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John B.

John B.

Joined on 01/25/04

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 10
Most Favorable Review

Best external case I've found!

Thermaltake ST0021U Steel Mesh & Ruggedized Plastic 3.5" Black SATA I/II/III USB 2.0 & eSATA Max 5 External Enclosure
Thermaltake ST0021U Steel Mesh & Ruggedized Plastic 3.5" Black SATA I/II/III USB 2.0 & eSATA Max 5 External Enclosure

Pros: EASY setup. For DirecTV DVR expander use, just unplug your DVR, install your big hard drive into the case, attach ENCLOSED ESata cable, spin it up, plug in DVR and WAIT... and WAIT... and WAIT. Your patience will be greatly rewarded! I do not notice ANY fan noise. Unit appears to run cool with the internal electronics being cooled as well as the hard drive itself. The bright blue LED's are not a distraction for me. A visually stunning well crafted device! I've owned none better.... EVER!

Cons: A little bit expensive compared to similar units. I'd feel a little better about an all metal design. Mounting base could stand to be a little broader at the base. Still... if I needed to manufacture another DVR expander... or obtain an external case for use with music/video storage... I'd definitely buy another one of these gems. WELL DONE overall! Kind of a pain losing temporary access to all my old hard drive's recorded shows. I can simply unplug this device and return my DTV DVR to stock. Kind of a pain keying in all my season passes. Best to make a list before installing external storage drive..

Overall Review: I am using my ST0021U as a DVR expander with a DirecTV HR20-700 and a 2 TB Western Digital Green hard drive. The original DTV hard drive worked fine for three years. But, it was getting noisier by the day making odd grinding noises... not the clicking noises as one would expect a failing hard drive to do. After this DVR expander replacement my noisy original hard drive is bypassed and the system is now QUIET! This is a LOT cheaper alternative than buying a preconfigured DVR expander a la Western Digital... or dealing with the good folks at Weaknees! I previously owned a couple Western Digital "MY DVR" units. When they ultimately failed, I could not open their cases and was left with a couple door stops! Thermaltake did this one right!

Most Critical Review

Hate to see Unitek take a hit for what is probably New Egg's mistake.

UNITEK 2.5 inch SATA to USB3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure Case, Supports 7mm, 9.5mm, HDD/SSD, Tool-Free and UASP
UNITEK 2.5 inch SATA to USB3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure Case, Supports 7mm, 9.5mm, HDD/SSD, Tool-Free and UASP

Pros: Fast shipper. Unit appears to work. Easily identified by my Windows 10 PC. Really like the tool-free design. Looks to be well made.

Cons: Unfortunately, once my thick 12.5mm hard drive was attached, the top cover would not slide shut over it. The unit was advertised as suitable for 12.5mm drives.

Overall Review: Wanted very much to keep and use this unit. Will need to RMA it. Would recommend for anyone with 9.5mm thickness drives... or less.

11/18/2017

Good value

hec HP585DB 585 W ATX12V Power Supply - Power Cord Included
hec HP585DB 585 W ATX12V Power Supply - Power Cord Included

Pros: Price!! Common sense cabling.

Cons: Looks very plain... I like black cases with decorative fans.... even lights!

Overall Review: I have been using these hec brand power supplied for years in all my builds. DOZENS of machines... Can't beat them for reliability. Not a single issue so far. They possess a heft that inspires confidence unlike many other budget power supplies. The folks at the "TD" web site have started selling a dressed up black hec branded PS at under $10 after rebate. Mediocre reviews so far. Just purchased my first one. Wish me luck! Maybe in the future New Egg will start selling more than just the currently listed three hec models?

Working fine

HAWKING HA12W 2.4GHz Hi-Gain 12dBi Directional Window Antenna
HAWKING HA12W 2.4GHz Hi-Gain 12dBi Directional Window Antenna

Pros: Antenna works fine beaming my home wifi to my neighbor 200' across the street. White cable at 4' is just the right length to reach my Buffalo dd-wrt enabled router. My iPhone and Tivo devices connect easily with this WAP even well off axis and up to 100' away! This device is most likely not as directional as the similarly priced Hawking corner reflector antenna.

Cons: I question the use of the two relatively small clear suction cups for window mounting. Also, the long term durabiliry of their two plastic mounts/brackets. I've already broken one. However, it was easy reattaching the gimpy mount in a MUCH more secure fashion with a carefully chosen screw and washer.

Overall Review: I've never tried anything but window mounting this device. I have taken a MUCH larger clear suction cup of 3" diameter and wired it through the HA12W's top mount bracket for cheap insurance. With THREE suction cups holding the device in the window, I now have confidence in it staying PUT long term!

MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC WD-65638 65" 16:9 Black DLP Technology 3D Ready 1080p HDTV
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC WD-65638 65" 16:9 Black DLP Technology 3D Ready 1080p HDTV

Pros: Easy setup. No problem for just the wife and me to unpack and move this beast into place. HUGE viewing area for the money! Very small bezel around the edges. Attractive design. Matches well with my Tivo HD box. Tivo remote code 0245. The QAM tuner found over 300 digital channels on the local Comcrap network feed. Mostly HD locals from all over Indiana and Ohio with many duplicates.

Cons: A really barebones entry level unit. Not many adjustable features nor much of a remote. Line audio output limited to the single orange digital out. No VGA input. PC users need video card with HDMI. $399 package required for 3D and not purchased by me as I'd expect today's 3D technology to be obsolete shortly.

Overall Review: Can't beat the price/performance ratio. Got an open box deal with free shipping at a savings of five hunna dollahs off the posted price as of 12/18! An AMAZING deal! Nine years ago I bought a Panasonic 43" DLP that gave me five years good service before the ballast board went. Wish me luck on this Mitsubishi! I understand replacement lamps are under $100.

12/18/2010

Doing its job!

Hawking Technology Hi-Gain Directional Corner Indoor 15dBi Antenna (HAI15SC)
Hawking Technology Hi-Gain Directional Corner Indoor 15dBi Antenna (HAI15SC)

Pros: Can't complain about the price. Cable is longer than many I've seen and it is flexible enough for me. No issues where it connects to the bottom of the case. I am using the HAI15SC with a dd-wrt flashed Buffalo WHR G54S configured in repeater mode. 125mw TX output through this antenna blasts my signal to a neighbor through some trees close to 600' away .

Cons: None

Overall Review: I've got this antenna beaming a signal North out of an upstairs window my house. I also have the Hawking HA12W in another window beaming my wifi South from another Buffalo repeater. The HA12W's bracket is average at best and the clear plastic suckers supplied with it literally SUCK!! I'm using this HAI15SC "corner" with two better quality suckers equipped with metal hooks and a heavy duty rubber band securing it in my window at the proper angle. All things being equal... for my thuddynine clams, I'd say buy the "corner" HAI15SC and a couple good suckers at your local hardware store and pass on the other Hawking antenna specifically designed for window use.

11/13/2010