Question: How is the video quality for this gaming system?

I've had the Chromecast for about a week now, and despite a few little hiccups have been incredibly impressed and pleased.  Considering the price, I feel like this is a no-brainer purchase if you enjoy streaming shows from Netflix, clips on Youtube, and/or movies out of Google's store.Setup was a little more complicated than I was expecting.  I have a dual-band router, both with the same hidden SSID.  The Chromecast has an option to enter in your hidden SSID so it seemed like there'd be zero issue.  Entered it correctly, verified, and it just couldn't find my network.  I went back and tried a few times, thinking I must have been fat-fingering a button.  No luck.  I un-hid my 5ghz SSID, tried connecting, no luck.  It only worked after exposing the SSID on both 2.4 and 5ghz bands before it would connect.  Somewhere on the device page it says it does work with 2.4ghz hidden SSIDs, and I may try re-naming that band and hiding the 5ghz again.  But I hear that's not actually too terrible a thing to break through if somebody's actually seeking to get in so I might not even worry about it.Anyway, once setup, it's worked great with my HTC One.  Finding content through Netflix, Google Play, and Youtube on your phone is so much more convenient and intuitive than searching on the apps on your TV, or 360, etc.  Basically - any box where you have to fumble with a remote to do searching and navigation, this is better than.  You kick off a movie/clip, cast it to your TV, and the phone is free to do whatever else you want while the content plays.  At any time you can get back into the casting app and pause/resume content.  Super slick.I tried out the casting extension on my chrome browser, and it works about like you'd expect.  You can cast a tab, and all content on that tab is sent to your TV.  Works reasonably well for me, and I can definitely see the use cases (photo sharing, watching things you can't get to through the other mediums you have).  I tried streaming a movie through my Amazon Prime account, and while it worked, the audio wasn't 100% synced up.  And of course if you want it full-screen, you have to give up your laptop while the movie plays.  Also - my laptop (retina MBP) got really hot, and really noisy.  My recommendation would be to not expect to use this feature on a regular basis for streaming content.One other downside I noticed is that while casting a netflix movie, the netflix screen takes up the entirety of my lock screen.  I received a phone call, and the phone was ringing but the caller information was missing, as were the 'Answer' and 'Ignore' buttons.  Had to "back" out of the netflix info (which is just weird on the lock screen to have to do) before they showed up.  Google Play Movies did not have this problem, yet still allowed you to pause/resume from the lock screen.Anyway - I really can't recommend this thing enough.  It isn't perfect, but it's also not expensive enough to expect perfection.  If you like Netflix, Youtube, and Google Play content to be on your TV, this is the easiest and cheapest way to get it there.  If you have other ways to get it there, this is still a worthy investment as it's infinitely more pleasing to use than a TV-remote based application.Very, very pleased.

Answer: incredibly impressed and pleased

<hl> I've had the Chromecast for about a week now, and despite a few little hiccups have been incredibly impressed and pleased . <hl> Considering the price, I feel like this is a no-brainer purchase if you enjoy streaming shows from Netflix, clips on Youtube, and/or movies out of Google's store. Setup was a little more complicated than I was expecting. I have a dual-band router, both with the same hidden SSID. The Chromecast has an option to enter in your hidden SSID so it seemed like there'd be zero issue. Entered it correctly, verified, and it just couldn't find my network. I went back and tried a few times, thinking I must have been fat-fingering a button. No luck. I un-hid my 5ghz SSID, tried connecting, no luck. It only worked after exposing the SSID on both 2.4 and 5ghz bands before it would connect. Somewhere on the device page it says it does work with 2.4ghz hidden SSIDs, and I may try re-naming that band and hiding the 5ghz again. But I hear that's not actually too terrible a thing to break through if somebody's actually seeking to get in so I might not even worry about it. Anyway, once setup, it's worked great with my HTC One. Finding content through Netflix, Google Play, and Youtube on your phone is so much more convenient and intuitive than searching on the apps on your TV, or 360, etc. Basically - any box where you have to fumble with a remote to do searching and navigation, this is better than. You kick off a movie/clip, cast it to your TV, and the phone is free to do whatever else you want while the content plays. At any time you can get back into the casting app and pause/resume content. Super slick. I tried out the casting extension on my chrome browser, and it works about like you'd expect. You can cast a tab, and all content on that tab is sent to your TV. Works reasonably well for me, and I can definitely see the use cases (photo sharing, watching things you can't get to through the other mediums you have). I tried streaming a movie through my Amazon Prime account, and while it worked, the audio wasn't 100% synced up. And of course if you want it full-screen, you have to give up your laptop while the movie plays. Also - my laptop (retina MBP) got really hot, and really noisy. My recommendation would be to not expect to use this feature on a regular basis for streaming content. One other downside I noticed is that while casting a netflix movie, the netflix screen takes up the entirety of my lock screen. I received a phone call, and the phone was ringing but the caller information was missing, as were the 'Answer' and 'Ignore' buttons. Had to "back" out of the netflix info (which is just weird on the lock screen to have to do) before they showed up. Google Play Movies did not have this problem, yet still allowed you to pause/resume from the lock screen. Anyway - I really can't recommend this thing enough. It isn't perfect, but it's also not expensive enough to expect perfection. If you like Netflix, Youtube, and Google Play content to be on your TV, this is the easiest and cheapest way to get it there. If you have other ways to get it there, this is still a worthy investment as it's infinitely more pleasing to use than a TV-remote based application. Very, very pleased.

I've had the Chromecast for about a week now, and despite a few little hiccups have been <hl> incredibly impressed and pleased <hl>. Considering the price, I feel like this is a no-brainer purchase if you enjoy streaming shows from Netflix, clips on Youtube, and/or movies out of Google's store.Setup was a little more complicated than I was expecting. I have a dual-band router, both with the same hidden SSID. The Chromecast has an option to enter in your hidden SSID so it seemed like there'd be zero issue. Entered it correctly, verified, and it just couldn't find my network. I went back and tried a few times, thinking I must have been fat-fingering a button. No luck. I un-hid my 5ghz SSID, tried connecting, no luck. It only worked after exposing the SSID on both 2.4 and 5ghz bands before it would connect. Somewhere on the device page it says it does work with 2.4ghz hidden SSIDs, and I may try re-naming that band and hiding the 5ghz again. But I hear that's not actually too terrible a thing to break through if somebody's actually seeking to get in so I might not even worry about it.Anyway, once setup, it's worked great with my HTC One. Finding content through Netflix, Google Play, and Youtube on your phone is so much more convenient and intuitive than searching on the apps on your TV, or 360, etc. Basically - any box where you have to fumble with a remote to do searching and navigation, this is better than. You kick off a movie/clip, cast it to your TV, and the phone is free to do whatever else you want while the content plays. At any time you can get back into the casting app and pause/resume content. Super slick.I tried out the casting extension on my chrome browser, and it works about like you'd expect. You can cast a tab, and all content on that tab is sent to your TV. Works reasonably well for me, and I can definitely see the use cases (photo sharing, watching things you can't get to through the other mediums you have). I tried streaming a movie through my Amazon Prime account, and while it worked, the audio wasn't 100% synced up. And of course if you want it full-screen, you have to give up your laptop while the movie plays. Also - my laptop (retina MBP) got really hot, and really noisy. My recommendation would be to not expect to use this feature on a regular basis for streaming content.One other downside I noticed is that while casting a netflix movie, the netflix screen takes up the entirety of my lock screen. I received a phone call, and the phone was ringing but the caller information was missing, as were the 'Answer' and 'Ignore' buttons. Had to "back" out of the netflix info (which is just weird on the lock screen to have to do) before they showed up. Google Play Movies did not have this problem, yet still allowed you to pause/resume from the lock screen.Anyway - I really can't recommend this thing enough. It isn't perfect, but it's also not expensive enough to expect perfection. If you like Netflix, Youtube, and Google Play content to be on your TV, this is the easiest and cheapest way to get it there. If you have other ways to get it there, this is still a worthy investment as it's infinitely more pleasing to use than a TV-remote based application.Very, very pleased.

I've had the Chromecast for about a week now, and despite a few little hiccups have been <hl> incredibly impressed and pleased <hl> .


Question: Is the battery good?

Well, have had this thing for a couple of days now.Been doing lots of testing with it in various configurations, drivers, BlueTooth adapters, etc via phone, voip on computer and cell... bottom line is this:SOUND QUALITY (ie: in your ear)- Music : GREAT- Computer Sounds and Video : GREAT- Bluetooth connected calls : Tinny and Shallow; no warmth, fullness or body to the voiceCALL QUALITY (ie: calling someone else on it)- Cell via Bluetooth : Tinny, but liveable.- Computer via Bluetooth : Very Tinny and no mids/lows, no warmth or body to the voiceCALL QUALITY (TO THE PERSON YOU ARE CALLING... the IMPORTANT PART) - TERRIBLE!And I quote here from some of my calls over the past 2 days with it:- You sound like you are talking through a Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Tube- You sound like you are in another universe, and I can hear everything and everyone around you too.Bottom line for me, given the amount of time that I spend on conference calls, and want a comfortable headset, AND more importantly, that the person on the other end of the call can hear me CLEARLY and PLAINLY without sounding muffled, in a well, echo chamber or via a Paper Towel Tube...So far NOT a happy camper with this one,I LOVE design of this, but need a much more superior call quality to the caller, and thats where this one falls short.I may see if its usable for my son on his PS3, but for use in a professional situation... this is a no go.>>>>> UPDATE NOV 7, 2012 >>>>>1. I did try it out with my son's PS3...- It did connect.- It did work within the games for communication to the other remote players in the game- It WILL NOT also work to route 100% of the GAME SOUNDS and GAME AUDIO to the device.  Note:  This is NOT a limitation of the device, its the audio implementation on the PS3 consoles.  To route GAME AUDIO and In-Game Communication to a wireless headset, you need $250-500 bucks for the high end and uber-expensive Turtle Beach rig.2.  After lots of trial and error and comparing notes with those in the office that have one also...- The device that you are connecting it to, and its Bluetooth audio capabilities have A LOT to do with the call quality of it.- Via a computer with NATIVE Bluetooth or an aftermarket Bluetooth USB adapter... its still not going to sound as good as a Plantronics Blutooth device that has a custom audio functionality built in.  My Plantronics BT300M sounds like you are right there as far as your vocals to the person on the other end of the call.  It sounds like you.  It doesn't sound like a highly compressed tin can.  The LG HBS700 on the other hand... you are in a compressed, metallic sounding mode.- The device via a cell phone depends on the cell phone.  I recently switched from an LG handset to a Samsung Galaxy SIII and that made a HUGE difference.  The LG sounded tinny.  The Samsung sounds wonderful and realistic.Bottom line, this thing WEARS like a dream.  Battery life is incredible.  Music plays wonderfully.  Call quality will depend on whatever device you are connecting it to, and even at that, its just trial and error.If LG or Plantronics want a market winner here... THEY NEED TO COLLABORATE!!!  LG for the device, PLANTRONICS for the Call Quality!

Answer: Battery life is incredible

Battery life is incredible .

Well, have had this thing for a couple of days now. Been doing lots of testing with it in various configurations, drivers, BlueTooth adapters, etc via phone, voip on computer and cell... bottom line is this:SOUND QUALITY (ie: in your ear)- Music : GREAT- Computer Sounds and Video : GREAT- Bluetooth connected calls : Tinny and Shallow; no warmth, fullness or body to the voiceCALL QUALITY (ie: calling someone else on it)- Cell via Bluetooth : Tinny, but liveable.- Computer via Bluetooth : Very Tinny and no mids/lows, no warmth or body to the voiceCALL QUALITY (TO THE PERSON YOU ARE CALLING... the IMPORTANT PART) - TERRIBLE!And I quote here from some of my calls over the past 2 days with it:- You sound like you are talking through a Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Tube- You sound like you are in another universe, and I can hear everything and everyone around you too. Bottom line for me, given the amount of time that I spend on conference calls, and want a comfortable headset, AND more importantly, that the person on the other end of the call can hear me CLEARLY and PLAINLY without sounding muffled, in a well, echo chamber or via a Paper Towel Tube... So far NOT a happy camper with this one,I LOVE design of this, but need a much more superior call quality to the caller, and thats where this one falls short. I may see if its usable for my son on his PS3, but for use in a professional situation... this is a no go.>>>>> UPDATE NOV 7, 2012 >>>>>1. I did try it out with my son's PS3...- It did connect.- It did work within the games for communication to the other remote players in the game- It WILL NOT also work to route 100% of the GAME SOUNDS and GAME AUDIO to the device. Note: This is NOT a limitation of the device, its the audio implementation on the PS3 consoles. To route GAME AUDIO and In-Game Communication to a wireless headset, you need $250-500 bucks for the high end and uber-expensive Turtle Beach rig.2. After lots of trial and error and comparing notes with those in the office that have one also...- The device that you are connecting it to, and its Bluetooth audio capabilities have A LOT to do with the call quality of it.- Via a computer with NATIVE Bluetooth or an aftermarket Bluetooth USB adapter... its still not going to sound as good as a Plantronics Blutooth device that has a custom audio functionality built in. My Plantronics BT300M sounds like you are right there as far as your vocals to the person on the other end of the call. It sounds like you. It doesn't sound like a highly compressed tin can. The LG HBS700 on the other hand... you are in a compressed, metallic sounding mode.- The device via a cell phone depends on the cell phone. I recently switched from an LG handset to a Samsung Galaxy SIII and that made a HUGE difference. The LG sounded tinny. The Samsung sounds wonderful and realistic. Bottom line, this thing WEARS like a dream. <hl> Battery life is incredible . <hl> Music plays wonderfully. Call quality will depend on whatever device you are connecting it to, and even at that, its just trial and error. If LG or Plantronics want a market winner here... THEY NEED TO COLLABORATE!!! LG for the device, PLANTRONICS for the Call Quality!

Well, have had this thing for a couple of days now.Been doing lots of testing with it in various configurations, drivers, BlueTooth adapters, etc via phone, voip on computer and cell... bottom line is this:SOUND QUALITY (ie: in your ear)- Music : GREAT- Computer Sounds and Video : GREAT- Bluetooth connected calls : Tinny and Shallow; no warmth, fullness or body to the voiceCALL QUALITY (ie: calling someone else on it)- Cell via Bluetooth : Tinny, but liveable.- Computer via Bluetooth : Very Tinny and no mids/lows, no warmth or body to the voiceCALL QUALITY (TO THE PERSON YOU ARE CALLING... the IMPORTANT PART) - TERRIBLE!And I quote here from some of my calls over the past 2 days with it:- You sound like you are talking through a Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Tube- You sound like you are in another universe, and I can hear everything and everyone around you too.Bottom line for me, given the amount of time that I spend on conference calls, and want a comfortable headset, AND more importantly, that the person on the other end of the call can hear me CLEARLY and PLAINLY without sounding muffled, in a well, echo chamber or via a Paper Towel Tube...So far NOT a happy camper with this one,I LOVE design of this, but need a much more superior call quality to the caller, and thats where this one falls short.I may see if its usable for my son on his PS3, but for use in a professional situation... this is a no go.>>>>> UPDATE NOV 7, 2012 >>>>>1. I did try it out with my son's PS3...- It did connect.- It did work within the games for communication to the other remote players in the game- It WILL NOT also work to route 100% of the GAME SOUNDS and GAME AUDIO to the device. Note: This is NOT a limitation of the device, its the audio implementation on the PS3 consoles. To route GAME AUDIO and In-Game Communication to a wireless headset, you need $250-500 bucks for the high end and uber-expensive Turtle Beach rig.2. After lots of trial and error and comparing notes with those in the office that have one also...- The device that you are connecting it to, and its Bluetooth audio capabilities have A LOT to do with the call quality of it.- Via a computer with NATIVE Bluetooth or an aftermarket Bluetooth USB adapter... its still not going to sound as good as a Plantronics Blutooth device that has a custom audio functionality built in. My Plantronics BT300M sounds like you are right there as far as your vocals to the person on the other end of the call. It sounds like you. It doesn't sound like a highly compressed tin can. The LG HBS700 on the other hand... you are in a compressed, metallic sounding mode.- The device via a cell phone depends on the cell phone. I recently switched from an LG handset to a Samsung Galaxy SIII and that made a HUGE difference. The LG sounded tinny. The Samsung sounds wonderful and realistic.Bottom line, this thing WEARS like a dream. <hl> Battery life is incredible <hl>. Music plays wonderfully. Call quality will depend on whatever device you are connecting it to, and even at that, its just trial and error.If LG or Plantronics want a market winner here... THEY NEED TO COLLABORATE!!! LG for the device, PLANTRONICS for the Call Quality!


Question: Why is it a good hardware?

I pre-ordered the PS4 after both Sony and Microsoft had their presentations at E3.  I haven't had a Sony console since the PS2 and my most recent console was the Xbox 360.  The console arrived on time for launch day and was a breeze to set up.  The Playstation Network (PSN) was more than a bit congested due to the massive number of accounts hitting it within the 24 hour launch day.I was able to set up my console and download the initial software update with no problems.  Getting my PSN account logged in took a bit of time, but that was to be expected given the high demand for the system and large network traffic.  Since I couldn't access the store from the console, I opted to use the nifty feature of purchasing a digital game through Sony's website and setting it to download to the PS4.  That bypassed the traffic and immediately started the download to the console.  The play while you download feature is nice, but be aware that you need to download a specified portion of the game before you can start.  With a retail size game, that still takes time.  My example was Battlefield 4.  6GB is necessary to start playing.  You can then play single player while the remaining 33GB downloads.The hardware itself is pretty great.  I love the simple design of the case and the power is a sufficient leap over the previous generation of consoles that it makes it worth it.  The DualShock4 controller takes a bit of getting used to if you have been using an Xbox controller, but it's a great controller.  I haven't used the touchpad yet, but it's a potentially interesting feature.  The triggers are different, but I think they are quite adequate for my primary gaming need - shooters.The user interface is simplistic, but everything seems sorted into logical areas.  I've only got about 8 hours into usage, so my experience is still that of a new user.Included in the box is a 30-day trial for PS+, which is required for online multi-player.  You also get some pretty great games free every month.  I already have a favorite launch game and it was free - Resogun.  There is also a 30-day trial of Sony's streaming music service.  I tested it out briefly and it works well, though I'm not sure I'd subscribe to it after the trial is up.The best part is that I was able to set up a PSN account for my wife so she can access everything I can but there is no fee for her account.  Also, Sony has not put any of the media streaming services not owned by Sony (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, etc.) behind a paywall.  This simplifies multiple accounts on the console accessing streaming media.Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase and I highly recommend a Playstation 4 to people looking at upgrading to a next-gen console.

Answer: initial software update with no problems

I pre-ordered the PS4 after both Sony and Microsoft had their presentations at E3. I haven't had a Sony console since the PS2 and my most recent console was the Xbox 360. The console arrived on time for launch day and was a breeze to set up. The Playstation Network (PSN) was more than a bit congested due to the massive number of accounts hitting it within the 24 hour launch day. <hl> I was able to set up my console and download the initial software update with no problems . <hl> Getting my PSN account logged in took a bit of time, but that was to be expected given the high demand for the system and large network traffic. Since I couldn't access the store from the console, I opted to use the nifty feature of purchasing a digital game through Sony's website and setting it to download to the PS4. That bypassed the traffic and immediately started the download to the console. The play while you download feature is nice, but be aware that you need to download a specified portion of the game before you can start. With a retail size game, that still takes time. My example was Battlefield 4. 6GB is necessary to start playing. You can then play single player while the remaining 33GB downloads. The hardware itself is pretty great. I love the simple design of the case and the power is a sufficient leap over the previous generation of consoles that it makes it worth it. The DualShock4 controller takes a bit of getting used to if you have been using an Xbox controller, but it's a great controller. I haven't used the touchpad yet, but it's a potentially interesting feature. The triggers are different, but I think they are quite adequate for my primary gaming need - shooters. The user interface is simplistic, but everything seems sorted into logical areas. I've only got about 8 hours into usage, so my experience is still that of a new user. Included in the box is a 30-day trial for PS+, which is required for online multi-player. You also get some pretty great games free every month. I already have a favorite launch game and it was free - Resogun. There is also a 30-day trial of Sony's streaming music service. I tested it out briefly and it works well, though I'm not sure I'd subscribe to it after the trial is up. The best part is that I was able to set up a PSN account for my wife so she can access everything I can but there is no fee for her account. Also, Sony has not put any of the media streaming services not owned by Sony (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, etc.) behind a paywall. This simplifies multiple accounts on the console accessing streaming media. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase and I highly recommend a Playstation 4 to people looking at upgrading to a next-gen console.

I pre-ordered the PS4 after both Sony and Microsoft had their presentations at E3. I haven't had a Sony console since the PS2 and my most recent console was the Xbox 360. The console arrived on time for launch day and was a breeze to set up. The Playstation Network (PSN) was more than a bit congested due to the massive number of accounts hitting it within the 24 hour launch day.I was able to set up my console and download the <hl> initial software update with no problems <hl>. Getting my PSN account logged in took a bit of time, but that was to be expected given the high demand for the system and large network traffic. Since I couldn't access the store from the console, I opted to use the nifty feature of purchasing a digital game through Sony's website and setting it to download to the PS4. That bypassed the traffic and immediately started the download to the console. The play while you download feature is nice, but be aware that you need to download a specified portion of the game before you can start. With a retail size game, that still takes time. My example was Battlefield 4. 6GB is necessary to start playing. You can then play single player while the remaining 33GB downloads.The hardware itself is pretty great. I love the simple design of the case and the power is a sufficient leap over the previous generation of consoles that it makes it worth it. The DualShock4 controller takes a bit of getting used to if you have been using an Xbox controller, but it's a great controller. I haven't used the touchpad yet, but it's a potentially interesting feature. The triggers are different, but I think they are quite adequate for my primary gaming need - shooters.The user interface is simplistic, but everything seems sorted into logical areas. I've only got about 8 hours into usage, so my experience is still that of a new user.Included in the box is a 30-day trial for PS+, which is required for online multi-player. You also get some pretty great games free every month. I already have a favorite launch game and it was free - Resogun. There is also a 30-day trial of Sony's streaming music service. I tested it out briefly and it works well, though I'm not sure I'd subscribe to it after the trial is up.The best part is that I was able to set up a PSN account for my wife so she can access everything I can but there is no fee for her account. Also, Sony has not put any of the media streaming services not owned by Sony (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, etc.) behind a paywall. This simplifies multiple accounts on the console accessing streaming media.Overall, I'm very satisfied with my purchase and I highly recommend a Playstation 4 to people looking at upgrading to a next-gen console.

I was able to set up my console and download the <hl> initial software update with no problems <hl> .


Question: Where did you find the best price for headphones?

I really do feel like this mouse was designed from the ground up just for me! I have always been a fan of thumb buttons since my first mouse that had them, the original Microsoft Intellimouse explorer. This has 4 thumb buttons, that are easy to use, and in the perfect spot for me. All of the buttons are easy to access, and fully programmable. Overall, it it very comfortable, and I love the thumb rest. This is the mouse I would have designed for myself.I use it for playing World of Warcraft, and while the game does not directly recognize any buttons beyond the first 5, you can program and macro the rest of the buttons, giving you very quick access to lots of stuff.I also really like the scroll wheel. Being able to switch between free scrolling and normal scrolling is great. I like free scrolling while web surfing, it lets me get to the bottom of a page very quickly, but free scrolling sucks in games, because your camera view can be accidentally moved very easily. The button for switching scrolling modes is right behind the scroll wheel, making mode switching super easy and quick. My cordless 620 had the mode switch underneath, which was a bit of a pain.The build quality is excellent, the rechargeable battery included is of the best quality, and the finish texture gives a secure grip.I tend to be very critical and picky, but so far the only slight cons I have with it is, its a bit heavy. It does move well though. The price is a bit steep, but I have no regrets so far.

Answer: it it very comfortable

I really do feel like this mouse was designed from the ground up just for me! I have always been a fan of thumb buttons since my first mouse that had them, the original Microsoft Intellimouse explorer. This has 4 thumb buttons, that are easy to use, and in the perfect spot for me. All of the buttons are easy to access, and fully programmable. <hl> Overall, it it very comfortable , and I love the thumb rest. <hl> This is the mouse I would have designed for myself. I use it for playing World of Warcraft, and while the game does not directly recognize any buttons beyond the first 5, you can program and macro the rest of the buttons, giving you very quick access to lots of stuff. I also really like the scroll wheel. Being able to switch between free scrolling and normal scrolling is great. I like free scrolling while web surfing, it lets me get to the bottom of a page very quickly, but free scrolling sucks in games, because your camera view can be accidentally moved very easily. The button for switching scrolling modes is right behind the scroll wheel, making mode switching super easy and quick. My cordless 620 had the mode switch underneath, which was a bit of a pain. The build quality is excellent, the rechargeable battery included is of the best quality, and the finish texture gives a secure grip. I tend to be very critical and picky, but so far the only slight cons I have with it is, its a bit heavy. It does move well though. The price is a bit steep, but I have no regrets so far.

I really do feel like this mouse was designed from the ground up just for me! I have always been a fan of thumb buttons since my first mouse that had them, the original Microsoft Intellimouse explorer. This has 4 thumb buttons, that are easy to use, and in the perfect spot for me. All of the buttons are easy to access, and fully programmable. Overall, <hl> it it very comfortable <hl>, and I love the thumb rest. This is the mouse I would have designed for myself.I use it for playing World of Warcraft, and while the game does not directly recognize any buttons beyond the first 5, you can program and macro the rest of the buttons, giving you very quick access to lots of stuff.I also really like the scroll wheel. Being able to switch between free scrolling and normal scrolling is great. I like free scrolling while web surfing, it lets me get to the bottom of a page very quickly, but free scrolling sucks in games, because your camera view can be accidentally moved very easily. The button for switching scrolling modes is right behind the scroll wheel, making mode switching super easy and quick. My cordless 620 had the mode switch underneath, which was a bit of a pain.The build quality is excellent, the rechargeable battery included is of the best quality, and the finish texture gives a secure grip.I tend to be very critical and picky, but so far the only slight cons I have with it is, its a bit heavy. It does move well though. The price is a bit steep, but I have no regrets so far.

Overall, <hl> it it very comfortable <hl> , and I love the thumb rest.


Question: How is the sound quality of these plantronics microphone?

Decent sound, but there are negatives to considerThe quality of the construction and materials seems average. I would prefer if they were a little better built, but they're acceptable for the price. The fabric used on the ear pieces and the head padding is the same fabric they use in fabric lint rollers. It's soft enough, but collects lint accordingly. The mic boom is flexible rubber and decent quality, but it doesn't allow you to adjust its location in and out and sits further from the mouth than expected.Pros:Sound - The sound quality is very decent. I'm not an audiophile so take it with a grain of salt, but both games and music are quite enjoyable for me with this headset.Comfort - At first I found these uncomfortable and pinching which after an hour of use caused significant discomfort. However, once I lowered the ear pieces to wear this a bit loose (more loose than I normally prefer headphones) they fit much better. After hours of use they are still comfortable for me.Microphone - The mic is very sensitive and picks up sound really well.Cons:USB - The USB interface is one you want to avoid for headsets if you have a good soundcard. USB headsets include their own audio card built-in to the device in order to work. Therefore, using these will bypass the soundcard in your computer.  Also, the USB cable is quite short. This device isn't compatible with USB 3.0. Since I only have 3.0 on the front panel of my computer I would prefer a longer cord to run it from the back.Dolby - The simulated 7.1 is not appealing to me. It simulates surround by making the audio more `spatial'. This doesn't add to the audio quality though; it makes the sound worse in my opinion. The default setting is off,Volume Control - The volume control is a rocker switch in a convenient location on the back of the left ear-piece. The rocker switch is annoying. You rotate and hold it in one direction or the other to change the volume. I would prefer a dial instead of holding a switch.No Audio Controls - This device has no equalizer to adjust the audio. The audio levels it ships with is okay, but if you wanted to customize your sound you should purchase a different headset.Microphone - The mic is overly sensitive and even on low input volumes it picks up any background noise like you mouse and keyboard, breathing, etc.In summary, decent sound and comfort for the price, but has some limitations.

Answer: Decent sound

<hl> Decent sound , but there are negatives to considerThe quality of the construction and materials seems average. <hl> I would prefer if they were a little better built, but they're acceptable for the price. The fabric used on the ear pieces and the head padding is the same fabric they use in fabric lint rollers. It's soft enough, but collects lint accordingly. The mic boom is flexible rubber and decent quality, but it doesn't allow you to adjust its location in and out and sits further from the mouth than expected. Pros:Sound - The sound quality is very decent. I'm not an audiophile so take it with a grain of salt, but both games and music are quite enjoyable for me with this headset. Comfort - At first I found these uncomfortable and pinching which after an hour of use caused significant discomfort. However, once I lowered the ear pieces to wear this a bit loose (more loose than I normally prefer headphones) they fit much better. After hours of use they are still comfortable for me. Microphone - The mic is very sensitive and picks up sound really well. Cons:USB - The USB interface is one you want to avoid for headsets if you have a good soundcard. USB headsets include their own audio card built-in to the device in order to work. Therefore, using these will bypass the soundcard in your computer. Also, the USB cable is quite short. This device isn't compatible with USB 3.0. Since I only have 3.0 on the front panel of my computer I would prefer a longer cord to run it from the back. Dolby - The simulated 7.1 is not appealing to me. It simulates surround by making the audio more `spatial'. This doesn't add to the audio quality though; it makes the sound worse in my opinion. The default setting is off,Volume Control - The volume control is a rocker switch in a convenient location on the back of the left ear-piece. The rocker switch is annoying. You rotate and hold it in one direction or the other to change the volume. I would prefer a dial instead of holding a switch. No Audio Controls - This device has no equalizer to adjust the audio. The audio levels it ships with is okay, but if you wanted to customize your sound you should purchase a different headset. Microphone - The mic is overly sensitive and even on low input volumes it picks up any background noise like you mouse and keyboard, breathing, etc. In summary, decent sound and comfort for the price, but has some limitations.

<hl> Decent sound <hl>, but there are negatives to considerThe quality of the construction and materials seems average. I would prefer if they were a little better built, but they're acceptable for the price. The fabric used on the ear pieces and the head padding is the same fabric they use in fabric lint rollers. It's soft enough, but collects lint accordingly. The mic boom is flexible rubber and decent quality, but it doesn't allow you to adjust its location in and out and sits further from the mouth than expected.Pros:Sound - The sound quality is very decent. I'm not an audiophile so take it with a grain of salt, but both games and music are quite enjoyable for me with this headset.Comfort - At first I found these uncomfortable and pinching which after an hour of use caused significant discomfort. However, once I lowered the ear pieces to wear this a bit loose (more loose than I normally prefer headphones) they fit much better. After hours of use they are still comfortable for me.Microphone - The mic is very sensitive and picks up sound really well.Cons:USB - The USB interface is one you want to avoid for headsets if you have a good soundcard. USB headsets include their own audio card built-in to the device in order to work. Therefore, using these will bypass the soundcard in your computer. Also, the USB cable is quite short. This device isn't compatible with USB 3.0. Since I only have 3.0 on the front panel of my computer I would prefer a longer cord to run it from the back.Dolby - The simulated 7.1 is not appealing to me. It simulates surround by making the audio more `spatial'. This doesn't add to the audio quality though; it makes the sound worse in my opinion. The default setting is off,Volume Control - The volume control is a rocker switch in a convenient location on the back of the left ear-piece. The rocker switch is annoying. You rotate and hold it in one direction or the other to change the volume. I would prefer a dial instead of holding a switch.No Audio Controls - This device has no equalizer to adjust the audio. The audio levels it ships with is okay, but if you wanted to customize your sound you should purchase a different headset.Microphone - The mic is overly sensitive and even on low input volumes it picks up any background noise like you mouse and keyboard, breathing, etc.In summary, decent sound and comfort for the price, but has some limitations.

<hl> Decent sound <hl> , but there are negatives to considerThe quality of the construction and materials seems average.


Question: How did you like the function?

I've had this remote for a month now and really like it.  It didn't set up very fast and took a number of tries to get the macros right for turning on the TV and switching input devices, but once it was set it's been great.  My kids are 12 and 15 and are thankful for the remote.  They don't have to ask for my help to play video games or watch a DVD anymore.A few particular features I like about the remote:1. The keys for the most part are backlit and when you move the remote the display and backlight are activated, you don't have to push a button.2. It is rechargable.  I hate having to replace batteries every few months.  It lasts almost a week on one charge... but I put it on the charger after about 3 or 4 days.  I don't want to chance being without this baby.3. It will learn commands from my other remotes.  This was very helpful when setting up the macro for switching TV inputs.  Even tho I put the TV make and model in it didn't know how to switch from SAT input to DVD input without a little learning.  This all depends on your TV.  Mine is a Mitsubishi WD-65733.  I also had to tell it what the inputs were called and which ones were listed in what order.  Beware... I think it was case sensitive in setup.4.  If you want to go into the advanced features of one of your devices without using the macros to do what you want to do you can still do that.  Just a double click of a button and you can set the surround sound on your stereo receiver or modify the night display on your DVD player... and so on.5.  It controlls my HD DVR from DirectTV so I can still FWD,RWD, pause, and record without any problems.  It does everything the remote for the device did.6.  You can upload your own photos to the remote and set them as the background in the display.What I don't like???There are really only two things I would change about it and that's the feel of the buttons and the ease of setup.  Some buttons are very small and they're hard plastic.  Some remotes have the nice big rubber buttons and for some people they really like those.  I don't know how you could make it easier but I did have to get it to learn a few commands from my TV remote.  Some people just aren't into computers and electronics much and could get frustrated by this.Over all, this is one sweet remote.  My friends are jealous when they come over.  A co-worker went out and had to buy the same one because he liked it so much.  I highly recommend it.

Answer: Over all, this is one sweet remote

Over all, this is one sweet remote .

I've had this remote for a month now and really like it. It didn't set up very fast and took a number of tries to get the macros right for turning on the TV and switching input devices, but once it was set it's been great. My kids are 12 and 15 and are thankful for the remote. They don't have to ask for my help to play video games or watch a DVD anymore. A few particular features I like about the remote:1. The keys for the most part are backlit and when you move the remote the display and backlight are activated, you don't have to push a button.2. It is rechargable. I hate having to replace batteries every few months. It lasts almost a week on one charge... but I put it on the charger after about 3 or 4 days. I don't want to chance being without this baby.3. It will learn commands from my other remotes. This was very helpful when setting up the macro for switching TV inputs. Even tho I put the TV make and model in it didn't know how to switch from SAT input to DVD input without a little learning. This all depends on your TV. Mine is a Mitsubishi WD-65733. I also had to tell it what the inputs were called and which ones were listed in what order. Beware... I think it was case sensitive in setup.4. If you want to go into the advanced features of one of your devices without using the macros to do what you want to do you can still do that. Just a double click of a button and you can set the surround sound on your stereo receiver or modify the night display on your DVD player... and so on.5. It controlls my HD DVR from DirectTV so I can still FWD,RWD, pause, and record without any problems. It does everything the remote for the device did.6. You can upload your own photos to the remote and set them as the background in the display. What I don't like???There are really only two things I would change about it and that's the feel of the buttons and the ease of setup. Some buttons are very small and they're hard plastic. Some remotes have the nice big rubber buttons and for some people they really like those. I don't know how you could make it easier but I did have to get it to learn a few commands from my TV remote. Some people just aren't into computers and electronics much and could get frustrated by this. <hl> Over all, this is one sweet remote . <hl> My friends are jealous when they come over. A co-worker went out and had to buy the same one because he liked it so much. I highly recommend it.

I've had this remote for a month now and really like it. It didn't set up very fast and took a number of tries to get the macros right for turning on the TV and switching input devices, but once it was set it's been great. My kids are 12 and 15 and are thankful for the remote. They don't have to ask for my help to play video games or watch a DVD anymore.A few particular features I like about the remote:1. The keys for the most part are backlit and when you move the remote the display and backlight are activated, you don't have to push a button.2. It is rechargable. I hate having to replace batteries every few months. It lasts almost a week on one charge... but I put it on the charger after about 3 or 4 days. I don't want to chance being without this baby.3. It will learn commands from my other remotes. This was very helpful when setting up the macro for switching TV inputs. Even tho I put the TV make and model in it didn't know how to switch from SAT input to DVD input without a little learning. This all depends on your TV. Mine is a Mitsubishi WD-65733. I also had to tell it what the inputs were called and which ones were listed in what order. Beware... I think it was case sensitive in setup.4. If you want to go into the advanced features of one of your devices without using the macros to do what you want to do you can still do that. Just a double click of a button and you can set the surround sound on your stereo receiver or modify the night display on your DVD player... and so on.5. It controlls my HD DVR from DirectTV so I can still FWD,RWD, pause, and record without any problems. It does everything the remote for the device did.6. You can upload your own photos to the remote and set them as the background in the display.What I don't like???There are really only two things I would change about it and that's the feel of the buttons and the ease of setup. Some buttons are very small and they're hard plastic. Some remotes have the nice big rubber buttons and for some people they really like those. I don't know how you could make it easier but I did have to get it to learn a few commands from my TV remote. Some people just aren't into computers and electronics much and could get frustrated by this.<hl> Over all, this is one sweet remote <hl>. My friends are jealous when they come over. A co-worker went out and had to buy the same one because he liked it so much. I highly recommend it.

<hl> Over all, this is one sweet remote <hl> .


Question: How is the design?

I have had the router for a few weeks now in the office. My initial impression of the product out of the box was very good. It has a quality look and feel to it. As soon as I powered it on, the first thing I did was update the firmware. That was a very easy process.Pros:The user management interface is very nice and user friendly.Performance is amazing! I have it hooked up to a static gateway, which splits up my modem's connection to two other routers. The bandwidth tests I have ran over WiFi with the Asus are showing higher speeds on average than the other router which the PC's are physically connected to via Ethernet. That alone is pretty impressive. It'ss also very reliable and I haven't had any problems with it till this point. Still early, but only time will tell. The WiFi range is very strong. Two previous wireless N routers did not even come close to the range I am getting with the Asus. And even at the edge of the range, the bandwidth is still decent.Cons:Some parts in the QOS section were a little confusing, but Asus support was able to clear up the confusion for me after an email. This is really not a con because they just verified what I was assuming anyway, but I wanted to ask the questions to be sure.Price was a bit high, but other high end routers are in the same price range.I would highly recommend this router for those looking for a highend, wireless router. All WiFi dveices used on my network are N devices, so I have not yet been able to take advanatage of the AC performance gains, so I can't comment on that. I can't comment on wired performance either.

Answer: Performance is amazing!

I have had the router for a few weeks now in the office. My initial impression of the product out of the box was very good. It has a quality look and feel to it. As soon as I powered it on, the first thing I did was update the firmware. That was a very easy process. Pros:The user management interface is very nice and user friendly. <hl> Performance is amazing! I have it hooked up to a static gateway, which splits up my modem's connection to two other routers. <hl> The bandwidth tests I have ran over WiFi with the Asus are showing higher speeds on average than the other router which the PC's are physically connected to via Ethernet. That alone is pretty impressive. It'ss also very reliable and I haven't had any problems with it till this point. Still early, but only time will tell. The WiFi range is very strong. Two previous wireless N routers did not even come close to the range I am getting with the Asus. And even at the edge of the range, the bandwidth is still decent. Cons:Some parts in the QOS section were a little confusing, but Asus support was able to clear up the confusion for me after an email. This is really not a con because they just verified what I was assuming anyway, but I wanted to ask the questions to be sure. Price was a bit high, but other high end routers are in the same price range. I would highly recommend this router for those looking for a highend, wireless router. All WiFi dveices used on my network are N devices, so I have not yet been able to take advanatage of the AC performance gains, so I can't comment on that. I can't comment on wired performance either.

I have had the router for a few weeks now in the office. My initial impression of the product out of the box was very good. It has a quality look and feel to it. As soon as I powered it on, the first thing I did was update the firmware. That was a very easy process.Pros:The user management interface is very nice and user friendly.<hl> Performance is amazing! <hl> I have it hooked up to a static gateway, which splits up my modem's connection to two other routers. The bandwidth tests I have ran over WiFi with the Asus are showing higher speeds on average than the other router which the PC's are physically connected to via Ethernet. That alone is pretty impressive. It'ss also very reliable and I haven't had any problems with it till this point. Still early, but only time will tell. The WiFi range is very strong. Two previous wireless N routers did not even come close to the range I am getting with the Asus. And even at the edge of the range, the bandwidth is still decent.Cons:Some parts in the QOS section were a little confusing, but Asus support was able to clear up the confusion for me after an email. This is really not a con because they just verified what I was assuming anyway, but I wanted to ask the questions to be sure.Price was a bit high, but other high end routers are in the same price range.I would highly recommend this router for those looking for a highend, wireless router. All WiFi dveices used on my network are N devices, so I have not yet been able to take advanatage of the AC performance gains, so I can't comment on that. I can't comment on wired performance either.


Question: How is ear?

I am still getting used to this speaker set, but for the price, it is great so far. No it is not like some super concert hall quality set, but for the price it really delivers. I have seen all the various reviews of people complaining of anemic performance(not about this product, but in general) and I always wonder what people expect out of a 2.1 system. For I would say 80% of one's general audio needs, this is a great buy. If you want to shake the pictures off the wall, then maybe go for another package.On a basic user level, I like this unit because all the controls are located on a remote that sits on the desktop. Having to reach under the desk to adjust the bass is not necessary. Also, the various inputs/outputs are located in the same remote. The only complaint I have is that ergonomically, the remote is a bit unbalanced in the various controls - the volume knob is huge and the base is a bit hidden on the side. But that is really small potatoes overall.Regarding the actual sound, it is fine for what it is. Decent bass, the highs and overall frequency balance is fine. As with most audio setups, if you do not have an equalizer on your computer, see about getting one. While this unit is ok in its flat response, it certainly can use some tweaking to get it just right.Overall - especially in terms of price to performance - this is an A+ product. If you are some crazy audiophile, you may not be completely impressed. But for the vast majority of users out there, this is a very affordable and effective computer audio solution.

Answer: this is a very affordable and effective computer audio solution.

I am still getting used to this speaker set, but for the price, it is great so far. No it is not like some super concert hall quality set, but for the price it really delivers. I have seen all the various reviews of people complaining of anemic performance(not about this product, but in general) and I always wonder what people expect out of a 2.1 system. For I would say 80% of one's general audio needs, this is a great buy. If you want to shake the pictures off the wall, then maybe go for another package. On a basic user level, I like this unit because all the controls are located on a remote that sits on the desktop. Having to reach under the desk to adjust the bass is not necessary. Also, the various inputs/outputs are located in the same remote. The only complaint I have is that ergonomically, the remote is a bit unbalanced in the various controls - the volume knob is huge and the base is a bit hidden on the side. But that is really small potatoes overall. Regarding the actual sound, it is fine for what it is. Decent bass, the highs and overall frequency balance is fine. As with most audio setups, if you do not have an equalizer on your computer, see about getting one. While this unit is ok in its flat response, it certainly can use some tweaking to get it just right. Overall - especially in terms of price to performance - this is an A+ product. If you are some crazy audiophile, you may not be completely impressed. <hl> But for the vast majority of users out there, this is a very affordable and effective computer audio solution. <hl>

I am still getting used to this speaker set, but for the price, it is great so far. No it is not like some super concert hall quality set, but for the price it really delivers. I have seen all the various reviews of people complaining of anemic performance(not about this product, but in general) and I always wonder what people expect out of a 2.1 system. For I would say 80% of one's general audio needs, this is a great buy. If you want to shake the pictures off the wall, then maybe go for another package.On a basic user level, I like this unit because all the controls are located on a remote that sits on the desktop. Having to reach under the desk to adjust the bass is not necessary. Also, the various inputs/outputs are located in the same remote. The only complaint I have is that ergonomically, the remote is a bit unbalanced in the various controls - the volume knob is huge and the base is a bit hidden on the side. But that is really small potatoes overall.Regarding the actual sound, it is fine for what it is. Decent bass, the highs and overall frequency balance is fine. As with most audio setups, if you do not have an equalizer on your computer, see about getting one. While this unit is ok in its flat response, it certainly can use some tweaking to get it just right.Overall - especially in terms of price to performance - this is an A+ product. If you are some crazy audiophile, you may not be completely impressed. But for the vast majority of users out there, <hl> this is a very affordable and effective computer audio solution. <hl>


Question: How is the capacity?

Why pay Apple prices when you can get the same thing in black for less? Just follow the instructions published here and everywhere to format the drive when you first get it to work efficiently with your Macbook. It is small, light and does not require a wall wart. I hate wall warts and any product that does away with them is a plus in my book.  Put all your excess junk, Logic files, photoshop (if you are still using photoshop anymore) and all the big stuff and free up your hard drive. Access is fast and 1 TB is quite a bit of storage!

Answer: the big stuff and free up your hard drive

Why pay Apple prices when you can get the same thing in black for less? Just follow the instructions published here and everywhere to format the drive when you first get it to work efficiently with your Macbook. It is small, light and does not require a wall wart. I hate wall warts and any product that does away with them is a plus in my book. <hl> Put all your excess junk, Logic files, photoshop (if you are still using photoshop anymore) and all the big stuff and free up your hard drive . <hl> Access is fast and 1 TB is quite a bit of storage!

Why pay Apple prices when you can get the same thing in black for less? Just follow the instructions published here and everywhere to format the drive when you first get it to work efficiently with your Macbook. It is small, light and does not require a wall wart. I hate wall warts and any product that does away with them is a plus in my book. Put all your excess junk, Logic files, photoshop (if you are still using photoshop anymore) and all <hl> the big stuff and free up your hard drive <hl>. Access is fast and 1 TB is quite a bit of storage!

Put all your excess junk, Logic files, photoshop (if you are still using photoshop anymore) and all <hl> the big stuff and free up your hard drive <hl> .


Question: How is the ability?

Pros - Easy setup, lots of apps, GREAT little remote, Android app has great functionality, small footprint, stylish.Cons - Zero.Honestly, it never freezes, holds a great connection to my 5 Ghz wifi connection, the remote is durable and it's a little unit. Does everything I wanted it to do.

Answer: GREAT little remote

<hl> Pros - Easy setup, lots of apps, GREAT little remote , Android app has great functionality, small footprint, stylish. <hl> Cons - Zero. Honestly, it never freezes, holds a great connection to my 5 Ghz wifi connection, the remote is durable and it's a little unit. Does everything I wanted it to do.

Pros - Easy setup, lots of apps, <hl> GREAT little remote <hl>, Android app has great functionality, small footprint, stylish.Cons - Zero.Honestly, it never freezes, holds a great connection to my 5 Ghz wifi connection, the remote is durable and it's a little unit. Does everything I wanted it to do.

Pros - Easy setup, lots of apps, <hl> GREAT little remote <hl> , Android app has great functionality, small footprint, stylish.


Question: What is the best color?

Tablets of all kinds are a lot of fun for me, and as an owner of last year's Asus Google Nexus 7 Tablet (8 GB) - Quad-core Tegra 3 Processor, Android 4.1, I was keen on giving Google and ASUS' most recent effort a short.  The tablets I've owned that I could compare this one to included theHP TouchPad Wi-Fi 32 GB 9.7-Inch Tablet Computer, the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1,Apple iPad MD366LL/A (16GB, Wi-Fi + AT&T; 4G, Black) 3rd Generation,ASUS Transformer TF300 T-B1-BL 10.1-Inch 32 GB Tablet (Blue)(with matching dock), the aforementioned Nexus 7,Google Nexus 10 (Wi-Fi only, 16 GB), and myMicrosoft Surface (32GB).  The Nexus 7 has turned out to be a worthy addition to this collection.  Here's why.PROS+ Lightweight build.  Last year's Nexus 7 was hardly a slouch in this department, and was more than portable enough for most.  The iPad Mini (which I purchased as a gift) is slightly thinner, but it doesn't really make any drastic improvements.  This device is markedly lighter than both, which makes it surprisingly easier in the hands.  You wouldn't think there was much room for improvement here (given the first generation was quite nice), but ASUS managed to pull it off.+ Great, understated looks.  Sure, the top and bottom bezels are a little larger, but compared to last year's Nexus 7, this device has a lot more "class" to it.  The exterior bezels now lack the bright silver banding, which helps the screen melt away into the bezels.  That's all the better, since as an LCD panel (which won't achieve the same black-levels as a AMOLED display from Samsung) is the centerpiece of this device, it's best to keep your focus on it.  The back is nice and smooth, with the word "NEXUS" inscribed into the back.  The branding is non-obtrusive and otherwise non-existent on a device that all around has a sophisticated, matte look to it.+ Powerful performance.  Without getting into too much technical information, the processor in this device (a rebranded Qualcomm Snapdragon 600) is significantly more powerful than the Nexus 7's Tegra 3 in every way.  It's also more power efficient, so you can watch your movies and games for longer, all while enjoying stunning looks.  Which brings me to the next two points...+ Beautiful screen.  This is a Full HD (1080p) panel in a 7" package.  The best effort prior to this was Amazon's own Kindle Fire HD 8.9, which had a 1080p panel as well.  At present, this device has the sharpest screen (in terms of PPI) of any device, even compared against Apple's iPad 3 and Samsung's Nexus 10.  Colors are sharp and vivid and the screen has no motion blurring or ghosting.  My unit also doesn't have any light bleed, although I've seen some people complaining about it.+ Better hardware for longevity.  You may have heard of the recent kerfuffles around last year's Nexus 7, which has started to slow down and lag for many users.  The problem lay in how the device managed its onboard storage-- which, to put it mildly, was poor.  If you didn't mind tinkering and rooting your device, you could fix the issue, but that should never be a requirement in a consumer product.  Luckily enough, the refresh's hardware boasts better memory and Android 4.3 will automatically keep things in good shape, so you won't have to worry about this.+ Sound is pretty good for a small device.  It gets plenty loud without much distortion.  Unfortunately, ASUS elected to keep the speakers on the back for some unknown reason (especially with nice bezels on the top and bottom that could have provided stereo in landscape-- which is where you'd need those speakers most).  This is especially perplexing considering how well-reviewed the speakers on the Nexus 10 and HTC One were-- both packed front-facing stereo speakers.+ Android 4.3 under the hood means you've got a faster, more secure mobile experience than any previous version.  Even if you're primarily an iOS user, the Nexus 7 is definitely worth a look.  The Play Store's got almost all the heavy hitters you'd use on a tablet (such as Amazon Kindle, Netflix, a YouTube experience second to none, and the full power of Google's own services as an example), as well as some amazing Android-exclusive apps (such as Press, a beautiful RSS reader for those who prefer to take their news this way).  Many people have griped in the past about Android and tablet apps, but...+ You'll also find a mature and solid ecosystem waiting for you.  As a 7" device, the refreshed Nexus 7 sits between traditional 10"-class tablets and the smartphone, meaning it can use apps designed for either very well.  Although most Android apps are still designed for phones, they scale up very well on the Nexus 7 (nothing like Apple's frankly laughable 2x zoom mode available on the iPad/iPad Mini).  Android tablet apps are also getting better by the day, so unless there really is that one killer app you can't leave behind, give it a whirl!+ Android 4.3 also provides multiuser support, so if you have this tablet in any social settings (having friends over, throwing a party, and so on), you can easily set up a guest profile for friends to use while keeping your own stuff under lock and key.  It's also great as a family tablet-- share the device among multiple members while keeping everyone's stuff separate.  Things have also gotten a lot faster since the 4.2 days, so if you had any issues before, give it another go.+ Notification light!  Hoorah!  Long-time Android users will instantly recognize how useful these things are, and as a casual device to leave lying around your desk, the light makes things much better.  Let's say you're walking by a coffee table and you receive an e-mail.  With an iOS device, the screen will light up for a few seconds, and a pulsing icon will let you know that you've got a message of some sort.  And both iOS and Android handsets without a light (such as last year's Nexus 7) will beep or produce a tone to let you know the same.  But if you happen to walk by after those time out, you'd never know that you have something waiting for you.  With a notification light, you get a persistent, unobtrusive and instantly-visible way of seeing that something's waiting.+ Great battery life.  Although the battery's smaller than last year's Nexus 7 (probably to slim down the build), Android 4.3 and the newer Snapdragon processor make for quite a powerful (hehe) package that will run all day and then some without trouble.  I have yet to charge mine after receiving it two days back, and I'm still looking at 50% remaining after heavy use.Of course, this isn't all sunshine and daisies.  Make sure you're making an informed purchase.  Here are some cons I've noticed.CONS- The cameras are forgettable.  Good enough for video calling, but it won't even replace most smartphone cameras.- I'm having screen lift issues in the upper left hand-hand side of my tablet, which means the back creaks a little if I press on it.  It doesn't impact functionality at all, and hopefully it may go away after a while, but my launch-day 8GB Nexus 7 from last year also had this issue.  needless to say, I'm a little annoyed that they weren't more rigorous this time around.  Not something you should have to deal with as a consumer.- Top and bottom bezels make the device a little larger than it has to be.  Depending on how you use this device, it could actually be a major pro for you (as wider bezels give you a better surface to grip without accidentally touching the screen).  For me, it's a definite con, since I think it makes the device look a tad silly.- Slightly less grippy than last year's model.  The refresh loses the dimpled texture of the original, which makes it a little more "slick" in the hand.  It's not awful by any means, but do keep in mind that it can slide a little more on surface than you'd expect.- The buttons.  Are maddening.  They're basically flush with the chassis, and while there's solid feedback on all three (power, volume up, volume down), they're very close to one another and feel exactly the same.  Expect to hit volume up a lot trying to wake this device up.All in all, I'd say buy this one with confidence.  It's well worth the upgrade if you're on the fence, and if you're new to the Android tablet land, this is an amazing place to start.  As a Nexus device, it'll get long software support and fast upgrades, so you'll always be getting the latest and greatest.  Questions?  Let me know in the comments below!

Answer: Tablets

<hl> Tablets of all kinds are a lot of fun for me, and as an owner of last year's Asus Google Nexus 7 Tablet (8 GB) - Quad-core Tegra 3 Processor, Android 4.1, I was keen on giving Google and ASUS' most recent effort a short. <hl> The tablets I've owned that I could compare this one to included theHP TouchPad Wi-Fi 32 GB 9.7-Inch Tablet Computer, the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1,Apple iPad MD366LL/A (16GB, Wi-Fi + AT&T; 4G, Black) 3rd Generation,ASUS Transformer TF300 T-B1-BL 10.1-Inch 32 GB Tablet (Blue)(with matching dock), the aforementioned Nexus 7,Google Nexus 10 (Wi-Fi only, 16 GB), and myMicrosoft Surface (32GB). The Nexus 7 has turned out to be a worthy addition to this collection. Here's why. PROS+ Lightweight build. Last year's Nexus 7 was hardly a slouch in this department, and was more than portable enough for most. The iPad Mini (which I purchased as a gift) is slightly thinner, but it doesn't really make any drastic improvements. This device is markedly lighter than both, which makes it surprisingly easier in the hands. You wouldn't think there was much room for improvement here (given the first generation was quite nice), but ASUS managed to pull it off.+ Great, understated looks. Sure, the top and bottom bezels are a little larger, but compared to last year's Nexus 7, this device has a lot more "class" to it. The exterior bezels now lack the bright silver banding, which helps the screen melt away into the bezels. That's all the better, since as an LCD panel (which won't achieve the same black-levels as a AMOLED display from Samsung) is the centerpiece of this device, it's best to keep your focus on it. The back is nice and smooth, with the word "NEXUS" inscribed into the back. The branding is non-obtrusive and otherwise non-existent on a device that all around has a sophisticated, matte look to it.+ Powerful performance. Without getting into too much technical information, the processor in this device (a rebranded Qualcomm Snapdragon 600) is significantly more powerful than the Nexus 7's Tegra 3 in every way. It's also more power efficient, so you can watch your movies and games for longer, all while enjoying stunning looks. Which brings me to the next two points... + Beautiful screen. This is a Full HD (1080p) panel in a 7" package. The best effort prior to this was Amazon's own Kindle Fire HD 8.9, which had a 1080p panel as well. At present, this device has the sharpest screen (in terms of PPI) of any device, even compared against Apple's iPad 3 and Samsung's Nexus 10. Colors are sharp and vivid and the screen has no motion blurring or ghosting. My unit also doesn't have any light bleed, although I've seen some people complaining about it.+ Better hardware for longevity. You may have heard of the recent kerfuffles around last year's Nexus 7, which has started to slow down and lag for many users. The problem lay in how the device managed its onboard storage-- which, to put it mildly, was poor. If you didn't mind tinkering and rooting your device, you could fix the issue, but that should never be a requirement in a consumer product. Luckily enough, the refresh's hardware boasts better memory and Android 4.3 will automatically keep things in good shape, so you won't have to worry about this.+ Sound is pretty good for a small device. It gets plenty loud without much distortion. Unfortunately, ASUS elected to keep the speakers on the back for some unknown reason (especially with nice bezels on the top and bottom that could have provided stereo in landscape-- which is where you'd need those speakers most). This is especially perplexing considering how well-reviewed the speakers on the Nexus 10 and HTC One were-- both packed front-facing stereo speakers.+ Android 4.3 under the hood means you've got a faster, more secure mobile experience than any previous version. Even if you're primarily an iOS user, the Nexus 7 is definitely worth a look. The Play Store's got almost all the heavy hitters you'd use on a tablet (such as Amazon Kindle, Netflix, a YouTube experience second to none, and the full power of Google's own services as an example), as well as some amazing Android-exclusive apps (such as Press, a beautiful RSS reader for those who prefer to take their news this way). Many people have griped in the past about Android and tablet apps, but... + You'll also find a mature and solid ecosystem waiting for you. As a 7" device, the refreshed Nexus 7 sits between traditional 10"-class tablets and the smartphone, meaning it can use apps designed for either very well. Although most Android apps are still designed for phones, they scale up very well on the Nexus 7 (nothing like Apple's frankly laughable 2x zoom mode available on the iPad/iPad Mini). Android tablet apps are also getting better by the day, so unless there really is that one killer app you can't leave behind, give it a whirl!+ Android 4.3 also provides multiuser support, so if you have this tablet in any social settings (having friends over, throwing a party, and so on), you can easily set up a guest profile for friends to use while keeping your own stuff under lock and key. It's also great as a family tablet-- share the device among multiple members while keeping everyone's stuff separate. Things have also gotten a lot faster since the 4.2 days, so if you had any issues before, give it another go.+ Notification light! Hoorah! Long-time Android users will instantly recognize how useful these things are, and as a casual device to leave lying around your desk, the light makes things much better. Let's say you're walking by a coffee table and you receive an e-mail. With an iOS device, the screen will light up for a few seconds, and a pulsing icon will let you know that you've got a message of some sort. And both iOS and Android handsets without a light (such as last year's Nexus 7) will beep or produce a tone to let you know the same. But if you happen to walk by after those time out, you'd never know that you have something waiting for you. With a notification light, you get a persistent, unobtrusive and instantly-visible way of seeing that something's waiting.+ Great battery life. Although the battery's smaller than last year's Nexus 7 (probably to slim down the build), Android 4.3 and the newer Snapdragon processor make for quite a powerful (hehe) package that will run all day and then some without trouble. I have yet to charge mine after receiving it two days back, and I'm still looking at 50% remaining after heavy use. Of course, this isn't all sunshine and daisies. Make sure you're making an informed purchase. Here are some cons I've noticed. CONS- The cameras are forgettable. Good enough for video calling, but it won't even replace most smartphone cameras.- I'm having screen lift issues in the upper left hand-hand side of my tablet, which means the back creaks a little if I press on it. It doesn't impact functionality at all, and hopefully it may go away after a while, but my launch-day 8GB Nexus 7 from last year also had this issue. needless to say, I'm a little annoyed that they weren't more rigorous this time around. Not something you should have to deal with as a consumer.- Top and bottom bezels make the device a little larger than it has to be. Depending on how you use this device, it could actually be a major pro for you (as wider bezels give you a better surface to grip without accidentally touching the screen). For me, it's a definite con, since I think it makes the device look a tad silly.- Slightly less grippy than last year's model. The refresh loses the dimpled texture of the original, which makes it a little more "slick" in the hand. It's not awful by any means, but do keep in mind that it can slide a little more on surface than you'd expect.- The buttons. Are maddening. They're basically flush with the chassis, and while there's solid feedback on all three (power, volume up, volume down), they're very close to one another and feel exactly the same. Expect to hit volume up a lot trying to wake this device up. All in all, I'd say buy this one with confidence. It's well worth the upgrade if you're on the fence, and if you're new to the Android tablet land, this is an amazing place to start. As a Nexus device, it'll get long software support and fast upgrades, so you'll always be getting the latest and greatest. Questions? Let me know in the comments below!

<hl> Tablets <hl> of all kinds are a lot of fun for me, and as an owner of last year's Asus Google Nexus 7 Tablet (8 GB) - Quad-core Tegra 3 Processor, Android 4.1, I was keen on giving Google and ASUS' most recent effort a short. The tablets I've owned that I could compare this one to included theHP TouchPad Wi-Fi 32 GB 9.7-Inch Tablet Computer, the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1,Apple iPad MD366LL/A (16GB, Wi-Fi + AT&T; 4G, Black) 3rd Generation,ASUS Transformer TF300 T-B1-BL 10.1-Inch 32 GB Tablet (Blue)(with matching dock), the aforementioned Nexus 7,Google Nexus 10 (Wi-Fi only, 16 GB), and myMicrosoft Surface (32GB). The Nexus 7 has turned out to be a worthy addition to this collection. Here's why.PROS+ Lightweight build. Last year's Nexus 7 was hardly a slouch in this department, and was more than portable enough for most. The iPad Mini (which I purchased as a gift) is slightly thinner, but it doesn't really make any drastic improvements. This device is markedly lighter than both, which makes it surprisingly easier in the hands. You wouldn't think there was much room for improvement here (given the first generation was quite nice), but ASUS managed to pull it off.+ Great, understated looks. Sure, the top and bottom bezels are a little larger, but compared to last year's Nexus 7, this device has a lot more "class" to it. The exterior bezels now lack the bright silver banding, which helps the screen melt away into the bezels. That's all the better, since as an LCD panel (which won't achieve the same black-levels as a AMOLED display from Samsung) is the centerpiece of this device, it's best to keep your focus on it. The back is nice and smooth, with the word "NEXUS" inscribed into the back. The branding is non-obtrusive and otherwise non-existent on a device that all around has a sophisticated, matte look to it.+ Powerful performance. Without getting into too much technical information, the processor in this device (a rebranded Qualcomm Snapdragon 600) is significantly more powerful than the Nexus 7's Tegra 3 in every way. It's also more power efficient, so you can watch your movies and games for longer, all while enjoying stunning looks. Which brings me to the next two points...+ Beautiful screen. This is a Full HD (1080p) panel in a 7" package. The best effort prior to this was Amazon's own Kindle Fire HD 8.9, which had a 1080p panel as well. At present, this device has the sharpest screen (in terms of PPI) of any device, even compared against Apple's iPad 3 and Samsung's Nexus 10. Colors are sharp and vivid and the screen has no motion blurring or ghosting. My unit also doesn't have any light bleed, although I've seen some people complaining about it.+ Better hardware for longevity. You may have heard of the recent kerfuffles around last year's Nexus 7, which has started to slow down and lag for many users. The problem lay in how the device managed its onboard storage-- which, to put it mildly, was poor. If you didn't mind tinkering and rooting your device, you could fix the issue, but that should never be a requirement in a consumer product. Luckily enough, the refresh's hardware boasts better memory and Android 4.3 will automatically keep things in good shape, so you won't have to worry about this.+ Sound is pretty good for a small device. It gets plenty loud without much distortion. Unfortunately, ASUS elected to keep the speakers on the back for some unknown reason (especially with nice bezels on the top and bottom that could have provided stereo in landscape-- which is where you'd need those speakers most). This is especially perplexing considering how well-reviewed the speakers on the Nexus 10 and HTC One were-- both packed front-facing stereo speakers.+ Android 4.3 under the hood means you've got a faster, more secure mobile experience than any previous version. Even if you're primarily an iOS user, the Nexus 7 is definitely worth a look. The Play Store's got almost all the heavy hitters you'd use on a tablet (such as Amazon Kindle, Netflix, a YouTube experience second to none, and the full power of Google's own services as an example), as well as some amazing Android-exclusive apps (such as Press, a beautiful RSS reader for those who prefer to take their news this way). Many people have griped in the past about Android and tablet apps, but...+ You'll also find a mature and solid ecosystem waiting for you. As a 7" device, the refreshed Nexus 7 sits between traditional 10"-class tablets and the smartphone, meaning it can use apps designed for either very well. Although most Android apps are still designed for phones, they scale up very well on the Nexus 7 (nothing like Apple's frankly laughable 2x zoom mode available on the iPad/iPad Mini). Android tablet apps are also getting better by the day, so unless there really is that one killer app you can't leave behind, give it a whirl!+ Android 4.3 also provides multiuser support, so if you have this tablet in any social settings (having friends over, throwing a party, and so on), you can easily set up a guest profile for friends to use while keeping your own stuff under lock and key. It's also great as a family tablet-- share the device among multiple members while keeping everyone's stuff separate. Things have also gotten a lot faster since the 4.2 days, so if you had any issues before, give it another go.+ Notification light! Hoorah! Long-time Android users will instantly recognize how useful these things are, and as a casual device to leave lying around your desk, the light makes things much better. Let's say you're walking by a coffee table and you receive an e-mail. With an iOS device, the screen will light up for a few seconds, and a pulsing icon will let you know that you've got a message of some sort. And both iOS and Android handsets without a light (such as last year's Nexus 7) will beep or produce a tone to let you know the same. But if you happen to walk by after those time out, you'd never know that you have something waiting for you. With a notification light, you get a persistent, unobtrusive and instantly-visible way of seeing that something's waiting.+ Great battery life. Although the battery's smaller than last year's Nexus 7 (probably to slim down the build), Android 4.3 and the newer Snapdragon processor make for quite a powerful (hehe) package that will run all day and then some without trouble. I have yet to charge mine after receiving it two days back, and I'm still looking at 50% remaining after heavy use.Of course, this isn't all sunshine and daisies. Make sure you're making an informed purchase. Here are some cons I've noticed.CONS- The cameras are forgettable. Good enough for video calling, but it won't even replace most smartphone cameras.- I'm having screen lift issues in the upper left hand-hand side of my tablet, which means the back creaks a little if I press on it. It doesn't impact functionality at all, and hopefully it may go away after a while, but my launch-day 8GB Nexus 7 from last year also had this issue. needless to say, I'm a little annoyed that they weren't more rigorous this time around. Not something you should have to deal with as a consumer.- Top and bottom bezels make the device a little larger than it has to be. Depending on how you use this device, it could actually be a major pro for you (as wider bezels give you a better surface to grip without accidentally touching the screen). For me, it's a definite con, since I think it makes the device look a tad silly.- Slightly less grippy than last year's model. The refresh loses the dimpled texture of the original, which makes it a little more "slick" in the hand. It's not awful by any means, but do keep in mind that it can slide a little more on surface than you'd expect.- The buttons. Are maddening. They're basically flush with the chassis, and while there's solid feedback on all three (power, volume up, volume down), they're very close to one another and feel exactly the same. Expect to hit volume up a lot trying to wake this device up.All in all, I'd say buy this one with confidence. It's well worth the upgrade if you're on the fence, and if you're new to the Android tablet land, this is an amazing place to start. As a Nexus device, it'll get long software support and fast upgrades, so you'll always be getting the latest and greatest. Questions? Let me know in the comments below!


Question: How is the grip?

First, the price is nice, if it were $10-15 more I would rank it a 3, as in, "it's okay" or better but a bit too pricey for what it is. However, at this price, "I like it" a lot. If it is durable it may earn my "I love it" -- especially since I will probably use it pretty hard (8-12 hours a day, in and out of a laptop bag nearly every work day), and since it is a $15 mouse I won't be all that careful about it.It is my main mouse for a desktop replacement laptop, both travel with me to work most days. So, I will see how it holds up and update if it wares out or develops problems - if I don't update that means that it is still going strong and I still stand by this review. If it lasts into the 5 year range I will update and probably change it to 5 stars.Next the review points:Pros:To start, I like this mouse. It feels good in my medium-large man hands. The grip on the thumb side feels good; although, I had to push mine into place as it was peeling on arrival and it continues to be somewhat loose or prone to getting pulled out of place, it sits to high above the surrounding plastic [Edit, this continues to be "loose"]. (I do wish there was a thin strip on the pinky side.)The adjustable DPI will probably be nice for some light game play and some situations, but I generally just keep it on the lowest setting. But having the option is a bonus.The mouse is nice and responsive and I have not noticed any lags (I'm using it on an Ivy Bridge I5 3230m in a Toshiba Satellite L series, Windoze 8 and will be dual booting Kubuntu, when I get a chance to set it up; if I don't update the mouse works fine as a native in Ubuntu as I expect it will [edit, confirmed, works in every distro I've played around with lately (all Debian/Ubuntu forks)]).The back and forward rocker works great and is also very nice to have.The mouse moves smoothly and works on every reasonable surface I've tried it on, including the number pad on the side of my laptop keyboard, which is nice.Range is good, as advertised about 15 feet through walls, etc and about 25 feet in the perfect situation (in the same room or outside).Cons:I wish it had a real off switch since it wakes the Laptop up on button click, until the mouse shuts itself off; you have to take the dongle out when you are transporting the laptop or shut off the wake up settings.This boarders on nitpicking and is related to the previous point: I wish it had a clip like some Logitech mice do so that it clips to the back of my screen and when clipped it shuts off the mouse so that it doesn't wake up the pc -- [edit, I really, really wish that it had such a clip]. This is a good thing because it protects the mouse by ensuing that it is in the padded case with the laptop, rather than just thrown into the bag or outside pocket to get banged, bumped, and (maybe) broken. I really don't understand why anyone would manufacture a wireless mouse without this feature. It just makes good business sense and is relatively cheap.Finally, the mouse does feel a bit less high end. As I mentioned the grip pad for the thumb was out when I took it out of the box, but other things don't quite fit right. One corner of the battery cover sticks out and is a bit stiff to remove (feels like you might break it), but hopefully I'll only replace the battery ever year or so.Overall the mouse feels just solidish. As in, somehow I suspect it isn't as durable is my partners beat up 3-4 year old Logitech that is still going strong. But only time will tell and that Logitech was almost twice the price.Nit-picking (in order of importance):The scrolling wheel is a little high and I wish it was closer to the tip of my middle finger.This boarders on obnoxious nitpicking, but the material you touch is that slick glossy plastic and I wish it had a bit of texture.The slick material feels, sweaty or something, I don't know, I don't like touching it as much as other mouse textures -- yeah, it is nitpicky, I know.At this point I strongly recommend this product. I like it a lot right now for its price, but if it proves durable that may make me love it (as in 5 stars).If you are a cheap-skate like me and looking for a good mouse, I think this is it. If you are a high-end type, this isn't it.I will update when the battery dies, currently it has one AA Eneloop that was fully charged when installed.[Edit, a month after purchase, I like it okay, but I think the 4 stars will stick and I very much wish that I'd gotten one with a off switch and/or a clip -  I would've payed $10-15 more for these things.]

Answer: The grip on the thumb side feels good

First, the price is nice, if it were $10-15 more I would rank it a 3, as in, "it's okay" or better but a bit too pricey for what it is. However, at this price, "I like it" a lot. If it is durable it may earn my "I love it" -- especially since I will probably use it pretty hard (8-12 hours a day, in and out of a laptop bag nearly every work day), and since it is a $15 mouse I won't be all that careful about it. It is my main mouse for a desktop replacement laptop, both travel with me to work most days. So, I will see how it holds up and update if it wares out or develops problems - if I don't update that means that it is still going strong and I still stand by this review. If it lasts into the 5 year range I will update and probably change it to 5 stars. Next the review points:Pros:To start, I like this mouse. It feels good in my medium-large man hands. <hl> The grip on the thumb side feels good ; although, I had to push mine into place as it was peeling on arrival and it continues to be somewhat loose or prone to getting pulled out of place, it sits to high above the surrounding plastic [Edit, this continues to be "loose"]. <hl> (I do wish there was a thin strip on the pinky side.)The adjustable DPI will probably be nice for some light game play and some situations, but I generally just keep it on the lowest setting. But having the option is a bonus. The mouse is nice and responsive and I have not noticed any lags (I'm using it on an Ivy Bridge I5 3230m in a Toshiba Satellite L series, Windoze 8 and will be dual booting Kubuntu, when I get a chance to set it up; if I don't update the mouse works fine as a native in Ubuntu as I expect it will [edit, confirmed, works in every distro I've played around with lately (all Debian/Ubuntu forks)]).The back and forward rocker works great and is also very nice to have. The mouse moves smoothly and works on every reasonable surface I've tried it on, including the number pad on the side of my laptop keyboard, which is nice. Range is good, as advertised about 15 feet through walls, etc and about 25 feet in the perfect situation (in the same room or outside).Cons:I wish it had a real off switch since it wakes the Laptop up on button click, until the mouse shuts itself off; you have to take the dongle out when you are transporting the laptop or shut off the wake up settings. This boarders on nitpicking and is related to the previous point: I wish it had a clip like some Logitech mice do so that it clips to the back of my screen and when clipped it shuts off the mouse so that it doesn't wake up the pc -- [edit, I really, really wish that it had such a clip]. This is a good thing because it protects the mouse by ensuing that it is in the padded case with the laptop, rather than just thrown into the bag or outside pocket to get banged, bumped, and (maybe) broken. I really don't understand why anyone would manufacture a wireless mouse without this feature. It just makes good business sense and is relatively cheap. Finally, the mouse does feel a bit less high end. As I mentioned the grip pad for the thumb was out when I took it out of the box, but other things don't quite fit right. One corner of the battery cover sticks out and is a bit stiff to remove (feels like you might break it), but hopefully I'll only replace the battery ever year or so. Overall the mouse feels just solidish. As in, somehow I suspect it isn't as durable is my partners beat up 3-4 year old Logitech that is still going strong. But only time will tell and that Logitech was almost twice the price. Nit-picking (in order of importance):The scrolling wheel is a little high and I wish it was closer to the tip of my middle finger. This boarders on obnoxious nitpicking, but the material you touch is that slick glossy plastic and I wish it had a bit of texture. The slick material feels, sweaty or something, I don't know, I don't like touching it as much as other mouse textures -- yeah, it is nitpicky, I know. At this point I strongly recommend this product. I like it a lot right now for its price, but if it proves durable that may make me love it (as in 5 stars).If you are a cheap-skate like me and looking for a good mouse, I think this is it. If you are a high-end type, this isn't it. I will update when the battery dies, currently it has one AA Eneloop that was fully charged when installed.[Edit, a month after purchase, I like it okay, but I think the 4 stars will stick and I very much wish that I'd gotten one with a off switch and/or a clip - I would've payed $10-15 more for these things.]

First, the price is nice, if it were $10-15 more I would rank it a 3, as in, "it's okay" or better but a bit too pricey for what it is. However, at this price, "I like it" a lot. If it is durable it may earn my "I love it" -- especially since I will probably use it pretty hard (8-12 hours a day, in and out of a laptop bag nearly every work day), and since it is a $15 mouse I won't be all that careful about it.It is my main mouse for a desktop replacement laptop, both travel with me to work most days. So, I will see how it holds up and update if it wares out or develops problems - if I don't update that means that it is still going strong and I still stand by this review. If it lasts into the 5 year range I will update and probably change it to 5 stars.Next the review points:Pros:To start, I like this mouse. It feels good in my medium-large man hands. <hl> The grip on the thumb side feels good <hl>; although, I had to push mine into place as it was peeling on arrival and it continues to be somewhat loose or prone to getting pulled out of place, it sits to high above the surrounding plastic [Edit, this continues to be "loose"]. (I do wish there was a thin strip on the pinky side.)The adjustable DPI will probably be nice for some light game play and some situations, but I generally just keep it on the lowest setting. But having the option is a bonus.The mouse is nice and responsive and I have not noticed any lags (I'm using it on an Ivy Bridge I5 3230m in a Toshiba Satellite L series, Windoze 8 and will be dual booting Kubuntu, when I get a chance to set it up; if I don't update the mouse works fine as a native in Ubuntu as I expect it will [edit, confirmed, works in every distro I've played around with lately (all Debian/Ubuntu forks)]).The back and forward rocker works great and is also very nice to have.The mouse moves smoothly and works on every reasonable surface I've tried it on, including the number pad on the side of my laptop keyboard, which is nice.Range is good, as advertised about 15 feet through walls, etc and about 25 feet in the perfect situation (in the same room or outside).Cons:I wish it had a real off switch since it wakes the Laptop up on button click, until the mouse shuts itself off; you have to take the dongle out when you are transporting the laptop or shut off the wake up settings.This boarders on nitpicking and is related to the previous point: I wish it had a clip like some Logitech mice do so that it clips to the back of my screen and when clipped it shuts off the mouse so that it doesn't wake up the pc -- [edit, I really, really wish that it had such a clip]. This is a good thing because it protects the mouse by ensuing that it is in the padded case with the laptop, rather than just thrown into the bag or outside pocket to get banged, bumped, and (maybe) broken. I really don't understand why anyone would manufacture a wireless mouse without this feature. It just makes good business sense and is relatively cheap.Finally, the mouse does feel a bit less high end. As I mentioned the grip pad for the thumb was out when I took it out of the box, but other things don't quite fit right. One corner of the battery cover sticks out and is a bit stiff to remove (feels like you might break it), but hopefully I'll only replace the battery ever year or so.Overall the mouse feels just solidish. As in, somehow I suspect it isn't as durable is my partners beat up 3-4 year old Logitech that is still going strong. But only time will tell and that Logitech was almost twice the price.Nit-picking (in order of importance):The scrolling wheel is a little high and I wish it was closer to the tip of my middle finger.This boarders on obnoxious nitpicking, but the material you touch is that slick glossy plastic and I wish it had a bit of texture.The slick material feels, sweaty or something, I don't know, I don't like touching it as much as other mouse textures -- yeah, it is nitpicky, I know.At this point I strongly recommend this product. I like it a lot right now for its price, but if it proves durable that may make me love it (as in 5 stars).If you are a cheap-skate like me and looking for a good mouse, I think this is it. If you are a high-end type, this isn't it.I will update when the battery dies, currently it has one AA Eneloop that was fully charged when installed.[Edit, a month after purchase, I like it okay, but I think the 4 stars will stick and I very much wish that I'd gotten one with a off switch and/or a clip - I would've payed $10-15 more for these things.]

<hl> The grip on the thumb side feels good <hl> ; although, I had to push mine into place as it was peeling on arrival and it continues to be somewhat loose or prone to getting pulled out of place, it sits to high above the surrounding plastic [Edit, this continues to be "loose"].