Joined on 11/01/03
Op Amp Rolling
Pros: The kit is easy if you can still find it. But you don't need to. These chips and other flavors can be found online and sometimes less expensive. Totally worth doing the op amp up grade if you own the asus cards that support swapping out op amps.
Cons: Not available any more. Removing chip takes a little bit of care. They do make a tool specifically for removing this type of chip from pcb boards. Looks a bit like tweezers but the legs have a tiny 'L' foot at the bottoms for grabbing the chip from its underside. Otherwise, you can very gently pry the chip out.
Overall Review: I tried several different op-amps before settling on the sound I liked. Was well worth it for not so much money
Junk
Pros: It's a convection oven.
Cons: Flimsy construction. Door wouldn't close completely with the most notable problem was on the right upper corner. Heat leaks out so the temp setting is rendered inaccurate. I never actually had it long enough to put food in it. Only to turn it on and see how poorly constructed it is.
Overall Review: It was basically out of warranty as soon as I got it. Warranty based on invoice date-read the fine print. Newegg said I could return it for a credit. Shipping would cost me $28 so my credit would be $12. Spend $68 for a $12 credit? Never again. I'll purchase cheap foreign made appliances in box stores so I can return them with full thirty days and no questions asked.
Shortcut Keys Stopped Working
Pros: *Metal *Sleek *Lit Keyboard *Keyboard is nicely laid out *Responsive Touch pad *Decent specs for the money & can be upgraded
Cons: Some of the short cut keys stopped working. Key board back light only turns on for a second after turning laptop on. It did work when I first got the laptop. The short cut key is unresponsive. Mute key, unresponsive. Volume key, unresponsive. Screen key, unresponsive. Screen brightness key, unresponsive. Touchpad key, unresponsive. Snooz key, unresponsive. I looked in the bios to see if everything was enabled but couldn't find anything specific for the keyboard or shortcut keys. Don't know what else to do since the firmware is the most recent update. Upgrading to an Sammy ssd is a pain because of AMD not playing well with Samsung but it's not impossible.
Overall Review: I've been trying to find out why the back light, volume and mute buttons would quit working by reading forums but except for problems with the keyboard back light adjustment being an issue, I have yet to find an explanation or fix. If an operable keyboard back light is an important feature to you, you might want to consider a different lap top. I took a chance on a refurb and came up short unfortunately.
Same PSU since 2009
Pros: Four years and still working. Single rail.
Cons: Not 100% silent? Only time the fan cooling it annoys me is when I'm sleeping but if I'm not putting a load on it, it goes to sleep.
Overall Review: I purchased this supply back in '09. That's like four years ago. Though it is not silent, it's not that loud and it goes to sleep after about 15min of no load which I like. No, it is not being used in a gaming rig but it's been left running nearly 24/7 for four years and is still going strong. No hic-ups.
Not Bad
Pros: Brews coffee. Quite hot.
Cons: Shut off is 30min.
Overall Review: I did not have the issue others have had with the drip stop mechanism not functioning. When I pull the pot, the drip stops. For some reason, when I pour, the steam from the stainless steel pot has a tendency to come up around my pouring hand. Perhaps it is the shape of the pot. I pour quickly. Otherwise, I am fine with this one.