Review

Mini-review: Pantone huey MEU101

In Photography, Review on 15 January 2010 tagged huey, monitor color calibrator, Pantone with 2 comments

For all of 2008 and most of 2009, I carried my DSLR everywhere I went. I photographed random stuff, people, concerts, and even a wedding. In October 2009¹, I booked two weddings.

That’s when I finally realized that my reputation was on the line. These photos had to be perfect.

A few weeks before the weddings, I finally bought a monitor color calibrator. Brian Auer showed me the Pantone huey MEU101 while Silas and I were hanging out at his place. At under $70, I was convinced.

The huey makes it really easy to calibrate your monitor — it only takes two minutes. You can set the small program to run silently in the background, compensating for room light changes at preset intervals. The base of the stand is 2.5 inches in diameter, and the device is 4 inches long with the width a bit wider than a pen.

Not too long after that, I ordered some of my own 4″ x 6″ prints. They matched up with what I saw on the monitor — very cool. I have no fear ordering 19¢ prints through Zenfolio/Mpix².

Get it.

Pantone huey MEU101

Pantone 2006, Electronics, Too low to display

Disclaimer: I bought the Pantone huey MEU101 with my own money. While I’m not being paid for this review, I’m an Amazon.com Associate.

More specifically, back to back weekends. ↩
With this type of ordering, our color technicians will not be able to adjust density, color, contrast or other elements of your files. ↩

Mini-Review: Sennheiser CX300 Earphones

In Gadgets, Review on 27 August 2009 with no comments

A few weeks ago, I bought Sennheiser CX300 earphones to replace my pricey Shure E2c in-earphones. Wait, why? The cord that wraps around the ears frayed out. It’s the second time it happened, and my warranty has run out.

I knew I’d be taking a hit in quality, but I just needed to isolate myself from the sounds of the subway, light rail, and people chatting loudly on their cell phones.

Once I stuck them in my ears, I was able to zone out just like before. Wailing babies? What babies? I can’t hear the random preacher on the subway. The sounds of Nine Inch Nails, The Mars Volta, or Rx Bandits engulfed me.

Verdict: the Sennheiser CX300 earphones are a fantastic, cost-effective, and necessary replacement to basic earphones supplied with MP3 players.

Sennheiser CX300-B Earbuds (Black)

Sennheiser, Accessory, $20.99

Thoughts on the Shuttle SA76G2 barebone mini-PC

In Computers, Review, Tip on 7 August 2009 with 17 comments

I’m helping my friend at work build a new computer, which will replace an aging system at home. It’s based on the Shuttle SA76G2 barebone mini-PC.

Components:

In case you’re about to build a new system based on this, you need to know something.

For the Shuttle SA76G2, the CPU power consumption (TDP) has a maximum of 105W. We actually ordered the AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor.

Why? The Shuttle SA76G2 specifications at Newegg doesn’t list this. I didn’t find out until I and saw the sticker on the CPU socket. Now we have to return the 125W processor and order the 95W processor.

It gets worse. At Mwave, you can configure the system with a AMD Phenom II X4 920 2.8GHz processor — but that runs at 125W!

Newegg, Mwave, and other resellers that sells barebone systems and motherboards that have a CPU power consumption (TDP) maximum: please add that specification to the item page!

Alright, so I don’t have too many thoughts about this system yet. Aren’t you glad I shared this information before you got an incompatible processor?

Give me until ~~Tuesday~~ Wednesday for more thoughts on this. Hopefully the replacement processor arrives Monday and gives me the chance to finish putting the parts together. If I’m somehow wrong with all this information, please leave a comment and explanation. Thanks.

*****

Update 2009-08-10 — At Mwave, they let you configure a Shuttle SA76G2 barebone mini-PC with the OCZ OCZ2RPR10664GK 4GB Kit.

The problem is that the heat spreaders for the memory sticks are too tall for the case. How would they have tested the system? Why is it an option?

Two strikes on Mwave.

So, the beastly memory kit is heading back and the OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK will hopefully arrive tomorrow.

If you follow me on Twitter, I was griping about something else. An error on my part is that I forgot to buy thermal compound. Fortunately, Radio Shack had Arctic Silver® 5 and Arctic Silver® Céramique. I went with Céramique.

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound, 3.5 Grams

Artic Silver, $2.49

Arctic Silver Ceramique Premium High Density Thermal Compound 2.5g

Arctic Silver, Electronics, $3.51

*****

Update 2009-08-10 3pm — Wait, the barebones system did come with thermal compound! Stars Heatsink Compound, to be exact. It was hiding behind the CD. Oh well, it’s cheaper stuff that definitely wouldn’t perform as well as Arctic Silver®.

I am idiot.

Update 2009-08-12 5:30pm — Memory came in two days later because he went with Egg Saver (free) shipping.

I snapped the two sticks into the motherboard, plugged in the hard drive and DVD burner, and powered on the computer.

The Windows install — from partitioning the hard drive to Windows desktop — took about 15 minutes.

A detail (Mwave) overlooked is that the Shuttle SA76G2 only supports memory types DDR2 533/667/800. Buying DDR2 1066 was overkill. Fortunately, there isn’t even a price difference. Of course, it runs fine at DDR2 800. Nothing to worry about.

Windows 7 didn’t need me to install additional drivers. Nice.

My friend is taking the system home tomorrow because he won’t get a chance to use his new computer tonight. Then, he’ll run it through the paces. (He’s a graphic designer.)

Had my sensor cleaned by Canon

In Business, Review on 23 January 2009 with 4 comments

While I was in Irvine yesterday, I stopped by Canon Factory Service Center to get my 40D sensor cleaned for free. (via Chris Lin)

The process was a breeze. They told me I could pick it up in two hours, which wasn’t a problem.

I returned a few hours later and it was ready to go, wrapped inside a bag with a plastic temporary body cap and a tag with the technician’s initials. Attention to detail has to mean it’s pristine, right?

When I got home to check out the sensor:

View on Flickr
50mm, 3.2 sec at f/22, ISO 100

Um, what happened? If I had to ship my camera in for this service, I would be way more upset.

It looks like I’ll be going the DIY route in the future. (Marcus recommends the Copperhill method.)

Mini-Review: PG Tips Black Tea

In Review on 12 January 2009 with no comments

A friend at work sent an “all staff” email, announcing the arrival of PG Tips Black Tea to our General Store.

It’s a bold, strong, black tea from the UK. Strong black tea. [It's] also called “diesel fuel” or “builder’s tea” by those who know and love it!

Treat it well — 3-5 minutes of steeping, then [remove] that lovely little pyramid bag [from] the water before it goes bitter and nasty. Milk and sugar go well with this brew.

If you drink it after 3pm, I can’t be responsible for your insomnia.

I’m not sure how to measure its strength, but it tastes good. Really good. While it won’t replace Dunkin Donuts coffee and my AeroPress, it’s a great alternative if coffee isn’t appropriate and water is too bland.

PG Tips Black Tea, Pyramid Tea Bags, 40-Count Boxes (Pack of 6)

PG Tips, Grocery, $19.99

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All Narfed Up photography and words by Bryan Villarin

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