I’ve had a Das Keyboard Professional Silent S for a week now. Overall, there’s more that I dislike about it than I like, so I’ll probably sell it on. Stuff like the glossy covering, the letter printing, key spacing, the awkward hub notch… swear by it if you like, Langley… I could do better.
Good points? I share a room with someone I don’t like.
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It would’ve been pretty sweet to win the Xbox or Arc mouse instead, but I’m still pretty chuffed with this little thing. BlueTrack actually is a meaningful technology. I can use it together with my Intuos4 now; the weird magic pen surface essentially the reason I had to buy the Razer Kabuto pad.
It’s a bit weightier than my Diamondback 3G, and I don’t feel it moves as smoothly. Generally it feels high quality and it’s well designed, but the mouse wheel is its weakest point: although it scrolls well, the button isn’t stable enough for clicking accurately. I won’t be playing games with it, but somehow it gives a better Windows experience. Annoyingly, the left mouse button occasionally squeaks and it has trouble interpreting the FlipBack gesture.
Most of the time, I’m still happier with the trackpad and keyboard - it’s only gaming, EAGLE and Photoshop(?) that necessitate a mouse. Should I have sold it and put the money towards the Intuos5 fund? Probably.
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My Christmas present was a gaming headset. I was a bit worried when I’d heard about it — I’ve always preferred the idea of a separate microphone and headphones, and at the very least the white model looks way better. Having it in front of me has changed my opinion, though — they still look spectacular and the integrated design keeps with my minimalist nature.
It sounds decent (I still don’t know what “good” sounds like — they’re a less shrill than my a-Jays, but I don’t have any real comparison) and I actually can type while talking now which should help with productivity. I love its understated, utility-focussed design but honestly, I haven’t found them comfortable at all.
The reason I’m pleased at the moment is the X-Fi Go! Pro sound card I picked up (another VAIO S flaw). Man, I dig audio processing so much, even if it sounds gross to everyone else. SRS was one of the reasons I really loved my iRiver Clix2 so much… and goddamn, Creative’s THX technology just makes stuff sounds better.
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I recall one of my similar ideas, which used cartridges of paper, thermal ink and fit inside an ExpressCard slot somehow. This implementation is slick, practical and is super well imagined.
I hope everyone owns one of these.
(via thisistheverge)
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I didn’t stop for a second before picking up a $50 Veer from Craigslist this morning. I’m well aware that webOS is dead, there are no apps, and it’s partly a compromise in hardware design, but from the first time I played with it two months ago, I’ve known it’s the phone for me.
I think form’s winning over function as I age.
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I’ve had my VAIO SB for a couple of months now. It’s still a marvel in design and engineering that goes steps beyond most other laptops, but the bottom line is that it doesn’t make me as happy as the VGN-Z does, even if practically, it’s a better laptop. Maybe it’s just not VAIO enough for me. Thoughts in detail follow, although this is essentially comparing a £1,600 notebook with a £700 one.
- Although the feeling is sharper (less spongy) and more like a Macbook, the keyboard action is similarly shallow and I’m getting occasional missed keys (I guess it makes up for the years of double type). Doing away with the smaller key/extra spacing design of the VGN-Z/VPC-Z is giving me problems adjusting: I really think they were better before.
Keyboards are meant to define VAIO and I’m sad that the new Z will probably use these keys instead of insisting on a 3mm pitch over a point in thinness. The backlight is adequate, but in the same way I could’ve pictured Daisuke Iseki or someone insisting that it was more smoothly diffused.
I hate that I’m typing on a UK layout, but that’s not really a design issue.
- Vertical viewing angles are terrible to the point where moving my head means I have to adjust the screen. Horizontal viewing angle is acceptable, although there is no privacy filter for a screen of this size. Overall, the colour reproduction is more natural, but it’s hard to tell when the viewing angle is this bad. I think 13.3in is perfect for 1600x900… it’s a pity that it’s not an option here.
- Speaker quality is significantly worse and also fairly quiet. The audio jack has a weird location, which really feels like a compromised design.
- Grounding issue on the VGA-output results in a flickering screen while connected to the mains.
- Trackpad is much slower (possibly more innaccurate, too). I brush across the trackpad more often, probably because of the larger and less recessed keys. Fingerprint scanner is awkwardly placed to make it difficult to use both trackpad buttons with one finger.
- Graphics switching is completely seamless and ridiculously well implemented. It’s come a long way since its realisation in the SZ and I’m not even sure the PMD is a step forward from this. The performance of the Radeon chipset is very good and actually provides a huge gain over integrated graphics, enough to cope with everything I have to throw at it (I don’t think nVidia’s mobile chipsets are much good).
- Battery life is above average, although it’s not removable, so I expect it to degrade quickly. Battery capacity has fallen significantly (14%) since the SZ - I wonder what’s causing this trend.
- Excellent thermal and noise management. It’s a curiously placed vent, though.
- I thought the packaging was particularly well thought out: minimal, portable, strong and easy to dismantle, with thought given to storing the warranty and manuals.
- I think that long term build quality is better: the weak VGN-Z hinge is improved, but aesthetically, it has nothing on the VGN-Z or SZ.
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Function over form would’ve had me purchase another set of Shures, but I decided to try these frighteningly stylish headphones instead.
Sound-wise, they’re pretty bass heavy (not as strongly skewed as EX71s), but otherwise adequate enough. The fit and seal is decent, but it’s not foam or anything.
But it’s the lovely rubbery tagliatelle cables that really stand out to me: I really appreciate how well they reduce tangling, even though it’s mainly an aesthetic thing if I’m honest. Points also go to the premium packaging, however superfluous.
Mine now say JAY on each earbud. JJ721 are basically the band of my teenage years.
This matte black aesthetic does seem to match items I’ve purchased recently — the Intuos4, Diamondback and Pre all share a similar feel, a specific combination of materials that provide a certain warmth and comfort to using the product.
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I’m sorry this link keeps changing. I can’t pick a favourite. (Or rather one that has enough immediate appeal that will pique your interest enough to explore more.) ↩
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My VAIO Type-S arrived today. I’m settling on the name Madeleine.
Although it’s technically an upgrade, I’ve always thought that the design side was always more important for laptops. Sure, it has decent graphics chipset and has the absurd battery life of a second-gen Intel i-series, but everything else feels a bit cheaper and the design feels compromised in ways that a Type-Z wouldn’t.
Then again, limit choice to just this, the Lenovo X220i and a Macbook Pro 13, where there is a substantial difference in price and performance, and my philosophy shifts.
Kakuna (my VGN-Z) has been falling apart since the start of this year. There are damaged keys, the touchpad is unreliable and the thermal performance is really starting to degrade, essentially chaining me to the desk. The final straw was losing some recent artwork due to overheating and a fairly cheap special offer found its way to me.
Screen resolution is my main regret at the moment.
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