Archive for the 'Reviews' Category

22
Sep

Noctua NH-U12P CPU Cooler Review

By Taylor 0 Comments
Categories: Hardware and Reviews

Noctua NH U12P CPU Cooler Review

If you’re the type who considers a trip to the BIOS standard fare for a reboot, and carefully considers the potential vdroop when choosing a motherboard; chances are that you may have heard of Noctua. Designed in Austria, Noctua has carved out an interesting niche - cooling products that strike the elusive balance between cooling power and silence. If you are the type who buys retail box CPU’s because the heatsink is included, perhaps you haven’t.
Today we will be looking at their latest NH-U series CPU cooler, the NH-U12P. When using the included NF-P12 fan, you’ve got a combo that promises cooler temperatures and lower noise at the same time. Since everyone talks about the packaging, I’ll touch upon it briefly. The NH-U12P comes very well packed. The shipping box was heavily damaged during shipping, but the contents within were securely packaged and entirely undamaged.

Noctua NH-U12P

We’re going to touch on the marketing stat sheet first. Noctua builds the NH-U12P with:

# 4 dual heat pipes
# Award winning NH-U design
# NF-P12 120mm premium fan
# Improved compatibility
# SecuFirm™ mounting system
# Incl. Noctua NT-H1 high-end thermal compound

The NH-U12P is large. If you’re working with a SFF (small form factor) or other pint-sized case, you can probably cross the Noctua off the list. The height of the heatsink is 158 mm, so if you aren’t sure if it will fit, measure the distance from your motherboard to the top of the case. If its less than 165mm or so, you are probably out of luck.
Noctua’s SecuFirm mounting system consists of a surprising variety of socket supports. With included support for LGA 775 (most modern Intel processors), AM2, AM2+, as well as Intel Xeon, AMD K8 (754, 939, 940) & Socket F on request. It is very straightforward to install, simply place the retention plate on the underside of the motherboard and then attach the legs on the top side. From there, you mount the cooler and screw it in using the high tension screws.

Noctua NH-U12P Mounting

A bit of advice to those who end up purchasing the NH-U12P is to do the installation in this order:
Install all the hardware that directly attaches to the motherboard first, install it in your case, then attach the heatsink to the support legs. If you do a complete installation (heatsink attached) before placing your motherboard in your case, you may have a hard time screwing it on to the risers.

Noctua NH-U12P Review

Because of its “raised fin-stack” design, there is plenty of clearance between the motherboard and the heatsink. This means that (depending on orientation), you aren’t going to have any issues clearing motherboard chipset coolers or RAM heatsinks.

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24
Aug

Shure SE210 In-Ear Headphone Review

By Taylor 3 Comments
Categories: Reviews

I’ve been sold on Shure earphones since I got the Shure E2c many years ago. In the time since then, I’ve owned several other brands (Sennheiser, Bose) but when it comes to in-ear monitors, Shure has it figured out.

I bought the SE210’s in July 2007, before heading onto a plane bound for South Africa. The included cord did not fit into the headphone jack of the first generation Apple iPhone, which I had intended to use them with, so I used a small knife to shave the plug down so it would fit into my iPhone. Since then, Shure has redesigned the plug to fit the old iPhone and the iPhone 3G has no problems with any headphones.

Shure SE210 Review

I love the SE210s. Using the medium black foam inserts, they fit my ears perfectly and provide excellent noise cancellation, especially because they’re not actively canceling. Its not quite the battery powered block-all that you get with the Bose QuietComfort, but its close and not even close to as bulky. That leads me to the next point, size. The SE210s are earbuds, not on ear or over ear headphones, and they’re small. When I’m listening to music, I’m almost constantly traveling and full size headphones were getting in the way. With the Shures, I can just coil the cord up and stick them in my pocket.

I touched on sound quality earlier, but let me reiterate that they sound great. I prefer the sound from the Shure ‘buds to what I got from my Sennheiser HD595, amped and unamped. Sound is a very personal thing and everyone’s ears are different, so take that with a grain of salt - but once you’ve found which tip fits your ear best and you’ve got a good quality source, these earphones put out some excellent sound.

Shure SE210

Support is the best part. Shure offers a 2 year warranty with the SE210’s and its an excellent warranty. I lost sound in one ear and I sent the headphones in. They were delivered overnight, and I had them back in 5 days; brand new in a retail box. A week total turnaround time is just about as good as it gets, and they’re very friendly people to deal with. They told me that I hadn’t cleaned it well enough and a build up of wax was the problem, but they still sent me a new pair of earphones for nothing, not even shipping. On that note, be sure to clean them regularly. Even if you can’t see earwax, clean it with the included tool to keep them performing ideally.

If you’re looking to spend $150 on headphones, you can’t do a whole lot better than the Shure SE210. They’re a great balance of price, performance and size - not something you see too often.

11
Aug

DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G Case Review

By Taylor 3 Comments
Categories: Apple and Reviews

When it comes to protecting phones and other gadgets, I’m a big fan of skins. They’re thin enough to be completely unobtrusive but still provide protection from scratches and minor dings. With my original iPhone, I used an InCase slider - a hard plastic “shell” case that fit snugly and did an excellent job protecting my phone. I liked the hard plastic because it didn’t have the “grab” that rubbers cases do when removing it from your pocket.

DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G Case

Now that the iPhone 3G is out, I need to find all new accessories and one that really has my attention is the DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G case. The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how it felt. It feels “different.” It doesn’t have a rubbery, grippy texture, more of a smooth; very interesting feel. Combined with the rubber niblets along the side that provide as a grip, it has a very unique texture all around.

DLO also includes a 3 pack of their “Surface Shields” (reviewed here) with the Jam Jacket, which provide protection for the screen.

DLO Jam Jacket iPhone 3G Review

First things first: Price. The JamJacket is very reasonable. With a list price of $19.99 and a street price of $15 or so (Amazon), that sure beats the $35 I spent on the Incase Slider. Combined with the screen protectors ($15 for a 5 pack), its a major bargain. I have no hesitations recommending it based on price.

Next up are the physical attributes: Its definitely well built, DLO is not new to the business and has the mold figured out. Its very easy to put on and remove if you need to, but snug enough that it will never come off without your permission.

DLO JamJacket iPhone 3G Case

The things I don’t like: I’m a fan. Its a unique case that does its job well. However, there is one thing I’m not a fan of - the silence switch. The thick rubber is great for protecting the phone, but it also keeps you from being able to use the silent/normal mode switch on the left hand side of the phone. The depth of the switch hole is so great that it is nearly impossible to change modes, something I do a lot. You really have to dig in with a fingernail or even peel the case off to change. It really is a bit of a pain. If you don’t use the silence/vibrate switch a whole lot, then you’re fine - all the other controls work perfectly. If you are switching frequently, this is something to consider.

In conclusion, DLO has a real winner on their hands. Its well made, has a great feel and does its job - protecting your expensive (and impossible to replace) iPhone 3G.

03
Aug

iPhone 3G Skin Reviews Roundup

By Taylor 4 Comments
Categories: Apple and Reviews

Since getting the iPhone 3G, I’ve had a chance to try quite a few skins. If you want protection for your shiny new phone without the bulk of a case, a full body skin is just about the only way to go. Even though Apple eschewed the super-scratchable aluminum back for a less silver plastic back, it still scratches awfully easily. With the relative cost of a skin vs. the total phone cost, its almost a must. So, I tried quite a few, and here are my observations.

The contenders: BestSkinsEver, Bodyguardz and InvisibleShield. I also tested other front-only products, but that’s a story for another time.

I’m going to break them up based on their relative merits.

Price: BestSkinsEver is uncontested in this department. They cut costs by removing the frills offered by other companies, shipping their product in regular letter envelopes and with no instructions or application solution. The cost for a full body skin is $7.99. Bodyguardz comes next, with a 2-pack of their fully body skins running $24.99 ($12.50 each). They do go big on the frills though, with a full size box including a spray bottle of solution and application instructions printed on the box. Invisibleshield is last in the price department, with a single skin running $24.99. They offer the same “frills” as the Bodyguardz.
Bodyguardz iPhone 3G Skins

(Bodyguardz Packaging)

Ease of Application: Bodyguardz takes the crown here. With less folds, flaps and individual pieces than any of the other products, it is definitely the easiest to install. They also include a spray bottle of solution, so you don’t have to make your own. Invisibleshield is #2, with solution included as well and a more straightforward installation of the back with their single piece design. Since my review, BestSkinsEver created a single-piece back that should make things better, but I haven’t had a chance to try it. Through process of elimination, that puts BSE at #3.
BestSkinsEver iPhone 3G Review

(BestSkinsEver Corner Application)

Quality: Frankly, they’re all about the same. BestSkinsEver and InvisibleShield both use the same basic skin. Invisibleshield claims that they use some special “nano coating” but that’s just marketing speak. I haven’t verified what skin Bodyguardz uses, but my guess is that its similar enough. They all have about the same clarity, but your own application quality will be the deciding factor (how much solution you use, what temperature you put it on with, how you align, application environment) and so fourth.
Bodyguardz iPhone 3g Skin Review

(Bodyguardz Back Application)

Customer Service: Believe it or not, this does matter. Bodyguardz and Invisibleshield both offer lifetime warranties (replacements if you ever screw yours up) and while BestSkinsEver doesn’t advertise this, they do offer it (from my experience, they’ll send you a new one if you ask nicely). In numerical order, I would place BestSkinsEver at #1 because they have a very “down to earth” attitude and they’re very nice people. Bodyguardz at a close #2, very nice people to deal with. InvisibleShield is #3 by far, I would consider them at the rank of sleazy. You don’t want to have to deal with IS customer support, and that’s not just my opinion. Its so widespread that its practically fact.

BestSkinsever iPhone 3G Skin Review (BestSkinsEver Front Application)

Conclusion: I’m afraid there is no cut and dry conclusion. You have to make your choice based on any number of factors that matter to you, but I’ve tried my best to outline the differences. If you’re really strapped for cash (what are you doing with an iPhone?), BestSkinsEver is cheap and a fine product. If you’re looking for some nice “extras,” my nod is to Bodyguardz. You won’t have to make your own special sauce to get it to stick and you get a proper instruction manual in the box. I cannot in good conscience recommend Invisibleshield because of the serious problems with Zagg.

10
May

Mio C230 GPS Review

By Taylor 1 Comment
Categories: Mobile and Reviews

I stumbled upon this model, the Mio C230, while shopping for something else at a Best Buy store.

It was marked on clearance from $199 to $126, which seemed like a pretty good price. I played with the in store model, and then went home to read reviews. I had a tough time finding any substantial reviews outside the mass produced Cnet page, but Amazon offered some insight and the opinions were fairly positive.

I decided that along with the 12% Reward Zone coupon burning a hole in my pocket, that this was the time to buy. I ended up with the Mio C230 GPS for $111 out the door after the coupon.

Mio C230 GPS Review

My initial reactions were poor, but it was due to my own incompetence. I couldn’t get the suction cup to stick to my window – until I realized that you had to pull the black lever on the back of the suction unit to allow the cup to grasp on, then close it to lock. I also couldn’t stand the interface, but that was because the unit does not default to cockpit mode; rather to an annoying fly-through.

Once I had a chance to sit down and learn the unit, I liked it more and more. Its small enough to fit in your pocket but the screen is big enough to mount on the window or dash and still be able to see it fine. The text to speech is great – the volume is troublesome to adjust, but loud and clear once its set to what you want.

The directions are generally good, but I’ve had a few spots of trouble. If you’re going on a street that is slightly curved throughout, the Mio C230 really has trouble. I’ve found that it “recalculated route” (you’ll grow to hate that phrase) over and over even as I followed its directions. Luckily, I knew where I was; but if this had been in an unfamiliar city, the result would not have been good.

GPS Review: Mio C230 Navigator

The bottom line - most of the time, it works fine. Its a helpful tool by any means, and this particular unit is not bad. The SD card slot is great for those who want to expand its fairly meager inventory of POI (Point of Interest) or add music, pictures or games to the unit. I would not trust it for mission critical applications (taxi, fleet, trucker) nor would I recommend it to someone like Hertz, because it just lacks the polish to be ready for everyone. If you are willing to learn it and tolerate some oddities, this might be the perfect budget GPS for you.

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