinking about it.
Overall:
Super comfortable
Light
Great sound during calls
USB-C (THANK YOU!)
blueparrot App is very simple
Noise cancellation
Super comfortable
Light
Great sound during calls
USB-C (THANK YOU!)
blueparrot App is very simple
Noise cancellation
Cons:
None that I could find, basing it on the use case for the headset
None that I could find, basing it on the use case for the headset
Mobile Submission: False
I would recommend this to a friend!
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nhtechie's Review Comments
Enjoy rich, immersive bass with this Pioneer SW-8MK2 subwoofer that features phase and frequency controls, so you can easily customize your sound. High- and low-level inputs allow flexible installation.
Overall3 out of 5
3 out of 5Nice for the price, but buzz is annoying
By solandmatt
from Chicago, IL
I appreciate the importance of quality sound in a home theater system but I would not call myself an audiophile. I needed a powered subwoofer to integrate with the surround speakers that I hooked up with a new receiver.
The subwoofer works great. Movies, TV and music sound wonderful, with deeper and richer bass than I expected for the price.
My only disappointment, and it is a major one, is that it started to buzz after a few days. It does this whether on or off. I have to unplug it because it is extremely annoying otherwise. I searched reviews and it seems that other customers have had this problem as well. An Amazon customer spoke with Pioneer tech support and they indicated that this is a known issue. I guess the price is too good to be true.
nhtechie
Nashua, NH
buzz / hum
April 20, 2015
I purchased one, ordered another to have the "5.2" - and the same buzzing / humming is coming from the one from the store. I'm waiting for my second one to come in & see if it's the same. If it is, sigh - I'm going to dump them.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
nhtechie's Questions
nhtechie has not submitted any questions.
nhtechie's Answers
Featuring a 1-inch CMOS sensor, powerful autonomous functions, and a compact body weighing less than 600 g, DJI Air 2S is the ultimate drone for aerial photographers on the move. Take this all-in-one aerial powerhouse along anywhere to experience and record your world in stunning detail.
can you use the air 2 app to fly the 2s
Short Answer: No
Longer Answer: There isn't an Air 2 App.
The DJI Fly App has been (seemingly) pulled by the Google Play Store (you may still have it, but it won't update), so you have to get it right from DJI now.
If you don't get the current App from DJI, you can't activate and subsequently fly the Air 2s.
Longer Answer: There isn't an Air 2 App.
The DJI Fly App has been (seemingly) pulled by the Google Play Store (you may still have it, but it won't update), so you have to get it right from DJI now.
If you don't get the current App from DJI, you can't activate and subsequently fly the Air 2s.
3 years ago
by
nhtechie
Experience crystal-clear sound quality with this Sony 3.1 Ch. Atmos sound bar. Vertical sound engine technology creates cinematic audio that seriously enhances your listening experience. Enjoy smartphone and iPad streaming with voice-activated Bluetooth technology. This Sony 3.1 Ch. Atmos sound bar is easy to connect and features an adjustable 7.12-channel entertainment mode for enhanced listening.
This only has 1 hdmi input? So I can’t hook up my Apple TV n my PlayStation thru the sound bar? Or does it just pay to go with HTZ9F
Use an optical cable OUT of your TV and INTO the bar and use the HDMI ports on your TV for your accessories. That way, the sound will be sent through the bar and it'll be one less hop to risk degradation of the video signal. Any Apps on your TV will also go through the bar, so another win there.
I have a PS4, Blu Ray Player and PC running through this soundbar without issue.
The user guide has a cabling diagram that's very straightforward.
I have a PS4, Blu Ray Player and PC running through this soundbar without issue.
The user guide has a cabling diagram that's very straightforward.
3 years, 11 months ago
by
nhtechie
With 15 programmable controls, LIGHTSPEED wireless technology, hyper-fast scroll wheel, and the revolutionary HERO 25K sensor, G604 offers both versatility and high-performance with endless possibilities to play with mastery. Dual connectivity lets you toggle between Bluetooth and ultra-fast 1 ms LIGHTSPEED advanced wireless technology—even on separate machines. Extremely accurate tracking and class-leading power efficiency enables up to 240 hours of high-performance gaming with one AA battery.
I read online that this mouse doesnt work with windows 10?
With the G Hub software for customizations (and to make the left-click work at first), it works flawlessly.
4 years, 6 months ago
by
nhtechie
Listen to music for up to 10 hours with this black JBL portable speaker. It has a built-in Google Assistant that responds to voice commands, and it delivers rich stereo sound while you stream music via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This water-resistant JBL portable speaker is made of durable materials, so you can use it outdoors safely.
Can the Link 20 be paired to more than one device? I got it set up on my phone with the Google Home app. I put Google Home on my tablet. When I try to pair it can't find a device.
Pairing is for Bluetooth, Linking is for Google Home.
As long as your tablet is on the Same WiFi network name (linksys vs linksys-5G) and you're using the same Google account, it should be listed in Devices in the Home App.
If any of those items aren't the same (like using another google account), you'll have to link your account or join the same WiFi Name.
As long as your tablet is on the Same WiFi network name (linksys vs linksys-5G) and you're using the same Google account, it should be listed in Devices in the Home App.
If any of those items aren't the same (like using another google account), you'll have to link your account or join the same WiFi Name.
6 years, 4 months ago
by
nhtechie
Make your home an internet haven with this versatile Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system. Three identical tri-band dual-stream AC2200 routers, each equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, deliver lightning-fast internet. Equipped with Bluetooth 4.0/LE, this Linksys Velop wireless Wi-Fi system is simple to set up and pairs easily with computers, tablets and smart devices.
Have Linksys EA9500 which is hooked via Ethernet with my current provider which ihas a modem/router. Had to add 2 D-Link Power line adapters to get better wifi. Would returning all above work better with Velop?
I had the same thing. I disabled all of the functionality (Wireless, DHCP, etc), changed the IP (from 192.168.1.1, as the Velop uses that IP as well) and changed the hostname on the EA9500 and set these up with the same SSID that I had on the EA9500.
The additional devices only require power - no extra Cat5e/Cat6 cables needed. Since the Velop doesn't have a bunch of ports (just 1), I kept the EA9500 to act as a switch.
Spreading out the Velop units DOES make the signal better with little to no impact on speed.
The additional devices only require power - no extra Cat5e/Cat6 cables needed. Since the Velop doesn't have a bunch of ports (just 1), I kept the EA9500 to act as a switch.
Spreading out the Velop units DOES make the signal better with little to no impact on speed.
7 years, 3 months ago
by
nhtechie