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Timothy J.

Timothy J.

Joined on 03/17/04

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 8
Most Favorable Review

Still going strong after 6 years

SAMSUNG 20" a-si TFT/TN WSXGA+ LCD Monitor 2 ms (GTG) 1680 x 1050 D-Sub, DVI-D 206BW
SAMSUNG 20" a-si TFT/TN WSXGA+ LCD Monitor 2 ms (GTG) 1680 x 1050 D-Sub, DVI-D 206BW

Pros: Great size, resolution, color, and finish. Bought this in early 2007 and haven't had a single issue with it since.

Cons: Obviously the viewing angles aren't up to modern standards, but used as a single display for typical home use, viewing angle is not really much of a concern. However, you really have to be directly in front of it to avoid color shifting on the horizontal extremeties, so I'm looking forward to an eventual upgrade. The anti-glare coating has developed some permanent blemishes over the years, mainly due to my neglecting to clean it quickly after getting finger prints and other stuff on it. Still, it's held up good enough to keep me satisfied. I should note that mine didn't really start getting blemishes until I had kids - the things they get on their hands... it's best not to think about it.

Overall Review: Great display for its time and still very usable even now. I see that many others haven't had as much luck as I have in terms of longevity, but I guess that's normal in the world of electronics. I should say that the screen has never had a problem functioning, but over the past couple years it has developed a buzz/hum that lasts about ten seconds after turning on or waking from sleep. At first I thought it might be the beginning of the end, but it's never gotten worse, so I just learned to ignore it.

Mechanical Goodness

Rosewill RK-9000 - Mechanical Keyboard - Cherry MX Blue Switches
Rosewill RK-9000 - Mechanical Keyboard - Cherry MX Blue Switches

Pros: Great keyboard. The cherry blue switches are really nice; took some getting used to, but I find it hard to go from work, where I keep this board, to home, where I use a standard rubber dome. Build quality is fine, though there are a few notes in the cons section for you sticklers. The inclusion of both a USB an PS2 braided cable was a nice addition; makes transitioning from work to home that much easier.

Cons: A key puller would have been nice, but that's no deal-breaker. The main problem I encountered has been remedied by a decent break-in period. At first there were some sticky keys - primarily those with stabilizers - but these seem to have evened out after extended use. I haven't found anything else to complain about, other than the LARGE Rosewill logo adorning the keyboard. I could do without it, but it's actually a bit less intrusive than the images would imply.

Overall Review: For US buyers, these Rosewill boards are easily the best value on a new mechanical keyboard using Cherry switches. I was hesitant at first due to the price, which is high even with a sale, but I've been so pleased that I'd easily spend quite a bit more on my next board. If you're thinking about it, stop. Just buy it!

Nice DD-WRT Router

TRENDnet TEW-673GRU N600 Concurrent Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, with USB Storage & Printer Sharing
TRENDnet TEW-673GRU N600 Concurrent Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Router, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, with USB Storage & Printer Sharing

Pros: Great set of features on this router. Can't really ask for much more considering the price; picked this up several weeks back on a deal for $40. Though I don't really use the 5ghz antenna, it's nice to know it's there. Gigabit ports are also a bonus. Router has been rock solid since I set it up without a single reboot. Range is also good, though not as strong as my old WRT54G; however, I'm willing to trade some range for the increased throughput.

Cons: Didn't even try to use this router with stock firmware; I upgraded to DD-WRT before even connecting it. The router has been solid without a single reboot since initial setup, but I do occasionally experience a dropped connection when running torrents. I'm pretty sure this is a problem either with the way I've setup the router or with the network adapter on my PC; when I experience these drops I've noticed that other wireless clients still work fine.

Overall Review: I got this router because I wanted to lose the network cable that was running from my office PC to my TV in the living room. I stream a lot of video from this PC; my old router did fine with SD video files, but larger HD files would cause it to stutter. So far I haven't noticed any stutter with this new router coupled with a Rosewill Wireless N USB adapter, but I haven't really stressed it too much. There is some noticeable buffering before an HD file starts playing, but they seem to play without interruption.

Good protective case with simple design

Speck Products CandyShell BatWing Black Solid Case for iPhone 4 / 4S SPK-A0773
Speck Products CandyShell BatWing Black Solid Case for iPhone 4 / 4S SPK-A0773

Pros: This is the most current version of the Speck CandyShell, so it fits my black Sprint iPhone 4 perfectly. It offers plenty of protection for my needs without increasing the size of the phone in any significant way. I especially like the raised rubberized lip that surrounds the phone's screen; for me this eliminates the need for a screen protector.

Cons: If you still want to use a screen protector, I don't think the case would interfere with one; however, since it's a fairly tight fit, cheaper protectors could possibly get caught on the lip and pulled off the screen when installing, so exercise caution. The most common complaint about these cases is that the glossy plastic areas scratch easily. While this is true, I don't find it to be much of a problem; if cosmetics are that much of a concern, you'll have to sacrifice protection for flair. The only other minor complaint I have goes back to the rubber lip surrounding the screen. I keep my phone in my pocket, so the rubber makes it a bit tougher to take the phone in and out; removing and replacing the phone from a jeans pocket has turned into a two-handed procedure. It doesn't stick like glue by any means, but for some this could be a dealbreaker.

Overall Review: When all is said and done, I think this is the best option for those looking for a case to protect their phone from drops without sacrificing too much in the way of size and styling.

12/16/2011

Just what I always wanted!

ADATA 8GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model S805 8GB
ADATA 8GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive Model S805 8GB

Pros: There are several reasons why I consider this the best overall flash drive I've owned: 1) The most solid construction you'll find in a flash drive that isn't designed to be "rugged." 2) Intuitive cap-free design. 3) Nice size; it's not too big, it's not too small. 4) Perfect for actually being worn day-to-day on a key chain. 5) Though it's not the fastest, it performs solidly for day to day tasks.

Cons: Each pro has a con on the flip side, but I don't feel that these take anything away from this drive's quality: 1) While solid, don't get this if you really need a rugged drive. While it can withstand a sizable drop and could probably even be run over by a truck, prolonged punishment or exposure to harmful conditions would get to it eventually. 2) The flipping mechanism is probably the weak point in the drive's construction. It's by no means flimsy, but it seems like something that may wear out over time. However, it's miles ahead of any sliding mechanism I've seen. 3) Though the size is right, it is a bit heavy in your pocket compared to most drives. Some may hate it, but I think it's a good thing; I see it as a reflection of good build quality. 4) It's good for a key chain, but keep in mind that this is a miniature carabiner; you won't be climbing mountains with this. 5) Speed is average. It runs portable apps fine, but it can be slow when saving or loading sometimes.

Overall Review: I've been hunting for a solidly built, cap free flash drive that feels at home on my key chain for years now, and this is the first one I've had that I felt really fit the bill. It's sturdy, stylish, intuitive, and best of all, it works well. Don't get this if you need a tiny, light weight drive or one with blazing speed or ultra-rugged construction. Otherwise, go for it; you won't be disappointed.

Great looks and speed, durability is questionable

HyperX 4GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model DTHX/4GB
HyperX 4GB Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model DTHX/4GB

Pros: These are fast drives, no question about it. I bought the 2GB version to use in the office for portable apps and the like. Everything ran without a hitch; Firefox has no delays and programs load quickly. As expected this drive writes large files very quickly while smaller files aren't quite so speedy, but this is the case with any drive. I love the looks of this drive. I wanted a drive with a retractable plug and this is easily the best looking of all the drives I've come across. The sliding mechanism is great while it works, but I'll get into that in a minute. I did have to rig something up to get this on my key chain; the included ring attachment is less than perfect. The hole on the end of the drive is a bit small, so your options will be limited.

Cons: As I mentioned, the sliding mechanism is smooth and easy to use... while it works. This drive will not win any durability awards. I have it attached to my key chain and I'm sure we all drop our keys once in a while. Well, after just a couple drops the sliding mechanism will no longer open all the way to the locked position. Also, the USB plug seems to be loose. Thankfully I can still plug it in enough for the computer to recognize it, but I have to hold the slider tight as I plug it in to prevent it from going back inside the drive housing. Obviously this is not ideal and it's just a matter of time before I find something else to use.

Overall Review: This is a great drive for using around the office, but I would stay away if you plan to keep it in your pocket or need something durable. I still give it 4 eggs simply because of how fast and sleek the device is. If Kingston can make the same drive in a more durable housing, I'll be the first in line.