One Minute Tech Reviews

Category Archives: Geek Life

Microsoft Surface Go First Impressions – great tablet if you use Edge

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Yeah that’s me looking at Reddit lol. I’m day 3 on the 8/128 surface go and so far have used it mainly as a laptop vs a tablet. I’m looking to see if this can replace my MacBook 12inch and 9.7 inch iPad Pro.

So far it’s been pretty good as a laptop. Sure it was laggy during the first few hours during updates but it’s performed pretty well on all the software I use for work which is Office 365 and Chrome.

Today I’ve finally decided to just use this as a tablet laying on the couch. Chrome runs like garbage in tablet mode. However, Edge runs very well. As well as Safari in the iPad except with much more versatility since the Surface Go runs on a fully functional operating system.

Still wish the Go had better hardware though and i would definitely pay more for 16GB RAM and a better CPU on this form factor. Excited to see what Microsoft will announce in October.

Pick one up here: https://amzn.to/2wXrJrs


Monoprice Select Mini 3D Pro Printer Reivew

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I was always intimidated by 3D printing because in my mind, it sounded complicated, messy and too time consuming. All of my assumptions were WRONG. It was super easy, this took 5 minutes to setup and the printer did all of the work.

Right out of the box you get the 3D Printer, a memory card with the instructions on it along with a CAD file to print a lucky cat, and filament barely enough to create that lucky cat.

The build quality of the unit itself was pretty solid and well constructed. I’s about the size and weight of a blender and takes up about the same amount of space.

Setting up was really easy. However a printed quick start guide would have been nice and I did have to watch a few YouTube videos to make sure I was doing everything correctly.

Setting up the software was also easy. I just downloaded CURA for my Mac, added the MonoPrice printer and boom, I was set to go. Loading the filament didn’t take too much work and I was ready to print! All I had to do was pop in the memory card with the CAD file, preheated the filament and then hit print and it started.

The process of printing a 3D Lucky Cat took about 2.5 hours, which I did a time lapse on. After printing the cat, I was almost out of the the filament it came with so definitely pick some up if you intend to create more than that.

Again, this is my first 3D printer ever and the first time 3D printing anything so I can’t really compare it to anything else. But at the price point that this is at, and how easy it was!

You can pick one up here: https://amzn.to/2PJ6KS7


The Best Quiet Allergy Smoke Pet Dander Air Purifier for Your Workspace

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I have a cat, live in Austin where it gets humid and the pollen is just horrible especially in the spring. And yes I am highly allergic to all of those things so I tried a bunch of allergy medication like Flonase, Allegra, etc. I’ve also tried different air filters and they are either really loud, ineffective, look like something out of the 70s or all of the above. Honestly, I don’t really care how it looks as long as it works.

I did my research and it came down to a few filters. One being the Honeywell HPA200 Air Purifier and the Oregon Scientific Air Purifier. Both are really good and they actually work. I however decided to go for the Oregon Scientific Air Purifier because it looked a lot sleeker, and most importantly the HEPA and Carbon Filters were cheaper to replace. Air quality in my house is a lot better, no one can really smell the cat, and my allergies have really improved. The unit also runs really quiet and doesn’t sound like a jet engine so it’s not annoying.

Pick one one here!


More Prime Deals! Vitamix and Roomba (Update: Deal Expired)

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Amazon Prime Day deals just keep coming and coming which about a day left to wrap up their huge annual sale. A few of the things that I personally picked up included the iRobot Roomba 671 Vacuum for $229.99 which is great for pet hair (I’m a cat owner) and I needed to replace my old 500 series Roomba that’s about 6 years old! The Roomba 671 features:

  • Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately)
  • Clean and schedule from anywhere with the iRobot HOME App; compatible with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant
  • Patented 3-Stage Cleaning System and Dual Multi-Surface Brushes pick up everything from small particles to large debris
  • Full suite of intelligent sensors guide the robot under and around furniture to help thoroughly clean your floors
  • Auto-Adjust Cleaning Head automatically adapts its height to effectively clean carpets and hard floors
  • Runs for up to 90 minutes before automatically docking and recharging


I also picked up a Vitamix Explorian Blender for $189, which is now sold out!

Keep checking Amazon for more Prime Deals!

Deals! Amazon Fire Stick and Fire TV Family Heavily Discounted! (Update: Deal Expired)

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Kicking off Prime Day, Amazon has put on heavy discounts on their Fire TV devices. All of these included a remote and is a great travel companion when you don’t want to watch the garbage they have in the hotel rooms or when you’re staying at places that don’t have a Smart TV and you need your fix of Stranger Things and Arrested Development. Visiting your in-laws or grandma won’t be so bad after all!

All the Fire TV devices come with a remote so you can still sit on your lazy ass and enjoy your Netflix, Hulu, and Prime TV!

Now if you are in need of a new 4K SmartTV altogether, you can pick up a Toshiba 50-inch LED 4K TV with Amazon Fire TV built in for $289!!!


Amazing Deal! Sandisk Ultra 200GB Micro SDXC UHS-I for $45

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Do you take a lot of photos or video? Afraid of running out of space on your Nintendo Switch? Amazon now has a crazy deal on the 200GB Micro SDXC UHS-I by Sandisk for $45.60 with free shipping. Don’t miss out!

If yo don’t want to spend that much either, you can get the 16GB for $8!

You can pick it up here!


Your Built in TV Speakers Suck – At Least Get a Great Sound Bar for Cheap!

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When I got my first 4K TV (a really nice LG display), I thought I would be able to deal with the built in speakers. I was too lazy to setup a true surround sound system and more importantly, couldn’t really afford it. The sound coming from the TV’s built in speakers were garbage. It was hard to hear any of the dialogue and a lot of the sound was muffled mainly because the built in speakers projected downward due to the thin build of the TV.

Then I discovered the sound bars. They are a practical, low cost solution in getting great sound without needing to break the bank. The TaoTronics Sound Bar is an example for getting really good 2.0 stereo sound for $70 and it doesn’t require any drilling, mounting, and takes up very little space. Here’s what it features:

  • 25″ Sound Bar: No need to have a spacious living room to enjoy better audio playback! This compact soundbar installs unobtrusively in bedrooms and small environments. (Note: Please use the adapter contained within the package)
  • Dual Wired and Wireless: Pair via Bluetooth from up to 33 ft / 10 m or connect with the in-unit 3.5 mm, RCA, and optical inputs
  • Multiple Setups, Multiple Options: Sits flat below the TV screen or securely mounts on the wall for a sleek, elegant home theater setup
  • Easy to Use and Operate: High-sensitivity IR remote control displays the different modes by means of differently colored LED lights
  • Optical Connection for Clearer Sound: Plug in via the included optical cable for a more pure, unaltered audio reproduction

You can pick one up here for free shipping!


Got $750? EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition GAMING

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Don’t want to spend $6699 on an “underpowered” MacBook Pro 2018 and want to ascend to the PC Master Race? You can put that money to good use by buying a kickass Nvidia EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition graphics card and build your own desktop for a lot less money. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the best way to experience all your games such as Far Cry, Skyrim, PUBG, Overwatch, Rocket League, Battle Front, Dark Souls, and your Oculus VR games at maxed out settings. The Nvidia EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition features:

  • Real Base Clock: 1556 MHz/Real Boost Clock: 1670 MHz; Memory Detail: 11GB GDDR5X. Redesigned cooling with L-shaped contact fins to improve contact surface area for better heat dissipation
  • EVGA iCX Cooling – Delivering industry-leading cooling performance to your Graphics Card. Vulkan API
  • Requirements-Minimum of a 600 Watt power supply. An available 6-pin PCI-E power connector and an available 8 pin PCI-E power connector.Total Power Draw- 250 Watts
  • New vented heatsink fin design and pin fins for optimized airflow. An available 6-pin PCI-E power connector and an available 8 pin PCI-E power connector
  • DX12 OSD Support with EVGA Precision XOC. Stream extreme GeForce GTX PC gaming experiences to portable device like NVIDIA SHIELD with super-smooth, low-latency performance

Seriously, if all you do is play Fortnite, you don’t need that kind of power. Stick with the Switch or a Mac! I’m kidding. Sort of.

Pick up the Nvidia EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC Black Edition!


Awesome Read! A Brief History of Time: Stephen Hawking

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I bought this book years ago and it’s been collecting dust. Just finally managed to read this and it’s really amazing stuff. I mean I dabbled in physics in high school and college and never really thought about it since. You don’t even have to be a genius to read the work of a genius, which actually makes it quite genius. Stephen Hawking talks about how the universe began, stars were formed and how we all came to be today and tells it in a way that’s easy to understand and fun to read. It’s about 200 pages and you can probably finish it in less than a week of bathroom breaks. Totally recommended!

Pick up up here from Amazon!


Tokyo Xanadu EX+ on PC and PS4 is Awesome

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I really enjoyed playing Tokyo Xanadu EX+ by Aksys! It took me about two months to complete this game. If you are a fan of anime or JRPGs, totally get this. Here’s a quick rundown

  • Story: Town is under attack by “Greeds” which are like spirits or demons from another dimension. The Hero (Kou) witnesses a classmate gets caught in the middle of a classmate fighting one and realizes she wields special abilities like him too. They meet more people like them and form a super natural investigations group hunting them down throughout the game. Lots of typical anime stuff. Apparently all the girls have a thing for the hero. I don’t want to give too much away but it was the story that really drew me to the game.
  • Audio/Sound: Music is synthesized and simplistic. Can’t say too much about it. It’s not bad but won’t blow you away. Voice acting is in Japanese and it’s great if you’re a fan of anime.
  • Graphics: Like the audio, graphics won’t blow you away. Even though it’s on the PS4, it looks like a PS3 game and you definitely won’t need a 1080Ti graphics card to run this game on the PC
  • Game Play: Not too complex which is great. Battle system is like an Action RPG so you get to do some hacking and slashing, aerial moves, and other badass power moves. I don’t feel it gets too repetitive killing enemies. Overall the game isn’t that difficult and the puzzles are easy to solve. The game is big on developing relationships with other playable characters and some NPCs and you get rewarded on them.
  • Ending: There’s more than one ending to this game. Well you get the normal ending that makes you go WTF. BUT, you get to redo that ending scene after you beat the game and see the true ending, without having to start over (thank god). And once you complete that, there’s a little more to the story in the EX+ part of the game. You also unlock another mode called New+ if you want to play again

Pick it up here on Amazon!