Pros: Overall construction is fairly solid, or at least as solid as plastic can be in a keyboard meant for people on a budget (it's very lightweight). The keys have a good feel (having 61 of them helps). Installation was completely painless. I use the USB cable to connect it to the machines where I do my recording (both a Mac mini and a Windows 8 laptop), and in using it with almost a DOZEN different digital audio workstations -- ranging from GarageBand to Logic to Cakewalk SONAR -- it has *never* failed to work properly. It also doesn't require a separate power cable if you connect it via USB.
Cons: More expensive keyboards might be sturdier, but at this price point, does it matter?
Overall Review: I've owned this Alesis Q61 keyboard controller for almost a year, and it has served my needs very well. To give you an idea, what it replaced was actually a full-blown Alesis QS7 *synthesizer* -- yes, that's right, a full-blown synthesizer with its own sounds that set me back a pretty penny when I originally bought it years ago. But now that I'm using soft synths pretty much exclusively, all I need is something to simply tell the PC what to do. And this does it. Mind you, what this keyboard has going for it is that it's meant to cover the basics at a very attractive price. So, if you need a keyboard controller with a larger plethora of buttons to fiddle with, you might want to look elsewhere. But for me, the most important things that I care about are there, such as pitch/modulation, a simple means of data entry, and a few other essential functions like that. Everything else I don't mind doing through my recording software's interface. In short, I'm happy to be an owner of the Alesis Q61, and I look forward to continue using it in my future musical endeavors.
Pros: Have owned this keyboard for two years now, and have had no problems with it or the software. Very nice design with lots of features. More programmable keys than I know what to do with -- I've used them on occasion, and they do work. I like the different kinds of information that is displayed in the little LCD screen -- sometimes it relates to the game you are playing, other times it can be CPU and RAM usage or the date and time, etc. Ability to change colors is great. Fairly easy to type on. I even downloaded a utility recently called Core Temp that actually displays all its information (CPU temperature, usage, etc.) inside the LCD screen -- very sweet!
Cons: Key feedback is just a *bit* mushy, but tolerable. Would be nice if you could elevate the feet just a little higher.
Overall Review: Running Windows 8 Pro x64 with an AMD FX-8350 on ASUS M5A99FX PRO.
Pros: Has been running like a champ for ten months now. I was originally running it inside a Gigabyte Aurora case with an AMD Phenom II X6 1100T, but now it's inside a HAF XM with an AMD FX-8350. Looks great and runs cool; usually it doesn't exceed 50-55 degrees Celsius with the fans at 50%. Not very noisy either. On my 1920 x 1200 monitor, I've been able to max out a majority of my games, although you might have to make some compromises with some of the titles coming out that are extremely demanding (still, I was able to fully crank up Crysis 2 and Battlefield 3). For the price, though, I still think it's a great value. Upgraded from a vanilla 6970, and it's a noticeable difference. For me, probably no more reference cards.
Cons: Software compatibility has been excellent, but there's always one or two titles that give you problems, isn't there? I can't configure GRID to run at a decent resolution for some reason, and the graphics in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 are corrupt. Maybe it's a driver thing, or not even the video card's fault (a chipset or Windows 8 issue?). Not sure if I should deduct an egg just because of that.
Overall Review: Running Windows 8 Pro x64 w/ 16 GB RAM on ASUS M5A99FX PRO and 850 watt PSU. I've been with Nvidia before, but this bang for the buck is just too hard to give up!
Pros: Wow ... this is a great value at $12. This is my second Link Depot cable, and I'm very happy with both of them. I use this one to connect my HannsG monitor to my PC, and the image quality is fantastic. I'm also amazed at how rugged and strong this cable is. In no way is it flimsy -- I know this may sound silly, but it almost seems like it came out of the engine of a huge monster truck or something. Ten foot length means I don't have to worry about the cable being too short.
Cons: None.
Overall Review: Speedy Newegg shipping as usual. I'm so grateful that I can find deals like this online instead of always having to pay higher prices at local stores.
Pros: Ever see the Road Runner zip away from Wile E. Coyote? That's how fast this card is. An excellent video board and an outstanding performer. Noticeably faster than my GTX 280 in most situations by an average margin of 25 to 50%. It just laughs at mostly everything that I max out at 1920 x 1200 on my 28" monitor. With my Intel Q9300 CPU @ 3.0 GHz, I reached 16,500 in 3DMark06, 71,205 in 3DMark03, and a GPU score of 15,516 in Vantage (Performance). Crysis benchmark averaged 44 FPS at 1900 x 1200, all settings high (DirectX 10, no AA). Windows 7 x64 rates it at 7.8 out of a possible 7.9. Very cool and energy efficient; idles between 30 and 35C degrees, reaches 50 to 55C when fully stressed (according to the Catalyst Control Center). Quality packaging, nice artwork on the decal, and easy setup. I'm so glad it was bundled with DiRT 2 -- it's a feast for the eyes and loads of fun to play. Stunning output; no problems browsing the Web or playing standard DVDs.
Cons: DiRT 2 crashed on me a couple of times (during the opening videos); I now disable Aero to make it more stable. Crysis demo plays fine in DirectX 10 mode but will often freeze up when navigating the game's menus; sometimes it helps to run the 64-bit version in windowed mode (DirectX 9 does not have this problem). VLC crashed on me when I tried to play a WMV video file; I had to configure it to use OpenGL instead of the default setting (that solved it). Catalyst Control Center can sometimes cause instability while gaming; I like to make sure no traces of it are left running after I use it to change settings. Bulky and heavy; make sure you have room (I'd say it's almost a quarter of an inch longer than my GTX 280). Fan is pretty loud at full blast, but that's not really necessary (50% seems to do the job nicely).
Overall Review: Was nervous about trying out ATI, but I don't think I regret it (I've had my share of problems with the other guys, too). Lightning fast Newegg delivery as usual (ordered early Tuesday morning, received on Thursday). This product *almost* deserves five eggs; I only deducted one because of my minor criticisms, which are probably mostly driver-related and might get ironed out in due time. It's a serious card for serious gamers -- now if you'll excuse me, I've got teraflops of bad guys to blow away.
Pros: This monitor is nothing less than stunning. We're talking big, big, BIG, and I absolutely love it. It worked perfectly right out of the box with not a single dead or stuck pixel. Content is crisp and vivid, colors are intensely vibrant, and text is very readable. Games come to life and take on an entirely new dimension, and I certainly don't notice any ghosting or bleeding. Gobs of real estate -- I upgraded from a 22" and I thought that was nice (which it was), but this really is an improvement. Now my documents and the web pages I visit have all the room in the world to spread out and display themselves. Plus this LCD just flat out LOOKS cool -- the black bezel is very slick (nice base too, which was easy to attach).
Cons: Uh, yeah, right. When I think of some I'll let you know! (Now that I think of it, the driver wouldn't install without administrator privileges. No big deal, just kind of annoying.)
Overall Review: Just make sure you make room for this thing -- it's not unlike having a high-def TV sitting on your desk. SYSTEM: Running Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 w/ Vista Ultimate 32-bit (soon Windows 7 x64). I'm using the HDMI to DVI cable. (Thanks for the usual fast delivery Newegg!)
Pros: This quick review is for networking n00bs like me. If you want something easy to install then you seriously need to consider this router. It was a piece of cake to set up. I have it installed in the basement where my DSL connection enters the house, and I have yet to find a room where my laptop can't detect the signal. Should you need to tap into all of the advanced features, you can do so with the excellent D-Link interface. Nice clean design, runs cool, and I haven't had to reset it yet. Throughput is good, online video playback is nice and smooth, and file/printer sharing works as it should.
Cons: Nothing major that I'm aware of. Signal strength did decrease somewhat when I took my laptop outside, but it still worked, and that's definitely not bad considering the fact that my router is in the basement. It would be nice if the wired Ethernet ports were gigabit, but I don't notice any impact.
Overall Review: I've purchased many things through Newegg and delivery was always prompt, however this particular device I picked up at a local store. Running Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 w/ Vista Ultimate 32-bit (soon Windows 7 x64).
Pros: I originally wasn't going to write a review of this product, but then I figured, what the heck. Basically I just wanted to say that if *I* can install this thing, you probably can too. I was intimidated at first because of its size, but if you just follow the instructions, you should be fine. Personally I love the way it looks in my case -- I think anyone who glances at this cooler will instantly know that you mean business as far as managing heat in your system goes. It seems to be doing its job since the very first day I put it in -- my processor is an Intel Core 2 Quad (Yorkfield Q9300) which I run at the stock speed of 2.50 GHz, and the highest load temperature reading I've gotten out of the utility SpeedFan is 55C (that's for my four cores -- my "CPU" reading always stays in the 30s). The fan is not too loud, even when it's set to its maximum speed.
Cons: Nothing major that I'm aware of. To be honest, the instructions could benefit from some improvement. A little bit of patience and careful guidance is required when putting in some of the screws. I had absolutely no idea how I was going to get the rheostat fan controller to fit into one of my vacant expansion slots until I read another Newegg review which stated that you have to take the knob off first (thank you Iscabis!). And of course this thing is big, but I guess that's to be expected from a cooling solution of this caliber.
Overall Review: System specs: Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 case | Corsair TX750W PSU | EVGA nForce 780i MOBO | Intel Core 2 Quad (Q9300) @ 2.50 GHz | Tuniq Tower 120 CPU cooler | 2 GB Corsair DDR2 800 | BFG Tech GeForce 9800 GTX | Western Digital Caviar SE16 500 GB SATA | Samsung DVD+/-RW (SATA) | Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 | Yamaha YST-M15 speakers | ViewSonic VG2230wm 22" LCD | Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Pros: This is a very nice card and seriously fast. I went from an 8600 GTS to a 9600 GT to this, so now I basically feel like I've come full circle. It looks cool and produces outstanding graphics and images. Top-notch packaging; I was especially impressed with the detailed setup poster. Compatible with all of my games; doesn't crash with the "Black Screen of Death" the way my 9600 GT did. Vista rates it at 5.9 for both graphic indexes. With an overclock of 775 core/1938 shader/1200 memory I was able to reach 12059 in 3DMark06. That's not earth-shattering, but then again, it's not horrible either (my CPU is running at stock). With this card I can easily play Unreal Tournament 3 and Test Drive Unlimited at full blast, I get very playable frame rates (on average) in DiRT at 1280 x 1024 with high detail levels, and it cuts through Doom 3 like a hot knife through butter at 1280 x 1024 ultra quality. 90 to 100+ frames per second in Need for Speed Underground 2 is common.
Cons: At one point some artifacts appeared on my screen while playing Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06; I upped the fan speed, and the problem went away. Unfortunately, the fan returns to its default speed once a certain temperature is reached. I've had good luck so far (the card usually doesn't get very hot), but ultimately I don't know how long my card will stay stable at my current settings (this is either a driver problem or an issue with the GeForce 9xxx series of cards that Nvidia will hopefully address soon). Sometimes there's a small amount of lag in my racing sims (DiRT, NFSUG2) when there is a large group of opponents around me. And okay, sure, this card is BIG and LONG, but my case is a full-size tower, so I was able to make it fit. Sorry, I don't play Crysis, so I can't comment on the card's performance with regards to that particular game.
Overall Review: Speedy shipping from Newegg as usual (arrived in two days). System specs: Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 case | Corsair TX750W PSU | EVGA nForce 780i MOBO | Intel Core 2 Quad (Q9300) @ 2.5 GHz | 2 GB Corsair DDR2 800 | BFG Tech GeForce 9800 GTX | Western Digital Caviar SE16 500 GB SATA | Samsung DVD+/-RW (SATA) | Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 | ViewSonic VG2230wm 22" LCD | Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Pros: Taking into account the fact that this is supposed to be the "midrange" GeForce 9xxx option, this card burns some serious rubber! I upgraded from an 8600 GTS, and the difference is noticeable. Love the 256-bit wide 512 MB memory and the single slot design. Simple installation and setup. It doesn't seem very loud to me. Both Windows Vista graphic indexes are now at 5.9. Scores an average of 9707 in 3DMark06 (previously I scored a 5357 with my 8600 GTS). Runs all my games confidently at 1280 x 1024 resolution with all detail levels set to high. Here are my frames per second numbers as reported by Fraps in certain games at that resolution: Doom 3 (full version) and Quake 4 demo (60+); DiRT demo and Need for Speed ProStreet demo (25 – 45); RACE 07 WTCC demo (150 – 250); Half Life 2 demo (130 – 290); Need for Speed Underground 2 (75 – 105); Return to Castle Wolfenstein (90/91). Installed the Nvidia Linux driver in Ubuntu and it works.
Cons: Was hoping to score at least 10K in 3DMark06 (maybe it's a Vista issue, which is what I'm running, or the fact that I don't have a quad-core processor or an SLI configuration). Some slight choppiness during the DiRT demo when I had a large bunch of opponents in dune buggies colliding all around me. Generates a small amount of flicker in NFSUG2, but enabling the Vsync option helped to reduce it. Some incorrect rendering on character's clothing in Return to Castle Wolfenstein, but was remedied by experimenting with the game's video options. The card has shut down twice while playing Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 06 -- other people are having the same problem with other games. Just be prepared for that possibility and to have to wait for a solution to be found. (To be fair, it might be a driver or firmware issue that will get straightened out in time, and actually, I *am* able to play Tiger Woods –- it doesn't do it ALL the time.) Caused a minor quirk in Ubuntu with a font, but fixable.
Overall Review: System specs: Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 case, BFG Tech 650W PSU, Intel Extreme Series D975XBX2 MOBO, Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40 GHz, 2 GB Corsair DDR2 800, Western Digital Caviar SE16 500 GB SATA, Samsung SATA DVD+/-RW, Sound Blaster Audigy 4, ViewSonic VG2230wm 22" LCD, Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit. The card arrived in two days –- how cool is that?!
Pros: This is a sweet game controller, no doubt. It’s probably the best one I’ve ever used on one of my personal computers. Installing it was a breeze, even in Windows Vista. I love the way it’s shaped and colored (it perfectly matches my new black hardware), and the plethora of buttons and movement capabilities (via the joysticks and directional pad) it possesses makes for optimum gameplay. Ergonomically it’s a winner; it’s very comfortable in your hands, and every aspect of it feels solidly constructed. The rubber pads facilitate gripping, and the rumbling truly adds to the realism. Logitech proves once again they are experts at manufacturing input devices.
Cons: FIFA 2003 ignores any changes I make to the controller assignments and layouts and only lets me use the default setup. What’s up with that? Hopefully this will be an isolated problem (this FIFA issue probably isn’t Logitech’s fault, of course, and yes, I do plan to pick up a more recent copy of EA's FIFA series). Also, the cable was literally stuck to itself at certain points, and needed to be separated; however, doing so slightly exposed the wiring inside (kind of hard to explain).
Overall Review: Two-day delivery from Newegg, even though I didn’t request expedited shipping – what more can you ask for? Oh, here’s a funny anecdote: When I fired up FIFA 2003 for the first time, I had the controller plugged in and sitting on top of my PC’s aluminum tower. The first thing the game did was make the controller vibrate, and it scared the heck out of me. The rattling noise made me think my computer was about to explode or something!
Pros: I'm pretty happy with this video card so far. Installation into my Gigabyte Aurora case was easy, and it has no problems cooperating with Windows Vista. Even though this board is one slight notch below the 8800 series, it's still got plenty of speed, pumping out pixels with the intensity of a finely-tuned V-8 engine in a modern sports car. It has yet to balk at any game or application that I've thrown at it, and the colors and textures that it produces on my monitor are most certainly impressive (it’s up to the challenge of rendering Vista’s Aero graphics subsystem). Mate this card with a high-quality LCD flat panel and you'll be pleased. Support for upcoming games that will utilize DirectX 10 is a nice bonus. A very good deal for the price.
Cons: I guess this card isn’t ultra high-end. Like I said, it’s proven itself to be fast enough for my needs so far, but then again some examples of the most recent and graphics-intensive games that I have in my collection would be titles like Need For Speed: Porsche Unleashed and FIFA 2003 (I’m only a casual gamer). The moral of the story is that you should consider this card if you want relatively good performance without having to take out a loan.
Pros: I’m a big believer in Microsoft natural keyboards. Ever since I started using them when Windows 95 came out, it always felt difficult to use anything else. With the purchase of this keyboard/mouse combo for the new Core 2 Duo system I just built, things haven’t changed. Both the keyboard and the mouse are very easy on your hands and fingers and look very attractive too.
Cons: The installation of the IntelliType software choked with Windows Vista, however you can go to Microsoft’s website to download the latest Vista-compatible version.
Pros: Wow, microprocessor technology sure has advanced since I bought my last computer, which used a 1.0 GHz AMD Thunderbird. Sure, it was plenty fast when I bought it, and it lasted several years, but I’m simply in awe of how quick my new system is with this Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. Applications and games just seem to effortlessly run (even Windows Vista, which is held by many to be quite the bloated operating system). I’m inclined to think that with the power you get from this chip at this price, you can’t go wrong.
Cons: None.
Pros: This was the first time I put a system together from scratch, and I think I made the right choice as far as cases go. If you want to make your PC look like a beast, then this case is for you. Its aluminum construction is of the highest quality and seems very durable. Take the door on the front which allows access to the drives, for example. It’s not a piece of flimsy plastic; it’s metal and highly sturdy. The outside material is polished and smooth. This case is large, and inside there is ample room to work with. Quiet fans and good airflow. The tool-free design makes installing things like disk drives into the drive bays a snap. Plus, I think the blue LEDs are a nice touch, which lighten up a dark room with a soft glow (be prepared for that though, in case that’s not something you really care for). It’s obvious this case was thoughtfully designed –- it even has a small storage bin inside that allows you to keep small parts and screws in one convenient place.
Cons: Hardly any –- I guess if I had to be honest, I could complain about the occasional problem I’ve had with some vibrating noise that was emanating from the lower front area of the case, but it was easily fixable. Plus, the fans almost seem *too* quiet –- are they powerful enough? I suppose time will tell.
Pros: This monitor is fantastic. I have it hooked up to a new system I built with Windows Vista Ultimate via the digital DVI connection, and the colors and details are vividly amazing. The graphics just seem to want to leap off of the screen! There are no dead or stuck pixels that I can detect. Ghosting? Bleeding? What’s that? It’s good-looking hardware with a sturdy base, and the height adjustability is a plus (I’ve seen other reviewers here state that you can only set the height of the monitor to be either all the way up or all the way down, but I’ve found that to not be the case in my experience – I’ve been able to adjust it in marginal increments). To put it simply, this type of large display just makes using your PC an extremely enjoyable experience.
Cons: Well, I don’t think this model employs HDCP, but I don’t know if that’s going to be an issue or not. It’s going to take some time before high-def DVD drives are common on PCs. Right now, all I can say is that this minor characteristic is not taking away from my appreciation for this monitor.
Overall Review: I was almost going to go with a different brand, but I ultimately opted for this ViewSonic. I’ve owned two CRTs from this manufacturer before, and they’ve served me well. Get this baby and you probably won’t be disappointed. This was also the first time I ever ordered anything from Newegg, and I’m very pleased. Delivery took no longer than a few days. You guys are awesome!
Pros: Been using this for quite a while, and I've grown to like it a lot. For something so cheap, Logitech does have a knack of making pretty good stuff. The mouse is comfortable, feels good in my hand, and is fairly stylish. Setup was obviously a breeze -- I mean, it can't get more plug and play than simply inserting the dongle into the USB port, turning on the mouse, and BAM, you're off and running. I'm actually using it with my Mac mini (2014), and it works great. Slowly but surely I'm saying goodbye to wired peripherals, and I love it!
Cons: None that I can think of. Remember this is for basic use; if you want something that will help you dominate in Battlefield 4, look for a high-end gaming mouse. But this does work just fine, and I even game casually with it.
Overall Review: Cheese sold separately.