vrs99's stats
- Review count188
- Helpfulness votes1,275
- First reviewAugust 21, 2013
- Last reviewApril 23, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count8
- Helpfulness votes6
- First review commentDecember 29, 2013
- Last review commentJuly 18, 2017
- Featured review comments0
Questions
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- Answer count45
- Helpfulness votes46
- First answerDecember 31, 2013
- Last answerJanuary 17, 2022
- Featured answers0
- Best answers1
Designed with input from hundreds of the world’s top esports athletes, the PRO X 60 LIGHTSPEED wireless gaming keyboard is Logitech G’s first 60% keyboard. Take control of every key in G HUB with KEYCONTROL and 5 customizable layers for the ultimate command center. Play your way with dual-shot PBT keycaps and two GX optical switch options: tactile or linear. Seamlessly connect your wireless mechanical keyboard using Bluetooth or USB, or unleash speed and reliability with the trusted performance of LIGHTSPEED wireless. Win in style with LIGHTSYNC customizable RGB and 3 keyboard colorways: Black, White or Magenta. Compact control. Zero compromises.
Customer Rating
5
Blazing Fast Gaming - Logitech Solid
on April 23, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
The Logitech G PRO X 60 is a premium gaming keyboard for the competitive gamer on the move.
The keyboard is well packaged. Upon opening the box, I was greeted with simple instructions on the lid of the box on how to connect the keyboard via both Bluetooth and the Lightspeed dongle. The keyboard also comes wrapped in paper which, along with the instructions, prompted me to Logitech’s website to install the G Hub application.
Beneath the paper wrap was a high-quality hard travel case. The case holds the 6’ charging cable, the Lightspeed wireless dongle, and USB-C adapter along with the keyboard itself. Using the keyboard with the Lightspeed dongle unlocks the blazing fast 1ms response rate.
Keyboard arrived charged to 60%. The G Hub program reported that the keyboard had 42 hours of battery life remaining. On a full charge, it is marketed to have 65 hours of battery life. If the battery dies, the keyboard can be wired with the included USB-A to Type-C cable. There is a small green light on the front of the board which pulses green to indicate charging.
The build quality of the keyboard is spectacular. Keycaps are Dual-shop PBT with a nice textured feel. There was even an extra color matched Escape key which can be swapped with the contrasting color Escape key. This keyboard is built to last.
The rear of the keyboard has the USB-C charging port, power switch, and buttons to switch between Bluetooth and Lightspeed mode. The left side has a minimalistic volume wheel and caps lock light. Bottom has rubber feet and 2 flip-up stands. Game mode switch is located on the right side which disables certain keys such as the Windows key when activated to eliminate inadvertent key pressed when gaming.
There are three color options to choose from: black, white, and magenta. All options include a tasteful chrome accent and per-key RGB lighting. By default, the RGB lighting is managed by Windows 11. This is easily disabled to allow for customization withing the G Hub program. There are a variety of lighting effects and animations to choose from, including the option to create custom animations and per-key “freestyle” effects.
The keyboard is a joy to type and game on. The Logitech GX Optical Switches come in both tactile and lineal flavors. I personally have the tactile version. The keys are quiet with a tactile bump with a 60 G actuation force. They are akin to their leading Brown key counterparts in both feel and force. Spacebar, shift, backspace, and enter keys are all buttery smooth and very well stabilized.
There are no compromises with the GX Optical switches. The optical switches feel just like their mechanical counterparts, with the added bonuses of faster response time and longer life that optical switches offer.
G Hub software also allows for in-depth per key customization in base, function, and g-shift modes. Using the software, specific keys can be disabled for game mode as well. Easy to read legend on keys allows for media control, arrow key, and other functions easily while maintaining a portable, tenkeyless 60% footprint.
Overall, for those looking for a no-compromise keyboard capable of gaming on the go, look no further than the Logitech G PRO X 60.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The perfect party companion for breathtaking, portable sound. Bring the party anywhere with powerful bass, dynamic lighting, and a mic port for karaoke. With quick-charging capabilities and dust-and-rust proof construction, the party can go on uninterrupted.
Customer Rating
5
Music Power Hours Delivers Punch to Smooth Jazz
on April 23, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
The Sony Ult Field 7 is a rugged, portable, and cutting-edge music powerhouse for all who love bass.
The first thing I noticed about this speaker was its build quality. Speaker cloth is very high quality and the whole unit is a sealed system. The speaker also has rubberized feet and sides, making it able to stand vertically or horizontally. Both ends of the speaker are large carrying handles which double as openings for sound to pass through when the speaker is stood vertically. Am a big fan of this design as the speaker is versatile and can fit in with just about any environment.
Boasting an IP67 rating, this speaker is both dust and waterproof making it the perfect speaker to take outdoors. Have inadvertently verified this by spraying it with my pressure washer while playing tunes and working outside.
Out of the box the speaker arrived charged to 60%. Speaker is marketed to have 30 hours of playtime and has yet to run out of charge throughout the duration of my testing. Included is a generic, non-polarized charging cable which can easily be replaced if lost. This is a huge plus as proprietary charging cables can be expensive and a pain to replace.
The speaker sounds amazing. The bass radiating from the 4.4” woofers on each side is punchy and powerful. Ult 7 easily fills my whole house with clear and vibrant music. Am very impressed with the sound this can produce for its portability and 13lbs weight.
The top of the speaker has power, Bluetooth, play/pause, and volume buttons which all have a tactile feel. There is also the “ULT” button which switches between different EQ presets. ULT 1 “enhances the deeper low-pass range” and ULT 2 “has a sense of increased power”. A custom 7-band EQ preset can be created within the Music Center app as well. Have not had to adjust the EQ as the ULT 2 preset is already tuned perfectly for my taste.
Rear of the speaker has a 3.5mm audio-in port as well as a ¼” mic/guitar port. There is also an “echo” effect button, flat and sharp key control buttons, battery care, and light button. Battery care limits the max charge to 90% to prolong the life of the battery. The light button powers on/off the reactive lighting on the ULT button and each side of the speaker. There are several lighting presets also available through the Sony Music Center app.
Another nice touch is that this speaker supports Bluetooth 5.2 and LDAC high quality audio, which I was able to enable through the settings of my phone. It can be verified that LDAC is enabled through the Music Center app as well.
The Sony Music Center app allows for even more control and customization of the speaker. App allows the speaker to be paired with another of the same type to create stereo audio, or up to 100 speakers in party mode. Various settings are also available including sound and power options. Another neat feature is the “Sound Field Optimization” which adjusts the sound quality of the speaker according to the ambient noise.
Overall, if you are looking for a powerful and rugged Bluetooth speaker with cutting edge technology, the Sonly Ult Field 7 is the perfect choice.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The iconic new Dell XPS 16 laptop delivers powerful performance your most demanding projects need now.
Customer Rating
5
Dell’s Courageous Leap Forward – Bravo!
on April 23, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
“And now for something completely different…”
Dell has stepped directly into a New Age with their latest release of the 2024 Family of Dell XPS Laptops, they are Brilliant, a Technological Work of Art in gorgeous metal case of Minimalism design.
When the Dell XPS 16 arrived, the packaging at once gave the impression that something extraordinary at arrived at my home. I was happily correct when I opened the box and first powered up the XPS 16, it was like no other laptop, or PC for that matter that I have had the pleasure of on my desk.
The Dell XPS 16 9640 that I am sitting in front of is distinctive in design with cutting-edge technology aimed at power users; Dell has moved the laptop forward amazingly.
- Function keys and related task keys (audio settings, display settings…) are now a capacitive row embedded into the computer face above the keyboard. It is a “why didn’t I think of that moment!” Dell – this is cool.
- Keyboard comes with a built-in Co-Pilot Key. Convenient key addition. Built-in Palm-rest.
- “3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB C) with display port 2.1(dongle) and power support”
- Does not include USB ports prior to USB-C, HDMI, or DisplayPort.
- “USB Type-C to USB Type-A and HDMI adapter.”
- “MicroSDXC v6.0 UHS-I/UHS-II card reader”
- Remarkable battery life.
- Great sound with the with the quad speaker design.
- Seamless glass touchpad – Best Touchpad I have laid my finger on.
- Keyboard comes with a built-in Co-Pilot Key. Convenient key addition. Built-in Palm-rest.
- “3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB C) with display port 2.1(dongle) and power support”
- Does not include USB ports prior to USB-C, HDMI, or DisplayPort.
- “USB Type-C to USB Type-A and HDMI adapter.”
- “MicroSDXC v6.0 UHS-I/UHS-II card reader”
- Remarkable battery life.
- Great sound with the with the quad speaker design.
- Seamless glass touchpad – Best Touchpad I have laid my finger on.
Key Specs:
- “Intel® Core Ultra 7 155H processor with built-in AI” (24MB Cache, 16 cores, up to 4.8 GHz)”
- Memory “16GB, LPDDR5X, 6400MT/s.” Upgradable to 64GB - Easy to upgrade.
- 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6gb GDDR6
- Weighs in right at 5lbs
- Metal case – no chassis flex
- “Intel® Core Ultra 7 155H processor with built-in AI” (24MB Cache, 16 cores, up to 4.8 GHz)”
- Memory “16GB, LPDDR5X, 6400MT/s.” Upgradable to 64GB - Easy to upgrade.
- 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 6gb GDDR6
- Weighs in right at 5lbs
- Metal case – no chassis flex
- Wi-Fi 7 “Intel® Killer™ Wi-Fi 7 1750 (BE200) 2x2 + Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Card” You are going to want this when, or if you have a Wi-Fi 7 router! The Wi-Fi is fantastically fast, nothing today comes close over the air. Try it, you will like it.
“Hello!” Dell has the Microsoft Hello system perfected in the Dell XPS 16, superior to any other adaptations of the Hello system in my computers, aside from the Dell monitor Sitting in front of me. Both the Facial and Fingerprint devices work flawlessly. That in my experience is worth its weight in gold.
Though not designed as a gaming platform it pushes the graphic intensive Civilization 6 very nicely. Being a fan of CIV 6 I like the setup, what is nice as it will play the game in high graphics settings without requiring 300w of power and heavy-duty cooling. Good to kick back on the couch and play a game sans the roar of beefy fan systems.
Dell Safe Bios can be a blessing for IT departments in corporate and small to mid-range businesses or projects. Besides superb BIOS protection there is the added feature for Networks:
- “Dell SafeBIOS alerts IT departments of any changes to the BIOS configuration and helps them respond to shut down the attack."
This is close to home for me as corporate Director of IT.
- “Dell SafeBIOS alerts IT departments of any changes to the BIOS configuration and helps them respond to shut down the attack."
This is close to home for me as corporate Director of IT.
Deserves a full mention, that Dell includes a complete 112 Page English Tech/Owner Manual for the Dell XPS 16 9640. Appreciate thorough well-prepared documentation with all my devices.
They say the proof is in the pudding, in our home we sport 4 Dell laptops, two current Alien gaming rigs, one XPS as well as an Inspiron. Additionally, we have one Inspiron AIO, and last but not least a Dell XPS 8300-5215NBK desktop purchased in 2012 and still in service for accounting/archiving in our home under my wife’s desk.
The XPS 16 is intense in speed with brilliant graphics, components are well-appointed throughout the system. The Dell XPS 16 has simply in a few days replaced my long-term workhorse laptop, the XPS is a solid build.
Dells have served and are still serving us well, and the addition of the new Dell XPS 16 9640 is most welcomed.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The perfect blend of scooter and bike, the FLEX VOYAGER is great for errands or just riding in comfort. Free storage basket included. Improved speed and range. The FLEX VOYAGER can reach 15-19 miles per charge with a 15.5 MPH top speed. It is the perfect way to make it to class on time. Powered by a 350W Motor and a 36V 8.0aH battery.
Posted by: vrs99
With a 15-mile max range, the GoTrax Flex Voyager is a fun electric scooter for small trips and riding around the neighborhood.
The scooter comes partially assembled from the box. It took me little under an hour to get the scooter out of the box and charging. All tools are provided, and the instructions were clear and straightforward. Both 14-inch tires came already inflated with air at the recommended 36 psi. There is also an adapter included to make it easier to inflate the tires.
Scooter clocks in at 61 pounds and is solidly built. As well, it folds for more compact storage or to fit in the trunk of a car. It also sports a large, height adjustable cushioned seat and coilover suspension over the rear wheel. The spring rate is easily adjustable by hand to change the suspension stiffness, yet I found the stock suspension tuning to be just right.
Other features of the scooter include a metal basket on the rear, a kickstand, and fenders. I found the basket particularly cool and is a nice touch. In my testing, I drove through shallow water and mud, and nothing flung from the tires due to the fenders.
In the rear wheel, a 350-watt electric motor propels the scooter to 16 mph. On a full charge the scooter accelerates smoothly; however, it does not perform well offroad or on steep hills. One thing to note is that once the battery is mostly drained the motor loses power considerably.
The scooter also comes with 2 keys which can be turned to 2 positions: run and light. In the latter position, the front LED headlight and rear taillight are illuminated. The headlight’s angle is adjustable by hand and is moderately bright. Additionally, the taillight flashes when the brakes are applied. The headlight works in a decently lit environment, but I would not ride this scooter in pitch darkness.
From the box, the lithium-ion battery showed to be almost fully charged, yet I charged it the remainder of the way per the instructions. Full battery charging time is marketed to be 6 hours. In my testing, the scooter seems to use a form of regenerative braking which charges the battery slightly as it decelerates.
Brakes don’t seem to be disk brakes and they do not lock up the wheels on paved ground. Nonetheless, the brakes are adjusted well from the factory and the scooter stops briskly.
Overall, the GoTrax Flex Voyager is a good electric scooter for Campus Life, cruising the beach, neighborhood cruising, along with quick fun trips to store.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Elevate your listening experience with JLab’s Epic Lab Edition Earbuds. Engineered with Hybrid Dual Drivers, the Epic Lab Edition is the first true wireless headphone to feature the audiophile-acclaimed Knowles® Preferred Listening sound curve. These earbuds redefine true wireless sound. Hi-Res Audio via LDAC or AAC advanced codecs, coupled with Smart Active Noise Canceling, offer the best sound experience we’ve ever created. Featuring Bluetoooth LE Audio, enjoy low latency, and pristine audio quality. Enhance every moment with a remarkable playtime of over 13 hours per earbud and a total of 56+ hours total playtime.
Customer Rating
5
JLABS "Epic Lab Edition" Innovation on the Move
on February 1, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
The JLAB Epic Lab Edition are innovative wireless earbuds for those on the move.
Included in the box are the earbuds, case, charging cable, extra eartips, and quick start guide.
Out of the box the case was already fully charged. 6 pairs of eartips are included with sizes ranging from small/medium/large and a choice between “cloud foam” and regular silicone. It is my understanding that cloud foam is a type of memory foam. Have found the preinstalled medium silicone to be the best fit for me.
Zinc alloy charging case feels premium and clasps with a satisfying metallic sound. Rubberized bottom is a nice feature as well. Three indicator lights on the front provide an indication of charge level. JLAB claims over 13 hours of playtime in each earbud and over 56 hours combined with the case. Case can be charged with either USB-C or wirelessly.
Earbuds connect easily with Bluetooth. They also have support for the emerging Bluetooth Low Energy Audio and LC3 codec technology. This tech allows for improved audio quality even at low data rates, improving battery life. For devices not equipped with Bluetooth, a USB-C dongle is also included in the case. This makes the case slightly bulkier, and I do not see a need for it, especially with modern devices.
Earbuds sound superb with rich bass and a wide soundstage. Can pinpoint the location of different instruments in stereo tracks. The earbuds use “hybrid dual drivers”, one for bass and mid-range frequencies and another developed by Knowles for high frequencies. They also support LDAC and AAC codecs for hi-resolution wireless music.
Capacitive touch control is accurate and works very well. Can flawlessly adjust volume, tracks, and noise cancelling mode. Noise cancelling works well while being comfortable without any discomfort/”pressure” felt by earlier noise cancelling systems. JLAB’s “be aware” mode is slightly quieter yet more refined than other wireless earbuds I have tested. A demonstration of the earbud’s quality microphones.
The JLab app is straightforward and allows for control of noise cancellation, equalizer, and touch controls. Earbuds connected seamlessly to the app and a firmware update was prompted. Currently use the “Knowles Preferred” EQ preset which gives the best balance between bass and treble for my taste.
Overall, the JLAB Epic Lab Edition wireless earbuds are for those who enjoy convenient, high-quality music.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Say hai to a smart sustainable showerhead. Water-powered Bluetooth technology connects to the hai app, helping you track your water usage - no batteries required. Save water with customizable LED alerts, indicating when the water's reached your perfect temperature and when you're at your set water use target. A specially designed patented spray slider makes it easy to adjust between a high-pressure stream to a steamy fine mist. hai features more coverage than the average showerhead and is perfect for low-flow environments. Constructed with durable, high-quality, stainless-steel materials and a smooth bacterial-resistance hose, hai can be mounted on the wall or used as a handled shower device. A 2-year warranty lets you buy with confidence.
Customer Rating
5
Game Changer in Bathing - Style & Comfort
on January 28, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
First, Hai Showerhead comes in an assortment of colors and water pressure heads. Offering six distinct colors for the spray head and two pressure delivery systems supporting both 1.8 GPM low flow and 2.5 GPM high flow.
We have the low flow version we are definitely saving water, though I think I would have enjoyed the higher water delivery head.
The wand head face cover colors are cool, allowing for a wide choice to fit your taste, style and even mood.
One specific technology that Hai developed for the system that I find to be brilliant, is their innovative “Impeller” system which provides the energy/electricity for the electronics built into the showerhead. When I first that saw, Bluetooth is employed to communicate to an Android or Apple device to report water usage and water temps, I thought, OK now we are getting a bit geeky when we need Bluetooth to take a shower. Though in hindsight I love it. It’s great technology and so very innovative to use the power present in the flowing water to operate the system. No batteries to buy, nor need to be manufactured and end up in a landfill. Kudos.
The Engineering of the Showerhead is stunning. You see right away in the Hai Showerhead project that the designers went all out with developing a system that is a game changer. Beyond the looks the product is of high-quality development and build with all components from fittings to the shower wand are marvelous.
If you like style, creature comforts and conservation, you’ll love the Hai.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier is perfect for extra-large homes troubled by dry air. Evaporative technology quickly humidifies your space without wet mist that can damage furniture, while the included hose and built-in wick filters enable you to easily refill the tank with tap water from the sink. No matter where you are, adjust settings, create schedules, connect to voice assistants, and more with the VeSync app.
Customer Rating
5
Whole-House Solution for Health and Comfort
on January 19, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
First, the Levoit humidifier performs brilliantly. We had one humidifier, and with two back-to-back Arctic Storms delivering extreme dry cold and with heaters running almost nonstop we could not keep our home humidity in a comfortable range. The old humidifier was a high-quality unit but could not keep up and maintain a comfortable range.
Enter the Levoit Superior 6000S. Included in the box is the humidifier itself, quick start guide, full owner’s manual, storage bag, cleaning brush and fill hose.
Out of the box some assembly is required as the humidifier is in 4 parts to allow it to be stored compactly. Assembly was quick and easy with easy-to-follow guides both on the box itself and in the quick start guide. Additionally, the box and user guide have instructions on how to quickly store the humidifier. Humidifier breaks down almost half its size for easy storage. The Minimalist design and white and black color scheme fit in nicely with the décor of the home.
After the quick setup of the Superior 6000S humidifier and with unit running on auto mode our whole home hit the sweet humidity spot within thirty minutes. Each room was at 50% humidity which is perfect for our room temperature.
A 6-gallon tank easily lasts days and is effortless to fill using the included hose and funnel. This humidifier can be used with tap water straight from our sink, I recommend built-in water filter. Wheels on the bottom of the humidifier allow it to easily be moved across my house on both carpet and hard floors. It is claimed the tank can last up to 72 hours and this is reflected during my usage once the humidifier is maintaining a specific level.
This humidifier works by using a large fan to draw water through filters and evaporate into the surrounding air. In practice this technology is very efficient and superior to traditional humidifiers which still use heating elements and produce a stream of mist. The humidified air from the Levoit system is invisible and mist-free. Fan is very quiet, even on its highest setting and can output a surprising amount of humidified air.
Levoit states that the humidifier can humidify a space up to 3,000 square feet. This is shown in practice, after only an hour the humidifier increased the humidity of my whole house from 40% to 50% and easily maintained a comfortable humidity with a lower fan speed. Within the first 24 hours the humidifier output almost 3 gallons of water into the air. Am very impressed at how quickly and efficiently this humidifier can make air comfortable in large spaces.
Humidifier has a few modes to choose from including auto, manual fan speed, and target humidity. The auto mode automatically determines the optimal humidity according to the current temperature in the room. It also has a night mode which keeps the fan at a lower setting. The top of the device has an LCD display for monitoring humidity percentage as well.
VeSync app allows for remote control and monitoring from a smartphone. Initial setup with the app took minutes. Simply created an account and linked humidifier to Wi-Fi. Usage of the app is important as it prompted a firmware update upon initial setup. App also tracks filter life which is recommended to be changed every 3 months. A “dry” mode can be activated which thoroughly dries out the filters to prolong filter life during usage and storage.
My family all realized how much more comfortable we felt right away, breathing was easier, skin stopped feeling dry, and there was no longer static electricity in the home. The wife greatly enjoys it as it keeps her plants at an optimal humidity range.
Huge bonus for Plant Lovers, the Levoit offers a highly evolved system of fine tuning your home’s humidity for your specific plants. The App offers in-depth plant care listings, overall care, and food/watering schedules for many species of the following plant categories:
• Foliage
• Flowering
• Succulents & Cacti
• Vegetables
• Shrubs
• Flowering
• Succulents & Cacti
• Vegetables
• Shrubs
Overall, the Levoit Superior 6000S Humidifier is the best of the best for those wanting complete comfort for the entire house.
Highly Recommended
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Meet the new Dell 25" Gaming Monitor - a super fast gaming monitor featuring an incredible 280Hz over-clocked refresh rate (240Hz Native) and 0.5ms minimum Gray-to-Gray response time for fast fluid gaming experiences.
Customer Rating
5
Full On Gaming at an Excellent Price!
on January 10, 2024
Posted by: vrs99
The Dell 25” Gaming Monitor is versatile and packs an impressive punch for the price point.
Included in the box is the monitor itself, a 6ft DisplayPort, 3.3ft USB-C to DisplayPort cable, and 6ft USB 3.2 upstream cable. Was quite pleased to see the inclusion of DisplayPort cables as this monitor can be connected to most PCs or laptops out of the box. A step ahead of many other manufacturers which usually only include a single HDMI cable. Upstream USB cable allows for the 2 USB ports on the monitor to be connected to the host computer.
Assembly is quick and straightforward with the stand locking into place on the monitor without tools. Features a large cable management hole. Stand allows for 5 inches of height adjustment, 45 degrees of swivel, and 90 degrees of rotation allowing for the display to be completely vertical. Monitor can also be VESA mounted. Very versatile in my opinion.
Monitor has very straightforward on-screen display which is navigated using a combination of both a “nipple” controller and regular buttons on the rear of the monitor. This combination is odd as monitors usually only have one type of control, but getting used to the OSD was easy enough. Display settings, inputs, and gaming-specific settings are accessible through the OSD.
Monitor has 2 DisplayPorts, an HDMI 1.4 port, as well as a USB upstream and 2 USB 3.2 downstream ports. The high-speed USB ports located on the bottom left of the display are a convenient addition when using flash drives, connecting peripherals, and even charging my phone.
The 1920x1080 Fast IPS panel sports impressively wide viewing angles and very minimal ghosting. The Fast IPS technology also has a claimed max response time of 0.5ms. An important factor when fractions of a second count while gaming. Thin bezels and matte anti-glare coating on the panel is a huge plus as well.
Refresh rate comes standard at 240hz and can be “overclocked” up to 280hz. Have tested the monitor at both 240 and 280hz with no noticeable differences in motion blur. Monitor also exhibits Nvidia Gsync and AMD Freesync Premium adaptive refresh rate technologies, further eliminating screen tearing and contributing to a buttery-smooth gaming experience. Am highly impressed with the panel’s in-game performance and near-perfect results on the Blur Busters UFO Test. Display also covers 99% of the SRGB color space.
Although this display may not have pricey features such as HDR and an ultra-HD panel, it still overperforms and is the best display I have seen in its price point. If you want a no-nonsense gaming monitor with all the essentials for smooth, fast-paced gaming, the Dell 25” monitor is for you.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Alienware m18 Gaming Laptop - Play like a boss with a high-powered, 18-inch gaming laptop that features advanced Alienware Cryo-techcooling, 7000 Series AMD Ryzen 9 processors and AMD Radeon graphics.
Customer Rating
5
The m18 Aliens have Arrived Dominate the Game Grid
on December 15, 2023
Posted by: vrs99
The Alienware m18 R1 AMD is the zero-compromise gaming laptop from the future. Included in the box is the 18-inch laptop itself, the power cable, quick start guide and 2 metallic Alienware stickers. Although only a quick start guide is included in the box, extensive documentation including a 94-page service manual is readily available on Dell’s website.
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the m18 is the weight. Clocking in at 8.9lbs this laptop is no featherweight; however, this is expected for performance of this caliber. Reflecting the weight, aluminum construction is rugged with no deck flex whatsoever. On first boot, Alienware SupportAssist program prompts to register for the 1-year premium warranty and automatically prompts for a driver update. The SupportAssist program also can automatically optimize performance, network, and clean files. SupportAssist is a first-rate maintenance program provided for their line of computers.
330-watt power brick is huge yet necessary for powering this beast of a laptop as I measured peak CPU power draw of 100 watts and peak GPU draw of 266 watts during testing.
RGB keyboard is tactile and has superb key stabilization on all keys. Keyboard includes a number pad. Per-key RGB is controllable through the Alienware Command Center app. Large “glass” trackpad is superb.
The large 18-inch screen has a matte finish which I prefer as it cuts down on glare. 1080p display has exceptional color, a 3ms response time, and a mind-boggling 480hz refresh rate. Display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut which is 25% wider than SRGB. Additionally, the display supports adaptive sync technologies and has exceptionally wide viewing angles. 300 nits peak brightness is on par with many higher end laptops. Even with all this tech, the bezels on this laptop are remarkably thin.
One thing which I find most impressive is how quiet the laptop stays under load. The keyboard and deck stay relatively cool as hot air is exhausted out the rear and sides of the laptop.
Benchmark Scores:
• 3DMark Time Spy Extreme:
o Overall Score: 9212 (Legendary)
o GPU: 9013
o CPU: 10535
• Unigine Superposition (1080p Extreme):
o Score: 10965
o Avg FPS: 82.02
• BMW27 Blender Render:
o CPU: 01:11:10
o GPU: 00:20:13
• Crystal Disk Mark (NVME SSD Profile):
o Sequential 1MiB read: 7043.78 MB/s
o Sequential 1MiB write: 5739.13 MB/s
o Random 4KiB read: 3757.69 MB/s
o Random 4KiB write: 2659.74 MB/s
• GTA V Benchmark:
o Average Framerate: 125
o Average Frametime: 8 MS
• CS:2 Simple FPS Benchmark:
o Average Framerate: 360
• 3DMark Time Spy Extreme:
o Overall Score: 9212 (Legendary)
o GPU: 9013
o CPU: 10535
• Unigine Superposition (1080p Extreme):
o Score: 10965
o Avg FPS: 82.02
• BMW27 Blender Render:
o CPU: 01:11:10
o GPU: 00:20:13
• Crystal Disk Mark (NVME SSD Profile):
o Sequential 1MiB read: 7043.78 MB/s
o Sequential 1MiB write: 5739.13 MB/s
o Random 4KiB read: 3757.69 MB/s
o Random 4KiB write: 2659.74 MB/s
• GTA V Benchmark:
o Average Framerate: 125
o Average Frametime: 8 MS
• CS:2 Simple FPS Benchmark:
o Average Framerate: 360
The numbers speak for themselves. Benchmarks and in-game performance blow all other gaming laptops I have seen out of the water. Ryzen 9 7945HX and Radeon RX 7900M are an unstoppable duo in terms of computational power and raw gaming performance. Paired with 32 GB DDR5 4800 of ram (upgradeable to 64 GB), this laptop is well suited for workstation use, video editing and rendering as is evident with the blazing fast Blender render results. It even beat my 9th Gen Intel i9 equipped desktop in CPU rendering. Although CPU temps reached 100 degrees Celsius during certain tests, fans never ramped up and thermal throttling was not recorded.
Kioxia 1TB NVME SSD is blazing fast as well. There is a second slot in the laptop to install an additional NVME SSD too.
BIOS is basic yet does allow for 2 levels of CPU overclocking. This option is vague yet in testing it seems to boost the base clock speed. Alienware Command Center allows for different performance levels to be selected which corresponds to the OC levels found in the bios.
I/O:
• Rear:
o Barrel Charger Port
o Full Sized SD Card Reader
o Mini DisplayPort
o Full Sized HDMI 2.1
o 2x USB 3.2 Type-C w/ DisplayPort
o USB 3.2 Type-A w/ PowerShare
• Sides:
o Slim Ethernet Port
o 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Ports
o USB 3.2 Type-C Port
• Rear:
o Barrel Charger Port
o Full Sized SD Card Reader
o Mini DisplayPort
o Full Sized HDMI 2.1
o 2x USB 3.2 Type-C w/ DisplayPort
o USB 3.2 Type-A w/ PowerShare
• Sides:
o Slim Ethernet Port
o 2x USB 3.2 Type-A Ports
o USB 3.2 Type-C Port
I/O is impressive. Appreciate the Full-size SD card slot as it is useful for offloading pictures from cameras.
Stereo 2-watt speakers sound adequate for laptop speakers, yet I would recommend wearing headphones for any serious gaming. Alienware Command Center integrates with Dolby Atmos too. 1080p webcam and integrated dual-array microphones are sufficient for video calls and include Windows Hello facial recognition. Hello is a huge plus as you are logged right into Windows upon opening the laptop.
Overall, the Alienware m18 R1 AMD is the ultimate, somewhat portable, gaming powerhouse. Have been reviewing performance gaming laptops for years and am genuinely impressed by the capabilities of this machine. Truly desktop level performance in a laptop form-factor.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
3of 4voted this as helpful.
With two 10 GbE ports and Wi-Fi 7 technology, eero max 7 can provide more than twice the speed of Wi-Fi 6. This isn't a minor upgrade, this is a whole new level of fast.
Customer Rating
5
eero Max 7 - Tower of Power - Styling - Impressive
on December 5, 2023
Posted by: vrs99
eero Max 7 has introduced Wi-Fi 7 in my home office, now to have a look into the near future of wireless networking. What I see is quite exciting and a far far away time from when we used phone cup modems (300 Baud - 30 bytes/s) and sneaker nets at home and in the office. Spoiler Alert - the eero Max 7 is a tremendous leap forward.
First impression, the eero Max 7 is stylish and looks fantastic. I know, because my wife told me so and she appreciates that I swapped our entertainment center’s older black router with huge antennas for the eero. It does look amazing amid our techie entertainment system and blends smoothly with our décor.
Box opening, the routers were bit larger than I thought from online pictures, apparently full of highly cool tech stuff.
Setup. Most incredibly straight forward router installation that I have ever worked on, have performed hundreds of corporate, mid-small business and home router installations over the years. And of course, the ongoing maintenance of systems. Hands down, the eero installation with the app is the smoothest plug and play system I have ever had the opportunity to install. And that speaks volumes when compared to most router installations.
The setup is simplified and believe any level of user would find they can easily install in their home network quickly and with little effort. It is really that easy.
What is Wi-Fi 7? To put it into perspective, Wi-Fi 6 was a step-up increase in speed over Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 7 on the other hand is all about heart pumping adrenaline-driven fast connections. In industry speak you have “802.11be EHT," for ‘Extremely High Throughput.’ That is what Wi-Fi 7 is, the fastest breakthrough in wi-fi technology since wi-fi was introduced in 1997. It is remarkable how fast and safely we can now transfer data through the air.
We have several computers that have Wi-Fi 6e and we have excellent response rates with the new eero Max 7. One is a new Alienware laptop with Killer Wi-Fi 6e AX16190i 16-Mhz Wi-Fi adapter, running a steady solid 2.4 Gbps. My wife’s Dell laptop is also pulling a solid 2.4 Gbps throughout our home.
Keep in mind when computers and devices are updated to Wi-Fi 7, they will be running at 4.3 Gbps!!! We’ll be waiting in line for the upgrades. How ever you cut it, 4.3 wireless is smoking fast.
Run several sub-nets on our home network and switched over my entertainment center sub-net by simply unplugging the existing router and plugging in the eero. With DHCP running on the main eero all my equipment switched over automatically. The only issue I had was a TV and Dish Joey in one room which required a reboot to hook up with the configuration. Too easy.
Notes:
- With eero’s wired speed up to 9.4 Gbps the wired network will be quick. An understatement.
- One eero provides 2500 sqft of coverage - Two eero’s provide 5000 sqft - Three will be 7500 sqft
- Supports Bridge Mode
- Ethernet Standard 10/100/1000/2500/10000
- Frequency Band 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, 6.0 GHz
- Wired Backhaul - “Also known as Ethernet backhaul or backbone, this capability can be enabled to directly wire a secondary (mesh) router or satellite to the main router via Ethernet cable. This connection allows for faster and more stable data upload.” Wired Highly Effective
- * First tested the two Router Nodes wirelessly from one side of home to the other – speed was incredible
- eero Max 7 App is exceptionally well deigned and intuitive
- With eero’s wired speed up to 9.4 Gbps the wired network will be quick. An understatement.
- One eero provides 2500 sqft of coverage - Two eero’s provide 5000 sqft - Three will be 7500 sqft
- Supports Bridge Mode
- Ethernet Standard 10/100/1000/2500/10000
- Frequency Band 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz, 6.0 GHz
- Wired Backhaul - “Also known as Ethernet backhaul or backbone, this capability can be enabled to directly wire a secondary (mesh) router or satellite to the main router via Ethernet cable. This connection allows for faster and more stable data upload.” Wired Highly Effective
- * First tested the two Router Nodes wirelessly from one side of home to the other – speed was incredible
- eero Max 7 App is exceptionally well deigned and intuitive
Other Notes:
- Cables are short - ethernet cable 3” - power cable 5”
- Lack of Web Interface - Closed System - Must use app
- No Firewall (that I am aware of) but with subscription there is offer of security? The first router that I’ve worked on that placed paywall in front of security.
- Cables are short - ethernet cable 3” - power cable 5”
- Lack of Web Interface - Closed System - Must use app
- No Firewall (that I am aware of) but with subscription there is offer of security? The first router that I’ve worked on that placed paywall in front of security.
I am a power user with an extensive state-of-the-art network and sub-nets running in an environment that sports five routers and five switches to manage/process our data requirements. Our new two node eero Max 7 quickly found a way into our network displacing a three-router mesh system.
Besides the sheer power and cutting-edge technology of the Max 7 was how easily I was able to join the router to our network. The Max 7 has some serious smarts and programming built into the gorgeous case. When joining the eero Max 7 to our complex Entertainment and Internet of Things (IoT) sub-net, which is the net my wife uses, the system just snapped into place.
Anyone considering taking the dive into Wi-Fi 7, along with future proofing your system and running at the cutting edge of speed I would recommend having a long look at the eero Max 7.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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vrs99's Review Comments
p>HP Split 13-g110dx Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: With the power of a laptop as well as the portability of a tablet, this split convertible HD touch-screen laptop provides the best of both worlds to work or play wherever you go.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5Good value with limitation
By CSatTX
from Houston, TX
I am writing this review using the Split X2. Bought it on Black Friday. This is a tablet and a laptop combined. With a i5 CPU, 13 inch screen, and the price, this is a very good value. For a laptop, the weight (4.4 lbs) is OK, not great.
The only con on this item is it is non-expandable. First, the memory is only 4GB and soldered. It cannot go to 8GB. Second, there is supposed to be a HD space in the keyboard unit like the other X2 models. For some reason this particular model does not have that feature.
So if you can live with 4GB memory and 128GB SSD, this is an excellent machine. I am running Lightroom and MS Office on this machine and performance could have been better.
vrs99
Drive expansion
December 29, 2013
The X2 does accept a 500GB drive in the keyboard.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
p>HP Split 13-g110dx Convertible 2-in-1 Laptop: With the power of a laptop as well as the portability of a tablet, this split convertible HD touch-screen laptop provides the best of both worlds to work or play wherever you go.Learn more about the New Windows ›
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 54 convience of tablet and power of a real computer
By nearlynormal
from springfield, IL
4 out of 5. Works as advertised. The screen works as a nice sized tablet. It could certainly use aUSB port onthe screen. If you aren't carrying the keyboard and want to show some photos from a flash drive you're out of luck.
vrs99
TN
Adding flash storage
December 31, 2013
It is true the tablet does not have a USB port to throw some pictures into. But you can insert a micro SDHC card into the top/tablet. You can currently get 64 GB Micro SDHC card class 10 which will fit nicely and increase the tablets storage by 50%.
Personally I store almost 11,000 high resolution picture files which requires 29 GB of storage. So I am guessing that 64 GB would suit the average user.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Utilizing 4 high-performance antennas and power amplifiers, this Linksys Smart Wi-Fi WRT1900AC dual-band Wireless-AC router offers optimal wireless strength and signal coverage, so you can easily connect devices throughout your home or office.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Rock Solid
By vrs99
from TN
Replaced my Linksys EA 6700 router with the WRT1900ac on my home network. The EA 6700 is a good router but it is not in the same class as the WRT1900ac.
The signal is outstanding, solid and fast throughout the whole house and outside too boot.
Setup is smooth and easy, especially if you are familiar with latest versions of the Linksys software. The router has plenty of features and added a few more since the last router versions.
Has the best Network Map I have seen, informative and quickly shows where your bandwidth is being used.
If you need/want a powerful router that is flexible and expandable (according to Linksys) in the future take a hard look at the WRT1900ac.
vrs99
TN
Plan on using eSATA? MUST READ - be Forewarned
September 3, 2014
One of my main decisions in purchasing the WRT1900ac was to attach my NetGear NAS on the eSATA port for easier access across my network.
No such luck.
Spent time with Linksys tech and neither my eSATA NAS from NetGear nor my external eSATA drive will work with the WRT1900ac.
Linksys does have a compatibility chart - somewhere - but not in their spec listings of what works with their router.
If you want to use eSATA do your homework and see if your device is compatible.
Tough Luck if your device is not on the list.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
Upgrade your laptop's storage with this Samsung 850 PRO MZ-7KE512BW internal SATA III solid state drive, which offers a generous 512GB capacity for digital data. SED (Self-Encrypting Drive) technology controls access to private information.
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Crashed and Burned after 44 Days - Good Luck
By vrs99
Fast SSD - and Extra Fast to Crash in just 44 days. Of course it was on a Friday evening and cannot speak to Samsung until Monday. Cannot Chat with them as they do not offer Chat for SSD's.
Luckily it crashed two weeks after the 30 day return period to Best Buy. Guess it is a good thing they offer 10 year warranty? But have heard they will return a refurbished unit, which will not be good on 44 day old product. Must be living on the bleeding edge, should have stuck with the Toshiba, which I can't see a real life difference in speed.
vrs99
TN
After a Day of Wrestling with the SSD
July 11, 2015
After pulling every rabbit out of my hat I finally got the SSD going again. Have to completely reload OS, etc. starting at Windows 8. Not fun.
But I am "somewhat" happy that I was able to get the drive working. Not sure what happen to the drive, but have some suspicion of a setting in Magician (software system for the 850 Pro) which boosts speed?
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Only at Best BuyUpdate your portable technology kit with this HP Omen 17-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine combines a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor with 12GB of DDR4 RAM for ultra-fast performance on the go. An island-style backlit keyboard equipped with dedicated macro keys makes this HP Omen 17-inch laptop easy to use in the dark.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Hp omen gaming laptop
By Martinezjorge7
I recently bought the 16 omen laptop and I was able to return mine and be able to upgrade the the newest one it has a better graphic card and an new design with a better cooling vent with a 1 tb hard drive
vrs99
TN
NO DVD
July 12, 2017
There is no DVD built, you would have to use external.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
HP OMEN by HP Laptop: Power through the virtual landscape with this versatile HP Omen 15-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine packs a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card for superior graphics performance. The 1TB hard drive inside this HP Omen 15-inch laptop provides plenty for space for gaming profiles and other multimedia files.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Excellent laptop, but not the best value
By Xephyroth
from Colorado Springs, CO
This HP Omen is the 3rd gaming laptop I've ever owned, and it's undoubtedly the best one I've had the pleasure of using. However, this product isn't perfect out of the box.
FIRST IMPRESSION / UNBOXING:
Out of the box, the first thing that I noticed is that this laptop has impressive build quality. The sand-blasted brushing brings a pleasant aesthetic while also bringing solid weight and durability. It's not incredibly flashy, so it doesn't scream "gamer" like a lot of other laptops, but it definitely brings a touch of the "gamer" aesthetic without being overzealous. The notebook is also much thinner than I expected, as I've been used to much thicker gaming laptops, but I suppose the lack of an optical drive attributes to that. The power brick is fairly small and compact for a machine that's capable of entry/mid-level gaming.
Out of the box, the first thing that I noticed is that this laptop has impressive build quality. The sand-blasted brushing brings a pleasant aesthetic while also bringing solid weight and durability. It's not incredibly flashy, so it doesn't scream "gamer" like a lot of other laptops, but it definitely brings a touch of the "gamer" aesthetic without being overzealous. The notebook is also much thinner than I expected, as I've been used to much thicker gaming laptops, but I suppose the lack of an optical drive attributes to that. The power brick is fairly small and compact for a machine that's capable of entry/mid-level gaming.
DISPLAY:
Turning the display on, the 1080p IPS matte display is nice and bright, and viewing angles are decent without too much color shifting. Bezels aren't too large, and it's not something I noticed until just now while writing this review. While I'm used to Quad-HD and 4K resolutions, I was not displeased with this display in any fashion. The webcam is above the display and can record at 720p/30fps. Not the best, but not the worst webcam I've seen.
Turning the display on, the 1080p IPS matte display is nice and bright, and viewing angles are decent without too much color shifting. Bezels aren't too large, and it's not something I noticed until just now while writing this review. While I'm used to Quad-HD and 4K resolutions, I was not displeased with this display in any fashion. The webcam is above the display and can record at 720p/30fps. Not the best, but not the worst webcam I've seen.
KEYBOARD:
Typing on the keyboard is pleasant with the chiclet-style keys. It didn't take me too long to get used to the keyboard, having come from mechanical keyboards and MacBook Pro keyboards. The addition of the num-pad is certainly nice, as well. The keyboard is backlit red (as you'd expect with the Omen), but settings are very simplistic compared to other gaming laptops. The backlighting has 3 states: fully on, WASD on, or fully off. No, there are no fancy effects, and I wouldn't expect any at this price. I do find it a little bit surprising that you can't dim the backlighting, but I rarely dim the backlight on my keyboards, anyway, so it'd be a useless feature for me.
Typing on the keyboard is pleasant with the chiclet-style keys. It didn't take me too long to get used to the keyboard, having come from mechanical keyboards and MacBook Pro keyboards. The addition of the num-pad is certainly nice, as well. The keyboard is backlit red (as you'd expect with the Omen), but settings are very simplistic compared to other gaming laptops. The backlighting has 3 states: fully on, WASD on, or fully off. No, there are no fancy effects, and I wouldn't expect any at this price. I do find it a little bit surprising that you can't dim the backlighting, but I rarely dim the backlight on my keyboards, anyway, so it'd be a useless feature for me.
TRACKPAD:
Out of the box, the trackpad sensitivity was incredibly low for my personal taste. After making some adjustments to the Touchpad Settings in Windows 10, I found a sensitivity that worked well for me. The touchpad does not physically click, but there are left/right trackpad buttons. Initially, I did find the buttons to be awkwardly placed, but I actually got used to them fairly quickly. While the touchpad isn't the best I've ever used, it is pretty good, in my opinion. 2 and 3 finger gestures work, as well.
Out of the box, the trackpad sensitivity was incredibly low for my personal taste. After making some adjustments to the Touchpad Settings in Windows 10, I found a sensitivity that worked well for me. The touchpad does not physically click, but there are left/right trackpad buttons. Initially, I did find the buttons to be awkwardly placed, but I actually got used to them fairly quickly. While the touchpad isn't the best I've ever used, it is pretty good, in my opinion. 2 and 3 finger gestures work, as well.
SOUND:
The Bang & Olufsen speakers surprised me. They have good volume and a pleasant sound signature. However, they're bottom-firing, so when you put the laptop on your lap, the frequencies dampen and you lose a bit of treble/mid-range impact. Keep in mind, this is with the "B & O Play Experience" toggled on from the "Omen Audio" application. You'll definitely want to leave that on if you're using the speakers, or else the bass will disappear and will sound really anemic. I did notice some clipping at max volume when bass-heavy music was involved. Headphone jack works well as you'd expect, but doesn't promise anything fancy, so don't bother trying to drive headphones with high impedance. The built-in microphone array is good for video/voice chat session, but don't expect it to compete with a USB desktop microphone in terms of sound quality. For all casual purposes, it does just fine.
The Bang & Olufsen speakers surprised me. They have good volume and a pleasant sound signature. However, they're bottom-firing, so when you put the laptop on your lap, the frequencies dampen and you lose a bit of treble/mid-range impact. Keep in mind, this is with the "B & O Play Experience" toggled on from the "Omen Audio" application. You'll definitely want to leave that on if you're using the speakers, or else the bass will disappear and will sound really anemic. I did notice some clipping at max volume when bass-heavy music was involved. Headphone jack works well as you'd expect, but doesn't promise anything fancy, so don't bother trying to drive headphones with high impedance. The built-in microphone array is good for video/voice chat session, but don't expect it to compete with a USB desktop microphone in terms of sound quality. For all casual purposes, it does just fine.
PERFORMANCE:
This laptop comes with a 4-core / 8-thread Intel Core i7 processor. For most basic tasks, this is actually overkill. But for gamers, this is great, as more games are utilizing more threads. The GTX 1050 can play any older game at very high settings, and can still play many modern titles at medium / high settings at 1080p. 8GB of RAM is enough for most people, but individuals who multi-task with a lot of resource-intensive chrome tabs and extensions may find themselves wanting more. While the 1TB hard drive is rated for 7200RPM, I still find it unacceptable to not have the operating system installed on a Solid State Drive (SSD) for a machine at this price point. You will not be unlocking the full potential of this machine while your OS runs on a slow drive like this. Thankfully, the upgrade process is fairly simple. After consulting the service manual found on HP's support website, I unscrewed the 10 screws from the bottom of the laptop and removed the bottom panel by starting with the side closest to the display hinge. From there, you'll have access to the SATA drive bay, the M.2 SSD slot (unoccupied, but does support NVMe drives), and 2 RAM slots (with only 1 occupied). I suspect that each RAM slot supports up to 8GB, but I could not find any confirmation in any of the documents available on HP's support website.
This laptop comes with a 4-core / 8-thread Intel Core i7 processor. For most basic tasks, this is actually overkill. But for gamers, this is great, as more games are utilizing more threads. The GTX 1050 can play any older game at very high settings, and can still play many modern titles at medium / high settings at 1080p. 8GB of RAM is enough for most people, but individuals who multi-task with a lot of resource-intensive chrome tabs and extensions may find themselves wanting more. While the 1TB hard drive is rated for 7200RPM, I still find it unacceptable to not have the operating system installed on a Solid State Drive (SSD) for a machine at this price point. You will not be unlocking the full potential of this machine while your OS runs on a slow drive like this. Thankfully, the upgrade process is fairly simple. After consulting the service manual found on HP's support website, I unscrewed the 10 screws from the bottom of the laptop and removed the bottom panel by starting with the side closest to the display hinge. From there, you'll have access to the SATA drive bay, the M.2 SSD slot (unoccupied, but does support NVMe drives), and 2 RAM slots (with only 1 occupied). I suspect that each RAM slot supports up to 8GB, but I could not find any confirmation in any of the documents available on HP's support website.
I happened to have an unused SATA-based SSD, so I swapped that with the 1TB HDD and used the software that came with my SSD to transfer the OS from the HDD to the SSD. After this process, my HP Omen was substantially faster with booting the OS and running applications—a night & day difference.
BATTERY:
I haven't tested the battery life to an enormous extent, but enabling a battery estimation feature in the BIOS allows Windows 10 to report the estimated time (not just %) on battery. Depending on your brightness, power profile and workload, HP estimates 9 hours of mixed usage, and almost 7 hours of video playback. So far, I think that claim is accurate.
I haven't tested the battery life to an enormous extent, but enabling a battery estimation feature in the BIOS allows Windows 10 to report the estimated time (not just %) on battery. Depending on your brightness, power profile and workload, HP estimates 9 hours of mixed usage, and almost 7 hours of video playback. So far, I think that claim is accurate.
I/O:
The HP Omen doesn't support Thunderbolt 3, but all the USB ports support USB 3.1 (1 Type-C, 3 Type-A. There's also a gigabit ethernet jack, HDMI (HDCP 2.2, 4k@60Hz), and Mini DisplayPort. It also supports a full-size SD card which can be fully inserted into the laptop without sticking out. As mentioned before, it also sports a headphone and microphone jack.
The HP Omen doesn't support Thunderbolt 3, but all the USB ports support USB 3.1 (1 Type-C, 3 Type-A. There's also a gigabit ethernet jack, HDMI (HDCP 2.2, 4k@60Hz), and Mini DisplayPort. It also supports a full-size SD card which can be fully inserted into the laptop without sticking out. As mentioned before, it also sports a headphone and microphone jack.
CONCLUSION:
The HP Omen is a great laptop. It provides great features while also having room for a few upgrade. However, I do feel that an SSD should be included at this price—even a cheaper SATA-based M.2 or 2.5" drive would be fine. For a performance-oriented machine like this, skimping on the SSD is a poor decision on HP's part—especially at this price-point. I have seen competitor's laptops with the i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD go on sale for cheaper. So in that regard, I do feel the HP Omen isn't providing as good a value, but it is objectively a good laptop—perhaps, just not as good a value when compared to other options around the same price.
The HP Omen is a great laptop. It provides great features while also having room for a few upgrade. However, I do feel that an SSD should be included at this price—even a cheaper SATA-based M.2 or 2.5" drive would be fine. For a performance-oriented machine like this, skimping on the SSD is a poor decision on HP's part—especially at this price-point. I have seen competitor's laptops with the i7-7700HQ, GTX 1060, 16GB RAM, and 256GB SSD go on sale for cheaper. So in that regard, I do feel the HP Omen isn't providing as good a value, but it is objectively a good laptop—perhaps, just not as good a value when compared to other options around the same price.
vrs99
TN
Support Manual web site?
July 14, 2017
Do you have the link to the HP Support Site that has the Support Manual?
Have been looking and must be in the wrong place - Thanks
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
HP OMEN by HP Laptop: Power through the virtual landscape with this versatile HP Omen 15-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine packs a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card for superior graphics performance. The 1TB hard drive inside this HP Omen 15-inch laptop provides plenty for space for gaming profiles and other multimedia files.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Zoom Zoom Zoom – Game On
By vrs99
from TN
This machine looks like it is going fast sitting on the desktop. The exhaust system vents on the back edges of the laptop brings to mind the tailpipes a supercar might be sporting. When it is cranking through benchmarking the cooling system and exhaust ports are doing a job, pushing volumes of hot air away from the machine.
The HP Omen is the most bang for the buck that I have ever seen in a laptop, this box is loaded with edgy technology. Not going through a list of specs, those are easy enough to find, what is impressive is that all techs are up to date, not last year’s stuff. Too many times have seen corners cut to save a dollar. Not here. Not one USB 2.0 in sight, which is surprising seeing that we just built beast of a desktop a month ago with the latest Z270 Kaby Lake i7 7700K, USB 2.0 ports still in use on an advanced motherboard. Kudos to HP.
Take a close look at the specs, you will find 802.11ac with a solid 866.7 Mbps connection. “Dual Force functionality splits traffic across two data streams, sending gaming traffic over the fastest connection available (typically wired), and all other traffic over WiFi.”
Other ports of interest (not a complete listing check the spec sheet):
1 USB 3.1 Type C
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
What I love is the fact you can purchase a HDD Omen model and then add your M.2 NVMe drive of choice, that is cool. If you are not yet familiar with M.2 NVMe you should take a look. In a word (or more) they are fast, about seven times that of a standard SSD.
What is interesting is that with the HDD the system boots up in 9 seconds, that is fully populated with my programs/anti-virus and all my files. Impressive. Being spoiled by SSD’s I must tip my hat to HP; this machine runs tremendously smooth with the 7200 RPM Hitachi HDD.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated memory) discrete GPU ran through the Unigine Heaven Benchmark smoothly turning good numbers while the cooling system kept the GPU at a respectable 68 degrees. Notable, that with all the heavy iron under the hood the system manages the temp easily.
Ran my favorite game, Civilization VI through its paces today set on the highest graphic settings and it ran like a champ.
Looks, it has the looks, brushed aluminum case with an excellent finish. Nice touches all-around.
Know it is a way cool machine as my kid, the gamer in the house is explaining all the great and subtle reasons why it would be better for him to hang onto the machine. Yeah right!
What I am getting use to is the keyboard offset, a bit to the left to make room for the full size numeric pad, which is a nice touch. Keyboard is fine and well suited for heavy accurate work, or gaming for that matter.
Want a blistering rig in your hands at an excellent price point, one that can kick it at games and can be easily expanded, check out The Omen.
vrs99
TN
Maintenance and Service - Upgrade Manual
July 15, 2017
If you purchase the Omen and wish to upgrade memory or add M.2 SSD you can find the manual here:
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05533785
+3points
3of 3voted this comment as helpful.
HP OMEN by HP Laptop: Power through the virtual landscape with this versatile HP Omen 15-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine packs a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX video card for superior graphics performance. The 1TB hard drive inside this HP Omen 15-inch laptop provides plenty for space for gaming profiles and other multimedia files.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Zoom Zoom Zoom – Game On
By vrs99
from TN
This machine looks like it is going fast sitting on the desktop. The exhaust system vents on the back edges of the laptop brings to mind the tailpipes a supercar might be sporting. When it is cranking through benchmarking the cooling system and exhaust ports are doing a job, pushing volumes of hot air away from the machine.
The HP Omen is the most bang for the buck that I have ever seen in a laptop, this box is loaded with edgy technology. Not going through a list of specs, those are easy enough to find, what is impressive is that all techs are up to date, not last year’s stuff. Too many times have seen corners cut to save a dollar. Not here. Not one USB 2.0 in sight, which is surprising seeing that we just built beast of a desktop a month ago with the latest Z270 Kaby Lake i7 7700K, USB 2.0 ports still in use on an advanced motherboard. Kudos to HP.
Take a close look at the specs, you will find 802.11ac with a solid 866.7 Mbps connection. “Dual Force functionality splits traffic across two data streams, sending gaming traffic over the fastest connection available (typically wired), and all other traffic over WiFi.”
Other ports of interest (not a complete listing check the spec sheet):
1 USB 3.1 Type C
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
3 USB 3.1
Mini DisplayPort
What I love is the fact you can purchase a HDD Omen model and then add your M.2 NVMe drive of choice, that is cool. If you are not yet familiar with M.2 NVMe you should take a look. In a word (or more) they are fast, about seven times that of a standard SSD.
What is interesting is that with the HDD the system boots up in 9 seconds, that is fully populated with my programs/anti-virus and all my files. Impressive. Being spoiled by SSD’s I must tip my hat to HP; this machine runs tremendously smooth with the 7200 RPM Hitachi HDD.
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated memory) discrete GPU ran through the Unigine Heaven Benchmark smoothly turning good numbers while the cooling system kept the GPU at a respectable 68 degrees. Notable, that with all the heavy iron under the hood the system manages the temp easily.
Ran my favorite game, Civilization VI through its paces today set on the highest graphic settings and it ran like a champ.
Looks, it has the looks, brushed aluminum case with an excellent finish. Nice touches all-around.
Know it is a way cool machine as my kid, the gamer in the house is explaining all the great and subtle reasons why it would be better for him to hang onto the machine. Yeah right!
What I am getting use to is the keyboard offset, a bit to the left to make room for the full size numeric pad, which is a nice touch. Keyboard is fine and well suited for heavy accurate work, or gaming for that matter.
Want a blistering rig in your hands at an excellent price point, one that can kick it at games and can be easily expanded, check out The Omen.
vrs99
TN
Adding M.2 SSD
July 18, 2017
Added a M.2 SSD to the Omen and nuked all the partitions on the HDD and added it back to the system. Day and Night performance. That is one aspect I like about this model is that it does not come with an installed M.2 drive, you can pick your own SSD ads capacity.
Screams with the new M.2 and have an additionally terabyte of storage on the HDD, whcih I use to sync my files to frequently before syncing with the NAS.
Great machine.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
vrs99's Questions
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Only at Best BuyUpdate your portable technology kit with this HP Omen 17-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine combines a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor with 12GB of DDR4 RAM for ultra-fast performance on the go. An island-style backlit keyboard equipped with dedicated macro keys makes this HP Omen 17-inch laptop easy to use in the dark.
Is this laptop too heavy for college or university students?
Here is the link to the spec sheet - will answer many of your questions.
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/images/OMEN_Laptop_17_an013dx_tcm245_2468782_tcm245_2469233_tcm245-2468782.pdf
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/images/OMEN_Laptop_17_an013dx_tcm245_2468782_tcm245_2469233_tcm245-2468782.pdf
6 years, 9 months ago
by
vrs99
Only at Best BuyUpdate your portable technology kit with this HP Omen 17-inch laptop. Ideal for gaming, this machine combines a 7th generation Intel Core i7 processor with 12GB of DDR4 RAM for ultra-fast performance on the go. An island-style backlit keyboard equipped with dedicated macro keys makes this HP Omen 17-inch laptop easy to use in the dark.
Is this laptop VR ready?
Here is the link to the spec sheet - will answer many of your questions.
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/images/OMEN_Laptop_17_an013dx_tcm245_2468782_tcm245_2469233_tcm245-2468782.pdf
http://www8.hp.com/us/en/images/OMEN_Laptop_17_an013dx_tcm245_2468782_tcm245_2469233_tcm245-2468782.pdf
6 years, 9 months ago
by
vrs99
Add stability to your home network with the Amped Wireless HELIOS-EX Wi-Fi Extender. With DirectLink technology, it avoids signal loss by adding another 5GHz Wi-Fi channel to the standard setup, which it then uses strictly for receiving signal from the source. This Amped Wireless HELIOS-EX Wi-Fi Extender covers an area of up to 12,000 sq. ft. and includes four Gigabit network ports.
Can this extender be connected with a hard wire from my router? or does it have to get its signal wireless from the router and then broadcast the wireless signal to computers. Where the extender located will better if its signal can be hard wired
Typically if you want to use a wire you will run it from your computer to the box, and that you can do with this device.
6 years, 10 months ago
by
vrs99
Browse the internet or play your favorite apps on this Acer tablet. It runs on an Android operating system and is powered by a quad-core 64-bit processor for full functionality. Google Mobile Services and Microsoft Office Suite are preloaded on this Acer tablet for out-of-the-box work or play capabilities, and DTS-HD Premium Sound lets you enjoy videos.
THIS Acer - Iconia One 10 - 10.1 - Tablet - 32gb - White IN SALE in best buy, IS NEW OR USED?
It is a new model. To be sure you can check to see if it is model B3-A30.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
vrs99
Which is better: AMD A8-Series or Intel® 4th Generation Core™ i3
I am going to purchase a new laptop and I've narrowed it down to either:the HP Pavilion 12-E017DX or the HP Pavilion 12-E019DX. The thing holding up my puchase it that I don't know what the diference is between the processors. I only use my laptop for general use...email, web surfing, facebook, etc. Can someone please tell me what the difference is and which one is better? Thanks
Personally without going and looking at the specs of the AMD card I would recommend going with the i3. The Intel chips are superior and deliver more performance for the price.
If you can stretch it go for the Haswell i5 which offers superior performance over the i3 and sips juice from the battery. Good Luck
If you can stretch it go for the Haswell i5 which offers superior performance over the i3 and sips juice from the battery. Good Luck
Products from my answer
HP - Split 2-in-1 13.3" Touch-Screen Laptop - Intel Core i5 - 4GB Memory - 128GB Solid State Drive - Black/Silver
(175)10 years, 4 months ago
by
vrs99
TN