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    June 24, 2013
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    December 30, 2020
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Beuge's Reviews
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Grab the SRS-XV500 wireless party speaker and take the party wherever you go. This speaker packs powerful sound, built-in lighting and a long-lasting battery—you can even plug in a karaoke mic and sing the night away. With the XV500, you have everything you need to entertain your friends and family.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Sounding Party Speaker
on February 1, 2024
Posted by: Beuge
Inside the box for the Sony XV500 you’ll find the speaker itself, a detachable 5ft power cord, and some documentation.
Looking around the outside of the speaker you’ll find the main control panel on top, two built-in handles on the front, and a sealed hatch on the back covering additional controls and I/O ports. There are rubber feet in two places (on the bottom and one side) allowing the speaker to be used either upright or on its side.
Construction-wise, the bulk of the main body is a dark charcoal plastic while the front speaker grill is metal. The control panel features a large physical power button while the rest of the controls are capacitive. Dimensionally, the speaker stands 22” tall with an approximate 10.5” X 11.5” footprint and weighs 24.4lbs.
Inside the rear panel, you’ll find two 6.35mm jacks that can be used for microphones or instruments, as well as volume levels for those jacks. There is also a 3.5mm input and a USB-A port that can be used for playback from a USB flash drive as well as charging a mobile device (when the speaker is powered on). Additionally, you’ll find the C7 port for charging the speaker here.
Once paired to the device of your choice, the upper control panel offers basic control of the device, such as Play/Pause, Next, Last, Volume Up/Down and changing the input source. Additionally, the colored LED lights, concealed in the handles, as well as the Bass Boost can be enabled or disabled here.
Regarding performance, the sound quality is excellent, offering crisp highs, thumping lows, and more than enough volume for the patio at your next pool party. Battery life is advertised at 25hrs, which is possible in my testing. Note that, enabling the lights and using higher volumes will reduce this.
The speaker does offer “Party Connect” so that you can use multiple speakers at the same time. Unfortunately, this is a Sony-specific feature and I didn’t have any other Sony Bluetooth speakers to test this with.
A couple of critiques: To fully access all of the speaker’s features requires the installation of 2(!) apps on your device: The ‘Sony Music Center’ app and the ‘Fiestable’ app. These apps aren’t required for basic operation, but they are the only way to access things like different light modes or change things like power settings.
Also, there is no visual battery life indicator on the speaker nor is the battery life visible via the BlueTooth connection. You must either press the Battery button under the rear hatch (speaker verbally announces the approximate battery life) or install the ‘Sony Music Center’ app on your phone.
All in all, the Sony XV500 is a great sounding party speaker that offers excellent sound and battery life and plenty of connectivity.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ridge is a minimalist, RFID blocking wallet. The main cardholder uses elastic to expand to hold up to 12 IDs and credit cards. The typical leather bifold gets packed with faded receipts and unnecessary cards, resembling something more like a suitcase than a wallet. The Ridge is minimalist without being limiting. It’s about carrying less but always having what you need.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Functional Minimalist Wallet
on November 23, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Inside the box for the Ridge Wallet you’ll find the wallet (fully assembled), a Torx head screwdriver, extra Torx head screws, and a 3” x 2” ‘Ridge’ sticker.
The wallet itself is very minimalist. It measures 3.75” x 2.125” (the same size as most IDs or credit cards), weighs just 2oz, and is a sandwich construction of a metal outer plate (.02” thick), plastic inner body (.09” thick), expandable storage space, plastic inner body, metal outer plate, all held together with a closed-loop elastic strap. The assembled package is very rigid with zero flex. The back elastic cash strap is a closed loop and is simply pinned under the back metal plate. Seemingly, the cash strap could be swapped for the money clip, if one desired, based on the grooves cut into the plastic inner body plate.
Using the Ridge wallet is as simple as sliding your cards in from the one long edge and your folded cash under the cash strap. The receiving edge of the wallet features a bevel making it very easy to insert the cards. Cards can then be pushed back out en masse using the notch on the opposite long edge.
Now, to be completely honest; I am a long-time folding-leather-wallet-in-the-back-pocket kind of person. And that has served me well: I know where things are in my pockets and where things are in my wallet and can get to them quickly and easily. Moving to the Ridge has forced me to adjust long standing behaviors. For instance, the Ridge Wallet really should be kept in a front pocket, which, for me, means it sharing space with either my keys in one or my phone in the other. Additionally, there is no good way to store other items: Receipts, business cards, etc. So, in a lot of ways, I am still learning and adjusting to this minimalist approach and trying to decide if its right for me.
At the end of the day, the Ridge Wallet is attractive, well built and performs its job as advertised. If I have any real, significant complaint, it's the price. There are no electronics, no motors, no moving parts, no precious metals…just 4 thin plates of common materials (aluminum and plastic) made in China. And for the over-inflated price-point alone, I am deducting a star from my rating.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Ideal for clearing snow from sidewalks, driveways, and patios, this Greenworks 80V single-stage snow blower is the tool to have when the snow hits. This single-stage snow blower is powered by an 80-volt max Li-ion battery that provides easy and convenient cordless operation. With the 180° rotating chute, you can throw snow up to 20’ in the desired direction. For snow removal at night, this blower features dual LEDs to increase visibility, and its 7" rear wheels make it easy to maneuver for clearing any time of day. When it comes to helping a neighbor clear their driveway or just stowing it for the warmer months, its easy-fold system allows it to easily be stored or transported. Get equipped this winter with the Greenworks Pro 80-Volt snow blower and spend less time shoveling snow and more time enjoying a warm fire. 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 730 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 TRUBRUSHLESS motor technology, lithium-ion battery power, and ultra-fast control systems for power output equivalent to a 26cc gas-powered motor. Includes (2) 4.0 Ah batteries and a rapid charger. Battery is compatible with 75+ Greenworks 80V products. Life. Powered. By Greenworks.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Good Performance for the Right Application
on November 15, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Inside the box, you’ll find the handheld blower (disassembled), the snow blower (disassembled), 2 batteries, 1 charger, and a lot of documentation.
The charger has an all plastic exterior. It features a single LED indicator, a 6’ permanently attached 2-prong cord, and integrated wall-mounting slots underneath. The batteries weigh over 4 lbs each and measure 6.75” x 4.75” x 3.25”. The exterior of the batteries are also all plastic and feature a LED charge meter on the end with a membrane button to activate. The power connections are recessed safely into the body.
Looking next at the handheld blower, assembly is quick, straightforward, and toolless. The extension tube and concentrator nozzle both snap into place easily and securely. Construction is entirely plastic: The main body, the tubes, the fan, the internal motor housing and supports…everything. There is an anchor point up near the handle which I can only assume is meant for a strap, but that is sadly not included. Total weight, with the battery, is 10.2lb. The trigger of the handheld blower provides variable speed control, which is very nice. The “cruise control” lock is exceedingly stiff, on my unit at least.
As far as performance, the handheld blower really can move some air. Its rated 730CFM is more than many other battery-powered handheld blowers and actually exceeds the performance of many consumer grade gas-powered blowers. I cleared a low lying part of my driveway and it was able to rip up chunks of matted down detritus leaving a nice, clean surface. Battery life is going to depend on how much you use the ‘Turbo’ mode. I was able to squeeze about 20 minutes out of a charge before the unit would not start up any longer. So, don’t expect to take it to a job site and have it last all day. One other thing; there were a couple of times where, when I would go to engage ‘Turbo’ that the blower would cut off. I’m still trying to understand if this was me doing something wrong or if something is wrong with my unit.
Finally, the snow blower. Assembly is again quick and toolless. The handlebar comes together easily and feels very secure. Then the chute deflector snaps into place and the chute adjustment rod slides into place like a key. Construction is a mix of plastic and metal; The handlebar is metal, while the main body and deflector chute are plastic. Strikingly, the impeller is plastic, which is a bit worrisome.
Activating the snow blower requires 2 hands: 1 to depress a safety button and 1 to pull down on the ‘bail switch’ (bar at the top of the handlebar). The headlights are always on when the unit is running; there is no separate switch for them. Dry operation volume level is pretty quiet compared to gas-powered units. But, with that said, I can’t really speak to its actual ability to move snow or its battery life as its only early November here. It should have no problem moving a powdery snow (10” or less, based on the User Manual), but with that plastic impeller I mentioned earlier, I would be very cautious to not clip a chuck of ice; the kind you find at the bottom of a driveway after the plow trucks have come through and buried you in.
All in all, the Greenworks handheld blower and snow blower work find and have their place. I can see both of these units working well for folks living in a suburban neighborhood with limited acreage. But, with the plastic construction and limited battery life, calling them “Pro” might be a bit much.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet Pixel 8. The helpful phone engineered by Google, with an amazing camera, powerful security, and an all-day battery. [1] With Google AI, you can do more, even faster – like fix photos, screen calls, and get answers. [2] And Pixel 8 has personal safety features for added peace of mind. [3]
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Best Pixel Yet
on October 18, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Unboxing the Pixel 8 you will find the phone, a 38” USB-C to USB-C cord, a USB-A to USB-C adapter, a SIM pin, and some documentation.
Looking at the phone itself, the frame is metal and finished in matte black and features softer, rounder corners than both the Pixel 7 and 6 before it. The front and back of the device are both Gorilla Glass Victus 2, making it very durable. The front is mostly flat which should make fitting glass screen protectors fairly easy. At the top, just between the screen and the frame, is an ultra-narrow ear slit and just below that is a cutout for the single front-facing shooter.
The back of the Pixel 8 features a satin finish which is very good at hiding fingerprints. On the back you’ll also find the distinctive camera bar. Like the Pixel 7 before it, the camera bar is all metal that extends from the main body frame with cut-outs for the dual cameras and flash (as compared to the 6’s all glass camera bar). On the bottom, flanking the USB-C port, are 2 downward firing speakers. The right side features the power button and volume rocker while the left side is home to the single nano SIM tray.
The overall design is both attractive and functional. Being the smallest of this generation of Pixel devices measuring only 5.93” tall, the phone fits well in the hand. The power and volume rockers are placed well and the camera bar keeps the phone from rocking when set down on its back. Construction seems top notch with excellent fit and finish and no noticeable flex in the body.
Once powered on, you’re greeted by the beautiful 6.2 inch OLED display. The 2400x1080 resolution offers super crisp images with no perceptible pixels. The 120Hz refresh rate delivers ultra smooth scrolling and gaming. Colors are rich and vibrant and blacks are deep and dark. The screen offers excellent brightness at 2000 nits, making it very viewable, even in broad daylight.
The Pixel 8’s speakers have been satisfactory. Playing games or watching videos, the Pixel employs the ear slit as well as the lower downward firing speakers to give a stereo effect. The configuration offers plenty of volume and clarity. Like other phones setup like this, the lower speakers do tend to get covered by your hand when holding the phone in a landscape orientation. Calls on both the handset and speakerphone have plenty of volume and clarity.
Battery life has been very good. Typical usage for me includes calls, texts, emails, web surfing, media playback, activity tracking, some casual gaming, and managing smart home items (i.e. robot vacuum, video doorbell, smart outlets, and Google Nest security camera). Through all of this, the battery has lasted a full day with some left over without need for midday top-ups. Wired and wireless charging rates are fast, with a max of 30w depending on your source. Also, the phone allows for battery sharing, which is a nice touch.

As with past Pixel phones, the cameras are very, very good. The Camera app launches very quickly with a double-tap of the Power button. There are plenty of modes available including the familiar Portrait and Night Sight but the photo tools have been beefed up to include features such as ‘Best Take’ and ‘Magic Editor’. When combining the strong hardware with Google’s software tools, photos are regularly stunning with great detail and vivid color. Especially surprising to me was the macro ability which allows for incredibly tight focus with excellent detail.

Covering a few other features: Bluetooth has been updated to version 5.3 which should result in better battery life when using compatible devices. NFC for contactless payments has been quick and effective. The in-display fingerprint reader has worked quickly and reliably. Its placed well on the front so your thumb can reach it naturally.

A couple of other random observations: There is no headphone port, no expandable memory, and video over the USB-C (DisplayPort) is not officially supported (there are articles available that suggest the hardware is capable of this but that its currently disabled in the OS).

The Pixel 8 ships with Google’s latest and greatest Android 14. Boot times have been super fast. Voice recognition and transcription has been incredibly accurate. The new Share menu and Lock Screen customization are nice upgrades. 3-button navigation is, thankfully, still available (for those of us old fogeys who don’t like gestures).
One final observation: Google has promised 7 years of OS updates for the Pixel 8, which, if it happens, would be an industry first and best policy that could make the phone very long lived. But, to be honest, that’s a big “if” when taking into account Google’s history of program cancellations, such as the discontinuation of the ‘Pixel Pass’ program. Only time will tell.

All things considered, the Pixel 8 is the best Pixel ever made, improving incrementally over its predecessors in exactly all the ways it needed to. Its both a worthy upgrade to existing Pixel users or an excellent jumping off point if you’re looking to switch from another brand.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Push your gears to the red line with TH8S Shifter Add-On: the sim racing shifter for next-level racing immersion sensations. TH8S Shifter Add-On features an "H"-pattern shift plate with 7 gears plus reverse gear, with direct gear shifting, allowing it to adapt to all types of games and vehicles with manual shifting (rally, trucks, GT, NASCAR). The 1.6"/4 cm metal shift lever and its ergonomic "sport-style" shift knob ensure responsiveness and precision for clean gear shifting. The frictionless H.E.A.R.T technology derived from Thrustmaster's high-end shifter, TH8A Shifter Add-On, ensures the same extreme level of precision throughout the product's lifespan. TH8S Shifter Add-On is compatible on PC with all racing wheels, and compatible on PS5, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S with Thrustmaster Force Feedback racing wheel bases.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Addition for Racing
on September 29, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Unboxing the Thrustmaster TH8S, you'll find the shifter, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a MINI DIN to MINI DIN cable, and some documentation. There's no physical manual, only online. The shifter includes 7 gears, plus the reverse gear, which should be plenty for most cases. On the side of the unit, there's a flathead screw that is used for shifting resistance adjustment. On the back, there's a MINI DIN port for console use and a USB-C port for both console and PC use.
For its price, the TH8S is very well-built. The unit feels hefty and durable, with fairly high-quality plastic. The only visible metal part of the shifter is the shaft. The clamp screw is unfortunately made of plastic, unlike the metal screw for my T150 wheel, though it shouldn't be a huge problem for longevity since the shifter isn't as heavy as a full wheel unit. The clamp keeps the unit very stable and allows almost no wobble when using the shifter. Shifting through gears feels very solid at the default resistance level, but can be adjusted to better suit your needs.
The TH8S connects to consoles either directly via the USB-A to USB-C cable or via the MINI DIN to MINI DIN cable connected to a Thrustmaster wheel, which then connects to the console through a single cable. However, the shifter only works on PC via the USB-A to USB-C cable, meaning you are required to give up an extra USB slot to use the shifter along with your wheel.
(Tested on PC) The shifter is fairly easy to set up on PC. Before plugging it in, you have to download the drivers from the Thrustmaster website and install them, then restart your computer and plug the shifter in (order is important, otherwise you have to restart the process). After driver installation, the shifter was detected and worked without issue in both tested games: Forza Horizon 5 and BeamNG. In game, the shifter is quick and responsive with no noticeable latency.
Overall, the Thrustmaster TH8S is a solid and reliable device for its price and can serve as a great addition to any entry-level racing sim setup.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get loud on the go. Motif II A.N.C. offers huge sound, in a tiny package. Its sleek charging case packs a punch by powering your headphones with 30 hours playtime to be unleashed whenever you want. With active noise cancellation, block out those crowded train rides and rowdy streets to dive into your music without distraction.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great Looking and Performing Earbuds
on September 22, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Included in the box are the earbuds themselves, the charging case, a total of 3 sets of eartips (S, M, L), a 7.5” USB-A-to-USB-C cable, and some documentation.
First impressions, the earbuds as well as the charging case are exceedingly attractive. The case is wrapped in a convincing faux black letter that features the white Marshall script prominently on the front. The earbuds have a black texture with a white “M” script on the main body and a knurled metal stem with brass colored cap that houses a microphone.
Once the earbuds and case are charged, either wirelessly or via USB-C, pairing is quick and easy. Sound quality is excellent, with great bass, crisp treble, and plenty of volume. Calls have been comparable to being on the handheld for both parties. Battery life on the earbuds themselves has lasted approximately 6 hours with the active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled. The earbuds can be simultaneously connected to multiple devices. Additionally, the case connects to your device, providing the battery status.
The on-bud controls are touch-sensitive and react quickly. The default control configuration is easy to recall, but can be customized via the Marshall app if you so desire. The app also includes controls for ANC, the EQ, and other functionality like “Interaction Sounds”.
I was initially worried about the comfort of the knurled stem sitting against my ear, but for me so far, the earbuds have proven comfortable in my ear for long periods and have been very secure through activities such as exercising and yard work.
The earbuds are rated IPX5 and the case is IPX4. So, the earbuds are generally sweat-proof and rain-proof but not rated for submersion.
Overall, the Marshall Motiff II ANC Earbuds are a premium earbud that really performs wells and looks good doing it. You can’t go wrong with these.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender Pro with BlendSense Technology allows you to toss in any ingredients, press the dial, and watch them transform into a perfectly smooth output. Whether blending or chopping in the 72 oz. full-size pitcher, Ninja Detect makes live decisions on the amount of power, speed, and time needed to get you to a perfectly smooth outcome every time. The blender that automatically adjusts speed & time for perfectly smooth results.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great Performer
on September 1, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Unboxing Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender Pro + Single Serve you’ll find the blender base, a 72oz pitcher with locking lid, the stacked blade assembly, two single-serve 24oz cups, two screw-on spout lids for the single-serve cups, and the blade assembly for the single-serve cups.
Most everything feels solid and well built. Much of the construction is plastic, including the 72oz pitcher. The physical buttons along the top edge of the blender body as well as the large selector dial have a very positive feel to them. The single-serve 24oz cups are thick-walled. The stainless steel blades are razor sharp. And the permanently attached power cord measures 32”.
Assembly is logical and easy to follow with the included instructions. Lids and hatches close tightly and vessels engage in the base smoothly and positively.
Once a vessel is mounted to the base, you have many options, including Manual, Mince, Small Chop, Large Chop, Pulse or BlendSense. The BlendSense mode will use the first 15 seconds of blending to try to determine what is in the vessel and adjust the speed, power, and time accordingly.
In my testing, BlendSense can produce varying results. For instance, I used it to make multiple margaritas in a row. Using the same amount of ice each time, the blender would sometimes produce very smooth results with no lingering icy chunks then other times it would overestimate the time necessary and would leave the ice more watery/slushy than desired.
The only other considerations to mention: The 72oz pitcher or 24oz cup being plastic limits use with hot liquids. When the lid to the 72oz pitcher is not on the pitcher, the handle locks in an upward position, making storage awkward. Also, the spout lids for the single-serve cups work fine but they just don’t have the same quality feel to them.
The Ninja Detect Duo Power Blender Pro + Single Serve is a solidly built, versatile, premium blender that is easy to operate and performs very well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Accelerate your workflow with the powerful performance of the Crucial X9 Pro Portable SSD. With read and write speeds up to 1,050MB/s and 2TB of capacity, the X9 Pro has space for thousands of photos, files, and videos along with the speed you need to organize, curate, edit and retouch your portfolio quickly, supporting whatever you do in Adobe Lightroom. The Crucial X9 Pro is plug-and-play ready with a USB-C connection, and works with Windows, Mac, Android, and more. Featuring Micron TLC NAND and water and dust resistance (IP55), the Crucial X9 Pro is designed for durability and style in the studio, in the field, or wherever you roam.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Diminutive Performer
on August 18, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Unboxing the Crucial X9 Pro, you'll find the SSD, a 9” USB-C to USB-C cord, and some documentation. The drive itself is quite diminutive, measuring only 2.5” x 1.9375” x .375”. The upper body of the SSD, including the sides and top are metal, possibly aluminum, while the underside has a rubberized finish. In one corner there is a convenient spot to connect a key ring.
The drive is NVMe based and comes pre-formatted in exFAT with a single partition. It is largely free of any bloat, with only a few shortcuts loaded that link to things like the website to register the SSD with Crucial or some free offers.
I tested the drive on a Windows 10 machine, connected via USB-3 and using CrystalDiskMark. With this setup, I achieved read/write speeds of 1015 MB/s / 938 MB/s. The results were consistent across multiple runs. For comparison, a traditional USB-3 flash drive yielded speeds of only 156 MB/s / 80 MB/s…so the X9 Pro is a speedy performer.
The X9 can also be connected to mobile devices. I tested it with a Pixel 6. While it did work, the Pixel did require me to reformat the drive before it would connect. It still formatted it with exFAT, so I’m not exactly sure why it needed to reformat.
A couple of other observations. There is a status LED hidden inside the keyring loop, which is nice. Also, the X9 Pro is rated for IP55 water and dust resistance; so its safe getting splashed, but not submerged.
All in all, the Crucial X9 Pro SSD is a conveniently sized drive that performs well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Pair the power of your next-gen system with the performance of a next-gen wireless pro controller. Officially licensed by PlayStation, the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro is armed with Razer HyperSpeed Wireless and a full set of competitive features to deliver high-performance, low-latency gaming on PS5 consoles and PC.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Too Many Compromises for the Price
on August 4, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Unboxing the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, you'll find the controller itself, 4.5ft USB-A to USB-C cable, a wireless USB-A adapter, an extended joystick cap, a short convex joystick cap, and a manual. The controller charges via a USB-C port at the top and also includes a 3.5m headphone/mic jack at the bottom, as well as switches on the rear to choose between PS5 or PC mode, and wired or wireless mode.
The controller includes a total of 6 remappable buttons: two on the top of the controller and four on the back. All of them feel nice and are pretty easy to access, though it may be tougher for some people to reach the buttons on the very top. The shape buttons, front triggers, and top remappable buttons feel like computer mouse switches, rather than the traditional mesh-style controller buttons. They feel fine to play with, but I would rather have them be the traditional style. The rear triggers include locks to reduce the actuation point for games like first-person shooters; when locked, the triggers also have the mouse switch feel to them. The controller in general feels much more like an Xbox controller than a PlayStation controller: the left joystick and D-pad are switched, the back triggers are wedges rather than the wing-style triggers on PlayStation controllers, and the controller just has more of a general Xbox controller shape and feel.
Connecting the controller is quick and simple (on PC). The controller doesn't allow for a direct Bluetooth connection; instead, you have to connect the controller to your PS5/PC via the included USB cable or USB-C wireless adapter. This is unfortunate for people who may not have many free USB slots on their devices to spare (including me). There's no noticeable delay when using the controller in wired or wireless mode in-game.
Customizing the remappable buttons as well as the controller RGB requires that you download a mobile app. All remappable buttons can be mapped to each button-style input from the controller: shape buttons, D-pad, triggers, and joystick presses. There's also a mapping option for a joystick "clutch"; when pressed, the joystick of choice (or both joysticks) will move at a fraction of the actual input, allowing for much more control for precise movements, such as slow camera movements or moving a character slowly. The controller RGB is limited to only a few lighting options due to there only being two light bars on the controller. The headphone jack works in both wired and wireless mode, with no noticeable audio delay in wireless mode.
All games were tested on PC. I had absolutely no problems playing games like Rocket League, Minecraft, Roblox, and Rainbow Six Siege with the controller. In some cases, PC games accepted input from the controller in PS5 mode (namely Rocket League), however, most games will require the controller to be in PC mode. Battery life yielded a just alright 5-8 hour lifespan with the RGB enabled.
On the downside, personally, the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro feels cheaply made. The materials used don't have a very premium feel, and the controller feels light for its size. The controller's main plastic shell feels subpar and the rubber on the joystick caps feels like it could easily wear off over time. I'm not entirely sure, but it seems as if the shape buttons have each shape printed on top of the button, rather than having the shapes injected into the button itself, which may lead to the shapes fading over time.
On the plus side, the joysticks are made from metal, meaning you don't have to worry about them being shaved down over time from the sides of the joystick holes. The joystick caps connect to the joysticks themselves via strong magnets, meaning you won't have to worry about them falling or slipping out in the middle of a game.
Overall, at the controller's price point, considering the inconvenience it brings (no standard BT support, forced to download Razer app, very limited customizability, no rumble), as well as the fact that you have to be okay with switching to an Xbox style controller if you're planning on using this with your PS5, it's incredibly hard to recommend, even if you had the money to spend and preferred using an Xbox-style controller for your PS5 or PC.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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The XPS 15 laptop is the perfect balance of power and portability with an unrivaled immersive visual and sound experience. Whether you are streaming, editing photos or creating your next masterpiece, the XPS 15 has the power to move your ideas into reality.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Very good all around laptop
on August 2, 2023
Posted by: Beuge
Unboxing the Dell XPS 15, you'll find the laptop itself, a 130w charger, a USB-C to USB 3.0 and HDMI 2.0 adapter, and some documentation. The USB-C splitter is very useful as the laptop itself only includes 3 USB-C ports (two of which are Thunderbolt), an SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The XPS 15 has a premium feeling build quality and a sleek design. The screen hinge feels very solid with very little wobble, though the hinge doesn't go back very far even for a non-2-in-1 laptop, so it's important to be mindful of that. Opening up the laptop, the screen itself fills up as much space as it can as the bezels are very thin. The keyboard is made of smooth and premium feeling plastic. The keys themselves have almost no wobble and feel nice to type on. The touchpad feels very nice and is very large, with the downside that it may get in the way when trying to type.

The laptop includes a fingerprint and face scanner for Windows Hello integration, both of which work as intended. The onboard speakers are decent. When listening to music, I noticed a slight warble sound at very specific frequencies, as well as very complex songs with lots of different elements sounding somewhat mashed together. However, the speakers work very well when watching TV or movies as they're clear and offer just enough bass to make the experience enjoyable, as well as plenty of volume. The laptop's camera is mediocre, having a very fuzzy look even for 720p.

The laptop's performance is very promising. The screen offers plenty of brightness, vibrant colors, and good contrast, allowing for images to have a crisp and pleasing look. Furthermore, the screen resolution is 1920x1200 (16:10) leaving more room for multitasking. App loading is quick and multitasking is very possible. The laptop is very capable of light gaming, with promising performance in games like Minecraft (~150-200fps at fancy graphics), Roblox (~60-120fps at max graphics, depending on the game), and Rocket League (~100fps at max graphics). Despite the screen's satisfactory performance in general usage, however, it's not made for gaming, as it's slightly choppy and there seems to be a very slight ghosting effect. If you're not a hardcore gamer, you shouldn't worry about noticing or being annoyed by this as it still works great. Even while gaming, the fans are very quiet and won't be distracting. Battery life during general usage, such as working on word documents or streaming TV was very acceptable, allowing for about 8-12 hours of general activities on a single charge. Gaming will bring that number down to around 3-6 hours depending on how demanding the game is.

One thing to keep in mind is installing updates and drivers upon receiving the laptop. I had several issues such as Windows Update AND Dell SupportAssist failing to install certain updates. Since I got the laptop, I've had graphics driver issues where every few hours the screen would begin glitching and flickering for a couple of minutes and would return to normal. I tried resetting the laptop to a factory image, but the issues still returned. This could be a factory Windows system image issue, or it could be a user error. Still, something to keep in mind.

Excluding the speaker and camera performance and (possible) update and driver issues, the Dell XPS 15 works great and is very capable. Overall, this laptop will serve you very well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Beuge's Answers
 
Dell Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo enhance daily performance and productivity with this keyboard mouse combo that fits into virtually any workspace. Easily switch between 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth connectivity.Multi-OS compatibility. Tested and certified to work seamlessly with Dell systems.Programmable shortcut keys/buttons with customizable keyboard tilt.
 

Texture or feel of the keys? Are they hard plastic or do they have a somewhat spongy or soft rubbery feel to them? I type on my fingernail tips is why I ask.

The keys are a hard plastic with a matte finish.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Beuge
 
Dell Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo enhance daily performance and productivity with this keyboard mouse combo that fits into virtually any workspace. Easily switch between 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth connectivity.Multi-OS compatibility. Tested and certified to work seamlessly with Dell systems.Programmable shortcut keys/buttons with customizable keyboard tilt.
 

Is the keyboard backlit?

No, the keyboard is not backlit.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Beuge
 
Dell Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo enhance daily performance and productivity with this keyboard mouse combo that fits into virtually any workspace. Easily switch between 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth connectivity.Multi-OS compatibility. Tested and certified to work seamlessly with Dell systems.Programmable shortcut keys/buttons with customizable keyboard tilt.
 

is this keyboard and mouse compatible with an HP laptop?

Yes, the combo is compatible with an HP laptop; both with the included dongle as well as using Bluetooth.

I am currently using it simultaneously with an Elitebook (dongle) and an Envy X360 (Bluetooth) and all is working well.
3 years, 2 months ago
by
Beuge