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    November 28, 2015
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    September 16, 2016
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    October 30, 2020
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PhilipM's Reviews
1 2 3 4 5 ... 8 >>
 
Experience the height of gaming innovation with the ROG Zephyrus G16. Featuring an all-new premium aluminum chassis with customizable lighting, this laptop merges style and durability. Its ultra-slim 0.59” profile and lightweight 4.08lbs 16” chassis redefines portability, but does not compromise on performance. Powered by Windows 11, an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G16 seamlessly aligns with your lifestyle, meeting all your gaming and creative demands. ROG Intelligent Cooling features liquid metal for reduced CPU temperatures and upgraded Arc Flow Fans for improved airflow to sustain peak performance on the Zephyrus G16 no matter the task. Immerse yourself in the OLED Nebula Display and enjoy rapid 0.2ms response times, vivid 2.5K resolution, and a smooth 240Hz refresh rate.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A portable powerhouse with outstanding screen
on March 16, 2024
Posted by: PhilipM
Highlights:
- Solid build
- Spectacular 2.5k 240Hz OLED screen
- Solid performance (10k 3DMark, 5GB/s SSD sequential reads)
- Keyboard has a good feel once you get used to the wide spacing.
- Excellent physical port selection (HDMI, USB A/C, and a real headphone jack!)
- All day battery life (unless gaming)
- Charger is proprietary (for the big battery), but USB-C chargers also work fine.
I’ve been using this ASUS ROG G16 laptop for about a week now and it has more than proven itself as an extremely powerful and versatile companion for a wide variety of workloads. Gaming performance is especially impressive, with the RTX4070 providing outstanding performance, even when running at high resolutions and settings in moder titles such as Battlefield V.
Design and Display
The G16 feels solid and well-constructed. Although the screen size and cooling requirements for a gaming laptop mean that it is larger than some other options, it remains perfectly portable and easy to use on a table or my lap. The overall design is attractive and the materials have a high quality feel.
The display is the star of the show, a 16” 2560x1600 OLED marvel that provides truly outstanding clarity, contrast, and color reproduction. Putting the display into HDR mode provides even more striking visuals, and HDR is fully supported for both gaming and video streaming. Peak brightness has always been up to the job, even in brighter environments, and the stunning 240 Hz refresh rate provides silky smooth responses. Note that this is not a touch screen.
The keyboard has a good feel and it’s easy to type quickly once you get used to the spacing, which is somewhat wider than usual due to the overall form factor. The RGB lighting patterns (complete with AURA support) are a nice touch.
Performance
Performance has been excellent. The mobile RTX 4070 GPU provides smooth frame rates, even at high resolutions and settings. Ray tracing support is provided and is useable depending on the game and detail settings. I tried it in Battlefield V and the game ran well, although some stuttering was evident at max settings. Horizon Zero Dawn was completely smooth and pegged the benchmark at 60 fps even when running at max native resolution and high settings. 3DMark returned a Time Spy score of > 10000 and ran the benchmarks at 60-70 fps at native resolution. Time Overall, this machine can provide a great gaming experience for modern games.
I also tested slicing complex 3D models with Bambu Studio, and performance was excellent, exceeding that of my modern desktop.
Disk speeds are also superb, topping 5GB/s for sequential reads and 3.4GB/s for sequential writes. Random reads and writes are also respectable at 482MB/s and 406MB/s respectively.
Cooling
Unless you’re gaming, the cooling fans are generally unobtrusive. Although fan noise does pick up during high workloads, especially games, it remains very reasonable given the 115 Watts of power potentially being dissipated just by the GPU. The good news is that it’s effective and maintains performance well over time.
Battery
One benefit of a gaming laptop is a large battery. ASUS claims 10 hours of battery life, and based on my usage I have no reason to doubt that most people could reliably get a full day of continuous use with a mixed workload of office/study apps and content consumption. Heavy gaming will obviously drain the battery much faster (I’d estimate about 2 hours of Horizon Zero Dawn), but this is still very impressive.
Be aware that the large battery charges best with a high power proprietary charger, which ASUS includes in the box. However, you can still charge the laptop through a USB-C charger; it will just take longer.
Ports
Included are 2 USB-C and USB-A ports (one of each on each side – thank you ASUS!), a proper headphone jack (Yes!), full-sized HDMI, and even a slot for SD cards. Clearly ASUS understands their audience and the comprehensive port collection is genuinely appreciated.
Summary
I am very happy with this laptop. The combination of screen, battery, GPU/CPU, blazing disk speeds, and quality construction make it a fantastic travel companion that can handle almost anything you throw at it.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
2of 3voted this as helpful.
 
Denon Perl Pro True Wireless Earbuds let you create a personalized sound profile via Masimo AAT for audio that is perfectly tuned to you. Add in CD-quality sound from Qualcomm aptX lossless technology and spatial audio from Dirac Virtuo for an unrivaled wireless audio experience. Confidently take calls with best-in-class voice audio. Use the Denon Perl Pro app to create your profile and fully customize your listening experience. And with eight hours of earbud battery life-plus 32 additional hours from the case and wireless case charging-you can keep the music going all day.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Great sound and features
on December 8, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
I’ve been using these Perl Pro wireless earbuds for almost two weeks now and they are the best I’ve ever used, combining attractive design, quality construction, great sound, long battery life, and comfort even over many hours of use.
The sound quality is enhanced by the inclusion of Masimo AAT technology – essentially a form of automated hearing test. The buds are able to check the frequency response of the wearer’s ears and create a custom EQ profile which boosts or reduces the level of different sound frequencies depending on your own unique hearing profile. Since most of us hear different frequencies with different levels of acuity, evening out these differences provides more consistent sound quality and provides a better sense of what the original creator intended. The effect is positive without being overwhelming and, unlike some EQ features I’ve tried on other products, I’ve never once felt the need to disable the effect. It creates no distortion and it genuinely improves the audio, at least for me.
In addition to this headline feature, Denon also gets all the basics right with this design. The buds fit comfortably and securely, the large touch sensitive surfaces make it easy to use the tap controls. The charging case is small, attractive, and provides 3 extra full charges using it’s own built-in battery. But most of all, these buds just sound great. They offer lossless audio codecs and some of the best noise cancelling I’ve heard yet (including a handy “awareness” mode that lets in outside speech at the tap of the controls). I’ve tried them with music, audiobooks, and TV content and they sounds excellent across the board.
Denon’s app (I used the Android version on a Galaxy S23 Ultra) is well designed, reliable, and easy to use. It handles the initial hearing test (including the option for multiple profiles), manual EQ adjustment, tap control customization, and firmware updates.
The one other feature of note is the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously. This allows you, for example, to listen to music on one device but accept phone calls on another. Or connect to a laptop and phone when working remotely so that you can take calls and also hear audio from the laptop. The one minor issue here is that the buds switch source based on detecting inbound audio so if your phone is beeping with notifications the buds switch over. This automatic switching can however be disabled if you prefer.
Overall I’m very happy with these earbuds and find them easy to recommend. They do all the basics well while providing high end sound and some great features like custom hearing profiles in a way that’s easy to use and works perfectly.
Pros
- Excellent sound
- Custom hearing profiles that really work
- Long battery life
- Compact charging case
- Quality construction
- Can connect to your laptop and phone at the same time
- Solid app experience
Cons
- If you have large fingers, removing them from the case may take some practice
- Auto switching between sources can be set off by phone notifications
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
ECOVACS DEEBOT T20 OMNI not only cleans floors, it cleans itself too – leaving you to more important things. The OZMO™ Turbo mopping system with dual spinning mops now features automatic mop lifting for seamless cleaning of every type of floor surface. The all-in-one OMNI station automatically empties the dustbin, washes the mops with hot water, and dries them with hot air – and is ready to clean again.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
A generational leap in performance and usability.
on November 5, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni Review
We’ve had a number of robot vacuums over the years, and it’s clear that this Deebot T20 Omni is not only far and away the best unit we’ve ever had; it’s clearly part of a generational leap in performance and usability.
Robot vacuums have been limited historically by a range of issues including limited battery life, poor navigation (the unit gets lost or stuck), lack of obstacle avoidance (the unit attempts to eat socks and cables left lying around on the floor), limited software, and lack of actual cleaning performance. I’ve been using this T20 for over a week now and it’s safe to say that it addresses every single one of these issues and many more. It cleans well and has never once gotten lost or stuck despite the effects of two teens and their miscellaneous items spread around our home.
Check out the included video for a real world demonstration of all of the above.
Pros:
- Vacuums and mops in one pass, intelligently lifting the mops when needed.
- Actually gets floors clean
- Outstanding navigation and obstacle avoidance – has never gotten lost in our home
- Works in all lighting conditions
- Base station handles the mop washing and dust emptying for you
- Long run times
- Excellent, flexible software for mapping and custom cleaning schedules
- Great looking design and build quality
- Relatively quiet
Cons:
- Sometimes struggles to get all dirt in tight corners
- Voice assistant activation phrase also triggers our Google Home devices
The base station automatically empties the dustbin, charges the bot, and wets and washes the mops with hot water. No user intervention is required other than periodically emptying the dirty water tank, topping up the clean water, and emptying the dust bag. The bag should last many weeks for the typical home. I’ve never yet managed to deplete the battery, even with 1 hour plus vacuuming and mopping sessions, but if you do, the bot will return to top up and then resume where it left off.
This is the first vacuum I’ve tried with combined mopping and vacuuming, and it handles this brilliantly with powerful rotating mops that automatically lift off the floor any time the machine crosses on to carpet or rungs. This allows you to clean the entire floor while intelligently switching between mopping and vacuuming. Furthermore, the mopping actually works really well for regular cleaning and the unit returns to its base every so often to washing the mops automatically in hot water.
When you first set up the T20, there’s a “quick mapping” option which builds a map of your home without actually needing to clean the entire floor. The process is fast, and sufficiently accurate to build a map with individual rooms laid out. If you don’t like the default setup of rooms, it’s easy to divide, join, and rename areas to get it just the way you need it. Virtual boundaries and no-go rectangular zones can be easily added to the map.
One the map is set up, navigation is outstanding. The unit will occasionally appear a little confused, rotating a few times in a single area, but it has never once gotten lost or stuck and the overall cleaning pattern is both thorough and efficient. Obstacle avoidance, while not perfect, is also excellent. The unit does a great job detecting and avoiding socks, shoes, and even cables. Also, it’s not camera based and works just fine in low light.
The software takes a little getting used to, but the functionality is outstanding. You can create incredibly flexible cleaning schedules that perform mopping, vacuuming, or both, selectively to different areas with different suction strength and with a determined cleaning order. The schedules have been reliable and I’ve never lost connection to the bot or the app. It’s also easy to do ad hoc cleaning from within the app or using the built-in Google Home or Alexa integration. Natural language is supported, so you can easily ask the unit to vacuum and mop the kitchen, for example. The T20 also has a built-in voice assistant Yiko and you can issue voice commands directly to the device by saying “OK Yiko”. The same natural language capabilities apply. The only issue here is that for some reason the “OK Yiko” activation phrase also triggers my Google Home units, which is not ideal.
Conclusion
To say that we love this little guy is a gross understatement. The generational improvements in the T20 mean that we can actually rely on this unit to keep our floors clean each day without worrying about it getting stuck and without needing to pick up everything and rearrange furniture first. It truly accomplishes its aim of being a housekeeping assistant that gives you back hours of your life without taking them back again in micromanagement and frustration. Highly recommended!
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
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Great for small businesses, the Brother MFC-3780CDW wireless digital color all-in-one printer with copy, scan, and fax functionalities offers remarkable efficiency with impressive print speeds and productivity-centric features. Consistently produces smudge-free, laser-quality prints for documents that garner the attention of colleagues, clients, and customers. Achieves print speeds up to 31 ISO pages per minute (ppm)(1) and scan speeds up to 29/22 ISO images per minute (ipm)(2) (black/color). With its versatile paper handling and an intuitive 3.5” touchscreen, it is engineered to help boost productivity, simplify tasks, and keep your business thriving. Advanced security features help safeguard sensitive information while printing and include the added protection of an NFC card reader for badge authentication. Engineered and supported by Brother, the MFC-L3780CDW is an industrious addition to any small workspace.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great design, fast scanner, fast + quality prints
on October 16, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
This LED all-in-one printer offers a strong combination of performance, quality, and functionality in a footprint small enough to be suitable for home office use. The unit is very well constructed, thoughtfully designed, and very fast. There’s bright, easy-to-read color LCD touch display on the front which is large enough to provide a legible and user-friendly interface.
Pros:
- Quality construction
- Excellent paper handling
- Printing is FAST and high quality for documents, presentations, and charts
- Scanner is fast and can scan two sided pages in a single pass
- Judicious choice of toner purchases can make printing quite affordable
- Generally reliable operation
Cons:
- Not great for photos and some horizontal shading artifacts are visible in some cases.
- Some software glitches / network disconnects
- On some paper types, mild roller impressions are visible in the output paper
- Subscription plans can be affordable, but if you pick the wrong one costs can add up quickly
Paper Handling
Paper handling is above average for a device of this size, featuring a 250 sheet main paper tray and a separate 30 page multi-purpose tray. This second tray is very useful for printing envelopes, glossy paper, or labels without having to change the paper in the main tray. Letter, Legal, and A4 size are all supported. Paper output is to a dedicated tray beneath the scanner and prints come out facing down. This is great for privacy, and a big improvement over manually extended a paper output trays that takes up more office space and can be fragile.
Although I’ve experienced no paper jams in the week I’ve been using the printer, the rollers do sometimes leave an impression on the paper. This is generally not noticeable, but might be an issue with certain kinds of glossy papers.
Printing
Brother claims up to 31 pages per minute and in my experience this seems reasonable. Output is extremely fast, even for graphically intensive pages. The LED print system (like a laser but without the moving components) provides sharp, high quality prints that look extremely professional.
Colors are generally vibrant and well reproduced for a device of this class. PowerPoint decks, brochures, reports, and charts all print very well, but photos can be hit and miss. I noticed some mild horizontal banding in shaded areas, including on photos. This is usually not noticeable, but in large images and large shaded areas it is definitely visible. In general, I would suggest sticking to an inkjet for the best quality photos, but in other respects the print quality from this unit is unlikely to disappoint. It can produce serviceable photos for brochures if needed – just not the best.
I did run into some issues with colors going out of alignment creating some ghosting artifacts. This was easily remedied with the fully automatic “color correction” menu option, but it is a bit of a concern to have this issue arise in just one week of light printing.
Scanning
The scanner is excellent for business purposes. There is a 50 sheet automatic document feeder and scans are fast and reliable. It can also scan both sides of a document in a single pass, a great feature in this class of device.
Scanning photos from the flat bed produces serviceable but not stellar results. Perfectly fine for most general use, including scanning pictures for inclusion in brochures and documents.
Software and Reliability
Brother provides a full software suite and I suggest installing this vs. trying to use drivers built in to the operating system. The Brother software generally works well, although I did have some issues with network disconnects and some extended waits while the driver “connected” to the printer. In one case, the driver automatically ran a network troubleshooting tool which somewhat amazingly was actually able to remedy the issue.
The ”scan to computer” function has worked every time I’ve tried it, and has happily allowed me to select from multiple destination computers on the network so long as they had the software installed. Many other printers I’ve tried have been unable to do this reliably, so this is a win for Brother. The scanning software provides a handy notification when the operation is complete, making it easy to locate the newly scanned document.
I did have some issues with the printer not showing up as an option in Chrome / Edge, but those appear resolved after re-installing the drivers.
Overall I think the software is reasonably stable, but could use some more work. Hopefully it will continue to improve over the next few months as this device is still quite new.
Subscriptions and Operating Costs
Brother offers a “Refresh” subscription program which at the time of this review costs between $0.13 / page and $0.07 / page depending on the volume you sign up for each month. Unused pages roll over up to a maximum of 2x your monthly subscription amount. The plan also extends the warranty.
This service could prove cost effective if you print a lot of pages with color and extensive graphics. However, for black and white and text printing, it could become expensive.
Fortunately, Brother has taken the high road, eschewed the DRM trend, and allows you to use any toner cartridges compatible with their 229 series. Even genuine Brother toner can be purchased for prices which imply costs as low as $0.02 / page for black and white prints. Third party manufacturers offer options which are even less expensive, albeit with uncertain reliability.
As a result, this printer can make high quality LED printing affordable in a home environment.
Summary
I’m happy with this unit. I wish it had better photo quality, but for 99.5% of the things we print as a family and for work, this offers a solid combination of speed, quality, and features.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Charge your vehicle on the go with the Rexing Level 1 Portable EV Charger (16A, 110-240V). Our charger is equipped with a NEMA 5-15 plug for Level 1 charging, perfect for use with a standard household outlet. Pair with a voltage transformer or a 110V outlet for increased charging options. Experience faster charging times with 110V AC input power and a maximum current of 16A. Get back on the road faster with Rexing.
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Combines safety, useful features, and solid build
on September 13, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
This Rexing J1772 EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) provides a well-designed and convenient option for charging EVs and PHEVs on the go. While it could also be used at home, most will likely want to opt for the 240V version for home use.
Pros:
- Solid construction.
- Safety features are extensive and communicative.
- Extra long 17ft cable is very useful for charging from exterior home outlets.
- Display provides genuinely useful information about charging and errors.
- Settings can be changed for the length of time to charge and the maximum allowable current.
- The case includes a spot from which you could hang the unit on a wall.
- Included travel case to keep this tidy in the trunk.
- Easy to see color status light provides charging information at a glance.
Cons:
- That same charging status light is very bright. It would a nice security measure if it could be disabled to draw less attention to the unit in an outdoor parking setting.
- The control button can be difficult to activate.
- The “time” function is just a time limit for charging. It would be great to have a delayed start feature to allow charging to start at off peak times.
The J1772 plug is standard for most EVs and PHEVs sold in the US in the past few years, although obviously Tesla is an exception.
Note that these are not “chargers”. For A/C charging, the charger is actually in the car. This device simply connects and monitors power delivery, thus the EVSE designation.
This device is very nicely designed, with a clear and genuinely helpful status display, a large charging status light, solid construction, and a nice long 17 ft cable. The latter is especially useful when charging on the go, because it makes it relatively easy to get from a power outlet on the side of a house to where the vehicle is parked. I used this unit on a recent trip to visit family and it gave plenty of length to run across the flower beds and to the driveway. There’s also a very nice travel case included to make it easy to toss this in the trunk and have it tidy and available whenever needed.
The display provides useful information about the detected voltage, the current charging current limit setting, and various potential error conditions. During charging, it also shows the actual current draw, power draw, total charge time, and total power delivered. The current limit can be set at 10A, 12A, or 16A, providing a great way to limit charging if a circuit is being shared or has a smaller breaker. The limiter also helps to avoid overloading household wiring, a great safety feature. You can also set charge time, but note that this is just the length of time allowed for charging – it’s not a timer that could be used to activate during off peak hours. Off peak charging is less important for a portable charger, however, so this is not a major downside. While these settings are useful, actually setting them requires using a button/touch pad on the device which can be difficult to activate.
Overall, this is a great option that provides helpful features, including some good safety features, in a well designed and well made unit that’s easy to take with you on the go.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
 
Bring ideas to life with our most powerful 13-inch XPS laptop, built with the latest processors and featuring innovative, modern design.
 
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Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Quality build, good performance, superb display
on June 20, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
Bottom line: This is beautifully built and capable computing companion that is compact, performant, and offers solid battery life with an amazing display. A great choice for all around computing needs in a compact form factor.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality with all metal case.
- Superb 4K OLED display with HDR makes it outstanding for entertainment
- Solid battery life – 4+ hours for videos and regular office / web use
- Solid performance for general use
- Good keyboard action
- Doesn’t run hot unless pushed
- Surprisingly good audio
- Responsive track pad
- Support for Windows biometric login via facial recognition or fingerprint
Cons:
- Key tops are completely flat, so some adjustment is needed to achieve fast typing speeds
- Top row of keys (including function keys, del key, etc.) are just touch spots vs. physical keys.
- Ports limited to just 2 USB-C ports. No USB-A or SD/microSD
I’ve had this laptop for a little over a week now and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Build quality is excellent, performance is strong enough to make it useful for a wide range of tasks, including some gaming, and the display is absolutely gorgeous. To top it all off, battery life has been exemplary, even under heavy loads. With lighter use such as web browsing or video, 4 hours seems reasonably attainable. The overall feel is solid, and the keyboard and track pad are surprisingly good.
Use cases I’ve tried so far:
- 3D gaming. This machine isn’t really designed as a gaming powerhouse, but with a 3D Mark score of 1696 despite running at full 4K resolution, it’s entirely adequate so long as you manage settings appropriately. Audio is excellent for this form factor and provides a nice broad sound stage.
- CAD. I’ve run both browser-based OnShape and the Windows version of Dassault Systems’ SolidWorks. Both have performed well. SolidWorks required me to run in “Best Performance” mode, but provided smooth 3D rendering and was entirely usable. I also sliced some dense models in Bambu Studio with acceptable performance – about 30% longer than my Ryzen desktop.
- Movies and TV. This is a brilliant device for video consumption. The 4K OLED display provides vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent HDR imagery. 4K UHD videos on Netflix look incredible and sound good too.
- Office work. Office 365 comes pre-installed (although you’ll need a subscription to activate it) and performance is excellent with great battery life. I’m writing this review on the unit in question and it’s fast with a great typing experience.
Charging takes about 2.5 hours with my 65W Anker USB-C charger and the unit generally remains cool, even when charging and when under load.
Like most third party PC makers, Dell finds it hard to resist loading a bunch of their own software, but at least most of it works OK and it doesn’t usually get in the way and can be uninstalled.
This is a high end unit, so it comes with high expectations. In my experience, it meets these expectations and in some cases, such as the display and surprisingly good audio, it surpasses them. My only real complaint is the lack of ports. With only 2 USB-C ports, you’ll be reaching for dongles every time you want to use wired headphones or that legacy flash drive. At least Dell puts several dongles in the box. That said, this is a common issue on modern laptops so isn’t a disqualifier for me.
Easy to recommend overall.
I would recommend this to a friend!
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
 
Dive into a new visual experience with the Samsung Odyssey G65B Curved Gaming Monitor. QHD resolution with DisplayHDR 600 brings forth spectacular colors and detail, while a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms GTG response time and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro ensure a true-to-life gaming experience. The Samsung G65B lets you dive into a world of content too, with advanced streaming technology that offers smooth play and zero download or storage limits. You can instantly access top streaming services and console games via Gaming Hub, and enjoy free live content with Samsung TV Plus in stunning QHD
 
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Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Combines deep blacks with fast response time
on March 9, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
Samsung has packed this monitor with tons of smart display features, plenty of inputs, a versatile stand that allows 90 degrees of rotation, and, most importantly, a high quality panel which combines the deep blacks and high contrast VA panels are known for with excellent refresh rates. The gentle curve of the screen takes a bit of getting used to, especially for productivity tasks, but after adjusting I find it’s great to use for everything from high frame rate gaming to 4 hour work sessions.
I’ve been using this for about an 80/20 mix of home office work and gaming and it has excelled at both. The display is sharp, contrast is superb (not as good as OLED but outstanding for LCD), color rendition reasonably accurate, and the 1440p resolution keeps things clean and easy to read, even for legacy Windows apps which don’t always scale well on 4K or other high density displays.
In games, the fast response time, high refresh rate, and support for variable refresh rates make for a very smooth experience. I’ve tried high FPS shooters like Halo Infinite and slower paced games like Uncharted and all of them have rendered superbly without tearing or ghosting. HDR worked reasonably well for games which supported it. VA panels don’t usually switch as fast as some other technologies, but Samsung has done a great job overcoming this. The coating on the display also does a good job controlling reflections, providing the full benefit of those nice deep blacks. I have windows behind me when using my PC and the reflections are very manageable.
The monitor is also a very capable smart display, with built-in apps for YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ and others, along with excellent wireless screen mirroring and superb Samsung DEX support. There’s even a built-in option to stream Xbox cloud games and directly connect a gamepad. The remote is easy to use and the built-in apps work fine with snappy responses, but I’ve found I prefer to just play content from the connected computer.
Connectivity is extensive, with 2 HDMI ports, DisplayPort, headphone audio out, and an actual Ethernet jack. USB ports are provided both for connecting devices like keyboards and gamepads, and for connecting to a PC to act as a USB hub.
In my experience, the main negative of this display is that it exhibits some flicker at lower refresh rates. Setting the rate to 120Hz completely resolves the flicker and provides a smoother experience, but not all devices are capable of these high rates in all modes. Depending on view angle, the very bottom of the display (say the bottom 10% of the task bar) also sometimes isn’t as evenly backlit as the rest. The other minor negative is the external power brick, but that’s really just a one time issue during setup.
Overall this display combines incredible versatility and app support with a very solid display panel. If you want/need these features, it’s a great option. If all you want is a high quality panel with support for fast refresh rates and VRR, this will fit the bill but the extra features may be overkill. Either way, you should be pleased with the visuals.
Pros:
- Excellent sharp VA panel combines deep blacks and fast 1ms response time
- Super for gaming, very good for productivity if you don’t mind the curve
- Excellent stand enables easy adjustment and rotation
- Plenty of inputs and support for high end HDMI features like VRR
- Broad support for apps and screen mirroring
- Works as a USB hub
- Good remote and responsive UI
Cons:
- Some flicker at lower refresh rates
- Backlight very even except very bottom 1-2% of screen depending on view angle
- Smart display features might be overkill for some
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Experience the world's closest electric shave and uncompromised skin comfort with Philips Norelco S9000 Prestige. NanoTech precision blades are strengthened with nano particles and have extra strong and long-lasting sharp edges to cut hair with the highest precision for the closest results. Our excellent skin comfort system enables you to effortlessly get a highly efficient shave, even on a longer (up to 7-day) beard. Its new wider, rounder openings catch more hair per pass, resulting in a difference you can feel. The BeardAdapt Sensor checks hair density 15 times per second and automatically adapts the shaver to your hair. Choose between 3 modes to customize your shave: 1) Sensitive - for a gentle, thorough shave. 2) Normal - for a thorough, everyday shave. 3) Fast - for a quick shave that saves you time. Get a convenient dry shave or a more refreshing wet shave with gel or foam - even in the shower. Finish your look with the skin-friendly click-on precision trimmer. It is ideal for maintaining your mustache and trimming your sideburns. The premium travel case protects the shaver as well as its accessories. Its thoughtful design matches the timeless elegance of the shaver. Shave longer with every charge, thanks to a powerful and long-lasting Lithium-ion battery. You'll have up to 60 minutes of shaving time – that's about 21 shaves – on a one hour charge. This shaver only operates in cordless mode. For best shaving performance, replace your shaving heads every 12 months. Use SH98/82 replacement heads, sold separately.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Smooth shave, some design drawbacks
on February 24, 2023
Posted by: PhilipM
I’ve been using this high end rotary shaver for about 10 days now and after a brief adjustment period I’ve found that it provides a very close and comfortable shave. The design is attractive, and the dock used for self-cleaning provides a handy place to stand the unit between shaves. There are definitely pros and cons to the relatively large three-element shaving head vs. smaller foil based systems. On the one hand, the three heads pivot easily to conform very well to my neck and face and the system makes it easy to cover larger areas and get great results. However, this larger size can also make it a little more challenging to shave smaller areas like between the nose and upper lip. Overall, I’m adjusting fine and I think the system works well.
The percent of battery life is clearly displayed on the handle and based on my usage so far, I’d expect about 3 weeks of use before it needs charging. The supplied cleaning stand does NOT charge the shaver – you need to plug it in separately.
The shaver comes with a stand which can accept cartridges with cleaning solution and when you “dock” the shave in this stand, a single press of the power button will start a self clean cycle lasting about a minute. After 10 days of using only the self-cleaning system after shaving, I opened the heads to find them spotless, so the system works well, but be aware you will need to buy replacement cleaning cartridges once every month or two. Fortunately they’re less than $5 each.
For me, the main negatives with this unit are related to design and form factor. First, in order to use the trimmer you need to detach the shaver head and attach the trimmer, then remove it again when done. It works fine, but it much less convenient that the pop-up trimmers on some units. Second, the size of the shaving head and need for a separate trimmer attachment mean that the travel case for this shaver is relatively large, which is not ideal for travelling light. You may also need to pack the charger (which doesn’t go in the travel case) if your trip will be more than 2 weeks long.
If these drawbacks don’t bother you, this could be a good fit as it does manage to delivery very good shaving performance in an attractive package.
Pros:
- Excellent smooth and comfortable shave
- Relatively large shaving head does a great job covering large areas like face and neck
- Reasonable battery life (~ 2-3 weeks)
- Attractive design
- Self-cleaning system works well, but it’s also easy to rinse and clean if you prefer
Cons:
- That large shaver head can make tighter spots like mustache area more challenging
- Using the trimmer requires removing the shaver head and using a separate attachment
- The large shaver head and separate trimmer mean that the travel case is relatively large
- Charging requires plugging in the shaver – the self cleaning base unit does not charge the battery. On the plus side, this may yield better battery longevity since the battery isn’t always sitting at 100%.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flightstick for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One & Windows 10 & 11 PCs equips you with immersive, accurate controls for navigating air and space flight simulation & combat games on Xbox and PC. High resolution non-contact sensors provide precise response and extended longevity to the main stick controls, while throttle and flap levers control main engine power and make for quick adjustment of secondary control surfaces. Plus, the levers can be customized with swappable throttle heads to suit the aircraft you are flying. Precision detents at the minimum and maximum positions allow activation of full reverse thrust at minimum, and afterburner, boost or Take Off/Go Around thrust at maximum. An ultra-precise nano trim wheel allows for fine tuning of attitude, and an analog POV hat allows freelook in cockpit views or strafe thrusters in space simulation games. An OLED Flight Management Display makes for easy adjustments to control profiles, trim wheel input mode, rudder lock and more. Navigate the FMD using an intuitive rotary dial with click at the base of the stick to configure, and update product performance in real-time with all information stored in on-board memory. 27 programmable buttons, stick mounted buttons, dual throttle lever detents and 8 programmable base buttons equip you with an arsenal of adjustable controls to your most critical simulation functions. Pilot fighter jets or airliners thanks to an ambidextrous right and left-handed design with a reversible wrist rest, and programmable base buttons allow the entire setup to be configured for right, or left-handed controls. Take customization a step further and adjust the color, brightness and response of multiple RGB LED zones. Familiar Xbox controls allow for easy console operation, and you can switch input mode to PC to play across a wide range of simulation titles.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
4 out of 5
4
Great controller - best for use on a table or desk
on December 31, 2022
Posted by: PhilipM
This is an excellent and highly configurable flight stick that is a perfect companion for flight and space sim games on both XBOX and PC.
I’ve spent most of my time using the stick in PC mode with Microsoft Flight Simulator and overall it’s been a joy to use with the sim. The controls are comfortable, responsive, precise, and generally feel great to use. The dual POV hats (one digital and one analog) make switching views around a complex sim like MSFS a breeze and the analog hat provides excellent control as you pan the cockpit controls or external views. A second throttle lever can be used for things like multi-engine control, RPM control, or flaps. Even better is the perfectly placed scroll wheel, which is mapped by default to adjust elevator trim – brilliant. Attractive and adjustable LED lighting is a nice bonus.
There has clearly been some collaboration between Flight Sim maker Asobo Studios and Turtler Beach because the stick adopts a sensible and useful set of defaults as soon as you connect it. There is also a handy printed sheet that provides a quick reference on the default mappings. The only change I made was to the “toggle view” button, making it switch between internal and external views rather than opening and closing the in game menu.
If control sensitivity is not to your liking, you can adjust the curve along with other parameters from the very clear integrated display or a cell phone connected via Bluetooth. In my testing, the app connected and worked without any issues, but the integrated menus have a good range of quick options available without the need for the app.
The only real issue I've found with this controller is the tension, which is not adjustable and is strong enough that the stick is most easily used on a flat surface like a desk. Definitely not a great hand held option, which is a shame because support for casual gaming on a console is otherwise excellent.
Pros
- High quality feel
- Excellent range of thoughtfully designed inputs, especially trim scroll wheel and multiple throttles.
- Sensible default mapping built in to MSFS on both PC and XBOX
- Highly configurable
- Has two USB-C ports to add other peripherals such as rudder pedals.
- Controller and LED lighting look great.
- Comes with a nice, long USB cable.
Cons
- Control tension is very probably too tight for hand held use for many and is not adjustable.
Bottom line – a great controller for flight simulators so long as you’re willing to use it on a desk.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Soundcore Sleep A10 Earbuds are your perfect companion for a peaceful night's sleep. They’re designed around an exclusive 4-Point Noise Masking system to keep night-time disturbances under your radar. Enhanced passive noise canceling combines with an advanced active noise masking algorithm, and soothing sleep sounds to block out up to 35dB of unwanted noise and deliver the ideal sleep environment. Sleep A10 earbuds are tiny and lightweight so they stay comfortably in your ears, all night long. Slim profile and pressure-free fit means even heavy side-sleepers can rest the entire night without discomfort or fatigue.
 
  • Tech Insider Network
Customer Rating
5 out of 5
5
Surprisingly comfortable and effective
on November 20, 2022
Posted by: PhilipM
I’ve been using these buds for a week now and they have proven surprisingly effective at noise blocking while also being comfortable to wear throughout the night. I tend to sleep on my side, so I was concerned that they would be uncomfortable in my ear if resting on a pillow, but after they’re properly seated they’re quite unobtrusive. I’ve slept better with these in while still being aware of surroundings when really needed.
I was also concerned that the passive noise blocking may not be as effective as active noise cancelling. In fact, these do a great job of isolating you from noise even without active cancelling. And for those wondering: yes, these do a pretty good job of masking snoring.
Battery life has been superb. They always last all the way through the night, and I’ve found that the charging case only needs to be recharged about once per week.
The companion app provides the ability to set up the buds, update firmware, and play various relaxing sounds such as rain, a stream, wind, etc. It will also log sleep patterns for your review, although I’m not totally sure how actionable the data is. In any event, I’ve found the app to be completely reliable on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.
There is also the option to use these buds without any active participation by the app by downloading the sleep sound you wish to use directly to the earbuds. This thoughtful piece of engineering helps ensure that the sound can be played without the battery drain of an active Bluetooth stream or even a connection to the phone.
I have also tried using these for listening to music and while I don’t think they’re going to win any awards on that front, they’re perfectly fine for listening to music before bedtime. I’d expect they’d be a good companion for aircraft travel too, although I haven’t had the opportunity to try that yet.
Overall this is a product I didn’t think I needed but have really enjoyed and can easily recommend for anybody who sleeps in a less than silent environment.
Pros:
- Noise isolation works really well
- Comfortable to wear all night, including when sleeping on your side
- Outstanding battery life
- Simple operation and reliable app
- Great little charging case can keep you on the go all week
- Works to mask snoring
- Comes with a wide variety of interchangeable fixtures to ensure a great fit for most ears
Cons:
- Streaming music is OK but not amazing.
- No active noise cancelling option.
I would recommend this to a friend!
+1point
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PhilipM's Answers
 
Floor One S3 saves you time by combining two chores – vacuuming and mopping – in one step, leaving floors clean and streak-free. Featuring iLoop Smart Sensor Technology, Floor One S3 senses dirt and debris, then auto controls suction and water flow, leaving floors shiny and clean.Other smart features include a full color LED screen that helps you monitor iLoop’s automatic cleaning power, app connectivity, and a helpful voice assistant.
 

how long does the battery last

In my experience it lasts about half an hour.
3 years, 4 months ago
by
PhilipM
 
This H&R Block Premium Tax software is designed for people who want to be in control of their tax preparation experience and feel empowered by completing their own return. It is a perfect solution for homeowners, investors, rental property owners, or self-employed who have complex tax situations and want to get a big refund.
 

does thie have froms for rental

Yes - I've used it for this purpose for several years and it works well, but watch out for any potentially depreciation difference between state and federal returns.
4 years, 1 month ago
by
PhilipM
 
Control TVs, lights and stereos with this black Sevenhugs smart remote. The intuitive touch screen offers simplicity, and the Smart Remote companion app allows the user to customize the remote's interface for different devices. This Sevenhugs smart remote lets you connect electronics and services via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, infrared and smart hubs for a simple installation.
 

Will this take the place of a charter spectrum remote, and a TCL TV remote simultaneously?

This remote should be able to replace any combination of traditional infrared remotes. It will generally not replace remotes that use custom RF or Wifi control. Even if your remote is not in the database, there's a built in IR learning function so the unit can learn the commands you want to use as you perform them on your old remote.
4 years, 6 months ago
by
PhilipM
 
Accompany your workouts with streaming tunes from these JBL Endurance PEAK Bluetooth headphones. PowerHook technology switches them on when worn, and the TwistLock and FlexSoft features ensure a lightweight, ergonomic fit for comfortable, all-day use. Manage music playback effortlessly on these wireless JBL Endurance PEAK Bluetooth headphones via touch-enabled controls.
 

are these used for talking also or just listing to music for head phones

You can use them for talking on a phone call, but the microphone quality is not ideal and callers with whom I tested them reported difficulty in hearing my clearly, even in a quiet environment.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
PhilipM
 
Accompany your workouts with streaming tunes from these JBL Endurance PEAK Bluetooth headphones. PowerHook technology switches them on when worn, and the TwistLock and FlexSoft features ensure a lightweight, ergonomic fit for comfortable, all-day use. Manage music playback effortlessly on these wireless JBL Endurance PEAK Bluetooth headphones via touch-enabled controls.
 

when you are in a call is only the right one supposed to work but with everything else, they both work?

That's been my experience. Only stereo audio sources appear to engage the left bud.
4 years, 11 months ago
by
PhilipM
 
Take command of your taxes with this H&R Block Premium tax filing software package. It lets you file electronically for increased convenience, and it delivers data security in the form of web browser encryption and multilayered authentication. This H&R Block Premium tax filing software package provides guidance at every stop to ensure accuracy and ease of use.
 

Does the HR Block Premium package come with a State Tax program ?

Yes - you choose and download the state after installing the main federal return software. No additional charge, but there can be additional charges to e-file state returns, at least from my experience in prior years (federal e-file is included).
7 years, 2 months ago
by
PhilipM
 
Enjoy pristine viewing with this Sony 4K HDR TV. The 4K Processor X1 and 4K X-Reality PRO technology of this television produce brilliant colors, while its ultra-slim 55-inch screen and wire-hiding features are aesthetically pleasing. The Android feature of this Sony 4K HDR TV provides a variety of customizable programming options.
 

What is the refresh rate in hz?

120 Hz native refresh, but the software interpolates at 240Hz. Not sure what the difference is in practice, but can definitely say that this unit offers a very quick refresh rate and doesn't suffer from ghosting.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
PhilipM