BeingHonest's stats
- Review count234
- Helpfulness votes431
- First reviewFebruary 18, 2014
- Last reviewMay 8, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.1
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentJune 25, 2016
- Last review commentJune 25, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count9
- Helpfulness votes9
- First answerAugust 27, 2015
- Last answerApril 9, 2019
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Feel the action with 4K HDR visuals, ultra-fast 144Hz refresh rate, and Full Array Local Dimming contrast that makes game worlds come alive with detail and vibrance. Built for extraordinary gaming performance with support for Nvidia® G-SYNC® and HDMI 2.1 VRR compatibility, the INZONE™ M9 is your path to victory.
Customer Rating
5
Great features for price. Good HDR for gaming.
on September 8, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-HDR 600 nits
-KVM switch
-InZone Hub app
-Great for both console and PC gaming
-Display settings
-HDR 600 nits
-KVM switch
-InZone Hub app
-Great for both console and PC gaming
-Display settings
Con:
-The stand can’t rotate or turn the display
-Speakers are terrible
-No cables included
-Need to look up online manual for feature settings
-The stand can’t rotate or turn the display
-Speakers are terrible
-No cables included
-Need to look up online manual for feature settings
This is a great display, especially at this price range, with features usually found on much more expensive monitors. The colors are bright with accurate colors, maybe too bright and saturated for some. The HDR has a peak brightness of 600 nits, which is higher than most monitors under $1000 range, and actually gives a noticeable visual upgrade to games. You can pretty much adjust every aspect of the display with the menu or in the InZone Hub app. It also has a built-in KVM switch, which is handy. Not everything is great however. The speakers are terrible, worse than ones on cheaper displays. There’s also no cables included. The stand doesn’t allow the monitor to be rotated or turned sideways, and the cable management is not good. Still this is a great monitor to use for both PC and consoles.
The Hardware
Aesthetically this is a unique design, looking very much like the Playstation 5. The back has a subtle RGB strip, enough to add a bit of color but not enough to shine a wall. There’s a power button and joystick for the on screen menu. The joystick is a bit loose and sensitive but works well enough. There’s plenty of inputs, including a DP, 2 HDMI (2.1 VRR ready), a USB-C (doubles as another DP), 3 USB inputs, a USB-B downstream (KVM), and a headphone jack.
The built-in KVM is really nice to have. I had to check the online manual to find out which connection is assigned to a specific switch, but after that I haven't had any problems. From what I can tell, there wasn’t any lag using the passthrough, but my wireless mouse did sometimes stutter. For non competitive gaming, it should be okay.
The tripod style stand is very limited in articulation. It only allows for height adjustments of only a few inches and slight pivoting. It doesn’t turn or rotate at all. The cable management also isn’t very good with only a small channel to tread the while through. It can only manage a few cables and if the monitor is at the lowest height, it will put pressure on the connectors. Luckily the stand is easy to remove and a VESA mount can be used.
The speakers are just terrible. They sound small, tinny, and cheap. It’s better than nothing, but I expected better.
The Display
The display is amazing. Monitors with specs like these are going to be in the above $1000 range. Refresh rate and response time are both good. Colors are a little too saturated and runs on the blue side, but it’s easy to adjust. Local dimming in near black scenes will have some halo effects.
The HDR has a brightness of 600, (vs 400 for a typical PC monitor). For console gamers coming from a nice TV, it won’t be as bright, but it’s enough to make a difference while gaming. This is a nice monitor for both PC and console gaming.
Just about every setting can be adjusted to get it to look however you want. There’s also gaming settings such as crosshair, FPS counter, and timer built-in. While you can adjust the settings with the OSD, you can also use the InZone Hub desktop app to control your monitor. It has the same settings but easier to use.
Final Thought
This is a great monitor with great features suitable for both PC and console gaming. The display is beautiful and HDR is actually bright enough. Having a KVM with three USB ports is a big plus. The few big negatives would be the stand and the speakers. It’s also cheap of them to not include any cables at all. Still a great value given all the features packed in.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Brother - MFC-J1170DW Wireless Color All-in-One Refresh Subscription Eligible Inkjet Printer - Black
The Brother MFC-J1170DW is the perfect color inkjet all-in-one printer for your home office and small office needs. The MFC-J1170DW is easy to connect and operate along with being compact and economical. This printer’s multiple flexible connection options include a built-in wireless(2) interface for sharing with multiple users on your network, Wi-Fi Direct, Ethernet or connect locally to a single computer via a USB interface. This printer delivers robust features, business-centric functionality, high-quality output, two-sided (duplex) printing and fast inkjet print speeds – up to 17 ppm black and white and 16.5 ppm color.(3) Its generous 2.7” color touchscreen provides easy navigation and simple icons for accessing powerful features along with print-from and scan-to popular cloud services including Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive and more,(4) directly from the printer. Users enjoy reliable printing, copying, scanning and faxing plus wireless printing from a desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet.(2) Featuring the Brother Mobile Connect(5) App, a user-friendly interface that gives you the freedom to print and manage your printer from virtually anywhere. The MFC-J1170DW features the unique Brother Page Gauge(6) which estimates remaining ink and page levels, so you always know how much ink you have left and how many pages you can print.
Customer Rating
4
Fast document scans and prints for home office
on August 26, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Fast prints
-Texts are clean
-Multi page copy is fast
-Fast prints
-Texts are clean
-Multi page copy is fast
Con:
-Cartridges seems small
-Cartridges seems small
A solid printer for the home office with fast and clean prints, fast multi page copier, scanner, and fax (never used this feature). It has a good size touch screen for the three main functions along with maintenance and set ups. The print line quality is good, and the color accuracy can be close. Scanning and copying an image, however, resulted in muted and darker prints. The color cartridges are estimated to be able to print 200 pages each, but it does seem small.
Setting it up was straightforward. It had a bit of a snag trying to find the WiFi network and I had to manually set it up on the printer, but no issues beyond that. After setting up, I had to update the printer. Updating the printer requires a password which is a bit annoying. You can change the default password using the screen on the printer, but to change it again you have to use a browser and access the printer through its IP address. The USB and LAN ports are on the inside of the printer, which is different.
The printer can be linked to online storage accounts like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneNote for online printing. It can also be set up to print from the phone or the cloud using their app.
Documents overall look good. There’s a bit of a fuzz on the letters, but expected for an inkjet printer. Scanning and copying are fast with the top loader going through each page within seconds.
Pictures are a bit mixed. Printing from a file has mostly good color accuracy. When copying (scan and print) an image using plain paper and normal settings, the colors are less saturated with bright blues looking more like muted navy. However, using the best quality setting and premium paper will give more accurate colors but take much longer to print.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Basic bootup speeds won’t cut it — not at work, on the go, or in the game. But the Crucial P3 SSD is anything but basic. With NVMe performance that’s more than 6x faster than SATA2 and storage capacities up to 4TB3, the P3 leaves older storage technology in the dust. Get faster bootups, downloads and file transfers, and store all your files, photos, videos, apps, and games with room to spare with the quality and dependability you expect from Crucial.
Customer Rating
5
Fast. Good price point.
on August 24, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Fast Gen 3 drive
-Good price
-Fast Gen 3 drive
-Good price
Con:
-The P3 Plus Gen 4 ver is just slightly more expensive
-The P3 Plus Gen 4 ver is just slightly more expensive
Though a PCIe Gen 3, it’s a fast drive at a good price. It’s all black and has a clean label. The only point against it is that the P3 Plus, a Gen 4 drive, costs just slightly more and would be a better choice if you have a PCIe 4 slot or are planning on upgrading to one.
I didn’t have any issue installing and initializing the drive on my PC. There's a link on their website to download Acronis to clone the drive, but I ended up using a different cloning software. Using it as an internal drive wasn't an issue, but I did have an issue trying to use it with an external enclosure. This particular drive wasn’t recognized and gave me an error while using the enclosure, while other, faster drives I have worked fine. I’m willing to believe it’s an issue with the enclosure, but it’s something worth noting.
Performance wise, I have no complaints. It has a high transfer speed among Gen 3. Games loaded in an instant and had no issues. I rendered video to the drive with OBS and again no issues.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Frigidaire 10,000 BTU 3-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner keeps your home cool and comfortable when and where you need it. Enjoy more cooling flexibility with two different fan speeds plus dehumidifying Dry Mode to keep your room cool and comfortable while also removing excess moisture from the air.
Customer Rating
4
Decent cooling, but loud.
on August 23, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Easy to set up
-Dehumidify mode
-Easy to set up
-Dehumidify mode
Con:
-Loud
-Loud
I’ve never had a portable AC before so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but it’s at a reasonable price and does a decent job at cooling a small room. It is loud, much louder than expected. I would not be able to put this in my bedroom and sleep while it’s running. I’m assuming that this is just how portable AC’s are. I would likely only use it during really hot days or keep it as an emergency backup.
Set up
Setting up was straightforward. The window kit can be extended long enough to fit a 4’ window, however, the included foam pads are only 3’ long. How easy it is to install depends on the type of windows you have. If you have a modern window then it’s as easy as attaching the foam pads and extending the kit to fit. I have an older single pane window so I had to get a bit creative, but it was still easy. I didn’t screw the window kit permanently into my window frame so I can move it.
Setting up was straightforward. The window kit can be extended long enough to fit a 4’ window, however, the included foam pads are only 3’ long. How easy it is to install depends on the type of windows you have. If you have a modern window then it’s as easy as attaching the foam pads and extending the kit to fit. I have an older single pane window so I had to get a bit creative, but it was still easy. I didn’t screw the window kit permanently into my window frame so I can move it.
If you plan on using the Dry mode (dehumidifier mode), you’ll need to buy a hose to use for drainage.
Function
I put this in a 200 sq ft bedroom, and after setting it to 70, it cooled the room to about 75 after 40 minutes and it stayed there. Granted that the room isn’t as well insulated and it was still cool, I was still expecting it to be cooler than that. I didn’t use Dry mode so I can’t say how well that works. By default, the Ionizing feature is on but can be turned off by holding the Swing button on the panel for 2 seconds.
I put this in a 200 sq ft bedroom, and after setting it to 70, it cooled the room to about 75 after 40 minutes and it stayed there. Granted that the room isn’t as well insulated and it was still cool, I was still expecting it to be cooler than that. I didn’t use Dry mode so I can’t say how well that works. By default, the Ionizing feature is on but can be turned off by holding the Swing button on the panel for 2 seconds.
It’s somewhat loud. At its lowest settings, it’s said to be about as loud as a library. That is not the case for mine. With just the fan running at the lowest speed, it’s about as loud as a box fan. However, once it’s in cooling mode, it sounds like a combination of rattling and the buzz of a loud freezer.
The remote is fine, no real complaints. Sometimes it doesn’t register unless you’re a bit away from the unit.
Maintenance
There’s a bit of maintenance. There’s a filter that needs to be clean once the warning light comes on. It would also need to be drained before long storage. If using Dry mode, you’ll need a way to collect the drainage.
There’s a bit of maintenance. There’s a filter that needs to be clean once the warning light comes on. It would also need to be drained before long storage. If using Dry mode, you’ll need a way to collect the drainage.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer unlocks the ability to cook a complete, multi-textured meal in as little as 15 minutes, all in one pot. With 12-in-1 functionality and Ninja’s Rapid Cooking System, steam and air fry at the same time and create restaurant-quality meals from the comfort of your own home. With 6-qt. capacity, create thousands of recipes for a family of up to 4, all in one pot. Choose your base, your vegetables, and your protein to create an entire meal in one pot in as little as 15 minutes with the Speedi Meals function. Recreate your favorite meals, such as broccoli chicken alfredo meals, burrito bowls, Mediterranean bowls, and more. With 6-qt. capacity, fit up to 4 chicken breasts and 1 lb. of pasta to create a whole family meal in one pot. Choose from Speedi Meals, Steam & Crisp, Steam & Bake, Steam, or Proof in Rapid Cooker mode and unlock Air Fry, Bake/Roast, Air Broil, Dehydrate, Sear & Sauté, Slow Cook, and Sous Vide functions in Air Fry mode. Quickly create moisture with steam while caramelizing and crisping with air fry technology at the same time in one pot when in Rapid Cooker mode to get restaurant-worthy results. Cook fluffy rice, tender vegetables, and juicy chicken, all at the same time. Easily switch between Air Fry mode and Rapid Cooker mode to unlock endless possibilities. Cook your air fried favorites such as fries or chicken wings, or switch to cook an entire meal in as little as 15 minutes. Ninja’s Speedi Meal Builder unlocks thousands of customizable recipes with ingredients that are already in your fridge or pantry. Up to 75% less fat when using the air fry function vs. traditional deep frying. Tested against hand-cut, deep fried French fries. Nonstick pot and crisper tray are dishwasher-safe, making cleanup quick and easy.
Customer Rating
5
Quick and easy meals. Love it.
on August 17, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Fast crispy cooking
-Can cook meals at once
-Fast crispy cooking
-Can cook meals at once
Con:
-Lid hard to clean
-Lid hard to clean
I’ve owned a couple of Ninja air fryers and have always liked them. They cook evenly, quickly, and are more convenient to use. This one is no exception. This one can use steam to rapidly cook food and keep them moist on the inside. There’s two main cooking methods, Speedi and Air Fry. Speedi uses circulation of steam to cook. Add water or broth at the bottom and it’ll heat up till steaming and start to cook. Air Fry is what is expected, cooking with hot air with little to no oil.
Inside, the pot is big enough for large portions of food. The Crisper tray can be positioned at the bottom or closer to the heat. Both are non-stick and are easy to clean. Really the only drawback of these types of fryers is that the lid is hard to clean. The surface behind the heat coil will start to get greasy and there’s no easy way to clean it. I’ve only had it for a week and there’s already some build up.
Speedi Meals (Steam)
The Speedi settings use steam to rapidly cook while maintaining moisture. It can be used to cook the whole meal, with food such as pasta and vegetables on the bottom, and proteins on top. From what I’ve tried, it does a good job and is quick and easy. However it takes some experimenting to cook smaller servings.
The Speedi settings use steam to rapidly cook while maintaining moisture. It can be used to cook the whole meal, with food such as pasta and vegetables on the bottom, and proteins on top. From what I’ve tried, it does a good job and is quick and easy. However it takes some experimenting to cook smaller servings.
I would think that using steam would leave the food wet and soggy, but when I tried Steam and Crisp with salmon, the skin came out with a light crisp while the meat was evenly cooked and juicy.
There are settings just for steaming, one suited for baking pastries, and a Proof setting for bread making, though I didn’t try those.
Air Fry and Bake
The air fry settings cook fast and the results are crispy. Chicken strips are crunchy, and salmon has a nice crisp to the skin. Broiling will give a nice seering on top, but can overcook easily. Baking cuts the time in half compared to an oven but may not give the same result as slow roasting in an oven.
The air fry settings cook fast and the results are crispy. Chicken strips are crunchy, and salmon has a nice crisp to the skin. Broiling will give a nice seering on top, but can overcook easily. Baking cuts the time in half compared to an oven but may not give the same result as slow roasting in an oven.
There’s a setting for saute, which is just like using a pan. There’s also one for slow cooking, dehydrating, and sous vi, but I have no experience with those.
Final Thought
Everyone should have an air fryer. I like these types of air fryers because they are versatile and easy to use. It’s big enough to cook large servings and cleaning is easy, with the exception of the inside of the lid area behind the heat coil. The food cooks quickly and evenly. The settings that use steam keeps the food tender and moist, and the air fry settings has food coming out nice and crispy.
Everyone should have an air fryer. I like these types of air fryers because they are versatile and easy to use. It’s big enough to cook large servings and cleaning is easy, with the exception of the inside of the lid area behind the heat coil. The food cooks quickly and evenly. The settings that use steam keeps the food tender and moist, and the air fry settings has food coming out nice and crispy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Inspired by the look and feel of the PS DualSense wireless controller, the Backbone One PlayStation Edition transforms your iPhone into the ultimate gaming console. Snap in your phone and play any game or service that supports controllers, including Apple Arcade, GeForce NOW or even stream from PlayStation with PS Remote Play or PC. The Backbone app organizes your content library and game streaming services into an integrated user experience. Uncover a new world of premium gaming in seconds.
Customer Rating
4
Works great! Can't be used with any phone cases
on August 15, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Good for Playstation remote play
-Good for Playstation remote play
Con:
-Won’t work with phone cases
-Hard to remove phones
-Won’t work with phone cases
-Hard to remove phones
I use this exclusively for Playstation Remote Play and having the same buttons as a Duelshock controller is a plus. The controller feels nice and solid, and has a good weight to it. The buttons feel like a clicky version of the PS Vita. The triggers feel a bit weaker with little resistance and a hard stop. The analog is on the small side, but feels fine during gameplay. It slides open big enough for the larger model of iPhone to easily fit. It will not fit a phone with a case. I have a very slim case and was hoping I wouldn’t have to remove it each time, but it still won’t fit. Removing the phone is also somewhat tricky as you have to slide and hold the controller open while trying to pull the phone out avoiding damaging the connector. There’s a USB C port to allow the phone to be charged while in use and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
There is an app required on initial setup, but it doesn’t have to be running to use the controller, at least not for the Remote Play app. There’s a button that brings up the app and a paid plan, but I totally ignored those.
For Remote Play, the buttons were responsive and it feels like playing on a first party handheld (Vita and Switch). Unfortunately there isn't a button dedicated for the PS button or the touchpad so you’ll still have to use the screen for those. Biggest drawback is that you do have to remove the phone from its case to use it and removing the phone from the controller is a bit tricky. Overall it works well, feels pretty good in hand, and I like the matching Playstation scheme. I’ll be using Remote Play more because of this.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Sharpen your senses and prepare for your match. Our INZONE H9 headset immerses you in the zone with 360 Spatial Sound for Gaming and noise cancelling for supercharged hearing and super sharp reflexes. Take performance beyond your best, detecting enemies before they see you.
Customer Rating
4
Sounds great! Mic is just okay.
on August 12, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Sounds great
-Very comfortable
-Simultaneous connection
-Sounds great
-Very comfortable
-Simultaneous connection
Con:
-Mic
-Battery
-Bulky
-Mic
-Battery
-Bulky
The Build
First impression was that these seemed loose and flimsy, but after wearing them, they are nice and light, and flexible. The buttons are distinctly placed so it’s easy to tell what you’re pressing. The mic is flexible and auto mutes when rotated up. It lacks a wired connection, but can connect to bluetooth simultaneously.
First impression was that these seemed loose and flimsy, but after wearing them, they are nice and light, and flexible. The buttons are distinctly placed so it’s easy to tell what you’re pressing. The mic is flexible and auto mutes when rotated up. It lacks a wired connection, but can connect to bluetooth simultaneously.
Comfort
These are very light and very comfortable. The clamping force is low but doesn’t feel too loose. The earpieces tilt and rotate, conforming and forming a nice seal. The foams are soft, but can get warm after a while. Even though they’re light, they’re bulky and look a bit ridiculous.
These are very light and very comfortable. The clamping force is low but doesn’t feel too loose. The earpieces tilt and rotate, conforming and forming a nice seal. The foams are soft, but can get warm after a while. Even though they’re light, they’re bulky and look a bit ridiculous.
Sound, Noise Canceling, and Mic
These sound really good, with clear details and enough bass to emphasize booms and impacts. On the PS5, the audio is nice and balanced, determined by the system. The 3D Audio really adds to the immersion and the direction of the sound stands out. Be sure to set the audio to headphones and 3D Audio on.
These sound really good, with clear details and enough bass to emphasize booms and impacts. On the PS5, the audio is nice and balanced, determined by the system. The 3D Audio really adds to the immersion and the direction of the sound stands out. Be sure to set the audio to headphones and 3D Audio on.
On PC, there’s more options with the InZone app. BE SURE to set the audio out to the H9 GAME. You can adjust the EQ to really enhance the audio. You can also adjust the mic settings and how much you can hear yourself.
The noise canceling is middling. It will remove the low hums of the AC and fans, but anything beyond that, it doesn't do that good of a job removing the noise. Voices are slightly muffled, but are still clearly audible. There’s also a hiss that can be distracting when heard. The Ambient mode is good, boosting the sounds without making it sound artificial.
The mic isn’t as good as expected. In a call, people said it was clear enough to hear what’s being said, but sounded muffled and hollow. When recording, it did sound low and lacking fullness. It’s not bad, but below expectations.
Battery
The battery is claimed to last over 30 hours. That’s less than some other headsets I own, but it’s long enough for long sessions. Without the app, there’s not really a good way to know the battery level. The lights on the sides of the cups will light up if the battery is above 20% and flash yellow when low. There’s no sound indication.
The battery is claimed to last over 30 hours. That’s less than some other headsets I own, but it’s long enough for long sessions. Without the app, there’s not really a good way to know the battery level. The lights on the sides of the cups will light up if the battery is above 20% and flash yellow when low. There’s no sound indication.
Final Impression
I like the sounds these put out. On PS5 it’s easy and seamless to set up, and the 3D Audio is great. There’s more options on the PC, and the audio can be adjusted to your liking. The mic is clear enough for people to understand you, but it’s still muffled and hollow. Because I used these for both PS5 and PC, I like the audio and comfort of these enough to recommend them even though the mic isn’t that good.
I like the sounds these put out. On PS5 it’s easy and seamless to set up, and the 3D Audio is great. There’s more options on the PC, and the audio can be adjusted to your liking. The mic is clear enough for people to understand you, but it’s still muffled and hollow. Because I used these for both PS5 and PC, I like the audio and comfort of these enough to recommend them even though the mic isn’t that good.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The CORSAIR HS55 SURROUND Gaming Headset delivers essential all-day comfort and sound quality with memory foam leatherette ear pads and Dolby® Audio 7.1 surround sound on PC and Mac, without weighing you down thanks to lightweight construction. An omni-directional microphone picks up your voice loud and clear, and custom-tuned 50mm neodymium audio drivers offer great sound quality and range. A 3.5mm audio connector ensures wide compatibility with most devices, including PC, Mac, PS5 with Tempest 3D AudioTech support, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices. Powerful CORSAIR iCUE Software unlocks audio equalizer settings, multi-channel 7.1 surround sound, and more. Complete with on-ear volume control for convenient audio adjustments, you can press play on great audio with the HS55 SURROUND.
Customer Rating
3
Sounds good, but too tight for me
on August 8, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Great sound
-Immersive surround
-Nvidia broadcast in iCue
-Great sound
-Immersive surround
-Nvidia broadcast in iCue
Con:
-Headband feels narrow
-Tight clamping force
-Not glasses friendly
-Headband feels narrow
-Tight clamping force
-Not glasses friendly
Build:
These are very light and even though it’s plasticy, it feels rigid and sturdy. The band doesn’t flex very much, thus making it feel narrower and making the clamping force tighter. The foam cushion is soft with the leather material. The cups pivot and rotate making a good fit around the ears. The mic is soft flexible rubber and folds up to auto mute. The cable is long and flexible.
These are very light and even though it’s plasticy, it feels rigid and sturdy. The band doesn’t flex very much, thus making it feel narrower and making the clamping force tighter. The foam cushion is soft with the leather material. The cups pivot and rotate making a good fit around the ears. The mic is soft flexible rubber and folds up to auto mute. The cable is long and flexible.
Sound and Mic:
These sounded very good, and the surround really feels immersive. The surround mode does boost audio balance so the mids are louder, but it’s a good trade off for the spatial audio. In Cyberpunk 2077, it really sounds like people are walking around me, while cars drive past me, and the direction of distance sounds. In more intense games, I can hear the enemies moving around me and the sound effects are clear and boomy. The EQ can be adjusted in iCue, where you can also switch between stereo or surround.
These sounded very good, and the surround really feels immersive. The surround mode does boost audio balance so the mids are louder, but it’s a good trade off for the spatial audio. In Cyberpunk 2077, it really sounds like people are walking around me, while cars drive past me, and the direction of distance sounds. In more intense games, I can hear the enemies moving around me and the sound effects are clear and boomy. The EQ can be adjusted in iCue, where you can also switch between stereo or surround.
The mic is decently clear. It’s still a bit quiet and muffled, and not full sounding, but it’s clear enough for in game chat and Discord calls. The iCue can also support Nvidia Broadcast that can use RTX to eliminate background noises and it works really well. It also cancels out most breathing noises.
Comfort:
For me, this wasn’t very comfortable to wear. Even though it’s light, the rigid plastic makes the clamping force tight. It started to give me a headache. I own the cheaper HS45 and the premium Virtuoso XT, and those had less clamping and were more comfortable to wear. I’ve seen people say these are comfortable so your mile may vary. It’s also not very glass friendly since it’s squeezing puts a lot of pressure on the glasses. The foam cups are soft but do get hot after a short time.
For me, this wasn’t very comfortable to wear. Even though it’s light, the rigid plastic makes the clamping force tight. It started to give me a headache. I own the cheaper HS45 and the premium Virtuoso XT, and those had less clamping and were more comfortable to wear. I’ve seen people say these are comfortable so your mile may vary. It’s also not very glass friendly since it’s squeezing puts a lot of pressure on the glasses. The foam cups are soft but do get hot after a short time.
Final though:
These sounded great and the surround can be immersive. The mic is a bit quiet and lacking fullness, but it’s clear enough for chatting. The narrower headband and the clamping force made it uncomfortable for me. I didn’t have this issue with any other Corsair headsets I’ve owned. It’s bad enough for me to pass on this one. However there are plenty of positive reviews so it may just not be for me.
These sounded great and the surround can be immersive. The mic is a bit quiet and lacking fullness, but it’s clear enough for chatting. The narrower headband and the clamping force made it uncomfortable for me. I didn’t have this issue with any other Corsair headsets I’ve owned. It’s bad enough for me to pass on this one. However there are plenty of positive reviews so it may just not be for me.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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Show off that new powerful gaming PC and illuminate your room in the multi-hued ambience of ARGB as fiery FrostBlade fans hum in an endless high-speed harmony-giving constant cool to the Herculean hardware hidden away within. Powered by a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ processor and high-performance NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 3070 graphics, the Predator Orion 5000 delivers an awe-inspiring gaming experience that's second to none! Get ready for an unforgettable gaming experience that ignites the senses and takes your passion to new heights!
Customer Rating
4
Good. Cooling could be better. Loud fans.
on August 6, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-Performance
-RGB fans are bright
-Performance
-RGB fans are bright
Con:
-Cooling and airflow isn’t that good
-Limited fan control, no custom curves
-Loud fans
-Cooling and airflow isn’t that good
-Limited fan control, no custom curves
-Loud fans
The Components:
I’m somewhat of a PC part snob so take what you will. Are the parts high end? No. They work fine but you will be missing out on features such as digital audio or surround out, on board video out, and more USB ports.
-Motherboard is mATX with 5 USB ports, 1 USB C, Ethernet, and audio in/out and mic. It’s the bare minimum, but pretty much as expected from a pre-built. There’s only one M.2 slot, but there are extra fan headers. There are RGB throughout the board but they are all hot spots.
-CPU is the i7 12000f, so no integrated graphics or overclocking. The cooler looks like a bigger version of the stock Intel coolers.
-The GPU is dual fan 3070. Solid black back plate and on the bottom there’s a cut out of the Predator logo. The fans are quiet up to about 60%.
-The power supply is a non modular 800w one.
-The RGB fans are center lit and have a good diffuse to them. They can get loud at higher speeds.
-The case is big. It’s way too big for the components, but it does have a lot of room to work with. There’s room for 2 HDD and 2 SSD on the back. The front is glass so airflow is not that good. It does have 3 more USB and another USB C.
-The keyboard and mouse are also RGB and are passable. The lights are controlled by a separate app than the one for the motherboard and fans.
-CPU is the i7 12000f, so no integrated graphics or overclocking. The cooler looks like a bigger version of the stock Intel coolers.
-The GPU is dual fan 3070. Solid black back plate and on the bottom there’s a cut out of the Predator logo. The fans are quiet up to about 60%.
-The power supply is a non modular 800w one.
-The RGB fans are center lit and have a good diffuse to them. They can get loud at higher speeds.
-The case is big. It’s way too big for the components, but it does have a lot of room to work with. There’s room for 2 HDD and 2 SSD on the back. The front is glass so airflow is not that good. It does have 3 more USB and another USB C.
-The keyboard and mouse are also RGB and are passable. The lights are controlled by a separate app than the one for the motherboard and fans.
Cooling isn’t that good and loud fans:
The 12th gen CPU can get hot, and while playing a demanding game with all fans at max, the CPU temp can go into the 80’s and GPU in the high 70’s. Though it’s still within the safe limits, it’s still warmer than it should be. There’s a lot of issues that result in higher temps. One is the lack of airflow from the case. The front of the case is sealed off with just about an inch and half of intake around the side of the front panel, of which the top section is blocked by the front power panel. The second is the CPU cooler, which is like an oversized stock cooler. I’ve seen people saying that once they replaced it, the temps were much better. Third is that the fan control in Predator Sense is very limited, and there’s no custom fan curve. You only have the choice of Auto, Gaming (max), or “Custom.” Auto is relatively quiet, but will have high temps. Custom only lets you set a single linear speed for each fan and only range from 60% to 100%. You can’t set a fan curve in any way, not in Predator Sense, Bios, or even a third party application. The fans can get loud at higher speeds.
Overall Impression:
The gaming experience is good. Gaming at 1440p and high refresh rate wasn’t a problem. It will run hot so you’ll have to find the acceptable balance between temperature and noise. There’s a good range of RGB effects and the fans look nice. The fans will get loud starting at about 60%, especially the front intake fans. Changing out the fans and cooler should alleviate some of that. Still, having to manually select the fan setting and lack of custom fan curve is annoying. The case has room to add more drives and enough clearance to add a bigger CPU cooler.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The G5 gaming laptop powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPU combines gaming, entertainment, work and more! Its powerful 11th Gen Intel Processor allows you to effortlessly handle multiple tasks at the same time. It features a 3 screen display output, built-in SD card slot, and next-gen Wi-Fi 6 technology; with a tool for every task, this laptop provides great balance between gaming, entertainment, and work capabilities. Welcome to your new go-to laptop.
Customer Rating
4
Budget laptop with faults but can be upgraded.
on August 3, 2022
Posted by: BeingHonest
Pro:
-144Hz display
-Cooling design
-Expandable storage
-144Hz display
-Cooling design
-Expandable storage
Con:
-No fingerprint or windows hello
-Slow charge time
-Speakers
-Trackpad and buttons
-No fingerprint or windows hello
-Slow charge time
-Speakers
-Trackpad and buttons
Per its spec, this laptop performs as expected, though it’s not without its faults. The i5 is the older 11th gen, and it only has 8GB of ram. The 3050 ti can play light to medium games at 60+ fps, but can struggle on battery. While the build is average with good cooling, the speakers are not good and the trackpad doesn’t feel good to use. There’s also no biometric or Windows Hello. The battery life can last 1 to 2 hours depending on the demand, but is very slow to charge.
Build
The build is what one would expect from a budget laptop. It’s lighter than it looks and has a hollow feel to it, with the all glossy finish getting smudged easily. The display hinge is strong with minimal wobble, but can’t be open with one hand. On the sides, there’s three USB 3, one USB C, card reader, and separate mic and headphone jacks. On the back, there’s a mini display port, HDMI, ethernet, and the power port. The thick power cable coming out the back gets in the way as you move the laptop.
The build is what one would expect from a budget laptop. It’s lighter than it looks and has a hollow feel to it, with the all glossy finish getting smudged easily. The display hinge is strong with minimal wobble, but can’t be open with one hand. On the sides, there’s three USB 3, one USB C, card reader, and separate mic and headphone jacks. On the back, there’s a mini display port, HDMI, ethernet, and the power port. The thick power cable coming out the back gets in the way as you move the laptop.
Inside, there’s a full size RGB keyboard and trackpad with the left and right buttons. The keyboard is fine. The RGB is bright, but the colors can only be picked from 14 preset colors. The keys can also be set as Express Keys for macros. The trackpad, however, just doesn’t feel good to use. It doesn’t track as well as matted trackpads and the two buttons feel cheap and mushy. The display is surrounded by ¼ inch bezels on the sides and 1 ½ on the bottom.
The bottom has a removable battery, and the internal has extra slots for storage expansion. The bottom firing speakers are located towards the front.
Battery
With the RGB turned off, the battery will last about 2 hours with light tasks like web browsing or watching youtube. Moderate gaming will last maybe an hour at most. The charge time is very slow. It took at least 2 hours for a full recharge while the system was in sleep mode, longer if the system is in use.
With the RGB turned off, the battery will last about 2 hours with light tasks like web browsing or watching youtube. Moderate gaming will last maybe an hour at most. The charge time is very slow. It took at least 2 hours for a full recharge while the system was in sleep mode, longer if the system is in use.
Performance
The display looks good, with good colors and display angles. The speakers are not good, probably one of the worst I’ve heard on a laptop yet. It’s lacking both highs and lows, with the mids not that clear. It sounds hollow, like small speakers in a can.
The display looks good, with good colors and display angles. The speakers are not good, probably one of the worst I’ve heard on a laptop yet. It’s lacking both highs and lows, with the mids not that clear. It sounds hollow, like small speakers in a can.
Plugged in, gaming can be smooth, depending on the game. The 3050 ti can run older games at 100 fps without issues. On battery though, it couldn’t keep 30 fps, even an older game like Doom (2016). The big issue is the ram. 8 GB doesn’t give a lot of head room with Windows already eating almost half of that. CPU demanding games or content creation applications will not run well.
The cooling design does a good job of keeping most of the chassis from being hot, with the hottest spot towards the top right section. The internal temp for CPU and GPU will usually be around 80 degrees. The fan and power setting can be adjusted with the control center. At full power, the fans don't get too loud.
Worth it?
Keep in mind that this is still a budget gaming laptop so there are some compromises. The specs are comparable to other laptops in this range, and it performs as it should. The cooling is better and quieter than other laptops I’ve tested. It also has expandable storage. However, you can find laptops with either a newer CPU or 16 GB of ram for similar price. If you’re willing to upgrade the memory, then that would bring this laptop up a level.
Keep in mind that this is still a budget gaming laptop so there are some compromises. The specs are comparable to other laptops in this range, and it performs as it should. The cooling is better and quieter than other laptops I’ve tested. It also has expandable storage. However, you can find laptops with either a newer CPU or 16 GB of ram for similar price. If you’re willing to upgrade the memory, then that would bring this laptop up a level.
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BeingHonest's Review Comments
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.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5HP's take on MacBook Air, and it's good!
By BeingHonest
With an attractive design and lightweight portability, this laptop is a (big) tablet size package with full size laptop performance. The laptop is incredibly thin at a mere 10.4 mm and weighting at 2.45 lbs.
Build:
The exterior is a matte finish trimmed with gloss gold, which is reflected with the keyboard. This finish is nice since it doesn't leave fingerprints but the shinny gold is prone to marks. While personally I'm not a fan of the dark gray and gold, it does have a premium look to it. On the back is the headphone jack, 2 usb type C, and a power port, along with the exhaust along the bottom.
The exterior is a matte finish trimmed with gloss gold, which is reflected with the keyboard. This finish is nice since it doesn't leave fingerprints but the shinny gold is prone to marks. While personally I'm not a fan of the dark gray and gold, it does have a premium look to it. On the back is the headphone jack, 2 usb type C, and a power port, along with the exhaust along the bottom.
Display:
The Spectre comes with a 13 inch IPS 1080p display, and while not on par with a retina display, is clear and sharp. You really don't need a higher resolution for this size. The display setting is default to a custom setting in windows, which I find to be about right. The screen is glossy, which can be annoying. The viewing angle is great! I was surprised that this was an IPS panel.
The Spectre comes with a 13 inch IPS 1080p display, and while not on par with a retina display, is clear and sharp. You really don't need a higher resolution for this size. The display setting is default to a custom setting in windows, which I find to be about right. The screen is glossy, which can be annoying. The viewing angle is great! I was surprised that this was an IPS panel.
Keyboard and trackpad:
The keyboard is a typical chicklet type key and is responsive and easy to type with. It is backlit and with the gold trimmed keys, gives a nice glowing effect. The glass trackpad is nice and smooth and functions like a button with gesture controls (which I mostly disabled). It's essentially an Apple trackpad.
The keyboard is a typical chicklet type key and is responsive and easy to type with. It is backlit and with the gold trimmed keys, gives a nice glowing effect. The glass trackpad is nice and smooth and functions like a button with gesture controls (which I mostly disabled). It's essentially an Apple trackpad.
Speakers:
The speakers sandwich the entire keyboard, and while HP boast that it's custom tuned by Bang & Olufsen, it performs like what you would expect from tiny speakers on a tablet. Not so good, but considering its size, is adequate for watching videos. With music, it tends to crack at higher volumes and the bass is lacking. Still, the speakers can produce good volume and the individual channels stands out.
The speakers sandwich the entire keyboard, and while HP boast that it's custom tuned by Bang & Olufsen, it performs like what you would expect from tiny speakers on a tablet. Not so good, but considering its size, is adequate for watching videos. With music, it tends to crack at higher volumes and the bass is lacking. Still, the speakers can produce good volume and the individual channels stands out.
Performance:
With an i7 and 8 gb of ram, this laptop can handle any day to day task without a hitch. Just don't expect to do any modern gaming with this. Thanks to its PCIe SSD, this thing is fast. It boots up faster than my gaming desktop. But with only 256gb of storage, you might need an external drive. I'm used to gaming laptop so to me the battery life is very good. I can get at least 5 hours of use without optimizing the brightness and performance. It takes a few hours to fully charge and you should be good to go for a while. There doesn't seem to be a way to replace the ssd or battery so I'm hoping they last. I have one major issue with the performance, and is that it can get hot, not warm, but hot. Installing windows update, this laptop got too hot to be in my lap. Doing multitasking can get quite warm as well.
With an i7 and 8 gb of ram, this laptop can handle any day to day task without a hitch. Just don't expect to do any modern gaming with this. Thanks to its PCIe SSD, this thing is fast. It boots up faster than my gaming desktop. But with only 256gb of storage, you might need an external drive. I'm used to gaming laptop so to me the battery life is very good. I can get at least 5 hours of use without optimizing the brightness and performance. It takes a few hours to fully charge and you should be good to go for a while. There doesn't seem to be a way to replace the ssd or battery so I'm hoping they last. I have one major issue with the performance, and is that it can get hot, not warm, but hot. Installing windows update, this laptop got too hot to be in my lap. Doing multitasking can get quite warm as well.
Overall this laptop performs to my expectations. It's thin and light and can handle everyday tasks smoothly. There's not much HP bloatware, which I find refreshing. It comes with a usb C adapter and a slip cover, but in my case is a tad too small and tight. Even with some of its shortcomings, I can't fault it too much given how much was packed into such a small form factor.
This laptop was provided to me for my honest review.
BeingHonest
austin, tx
Thanks for update
June 25, 2016
Thanks for letting me know about the ssd and battery. I didn't see any way to remove the cover, but good to know it's doable. And yes I no longer put it on my lap (laptop-the irony) due to the heat issue. The ventilation is one of the issue I have with this thing, but it's still a good machine.
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BeingHonest's Questions
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BeingHonest's Answers
Enhance work productivity and gaming with this Alienware Aurora liquid cooled desktop computer. Its Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM deliver optimal power to support efficient multitasking, and the 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA HDD keep files and apps organized. This Alienware Aurora desktop computer's high-definition audio and NVIDIA GeForce graphics provide an immersive media experience.
What motherboard is used
No brand name if that's what you're asking. It's a Dell made board.
5 years ago
by
BeingHonest
Enhance work productivity and gaming with this Alienware Aurora liquid cooled desktop computer. Its Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM deliver optimal power to support efficient multitasking, and the 256GB SSD and 1TB SATA HDD keep files and apps organized. This Alienware Aurora desktop computer's high-definition audio and NVIDIA GeForce graphics provide an immersive media experience.
Does this have a 850 w power supply? Which brand/ model video card is used for this rtx 2070?
Not sure about the power supply (not visible without taking it out), but with Dell you won't be getting any brand name parts. Just generic grade. The 2070 is a blower style.
5 years ago
by
BeingHonest
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...
I think your case is unique. I haven't heard about noise cancelling causing pain. I have both the Sony and Bose and all I can say is that they are similar, but with the Sony you can adjust the level of NC so that it has less effect in their App. By default, the Sony has a bit of a hiss. It's worth a shot.
6 years, 6 months ago
by
BeingHonest
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 am moving to Australia & hear different information about the power adapters. Do I need a converter to charge this HP laptop internationally? I have the adapter & a converter. Just want to be on the safe side. Thank you!
On the power brick, it says that it takes 100-240v so it should be fine internationally.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
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.
Which available adapter is recommended for using with: HDMI screen Ethernet RJ45 network 2 regular USB ports (for wireless keyboard/ printer/ disk on key, not usb-c) Charging ?
There's no HDMI or ethernet out. It only comes with 2 usb-c so you'll just need an adapter to connect to non usb-c devices.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
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.
has anyone else had a problem with the speakers?!?! will be playing something and speakers just suddenly cut out. wifi connection fine, tested on video downloaded on device as well but still same issue.
Seems like you have a defected item. I've had this for about a week and haven't experience such issues.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
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.
Online, the estimated battery life is 9.5 hours. How accurate is this estimate?
Real world applications would probably get about half of that. I get about 4-5 hours of moderate use.
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
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.
What users is this directed towards?
Mainly target for everyday users or office workers that needs portability and good performance. For instance if you're looking to get a macbook air or surface pro (only without touch screen).
7 years, 11 months ago
by
BeingHonest
Stay cool with this Honeywell Turbo Force HT-906 table fan that features 120° extra-wide horizontal oscillation to help keep a large area comfortable. The pivoting head can be adjusted up to 60° for flexible positioning.
How quiet or loud is this fan?
Tired of noisy fans; how is this one for noise? Thanks.
It's a bit quieter but really no quieter than any oscillating fan I've had. This is just smaller and has decent air flow.
8 years, 8 months ago
by
BeingHonest
austin, tx