Joined on 03/24/05
measures power
Pros: + Easy to use - plug it in + Lots of features + Makes you think about your toy usage choices
Cons: - Instructions for the energy count function are not clear: You can start and stop the energy count at any time. You do not have to cycle power on the appliance to start the count. - Fewer electrical details than a similarly-priced Kill-a-Watt
Overall Review: Compared to P4400 Kill-a-watt at the same price level: This simple device does most of what the basic P4400 does, but is a little easier to use with its remote display and built-in cost calculator. It also acts as a surge protector and outlet timer (turns off after set time). It does not show the current input V, Pf, A, Hz, which the basic Kill-a-watt does (both show W, KWh). This device was eye opening for me. I thought that my gadgets were using much MORE power than they actually are. For example, an i5-3570k/GTX650Ti desktop with several disks and a 24" monitor, AP, and 3G extender (all on same UPS) are only using about 150W while running office apps. Even though it's less energy than I thought, it's still burning about $15/month if I leave it on 24/7. I'd buy again for the Shellshocker $15, but not for $30. The Kill-a-Watt P4490 @ $45 is the best comparison, and offers a few more features.
sounds meh for music
Pros: - Pairs easily with s3 - AA Batt - Works as described - Small
Cons: - Constantly flashing blue light - Huge distortion at anything but medium to low volume - Very flat audio barely better than the phone's built in speaker - DC input is 5v 1.2A, so it COULD be run with a hot USB charger, so why not make it so?
Overall Review: I want to like this, but the sound is really very poor for music. Yes, I know the thing is very small and it can't really provide much bass, but it distorts like crazy at anything above mid volume. You can adjust the phone's volume and the Aura's volume both at mid volume to limit distortion, but then it's not very loud. It's actually a pretty good speaker phone though, since the voice range has enough volume with limited distortion. It would be OK for talk radio and as a speaker phone, but the worst computer speakers sound better. It's an OK buy at <$20, but not at 40, and certainly not MSRP of 129. I might still keep it as a reasonable speaker phone, or, maybe not, since that blinking light drives me crazy.
Nice bag for a preschooler
Pros: It appears to be well made.
Cons: This thing is smaller than the backpack that my 1st grader uses for school. It's about the same size as my Timbuk2 courier bag. It's super short and would look like a bump on the back of an adult, and probably horribly uncomfortable. I didn't even try to wear it since it's going back to Newegg.
A SCREAMING deal at Shell Shocker Price
Pros: When I say SCREAMING deal, I mean loud and great. I bought the Big Jambox which I had for a couple of days and then it bricked during ROM flash. It was nice, but the sound was only OK and not so loud. The JLab Bouncer is much louder and has fuller sound than the jambox. Out of the box, the sound is still a little flat for my taste, but run it with an equalizer to boost the "virtual" space a little (reverb) and punch up the bass a little, and it is awesome. It works GREAT as a Bluetooth speakerphone, with plenty of volume to cover a room with 30 people, and the mic is sensitive enough to pick up someone in the back of the room. At under sixty bucks shipped on holiday special, it was a screaming deal. The USB port for charging your phone is nice, BUT it only charges while the thing is on.
Cons: This thing really needs a handle. It's big enough to give good sound, but a little too big for easy transport in your carry on bag unless you forgo a couple of days of clothes. I wish it could charge or run from USB so that I don't need the extra power brick in the carry on. The power button sticks out and is likely to get turned on while in your carry on. Hopefully nobody turns on their bluetooth while in the plane and starts blasting Britney.
Overall Review: Note that the Newegg version has a battery, and the regular retail version does not. Get the Newegg version. My only regret is that I did not buy 2.
cheap, quiet coolness
Pros: quiet, cool, inexpensive
Cons: installation might be better for you
Overall Review: This cooler is on a stock HP HPE350T mid-tower. This MB has threaded sockets built in for the OEM cooler. This should make the install a bit easier since you don't need the backing plate, but the supplied T-screws were not designed for this type of install (threading from top). Using other screws, the install was fine. Cooler keeps the i7 CPU @ <60C at sustained full load and fan running at <1200rpm. At this speed, the fan is quieter than the hard drive. The cooler is tall, but fits fine in my case, and is aligned perfectly to use the stock case side ventilation holes and rear fan (CPU fan blows straight toward rear case fan). The computer is now quieter than OEM, which makes the HDD noticeable. I'd buy this again.
DO NOT BUY! RIPOFF!
Pros: It didn't catch my house on fire.
Cons: Add another person to the ripped off by Seagate list. Got this drive, ran it for a couple of months, lost everything on it. What did Seagate say? "Format it and it will be fine." No thanks. They offered to recover all the files for $500. I told them there was a word for that in English: Extortion. Just stay away from Seagate.