Joined on 03/22/09
Great Case!
Pros: Great build quality. The case is heavier than I thought it would be. Soundproof padding on all sides was way more than I expected. HDD trays are easy to remove and replace (they point out the side, not towards the rear). Nice quiet fans, space for a total of 6 140mm fans. Great cable management capability. My case has never looked so clean.
Cons: Removing the front bezel (to clean the air filter) is not ideal. It can only partially come off because all the front panel cables and plugs are attached to it. It would've been better if they had the filters in an easier spot to get to.
Overall Review: I needed a new case for my Unraid server and my ancient Coolermaster Centurion 530 wasn't cutting it, I needed room for more HDD's and the old case wasn't doing a great job of cooling the HDD's even with (5) 5.25 sata enclosures with their own fans. The new case came with 2 140mm fans, one in the front (for the bottom 3 HDD's) and one in the rear. I took the one out of the rear and put it in the front to cool the other five HDD's. (the two front and two top vents only fit 140mm fans, the rest also have holes for 120mm) and I put a 120mm in the rear. I've been shopping for a new case for months and this is perfect. Keeps cool, it's really quiet and is built like a brick.
Solid PSU
Pros: Cables are long and plentiful. pretty quiet for what I'm using it for (6 other fans in a media server, can't distinguish psu from the rest). Efficient. Worry free so far. It's been running non-stop for 1.5 years now. Great price on sale ($60).
Cons: It uses electricity?
Overall Review: Needed this for an old pc-turned media server with some old tech inside. P4 CPU, old intel board with 7 2TB HDD's running Unraid serving up my media. It's been running for over 1.5 years now, always on, without a single hiccup.
Absolutely Love This Roku!
Pros: Fast. Easy to set-up. New Netflix Update (profiles). WiFi remote (no line of sight needed). Stays cool, uses very little power. Small. Easy enough for the wife and kids to use. Works perfectly with PLEX.
Cons: System freezes and reboots once every two weeks or so. Note: this unit is used a "LOT". It's on about 20-24 hours a day. *minor con: credit card req'd to register the roku, but after I signed up, I logged on to my roku account on the web and deleted the card right after.
Overall Review: I've used XBMC for my media on my (8TB)NAS since I had it on my original XBOX, moved to XBMC on a shuttle pc using a WDTV Live for Netflix and several other solutions. I've been waiting forever for an all-in-one solution (local media, Netflix, Hulu, A Prime). The Roku hit it right on the mark. I've heard that the Roku 2 was a bit slower so I decided to go right for the 3 when it came out. I'm glad I did. It connected without a problem to my Plex. I have a home theater i'm pretty proud of and the Roku has easily been the best single, cheapest addition to my whole setup.
Alienware upgrade
Pros: Cheap, decent latency. works fine.
Cons: none
Overall Review: Upgraded the RAM in the wife's Alienware with this...4 GB to 8GB. she loves it. 'nuff said.
Perfect for Openelec XBMC setup!
Pros: boots openelec fast, runs smooth, no problem. I needed a 2-8 GB "drive" and this runs perfect...love the price for a class 10 card
Cons: None
Overall Review: I'm using this in my Giada Cube (which I also got on special) as the storage for Openelec XBMC. eliminated the need for a hard drive completely. Browses all my media (on my NAS) fast and my Giada (a few people complained about the heat) never goes over 34 Celsius!! Boots to Openelec in about 10 seconds. Wife loves the new HTPC setup!
Easy enough for the wife...
Pros: Easy to pair. FM modulator with a very handy frequency scan to find a station with the least interference is really handy, especially if you travel... controls are all built in. My wife doesn't even need to take her iPhone out of her bag. Even better that I got it on special for under $40!
Cons: The microphone could be a little better, doesn't sound too great to the person on the other end of the line.
Overall Review: Just make sure you turn it off when you leave the car. I haven't seen it go to sleep...but her iPhone is still connected via bluetooth when she's in the house (about 30-40 feet away!), so it might just need to disconnect completely to sleep.
As expected
Easy setup. Connect using the Smartlife app, name it, and then added it to my Echo. All the lamps are now voice controlled and now it's so much easier than following the wife and kids around turning off the lights everywhere!