Tag: review

GTBox G-Dock Review – Oculink/USB 4/Thunderbolt eGPU Enclosure with Built-in Power Supply

I’ve been experimenting lately with external GPUs on the channel, especially now that Oculink ports are showing up in more mini PCs. One of my ongoing frustrations, though, is that a lot of the budget Oculink gear looks like a science fair project when you set it up—there’s power supplies and cables all over the place.

The other day a company called GTBox reached out and sent over their G-Dock, which aims to clean things up a bit. You can see it in action in my latest video review.

The G-Dock integrates an 800 watt power supply, which not only makes things neater but also more convenient. What’s nice about the G-Dock is that it’s more versatile than most setups I’ve tried. It supports both Oculink and Thunderbolt/USB 4 connections, and the USB/Thunderbolt port also provides power delivery, so it can charge a laptop with up to 100 watts while providing external GPU support all through one connection. You don’t get a traditional enclosure with this—your card mounts on top, exposed—but it does make for a more compact and affordable option.

The unit sells for $249 on GTBox’s site (compensated affiliate link), and they provided a coupon code—LON10—for an extra $10 off. It’s also on Amazon. Just keep in mind, if you’re connecting over USB 4, you’ll need a full 40 Gbps port for it to work. A lot of USB-C ports look the same, but older USB 3.2 ports won’t cut it. Oculink, on the other hand, requires your PC to have an Oculink port or an adapter that adds it. Some mini PCs have them built in now, and I’ve tested some of those here in the past.

For the G-Dock test, I hooked up a 4060 GPU to the dock and connected it to a MinisForum mini PC using the included Oculink cable. It’s important to note that Oculink isn’t hot-swappable, so you need to boot the system with the connection already in place. I also made sure to connect my HDMI cable directly to the GPU rather than the mini PC for best performance—routing through the system’s onboard video usually results in lower performance.

The G-Dock powered up just fine. The GPU’s fan spun up, Windows detected the card, and after installing the latest NVIDIA drivers, I fired up Cyberpunk at 1080p with medium settings which ran great. The mini PC featured in this video has strong CPU performance but weak integrated graphics, so the external GPU really gave it a boost.

Next, I tried it with a laptop over Thunderbolt. Everything worked as expected, though there was a small performance dip compared to the Oculink connection. I also made sure to disable the laptop’s internal display and run everything through the external monitor connected to the GPU, which helps avoid further performance losses.

Overall, the G-Dock felt solid. The fan noise was minimal, and the integrated power made it a lot less cluttered than the other Oculink setups I’ve worked with. Still, I’d like to see companies revisit the more protective enclosures we see in the Thunderbolt world—something that completely houses the card and power supply for better durability and aesthetics. But all in this is one of the better Oculink solutions I’ve used.

Disclosure: GTBox sent the eGPU enclosure to the channel free of charge. I purchased the 4060 GPU with my own funds. No other compensation was received and no one reviewed or approved this post or video before it was uploaded.

Unifi U7 Lite Review: $99 Wi-Fi 7 Access Point Breaks the Gigabit Barrier

I’ve been gradually upgrading the Wi-Fi setup in my house, and the latest step in that process is beginning to swap out my UniFi Wi-Fi 6 access points for the new Wi-Fi 7 models. This first step was installing the new U7 Lite, their entry-level Wi-Fi 7 device priced at $99 (compensated affiliate link).

You can see it in action in my latest video.

I started with the one in my studio since this is where I’ll likely have the most Wi-Fi 7 clients to experiment with. It’s a good test case for seeing how much of a real-world bump I can get from upgrading to Wi-Fi 7.

Physically, the U7 Lite is nearly identical to previous “Lite” models from UniFi. It uses the same mounting bracket as the AC Lite and U6 Lite, which made installation a 30-second job—twist out the old one, twist in the new one, and that was it. It requires PoE (Power over Ethernet), and I’m powering it through the UniFi Flex 2.5 PoE switch I reviewed recently. The U7 Lite, like the prior model, doesn’t include a PoE injector.

Specs-wise, the U7 Lite is a 2×2 access point for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz only—it doesn’t include 6 GHz support. For my environment, which is a rural home with minimal RF interference and modest usage, that’s fine. The jump to 2.5 Gbps Ethernet from the 1 Gbps found on older units opens up some potential bandwidth gains, and I was curious to see just how much improvement I’d get on my Wi-Fi 7 devices.

Before upgrading, I ran some benchmarks using an iPhone 16 Pro Max connected to my U6 Lite prior to its decommissioning. Downstream speeds hovered just under 500 Mbps, and upstream was a bit better, close to 600 Mbps. Those were solid numbers for a mid-range access point, and I saw similar results on my Windows PC as well.

Once the U7 Lite was installed and adopted by the UniFi Controller, I didn’t change any settings initially—just let it run with the defaults to see if the upgrade alone made a difference. And it did. Download speeds immediately jumped to around 700 Mbps. Upload stayed in the same ballpark as before, but the increased downstream bandwidth was a good early sign.

Next, I tried enabling a wider channel width. The U7 Lite allows up to 240 MHz, but that depends on client compatibility and has the potential for channel overlap and interference with other access points. I set it to 240 just to see what would happen, and my iPhone connected at 160 MHz—likely its hardware limit. Still, that change alone brought my download speeds right up to a gigabit, with upload seeing an improvement as well.

Then I tested out Multi-Link Operation (MLO), a new feature in Wi-Fi 7 that allows simultaneous connections across multiple frequency bands—in this case, 2.4 and 5 GHz. I created a new SSID and enabled MLO in the UniFi Controller, but the results weren’t impressive. Downloads dropped a bit compared to the single 160 MHz channel, and upload didn’t see much change either. Latency was slightly worse as well, with occasional packet drops during ping tests. For now, MLO seems like a feature that still needs some maturing—both in terms of firmware and client device support.

When I reverted back to the standard 160 MHz Wi-Fi 7 configuration, latency improved and speeds returned to peak levels. I’ll continue to keep an eye on MLO as I bring in new test devices with stronger radios, but it’s not quite ready for prime time in my setup.

The takeaway so far is that Wi-Fi 7, even on an entry-level access point like the U7 Lite, can deliver meaningful performance gains—especially on the downstream side. It’s a simple, affordable upgrade that integrates easily into existing UniFi networks. I’ll likely pick up another, more robust unit for my upstairs area where traffic is heavier and keep testing from there. As always, more to come!

Disclosure: I purchased the U7 Lite myself. The router I’m using, the UniFi Dream Machine Pro, was sent to the channel five years ago, but all opinions are mine and the video was not sponsored or pre-reviewed.

The Lenovo Yoga Tab Plus Packs a Lot of Value – Full Review

Lenovo’s Yoga Tab Plus is a large Android tablet that packs a fair amount into a single package. It includes the tablet, keyboard, and pen—all for a price that’s often around $700, sometimes less if there’s a sale. You can find it direct at Lenovo or at Best Buy (compensated affiliate links). Shop around and you may get a good price when it goes on sale.

You can see it in operation in my latest video review.

The tablet comes equipped with a nice 12.7-inch LTPS display. It’s not OLED, but the 3K resolution and 144Hz refresh rate made it look sharp and feel very responsive. It supports Dolby Vision HDR with a peak brightness reaching up to 900 nits. The display was quite visible outdoors even under direct sunlight. Colors are accurate too, with full DCI-P3 coverage.

Performance is solid thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM. It’s responsive for everyday use, can run Android games well, and even handles emulation up to the PlayStation 2 era reasonably smoothly. There’s 256GB of internal storage, though there’s no SD card slot, which might be a limitation for some. You can expand storage via USB-C, but there’s not much in the way of ports otherwise—just a USB-C and a power button that doubles as a fingerprint reader.

The included keyboard, while not backlit, feels solid—similar to Lenovo’s laptop keyboards with good spacing and travel. It attaches magnetically and folds around the back when not in use. One weak point is the kickstand, which doesn’t sit flush when folded up and feels a bit awkward. Still, the keyboard gives the tablet a laptop-like experience, especially when used with Lenovo’s optional “PC Mode” that lets apps float in windows rather than running full screen.

The included pen introduces something a little different. It offers subtle haptic feedback and a paper-like writing sound that made the experience feel more natural. It also supports pressure sensitivity and charges magnetically on the top of the tablet. The build quality of both the pen and the tablet feels premium, with a metal body and sturdy design.

For media consumption, the tablet supports Widevine L1 DRM, so Netflix and Disney+ stream at the full resolution of the display. Audio is decent with a quad-speaker setup that includes what Lenovo says are subwoofers. There’s not much deep bass, but the sound is balanced and immersive enough, especially in landscape orientation.

The camera system is pretty good especially for conference calls. The front-facing 13MP sensor supports 4K at 30fps and looks better than many laptop webcams I’ve looked at. Around back, there’s a second 13MP camera and a 2MP macro camera. Rear video also records in 4K, but there’s no stabilization, so handheld video can get shaky.

Battery life held up well in testing. Lighter tasks like web browsing and media playback stretched past 11 hours, while more demanding apps will naturally pull that number down. The tablet ships with Android 15 and will get security updates through 2029—less than what Chromebooks or PCs usually get.

There’s also a local AI feature onboard called AI Now. It works completely on device and will analyze attached documents to answer questions. It’s not perfect, but it worked reasonably well in my tests, and it’s entirely self-contained on the device. For more accurate or nuanced answers, you’ll still want to turn to cloud-based tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini.

All told, the Yoga Tab Plus offers a lot for the price—especially with the pen and keyboard included. It’s not a top-tier device, but for those looking for a larger Android tablet that can handle a bit of everything without breaking the bank, this might be worth a look—particularly if you catch it on sale and don’t mind waiting for the right deal to come along.

Walmart Onn 4k Plus Google TV Streaming Box Review

Walmart just refreshed their sub $30 Google TV device with the new Onn 4K Plus (compensated affilate link). These are designed mainly for situations where a TV’s smart features are outdated or no longer functional, and in that context, it ends up being a surprisingly capable solution that feels a lot more powerful than its predecessor.

You can see it in action in my latest video review.

The device itself is a small puck—slightly larger than the last version—with HDMI out, a USB-C port for power, and a reset button. Performance over Wi-Fi was surprisingly solid. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and pulled around 430 Mbps down and up.

The 4k Plus supports USB-C hubs for peripherals, and I was able to get Ethernet working through one, though compatibility was inconsistent depending on the adapter. It looks as though the port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds as the best I could get out of my adapter was 100 megabits per second.

Internally, this version runs on an Amlogic S905X5M processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. That’s a bump up in both performance and storage compared to earlier models. It still won’t satisfy power users, but general performance is responsive, especially when navigating Netflix and other streaming apps. The interface felt much zippier than I expected for this price point.

It runs Android 14 under the hood, and the front-end experience is standard Google TV, which remains very ad-centric. You’re presented with promotions and suggestions based on viewing habits, and it integrates content from services that support Google’s recommendations. The usual suspects like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube are present, although there are some quirks—Netflix shows can’t be added to the watchlist, for example. That’s a long-standing limitation tied to how Netflix handles integration.

The remote includes voice control, which worked well for searches, and a new “Free TV” button that jumps into Google’s curated free content offering. It’s not vastly different from what Roku or other aggregators do, but Google has added a prominent shortcut to it on the remote to steer users onto their free platform.

Video and audio performance was mixed depending on the app. Netflix ran fine with Dolby Vision and Atmos audio on my 4K setup, but Disney+ didn’t deliver Atmos, and also failed to switch into 24p mode for content that needed it. This isn’t unusual—frame rate switching has been a persistent issue on Android boxes. You can enable it in settings, but results still vary app by app. Netflix behaved the best in my testing.

Gaming was better than expected. Android games ran smoothly, and GeForce Now performed decently over Wi-Fi at 1080p60. There was one crash and reboot, possibly related to the 2GB RAM ceiling, but overall stability was reasonable. Emulation is limited; PlayStation 1 works, but GameCube and PS2 emulators wouldn’t install.

As a Plex client, it handled browsing quickly, which made navigating a large local library feel snappy. But it lacks features more serious users might expect—no support for Dolby Vision from Blu-ray rips or lossless audio passthrough. So while it’s fine for casual Plex use, it’s not going to replace a higher-end setup in a home theater environment.

This box isn’t for enthusiasts, but it’s the kind of product they might still find a use for in a guest room or second TV. For most people, especially anyone looking to upgrade an old smart TV without spending much, it feels like a substantial upgrade. Even if it’s not perfect, it is probably the most value packed TV box on the market.

Unifi Flex 2.5 POE – Power over Ethernet Switch Review

I’ve been running my home network on UniFi gear for over five years now, starting around the time I got a 10 gigabit symmetrical internet connection. I installed a UniFi Dream Machine Pro (compensated affiliate link) and built out a network using their access points and a few switches. Recently, I added a new component to the mix: the Flex 2.5GP PoE switch. That new switch is the subject of my latest video review.

This Flex 2.5 POE is designed more for home prosumers than for rack-mounted enterprise setups. But it will integrate into a business environment just the same. It supports 2.5 gigabit per second speeds across all its Ethernet ports and delivers power over Ethernet (PoE) to connected devices on each. It has an uplink port that supports either an SFP+ or a 10-gigabit RJ45 connection. I opted to uplink it to my 10-gig network backbone using a direct-attached copper SFP+ cable (compensated affiliate link) to my backbone switch.

The switch sells for a reasonable $199 (compensated affiliate link) but has one huge caveat: it doesn’t include a power supply! That cost me another $80 + shipping as I didn’t read the fine print prior to making the initial purchase. The Flex 2.5 POE can use power over ethernet to power itself, but using POE as the input limits the overall power budget—only about 16 watts in my case—while the external power supply gives you up to 196 watts in total with full POE++ wattage for each port on the output. A PoE++ input allows for a 46 watt power budget, and a PoE+++ input allows for 76 watts.

I picked up the Flex 2.5 POE mainly because I’m upgrading to Unifi’s Wi-Fi 7 access points, which now have 2.5 gigabit Ethernet ports. My older UniFi PoE switch only supports gigabit, so this new one gives me faster connectivity and power to those access points. It’s also useful for powering some of my video gear, which relies on PoE.

Hardware-wise, the switch feels solid but lacks the industrial sturdiness of their rack mounted gear. It’s fanless, so it runs quiet but gets a bit warm. It has rubber feet for desktop use and a wall mount option. You can only use one uplink port at a time—either the RJ45 or the SFP+—and only the RJ45 supports PoE in. It is possible to power over the RJ45 while using the SFP+ for data.

Setup was as seamless as usual with UniFi gear. As soon as I connected it, my network detected it, and I was able to adopt it from the web control panel. The firmware updated automatically, and then it was ready to go.

Testing it out, I ran a 2.5 gigabit Ethernet adapter from my PC and confirmed I was getting full speeds on both download and upload. At the same time, I was sending an NDI video stream upstream to my video production system, which added more bandwidth use beyond the 2.5 gigabit baseline. Everything performed as expected.

In the UniFi control panel, I could see real-time power usage across each port. I plugged in four PoE devices and was still using only about 27 watts out of the 196-watt power budget. As this is a managed switch you have full access to all of the configuration options that Unifi offers on their other switches on a per-port level.

What this switch offers is a nearly ideal mix of features for my needs: solid power support, 2.5 gig speeds, and tight integration with the UniFi ecosystem. I would have liked to see at least one more 10 gig port onboard, and it’s frustrating that the power supply wasn’t included. But otherwise, it fills a long-standing gap in UniFi’s product line. For now, it’s found a home in my network closet—and it looks like it’s going to stay there.

The Heltec MeshPocket is an Out of the Box Meshtastic Solution

My latest video takes another look at Meshtastic, this time with a new device called the Heltec MeshPocket that makes the process of getting devices on the off-grid open source mesh communications network much easier.

For those unfamiliar, Meshtastic is a project that lets you build low-cost mesh communication networks using LoRa radios. It’s not huge yet, so Meshtastic networks are often in small pockets in more densely populated areas. But the hardware is cheap enough that you can buy a bunch of nodes for yourself and friends and slowly build out a mesh yourself. If you haven’t already, check out my original Meshtastic video to learn more about how it works.

Heltec, the maker of one of the LoRa boards I’ve used before, sent over a new consumer-ready device—a power bank that also doubles as a Meshtastic node. This one’s interesting because it combines wireless charging (including Qi2 and MagSafe compatibility) with a built-in LoRa radio and an e-ink display for direct messaging visibility. It comes in two capacities—5,000 and 10,000 milliamp hours—and although I’ve been using the smaller version, the larger one is the better value. Still, it lasted me several days running the Meshtastic node continuously, and there was plenty of battery left to charge a phone.

Find one here on Amazon! (compensated affiliate link)

You interact with the node via Bluetooth through the Meshtastic app, and there’s no assembly required. Mine came with previously communicated nodes stored in memory, possibly from Heltec’s testing or perhaps from what the device picked up while in transit. Once powered on, it was immediately ready to join the network. One tip from the manufacturer: don’t use the Meshtastic function while also charging a phone wirelessly—it’s not dangerous, but the radio signal can suffer interference.

The interface is basic but functional. You can scroll through received messages using the “user” button and even send pings without needing the phone. The e-ink display only draws power when it updates, unlike the OLED displays in other nodes, which helps with battery life. So far my MeshPocket has gone a week in between charges when just used for Meshtastic purposes. Firmware updates require a separate magnetic cable, so it’s worth making sure that doesn’t get misplaced.

As for performance, it works about the same as any other node, which is to say pretty well when you’re within range. I tested it by pairing with another DIY node I built and exchanged a few messages over the network. Everything came through reliably and I was able to reach my home node walking around the neighborhood with the MeshPocket.

There’s no GPS or Wi-Fi on this particular Heltec unit, so it’s designed to work entirely via Bluetooth pairing with a phone. But if you wanted to go all in, you could pick up a few cheap radios, build out your own network, and have an independent messaging system that doesn’t rely on cell towers or subscription fees.

In the second part of my video, I demoed what it looks like when your Meshtastic node is around other Meshtastic users. I brought a node along on a recent trip to NYC and left it running on the train and later in a window. After a while, it found another node and pulled in a bunch more from its local list, populating my app with what looked like a pretty well-developed network. I didn’t get much back from most of the nodes—just one automated acknowledgment—but it did confirm that I was reaching something.

The visit made it clear that while the network is still sparse in some areas, the concept works. And with enough nodes—especially ones placed high up with solar power—it could become a viable off-grid communication option. LoRa uses very little power to transmit, so any kind of terrain or building will block signals – hence the need to have many nodes in many places to fill in the gaps.

I’ll keep carrying this around and see what else I can find around Connecticut. There’s something satisfying about seeing a homegrown, decentralized network start to take shape one node at a time.

Disclosure: Heltec sent this to the channel free of charge. However they did not review or approve this post or my video before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.

Brother HL-L8360CDW Color Laser Printer Review

I finally had to retire my old black-and-white Lexmark laser printer. It served me well for more than a decade, but it started falling apart recently and spewing toner everywhere. After weighing my options, I picked up the Brother HL-8360CDW, a color laser printer that seemed to check all the boxes for my needs without going overboard. You can see it in action in this review video.

My daily printing habits are mostly black-and-white pages—quick reference docs for my Youtube videos, kids reports and other light printing tasks. I don’t print in color often, but when I do, it’s nice to have the option without dealing with the constant clogging issues of an inkjet. That’s been a persistent problem with the inkjet I have sitting nearby, which I use just a couple times a month. Every time I turn it on, it’s a battle with dried ink. A color laser printer like this one solves that for me—no fuss, no wasted ink, and it spins up reliably after sitting idle even for long periods of time.

I paid $449 for the printer over at B&H (affiliate link). The high-yield black toner cartridge costs about $87 and is rated for 4,500 pages. Color toner comes in a three-pack for around $229, yielding about 1,800 pages combined. These numbers are based on standard text coverage, and like any printer, more toner-heavy jobs will burn through supplies faster. Still, I appreciate that Brother offers both standard and high-yield options so I can tailor the setup to how I print.

Even though I don’t do much printing, I wanted something a little more capable than an entry level printer. This model includes a manual feeder that holds 50 pages and can handle envelopes or index cards. There’s a 250-sheet tray at the bottom, and you can expand the capacity with additional trays if needed. My wife prints a lot for PTO work, so having that flexibility helps.

Size-wise, it’s what you’d expect from a laser printer: 47.9 pounds, and bigger than an inkjet, but manageable with good built-in handles. The resolution is 2400 x 600, which boils down to very sharp, clear text and business graphics. It’s not a multifunction device—no scanning or faxing—just a straightforward printer.

Setup was simple. I connected it to Wi-Fi using the on-device display, and all of our devices—Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, phones—found it without issue. There’s Ethernet and USB connectivity too. I didn’t have to register the printer with Brother or set up any kind of cloud account to get started. That was refreshing. It even came with a CD-ROM—an old-school touch that’s increasingly rare.

On a Mac, print settings are handled through AirPrint, so some options like quality settings aren’t directly adjustable. That said, it defaults to high quality anyway, so I haven’t noticed any degradation on the Mac vs. Windows.

Print speed is rated at 33 pages per minute for both black-and-white and color, not counting the time it takes to process the job. It wakes from sleep a bit slower than my old Lexmark, but once it starts, the output is quick. Double-sided printing works well, and while it makes the usual laser printer noises, it’s not overly loud.

Color output was fine after I adjusted the printer’s calibration through the onboard control panel. Out of the box, some alignment was off—especially with graphics layered over color blocks—but it only took a minute to run the calibration through the printer’s menu. Once aligned, text and business graphics looked clean, and photo quality was serviceable. Not inkjet quality, but good enough for newsletters and handouts.

All of our devices were able to print easily once the printer was on the network. iOS, Android, and Chromebook devices recognized it automatically. It’s also CUPS compatible for Linux users. And if needed, you can print directly from a USB stick—PDFs and image files—without even touching a computer.

You can manage the printer through a web interface by entering its IP address, but honestly, the on-device screen was easier to use.

So far, it’s doing exactly what I wanted: reliable black-and-white printing, occasional color jobs, and no headaches. If it lasts anywhere near as long as my last printer, I’ll consider it a win.

The BlueRetro Connects Modern Controllers to the Nintendo 64

I’ve been revisiting my old Nintendo lately, and this time I took a closer look at a small but powerful accessory that could be a game-changer for retro gaming enthusiasts: the BlueRetro Bluetooth controller adapter. Based on BlueRetro’s open source design, it allows nearly any modern bluetooth-based controller to work with the classic console. But it goes beyond just that basic function.

You can check it out in my latest video.

I’ve been using an Xbox controller with my BlueRetro, and everything mapped pretty well right out of the box. Analog stick movement feels accurate and responsive, and it’s a lot more comfortable than trying to wrangle an aging OEM controller back to life. For parents introducing their kids to the N64, this might also be a friendlier on-ramp.

One of the added benefits is its support for controller pack saves. My original controller pack is non-functional, but the BlueRetro replicates that feature internally. I tested it with Rampage World Tour and a few other games and was able to save and load my progress just fine. It’s not something that’s enabled by default, but once set up through the BlueRetro’s web-based control panel, it works well.

The adapter is powered by the console’s controller ports. You’ll need an additional BlueRetro for each controller port, and it’s worth noting that some older N64 power supplies may not handle four units at once. Many users report no issues but it’s something to keep in mind.

Bluetooth pairing is simple enough, and the adapter supports a wide range of controllers. I had no issues with Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch Pro, and several from 8BitDo. Nintendo’s N64 controller for the Switch is also reported to work.

Most controller functions are mapped intelligently out of the box, but everything is reconfigurable through a web-based UI hosted at blueretro.io. To access it, you’ll need a Chromium-based browser like Chrome or Brave, and you might have to enable the Web Bluetooth API in browser settings. You can remap buttons, back up controller pack saves, and even set configurations on a per-game basis.

I also tested out some advanced functionality, like emulating a Rumble Pak and switching the device into mouse mode. That came in handy when I loaded up a Japanese-exclusive 64DD disc—Mario Artist Paint Studio—through my SummerCart. I paired the 8BitDo mouse I reviewed the other day with the BlueRetro and was able to draw using the original N64 hardware. That’s something I never thought I’d do on a U.S. console.

Overall, this little device along with my new SummerCart has breathed some new life into my Nintendo 64 setup. It’s not without quirks, especially in the configuration process, but once it’s up and running, it opens up a lot of options that weren’t previously available or affordable.

8bitdo Retro R8 Gaming Mouse Review

8bitdo is primarily known for their retro-styled game controllers, but this mouse is their latest foray into a broader ecosystem of PC peripherals, complimenting their mechanical keyboards.

At first glance, it doesn’t looks like a modern gaming mouse—especially with its NES-inspired design—but once I started using it, I found it had a bit more going on than the nostalgic look might suggest. You can see it in action in my latest review and pick one up on Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

The R8 mouse supports three different connectivity modes: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz via a USB dongle, and direct USB-C. Each of the two wireless methods has trade-offs in performance. Bluetooth is the most power-efficient but comes with a modest polling rate of 125Hz. The included 2.4GHz brings a polling rate of 4,000Hz, and plugging it in directly via USB delivers the maximum 8,000Hz rate. Battery life ranges accordingly—up to 100 hours on Bluetooth, and closer to 20–25 hours when polling at 4000hz on the 2.4ghz dongle.

The mouse uses the PAW3395 optical sensor, a popular choice for gaming mice, and features clicky, mechanical Kailh Sword GM X Micro Switches. The full face of each primary button is clickable, which makes for consistent actuation regardless of finger position. The ambidextrous design includes two round programmable side buttons on both flanks.

8BitDo also includes a compact charging dock, which doubles as a receiver station if you plug the dongle into it and connect the dock to your PC. The dock has a solid, weighted base with a rubberized bottom that keeps it from sliding around.

Customization is handled through 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software, which runs on both macOS and Windows but not Linux. It lets you reassign button functions, record macros, and set multiple profiles—useful for switching between games or work tasks. The software also controls DPI levels (with up to five settings), polling rate, scroll speed, and liftoff distance. The only small complaint I had was with the DPI indicator light on the mouse—it doesn’t stay on long enough to easily confirm your setting without cycling back through them.

When I first took it out of the box, the mouse felt lighter than I expected, almost too light at 77 grams. But after playing a few rounds of Quake II, I started to appreciate that lack of heft. The mouse glides easily, and the quick actuation of the buttons makes it well-suited to fast-paced gameplay. There’s no perceptible lag when wired in at the highest polling rate, and even at lower settings, it feels plenty responsive for most tasks.

All told, the R8 mouse ends up being a solid addition to 8BitDo’s growing lineup of retro-inspired, performance-minded gear. It’s priced competitively—depending on tariffs—and brings more features to the table than its minimalist look might suggest.

For a few dollars more they have an Xbox licensed version that offers transparent green casing and an Xbox style color theme. Oddly it doesn’t work with the Xbox console. It also pairs nicely with the company’s keyboards for those looking to keep their setup aesthetically consistent.

Disclosure: 8bitdo provided the mouse free of charge to the channel. No other compensation was received, nor did they review or approve this article or my video prior to uploading. All opinions are my own.

Review of the New Asus ZenMesh Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System

Wi-Fi 7 is starting to appear on more consumer devices, and ASUS now has several routers and mesh systems on the market that support the new standard. In my latest video, I tested a few of their offerings, including a high-end indoor model (BT10), a mid-range option (BT8), a low-end unit (BD5), and their BD5 outdoor access point that’s weatherproof.

These are all part of ASUS’s AiMesh / Zenwifi system, meaning they can work together in a mesh configuration to extend coverage throughout the home. You can find all of the devices I featured here on Amazon (compensated affiliate link).

Setting these up was pretty straightforward. I started with the BT10 as the primary router in the basement and connected the others around the house. For larger homes, ASUS recommends three access points. Smaller homes might get by with two, and you can mix and match models. Placement is important if you’re using wireless backhaul—each device needs to overlap with the next to maintain connectivity. For the best performance, though, wired backhaul is the way to go. If your home is already wired with Ethernet, that’s ideal. If not, MoCA adapters can use existing coaxial cable for a wired-like connection.

The difference in performance between the models is noticeable. The BT10 supports three bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) and uses a 4×4 radio configuration. In my tests, wireless backhaul between two BT10 units positioned across the house (and a few floors up) from each other hit an average of 727 Mbps, peaking near 1 Gbps. Meanwhile, the lower-end BD5, which has just a dual-band 2×2 setup, only managed about 265 Mbps over the same wireless link.

For homes with fast internet connections—especially over 2.5 Gbps—the BT10 is a better fit, since it includes 10 Gb Ethernet ports. The BT8 and BD5 top out at 2.5 Gb. During testing, I was able to achieve full throughput on a 10 Gb connection using the BT10’s routing features, so it’s definitely capable of handling modern broadband speeds.

Wi-Fi 7 performance on client devices was also solid, though I was limited by the 2×2 radios in my iPhone 16 Pro Max and ASUS laptop. Even so, I saw speeds over 1.4 Gbps down and 1.6 Gbps up while in the same room as the access point, which is impressive for wireless. Performance does drop off the further you get away from the access point, however.

The outdoor unit shares specs with the BD5 but adds weatherproofing and Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, which simplifies installation. I powered it with a PoE injector and was able to cover my entire acre of backyard without any issues. Setup was quick using the ASUS app, which walked me through the entire process in about 20 minutes to start, and just a few minutes for adding additional mesh units.

The app also offers some useful features, like creating isolated networks for IoT devices and setting up child-safe profiles with content filters and bandwidth limits. There’s also a traditional web interface that’s familiar to anyone who’s used ASUS routers before, although it hasn’t changed much in over a decade.

Overall, the BT8 and BT10 models deliver strong performance, especially when hardwired. Even the low-end model performs well if you avoid relying solely on wireless mesh. The biggest drawback is the limited number of Ethernet ports on the base units, so a network switch may be necessary for wired backhaul setups. The outdoor unit is a nice addition, though I would have preferred a longer AC power cable in the box for those that don’t want to go with a PoE solution.

These ASUS mesh routers aren’t cheap, and pricing can fluctuate due to tariff issues—even on products made in Taiwan or Vietnam. Still, for those looking for high-end Wi-Fi 7 gear, they offer solid performance and flexibility.

Disclosure: Asus provided these units free of charge. No other compensation was received and they did not review or approve my video or this post before they were published. All opinions are my own.

An Update on my New Unraid Home Media Server!

I’ve been running my new home media server setup for about two months now, and it’s been surprisingly stable. I give you a quick update in my latest video.

The core of the setup is a GMKTec G9 NVMe NAS, along with a Wavlink USB drive enclosure that connects four SATA drives through a single USB cable. After shooting the initial video, I moved it off my desk and into a closet where it’s been running nonstop—with no reboots until yesterday morning, when I updated it to Unraid 7.1 (compensated affiliate link).

The new Unraid update addressed a key issue I’d been dealing with: Plex hardware transcoding wasn’t functional due to the kernel in the prior version not supporting Intel N150 quicksync hardware video transcoding. I can confirm with 7.1 installed, hardware video transcoding is now working.

I thought it might be plug-and-play with Plex, but it required a small tweak. Inside the Docker settings for the Plex container, I added a new device pointing to /dev/dri to enable GPU support. Once that was in place, the container rebooted, and everything was good to go.

To verify it, I played a 4K Blu-ray rip of Back to the Future on my phone. Plex was compressing it down to 1080p at 8Mbps, and both decoding and encoding were showing as hardware-accelerated. The N150 handled tone mapping and HEVC encoding without much CPU load—only around 8% usage. The result was a smooth playback experience and a crispy clear image on the phone.

This update gave me enough confidence to finally retire my old WD My Cloud PR2100, which had been serving media for nearly a decade but couldn’t handle newer 4K HEVC files.

Unraid has been a great choice for this kind of DIY setup. I like that I can move the drives and configuration to new hardware without much rework. The rig itself isn’t particularly pretty—certainly not a polished all-in-one unit like a Synology—but if you’re okay managing things yourself, the flexibility is hard to beat. I’ve got another NAS box coming in from Beelink soon and may try migrating the setup over just to see how that goes.

I’m always interested to hear how others are building and running their Unraid boxes—sometimes the best ideas come from seeing what other people are doing with their setups. Drop a comment on the video and let me know! Check out my other videos in this series to see more.

Disclosure: The GMKTec NAS came in free of charge from the manufacturer, and the drive enclosure came in free of charge from the Amazon Vine program. No other compensation was received and nobody review or approved my video or this post before publication.

Sandisk Extreme Pro with USB4 Review

I’ve been testing out SanDisk’s new Extreme Pro USB 4 SSD, one of the first drives from a major brand to support the 40 gigabit-per-second USB 4 standard. It’s backward compatible with older USB ports, but if you have a machine with USB 4 or Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5, you’ll see some great sequential read and write performance.

See it in action in my latest review.

You can find the drives on Amazon to get the current pricing (compensated affiliate link). Sandisk sent me the 2TB version and there’s a four-terabyte option as well. At the time I recorded the video, I didn’t see a one-terabyte model unfortunately.

The casing is solid metal with a rubber coating, similar to past models, but this new version is significantly larger. That’s likely due to it housing a full-size NVMe SSD along with a heat sink and other protective components. It’s IP65 rated, so it’s dustproof and splashproof. It’ll survive a short drop in water, but isn’t meant to be submerged, especially while powered on.

You only get a USB-C cable in the box, so if you need to plug it into a USB-A port, you’ll have to pick up a USB-C to USB-A cable or adapter separately. I tested it on a 5Gbps USB-A port and it worked fine—just not at its full potential speed.

Plugging it into my MacBook Air’s Thunderbolt port, I got over 2 gigabytes per seconds in writes and just over 3 gigabytes per second in reads with the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. I didn’t notice any thermal throttling during sustained writes. When I switched to a Windows PC with the CrystalDiskMark, sequential write speeds hit 3.2 GB/s.

Random read and write speeds were lower than some competitors, especially in the single-threaded write test, which was one of the lowest I’ve seen in a while. For tasks involving lots of small, random data access—like running an OS—you might see better performance from other drives. Samsung’s Thunderbolt-based X5, for instance, did better in that department.

But for my use—moving large video files and backing up footage—it’s excellent. Transfers are fast and consistent, and that’s really what I need when I’m out in the field or editing on the go.

It’s compatible with game consoles, but not ideal for newer titles on the Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5. That’s because the game consoles have USB 3.2 ports that can’t hit the full speeds this drive can achieve. The Xbox requires propietary storage modules that connect to the system bus while the Playstation 5 uses internal NVME drives to reach adequate speeds. That said, older titles will play fine off the Sandisk drive.

I also tested it with my iPhone 16 Pro. It took a second for the phone to recognize it, but once it did file transfers were quick and easy.

For mobile and general USB storage use, it behaves like other SSDs I’ve tested. It’s not the smallest drive around, but the five-year warranty and high-speed performance for supported devices make it worth a look.

Disclosure: Sandisk sent me this drive free of charge, however no other compensation was received and they did not review or approve this before it was uploaded.

Dust of Your Nintendo 64! The Summercart 64 Review

The other day, a friend of mine mentioned that her son had dug out her old Nintendo 64 and was having a great time playing retro games. She got a real kick out of it, since that was her childhood console. I suggested she look into getting a flash cartridge to expand their game library, and one affordable option I came across is the SummerCart 64. It’s priced around $40, at least for now, before new tariffs kick in.

You can check it out in my latest retro review.

Setting it up was straightforward. I put some games on a SD card along with a menu file (instructions are on the project’s homepage), inserted the cartridge and booted up a game on the original N64 hardware with a couple of button presses.

The cartridge makes it very easy to breathe new life into the old hardware. One particularly exciting feature is its ability to emulate the 64DD disk system, a Japan-only add-on for the Nintendo 64. It opens up access to a handful of rare games and offers a glimpse at what might have been had the add-on been more successful outside of Japan.

I picked mine up from AliExpress for $40.84, but it’s important to note that this is an open-source hardware project. There’s no official manufacturer, and quality can vary between units. It’s a buyer-beware situation. Additionally, with tariffs set to kick in starting May 2025, anyone ordering from China might have to pay more than item’s value in new import taxes.

Those who want to build their own can find schematics and parts lists on the SummerCart 64 website. It’s worth considering a donation to the developers if you find value in the project, since they don’t receive royalties from commercial sales.

The cartridge I received came fully assembled with a pre-installed CR2032 battery, which maintains the real-time clock and backs up save data. Games are stored on an SD card that plugs into the side of the cart, and ROMs that work in emulators are compatible here too. Save games will backup to the SD card automatically. There’s also a USB-C port, mainly used for firmware updates, though my unit arrived with the latest firmware already installed.

Loading a game involves two button presses, and there’s a useful display showing compatibility notes, such as whether a game requires the N64’s expansion pack or a controller memory pack. It’s worth mentioning that save states and GameShark cheat codes aren’t supported. If those features are important, an emulator might be a better fit.

What really piqued my interest was the support for the 64DD system. Even without the original hardware, the SummerCart allowed me to boot up Japan-only releases like “Japan Pro Golf Tour 64” and explore community translated titles like the F-Zero X Expansion Kit. The F-Zero expansion added track and vehicle editors along with new race cups that were previously locked away behind rare and expensive hardware. There’s a great community keeping the DD system alive over at 64dd.org.

Firmware updates for the SummerCart are handled through a simple command-line tool called SC64Deployer, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Updating the firmware was quick, and the real-time clock could be synced to my computer’s clock with that tool as well. The Deployer app also enables a number of developer functions that allow for bug testing on the original N64 hardware.

Over the past few days, I’ve had a lot of fun exploring games and expansion content I never had access to when the Nintendo 64 was new. Between homebrew games, 64DD titles, and the ability to easily back up save files, this little cartridge breathes a surprising amount of new life into aging hardware for a very affordable price (tariffs notwithstanding).

Part of my excitement also stems from having Analog’s upcoming FPGA-based Nintendo 64 console on order. I’m looking forward to seeing how the SummerCart performs on that system when it arrives.

Disclosure: I paid for the cartridge with my own funds.

GMKTec EVO-X1 Mini PC Review

My latest video review is of the new GMKTec EVO-X1. It’s built around AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and is clearly aiming for the higher end of the mini PC market—not just in terms of performance, but price as well. At the time of testing, this unit retailed for about $892. It’s not cheap, but high-performance mini PCs generally don’t come with low price tags.

The unit I looked at came with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM running at 7500 MHz. That memory is soldered on, which is a limitation of this AMD chipset for the best performance, so it’s not upgradeable. There is a 64GB version available (compensated affiliate link), and I’d recommend picking the one that best suits your needs up front.

Physically, the EVO-X1 is nicely compact and has a clean design with subtle RGB lighting. The lighting is barely noticeable unless you’re in a dark room.

On the storage side, there are two NVMe slots—both PCIe 4.0—which allow for some flexibility. The one I tested came with a 1TB drive, and you can have a maximum of 4TB in each slot for a total of 8TB. Great for dual booting operating systems.

Up front, there’s an OCuLink port which can allow using a desktop GPU or any PCIe card with the right breakout board. There’s also a 40 gigabit USB4 port, which supports Thunderbolt 3 devices, including GPUs. In a previous video, I tested the system running both an OCuLink and Thunderbolt GPU simultaneously, which was an interesting capability for a device this size.

Additionally it has two 10Gbps USB-A ports on the back, two more on the front, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, and dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, both powered by Intel controllers. That said, Wi-Fi performance was not great. It does support Wi-Fi 6, but I saw significantly lower throughput compared to other Wi-Fi 6 devices in the same physical location. Wired Ethernet is definitely the better option here.

Booting into Windows 11 Pro (which comes pre-activated on most GMKtec systems), the system idled at around 8.4 watts of power consumption—pretty efficient. But the fan was active even at idle. Under load, the fan noise ramps up noticeably. Cooling is aggressive, which helps prevent thermal throttling, but it comes at the cost of constant fan noise. If quiet operation is a priority, this may not be the best choice.

Web browsing was smooth, as expected. The system handled 4K 60fps YouTube playback with a handful of dropped frames. Video editing in DaVinci Resolve is doable, especially for simpler tasks like cross dissolves and basic effects. Once I started layering on more intensive effects, some lag was noticeable, but for basic YouTube-style content creation, the performance was quite serviceable.

Since AMD is positioning this processor as an “AI” chip, I ran a local language model using the DeepSeek 8B parameter model. It worked well enough, though it relied solely on the CPU—not the internal GPU or NPU—so performance was a bit slower than on systems with dedicated GPU acceleration. Still, for light AI workloads, it’s passable.

Gaming was a surprisingly solid experience. Cyberpunk 2077 ran at around 55 fps on low settings at 1080p. No Man’s Sky managed to hit 60 fps most of the time, also at 1080p and low settings. These results are particularly impressive considering everything was running on integrated graphics. Advanced retro emulation should also be well within its wheelhouse.

I also gave Linux a spin using the latest version of Ubuntu. Everything worked right out of the box—video, audio, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Performance was consistent with what I saw on the Windows side, and with the two NVMe slots, dual-boot setups are easy to configure.

So overall, I walked away impressed with the performance and expandability of the EVO X1, even if the fan noise was hard to ignore. It’s not for everyone, especially given the price, but it has a lot to offer for those who want serious performance in a small form factor—and don’t mind a little whirring in the background.

Plugable 5G USB-C Ethernet Adapter Review – USBC-E5000

My latest video review is of the Plugable USBC-E5000 5 gigabit ethernet adapter —something that’s still relatively uncommon compared to the more widely available 2.5 gigabit options. The unit supports 5 Gbps speeds when plugged into a 10 Gbps USB 3.2 port, meaning you don’t need Thunderbolt or USB 4 to hit those higher transfer rates. You can see it in action here.

You can find these on Amazon at a pretty reasonable price (compensated affiliate link). Be sure to look for coupon options that might be available.

It’s powered by the Realtek RTL8157 chipset, which made setup a smooth process on macOS and Linux. Windows was a bit different. It recognized the device without needing a manual driver install, but initial download speeds didn’t meet expectations. Installing the drivers directly from Plugable’s site resolved that issue. I’d expect Windows to eventually update with better out-of-the-box support.

That chipset choice makes a difference. A few years back, I tried similar 5 gig adapters using less reliable chipsets, and the experience wasn’t great. This one worked consistently across all three major operating systems. It also worked with a few of my smartphones, although I found performance better on iOS vs. Android.

It’s worth noting that while this is a 5 Gbps adapter, it also scales down to 2.5 Gbps, 1 Gbps, and even 100 Mbps depending on the network switch it’s connected to. However, to get the full 5 Gbps performance, the USB port has to support 10 Gbps throughput. Plug it into a slower port, and you won’t get top speeds.

Once I had it connected to my Mac, I ran a speed test using my 10 Gbps internet connection. The results were in line with what I expected from a 5 gigabit connection—downloads and uploads both performed well, taking into account the usual network overhead. I saw similar performance on my Windows and Linux machines.

There’s not much else to the product. It does what it says. It’s compact, has indicator lights for link status, and so far it’s been reliable. Plugable is also a U.S.-based company with domestic support, which might be a consideration for those who like knowing there’s someone they can reach out to if anything goes wrong. Most of their products, including this one, come with a two year warranty.

If you’re looking to move beyond 2.5 Gbps over USB and want a relatively straightforward upgrade, this might be something to keep on your radar.

Asus ExpertBook P5 P5405CSA Review

I recently spent some time with the ASUS ExpertBook P5 series laptop—specifically, the P5405CSA model in my latest video review.

The version I tested is configured with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of non-upgradeable RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. There’s also an extra slot for storage—2230-sized if you’re looking to expand or do something like a dual boot setup with Linux. The price as tested comes in at around $1,200 (compensated affiliate link), though there’s a lower-tier version with a Core Ultra 5 and less RAM for roughly $1,000. Prices will likely shift as the year progresses, so it’s worth shopping around. You can also find them at Amazon where the price is always varying (compensated affiliate link).

The P5 has a 14-inch LED display with a 2560×1600 resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, which was set to 60Hz by default but easy to switch. The screen brightness tops out at 400 nits—decent enough for a business-oriented machine but not incredibly bright. Color accuracy is also solid with 100% sRGB coverage, which should work fine for light creative tasks.

The build feels light at 2.8 pounds, and while the chassis is slim and portable, it comes at the expense of some flex in the keyboard deck. That said, the keyboard itself is well-sized, backlit, and pleasant to type on. The trackpad tracked well and felt solid—no complaints there.

In terms of ports, you get two Thunderbolt 4 ports which also work with USB-C devices, a full-size HDMI port, two 10Gbps USB-A ports, a headphone/mic combo jack, and a Kensington lock slot. The laptop doesn’t include Wi-Fi 7 but does support Wi-Fi 6E, which was more than sufficient during testing. The speakers are downward-firing and fine for casual use—especially calls and voice content—though headphones are still preferable for richer audio.

Biometrics are handled through both the webcam, which supports Windows Hello, and a fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button. The webcam is 1080p and includes some AI-driven enhancements through ASUS’s software suite. It also has a physical privacy shutter.

Battery life was solid. I was able to get close to 10 hours with light productivity tasks and lower screen brightness. It’s possible to squeeze out even more longevity depending on the workload. More intensive tasks like video editing or gaming will drain it faster, but the battery held up well throughout a full workday when used conservatively.

Speaking of AI features, ASUS includes its AI Expert Meet software, which can transcribe and summarize meetings directly on the device. The transcription worked offline using the NPU, and the summarization ran on the Intel processor’s GPU. It wasn’t particularly fast or accurate, especially when multiple speakers were involved, but it’s a useful tool that doesn’t rely on cloud access or subscriptions.

Performance-wise, web browsing was smooth with responsive page loads. YouTube playback at 4K/60fps dropped a few frames early on, but nothing disruptive. Benchmark scores in line with similar laptops confirmed that it holds up for general tasks. Basic video editing is also possible—simple projects like stringing clips together ran without issue, though more demanding workflows would require a more powerful PC or an external GPU via Thunderbolt.

Gaming was possible at lower settings. Cyberpunk 2077 ran between 25-35 FPS at 1080p on low settings. 720p ran a lot better. But still, given the lack of a discrete GPU, it’s amazing how far integrated graphics have come. Benchmark scores were comparable to a discrete GTX 1650 Ti from just a few years ago.

Thermal performance held up under load. The system passed a 3DMark stress test with a 98.5% score and stayed impressively quiet. The fan noise is minimal and the fan only kicked in during intensive tasks like gaming, and otherwise stayed silent.

One area where the laptop didn’t perform well was Linux compatibility. I booted into Ubuntu 24.1 and found that Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and audio didn’t work. That was a surprise given that a similar ASUS VivoBook had no issues. It’s most likely a driver situation, so expect some troubleshooting if you’re thinking about switching to or dual booting Linux.

Overall, this laptop doesn’t stand out visually, but it offers reliable performance and some features that business users might appreciate—like the three-year warranty and nice display. Depending on what you’re looking for, this one might be worth keeping an eye on as prices shift.

Disclaimer: The laptop was provided on loan from Asus. No compensation was received for this review, and no one reviewed or approved this post or my video before it was uploaded.

Free App Hidden Gem: Libreoffice – an open source alternative to Microsoft Office

In the latest edition of my “Free App Hidden Gems” series, we look at LibreOffice, an open-source office suite that runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, and even Chromebooks. Check it out in my latest video here.

Libreoffice might be familiar to tech enthusiasts as it comes preinstalled in many Linux distributions, but it’s not likely as wide known to the general public. Unlike subscription-based office suites, LibreOffice allows full ownership and control of your files without requiring an internet connection.

Installation is straightforward. Users can head to libreoffice.org, download the appropriate version, and get started. In addition to supporting most operating systems, LibreOffice also has native support for Apple Silicon and ARM-based Windows devices. The interface has a classic look reminiscent of Microsoft Office before the introduction of the ribbon menu (although that interface is an option). It feels intuitive, with essential features easily accessible without extra layers of complexity.

The suite includes a word processor (Writer), a spreadsheet application (Calc), and a presentation tool (Impress), all of which offer compatibility with Microsoft file formats. Documents, spreadsheets, and slides created in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint open in LibreOffice with minimal formatting issues. However, some complex documents may require adjustments. LibreOffice also includes Base, a database application that supports ODBC but does not fully replace Microsoft Access. Other tools like Draw, for vector graphics, and Math, for creating complex formulas, round out the suite.

LibreOffice handles older files exceptionally well. Files created in early versions of Microsoft Office that are no longer supported by modern software can often be opened without issue. This makes it a valuable tool for those with archives of older documents that need access.

One key limitation of LibreOffice is its lack of real-time collaboration. Unlike Google Docs or Microsoft 365, it does not allow multiple users to edit a document simultaneously. There is a basic collaboration feature in Calc, but changes only appear only after saving, rather than in real time. Additionally, mobile integration is not as seamless. While apps like Collabora Office enable mobile editing, the experience is limited compared to cloud-based office suites.

Chromebook users can install LibreOffice through the Linux development environment. The process involves enabling Linux in Chrome OS settings and running a few simple command-line instructions to set up the suite. Once set up, LibreOffice runs locally, allowing offline document creation and editing without reliance on Google Drive or other cloud services.

LibreOffice provides a functional, no-cost alternative to mainstream office software. It offers full control over files without requiring cloud storage or monthly fees. While it lacks some modern collaboration features, it compensates with reliability, compatibility, and an interface that feels familiar to long-time office software users. For those who prefer working offline or want to avoid subscriptions, LibreOffice is definitely worth a try.

Asus Vivobook S 14 (S5406SA) Review: a Great Value at $799

For those looking for a well-rounded laptop at a competitive price, the Asus VivoBook S presents an appealing option. Currently selling for $799 at Walmart (compensated affiliate link), this machine features a Core Ultra 7 258V processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and Wi-Fi 7 support. It also comes with an OLED display, a rarity in this price range.

There’s also a more affordable version available at Best Buy with a Core Ultra 5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $649 at Best Buy (compensated affiliate link).

You can see it in action in my latest laptop review.

The 14-inch OLED screen runs at a 1920×1200 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio. It delivers 600 nits of brightness and supports 100% of the sRGB color space, making it suitable for light creative work. However, it is not a touchscreen, and the glossy finish means reflections can be noticeable. Despite that, the display quality is higher than what is typically found in this segment, with vibrant colors and deep contrast.

The keyboard and trackpad are well-designed, featuring a backlit layout with comfortable key travel. The trackpad is responsive, though slightly springier than ideal. Weighing just under 3 lbs (1.3 kg), the aluminum chassis is lightweight and well-balanced, allowing the display to be opened with one finger. The 1080p webcam includes a privacy shutter and supports Windows Hello for facial recognition login.

In terms of ports, the VivoBook S provides a solid selection. On the left side, there is a full-size HDMI output, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a microSD card slot, and a headphone/microphone jack. While Thunderbolt 5 would have been preferable, Thunderbolt 4 remains capable for most users and provides the option of using an external GPU to boost graphics capabilities. The right side houses two full sized USB-A ports, each running at 5 Gbps.

For everyday tasks, the laptop performs smoothly. Web browsing, streaming, and basic productivity tasks run without issue. The OLED display enhances video playback, though some minor frame drops were noted with 4K 60fps content.

Battery life is respectable, with 10 to 12 hours achievable under moderate use when keeping brightness at around 80%.

The integrated graphics on the new Intel processor provide enough power for light video editing and quick exports. The laptop handled 4K 60fps clips in DaVinci Resolve with smooth playback and efficient rendering.

Casual gaming is another strong point of this Intel hardware. Running Red Dead Redemption 2 at 1920×1200 on the lowest settings yielded 45-55 FPS, showing that it can handle even some AAA titles at reasonable framerates. However, more graphics-intensive titles like Starfield may struggle. Despite its slim profile, fan noise remains relatively subdued, avoiding the loud operation typical of gaming laptops.

Linux users may find the VivoBook S a viable option, though some minor quirks were observed when testing Ubuntu 24.10. Wi-Fi initially showed as disabled despite functioning correctly, likely due to driver support still catching up with the latest Intel chipset. Over time, future updates should improve Linux compatibility.

Overall, the Asus VivoBook S offers a strong value proposition, particularly with its combination of an OLED display, a powerful Intel processor, and ample RAM. The Best Buy variant with a Core Ultra 5 processor and 16GB of RAM remains a cost-effective alternative for users with lighter workloads. While not perfect, this laptop stands out as a compelling choice for those seeking a balance of performance, portability, and price.

Disclosure: Asus provided the laptop free of charge to the channel for a future giveaway. The company did not review or approve this content before it was uploaded and no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

LocalSend is a Great Open Source Simple File Transfer App for Android, iOS, Linux, Mac and PC

I came across a free, open source utility called LocalSend that has added a touch of convenience to my daily life. The app works as a cross-platform tool for transferring files between devices, offering functionality similar to Apple’s AirDrop but without being limited to a single ecosystem. It works across just about every platform out there including Android, iOS, iPad OS, Windows, Mac and Linux.

You can see it in action in my latest video.

To send a photo from my Android to my iPhone, I simply selected the LocalSend destination from the sharing options on my Android. The app assigned a random name to the device for identification purposes, which can be customized in the settings. After accepting the transfer on the iPhone, the photo appeared directly in the Photos app.

The app isn’t just for phones; it’s compatible with tablets and computers too. During testing, I used the Mac client to send a folder containing various file types—a PDF, a text file, an image, and an Excel document—to both my iPhone and Android phone simultaneously. The app preserved the folder structure on both devices.

Another useful feature is the ability to share files via a web link or QR code, eliminating the need for the app on the receiving device.

While the app works efficiently, there are a few caveats. Both devices need to be on the same local network, and the app must be open and active to receive files. It also didn’t work over my Tailscale VPN due to how it handles broadcast packets. However, these are minor inconveniences considering the app’s utility.

For comparison, I’ve used browser-based solutions like Snapdrop, which also allow for quick file transfers across devices. However, Snapdrop relies on a browser interface, whereas LocalSend integrates directly into the share button on mobile platforms. This integration streamlines the process and makes it feel more natural, especially for users accustomed to native sharing features.

I discovered LocalSend while helping my daughter with her YouTube channel. She edits her videos on an iPad but uses an Android phone to upload YouTube Shorts because the iPad’s YouTube app lacks this functionality. With LocalSend, she can quickly transfer videos from the iPad to the Android phone, making the entire process much simpler. It’s become a practical solution for us both.

LocalSend is free, open-source, and available on major app stores, including those for Mac and iOS, along with Android. Downloads for other platforms can be found on the Localsend website.

See more videos like this here.

Mayflash F700 Arcade Stick Review

I recently spent some time with the Mayflash F700 arcade stick, a controller that is both hefty and versatile. Weighing in at around six pounds (2.69 kg), it’s a device built with enthusiasts of fighting games and retro arcade shoot-’em-ups in mind. The F700 is priced at $149, putting it firmly in the premium category, but it offers a wide range of features to justify that investment. You can check it out in my latest review.

Right out of the box, the F700 is equipped with Mayflash-branded controls. The joystick has a satisfying click with every movement, offering a tactile, mechanical feel. The buttons, while quieter, are responsive, featuring shallow actuation and a quick spring-back that lends itself well to fast-paced gameplay. If customization is your thing, both the joystick and buttons can be swapped out for Sanwa components. Mayflash also sells a more premium version with those Sanwa controls already installed. Additionally, the controller’s top acrylic panel, held in place by magnets, allows you to personalize its appearance by replacing the background with your own design.

Another customizable feature is the gate for the joystick. The device comes with an octagonal gate as an alternative to the default rounded square one. While swapping gates requires disassembling the controller, it’s a useful option for those who want more precise control tailored to specific games.

The F700 also boasts a variety of connectivity options. The controller can be used via USB, 2.4GHz wireless with a dongle, or Bluetooth. Its built-in 1,000 mAh battery ensures tens of hours of wireless play. For wired connections, the cable is conveniently stored inside the controller, accessible through a small door. A notch on the door allows you to keep the cable partially exposed for quicker access. One gotchya is that the cable is not easily removed or replaced, it’s hard wired inside.

Compatibility is another standout feature. The F700 works with an impressive array of platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 3, Android devices, Apple products, and retro emulation consoles like the Sega Genesis Mini and Neo Geo Mini. While it’s technically compatible with the PlayStation 5, it only supports games that allow legacy PS4 controllers, which limits its usability on that platform. During my tests, the controller performed seamlessly across several systems, including a PC, a PS4, the Nintendo Switch, and my MiSTer console.

While the controller lacks a customization tool there’s still a bunch of functionality on board. There’s a switch that lets you map the joystick to act as a left stick, right stick, or D-pad, depending on your needs along with the ability to apply turbo to specific buttons. There’s even a headset jack for trash-talking during online matches, though it’s limited to certain connection methods like USB or the 2.4GHz dongle on the PC and PS3/PS4.

In terms of gameplay, the F700 delivers a satisfying arcade experience. I tested it with arcade classics like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the MiSTer and Street Fighter 2 on the Switch, as well as shoot ’em up titles like the original arcade Zaxxon. The controls felt precise and responsive, with no noticeable input lag when hardwired to a PC or the MiSTer.

For latency testing, I recorded gameplay using an iPhone at 240 frames per second, capturing both the button press and the on-screen response. By analyzing the footage frame by frame, I counted the number of frames it took for the input to register on the display. This approach, while not as scientifically rigorous as connecting electronics directly to the controller for precise measurements, provides a reliable baseline for comparison across different controllers and configurations.

That testing revealed the F700’s strong performance. When wired to a gaming laptop, it registered input in just seven frames at 240 frames per second, a remarkably low number. The 2.4GHz dongle added a mere three to four frames, while Bluetooth added a few additional frames. On the Nintendo Switch, however, latency was higher, with input taking around 18 frames. This result aligns with the Switch’s hardware limitations rather than any fault of the controller.

Overall, the Mayflash F700 is a solid choice for casual and enthusiast arcade players alike. Its extensive compatibility, customizable features, and robust build quality make it a versatile option for a variety of gaming setups.

Disclosure: Mayflash provided the F700 to the channel free of charge. However no other compensation was received and they did not review or approve the video or this post before it was uploaded. All opinions are my own.