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Toyman
 
 
 
Toyman's stats
 
  • Review count
    40
  • Helpfulness votes
    32
  • First review
    August 27, 2016
  • Last review
    October 27, 2023
  • Featured reviews
    0
  • Average rating
    4.5
 
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  • Answer count
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  • First answer
    November 1, 2019
  • Last answer
    November 1, 2019
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Toyman's Reviews
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Introducing the Snaptain E20 2.7K QHD Camera Drone, a groundbreaking addition to the world of drones. Experience the future of aerial photography with its effortless and intelligent operation, featuring one-click take-off and one-click landing capabilities. With the E20, you'll unlock new horizons and capture stunning moments with its smooth FPV images. Elevate your drone flying experience with Snaptain's E20 – where simplicity meets innovation.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great value for what it does
on October 27, 2023
Posted by: Toyman
I was very excited to be asked to review this product. I'm a newbie drone user, but I'm a former pilot so I thought "how hard could flying a beginner drone be?". The paperwork to get the TRUST certificate is pretty simple and the FAA registration paperwork is also pretty straightforward. The big question that comes up quickly is "does this drone weight more than 0.55 lbs" or 249 grams. On the box it says 185g but in the manual it says it will weigh more than 249 grams if using the intelligent flight battery. Google and I couldn't find any other reference to an intelligent flight battery so I assumed that it weighed less than 249g and didn't require registration. I did check the FAA drone registration web site and couldn't find any drones from Snaptain in their listing. Anyhow, after unboxing and charging, it was very straightforward to get everything working. The one-key takeoff and hover function is nice and pressing it again causes the drone to do a safe landing/shutdown. The camera controls work well and the images are surprisingly sharp. The drone is quite sensitive to even low velocity winds, which does complicate flight a bit. I used a spare 128g micro SSD card which improves the camera resolution. Now I'm finally able to check my solar panels without risking my neck climbing to the roof of the second story. This is a nice beginner drone and does what I need it to do.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
A flexible, weather-resistant camera that puts pro-grade security exactly where you need it. Stick it up anywhere you want to see and hear more with advanced features like Radar Motion Detection, HDR video, and Audio+. ts wire-free design lets you place it on a flat surface for flexibility, or put it on a wall with the included camera mount for a more permanent solution.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A worthy improvement
on October 21, 2023
Posted by: Toyman
I'm a happy user of the earlier generation of ring battery stick up cameras (all with the solar panel option to eliminate trips up the ladder) as I have six of them spread around the house. I was excited for a chance to review this new camera. It came with a few surprises. First, the barrel socket for the solar panel has been replaced by a USB-C socket. I had to order an adapter (roughly $15) from another site. The barrel socket is quite snug so it should be watertight. The new USB-C socket is vertically mounted on the back under a substantial lip so it should also be watertight. I'm really hoping for minimal maintenance which is why I mention this. Anyhow, I replaced an existing Ring camera and discovered that the grey plastic adapter that mounts to the wall is slightly different from the earlier generation so the old one had to be removed and the new one installed. The new one uses four screws instead of the two that the previous version used. Setup was a breeze. The App recognized the new camera and quickly guided me through the steps to get it working. I love the HDR video and the 3D motion detection (which was easy to set up and seems less prone to false positives from the neighbor's driveway). All in all, I highly recommend this improved Ring stick up camera.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Designed for tech enthusiasts, hardcore gamers and heavy-workload professionals who want blazing fast speed. The integrated heatsink disperses heat to maintain speed, power, efficiency and thermal control, preventing downtime overheating on consoles and PCs. For console gaming, compatible only with PlayStation 5. Sequential read/write speeds up to 7,450/6,900 MB/s
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Fast, very fast
on September 1, 2023
Posted by: Toyman
I tested this in a new PC that I'm building. With an ASUS TUF Gaming-PlusWiFi motherboard, an I9-13900K CPU (not overclocked), and with the SSD socketed in a gen4x4 socket (not the closest to the CPU), I ran some tests using winsat (on Windows 11). Random reads clocked in at 2562.78 MB/second. That's an OK, but not spectacular number. Sequential reads ran at 6214.41 MB/second while the sequential write number was 6778.22 MB/second. The write number is larger than the read number because of the large memory cache. These are respectable numbers, but not really as good as I expected even though the 95th percentile latency was an incredible 0.089 milliseconds. Winsat uses very small blocks for testing. I then ran CrystalDiskMark and got the expected results: sequential 128k reads at 7100 MB/second, sequential 128K writes at 6872 MB/second, random 4K reads 5742 MB/second, and random 4K writes at 4949 MB/second. Those are world class numbers. They're about 5%-10% faster than my 4TB Western Digital Black SSD. Now, I didn't run these in the M.2 slot nearest the CPU and I would expect even higher numbers there, but I'd have to remove the heat sink to run test and I'm happy with the performance where it is.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Manage up to four electronic devices with this TERK universal rechargeable remote. A fully-backlit keypad enables easy use in the dark, while the quick-access keys let you seamlessly access your favorite apps. Compatibility with most TVs, satellite cable and streaming players offers versatility. This TERK universal rechargeable remote provides up to 6 months of operation on a full charge.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Did the trick in a complex AV setup.
on July 12, 2023
Posted by: Toyman
I was a bit concerned at first because the 4 input remote I was given to review has slots for TV, Cable/Satellite Box, DVD, and Stream and I run my TV's output through a Yamaha receiver. The included code list (couldn't they spend a few cents extra and print it in a readable font size?) didn't include Yamaha, but the web site had codes for Yamaha receivers and voila! using the stream input button, the third try worked with my receiver. Now I've purchased several DirectTV remotes hoping to find one that could control that receiver, so this was a pleasant surprise. The third try for cable/satellite box also worked for DirectTV so channel change, menu, etc. all now work on a single remote. Fantastic! I have an LG OLED TV which uses an RF remote for smart TV input selection so I didn't even try to program the various streaming option. It doesn't matter because I use a Logitech Harmony IR Blaster to turn the TV on and off using Alexa. Now I've managed to reduce the number of required remotes down to two (RF for TV, TERK for DirectTV box & Yamaha receiver). Oh, and the Sony DVD player also programmed just fine. This remote is a winner for me. I especially like that it's rechargeable and the price is very reasonable for a smart remote.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
The U6 Series continues Hisense's mission to bring leading-edge technology to everyone. Adding Mini-LED and over 4X the local dimming zones in 2023, along with Quantum Dot Color and Dolby Vision / Dolby Atmos, the U6 series delivers must-have features for uncompromising performance and value. The U6 series incorporates Dolby Vision IQ to its already long list of supported HDR formats. Dolby Vision IQ leverages the full intelligence of your TV to deliver a perfect picture in your room at every moment. It dynamically adjusts to the light in the room and delivers the best experience possible for all content types and HDR formats. Add Game Mode Plus with a variable refresh rate at 60Hz for smoother gaming on next-generation game consoles. And, with Hands-Free Voice Control searching and playing all your favorite content is simple and seamless.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Big, bright, and colorful
on July 9, 2023
Posted by: Toyman
The Hisense 65U6K is an awesome entry level television with some unexpected features at this price point. It's a 4K 60Hz TV using quantum dot technology with mini-LED backlighting (rare at this price point)! Jargon aside, that means that it's very accurate in color rendition with high local contrast and minimal blooming. Blacks are black and don't bleed to grey around the edges in high contrast scenes.On the back, there are 3 HDMI 2.0 ports and one HDMI eARC port, 2 USB 2.0, one optical output, one ethernet port, a headphone jack, and an RF input. It's nice to have so many input choices. It does come with plastic feet for tabletop or desk setups, but it also has VESA screw holes for wall mounting. Given the size and weight, wall-mounting is preferred.. The HDMI 2.0 ports are 60Hz so 4K gaming at 120Hz isn't possible, but it's quite responsive for 60Hz gaming (and supports Variable Refresh Rate). The setup options are extensive so the picture can be adjusted to your liking. The smart operating system is Google TV and it can quickly toggle between Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, etc using voice commands or the included remote. The voice input is nice and makes yelling at the TV much more satisfying.The TV supports a wide range of HDR modes.The only downside is that the built-in audio isn't all that great. It really needs to be connected to a soundbar or sound system.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Designed for home and home offices, the Canon PIXMA G3270 MegaTank All-in-One inkjet printer delivers high-quality, low-cost printing, and outstanding wireless connectivity in a compact size. Get serious print productivity with a high page yield of up to 6,000 Black / 7,700 Color pages per full ink bottle1 set and a low cost per print - MegaTank means Mega Savings. The PIXMA G3270 comes with a full set of ink, so you can print with confidence. The PIXMA G3270 is easy to set up and maintain and offers great media versatility to print on a variety of media types and sizes, including photo paper, envelopes, banners and more. Use Poster Artist Online to create professional-posters, banners and signage. Print both documents and photos on a variety of paper types using a hybrid ink system with pigment black for sharp black text and dye-based colors for vivid borderless2 photos up to 8.5” x 11”. Produce crisp, colorful documents quickly and cost-effectively with fast print speeds and a high quality 4-color pigment-based ink system. Keep printing with a plain paper capacity of up to 100 sheets or 20 photo sheets (4”x6”). Easily connect and print through high-speed USB or wirelessly2 from computers or mobile devices. This comes with a 1-year limited warranty3 and is backed by Canon's Service and Support network.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
3 out of 5
3
Almost, but not quite good
on May 6, 2023
Posted by: Toyman
As a member of the Tech Insider's Network, I recently received the Canon Pixma MegaTank G3270 printer to review. Unpacking was easy. Physical setup is trivial (remove orange tape, install paper, install the two print heads (color/black), fill the tanks with ink). This was all very straightforward. The tanks are keyed to the ink bottles so you can't make a mistake in filling. I tried making a few copies and that worked fine (colors were saturated and reasonably true for a copier). It was very loud, however. I wouldn't want to sit next to it all day. The screen is, unfortunately, miniscule.
Then I tried to do the wifi setup with my iPhone 13. FRUSTRATION! It set up OK. Looking at the router, I could see it was on the same 2.4GHz network as the phone. I was able to browse to the status page. However, every time I tried to find the printer from the iPhone app it failed. I tried the setup several times and finally I got it to take, but then when I tried to print it said "printer not found". The troubleshooting (power cycle printer, router, phone) was useless. The same thing happened when I repeated the setup using an iPad. Both the iPhone and iPad were running the latest versions of iOS.
Then I tried to do the setup from a Windows 11 laptop. I dug out an old USB-B cable and plugged that in, but I decided to try the wifi setup from the laptop. Surprisingly, that worked fine and I was able to print. I downloaded new firmware for the printer and then it worked fine with my iphone as well. So, if you're having trouble with setup from an iOS device, my suggestion is to try windows.
Now that it's setup up, it works fine to copy, scan, and print. Turns out I didn't need that old USB-B cable. Back into the box of useless cables for it.
The print and scan quality is fair to good. Canon claims that you can print 6000 B&W pages on a tank (and 7000 color). A black tank cost approximately as much as a black cartridge on my current Canon printer, but with a cartridge, I was lucky to be able to print 100-200 pages. The savings are incredible. Canon does recommend printing something every month to keep the ink flowing smoothly.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
 
Detect and block web attacks, ransomware and other cyber threats with this digital edition of BitDefender Premium Security software. A 1-year subscription with VPN support for up to 10 devices helps secure network traffic. Compatibility with most Windows, Mac and Android operating systems makes this BitDefender Premium Security software ideal for multi-device protection.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Top-notch antivirus protection, nicely engineered
on December 15, 2022
Posted by: Toyman
Aside from the top-notch ratings from antivirus review sites, Bitdefender Premium Security is a well-engineered product with a lot of features. First, there's the world-class antivirus. Bitdefender also has plugins for common browsers to protect against malicious websites. The VPN is high performance and it's a valuable addition to the suite (often available only at an extra cost from other AV vendors). The VPN is very easy to use - click and it's on, though with just a few more clicks, it's possible to connect virtually to servers in 36 countries (including fifteen in the US and two in the UK) if you want to hide/change your visible IP address. The vulnerability scan is very valuable. I'm a retired security expert and I found two of the suggestions extremely valuable. They were things I had overlooked doing on my own Windows system. Being slightly paranoid, those suggestions were worth the price of the package right there. Installation was trivial. The first system I installed it on, I uninstalled the current AV package, but it still complained about malwarebytes (a free malware detection product) that I had installed. On the second system, I installed it even though the AV was running. It properly detected it and popped up a window to uninstall it. I did and, after the reboot, it came right back to the install. Nicely engineered..At any rate, I have a new favorite AV package (previously, I've used Norton, F-Secure, Kaspersky,Trend, Sophos, and Avast One). The pasword storage package is easy to use, though I'll probably stick to KeePass-2 for most of my password storage as it's opensource.The only possible downside I see to Bitdefender is that the company is based in Romania and that used to be a hotspot for virus origination.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
From simple tweaks and trims to advanced artistic options and effects, it’s never been easier to create beautiful, awe-inspiring photos and videos. With Adobe Sensei AI*, bring motion to your photos and click once to transform your videos with effects inspired by famous works of art. Add depth to photos with peek-through overlays, and showcase your memories with new collage and slideshow templates. Plus, go beyond your desktop with new web and mobile companion apps (English-only beta), and enjoy faster installation and performance plus Apple M1 chip support. Have fun with the easy picture editor and moviemaker for Mac and Windows.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A lot of function for the money
on November 29, 2022
Posted by: Toyman
I'm pretty fair with Photoshop as I've been using the standalone versions since Photoshop 7 (back in 2002). I presently use the standalone Creative Suite 6 - I'm one of the dinosaurs who hasn't opted to rent the most recent version from Adobe. I use it almost exclusively for still photo touch ups. I was surprised to find almost all of my favorite Photoshop tools in Photoshop Elements 2023, though some are more difficult to find. For instance, to find the very useful magic wand tool, you have to first click the quick selection tool and then it's an option in the menu at the bottom. In general, I find the menus are a bit deeper (fewer top level choices), but the features I need were buried under that top selection. I found the very useful shadow/highlight adjustment buried under the Enhance > Adjust Sharpness and the Levels tool is available on adjustment overlays as well as under the Enhance tab. However, I miss the Curves tool from Photoshop that gives a lot more control over the relative contrast of the image. I also miss the HDR (high dynamic range) enhance tool from Photoshop CS6 as well, though it's possible to synthesize the effect using layers. There are a few new tools (content aware move) that I haven't used before and I'm looking forward to learning more about. There are also many more patterns, effects, filters, and styles that I have in my old Photoshop. I'm looking forward to playing with them. Elements also has the ability to create Slide Shows, Collages, Photobooks, etc. built in. That's another win. It also has Camera Raw plugins. I'm very happy with Elements, though I still have to spend some more time getting used to the different workflows. I'm a video editing novice so I won't comment on Premiere Elements.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Game like a pro on Windows 11 with this ROG Zephyrus G14. Double up on AMD firepower with Ryzen 9 6900HS CPU and Radeon RX 6800S GPU featuring exclusive AMD SmartShift and Smart Access Memory technology that dynamically boosts performance for any task. Be confident in screen quality with an ROG Nebula 120Hz Display. Leap into the next generation of memory and storage with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Lightweight, good battery life,
on November 4, 2022
Posted by: Toyman
This is my first AMD laptop. All the rest have had Intel CPUs. Most have run Windows, though I have also been forced to use a couple of Mac laptops at work (with Intel processors). I was attracted to the light weight and slim profile of this laptop - my previous laptop was an Alienware m15 R4 beast that weighs over seven pounds (with power brick) and it's really a desktop replacement. This weights less than half that. I wanted portability yet I still wanted to be able to do light gaming (e.g. Assassin's Creed, No Man's Sky, Kerbal Space Program, etc.). I also wanted reasonable battery life (the Alienware can run for maybe an hour and a half on battery), but I've run this for over six hours on battery and still had some left. Good enough for coast to coast flights.. The Asus ROG Zephyrus is a winner. There are a lot of nice touches that may not be obvious from the writeups. When you open the case, the screen hinges in such a way that the keyboard is placed at a slight angle which facilitates typing and allows for better airflow. The backlit keys have a nice tactile touch. The screen is bright and the colors look very accurate. I like the size of the track pad as well. The only negative is that as I was updating to 11R2, I got a message that the update had overwritten the graphics device driver. I had to pause updates and quickly download the proper driver from the ASUS website. There were no other issues with getting it ready to use. The CPU seems quite fast, the graphics processor is adequate. Bottom line, this is a nice portable laptop for medium performance gaming.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Find everyday balance with the CRE-C10, Sony’s OTC self-fitting hearing device that blends comfort and technology to reconnect you to what matters most. With features that adapt to your surroundings, this modern hearing aid is personalized to you and the everyday moments that define your life.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Quite an eye opener
on November 4, 2022
Posted by: Toyman
I have another brand of CIC (Completely In Canal) hearing aids that were professionally fitted. That pair cost over $3,000 so I was a bit skeptical of these. However, Sony has been making things that fit in peoples' ears for years and years, so I decided to give them a try. The calibration process is straightforward (using a smart phone). You listen to a series of tones and tell the app whether you heard zero, one, two, or three tones. Each error is individually calibrated. That's all there is to the setup (other than battery insertion). The Sony hearing aids come with a complete set of ear tips, a small cleaning brush, a few batteries, and a carrying case. They use #10 hearing aid batteries and Sony claims you get 70 hours of use from a battery. I think I'm getting slightly more than that, but I haven't had them long enough to create a good average. The best thing about these is that they fit well. I had stopped wearing my more expensive hearing aids because of a bit of discomfort. They also had an annoying habit of working their way out of my ears if I was chewing something. The Sony hearing aids don't seem to have those issues, though it's still early. At any rate, I'm quite happy with these. They do the job and fit better than the ones the audiologist fitted.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
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Toyman's Answers
 
Alienware Desktop: Prepare for an immersive entertainment experience with this Alienware Aurora desktop computer. An NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 graphics card lets you play modern titles at high settings, and the 256GB NVMe SSD and 1TB HDD support fast installations and offer ample storage space. This Alienware Aurora desktop computer features an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, so you can seamlessly run background programs while gaming.
 

Does it include a keyboard and a mouse.

My R9 came with a generic keyboard and mouse. I'll be upgrading those.
4 years, 4 months ago
by
Toyman