Review:

Apacer Storage

Being an Professional PC Modder and content creator, storage is important. From thumb drives to run machines to a reliable portable backup drive. I’m constantly on the go which means I need reliable gear that can stand up to the abuse of travel and being in a shop environment. Apacer sent me their 64gb Micro SDXC UHS-I class 10 card, 32gb USB 3.1 (AH354) thumb drive and their military grade 2tb (AC730) waterproof, portable hard drive. I put them through their paces over the period of 6 weeks to see if they’d hold up to the demand needed. I wanted to test them in a real world environment versus running data and speed tests.

Apacer 2tb (AC730) Portable Military Grade Hard drive

I knew from the start that this drive would get some serious testing. I’m very hard on my portable drives since they get constant use and will be required to operate in a dusty machine shop as well as on the go during shows. When I was told about the features of the AC730 portable HD I was excited to put it to the test. The AC730 is waterproof, dust proof, shock resistant and built to military standards. Constructed from thick aluminum and a rubberized material to keep it water tight. It stood up to every challenge I put its way. It passed every test and environment I threw it’s way. Transfer speeds were also up to par with my Western Digital Passport drive.

Apacer 64gb Micro SDXC UHS-I class 10

I used the micro SDXC card in everything from my Samsung S7 phone to my Canon EOS digital camera used for final build photos and video. 

After using it for final photos of the VOID case mod I was quite impressed. It was responsive and had no issue handling long photography sessions. I also used it on my trip to Nvidia recently. It found a good home inside my Samsung Galaxy S7 and quickly went to work. I used it for everything from file storage to recording video and photos. Once I got back to the shop I transferred it all over to the Apacer AC730. I was impressed with transfer speeds and I didn’t have and single issue.

Apacer 32gb USB 3.1 (AH354) thumb drive

I was pretty excited about using the AH354 Apacer thumb drive. I’ve used a lot of different ones over the years as I commonly hop from workstation to machine or another workstation. The AH354 has a clip that is used to slide out the usb portion. I’ve found that these types tend to last longer because they have less of a chance of getting damaged during travel. In the past I have had a couple fixed ones get bent or broken. This one worked like a charm and was quick to transfer large files. I couldn’t be happier. 

1stPlayer Dual FireRing Fans

For today’s Envious Review we will be checking out 1stPlayers 120mm Dual FireRing Fans in Red and Blue. Over the last few days I had an opportunity to try these fans out in several different settings including: mounted on an AIO, as a rear case fan and as a top case fan on the SyNAPSE Case mod I’m currently building.

The Fire Ring Fans come with 4 regualar screws as well as a set of bolts to mount to a radiator. They also have silicone mounts that are dampened for anti-vibration. The power options are via a 3-pin connection or a 4-pin molex connection. Personally Im not a huge fan (I couldnt help myself) of the large molex connection but the problem could be easily solved with a pair of wire cutters. One of the 1st things I noticed was the sides of the fan. I really enjoy the effect you get from this perspective. The sound levels during normal operation were better than I anticipated and well within the range of what was expected.
There really wasn’t a whole lot that I didn’t like and most of those come down to personal preferences. The Dual Fire Ring Fans have 9 translucent blades which helps to intensify the effect given by the leds. I was very happy to see the leds were balanced and not spotty. They also have built in Anti-vibration mounts which help reduce vibration noise. They rate these at about 22 dBA. Taking price into consideration I had to give these 4 out of 5 stars. If your looking for a ring fan on a budget; these are your fans. You can snag your own set on Amazon.com for about $11.

1st Player Portable Bluetooth Speaker  (X-Sound)

The X-Sound was a pleasure to use in my shop over the last few weeks and I was amazed once I had the chance to get it outdoors to really turn up the volume. The 2×15 watt speakers had a lot more sound than I thought they would. Not only was there plenty of sound but it was really clear as well. For most of my testing I used Spotify to stream music via my Wi-Fi connection and data on my S7. I also hooked up an old ipod shuffle via the supplied cable. One feature I really enjoyed was the mode button on top of the X-Sound. Once you setup your Bluetooth connection you can press the mode button and it will instantly relink to your device without having to do anything else. It came in very handy when I would wander out of the shop for an hour or two and then come back. Overall we give this a 4 out of 5 stars (🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐). You get a lot for the money and its definitely worth it. With it being priced under $60 you can’t go wrong. You can get yours via Amazon.

RantoPad’s FF Gaming Mouse:

  

The gaming mouse came well packaged. Its USB cable is wrapped in black sheathing that looks great plugged into any computer. The multiple Dpi settings are great for adjusting the sensitivity on the fly. This really came in handy during CAD sessions.

 

The buttons are firm and produce a nice, satisfying click when pressed. The ridged scroll wheel is similarly firm and tactile, but still rolls freely enough so web browsing or scrolling isn’t a finger workout. The scroll wheel is also coated in rubber with actual traction tread to help with grip.

 

It has a good balance between precision for gaming and general scrolling, web surfing, etc. I primarily tested it out on CAD design programs and general PC use. It was a welcomed improvement over my old $40 Logitech wireless combo. Using it with one of RantoPads acrylic mouse pads was an awesome experience.

Technical Specifications：

• 3 kinds DPI instantaneous switch Optical engine A3090

• 3 kinds returns switch keystroke super accuracy 20millions lifetime

• Omron microswitch Ergonomic symmetrical design

• Creative heartbeat mode backlight 5pcs separate keystroke

• Gold plated USB port 2-meters long super soft fiber cable

Size: 130x68x40mm

Weight: 100g

Pros:

• Affordable price with premium features

• The LED lit version has an awesome heartbeat function.

• Selectable Dpi & sensitivity settings

Cons:

• Really non found yet as it’s a good all around product. 

All RantoPad’s products can be found online via Amazon and other online retailers

RantoPad’s MXX Mechanical Gaming Keyboard:

 

  
Right off the bat I was impressed with RantoPads MXX keyboard. The keyboard comes in a very nice, well made, package with a premium feel and a beautiful finish. It came well packaged and protected during its journey to my shop.

 

 The package included the keyboard, a custom key remover and a fully sleeved USB cable that is detachable (USB to USB.) It is a wired keyboard that is a great bang for the buck. 

 

 
The top of the keyboard is made out of brushed aluminum and has a perfect slope angle. A good slope angle will allow you to type faster and longer. It also features anti-ghosting. “Ghosting” is the problem that some keyboard keys don’t work when multiple keys are pressed simultaneously. The key presses that don’t show up on the computer or seem to have disappeared are said to have been “ghosted”. The MXX keyboard was designed to help eliminate issues related to ghosting. 

Features:
• Pure aluminum top cover design
• 87 keys, keyboard & wire separate design
• Easy to carry & fine tune
• Co-designed black switch Full Anti-ghosting keyboard
• White backlit & 6 default lightning mode

The switches sound and feel like cherry MX blues but, I believe they are actually Gateron switches that have been co-designed for this specific keyboard. Blues offer a framiliar clack sound as well as a tactile feedback that can be used to speed up typing time and responce. Typing time can be sped up by taking advantage of the short throw required to activate each switch (key.) A typical (non-mechanical) keyboard will require you to bottom out in order to activate each key.

  
Each key has an attractive per-key LED backlighting which allows for neat effects that can be quickly toggled. The backlit keys are very impressive. You can quickly turn ON or OFF the backlight by hitting (FN+F10.) You can go through all of the different lighting options.

 

 
My favorite is the splash lighting. It leaves all of the key backlights OFF until you until you depress a button. Once the button is pressed, it ripples outward from the key like a drop of water on a puddle. By hitting F9 you can activate Game Mode which disables the win key as well as Alt+Tab.
Conclusion :

To sum up the keyboard; it is well built, elegant and a treat to use. The backlit keys really bring it all together. You really wont find a better keyboard for the money. If your looking for a good mechanical keyboard that offers up premium features on a budget price tag; this is your keyboard. The keyboard hits the price tag of $79.99 through amazon.com (link: HERE) 

If you buy through Amazon, please share your experience with this keyboard via the review section. Companies like this live through the review process and love feedback on their products. 

Pros :

  – Premium Build Quality

  – Finishes are top notch

  – Perfect weight

  – Fabric wrapped usb cable (black)

Cons :
  – No ten key (not a con for me)