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No problem man. I dont wanna rain on your parade. I loved them, but then slowly figured out why most people just bought the 41s. They are Pure Quality where these were the "ah i dont want the wire, but i dont wanna spend that much money" and then you end up at 41s anyway. I understand the baby part, definitely do not want 16 feet of wire lol. I say DEFINITELY use them a lot and measure how much battery life you get. Believe me if you have the extra 100 to spare you will thank me.

I almost got the X4s but then after some researching found out that the 41s were coming out and they were x4s but with 7.1 and digital input into the transmitter. I liked that and wait and worth it. Most stores wont carry them in stock, there expensive and maybe one or 2. I know bestbuy will carry them in stock, if its not on the shelf just ask, when I went to buy them(yeah i hate shopping at BB but no choice) they had 2 in the back, didnt put them upfront because they didnt have the proper security devices for them.

Anyway enjoy the world of Turtle Beach. There great headsets for console. Being a PC Gamer im so use to paying attention to detail, then when I found out about turtle beaches and how they would be equivalent to my G35's, i was very happy. Big comfy headset both booms and you can hear literally everything, made me a better fps gamer on console.

Thanks again, man. Really appreciate your insight. I actually got the X31s at Best Buy today, went to 2 stores in the area and neither store had the 41s. It really is amazing how much detail we miss. Your post has really got me thinking twice hahaha. I actually think I'll be using a headset more and more than just late night gaming - so maybe the 41s are the way to go. Newegg has them for $179, free shipping :)

I've owned just about every Razer mouse there is..Mamba, Lachesis, Deathadder, and a Logitech G9, in the end I sold them all and now have the G500. It is better than all of them (in my opinion). It's got the comfort of a Deathadder with the precision of a Mamba, or G9x, but is cheaper than both of them. I'd say it's totally worth it.

Razer Mamba is probably the most precise and overall superb mouse. The only problem is that it's not really worth $129 and it has somewhat buggy firmware (the latest one seems to be ok). I have also the new MX Revolution and it's a great mouse but a bit big. It fits nicely and has great precision as well, very smooth but Mamba still feels much better overall.

It has that big lump that fits perfect in your hand, and not only that, i loved the "trigger" like thumb buttons. They made my experience so much better. I could knife / primary in the matter of seconds.

I do like to stab people (in the game, of course) so I'm guessing the thumb button would be ideal for me. I will give the sidewinder a try. Thanks for the recommendation.

As for the stabbing in bc2 at first I was disappointed because I was used to the instant stab in cod, whereas with bc2 there is a delay. I've already came to like bc2 better though, because there is more to it than just hitting the button first.

I do like to stab people (in the game, of course)

This made me laugh

As for the stabbing in bc2 at first I was disappointed because I was used to the instant stab in cod, whereas with bc2 there is a delay. I've already came to like bc2 better though, because there is more to it than just hitting the button first.

Yea, took me a bit of time to get used to it as well. At first I thought it was just lag haha since most of the servers I can connect too and stay connected too ("Play Now" option seems to be the most reliable) the pings are usually at an astonishing 500ms or over which is a real bitch. I can't really seem to find any ones in Australia though, so if someone in Aus can point me into the right direction I'd be grateful. I'm too used to browsing through servers on/thru Steam.

But DL, there is a guy that has the same score as you and is in 10th place, and another guy with a slightly better score who is in 8th.. Trust me I have put in a ton of hours so far and it isn't just K/D based. If you TRY and plant/defuse a bomb = points. If you just touch a guy = points, if you just TAG a guy for others = points. Not counting attacking vehicles etc..

Honestly it has a lot more to do with teamplay than just K/D ratio

Remember look at this chart

BPHB9.jpg

SMELTN, I think what Larry is getting at is not the score of the round but the skill level on the overall leaderboard/soldier. I see the same thing, I've been in the top 3 numerous times thanks to capturing objectives, squad resupplies, etc. However, my skill is a 2 because my K/D is absolute crap (again, overall K/D). I've also noticed on my soldier at least (360 version) my ranking is staying at dead last. I've always had problems with EA games doing this, I've never ranked up. Happens to me every year in NCAA Football so I know it's an EA issue.

Yeah SMELTN, obviously I know all that stuff adds to score, it is how I get on the top only being 4/3 and 10/7. That is what I meant when I said I am a team player. SoLoredd is exactly right on what I was talking about.

The skill thing I am complaining about is when click on Compare. Right there is a Skill Level. I am always a negative because of my kill death ratio, not my overall score.

Dont give up yet, the Sidewinder x5 is a GREAT mouse. I personally used that a Logitech G9x / G500 and a Mamba / deathadder. ATM I have a MX1100 and love it for gaming with its fps switcher and thumb button. But out of all those it would be G500 / X5 / G9x. I also like the MX1100 because its wireless and no lag, goes for about a month on one full charge. Im trying to get a MX Revolution and that will make me happier xD. Loved this mouse since the day i saw it 3 years ago.

those ones aren't bad. I love my g5 though, v1 and v2. especially v2 because it has two thumb buttons. One for talking on the mic and the other for knifing. Changing the DPI on the fly is an awesome feature too, especially when sniping.

Can someone tell me how the single player campaign fares in comparison to games such as Call of Duty and Medal of Honor? Is it still below par in terms of these games? (I know it's better than the original's single player, but that's not saying much.)

Can someone tell me how the single player campaign fares in comparison to games such as Call of Duty and Medal of Honor? Is it still below par in terms of these games? (I know it's better than the original's single player, but that's not saying much.)

singplay is sub par @ best. no real story, no real structure, bad AI, not really that much fun. Multiplayer is where it's at.

singplay is sub par @ best. no real story, no real structure, bad AI, not really that much fun. Multiplayer is where it's at.

So significantly worse than Call of Duty?

I can't play multiplayer online for the next few months because my dorm connection cuts in and out ad nauseum, so I was thinking about buying it now for the single player and playing the multiplayer over the summer... but I take it I should just wait for the price to drop over the summer?

If you want a good singleplayer game, try either Metro 2033 or Just Cause 2.

The Just Cause 2 demo has impressed me.

Neither of those games are out yet, so I'm hesitant to say I'd get either one. I'm downloading the Just Cause 2 demo, but it's taking forever. The videos of it have seemed decent to me.

singplay is sub par @ best. no real story, no real structure, bad AI, not really that much fun. Multiplayer is where it's at.

Because technically its a multiplayer game, its significantly better than most, most multiplayer games have an offline multiplayer with bots mode as their single player mode, i loved the humour and the story more than the over the top ridiculousness of MW2 storyline, there were a few issues but the sense of scale and the vistas were breathtaking. Dont hate on it just because its not to your tastes.

So significantly worse than Call of Duty?

I can't play multiplayer online for the next few months because my dorm connection cuts in and out ad nauseum, so I was thinking about buying it now for the single player and playing the multiplayer over the summer... but I take it I should just wait for the price to drop over the summer?

definiltey wait for a price drop. Single player is no where near call of duty...

So significantly worse than Call of Duty?

I can't play multiplayer online for the next few months because my dorm connection cuts in and out ad nauseum, so I was thinking about buying it now for the single player and playing the multiplayer over the summer... but I take it I should just wait for the price to drop over the summer?

If it means anything to you, the single player is longer than MW2. I personally only played about 2 or 3 hours of it and it does indeed leave a lot to be desired.

But I would be really cautious about buying this for single player. The main focus of this game is the MP, and the biggest reason any reviewer gave negative scores to this game is because of the single player.

If it means anything to you, the single player is longer than MW2. I personally only played about 2 or 3 hours of it and it does indeed leave a lot to be desired.

But I would be really cautious about buying this for single player. The main focus of this game is the MP, and the biggest reason any reviewer gave negative scores to this game is because of the single player.

then why the hell did MW2 get so good of scores? that was the worst single player storyline in the world. It didnt even feel like a battle, it feeled like me running through the streets just shooting people and being unstoppable

not to mention the game is full of errors.

for instance, in the airport when you go downstairs everyone is laying on the ground dead, was there ANOTHER shooting at the same time? because no one on your team shot down there till you get to the stairs, and even then its shooting the people crawling around. yet the place is shot up and everyone is dead

I haven't even touched the single player game yet.. Just loving MP so much, which is why I purchased the game to begin with..

My only worry though, is I have completely unlocked Recon/Assault and almost done with Engineer.. I know Medic is the easiest so I saved it for last.. Looks like I may only be level 25 max when I unlock all classes, so from 25 to 50 will be with all unlocks, which I guess is nice and all.

^ i wouldn't say it's longer. took me about 6 hours on hard to beat the singplayer where both MW's took me longer then that on veteran.

I completed MW2 sp in about 4.5 to 5 hours on Normal. I really felt no need to try it on any other difficulty. Mostly because it was meh. Like I said, I have yet to beat the SP of BC2, just said "longer" based on the reviews I've read

then why the hell did MW2 get so good of scores? that was the worst single player storyline in the world. It didnt even feel like a battle, it feeled like me running through the streets just shooting people and being unstoppable

not to mention the game is full of errors.

for instance, in the airport when you go downstairs everyone is laying on the ground dead, was there ANOTHER shooting at the same time? because no one on your team shot down there till you get to the stairs, and even then its shooting the people crawling around. yet the place is shot up and everyone is dead

Dunno. Hype maybe? Lot's of reviewers admit they get caught up in the hype train just like fans do.

Maybe they gave it such a high score because of the package and amount of content? (SP + Spec Ops + MP)

All I know is that for the most part, many of the reviewers referenced in Metacritic looked at the single player of BC2 first, then looked at the MP. Which is perplexing to me since MP really is the main focus of the game, both mechanically and visually.

It's hard for me to understand why reviewers easily forgive a mediocre MP when a game has an exceptional SP, but it's hard to forgive a mediocre SP when a game has an exceptional MP.

I haven't even touched the single player game yet.. Just loving MP so much, which is why I purchased the game to begin with..

Same here. In fact, I never touched Bad Company 1 either. It appears (and I hope) that DICE wants to keep up DLC support. BC2 should be great for a long time to come.

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    • SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 hands on by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk, mousing around. Apologies for the knife cut across the top of the box; that was my doing, being a bit too heavy-handed with opening up the outer packaging. First up, what's in the box: SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 1x Type-C charging cable User Manual 1-Year Warranty (card) In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official Amazon listing, here are the key features: Full-Hand Air Compression: OS500 wraps your fingers, palm, and wrist with multi-chamber air compression for a complete hand relaxation experience. The extended massage chamber helps cover more of the hand and wrist area than standard palm-only hand massagers Palm Kneading with 6 Modes & 6 Intensities: Built-in palm kneading rollers add a hands-on massage feel, while 6 preset modes and 6 pressure levels let you choose the comfort level that fits your day—from gentle relaxation to a firmer full-hand massage 3 Heat Levels with Cooling Fan: Choose from 104°F, 113°F or 122°F warmth to suit different seasons and comfort preferences. The built-in cooling fan helps reduce stuffiness during heated sessions, keeping your hand feeling fresh and comfortable Easy Visual Display & Smart Timer: The digital image display clearly shows massage area, mode, intensity, heat level, and remaining time at a glance. Select 10, 15, or 20-minute sessions for quick office breaks, evening relaxation, or everyday hand care Rechargeable, Cordless & Comfortable: A 3000mAh battery supports over 90 minutes of full-function use on a full charge, with convenient USB-C charging. The soft inner lining, smooth ABS/PU finish, and premium black-gold design make OS500 ideal for home, office, or gifting With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. I gave it a try on both left and right hands, and as you can maybe see from the above YouTube Short, (sorry for the shaky video), my whole hand fits in, but my wrist barely enters the Hand Massager. I was able to push through a bit more with my fingertips extending out the other end to get a bit of massaging on the start of my wrist. Usage For some reason, there is a strap that is very difficult to fasten to my wrist with one hand. I am not sure what function it has, and it isn't mentioned in the user manual. The only thing I could find was in the product images that claimed "wrist precision". Unlike the Bob and Brad Hand Massager, this device does not massage the wrist anyway, even though a "wrist mode" is mentioned, which must be for smaller hands than I have, as it is mainly intended for the hand and fingers. In addition, for its steeper price, there are no disposable gloves provided in the box, which is a bit of an issue considering the internal cover (which appears to be elasticated nylon) cannot be removed for washing; so you are left with only one choice: always thoroughly wash your hands before using it. I can imagine this thing getting a bit grimy after a period of use, and that is a bit of a shame. With that said, the buttons on the device, from left to right, do the following: Heat button: 3-level heat control at 104°F, 113°F, or 122°F Mode button: Auto mode Circular mode Soothing mode Relax mode Palm and fingers mode Palm and wrist mode Intensity button: from (First-time users) 15Ka, 25Ka, 35Ka, 45Ka, 55Ka, 60Ka (Intensive relief) Knead button: on or off (6 pressure levels) Power button: Long-press to turn on or off Cooling button: turn on or off the cooling fan Also, in the product imagery, it states there are 36 "custom modes," but nowhere is it listed what these modes are. I can only imagine that they mean a combination of all of the above settings in different intensity levels. The device itself seems to rely on a single "kneading" mechanism located at the palm area of the hand, which spins when in use, and the other massage features are mainly utilized through the air sacs, increasing and decreasing at various levels on the hand and fingers. I am not sure it offered too much relief for someone who is typing and operating a mouse for hours at a time; further testing may be required. It does feel nice, though. Finally, you may be wondering how this fits into the scope of a tech website? Well, let me tell you something: sometimes I sit for up to 15 hours working on Neowin, and although I take breaks in between, it takes a toll on my body. I think in the immediate absence of a partner to apply relief, a good massager like this Hand Massager can shed the strains of the day in just a couple of 15-minute bursts. On the official website, this has an MSRP of $99.99, but luckily for our readers, it is selling at $10 off for just $89.99 right now on Amazon. SKG Hand Massager with Heat OS500 for $89.99 (with $10 off coupon), $99.99 MSRP For me, this gets a thumbs hands(?) down. However, it could be improved by making it so that the protective covering could be removed and thrown into the washing machine, or get yourself some disposable gloves to use with it. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Thanks for the info, but I'm still not sure if I need this....
    • We check out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager by Steven Parker I was offered the chance to test out the SKG PS700 Neck Massager, and full disclosure, they let me keep it regardless of my findings. Anyway, I jumped at the chance due to my long hours sitting at my desk; I figured it could offer some neck pain relief. What's in the box: SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager Rechargeable Battery (inside massager) Type-C USB cable User Manual Quick Start guide 1-Year Warranty In short, everything you need to get started. According to the official listing, here are the key features: Biomimetic Kneading & High Torque Motor: Designed with innovative biomimetic kneading heads that perfectly simulate the touch of human hands. Powered by a high-torque motor, this massager delivers powerful and precise deep tissue relief to effectively target stiff neck muscles and release built-up tension Soothing Heat & Integrated Sound Relaxation: Experience the ultimate Relaxationation with our dual-action approach. The soothing heat function gently warms your neck, while the built-in sound Relaxation provides calming audio tracks, helping you achieve a state of mindfulness and mental tranquility during your physical massage Cordless Convenience & Travel-Ready & Father's Day Gifts: Crafted for maximum portability and ease of use. Its lightweight, cordless design allows you to enjoy a premium massage anywhere without the hassle of tangled wires-whether you're taking a quick break at your desk or winding down at home Versatile Relief for Home & Office: An essential wellness companion for office workers, gamers, frequent travelers, or anyone looking to integrate mindfulness into their daily routine. It seamlessly fits into your lifestyle, providing instant neck relief whenever and wherever you need it Safe & Premium Materials: Manufactured with high-quality, skin-friendly materials to ensure a safe and comfortable experience without irritation. SKG backs this device with dedicated customer service, making it a thoughtful tech-health gift for family and friends App & Bluetooth Music Control: Connect via Bluetooth to control your massage settings through the dedicated app and enjoy your favorite music during your massage session for a fully customizable and immersive relaxation experience Red Light Warmth Technology: Features advanced red light warmth technology that penetrates deep into neck muscles to enhance blood circulation and provide soothing comfort while relieving muscle tension and stiffness Design With all that out of the way, here are my own findings. SKG does not say what materials are used to make the neck massager. However, on the product website, it mentions "soft-touch silicone" with what looks like PU leather cushioning, with the rest being mostly made up of plastics. On the inside of the massager, there are two "biomimetic kneading heads" that are motorized for the different styles of massage, which are not actually listed at all in the paper user manual, but the standard included modes are: De-stress mode, Mediation mode, Relax mode, Shiatsu mode. The massager looks quite premium and is actually very comfortable to wear. This massager is small and light enough to go anywhere, as it doesn't get in the way of anything, so I was able to use it in the chair while writing this review. Unlike the back massager, SKG does not warn in the user guide not to use it for more than 30 minutes a day (or two 15-minute sessions). However, there is a long laundry list of important safeguards to consider before and during the use of the device, and it is warned that the neck massager is not waterproof. It also includes a 1,400mAh battery with a rated power of 14W and input of 5V, which is the standard for up to USB 3.0 power (although the Amperage is not mentioned at all). SKG does not say how long it takes to charge, but a quick calculation at 2A (if that is what it is) would mean it would take roughly 1.5 hrs to charge from empty. In any case, the light around the button changes from orange to green on a full charge. In addition, it is not possible to use the device while it is charging. On the right of the neck massager is the On/Off and modes button, which also acts as a joystick. You can operate all the modes directly from the power button, as well as the app, which I'll get into a bit later: Push up: Short press to adjust Heat levels On/Off button: long press Mode Switching: Short press (while in operation) ➕ Push left: increase Music volume ➖ push right: decrease Music volume Push down: Short-press to turn Music on or off The massager defaults to De-stress mode, and it is not stated anywhere if the neck massager has overheat protection. This time around, regarding heat, the only detail I could find is that it has "triple action soothing heat." The temperature stages are not listed anywhere in the paper manual, Amazon listing, or official website. The heat levels can be adjusted through the app or directly on the device using the joystick button. Usage There's also the SKG Health app, which makes using the massager far easier than feeling around for the button on the side of your neck. If the app is stopped, you are required to log in with a verification code over email, which I am not too pleased with, as this means it will only work that way for however long SKG decides to support it through said app. However, I was not able to get the app to connect to the OS500, which I have reported back to my contact. Bluetooth appeared to be working on the neck massager as it became available to pair with my phone, but the SKG app failed to discover it. Before I forget, there's also a switch next to the USB charging port to deactivate and activate the Voice Prompt, which, when enabled, audibly tells the user when switching intensities, modes, or connecting to the app and informs when the massages start and are completed. That said, on to my likes and dislikes, which are listed below. What I didn't like Unable to connect the Neck Massager to the app Use through the mobile app relies on continued support from SKG What I liked Can be used without the app Cordless use Light and comfortable to wear Heat is also quite comfortable Where to buy: According to the official website, this has an MSRP of $249.99, but is currently $50 (on Amazon). To sweeten the deal a bit more, there's also an in-page coupon that knocks a further $20 off the price. SKG PS700-2 Neck Massager for $179.99 on Amazon (was $199.99) Apply the in-page $20 off coupon for the final price of $179.99 Just like the back massager, this gets a confused thumbs up (due to the cost). However, I cannot rate it through app usage as it failed to connect. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • This Samsung T7 external SSD deal lasts less than a day by Sayan Sen Recently we had covered some nice deals of internal NVMe SSDs which include the 4TB TeamGroup G50 for only $400, the WD_BLACK SN7100 2TB for just $243, as well as the Samsung 990 PRO 1TB for $370. If however you require an external SSD for portability and quick data transfers and have a budget of less than $200 the Samsung T7 1TB model is currently on a limited time deal at just $190, it's lowest price in nearly three months. The deal ends today so you better hurry if you need one (purchase link below). The T7 weighs in at just 72 grams meaning it should be fairly easy to carry around helping in the portability department. Via its USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface the T7 promises sequential read speeds of up to 1050 MB/s and writes of 1000 MB/s. It is also fairly robust with a drop protection of up to 2 meters, though bear in mind that this is not waterproof. For that you will have to choose the rugged T7 Shield. The technical specifications of the Samsung T7 1TB are given in the table below: Specification Value Model Code (1TB) MU-PC1T0T / MU-PC1T0H Interface USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) Dimensions (W × H × D) 85 × 57 × 8 mm Weight 72 g Sequential Read Speed Up to 1,050 MB/s Sequential Write Speed Up to 1,000 MB/s Drop Resistance Up to 2 m (6.6 ft) Encryption AES 256-bit hardware encryption Operating Temperature 0°C to 60°C Non-Operating Temperature -40°C to 85°C Humidity 5% to 95% (non-condensing) Shock Resistance 1,500 G, duration 0.5 ms, 3-axis (non-operating) Vibration Resistance 20–2,000 Hz, 20 G (non-operating) Get it at the link below: Samsung T7 Portable SSD, 1TB External Solid State Drive, MU-PC1T0T/AM, Gray: $189.98 (Sold and Shipped by Amazon US) Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • I just wish they would put more love into Virtual Desktops. There is just so much more they could do.
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