Joined on 08/03/04
Amazing value, no dead pixels
Pros: Stunning display and no dead pixels! A bit of isopropanol assisted in un-debranding the monitor.
Cons: Can't get used to TN monitors anymore :D
Decent sound for price; Needs improvement in execution; Android application support is a lie.
Pros: -Charging case is an awesome idea. -Microphone quality seems to be good. -Voice prompts are pretty useful. -Serviceable sound quality for the price. -
Cons: -Audio artifacts in earpiece. Seems to be a problem mainly when receiving calls on my Samsung Galaxy Nexus, although it's not audible in non-bluetooth headsets or the phone's earpiece. -"Android application support" doesn't support Android versions above 2.3. -Maximum volume is too low. -Too easy to redial the last number. One press of the main button redials on Android 4.2/AOSP. Don't know if there is any way to avoid this behavior, but it's annoying to introduce a new form of accidental dialing.
Really rubbish, poor transfer rate / doesn't work on certain computers
Pros: Cheap
Cons: This device shouldn't be on the market. The speed is 1%-10% of the expected transfer rate for USB 2.0 on one computer and absolutely refuses to reliably transfer on two other computers. Tested other cables and other enclosures, and they're all fine. Even worse, the plastic lid allows pressure to be transferred to the hard drive's lid, making a horrendous (and certainly damaging) grinding sound if gently depressed.
A miserable experience
Pros: Cheap
Cons: The card displays serious artifacts on two different monitors (though DVI), on a system and monitor that work flawlessly with another video card. The artifacts begin immediately at boot (in the CMOS/BIOS/EFI) and continues throughout the boot process and into the OS. So it's time to RMA it, right? Galaxy's Tech Support is amazingly convoluted. I used to work in a computer shop. So I've RMA'd for pretty much every parts manufacturer (Asus, Intel, AMD, MSI, Hitachi-IBM, WD, Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum, Samsung, Abit ... you name it, I've RMA'd it). Galaxy's requires signifantly more hoops to be jumped through than anyone else. Once you do that, Galaxy are professionals at stonewalling you. I describe the issue has above, paraphrased, from emails: Galaxy: What OS are you using? Does it work with other monitors? Have you cleaned the contacts? Me: It happens before boot (sent them screenshots), happens on two monitors, etc Galaxy: Have you updated drivers Me: IT HAPPENS BEFORE DRIVERS EVER LOAD. HAPPENS in the BIOS! Galaxy: What is the card's temperature when this happens? Me: IT HAPPENS WITHIN 5 SECONS OF BOOT. The card is at room temperature! I have no confidence this issue will ever be resolved. So if you opt to get a Galaxy card, and you need to go through the RMA, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Overall Review: Splurge $10 more and buy some other card. Save the hours of headache.
Good Quality, but Consumes Color Ink When Printing Grayscale
Pros: The print and engineering quality of this printer is very high. I feel like it is much better thought out than recent printers I have purchased. The duplexer and two paper inputs are killer.
Cons: I usually print in grayscale to save money. (I'm using the lastest version of Canon's Mac Drivers, haven't used this on Windows yet). The printer dithers using color ink when printing gray halftones and thus wastes a HUGE amount of color ink. It does not do this when the fast/quality slider is moved to 2/5, but the quality is very poor (the black is very light)- much much worse than most printer's draft mode.
Overall Review: Great printer overall, needs to stop using color ink when printing gray halftones to be a 5/5.