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Steve S.

Steve S.

Joined on 04/01/06

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 7
Most Favorable Review

Great design & engineering, could use a couple tweaks.

Fractal Design Torrent Compact Black TG Dark Tempered Glass High-Airflow ATX Computer Case
Fractal Design Torrent Compact Black TG Dark Tempered Glass High-Airflow ATX Computer Case

Pros: Overall, I love this case. It looks great from all angles, the front grate looks even better in person. The 180mm front intake fans look huge (because they are) and move tons of air. The feet keep the case a little over an inch off the floor/desk. Top mounting your PSU feels like a throwback - I wasn't sure about it at first but realized doing this helps with smoother airflow. There is no HDD front panel lead, no more activity blinks. Side panels, top and front pieces snap into place - no screws. Feels secure when closed, as long as your cable management skills are decent to solid.

Cons: Cable management requires some finessing. Having an extra 2-3mm of depth on the back side would help. If your cable bundles are too thick, you'll run into resistance when putting the side panel back in place. You may want to fan out your cables as your bundle them. You can use a screw to keep the panel closed for travel. Would have preferred a 140mm rear exhaust over 120mm. The plastic is a fingerprint magnet.

Overall Review: I would recommend this case. As a matter of fact, a friend recommended it to me and I bought this case day of release. Fractal makes some really nice products. I've got 3 Fractal cases paired with 3 Fractal PSUs. I'm not endorsed by them nor am I looking to be, I just enjoy their products. Fun fact: Within 3 days of migrating like a hermit crab from my old case (Fractal Define S7) to this case, my cat clawed the top slider when jumping onto my desk. The pains of working from home, hahaha. Now the case has battle wounds and a story to over-exaggerate. :)

Most Critical Review

Good monitor, terrible rebate processing

ASUS VH232H Glossy Black 23" 5ms Widescreen Full HD 1080p LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 w/Speakers & HDMI
ASUS VH232H Glossy Black 23" 5ms Widescreen Full HD 1080p LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ASCR 20000:1 w/Speakers & HDMI

Pros: Great monitor for the price. Would be a 5 star review if not for the con below...

Cons: Rebate center processing is awful. When I purchased this monitor in December 2010 a $15 rebate was offered. After waiting almost 3 months without a word or update from ASUS I decided to check status on my own. I found my rebate was declined for "- Signed Rebate Form is missing- Copy of Receipt/Invoice or Packing List is missing- Original UPC/Serial Number Barcode Label is missing- No proof of purchase- Barcode label is missing- Reseller is not eligible for this offer- No proof of purchase date in documentation". This is complete nonsense, they are basically saying I didn't send in or sign any paperwork. I double checked myself and also had my wife verify that all paperwork was in the envelope prior to mailing out. I've purchased a few other ASUS products with rebates and did not have issues getting the rebate debit card. The fact that the rebate center lied about my paperwork really aggravates me as I am meticulous when it comes to rebates.

Overall Review: I know that many companies use processing centers for rebates and the like, so can't fully blame ASUS for this. However rebate centers in part represent the company that employs them and this is a blemish on the ASUS brand. I was a minute away from buying a Eee laptop when I decided to check my rebate status, I'm glad it did. This will be the last ASUS product I purchase, rebate or no.

Good deal

World of Warcraft: 60-Day Pre-Paid Game Card - PC/Mac
World of Warcraft: 60-Day Pre-Paid Game Card - PC/Mac

Pros: sales tax free (thanks newegg) more secure than credit card billing no forgetting about autopay deductions card doesn't expire works good as a gift

Cons: WoW should be cheaper per month

Overall Review: As long as you plan ahead and order in time to avoid running out of playtime, this is the best deal I've found.

Decent ear buds

V-MODA Vibe Duo Noise-Isolating In-Ear Buds w/ Mic (Compatible with iPod & iPhone 3 or lower) - Chrome
V-MODA Vibe Duo Noise-Isolating In-Ear Buds w/ Mic (Compatible with iPod & iPhone 3 or lower) - Chrome

Pros: Caught these on special with a $20 off promo and a 1 year warranty included. Total purchase price was $19.95. Works well with Galaxy Nexus running Ice Cream Sandwich. Mic works for calls, pause button works with music. Comes with 6 pair of cushions, 3 different sizes in black and clear. The cord has a good length. Comes with a carrying case, always a plus. For a budget priced set of ear buds, these have a good bass range. Let's be honest, you're not going to get home theater quality sound from these things. Ear buds can only do so much, and these are working out well so far.

Cons: The microphone/pause button piece is fairly large. It's over an inch long and a 1/4 inch wide. This isn't a huge deal, but it is something I noticed right away. No stems coming off of the ear buds. Again, not a huge deal but this is something that I grew used to having with my prior ear bud sets (stock Galaxy Nexus ear buds, Zune premium ear buds).

Overall Review: If you can get these on special like I did, it'll be an even better deal. As always, Newegg came through with a good sale, fast shipping and a great price.

Quality cable

HTC USB/ Micro USB Data Cable DC-M400 New For HD2, HD mini, Aria, Legend, Desire A8181, Wildfire, 4G Evo Supersonic, Droid Incredible
HTC USB/ Micro USB Data Cable DC-M400 New For HD2, HD mini, Aria, Legend, Desire A8181, Wildfire, 4G Evo Supersonic, Droid Incredible

Pros: Decent length Rubberized ends for easy grip Great price Free shipping when I ordered

Cons: none

Overall Review: The item listing states that the cable is for specific HTC handsets. This cable is working find with my Galaxy Nexus. Cables are cables, this should work for any micro-usb device.

One of the best Coolermaster cases available

Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and All-Black Interior
Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced - High Air Flow Full Tower Computer Case with USB 3.0 and All-Black Interior

Pros: Lots of room, seriously. The removable HDD bays are really nice - they make for a quick installation. The HDD bays sit perpendicular to the front 230mm fan which seems good for cooling. Great setup for cable management. Lots of tie offs, pre-cut holes and areas to tuck away your cables. Power/reset buttons on the top of the tower. Pre-drilled holes for mounting 120mm fans in case the 230mm fans do not work out for you. Top and bottom PSU mounting options. Can double as an air conditioner for the summer depending on your cooling setup =D .

Cons: Not a huge deal but the power LED is really bright. The 140mm back fan doesn't come with a grill (at least mine didn't). Once again, not a huge deal - I just ordered one from frozencpu.com (newegg doesn't carry that size grill). The side panel doors can be a bit tricky to screw into place. Would have been nice to see it come with a bottom 120mm fan.

Overall Review: Overall this case is far superior to the Cosmos-S. This case has a better price point and better setup for air cooling. For my new build I first purchased the Cosmos-S, I quickly returned it once the HAF was released. It stands approx 2 feet tall, is 2 feet deep and 10 inches wide (with wheels attached).