Joined on 07/01/05
Does exactly what I bought it for
Pros: This cable provided a flawless picture when playing a Blu-ray movie disc from a Windows 8.1 laptop to a 46 inch LCD HDTV (that's four years old).
Cons: None (regarding the cable itself)
Overall Review: My major complaint is what Newegg is doing to the rating system – clumping together different items into one egg rating. In this case, it's five different lengths of cable – as of the date of this writing, the Top Favorable Review is from the 6 ft. model while the Top Critical Review is from the 25 ft. model (anyone surprised?). I guess Newegg expects me to sift through 428 reviews and find the ones noted "… 15 ft." then average them manually. I've also seen this practice on a desktop power supply with different output ratings and USB hubs (plural meaning USB 2.0 and 3.0 models bunched together). However, where it should be done it isn't – hard drive enclosures, just different in color, are being rated separately.
Very slow USB interface
Pros: The make and model of the drive enclosed was Seagate ST8000DM004-2CX188 (which would cost more if purchased as a bare drive – Newegg item N82E16822183793). The power supply comes with 240V adapters for US and Europe.
Cons: Encrypting the volume would have taken 3 days running at 26 MB/s. I removed the drive from the housing (a.k.a. "shuck" the drive) then placed it in a Unitek HDD docking station – the ETA dropped to 11 hours running at 185 MB/s. The reason for this is that the circuit card is "Transfer Mode SATA/300 - SATA/600" (as reported by CrystalDiskInfo). The Unitek HDD dock is "SATA/600 - SATA/600".
Overall Review: Recommended only if being shucked.
Excellent for video archiving (8TB / 5400 RPM)
Pros: Doesn't overheat when used in a drive caddy (no airflow); max temp incurred was 42°C. I have another vendor's 7200 RPM drive which has hit their max temp spec of 55°C.
Cons: None if used for archiving in the home environment
Overall Review: Bought 2 and would buy more if needed
Best suited for large stone countertops
Pros: #1: Nice-looking (stainless and black) #2: Battery included
Cons: #1: The mechanism (non-moving top platform) depends on a having a very level surface (not old and wavy Formica). #2: Auto power-off after 60 seconds is too short – readings get lost when (ex. A: stop to get another onion then cut some more; ex. B: go to the store room to get another box of something then open it). #3: Display is in ounces only (e.g. 9 lbs. would read as 144 oz). #4: Large in size (7.85" x 5.70") with a space-wasting rectangular shape.
Overall Review: I replaced this with one that has a moving top platform, 2 minute auto power-off, and smaller size with a teardrop shape.
Best suited for small apartments
Pros: #1: The mechanism (moving top platform) does not depend on a having a very level surface (old and wavy Formica not a problem). #2: Auto power-off after 2 minutes is big plus – readings don't get lost when (ex. A: stop to get another onion then cut some more; ex. B: go to the store room to get another box of something then open it). #3: Small in size (6.5" x 5") with a space-saving teardrop shape.
Cons: #1: The buttons are very hard to press (in the neighborhood of 3 to 5 times more difficult than your typical microwave oven). #2: The display cover is very thin (about the thickness of the few pieces packing tape). The waviness can be seen. Actually, what covers the whole bowl-shaped silver area is merely an adhesive label. This started to bubble up in the front after less than two weeks. #3: The battery cover doesn't lay flat after inserting the AAA cells. #4: Batteries not included. #5: Color is gaudy white like typical cheap appliances.
Overall Review: For a few more dollars, this could have been a five star product.
Limited usefulness only after modification
Pros: None
Cons: First: Can't get the camera level – the platform rotates slightly less than 90 degrees which means that if landscape it's rotated slightly counterclockwise and if portrait then slightly clockwise. Second: The center spreader has no locking mechanism so it's unstable. Third: When used at full height (54") with a camera that weighs only 8.6 ounces, just walking on my apartment floor causes shaking in the video. I'd say more like 50 inches max. Forth: Missing a hook to add weight. Fifth: Specs claim "Max Load 5.75"; pounds? Not so. Sixth: Forget about video panning because the mechanism is so flimsy that everything needs to be tightened to the point where you wouldn't be able to rotate anything. Seventh: The locking knob for the platform is inconveniently located in the front.
Overall Review: After grinding away some plastic to make the platform rotate about 100 degrees, I can now get level videos and photos (with a two-axis hot-shoe bubble level). After adding a doohickey that allows weight to be added to the center spreader, the ultimate potential is for use with a light camera like the Nikon D7800 where the tripod seldom moves.