After almost three weeks of grueling testing, I have finally formed my opinions on the Nox Specialist gaming headset. Before we get started, let me just say that I have put off buying a nice pair of headphones for quite a while now and now that I have finally got around to it, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and I could bet you would be as well if you choose to purchase a pair!
I’m first going to start by going over the build quality and durability of the Nox Specialist gaming headset. Let me inform you that these headphones have traveled from Pennsylvania, to New York, to Florida, to Michigan, to Las Vegas and they’re still not broken or worn down in any way. This pair of headphones aren’t too bulky, but they hold their own when it comes to durability. These little guys can take a fair beating before they’re going to crap out on you, so you’re going to have to intentionally try and break these if they’re going to break at all.
Next up is, of course, sound quality. Now I was doubtful about this aspect, because they aren’t built for noise canceling, so I figured, if there’s outside noise, it doesn’t matter how good the sound quality is, if you can’t hear it, there’s no use for it. Thankfully, this wasn’t the case with the Specialist headset. These things can really pack a punch and they really have THE BEST sound quality I have heard in a long time. The sound sounds like you really have speakers all around you, they did an amazing job with these things and they are well worth the money.
The next aspect to cover is the comfort. I know a lot of people who will sacrifice a little bit of sound quality and even durability as long as the headset is comfortable. Well, the Specialist headset has memory foam earcups that just feel like clouds on your head. These are extremely comfortable and don’t squeeze your head and don’t even make your head get all hot because of them heating up your ears. There’s nothing here I can complain about, so that is a very good thing!
Were almost through, one of the last things I’m going to bring up are the features of this gaming headset. There is some really awesome designing that has been implicated with the Specialist Headset that I am really intrigued with. On the right ear cup there is a volume rocker and a mute switch for the microphone, which, by the way retracts on the left side so that when it’s not in use you can retract it and nobody would even know it’s there! The microphone by the way is also has amazing sensitivity and pics up so much sound so crisp and clear that it almost gets to be a pain, but better more than less. One other very cool feature is the ability to remove the wire, so that if the wire goes bad, the whole headset doesn’t get junked, all you have to do is replace the wire and the headset will continue to perform!
Compatibility is last, but for no specific reason. Nox advertises that the specialist headset can be used with Xbox 360, PS3, PC, iPhone iPods, Laptops, and many cell phones and other mp3 devices. This ability alone adds a TON to the value of this headset as far as I perceive it. I love gadgets that have multiple uses and this headset hasn’t let me down yet. These work great with everything mentioned above and they do their job just as you would hope they would.
Overall, I would say if you’re considering purchasing a higher end pair of headphones and maybe even considering a Turtle Beach headset, I would say give the Nox Specialist headphones a try, just see how you like them, because I know I sure am happy I gave them a shot!
So if you guys know anything about me, you know that one thing I am willing to spend a few bucks on is a decent set of headphones. Well, that time has come once again and I purchased a pair of Nox’s Specialist gaming headsets, so this is just going to be the unboxing.
My first impression is that the packaging is a big confusing, but it is very unique and I like how it was designed. I really like the case that was included, they didn’t cheap out on you for once, this case is made to last and it will protect your Specialist Headset and make that last too and that’s what counts.
One thing that is a big turnoff to me is all the wires that are needed to connect this thing to the PS3. There are just so many different wires running all over the place that it just looks like a mess whenever the Specialist is in use. That being said, one of the main reasons that I purchased the Specialist Gaming Headset over Turtle Beach, was because Nox is a brand new company and also I thought that the Specialist would have less wires, but I think I was wrong on that.
One thing that is worth mentioning is that right out of the box, when you hold the Specialist Headset, you feel the body to them. They feel like a full 100 dollars worth of headphones and I really mean that. These things feel like they’re built to last with the gamer in mind.
One other huge plus to these headphones is that they don’t constrict your head during extended gaming sessions and the ear pads are the most comfortable ear pads I have ever felt. They really do make it feel like you’re just wearing a hat, they feel like they were made for extended use and you forget that you’re even wearing them.
I really think another awesome feature is the retractable microphone that enables you to get the mic out of the way for when you use these with your iPod or hand held gaming device.
Overall, right out of the box my only complaint would be that these are not wireless headphones, which for me would really make me willing to pay $400 for these things if only they were wireless.
It’s 2010 and by now, if you don’t have an iPhone, you most definitely have an iPod or Zune that you bring along everywhere you go for those moments where you just need a little music in your life. One of the main reasons why iPods were invented though, were to replace the piles of CD’s that we all have lying around and even drag around in our cars so we can listen to music while driving. The only problem with this is there usually isn’t a very good place to put your iPod in the car where it wont slide around or fall off of inside your car, so that is where an iPod dock comes in. Now, not only does this dock hold your iPod, but it enables it to charge simultaneously, while also giving you an extra USB port for another device and just encase you don’t have an auxiliary port in your car stereo, you can always use the built in FM transmitter to play your music on your iPod or iPhone through your cars stereo!
Now that I’ve gone over the practicality for one of these car docks, let me get into the details of how this gadget is constructed and everything this little guy has to offer!
Lets start out with the adjustable dock part. The overall build quality is solid and doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall apart in your hands, this thing can take a bit of a beating before it falls apart. The dock was constructed in such a way that it gives enough room to fit just about any iPod or Zune with almost any case on it in the dock without too much trouble. Granted, it is a little snug with some cases, but it saves you the hassle of having to remove your case every time you want to dock your iPod.
Next we have the FM transmitter portion of this handy gadget. Basically, this is one of the best, if not the best working car FM transmitter that I have used. There is some occasional static, but is easily self-resolved within a couple seconds. There is no need to have to find a radio station that isn’t being used, you can just send the signal over a station that is already in use and the FM transmitter will play your music right over whatever is currently being played on that station with no interference.
The other included features aren’t so major, but they do pack a large punch. For instance, on the right side of the device is an additional USB port that can charge anything that has a USB cable for it. This is by far the most useful add-on that this gadget has to offer. Nowadays everything can be charged by a USB cord and therefore, this makes this extremely practical and useful for the everyday traveler. You also have an included iPod cable out the bottom of this device for you to charge your iPod or iPhone while it is docked so you don’t have to ever worry about it running out of battery juice.
I’m just going to quickly cover the overall way this gadget does its job and then this review is all wrapped up! So, one thing you need to absolutely check before purchasing this item, is where your cigarette lighter ports or port is/are. For some cars it is really close to the steering wheel and when you plug the dock in it ends up being right behind the steering wheel and can interfere with steering or other necessary parts of the car. You should also know before purchasing this car dock that the practicality of using this dock turned sideways does not work very well. It will hold your iPod while the car is stationary, but as soon as you start to make a turn or even go over a slight bump in the road, the dock spins upside down because of the weight on the end of the dock.
Other than those things, there is really nothing else that is problematic with this car dock and it’s great that it fits iPods and Zunes with their cases on! Overall, this device is great for most people, but you just need to make sure it will work with your car, because sometimes the compatibility just isn’t practical and you will need to look into another dock that works better with your cars internal layout.
Bump Top was officially released for Mac on January 22nd, 2010 and immediately took off right on launch day. Not only does it make a small monitor more convenient and easier to use, but it makes desktop organization extremely fast, easy, and fun!
I remember back a few years ago now, when Bump Top had just been released for Windows and it was a huge hit! People were ranting and raving over this little program. Some people didn’t know how such a simple, yet complex, idea could make such an impact for every type of user. I never actually downloaded Bump Top for Windows, because I already had a large monitor and I didn’t see the need for it, I just figured it was going to use up more resources in the background and slow down my computer, but now that I have a 13″ Unibody MacBook, I see the need and Bump Top was here to fill it!
BumpTop basically takes all the features you already have with your desktop and combines them together with its own little twist to each. Most programs that try to do this, or something similar, usually fail miserably, but I have to give Bump Top props, because I couldn’t find anything that I would change that hasn’t already been done. To list a few of the features, Bump Top makes icon selection much easier and more precise, it offers the ability to stack icons, as well as group icons in many different designs.
Bump Tops main eye catcher is the 3D desktop environment it has to offer. You can have up to 5 different desktop wallpapers and to put it simply, you have 5 separate desktops all conveniently woven into one. I’m sure at this point, if you haven’t looked at the program, you are extremely confused as to what this all means. Well, if that’s the case, check out the video above and look for yourself as I capture my first reactions to all that BumpTop has to offer!
Overall, BumpTop is extremely user-friendly and easy to pick up and start using. It has lots of features included in the free version and I think they even put too many features in the free version, because I don’t even see the need to upgrade to the full version due to the access to so many tweaks and tools included. Bump Top is a must have for anyone with a laptop, but for a desktop, I don’t really see the need, but it definitely helps with organization and even does it with some style, so for you desktop users, the choice is yours, but I would recommend you give it a shot no matter what kind of computer you’re using.
I’ve been wanting to switch over to the Mac Os X Platform for years, but I didn’t have the money or the motivation. Now that I’m going away for most of the summer, I needed a laptop and I decided to make the big buy!
I decided to purchase my 13″ Unibody Macbook Pro from Craigslist because purchasing a new Macbook was slightly out of my range. This turned out to be a bonus, as Apple’s Mighty Mouse and Incase’s Black Incase came included with my purchase. I will have separate reviews for each of these products later on.
I must say, for the first time owning a Mac, it’s not too hard to get used to, and the multitouch trackpad is just amazing! The trackpad should have been invented years ago, it is by far the easiest trackpad to pick up.
As far as I’m concerned, this is the best purchase I could have made and am extremely happy I bought it!
Check back later for my full reviews on everything included with my 13″ Unibody Macbook Pro!
