swemoney's stats
- Review count291
- Helpfulness votes192
- First reviewMay 14, 2016
- Last reviewJune 2, 2026
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4
Reviews comments
- Review comment count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First review commentNone
- Last review commentNone
- Featured review comments0
Questions
- Question count0
- Helpfulness votes0
- First questionNone
- Last questionNone
- Featured questions0
- Answer count12
- Helpfulness votes10
- First answerJune 10, 2016
- Last answerApril 18, 2021
- Featured answers0
- Best answers2
Customer Rating
4
Feels like a solid machine
on June 2, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
I've spent way too many years using HP printers and I'm incredibly excited to put those years behind me. HP's ink subscription service pretty much started feeling forced on you after a while and it just left a really sour taste in my mouth and I'm happy to be anywhere else. Brother also has an ink subscription service, but they brought it up once and it was easy to skip and refill cartridges are readily available so it's just refreshing for me.
Setup was pretty easy. The QR code pops up and you're directed to install their app. The app then guides you really gently through the whole process. It took maybe 5-10 minutes start to finish and I was printing the test pages and ready to go. The most difficult part of the whole process was maybe installing the ink cartridges just because the screen tells you to press in until you hear the click but there really isn't a click.
The app works pretty well. It does make you create an account (optional accounts are always preferred by me) but that account links your printer so you can print from away from home if you'd like. The biggest use case for the app for me is just to check on the status of the printer without being physically at the printer.
One baffling thing for me is the existence of so many "tabs" on the printer's screen. You have "Basic 1" and "Basic 2" which have a variety of "basic" functions you can do with your printer. Then you have six more blank "Custom" tabs. Each tab can contain eight shortcuts. But aside from the basic 5 printer function shortcuts, there are only an extra seven "apps" that allow you to mostly scan to various file formats. The only thing I can think of is they're planning on releasing a lot more apps in the future. Otherwise it just feels like really silly UI/UX design.
Print quality is outstanding. I decided to print a photo straight from my phone without anything special. Just plain paper. Normal print quality. Basically all default settings. It didn't print crazy fast, but the resulting image shocked me when it was edge to edge and looked really good. It wasn't crazy slow or anything either, it just didn't rocket the print out in a few seconds or anything. I can wait 20 or 30 seconds for a really good quality print that stretches edge to edge.
Thinking the color image would obviously take longer to print, I found some black and white images and tried to print them and noticed they also printed a little slow. Then I tried again with borderless printing off (a settings I could only find on my desktop, sadly), and the prints started going much, much faster. So if you're printing anything you don't need to be edge-to-edge, make sure you turn that off to make things go a little quicker.
It has a lot more features that will probably get limited use in my home/home office but they're worth mentioning. You can auto-feed up to 50 pages for really easy copying of stacks of documents. The tray for the auto-feeder also collapses in so it's not always sticking out when not in use. The main paper tray can hold up to 500 sheets of paper which is great when you have children that choose to open up the paper tray when they want some drawing paper. There's also a second tray where you can hold some card stock or any other special paper you want to print on. I can't quite vouch for the "high yield" nature of the ink cartridges, but they're supposed to support a lot of pages before needing to be replaced. This will probably make the Brother printer more cost efficient in the long run over the forced HP subscription fees.
Bottom line, I'm happy to have a printer that I feel is going to work hard for me without trying to nickle and dime me every step of the way. I feel like I'm more in control of things than I have in a very long time. If you're looking for a great home office printer and this is in your budget, you might want to give Brother a look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Step up your game with the Fitbit Air Special Edition Stephen Curry band, blending maximum performance with legendary style.~,~ The lightweight, micro-adjustable fit is comfortable through work, play, and sleep. The water-resistant coating makes it ultra sweatproof and moisture-wicking for your toughest workouts.~,~ And Stephen Curry and his performance team joined forces with Google~s trusted innovators to bring you Google Health, so you can perform your best.~
Customer Rating
4
Easy to forget (it's on) which is a great feature
on June 2, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
I've been firmly in the Apple ecosystem since the OG iPhone so I normally stick with Apple products that are going to connect to my phone and work constantly for me. I thought I'd give this Fitbit Air a shot since it feels like it fixed one of the bit issues I've had with the Apple Watch. It's easy to forget about.
Setup is pretty easy. Download the Google Health app and login. The app takes you through the steps to connect to the Fitbit and update it's fairly seemless. The initial update took a bit of time but once it was done, the whole thing gets out of your way. Like completely. Too much, almost.
After setup was complete, I was left with a Google Health dashboard and that was it. I had no extra guidance for what my Fitbit Air really did for me or how it would work or how to check on things. It was just there in the top right of the dashboard showing me how much battery life was remaining. Tapping on it showed me all of my devices and selecting the Fitbit offered a handful of misc. settings I could configure. The one that stuck out the most to me was "Share heart rate". This one would allow you to share your heart rate data with gym equipment and other apps that supported it.
After some time, I edited the top Today widget space to include my heart rate which finally gave me a live view of my heart rate. That's about all you get that's live. It makes sense for a smaller device without a screen to not really offer up much in the way of live data. I just left the health app and went about my day.
My biggest curiosity was how well it would track my sleep and if I would need to manually do something for it to work properly since my sleep schedule bounces around a lot (some nights I go to sleep at 7am and some nights I'm asleep by 1am). To my surprise, after waking up the first night, my sleep was tracked and it gave me a nice breakdown of each sleep cycle and a rating for how "well" I slept. Another surprise was when I took a nap in the middle of the day and the Fitbit recognized it and recorded that as well.
The biggest reason for wanting to use this Fitbit is just how much it disappears from my mind through most of the day. I barely remember I'm wearing it because it's very light and pretty subdued on my wrist. I do sometimes look at it like a watch before remembering there's no screen, but aside from that, I don't notice it. The one place I find the most uncomfortable to wear my Apple Watch is in bed and that's the thing I would love to track the most. So this Fitbit Air is perfect for sleep tracking for me.
Even though the Fitbit isn't doing live data transfers or anything, it does some fun notifications that can keep you motivated. After it detects that you've been active for a period of time, it notifies you and if it didn't detect the exact activity, it let's you classify it to help them detect it in the future. I was just cruising around with my kids on an electric scooter at the time and that was one of the options.
Battery life is also pretty good. I noticed about a 10% drain per day give or take so a full charge should last you a week or longer depending on usage. If I had to come up with a down side, it would be related to the battery life and how infrequently it needs to be charged. If I have to charge something every night, it becomes a habit pretty quickly. But if I need to charge something every week or so, I don't think about it until it's pretty much dead. Remembering to charge it sometime during the week is going to be the biggest challenge for me.
All-in-all, I really like this little Fitbit. It looks nice. I can change the band if I really want to. I barely notice it most of the day. And most importantly, it doesn't feel uncomfortable when I'm sleeping with it on so I can properly track my sleep every night. If you're looking for a fitness tracker that gets out of your way and just exists and doesn't need you to think about it very much, this one is definitely something to consider.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Champion your gaming sessions and creative workflows with the SANDISK Optimus GX PRO 850X NVMe SSD. Load levels fast and push through your creative workflow with PCIe 4.0 Sequential Read/Write speeds up to 7,300/6,600 MB/s (2TB and 4TB models). With Random Read/Write speeds up to 1.2M/1.2M IOPS (8TB model) and integrated SANDISK nCache 4.0 technology, experience seamless game sessions and smooth multitasking. Store your large games and digital assets with capacities up to 8TB on M.2 2280 built with trusted SANDISK BiCS TLC 3D NAND. Engineered for video editing with an endurance rating of up to 4,800 TBW (8TB model). Help protect your projects and data with TCG Opal v2.01 data-at-rest encryption. With Microsoft DirectStorage support, you~re ready for future games. Ideal for gaming PCs, creator PCs, and laptops.
Customer Rating
5
Super fast storage. Pretty simple.
on May 31, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
If you have the funds to actually build (or even upgrade) a PC at this point of time, then the price of this NVMe drive won't deter you because everything else is expensive these days too. Performance is what matters and this SANDISK Optimus drive delivers.
Setup is a breeze like any other NVMe SSD out there. Find an open M.2 slot and make sure you have one of those screws to secure it on hand (this item is just the drive. You don't get any stand-offs or screws, so you might have to buy some if you don't have any lying around). After that, you're ready to go.
If you're building a desktop PC, this is a great main drive. If you have a laptop that has an extra slot for a 2280 drive, this is a fantastic upgrade. I tested this drive in my main gaming PC and was incredibly happy with the speeds I was getting. I found the advertised speed on the box of 7300MB/s to be fairly close to what I was getting. The speed tests I ran saw nearly 7100MB/s on sequential reads and about 6500MB/s on sequential writes. Random reads and writes were pretty close together at just about 1100MB/s. So the bottom line is just that this is great drive that delivers great speeds.
Would I suggest you buy one? Absolutely. Would I suggest you buy one today? Probably not. Prices on SSDs and RAM are incredibly inflated right now. The cost of this drive today (June 2026) is at least 3 or 4 times what you would have paid for a similar drive less than a year ago. If you need high performance disk space right now and don't value money all that much, pull the trigger today. Otherwise, if you can wait, see if you can hold out until the AI bubble bursts a bit and things start costing what they should again.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Dell Tower Desktop. Powerful, space-saving performance. Boost everyday productivity with a powerful, space-saving desktop.
Customer Rating
4
Decent at getting some light tasks done
on May 24, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
This Dell computer isn't a powerhouse and isn't priced as one either. It's priced and spec'd at the lower end of desktop PCs and it's performance is going to reflect that. But It's not a terrible option if you're looking to just browse the web, watch some YouTube and do other light productivity tasks.
Setup is the same as it's been for a while. Windows will walk you through everything and take a really long time to check for and install updates. It's skippable but I wouldn't recommend it because you're going to have to update your computer anyways so you might as well get as much done during the setup stage as you can. After the initial setup, I tend to uninstall any extra software that I'm not going to need and this one doesn't really have all that much. There's the windows stuff like Office and a bunch of localizations of OneDrive but the only real Dell pack-in that I felt the need to remove is McAfee.
Download and installing somewhat large things really takes it's toll on the system. I wanted to check if the integrated graphics could handle some light gaming. It can, but I also wanted to test it's limits. I can safely tell you that you're not going to be playing Cyberpunk 2077 on this machine. In almost any configuration. Even the SteamDeck optimized preset couldn't run the benchmark at a playable framerate. You could probably set everything at low and get something somewhat playable but what's the point by then? You can do some other lighter things. Minecraft runs fine as long as you're playing with "Fancy" graphics instead of their newer "Vivid" settings. Just don't buy this PC to game. It's not made for it so you're not going to play anything bigger than casual mobile-esque games.
Otherwise, the system runs fine as long as you're not doing too much at once. Anything you can do in a browser (for the most part) will run fine. Productivity stuff like writing documents and spreadsheets. Checking emails or watching YouTube/Twitch. This is a low end productivity machine and that's what you're going to get out of it. You won't be editing videos or doing much more photo editing beyond cropping and color correction of compressed images. As stated, you're not going to be gaming beyond light, casual things (I bet this could rock Stardew Valley though!).
The insides of the computer look clean. There isn't a lot of room for expansion. If you manage to get the exact same CAMM2 memory module, you can upgrade this computer to 32GB. I, personally, have never seen a CAMM2 module sold in the wild so I'm not sure how expensive they run. The NVME is small but it looks like the slot can support full sized ones if you wanted to replace it. There is a single SATA port if you have a slower drive you want to install but the case doesn't have anywhere to mount it. You can probably get away with a SATA SSD but I wouldn't trust a floating mechanical hard drive.
All said, this isn't a bad system for what it's built for. It's a lower end system and you're not going to get more than lower end performance. For light productivity work or for a lower power server system, it's going to do just fine. If you're looking for gaming or a heavier workflow, you'll want to pass on this one.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Introducing the G7 Pro 8K PC Champion Edition wireless esports controller~crafted for competitive PC gaming, co-created with world fighting game champion XiaoHai. Boasting 8K Hz wired/2.4G wireless ultra-responsive polling, it captures every move with lightning precision, empowering you with a true competitive edge.
Customer Rating
5
Premium feeling controller. Standard price range.
on May 4, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
Finding a controller that feels as premium as this one but doesn't cost much more than a standard controller is pretty rare these days. This controller surprised me most because I'd never heard of GameSir before so I was hopeful but wasn't expecting all that much. I got much more than I expected here.
Setup is as easy as plugging in any controller. The charging dock has a fun little compartment in the bottom that lets you plug in the USB dongle so it can double as the receiver if you want (while still giving you the option to use it just for charging if you'd rather not). I'm only a little sad that they didn't leave enough space in the compartment to hold the extra D-Pads you can swap out. You're set to use the controller as is if you want but you can also install the software to GameSir Connect app to add a lot of customization options.
The app doesn't require a login and feels pretty lean (both things that are always welcome these days). You can customize the light on the controller ring as well as the strip on the dock. You can do a different color, a colorful mix of colors or cycle through a bunch of colors. You can specify the single color but you can't customize the colorful/rainbow options at all. You can also remap all of the buttons to anything else you'd want. Vibration strength is also customizable for both sides of the controller individually.
One thing I haven't seen in a lot of other controllers is the ability to customize the curve for both sticks, triggers and "motion" controls. If you want your analog sticks to be slower to react when you're barely moving them and then get quicker as you move them further, you can do that. Same with the triggers and motion controls. This is on top of the more standard deadzone adjustments. There are a couple of predefined curves for you to use but also the ability to customize a curve exactly the way you want it. I really liked this feature a lot and I can't think of any other (much more premium) controller having this ability.
Motion controls is also a thing you can setup to take over for a specific analog stick for aiming or tilting in games that don't support motion controls natively. I'm not big on motion controls for those things but I can see how neat the feature is just being available and I may even try to find some ways to use it just because of that.
The overall feel of the controller is actually really nice. Again, it's a very premium feel for a not very premium price. The rubberized grips are some of the best feeling grips I've held in a controller. No hand slipping without feeling sticky at all. Just nice grip. The front face of the controller feels fine and then you realize you can take the front face off and reveal a really nice transparent look into the controller. I sort of prefer this look but I'd rather keep things a little more covered and protected. Really sleek look though.
Buttons feel good to press. Analog sticks feel responsive (and since they're customizable, as responsive as you'd like them to). Triggers are also nice and you can easily switch them to instant click triggers with a lock switch on the back of the controller. I'm not usually a huge fan of back paddles but these were in a really nice place for me. And there's a separate switch that locks them as well which is incredibly useful for me since the main reason I don't like back paddles is that I accidentally activate them a bunch. Now, unless I specifically want to use them, I can lock them down so I never have to worry about an accidental X when I didn't mean to.
If I had to really find a negative for this controller, it's the recessed USB-C port on the controller. It has a really bulky "sleeve" around the port and one of my USB-C cables I use for a lot of things wouldn't find inside it to plug in the controller. With the dock, you really only need to plug the controller in with a cable when you want to update the firmware unless you want to use it in wired mode, thought, so I wouldn't say it's a deal-breaker at all. Just disappointing in a controller that otherwise feels like a lot of thought was put into it.
Overall, I've tested a lot of different controllers over a few decades and I was incredibly surprised with the premium feel and features that came with this controller that doesn't cost a lot more than a standard XBox controller. It will be my new wireless choice and I'll probably even use it wirelessly with my PC where I'm normally always plugged in. I just really liked the way it felt in my hand and all of the customization options available. Definitely give this controller a look if you're looking for anything that isn't a standard official controller.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Wave:3 delivers studio-quality audio in a compact USB microphone. At its core, a Wave FX Processor powers onboard DSP that shapes your voice, while you hear the results in real time. Clipguard stops distortion before it starts, as VST plugins run right on your mic~letting you use effects without complex routing. Adjust on the fly with intuitive controls like tap-to-mute, then dial in your levels with visual feedback and Auto Gain. Configure device settings and command your entire audio setup directly in Wave Link, or using any Stream Deck device. Wave:3 proves professional sound doesn~t require complexity.
Customer Rating
5
Great update to an already great microphone
on April 26, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
The Wave:3 is the microphone I wish was available when I first started streaming. Everything is just built in to the USB microphone and for the most part "just works". If you're thinking about getting into streaming, this is really the microphone you want to get before you go crazy on mixer and XLR equipment.
Setup is really easy. Just plug this in to your computer and it's already working. The dial on the front offers feedback for what it's picking up as well as some basic controls. Where the real magic comes (in typical Elgato fashion) is the software integration. The Wave Link software offers crazy flexibility and customization of your entire audio stack without a lot of fuss. One of the nice additions for the Mk2 edition of the Wave:3 is the gain wizard which just listens to you and automatically sets up your gain for you.
With the Wave Link software, you can do a lot of mixing and routing of audio to different virtual devices and then use those devices in your recording and broadcasting software to isolate only that audio. For instance, setting up Spotify to play on your music "device" and then having a separate audio track in OBS that can be separated from your VOD on Twitch. Or setting up whatever game you're playing so you don't hear all of your system sounds as well when recording. There's a lot you can set up to get your audio just right for your stream or recording.
One of the biggest additions to the Wave:3 Mk2 is the onboard signal processing stack that lets your add EQ, compression and some VST effects right on the microphone instead of spending your precious CPU to do that. Not only do you save some frames in whatever game you're playing but you also eliminate almost all of the latency. It's a really welcome addition and, in my opinion, makes the Mk2 worth the extra few bucks.
The controls on the microphone are nice and very versatile. Just tap the top of the microphone and you can mute and unmute. The knob in front can control your gain or headphone volume by clicking it in to switch what it's currently controlling. Not much else to say about these. It's fairly intuitive and easy to use.
Audio quality is great for this price range. If you're just starting out or aren't ready to invest in a nice mixer/amp and XLR microphone, you aren't going to find a much better sounding USB microphone at this price point. With the onboard EQ, you can fine tune your voice exactly the way you like as well as adding some VST effects from the marketplace to change your voice completely if you want.
Elgato always does a great job of making good hardware and then just sending it far past everyone else with great software to go with it and this microphone is no exception. For a USB microphone, I really don't think there's anywhere else I'd look if I was even getting close to this price range for my budget. I strongly recommend it to anyone getting started with streaming or recording video or audio.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Flip your day, your way. More than just a laptop~it~s your all-day, anywhere companion with 4 flexible modes. Power and performance for AI acceleration, it keeps pace with your most creative ideas and demanding workloads. With fast charging and a design that~s both sleek and durable, the OmniBook X Flip moves as effortlessly~and stylishly~as you do.
Customer Rating
4
Decent little 2-in-1
on April 25, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
Right out of the gate, I'll tell you this isn't a top of the line system but it does the job it's trying to do just fine. You can be the judge on if the price is right for the machine you get.
Setup is as simple as it normally is with a Windows machine. Takes a little bit of time to run initial updates and all that fun stuff. Then there's the removal of McAfee and other software that you might feel is just bloating the system. After all that, you got a pretty decent machine that turns into a tablet.
Build quality is quite nice for an HP. I'm used to a lot of non-Apple computers being made of mostly plastic but this Omnibook is metal and feels solid. The hinge has a good stiffness to it and should stay put however you place it but it's still not hard to flip it into tablet mode. For a 14" model, it does feel a little bit on the heavy side. It's small, but it still feels a little bulky for the screen size.
Performance isn't too bad. You're not going to be hardcore gaming with graphics settings maxed out or anything but that's not what this laptop is made for. You CAN game with some more casual games and graphics settings adjusted appropriately if you need a little break. But the main use for this is going to be some productivity work, browsing the web or watching some videos. All of this is handled quickly and most users that wouldn't consider themselves a "power user" should be just fine. My biggest gripe with the performance would be the soldered 16GB of RAM since it can't be upgraded.
Ports are pretty good for a smaller laptop. You get an HDMI and 3.5mm headphone port on the left side and then you get a USB-A and USB-C port on both sides. It's always nice to have the option of charging your laptop on either side and it's also nice to have those extra ports available for anything else you might need to plug in.
The screen looks good. If you haven't started using OLED screens everywhere yet, you're going to struggle to go back to a non-OLED screen after using this. I'm not really sure why it's advertised as a "2K" screen when the highest resolution I can get in Windows is 1920x1200, though. Colors are good and brightness is good enough, though.
One of the biggest annoyances I found pretty quick was how far away you need the device in order for it to recognize your face to unlock. If you're used to things like FaceID on an Apple device, which you usually forget about because it works so quickly and consistently, be ready to see a lot of messages telling you you're too close and to move away a little bit when you try and unlock your computer. This is exasperated by the fact that it's a 14" screen, so I don't feel like I'm too close to it when it's yelling about me being too close.
Battery life was just alright. I'm never too far from a charger so it's not a big deal to me but if you're doing any kind of real work or watching a lot of videos with the screen brightness up, you might get a full workday out of it if you're lucky. You can definitely stretch it to 15+ hours or so if you're using it lightly and manage things like your screen brightness. Charging isn't too bad, though. About a half hour of charging will get you back up to 50% and an extra hour and a half on top of that should fill you up.
All in all, this is a pretty good computer with decent specs. It's not top of the line and it's not a gaming beast but it's not trying to be so you shouldn't expect that anyways. Expect to get a waking day's worth of light productivity work out of it without worrying too much about the battery. When you need a break, you shouldn't have a problem playing some casual games at lower settings either. Being able to flip the computer into tablet mode for a change of pace is also very welcome. If you're in the market for a mid-range convertible laptop and this is in your price range, give it a look at least.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Studio-grade audio meets wireless freedom with the R8 SPECTRE PRO HS, officially licensed for PlayStation~5. Hear the RIG R-SERIES difference with graphene drivers custom-tuned for competitive gaming, delivering ultra-low distortion audio optimized for Tempest 3D on PlayStation 5. Take calls while gaming by seamlessly mixing Bluetooth voice audio over low-latency 2.4GHz game sound. Control your audio experience using the RIG Navigator app available for Android and iPhone. The broadcast-grade boom microphone captures your voice and blocks out background noise, with full bandwidth 16 bit / 48 kHz voice capture and enhanced noise-rejection technology. Settle in for marathon gaming sessions with up to 60 hours of battery life and a comfortable memory foam headband and ear cushions. Dock your headset in the dedicated base station with RGB effects and stay charged between gaming sessions. The R8 SPECTRE PRO. Wireless Game Audio Built Different.
Customer Rating
4
Good connection and sound
on April 20, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
I have a pair of the official Sony INZONE headphones for my PS5 and they have always been just terrible as far as the connection is concerned. They just sound terrible with a lot of chopping and artifacting from interference. I was incredibly happy to find that this RIG set, in the exact same environment, sounds great without any noticeable interference.
Setup was simple as usual for USB headphones. Just plug in the base to your PC and PS5 and then plug in the dongle into the base. The dongle has an 90 degree angled USB-C plug and a nice LED strip along the top so it looks really nice on the base. Turning on the headphones will find the USB connection and you're ready to go. You can also download the RIG companion app for your phone and connect to your phone via bluetooth which will help you update the firmware and adjust some settings like EQ and and mode.
I'm not a crazy audiophile so I wouldn't be able to tell you the exact resonance of every frequency or anything but I did think this just sounded like a good pair of headphones. The volume was good with decent bass. I don't know how else to describe it. It just sounded good and was night and day better than my old INZONE9 set with no real interference.
One thing I wasn't crazy about is that the headphones promote a "dual mode" which is supposed to be your phone and game at the same time. But it doesn't support these things simultaneously. It basically just allows you to take a phone call (who takes phone calls anymore?) which interrupts your game audio. It would have been so much nicer if playing bluetooth audio would just lower the volume on your game audio a little bit so you could listen to both at the same time.
I would still recommend these headphones. The connection quality (especially considering what I've witnessed with an official Sony pair) is fantastic even with a lot of interference around it. The audio sounds great and I've been excited to be able to sit and relax on the couch and play some PS5 games without worrying about waking up the kids. If you have issues with a lot of interference, maybe give these a try and see if they work better for you.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Valor Wired TMR pushes performance on Xbox with optimized ergonomics and game-changing features. Stop sacrificing your aim. Keep your thumbs on the thumbsticks while you jump, slide, reload, and more. Our new Endurance TMR thumbsticks are designed to feel familiar while still alleviating common symptoms of wear and tear. The wraparound bumpers are designed with more surface area allowing faster transitions between bumper and trigger. Elevate your audio controls by effortlessly managing all your sounds without taking your hands off the controller. A non-slip grip helps during those high intensity situations while the new shape fits naturally in your hands for comfort.
Customer Rating
5
Great feel and features in a wired price point
on April 20, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
This SCUF Valor controller feels very solid. I'm usually sitting at my deck on my PC and have never really used controllers wirelessly since I'm so close and it's just more convenient to keep them plugged in. So wired controllers work well for me since I'm basically using all of my wireless controllers that way anyways when I'm playing on my PC. So this controller works really well for me and I'm a big fan of some of the features it has without bloating the simplicity of just being a controller.
Setup is easy enough if you remember you need to turn it on. Plug it in and hold the Xbox button to turn it on and it's ready to go. I say "if you remember" because I was wondering why it wasn't working for my PC. I heard the windows connection charm and it being a wired controller just makes sense to always be on when it's plugged in. No biggie. I went looking for an app to update the firmware and see what kind of customization and it took me a minute to find the SCUF Valor app mentioned after doing a few searches. After installing it, firmware updated quickly and I found that there isn't a crazy amount of extra things you need the app for.
Using the controller just feels like a nice controller. Buttons, the d-pad and bumpers all feel firm but easy to press. The sticks feel really nice to move and knowing it's TMR and I don't have to worry about drift is fantastic. The back paddles are easy to reach and press but not so loose as I had to worry about pressing them by accident. If you're not a fan of the inner paddles, you can replace the bulged out buttons with a flat replacement that basically eliminates the buttons for you. The volume spinners on the bottom of the controller also feel good to turn and click. Finally, there's switches by each trigger that lets you turn them into instant activated buttons instead of full analog triggers.
Speaking of the back paddles. One of the things I really love is that you can reassign all of the paddles on the fly from the controller. No extra software required. It might take you a second to get used to the process but it's explained in the manual and it's pretty simple to do once you do it a few times. Then there's also 3 built in profiles signified by a different color led so you can customize for different games and then just switch profiles really quickly with a tap of the button on the back of the controller.
There's not much I have to say negatively about this controller. It feels like a more premium controller compared to the stock controllers and it doesn't cost much more really. Being able to do everything from the controller instead of needing to use external software to configure everything is fantastic. If you're looking for a wired controller, this might be one you want to take a look at.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Designed with an ultra~efficient 9W standby draw, the Anker SOLIX C2000X Gen 2 Portable Power Station engineered for high~performance power on demand. It starts with a 2,048Wh base capacity, expandable to 4kWh for extended runtime and smooth, reliable performance across your devices. Rugged, smart, and built for tech enthusiasts, this next~gen power station is always primed for home backup, off~grid adventures, and your most demanding gear.
Customer Rating
5
So much portable power
on April 15, 2026
Posted by: swemoney
I'm mostly excited to see what other use cases I can come up with for this power station. It really does a lot and although it's quite heavy (obviously), it's fairly small and easy enough to carry to places you might need it. Just thinking of novel ways to use it is going to be fun for a while.
Setup is dead simple. It's a big battery and power outlets and it probably comes with enough juice to start using right away. You can connect it to your standard wall socket to charge it back up. You can also connect some solar panels if you have them to keep it charged when you're truly off the grid for a while. You can use the Anker app to monitor it and adjust some settings. You aren't required to create an account (which is always nice) but if you do, you'll be able to save your batteries and access them via wifi.
This power station can supply 2400W of power which is an insane amount when you're trying to find things to test it out with. My big silly test was plugging in my refrigerator and air fryer and seeing them both run without an issue. My much more realistic test was to plug in my entire gaming PC setup and see that I still had about 7 hours of basic, standard usage (drawing around 300W consistently) or around 3 hours of hardcore gaming (drawing between 600-800W). This was on my power station that was already down to about 85% when I started the test. My standard UPS battery backup for my PC will generally only give me about 15-20 minutes of time after it loses power.
Speaking of UPS, if you set your power station up in the Anker app, you have some things you can set up. The device also has a really small settings menu but there's a lot more you can configure in the app. The first thing you'll get to do from the app is update the firmware. This isn't a quick process. It's pretty slow and I found it quite unreliable via bluetooth. Connecting to wifi definitely helps but it was still a very slow update. On the front status page for your power station, you can change it's operating mode. It defaults to a standard UPS mode where it will prioritize the output load and if it's connected to power as well, it'll charge at the same time. You can also set a Time of Use mode that lets you specify the times when power costs are the lowest and only charge during those times. Then there's a couple of backup modes that prioritize keeping the battery topped up.
One setting that's really nice that you can change in the app or directly from the device is the recharging power wattage. It defaults to basically drawing as much power as possible (1800W) but if you have other things running on that same leg of power, you'll probably trip a breaker (I did). You can lower the charging wattage to whatever your home can support and if you go down to 1000W, it shouldn't need a fan so the power station will remain silent.
The screen on the device is only operated by a single button that turns the screen on as well as switching what screen is displayed. The default screen is a nice charged percentage along with the connected hz, outlet connection status and total wattage being used (or supplied). The next screen gives you a much more basic input/output display. The last screen showcases all of the outlets and their supplied wattages. There's a settings screen at the end that describes double pressing to "enter" and there are 3 basic settings available in that menu.
I couldn't really find any downsides in my usage of this power station for now. It's heavy? Maybe that's a deal breaker for you? But you don't get this amount of power output or storage potential something that's not. If you want to go crazy, there's an extra daisy chain port on the side that let's you connect a second power station that will basically just work alongside this one. It's really a very nice backup solution for anything you need power for.
Again, I'm going to have fun finding things to use this with. Camping feels like an obvious one. But then just random BBQs at a park where you want to play some music and maybe charge some phones. Outdoor movie nights with a nice projector. And of course, if your home loses power, you can keep your food cold while you wait for it to be restored and also provide a station to keep your phones topped up in an emergency. It might not be cheap but I think it makes up for it in it's versatility and plethora of use cases. If you're in the market for a substantial battery backup solution, give this one a good look.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
swemoney's Review Comments
swemoney has not submitted comments on any reviews.
swemoney's Questions
swemoney has not submitted any questions.
Enjoy a smooth gaming experience with this 27-inch ASUS Full HD monitor. The Shadow Boost feature increases clarity in dark scenes, and the ultrafast response times minimize blurring and streaking for seamless gameplay. This ASUS Full HD monitor has an ergonomic design that allows tilting, swiveling and pivoting as needed.
Is the monitor free sync or g-sync?
It's G-Sync. The actual model number (not sure why it's not in the product title) is VG279QR if you want to check all the specs on Asus.
5 years, 1 month ago
by
swemoney
Bring your Astro dreams to life with the Hover-1 Astro Hoverboard. This exciting rideable is an all-out color experience. Available in three different finishes, the LED lights along the wheels, the board and the foot pads will shine bright during your entire ride. The vibrant RGB color scheme will bring your board to life. Bright, bold, and beautiful, Astro brings out our love for color with every mile you ride. Loaded with a massive 400W motor that lets you hit speeds of up to 7mph, you can cruise for up to 6 miles on a single charge. The purchaser and rider of this product are responsible for knowing and obeying all state and local regulations regarding the use of this product, including whether licensing is required and the rules concerning where it may be operated. It is highly encouraged that you read and follow the product instructions including all safety precautions and use protective gear.
Is there a Bluetooth speaker in the hoverboard?
You can connect to your phone's bluetooth to play music through the board. The speaker does not have a lot of bass to it so it just sound alright.
5 years, 6 months ago
by
swemoney
Bring your Astro dreams to life with the Hover-1 Astro Hoverboard. This exciting rideable is an all-out color experience. Available in three different finishes, the LED lights along the wheels, the board and the foot pads will shine bright during your entire ride. The vibrant RGB color scheme will bring your board to life. Bright, bold, and beautiful, Astro brings out our love for color with every mile you ride. Loaded with a massive 400W motor that lets you hit speeds of up to 7mph, you can cruise for up to 6 miles on a single charge. The purchaser and rider of this product are responsible for knowing and obeying all state and local regulations regarding the use of this product, including whether licensing is required and the rules concerning where it may be operated. It is highly encouraged that you read and follow the product instructions including all safety precautions and use protective gear.
Does this board have settings for beginners etc like other boards from this company?
It has Beginner, Intermediate and Expert settings which I assume are the same ones available from other Hover-1 boards while using the same app.
5 years, 6 months ago
by
swemoney
eufy Security Wired 2K Video Doorbell. 2K Resolution, 5-Day Continuous Video Recording (CVR) on Secure Local Storage, No Monthly Fees, Human Detection, 2-way Audio, and Free Wireless Chime included.
Can you use an existing traditional doorbell chime with this, or do you have to use the eufy door chime?
I haven't tried to use my existing chime. The instructions do say that the doorbell will probably function but might work sporadically unless you bridge your current chime to give extra power to the doorbell. This disables your current chime so, I would say, officially, you should use the eufy chime if you want your doorbell cam to work reliably..
5 years, 7 months ago
by
swemoney
Expand connectivity on your Apple MacBook Pro or Air with this gray HyperDrive DUO seven-in-two USB Type-C hub. Two USB Type-C ports support Power Delivery for charging mobile devices rapidly, while the HDMI output lets you connect a UHD display. This HyperDrive DUO seven-in-two USB Type-C hub has USB Type-A ports and microSD and SD card slots for fast data transfer.
will this work if my MacBook Pro has a Kuzy case on it. The case wraps around the side of the computer right where the hyperdrive will go. Im wondering if the case will prevent the hyper drive from fitting flush or snug to the computer.
It's possible this could fit fine. The included magnetic support grip leaves a bit of a gap if you don't use it so you might be able to use this without that magnetic support and have it fit just fine. Don't quote me on this, though, I just know there's definitely a gap if you don't include the black magnetic support.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
swemoney
Expand connectivity on your Apple MacBook Pro or Air with this gray HyperDrive DUO seven-in-two USB Type-C hub. Two USB Type-C ports support Power Delivery for charging mobile devices rapidly, while the HDMI output lets you connect a UHD display. This HyperDrive DUO seven-in-two USB Type-C hub has USB Type-A ports and microSD and SD card slots for fast data transfer.
Is this Hyperdrive compatible with a (mid) 2015 macbook pro?
I'm pretty sure the 2016 MacBook Pro was the first one to move to all USB-C. To use this device, you need a MacBook that has 2 USB-C ports on the left side. If your device doesn't have USB-C this won't work. If your device has a MagSafe charger, this wouldn't be supported. USB-C only.
5 years, 11 months ago
by
swemoney
Safeguard your home with this Arlo security camera system. Its 4K resolution provides maximum clarity so you don't miss a single detail, and a siren is integrated so you can fend off intruders either remotely or while at home. This Arlo security camera system is weather-resistant, so it's functional rain or shine.
Can you pair Arlo pro 2 cameras with this system as well? We have 2 arlo pro 2 cameras we would like to utilize on the new system if possible.
Yes. The Ultra camera doesn't pair with the old hub but the old cameras will pair with the new one. The upgrade process was quite simple.
7 years, 1 month ago
by
swemoney
Always know what~s happening at your door with the SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Pro. Its crystal-clear 1080p HD video and 162~ field of view give you a clear shot of your property 24/7. Two-way audio lets you hear and speak to unwanted guests (and welcomed ones too) - even when you're not home. Have the SimpliSafe App? The Video Doorbell Pro will send instant alerts whenever someone approaches. And with Smart Person Detection, it can tell the difference between people, vehicles and animals. That means you only get the alerts that matter. Plus, when backed by 24/7 professional monitoring, you~ll have experts who are ready to request emergency dispatch when you need it most. This camera is designed for all weather extremes~so you're still protected in rain and snow. (Compatible with the SimpliSafe Gen 3 security system. Requires Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) and existing wired doorbell setup with mechanical chime and a transformer with 8-24 VAC, 30VA max. Not compatible with digital chimes.)
Does this doorbell allow storage to the local network instead of a cloud server?
This doorbell does not currently allow local network storage. The app functionality is quite bare bones and you actually get zero recording capability unless you upgrade to their $5/mo plan for the camera.
7 years, 6 months ago
by
swemoney
Tune out the world and lose yourself in music with these Sony 1000X wireless noise-cancelling headphones. Equipped with SENSE ENGINE technology, these earbuds make it easy to adjust sound modes with a single touch, so you control what you hear. Compact and intuitive, these Sony 1000X wireless noise-cancelling headphones stay comfortable for hours.
How many charges does the case hold?
Two. The buds, alone, will work for ~3 hours. If you include the case, you get 9 hours. So the case will give the buds 2 full charges.
8 years, 7 months ago
by
swemoney
With no wires in the way, Bose SoundSport Wireless Sports Earbuds keep you moving with powerful audio. Perfect for exercise and running with a sweat and weather resistant design and StayHear+ tips designed for comfort and stability. The Tile app makes your headphones easy to find if they ever go missing.
Are there any other means to charge these earphones than the advertised charging case?
The case that comes with these headphones is just for storage. I do leave my headphones inside the case while I'm charging them, but it's just a standard micro USB cable that plugs in to one of the earbuds to charge.
9 years, 11 months ago
by
swemoney