Joined on 04/02/12
I like it
Pros: Aluminum chassis, feels solid, connectors appear sturdy. 'Lever' style mounts make it easy to add and remove drives. The big plus, for me, is that both drives are powered from one SATA power connector, which saves cable mess and doesn't require you to try to get two SATA power connectors lined up so close to each other. SATA data ports are separate; but those cables are much easier to deal with
Cons: The "locks" on the drive bays are an unfortunate choice: they are too flimsy to offer anything approaching real security; but just strong enough that you'll probably end up snapping something if you lose the keys and need to open the drive bay without them. If you need real physical security, they are pointless. If you don't, they are just another thing to keep track of. A keyless latching mechanism would have been much more suitable.
Overall Review: I have no real complaints, this is a convenient, neat, and solid way to get 2.5in HDDs and SDDs into 3.5in slots. consolidating the power cables makes it nicer than mechanical-only adapters. Do Not, however, buy it expecting some kind of RAID function. It doesn't do that, just passes each drive through to an SATA data connector. It doesn't claim to do anything else, so it is fine that it doesn't; but just don't expect it to.
Tragic
Pros: The charging stand is reasonably well designed and convenient, although the 'charging' indicator light never actually goes off, so either it's cooking the battery or it's just a 'razor present' light... As always, Newegg shipped so fast that I suspect them of precognitively putting my packages in the mail before I actually place my order.
Cons: It's a 'Shaver' that doesn't actually remove facial hair. Now, please note, I'm not some kind of 'you-must-use-an-heirloom-damascus-steel-straight-razor-stropped-by-the-king's-armorer-or-you-might-as-well-be-sandpapering-your-face' obscurantist, or some 'If it doesn't have 13 blades, two moisturizing strips, and microdermis technology, I'm going home!' disposable fanatic. My prior razor was a Phillips 6613x from sometime in the mid to late 90's. I never replaced the blades, and it was fine until the charge system finally gave up and died. So, over a decade of frequently-dry shaving with the same set of electric blades. I am not a picky user. Now, on to the ES-SL41-S: I've tried it wet, I've tried it dry, I've tried it against very light end-of-day stubble, and against 'eh-it's-a-3-day-weekend' full facial quasi-beard. I've tried the primary cutter head, and the secondary flip-out trimmer. It turns on, it buzzes, it occasionally tweaks a hair to remind me that it's still trying; but that's about it. In the time that I've owned it, it's cut just about enough hair to form a hair-dust material that cakes in all the crevices of the blade assembly. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be 'defective', it turns on fine, all the parts appear to be present, it does make shaving motions, it's just hopelessly incompetent. I don't demand a razor that provides a shave like that of a warm mead lather and Valkyries wielding the mithril razors forged by the heroes of Valhalla; but I do want a razor that makes the hairs on my face go away. This is not that razor.
Overall Review: Honestly, this has been kind of a weird review to write. You see good products, mediocre products, the occasional DOA or rip-off; but this is something different. It's as though it is some kind of art piece, that challenges the viewer's conception of what a razor is; by emulating one in all respects except function. It looks, acts, sounds, and in all ways resembles a razor, except it just slides over hair like a neutrino through butter, without effect. I'm honestly confused.
Does what it says
Pros: Good polish, stamped metal has no sharp edges, coating is even and smooth. All hardware included. Dimensions and tolerances are good, just screw the 3.5 inch drive in there and it's ready to go.
Cons: No vibration damping provided, which may or may not be an issue for you(potentially yes if your 5.25 inch mounts don't handle that, not an issue if they do).
Overall Review: Vibration damping would be nice; but all the features actually promised are delivered with good quality, so this one is good by me.
It's a cheap case; but a good cheap case.
Pros: Fit and finish are surprisingly good, black finish extends inside and out, no sharp edges or unfinished areas, thumbscrews for all exterior panels, the HDD mounting bracket, and the 51/4 to 3.5 converter bracket. HDD mounts are vibration damped, 120mm fan included in the front, rear vent supports 80mm or 92mm.
Cons: Atypically thin sheet steel. Case is rigid when assembled but individual parts flex relatively easily. Neither rear nor side-panel fans are included.
Overall Review: This is undeniably a cheap case; but a well-implemented one. You don't get the sheer rigid solidity of heavier steel or thicker aluminum construction; but you also don't get dreadful sharp edges, nonsensical design flaws, or gaudy aesthetics.
Simple, easy, hardware included.
Pros: All wall-mount hardware included, sturdy steel construction with unobtrusive matte black finish, tilt adjustment is handled by tightening a couple of screws, no fiddly mechanisms or dubious plastic parts. Also supports VESA 75.
Cons: Tilt adjustment makes the assembly slightly thicker than one might like, so the screen won't mount entirely flush with the wall.
Overall Review: A simple device, well priced. doesn't do any fancy ergotron-arm stuff; but does what it says it does.
So far, so good.
Pros: (At the time I bought it) This card is pretty much the best-priced option if you have a case with USB3 ports; but a motherboard with only USB2 pin headers. 2 external ports, one internal 20-pin header for your case, for only a couple bucks more than equivalent cards with external ports only.
Cons: The VIA VL800 chipset is not available from Windows Update or natively supported on Win7. No issues with the manually downloaded driver from VIA, however.
Overall Review: Not much to it, really. If you only need USB3 external ports, there are slightly cheaper cards; but if you need an internal header for case ports, this is the way to get one. Having to manually install the driver is a slight nuisance; but the driver itself is fine.