grimmace's stats
- Review count141
- Helpfulness votes283
- First reviewSeptember 18, 2007
- Last reviewApril 24, 2024
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.7
- Review comment count1
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentJune 8, 2016
- Last review commentJune 8, 2016
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count16
- Helpfulness votes16
- First answerMarch 3, 2010
- Last answerJanuary 12, 2022
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- Best answers1
There are 4 different sound modes so you can match the sound to your content and mood. Stereo mode is ideal for music and podcasts while Standard is ideal for TV programs. Try Game mode to immerse yourself in your latest battle and use 3D Movie mode to create an expansive theater experience. Use the included remote or the Sound Bar Remote app.
Customer Rating
5
Great compact Soundbar w/ Subwoofer with 1 caveat
on February 14, 2023
Posted by: grimmace
This 2.1 Sound Bar with Sub-woofer sounds great for its compact size. The Soundbar is 2.9lbs, and 23-5/8” x 2-1/2” x 3-3/4”. The wireless Subwoofer is 12.9lbs and 13-1/4” x 6-1/4” x 14-3/8. Being lightweight and having mounting holes makes it easy to mount under a TV, monitor, or on a wall. The Subwoofer is not big and with no wires is easy to place under a desk or behind a cabinet. The unit comes with two power cables, a remote, spacers, a mounting template, pads for the subwoofer, and a Toslink cable. The soundbar and subwoofer come pre-mated and connect automatically. The soundbar has the connections, HDMI, 2x Toslink, and 3.5mm. The USB connection is for updates only.
I slung my soundbar under my PC monitor and the subwoofer under my desk. For PC connections, you will have to use a Toslink cable. The HDMI interface only works for sound with an Audio Return Channel (ARC) connection. Connecting the soundbar directly to a video card or a non ARC TV HDMI connection will not provide any sound. You can control the on/off and HDMI control functions through the HDMI cable without ARC, but that’s it. You will need to a Toslink or 3.5mm cable without ARC. Toslink is limited to 5.1, but with a 2.1 setup such as this, it’s not a problem. Dolby Digital and PCM are supported thought HDIM or Toslink. I connected my PC to the soundbar via Toslink. If you want to use this with multiple items, you will need to connect them to a TV with the soundbar on the ARC HDMI slot, and have all other units go through the TV. Most PC monitors do not have ARC.
Once hooked up the sound is quite good. Far better than small PC, TV, or monitor speakers. Unlike many small soundbars, with the subwoofer the range is greatly increased. The subwoofer is not overpowering and matches the soundbar nicely. The remote control is a simple layout and allows access to all the functions and inputs. On the soundbar itself, lights indicate the status and settings. You get 4 preset modes, Stereo, Standard, 3D movie, and Game. You also have options for clear voice, and bass extension. All provide slight tweaks to the listening experience. The soundbar, even turned up high never got distorted. The remote has two volume controls, one for overall and one for the subwoofer. If you don’t want to use a cable you can connect to the soundbar with Bluetooth (BT). Using BT, the unit will stay in a low power mode waiting for the BT signal and turn on as needed. BT sounded good and connecting was a standard pairing procedure. You can dim the lights and mute from the remote too. As I was using the soundbar on a PC, I selected game for the sound preference. Games sound great and with the bass have some punch to them. Music sounds good whether through Toslink or BT connections. The soundbar has a good range and the bass adds the low range nicely. The info button the remote will tell you the type of audio signal the unit is receiving by the lights that illuminate on the soundbar. You can also access the soundbar through the Yamaha SB remote on a tablet or smartphone. This works through BT and allows access to all soundbar features. If BT is on this can also be an easy way to control everything.
The soundbar is compact, lightweight sound good, and easy to mount or place due to its compact size. With the subwoofer the range of sound is expanding providing a better listening experience. The caveat is you can’t simply plug into the unit with HDMI. The unit can be connected to two different units through BT. You have to have ARC, there is only one HDMI connection. Even with HDMI splitters, most split out the sound to Toslink, but I found none that would pass an ARC signal onto a split HDMI port if the source didn’t have ARC. But, you can always go wireless with BT if you are trying to cut down on cables. PCs, TVs, and many A/V units have Toslink ports and with the provided cable you connect easily. The soundbar frees up space and does its job well.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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We all want to turn heads, but one rogue nose hair can be a real head turner for all the wrong reasons. The Weed Whacker 2.0 is fitted with a significantly improved stainless steel rotary blade, our second-generation nose & ear hair trimmer provides a closer, easier cut, missing fewer hairs. Once you try this painless solution, you’ll never pluck your strays again.
Customer Rating
5
Doesn't rip hair out, cuts, so no pain
on February 10, 2023
Posted by: grimmace
Works as they say. Used in ears and nose with no pain from pulling. The unit is lightweight, rechargeable, and works wet or dry. Cleaning is easy, and it's simple to operate. The coating makes it easy to grip, then just move the on/off switch to the position wanted. The unit spins at 9000RPM, much faster than an old one I had that would rip instead if cut hairs out. It’s not too loud, a buzzing noise when on. The head didn’t go into my ear canal, but by varying the angle I got the head everywhere I needed to get hair. Running over on in the ear, it made quick work of any hair it found. When using it in my nose, the worst was a slight tingle when using. Definitely better then my old trimmer. As it says, just take it slowly and you’ll be done in no time.
The unit looks nice and comes with a USB cord and charger. You need to charge it for 8 hours before first use. A light indicates charging, and on/off status. The charging connection is on the underside of the unit, opposite the on/off switch. Easy to use and painless, makes nose and ear hair trimming easy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Wallbox Pulsar Plus level 2 smart EV charger offers the best of both small size and powerful performance for faster electric vehicle charging at home. This unit comes with a NEMA plug for installation. Designed for easy installation, Pulsar Plus’ J1772 connector can charge any electric car on the market today up to 7x faster than standard (120v) charging cables that come with most EVs. This home EV charging station is simple and efficient with the integrated myWallbox app, which allows you to control your electric vehicle charger from your smart devices via WiFi or Bluetooth. With Pulsar Plus, you are in control of your energy use. Schedule and manage your charging sessions to maximize efficiency and save money when electrical demand and rates are low. Get the Pulsar Plus EV charger and start charging smarter.
Customer Rating
4
Good J1772 Level 2 charger
on November 24, 2022
Posted by: grimmace
The Pulsar is a good level 2 smart connected charger. This version comes ready to use since it just plugs in. It uses a NEMA 14-50 plug, also known as a RV plug. The unit is small and indoor/outdoor capable. Is has a LED light that glows or flashes different colors to let you know the state of the unit and its charging status. It's solidly built of plastic and looks nice. It's compact in size and comes with all mounting hardware needed for the unit and the J1772 charger end. Set up is as easy as mounting, and plugging in. Having a phone unlocks all the options available and advanced features.
Setup is easy, just mount and plug in. But, here is the physical shortfall of the device. The cable length from the unit to the end of the plug is about 15". It's a thick cable, so it won't bend much. This gives really limited options for where the unit can be mounted. With the plug mount, the cable comes out the bottom for me, so it's mount to the left or right of the plug, and with the wiring for the plug going one way, I only had one place to put it. Only a little more than a foot for the power connection, so plan accordingly. The length of the cable from the main unit to the car is 25 feet and plenty long enough to connect to your electric plug.
Once plugged in, wait a bit and the unit is ready to communicate. It set the max at 40A which is my limit on a 50A line. The first connection is through Bluetooth (BT) to a phone or tablet and the Wallbox app. Registration and connection is easy. The app will take a photo of the QR code on the main unit and connect. The app seems to prefer to use BT. I did get it to use Wi-Fi, but it drops a lot even with a strong signal. Once in the app, you can see charging times and Kilowatts used. It will break down use by weeks, year, etc. Set your electric price and it will tell you the overall cost of your charging. You can set a schedule for charging if you can’t in your car for certain days and times of the week. It doesn’t know if a different car is connected, so it’s all lumped together. It did charge right to the max ability of my car. The unit has a LED light on it to indicate the state if the unit and the charging status. Makes it easy to see what it’s doing at a glance. The light can be turned off if wanted.
Once plugged in, wait a bit and the unit is ready to communicate. It set the max at 40A which is my limit on a 50A line. The first connection is through Bluetooth (BT) to a phone or tablet and the Wallbox app. Registration and connection is easy. The app will take a photo of the QR code on the main unit and connect. The app seems to prefer to use BT. I did get it to use Wi-Fi, but it drops a lot even with a strong signal. Once in the app, you can see charging times and Kilowatts used. It will break down use by weeks, year, etc. Set your electric price and it will tell you the overall cost of your charging. You can set a schedule for charging if you can’t in your car for certain days and times of the week. It doesn’t know if a different car is connected, so it’s all lumped together. It did charge right to the max ability of my car. The unit has a LED light on it to indicate the state if the unit and the charging status. Makes it easy to see what it’s doing at a glance. The light can be turned off if wanted.
Upgrades to the firmware are done through the app. It also can to power sharing if you run multiply units at once on one line to prevent drawing to many amps while charging multiple cars at once. Overall, the unit does what it should, but needs a longer power connection cable to start. The app is improving. It’s simple to setup and straight forward. It will charge your car with no issues.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Space Q45 noise canceling headphones balance refined design and ergonomic, comfort-enhancing details, with incredible immersive audio performance. Hi-resolution audio takes center stage - these are performance tested to block up to 98% of unwanted noise - but a huge 50 hour playtime makes the Space Q45 a perfect pair of headphones.
Customer Rating
5
Good ANC Headphones for the price
on October 17, 2022
Posted by: grimmace
The Soundcore Space Q45 headphones are a good ANC over the ear headphone for the price. They are comfortable and lightweight. They didn't feel heavy on the head and felt good around the ears. It has wired and Bluetooth (BT) interfaces. The construction seems solid, and the headphones come with a case for carrying and protection. Charging is by an open USB-C port. The earcups rotate so it can fold flat.
Operating them is pretty easy. There are physical buttons for almost all the functions you want. Short or long pressing the buttons will change volume, select tracts, answer or end calls etc. The buttons are in places that make it easy to remember where they are to make a change. You can also control the ANC. This will allow you most of what you want. To really take advantage of the headphones you need to connect them to the Soundcore app. With that done you can modify the ANC settings, change the type of NC if wanted, add extra bass, and use an equalizer. By the default the headphones seem to target the midrange listening to music. With the app and adding some bass it was easy to change levels and get a better sound. The ANC has a slight hiss you'll hear at low volumes as with most ANC listening devices. The ANC itself works well at blocking out ambient noise. On phone calls I was head well, I just had to speak up a little.
In this price range it’s a very good headphone, it delivers on ANC, and you can adjust the sound to your liking with the app. Controls are easy to find and use. They are comfortable and I had no issues using them with a PC or a phone. Phone calls went well. A great bang for the buck set.
Operating them is pretty easy. There are physical buttons for almost all the functions you want. Short or long pressing the buttons will change volume, select tracts, answer or end calls etc. The buttons are in places that make it easy to remember where they are to make a change. You can also control the ANC. This will allow you most of what you want. To really take advantage of the headphones you need to connect them to the Soundcore app. With that done you can modify the ANC settings, change the type of NC if wanted, add extra bass, and use an equalizer. By the default the headphones seem to target the midrange listening to music. With the app and adding some bass it was easy to change levels and get a better sound. The ANC has a slight hiss you'll hear at low volumes as with most ANC listening devices. The ANC itself works well at blocking out ambient noise. On phone calls I was head well, I just had to speak up a little.
In this price range it’s a very good headphone, it delivers on ANC, and you can adjust the sound to your liking with the app. Controls are easy to find and use. They are comfortable and I had no issues using them with a PC or a phone. Phone calls went well. A great bang for the buck set.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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With the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe, you can turn almost anything into ice cream and so much more. Make classic CREAMi treats like ice cream, sorbet, and gelato, and mix-in masterpieces. And now, make new CREAMi scoopable and drinkable treats like Italian Ice, Slushi, Creamiccino, frozen yogurt, and frozen drinks right at home. With two new 24 oz. CREAMi Deluxe Pints, you can utilize the half-pint processing feature to get two finished flavors out of the same Deluxe Pint. These new functions and features make the Ninja CREAMi Deluxe truly the next level in frozen treat and drink making.
Posted by: grimmace
The Ninja CREAMi Deluxe makes making various frozen confections relatively easy. No salt or on-board refrigeration needed. It's simply a stirrer that mixes various frozen recipes you make. The unit is one solid piece with a simple dial and selection buttons on it. You have an outer container, the frozen treat container, and a lid that holds the blade. Just put the small container in the outer one, put on the lid and snap it into the unit. It's pretty foolproof from a mechanical standpoint. Very easy to use. Once you make your selections press in the dial and the machine does its work. The only downside is the machine is very loud when running. You'll have to raise your voice or yell over it if you're in the same room.
It comes with a recipe book to try out all of the different types of items it can make. You make items by mixing the ingredients for what you want in a bowl and then pouring it into the small container. You then freeze the container for 24 hours. This is where your needed ice will come from. The mixer is not a blender, so don't put large items in it expecting them to be chopped up. You need to cut items down beforehand. I followed several recipes, and they came out great. Even when I made a mistake the result was still tasty. The recipes are a start, you'll adjust them as needed to meet your tastes. Easiest to start with are milkshakes, just need some ice cream and milk. No need to freeze for a day. Mix and let the machine blend. From think to smooth, as desired, they came out great. I made some slushies. First time I didn't use enough liquid and got something more like soft frozen ice. Next time, using the correct amount of liquid, it came out great and as expected. Ice cream was not hard to make. Just a few ingredients, freeze, and let the machine mix the result. Vanilla tasted great. I have done several basic recipes and had no problems expect when I misread a direction, but still made edible results. Theres is also a mix-in setting to put in small extras like chips or cookies. There are some complex frozen recipes in the included book and more online to try about any frozen desert you want. You can check out the book on the ninja site too.
The device comes with 2 containers for making items, one cover, and a blade. Cleanup isn't hard, as only the used container, cover and blade need to be cleaned. The outer container may have condensation on it, but no food. Getting extra containers isn’t too expensive, but two are good start with. The device is simple and worked well. The recipes have been good so far and everyone has liked the results. Just plan a day ahead for what you want to make and enjoy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Don’t let your iPhone battery die as you go throughout your day. The Insignia NS-MW335C2W22 35W Foldable Compact Dual USB-C Port Wall Charger for iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, Samsung Smartphones, Tablets and More has a high, 35-watt output to quickly charge your iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, Apple Watch, AirPods and more. It has two USB-C ports so you can connect your cable (not included) and charge two devices simultaneously. Its compact and durable body with a foldable plug easily fits into a purse or pocket, ready for when you need it. A simple white design pairs well with your other accessories. Keep your Apple devices working as hard as you do with this dual port, easy-to-carry charger.
Customer Rating
5
Compact high speed charger
on September 15, 2022
Posted by: grimmace
As a USB-C device it'll work with any item needing a USB-C charger. The plug folds away against the body of the device. It's very compact, lightweight, so you can slip it into a case to take with you anywhere. Very portable, so you can plug in anywhere with high charge rates. It's white with faint gray lettering near the ports. Even at full charge it did not get hot to the touch.
I used on an apple phone with an adapter and it work fine. I used it with a samsung phone and got high speed charging with no issues. The USB-C port in the more middle position will give a full 35W charge when it's the only port in use. If you charge two devices at once, the port near the edge gives 8W and the middle one 27W. 8W is good enough for peripherals like watches or headphones. It charged my sony wireless headphones with no issues.
Overall a great compact charger for high speed charger at home or on the go. Using 35W you can charge a phone or other device quickly and get back to using it. Or, charge main and less demanding device at the same time. Either way, the charger will meet your needs.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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G502 X PLUS, the latest version of Logitech’s most popular gaming mouse, combines a legacy of performance with the most advanced gaming technologies. G502 X also introduces hybrid optical-mechanical LIGHTFORCE switches for the primary left and right buttons. Also equipped with LIGHTSYNC RGB powering flowing 8-LED lighting that’s customizable and adapts as you play with startup/power-down effects and battery optimization through active play detection. Complete with updated LIGHTSPEED wireless with 68 percent faster response rate, HERO 25K sub-micron sensor and more.
Posted by: grimmace
Is the venerable 502 improved? Yes! The 502 X Plus is a better 502. The first thing you'll notice is the weight, much lighter than the original, but still feels solid in the hand. The scroll wheel is improved, it's not as clunky and rolls smoother. The feel and texture of the wheel is better in scroll or fly mode. The clicks are a little louder and sound more metallic with the new switch mechanism. The shape is about the same, so not much different there. There are slight differences in the looks, but it feels the same. The lighting has changed, but it's always under your hand. USB-C charging and a long battery life. The DPI switch button is changeable. From direction to type. I like the original insert as it sticks out more and was easier for my thumb to use. With the small insert, which sits flush with the side of the mouse, my thumb kept bumping the side buttons. So, the original insert works better for me. The underside has the same pop out circle to put the USB receiver in for storage.
Setup is plug and play. Just take the receiver and plug it into a USB port. It’ll work with generic mouse settings. With G-Hub software, you can unlock all of the options on the mouse. Make sure your G-Hub software is up to date or the mouse will not register with the software. Once G-Hub finds the mouse it walks you through a basic setup. Then at the mouse setup screen you have access to DPI settings, lighting, and what button presses do. Whether to use mouse memory, or custom game settings. The software lets you customize away. You have 13 buttons and can customize most. Lighting effects to DPI settings. The HERO sensor is still up to 25K DPI and the mouse is as responsive as a wired mouse. I had no problems testing it out in games. The lighting changed from the G to a light that crosses the back of the mouse. You can set colors and effects from G-Hub.
This mouse is an improvement over the 502, the weight alone is a big difference. All of the functions you would expect from a Logitech G mouse are there when you the G-Hub. The clicks are solid, and the wheel works better. Everything is smooth in operation. The pictures compare the 502 X Plus to the original 502 wireless. The 502 X Plus is always on the right.
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
Solid M.2 PCIe 3.0 drive, software lacking
on August 25, 2022
Posted by: grimmace
This Crucial P3 PCIe 3.0 M.2 preforms as well as all the other PCIe 3.0 M.2s. I compared it with my Samsung and Intel PCIe 3.0 M.2s and the results were similar. See attached photo. The box comes with the M.2, a screw, and a pamphlet with instructions. It installs like any other M.2. You can put it in, set it up with Windows drive manager and be ready to go. Simple installation and the drive will work.
To access the more advanced features you need the software for the drive. Crucial has Crucial Storage Executive and a special version of Acronis for cloning an old drive to the new P3. I had a laptop with only one M.2 slot and tried using 3 different USB to M.2 adapters on two different laptops, and Acronis would not recognize it. I put the current M.2 in the USB enclosure but couldn't boot from it correctly. When the M.2s are in the same machine, the Acronis picked them up to do the transfer with no issues. The Crucial Storage Executive is for setting up and maintaining your P3. It picked up my P3, and one other M.2 (a Samsung), but missed 4 other M.2 (Samsung and Intel) on the computer I installed the P3 in. I don’t expect the software to do anything with other drives, but it should be able to detect them. To format from the program, you need to install a Micron driver, then you can format. The program would not over provision the P3 but wanted to on a non-crucial drive. There are no benchmark tests to see M.2 performance. Changing between options in the software is slow. You can see smart status, drive details, temp, secure erase, secure, self-test, use momentum cache, and upgrade firmware among other options.
Overall, the performance is a good as any other PCIe 3.0 drive. In a USB 3.2 enclosure it got sustained 300MB transfer rates. The drive is solid, but the software needs some improvements.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Build a better home network with this NETGEAR Nighthawk tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router. The five Ethernet ports provide Gigabit-speed wired connections, and the powerful antennae support up to eight Wi-Fi streams at once. This NETGEAR Nighthawk tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router has a 6GHz band that delivers wireless speeds of up to 7.8 Gbps. Includes a 1-year NETGEAR Armor all-in-one internet security subscription.
Customer Rating
5
Great router with newest capabilities
on August 21, 2022
Posted by: grimmace
Overall a solid router with up to date features and yes, it looks like an imperial shuttle. The sides do fold down so if you have a tight space, it can still fit in it, but your coverage may not be as good. Setup was not hard, you can use the app or go directly to the router’s GUI. The app setup through the Nighthawk app was not hard, just follow the directions. I then did a setup through the router GUI and it was also easy to setup. You can connect the Nighthawk app to the router after a router setup simply. Typical Netgear process. I had this replace an old Netgear R7800 and was a big leap in performance. Physically, besides the sides it also has holes for wall mounting. It has one USB-C port for file sharing, and six LAN ports. The LAN ports are four regular 1GB ports for your network with two available for .ad port aggregation. The other two LAN ports have dual duty. One is a regular 1GB WAN/LAN port, and the other a 1-2.5GB WAN/LAN port. Which ever one is not a WAN port becomes a regular LAN port for your network. So, this can accept up to 2.5GB WAN connections from your ISP if you have the speed, or be a multi-gig port for your network. There are lights for all the ports and wifi on the router. Due to the shape of the device looking from the front or back you can’t see the lights on the other side. If wall mounted, you can see all of the lights at once. There is a lip on the bottom under the RJ45 ports which can make it a little hard to remove large plugs. Make sure you check for firmware updates as soon as it’s hooked up.
The app is useful for an overall overview of your network from anywhere. I used the advance tab in the GUI to setup the router the way I want. I have 60+ devices on my network between wired and wireless and the router handled it all with no issues. I set my server up with aggregation and the .ad worked fine. I use the 1GB WAN port and the 2.5GB became a LAN port. All wired connections had no issues. For wireless, it handled 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6E all at once with no issues for 20+ devices. Specifications say 40-70 wireless devices should be okay. I just put in my old wifi settings, and a new one for 6E, and all my wireless devices were picked up with no issues. I connected a USB-C 3.2 drive and setup file sharing. As with most routers, upload was very slow, sustained 10MB/s after a 50MB/s start for a few seconds. Downloads are as fast expected on a network. So, load your files from a computer before connecting the drive to the router. Mapping the drive as a network drive was easy as the setup page gives you the location and you can just copy and paste it into the Network drive setup. UPnP worked fine for my network.
You can see of the devices currently connected to the router and allow/block, or assign them IP reservations if in DHCP. Whether directly to the router, or thorough some AP’s the router saw everything on the network and assigned IPs with no issues. On the Nighthawk app it remembers anything ever connected, but the router only shows what is currently connected, so the numbers reporter under Home on the app and attached devices on the router can be different. The device has QoS, but you can’t see how it works and manually set priorities. It has a Traffic Meter to either see your traffic, or set limits to not go over. You can also setup the device as a Router, AP, or Bridge.
I do have a Wi-Fi 6E laptop and tested it out. Right next to the router I got a 1.4GB connection and 90MB/s throughput. One floor up I lost 1/3 indicated connection speed and throughout was 60MB/s. On the top floor, 2 floors away, I lost 2/3 the connection indicated and throughput was 33MB/s. 5GHz was a better option as you get further away. But, in close proximity to the router, 6E is slightly below 1GB ethernet for throughput. 90MB/s on 6E vs 115-120MB/s on ethernet.
There are some add-ons for the device, Parental controls, and Armor Security. Both have 30 day test periods and don’t require a credit card to be entered for the trail periods. Both have to be activated from the app. Although you can see the status, enabled or not, in the router GUI, all of the controls and reports are in the app. Armor scans your network for vulnerabilities. It was hit or miss for me. It found all my devices, and at one point reported 837 issues. It was three devices with each with over 250 issues. Every time it scanned, it reported an issue again and just kept piling them up instead of removing duplicates. So, overall there were not many issues, 6 total, 2 per device. When someone mistyped a website address the program blocked access as a malware site and reported it in the app. So, it is working. It’s $100 a year, but intro price is $40 if you want it. As both programs require you to allow installation, and there is no cost for a 30 day trail it’s not bloatware, you can just ignore it. For protection it also pushes Bitdefender to protect devices that can run it. You’ll see a report in the app telling you about it. Although add-ons are there, there are no tricks to get you to sign up, if you don’t, none of the router abilities are lost.
This is router is only a little but less capable than it’s more expensive version the RAXE500 which is $200 more. You don’t lose much and get some newer options. The router is solid and does everything from multi-gig LAN/WAN to the latest Wi-Fi 6E with no issues. Setup is simple and through the router GUI can control almost all functions of the router. Although there are additional pay subscription options, you don’t have to use them, it’s clear what is pay and not, so no tricks. More functions are being pushed to the app, but you can still do everything through the router GUI. Remote management is done through the app now. Overall, the RAXE-300 is another solid router from Netgear.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Dell G 15 laptops are designed for entry-level to mainstream gamers, featuring the latest AMD processors, powerful NVIDIA GeForce discrete graphics, a range of storage and memory options, sharp high-resolution displays that can be viewed at any angle, and dual fans for cooling.
Customer Rating
5
Fast laptop, just a add a little memory
on July 30, 2022
Posted by: grimmace
This Dell G5 is a fast zippy laptop. As a gaming laptop it is heavier and thicker than a regular laptop and requires a larger (180w) power supply. The shell is mostly a grey plastic. The screen can be raised just prior to the end, it is not hinged at the back. The screen is a standard 15.6” 1080p which looks and reacts nicely. The keyboard is a little tight, but includes a numpad. The backlighting is a solid redish color. The sides have USB3 A slots, Ethernet, and headphone jacks. The back as a USB-C, power, USB3 slot A, and an HDMI connection. All ports worked fine. HDMI was easy to hook up to another monitor. The USB-C can be used for dongles and docks if needed. It comes with Windows 11 Home. There is a 720p camera on the top of the screen, it does not have a built-in privacy shutter. There were only two pieces of bloatware, two McAffee programs, but they were easily removed from add/remove programs in settings.
The CPU is an AMD 6600H. It powered through what I used on it. It’s got 6 cores and 12 threads total, plenty to throw at tasks. The M.2 drive is a generic 512GB SSD. The laptop comes with 8GB of DDR5 RAM. For less intensive games it’s enough, but for more intensive games after the OS, it doesn’t leave much. Some games already require more than 8GB RAM. The GPU is a 3050 and can easily power the 1080p screen and more if you plug into another monitor. The wi-fi connected at top AX speeds with no issues and the Ethernet was just plug in and go. At the default load out, programs loaded fast. I didn’t run the battery dry, but it held up well in normal use. For gaming it’ll go much faster. In high usage, the laptop got hot, but nothing scorching. Sound is on par with any other laptop, and it comes with the Dolby sound program.
I upgraded the laptop to a 2TB 970 EVO, and 32GB RAM. The laptop only has 1 M.2 slot, and 2 RAM slots. The M.2 takes up to 2280 in size, and the RAM slots only 8 or 16GB of memory. Adding one more 8GB RAM stick would go long way for more intensive games. I also upgrade to Win 11 Pro to put the laptop in my home domain. The default score from 3Dmark Time spy at 1080p was 5100. After the upgrades it was 5265. The GPU score went up just under 1%, but the CPU score went up ~20%. Load times for programs and start up was faster, and multi-tasking was quicker. See picture on how to upgrade components. Changing the M.2 standoff requires you to unscrew the M.2 heatsink, slide the standoff towards the middle of the computer, then slid it back on at the end slot at the end of the computer. The included heatsink can’t be used on a 2280 M.2 size. With more memory, heavier loads were handled better. The Time Spy game difference my seem small, but in games the extra memory makes a bigger difference. Invest in at least another 8GB to make everything smoother for games or just multitasking with the wen and office. AS with most recent Dell laptops it was easy to open and replace parts. Just unscrew the bottom screws and pop it open.
Overall, the computer looks nice, and performs well. You may be limited by the 8GB or RAM, and for more intensive games 16GB will help a lot. There is only one M.2 slot, so make sure you have a way to do a full disk transfer. With 2 RAM slots adding more memory is easy. The processor is great, and the whole bundle under $1K is a good deal. You can always start with this and do upgrades to It later. Overall, it’s s solid performer you can make even better.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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grimmace's Review Comments
Your household is busy streaming media, working online, and playing games every day. This Linksys Wi-Fi Router will expand your network coverage, send signals directly to your devices, and deliver a lag-free connection, even when you’re all online at the same time.
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Just average router for now
By grimmace
from MD
This is a high end router from Linksys. Hooking it up was easy, and starting it was not a problem.
Positives-
8 ports – lots of ports to plug directly into the router.
Interface and setup are easy
Dual band worked fine
Multiple VPN ports can be designated
8 ports – lots of ports to plug directly into the router.
Interface and setup are easy
Dual band worked fine
Multiple VPN ports can be designated
Neutral-
The have icons to attach to your network devices. They have the Wemo series of products and some other generic icons, but not much else if it matters to people.
The have icons to attach to your network devices. They have the Wemo series of products and some other generic icons, but not much else if it matters to people.
Negative-
No aggregate ports
No bandwidth monitor (couldn’t find it in the regular Linksys screen location or any other pages)
Have to use an app to connect with mobile devices
Keeps trying to get you sign up for Linksys smart-fi
Requires adobe flash for the speed test. Flash is going away.
Wireless range was not as great as other similar range routers.
No aggregate ports
No bandwidth monitor (couldn’t find it in the regular Linksys screen location or any other pages)
Have to use an app to connect with mobile devices
Keeps trying to get you sign up for Linksys smart-fi
Requires adobe flash for the speed test. Flash is going away.
Wireless range was not as great as other similar range routers.
All of the comments are from the original firmware shipped with the router. The issue is, for a top end router with the matching price, it needs to have features others in the range do. Firmware upgrades should be able to fix many of these issues I think, but they should be there from the start. So, average overall since it has room to improve and should.
grimmace
Baltimore, MD
Range update.
June 8, 2016
I did play with the position of the antennas, The link you provided has very basic information. I tried the antennas at all angles, mostly 45 and 90. The range was still not as great as other routers in this price range.
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grimmace's Questions
grimmace has not submitted any questions.
Unleash the power of the Samsung 980 PRO with Heatsink for next-level computing. With a PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ interface, get up to 2x the data transfer rate of PCIe® 3.0¹ while remaining compatible with PCIe® 3.0. ¹Results are based on a comparison with Samsung PCIe® 3.0 NVMe SSDs and SATA SSDs.
Anyone know if the heatsink is easily removable in case I want to use it in a gaming laptop? I am not sure this will fit my laptop 2nd bay, Asus ROG m16 SSD slot. Thanks!
I tried to get it off. It has 5 small screws. I tried all of my small head. Philips, star, hex, etc, I couldn't anything that fit right to remove the screws. It's a big heat sink. If on a MB or laptop that has a heat sink built in to a cover it's not going to fit. If it doesn't have a heatsink cover built in it might fit, but measure or something first. It's a really big heat sink.
2 years, 3 months ago
by
grimmace
Introducing G303 Shroud Edition—the remaster of our iconic mouse. Featuring LIGHTSPEED, it delivers ultra-low latency and reliable performance. Helping Shroud and you take aim. With HERO 25K Sensor, Shroud’s G303 is built for precision and speed, without sacrificing energy. G303 Shroud Edition weighs 75 grams, made for low-sensitivity DPI and faster aiming. Designed in collaboration with Shroud, the new G303 perfectly matches his specs and includes our latest pro-grade technology.
Does this mouse have a battery included? Is the battery replaceable?
The mouse has in internal battery charged by a USB-C cable. You'd have to take the mouse apart to access it.
2 years, 4 months ago
by
grimmace
Explore a new world of personalized home theater audio. The SRS-NS7 Wireless Neckband Speaker uses Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology to envelop you in the rich audio of your favorite shows and movies, while being unobtrusive to others in your home.
Do these have 3.5mm jack or do they only connect via bluetooth?
Coffeehouse Versatility meets Pod Convenience with the Ninja DualBrew Pro Specialty Coffee System. Included 12-cup, double-walled thermal carafe is perfect for both hot and over-ice beverages, with an ergonomic handle and spout allow for easy control of pouring. Tackle grounds and pods with 9 grounds brew sizes from small cup to full carafe, and 4 pod brew sizes from 6 to 12 ounces. Brews a coffee pod faster than a leading Keurig coffee maker upon startup. With Thermal Flavor Extraction DUO technology, perfect flavor for grounds and pods is delivered with even saturation and precise temperature control for ultra-flavorful coffee. Separate from the coffee system is a dedicated hot water line. Using a separate line eliminates flavor contamination and delivers clean water. 2 temperature settings, hot and boil, allow you to make tea, hot cocoa, instant soups, and oatmeal. Brew a super-rich coffee concentrate that you can use to create delicious lattes, macchiatos, cappuccinos, and other coffeehouse-style drinks. Use the built-in, fold-away frother to transform hot or cold milk/milk-alternatives into silky-smooth froth in seconds. Top your Specialty brew with frothed milk for a coffeehouse-style drink. The frother is also removable for easy cleaning. Choose from one of four different brew styles; classic or rich for a traditional hot cup of coffee, over ice for an iced coffee that's never diluted, or specialty to make a cappuccino or latte. Clean function, dishwasher-safe parts, removable Ninja pod adaptor and frother allow you to easily deep clean your unit.
Must I use the pods for single cup?
No. Just put in the amount of grounds needed, and select a one cup server size. It will brew just that.
2 years, 6 months ago
by
grimmace
Forged to obliterate games, empower creativity and inspire envy from anyone who makes eye contact with it, the Triton 500 SE has all the tools to tackle any task in today’s performance-hungry world. Slim, stylish and infused with the latest 11th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and cutting-edge GeForce RTX™ 3060 laptop graphics, this awesome machine serves up what you demand in a cutting-edge PC. Fast, realistic and with AI-enhanced technology, it features a CPU that ensures epic streaming, photo editing and 3D rendering capabilities, while its powerful GPU revolutionizes the immersive gaming experience via high frame rates that drive incredible realism! Get smooth gameplay at refresh rates up to 165Hz on the 16" WQXGA IPS Display — while a 3-Zone RGB backlit keyboard and stellar audio round out a gaming experience that’s second to none
On the 2nd M.2 slot (for expansion), how do I access it? Where is it? Where is the schematic of the laptop? What type of driver do I need for the screws? Please confirm the primary M.2 contains the operating system and is rated at Gen 4 speeds.
Yo have to remove the motherboard and flip it over. The memory and 2nd M.2 slot are there.The M.2 slot has a screw in it already. Cover screws are hex and internal Philips. I found no schematics. The M.2 that comes with it is a OEM Samsung and has the OS on it. I added the 2nd M.2 and upped the memory to 32GB. See a better explanation on the process in the review I did for it.
2 years, 8 months ago
by
grimmace
Upgrade your home theater with this JBL BAR 9.1-channel soundbar system. The powerful 820W output offers an immersive movie and music experience, while Bluetooth, Airplay 2 and Chromecast connectivity lets you stream audio smoothly. This JBL BAR 9.1-channel soundbar system has detachable speakers with rechargeable batteries for flexible placement, and Dolby Atmos technology delivers quality surround sound.
I currently stream directly from my LG OLED. Is it possible to do this and still have the audio synced? If not how do I accomplish this without another box of some sorts?
From the manual.
Audio sync
With the audio sync function, you can synchronize audio and
video to make sure that no delay is heard from your video content.
1. On the remote control, press and hold for more than three
seconds and then, press +.
2. Within five seconds, press + or - on the remote control to
adjust the audio delay and match with video.
→ The audio sync timing is displayed.
NOTES:
− If no action is taken within five seconds, you will exit the audio sync
mode.
Audio sync
With the audio sync function, you can synchronize audio and
video to make sure that no delay is heard from your video content.
1. On the remote control, press and hold for more than three
seconds and then, press +.
2. Within five seconds, press + or - on the remote control to
adjust the audio delay and match with video.
→ The audio sync timing is displayed.
NOTES:
− If no action is taken within five seconds, you will exit the audio sync
mode.
3 years, 10 months ago
by
grimmace
Upgrade your home theater with this JBL BAR 9.1-channel soundbar system. The powerful 820W output offers an immersive movie and music experience, while Bluetooth, Airplay 2 and Chromecast connectivity lets you stream audio smoothly. This JBL BAR 9.1-channel soundbar system has detachable speakers with rechargeable batteries for flexible placement, and Dolby Atmos technology delivers quality surround sound.
I connected jbl 9.1 soundbar with my tv through hdmi arc and playing atoms content through Netflix but on soundbar it’s showing Dolby surround not atoms. How to get atoms ??
Your TV has to have an eARC HDMI port for Atmos or DTS:X formats to be passed. So, an HDMI 2.1 port. Without that you won't get Atmos from a TV. If you have a steaming device you can connect to the HDMI port on the soundbar, you'll get Atmos through it.
3 years, 10 months ago
by
grimmace
Warm and cook food with this 18-inch vinyl black Galanz retro countertop microwave oven. The power-level knob and five-item one-touch menu offer easy operation, while the defrost programs provide hassle-free reheating. This 0.7 cu. ft. Galanz retro countertop microwave oven has a classic design that brings a nostalgic flair to your kitchen, and the turntable enables even cooking.
None of your microwaves show a wattage. How are we supposed to know?
On the microwave page under specifications and electrical specifications, it says 700 watts and has a power consumption of 1100 watts.. Same as most .7 cu ft microwaves.
3 years, 10 months ago
by
grimmace
Upgrade your sound entertainment experience with this Yamaha sound bar. The robust construction ensures longevity even with rugged use, while built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies provide convenient wireless connectivity. This Yamaha sound bar (winner of the 2020 CNET Editor’s Choice Award) has a compact design for easy placement, built-in Alexa technology for hands-free operation and four woofers for immersive sound reproduction.
Can the subwoofer be hard wired on the new YAS 209?
No, it's wireless, only connection is a power cable
4 years, 7 months ago
by
grimmace
Get peace and quiet anywhere with these Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds. An advanced HD noise-cancelling processor blocks distracting background noise so you can focus in noisy environments, and Bluetooth connectivity ensures easy use with smartphones and other devices. These Sony truly wireless noise-cancelling earbuds include a convenient charging case that offers up to 24 hours of use per charge.
Does the Sony 1000XM3 InEar have it's own volume control? I need to amplify my listening, while my wife listens to the normal TV volume. I have a pair of the Sony 1000XM# over the Ear Head Phones and of course they DO have volume control. Thanks.
No. Volume is controlled by the device outputting sound. There is no volume control on the earbuds.
4 years, 9 months ago
by
grimmace