Altec Lansing BXR 1121

Altec Lansing BXR 1121

Eventhough Altec Lansing BXR 1121 has been discontinued, but this multimedia speaker is still Laopan's Favorite. BXR 1121 is an active 2.1 speaker whereas it has 2 drivers and 1 subwoofer. As the replacement of BXR 1121 would be BXR 1221, but it is not quite good replacement. BXR1221 wins in its mid-hi sound, but most of the features have been erased.

BXR 1221

BXR 1121 is both compact in size and cheap in price. Its refurbished is still being hunting down by people. 

I have this for 4 years already and the sound quality is not decaying and never been broken down for everyday use. 

The front speaker is also easy to be placed in such narrow place. And the use of the speaker stand is because on its lower part there is a slot for its stand. 

The Box for the subwoofer is quite solid and thicker than BXR1221.

Talking about the Amplifier and bass, BXR1121 is still the Laopan's favorite. It is very impossible to "blow" your heart, but the sound of the bass is quite soft, not BOOMing and doesn't shock the use of 4" driver with 7 watt amp. It creates a great song.

Volume button, aux-in, headphone, bass, and treble setting are all accessible and placed in right side of the front of the speaker. The only disturbing part is the on/off switch that placed on the back of the subwoofer.


Stereo/Front

Number of frequency bands : 2-way
Max input power: 4W
Frequency range: 100Hz - 20kHz
Nominal impedance: 8 Ohms
Type: Bookshelf
Enclosure materials: Plastic
Dimensions (WxHxD): 4.4 in x 7.9 in x 4.0 in
   

Subwoofer

Max input power: 7W
Frequency range: 100Hz - 30Hz
Nominal impedance: 4Ohms
Woofer / Midbass: 2 x 4.00 in
Enclosure materials: Plywood
Dimensions (WxHxD): 7.9 in x 8.0 in x 7.9 in

 

I have test this product for 4 years, BXR 1121 can play all type of music genre. Whether it audiophile , jazz, rock, house, dangdut, and R&B is nice to listen, for those who expects to have a powerful base, you need more than this.  

Eventhough it is not as powerfull as sonic gear, XFREE, or Simbada, Laopan likes the sound of the bass from this cheap and good quality of BXR1121. In my opinion, Altect Lansing should have perfecting the driver front of BXR1121 than BXR1221, 

Pros :

- Cheap

- Soft Bass but not BOOMY

- Aux in for cell-phone or ipod

- Headphone conector

- Bass/ treble volume

Cons :

- power on/off switch on the back of the sub

- Less mid-hi eventhough you set the treble maximum already.

-evoers

Razer Sphex

Razer Sphex mousepad hard surface type

The Razer's factory produces cheap hard-surface mousepad called Razer Sphex with the price of Rp. 150,000. How's the performance? Let's us see the First Impression Video from Laopan.

I would say "Razer DID it!!" of making the thinest hard-surface mousepad. You need to take caution when you are going to move it around because of the thinest. It looks like Silica that makes you very aware of not folding it, once it is bent, it won't be recovered.

Regarding adhesive surface claimed by Razer, I would have to say bogus, since you need a double tape to make this mousepad not moving around when you use it.

About its performance, Razer Sphex is good. Laopan feels that Razer's choosing of smooth texture not torturing your mousefeet.  

Last but not least, Razer Sphex is not suitable for traveling around. But, this unsuitable case is able to be covered by good design and good performance.

Pros :
- Good performance
- Very thin
- The cheapest Hardsurface gaming mousepad

Cons :
- Slippery and not stick to your table (need double tape to hold on to your table)
- Because of it is too thin, it makes hard to move this around and need extra caution for not folding it.

Laopan Future Goal part 2

Hello everybody. Thank you for your support, input and critics to make this laopan blog moving forward and bigger each time. We also would like to say thank you for contributors and gear donator for us to review.



We are committing to pull out at least 1 review, in Indonesian version, every week unless we are on vacation or any other un-excused matter. Laopan will also facilitate chatroom and yahoo messenger for those who would like to ask around gaming gear or buying the reviewed-gaming gear from our shopping center.



Because of your input and request from the fans, in the future, the Laopan team would like to facilitate any buy/sell either COD or Delivery only. Either the reviewed-gear or brand new gear, we would like to have it ready so that Solo/Surakarta or out-of-town user can come, see or even buy it through transfer.



In the future, we would like to spread our wings by reviewing audio or mobile phone. In that case we need your help and supports to light this blog up. Last but not least, Laopan Team would like to say thank you.



-Moderator

Review Razer Imperator 2012

Razer Imperator 2012 new edition 4G laser

Razer Imperator, this time the Razer team is remodeling the imperator machine and improve the performances. Razer Imperator is equipped with sophisticated cencor 6400Dpi 4G dual cencor system that includes 2 optical infra-red and laser censors. The Razer team improves this makes a tremendous improvement, not only in the Dpi, but also awesome surface detection features. And for the first time in reviewing the Razer’s mouse  product, I agree with what was written in its website.


Let’s see more about this imperator.

It was packed exquisitely, even in all gaming peripherals products, I would say the packaging and content are very good-look and neat.

Just like the others, it contains sticker, mouse, manual book, testimonial pamphlet from all the master gamers, sertificate, and booklet of other Razer products. And for the driver, you can directly download from  Razer Imperator 2012 Driver

Not only having a nice shape, but also the ergonomic type of Razer. You can actually use any type of grabbing tips that we have, palm, claw or fingertips, to grab this Mouse. Out of the other competitors, only the Imperator is the one that comfy to grab, but unfortunately this mouse can't be grabbed by lefty person.

For those who like glowing lights, you don't need to worry since a blue LED light would be light up on the scrolling and logo once you connect it to the computer. The blue light will illuminate brightly when Imperator on the surface and dimmer when you lift it up.

It is a must for a good gaming equipment to have braided cable and gold-plated USB cable to reduce any latency and to have high durability.

It is nicely shaped for either big or small hands. Even you can adjust the side button, right where you put your thumb, back and forward give you sense of comfortable to play.

We can control the side button from the button of the mouse. Even when we turn this mouse upside down, it still looks fiercely.

This is the Imperator specification:

• 6400dpi 4G Dual Sensor System
• Rubberized contoured thumb grip for added control
• Ergonomic right-handed design
• Adjustable side buttons
• Razer Synapse Onboard Memory
• Up to 200 inches per second* /50g acceleration
• Seven independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
• On-the-Fly Sensitivity adjustment
• Zero-acoustic Ultraslick mouse feet
• Approx. size in mm; 123(l) x 71(w) x 42(h)

This Mouse’s price is approximately around Rp. 800,000,-. Of course for us who really want to buy mouse and willingly spending this amount of money expect to have a good performance. But then again, this good performance must also have a good gaming computer performance also. This sophisticated imperator is a bit spoiled since you need to have a good USB connector too. Because of you don’t have a good USB connection with a good PC performance, then your OLD-computer won’t be able to handle this mouse. It will cause you skipping as happened on our Test-subject Pentium D 820.


I love the surface auto detection so much. You just need to pay attention of where you put your mouse on the mouse pad. Once you put it on the mousepad, Imperator automatically detect the surface of your mousepad. It will be a bit mess-up if you accidently have the mouse on your hand when you are going to put it down on the surface. So, if you are planning to move this mouse to different surface, you need to pull it out first and stick it in, or else your mouse will be mess-up or even not moving at all.


There has been a lot of unpleasant news regarding this Razer Imperator 4G about its axis problem. But, as far as we test this product, there has been no problem as long as you do all the process right.


The weird part about this mouse is that its perform much better using the RAZER Goliathus Soft Surface than any hard surface such as Vespula, 4HD and Sphex. It’s kind of funny but you can feel the difference when you have it on Goliathus.


This is a great mouse with an easy to use comparing to its competitors. You can adjust the lift-distance as you like, try to adjust it 0 when you play a computer game and let me know how comfortable it is. It is Sensei feel alike. For any type of game, this is a very comfortable mouse to use and you will feel it during your competition.

This mouse is easy to use either for expert or beginner. You need not to study and custom made like G9X and don’t confuse your mind with many features offer by Sensei. You just need to put the Mouse in the Mousepad, plug it in, Set your dpi and lift-distance manually and finally Ready to use. For Macro user, it is easy to set the macro too.


For those of you who don’t want to have a headache and want to feel like having an awesome mouse, this New version of Imperator would be a good choice for you. Also, this Rzaer is warrantee and claimable whenever it falling apart.


Pros :
- Easy setup, very comfort
- Adjustable thumb button
- Surface detector
- 6400 real dpi highest comparing to its competitors
- Good Lift distance 


Cons :
- Having very simple customization and less great features comparing to its competitors
- No Weight Adjuster
- A bit "spoiled" since it needs a good mousepad


Note: Some of the cases reported from the shop that we bought, it has been told that that imperator 4G has problem with axis problem. The axis problem is the cursor moves just up and down. But good things that the product warrantee from technosolution is easy to claim, so please makesure that you have the right guarantee when you buy this mouse.


-laopan

Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400

Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400

This Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard K400 is a wireless keyboard that going to be HTPC keyboard (Home Teather Personal Computer). It is just like combining a slim keyboard and 3.5mm toucpad and transforming just like a notebook. This keyboard has a 5 meter in radius of distance from its receiver, it is  very adequate for home theater type of room; it is basically becoming your remote control.

For the Box-design, Logitech would be the champion to lure you.

Furthermore about the packaging, we all can say that we have no disagree with it since it is very simple and compact. After we opened the box, we can see a unit of K400, unifiying bluetooth receiver, usb extender, and a black-white manual brochure. The material that forms K400 is quite nice with the signature of Logitech (very slick). 

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As we can see in the above, it is the size comparison comparing with Razer Arctosa. The keyboard layout is very compact; the Logitech hides its keypad under ENTER button and making the Right-Shift much smaller (make it hard to be pressed or press the wrong button). The scroll lock, print scr, pause, page up, page down, end, and home button combined into one with other button by pressing the FN button (FN button would activate the blue writting in the keyboard).

Very simple and compact makes it fits with small space.

It is Slim and light just feel like carrying a Galaxy Tab  equipped with comfy buttons. It also has a very good feedback.

If you are planning to leave for sometime, just turn this little switch OFF. The Logitech claimed that using AA Alkaline Battery can hold up tp 12 months with normal usage.

This product is conserving energy since it consumed only two AA alkaline Battery for 1 year. And you don't need to worry about the battery since Logitech gives you 2 battery for bonus. 

You can also put it vertically without any help. It is very suitable with the concept of HTPC.

This K400 is pretty cheap, the price is Rp. 375,000, for bringing home good quality wireless keyboard. You don't need any extra Touchpad since they providing you, so less extra mouse to have, less money to spend and more space for playing. On the top left side, there is LEFT-CLICK-Mouse so that you would feel like holding keyboard just like Playstation Controller.

Using the 2.4GHz wireless with 128-bit AES Encryption provides you with secure connection when you do a transaction or typing any very important and secret matter.

With a 3.5" Touchpad just like what Notebook has, eventhough it is not very responsive, it moves quite smooth and Laopan thinks that this is enoug as long as not for gaming equipment. For the gamers, Laopan tried using this keyboard to play CSOnline and it performed quite good and responsive (no lagging  has been  acknowledged in during the game session).

We found a hard time having "accidently" pressing the right-shift because of the size is quite small. The other things would be no ON indicator shows that K400, numlock, and capslock being activated (numlock is unnecessary since no numpad).

Also, for a multimedia type of keyboard, it is very unusual for Logitech to provide with very minimum multimedia type of keyboard. Therefore, it was hard for us to operate since we have less shortcut; luckily VOLUME and INTERNET HOME are still there for us to use. 

In summary, this keyboard is very suitable for HTPC, cheap in price for wireless keyboard. But if you would like to use this to replace your notebook keyboard, Laopan would have to say Just forget it; since the size is almost like your notebook keyboard. But for desktop player, it is simple and nice to look, eventhough there are more "shiny" choices of keyboard with the same ranging of price. 

Logitech is very advanced with computer peripherals. Laopan likes this keyboard since it is simple, light, easy to store, nice pressing button, can be use to browse your 32-inch TV while sitting or sleeping and carry-able everywhere. Eventhough it can be used for gaming activity, but we don't recommend it. You need to find specific keyboard that has low latency and easy to pressed button. 

Pros  :

- Long lasting battery

- Simple, light and easy to store.

- Touchpad solution, You need no extra mouse giving you a very relaxing browsing while sitting down in your sofa.

- Reasonable price for HTPC

- Plug n Play and compatible for any type of Windows XP, Vista and 7 system.

Cons :

- No light indicator 

- The shift button that can be "accidentally" pressed.
- Having minimized button of F1-F12 that requires you to find and look at where the buttons are.

- Minimum multimedia button.

Review Steelseries Sensei

Steelseries Sensei, looking at the brand SteelSeries, you know that it is high quality gaming gear equipment. Steelseries works seriously on the gaming products only. Working side-by-side with world gaming champions to create a gaming mouse. This mouse has been tested over and over by all the masters from Counterstrike 1.6, Starcraft 2, HoN, Doom, Warcraft 3, LoL and last but not least DotA. The main purpose of this mouse is to maximize the skill and fulfilling the needs of the champion.  

Now, we are done with mesmerizing story from the brochure, What we need is the proof. Lets take a look one by one about this SteelSeries Sensei.

All the Steelseries box looks alike, it is designed to proof you that this product is created for professional gamer and not just a low-end one.   

It reminded me of Silver Surfer (on Fantastic Four) meet GABAN (old super hero movie) when I see the design. Covered in Chrome Steelseries Logo with Black color makes the look of Steelseries more like Robot Futuristic.  Gold plated and Braided Cable are must for Steelseries, since the Razer team always thinking about the worst-case on playing game. When we look at it, we know right away that the size and shape looks like SteelSeries Xai. If we change the Chrome color with Black and in unplug to the computer, it is very hard and confusing for us to differentiate with Xai.  

After we plug in the computer, you can see right away the light on the bottom of the LCD written STEELSERIES (the default setting). Also, it lights up the orange LED on the scrolling, the Optical LED and the SteelSeries Logo. There are too many LED lights and all of them are changed-able.   

In the weight, Sensei is much heavy than XAI. As my hand touching it, I felt the comfortable of the Mouse. Eventough it is not ergonomic design, its ambidextrous is very comfortable in my right hand. As I moved the mouse, than I felt its minus points; the 2 buttons on the right side (activate the “Page up and Down”), “accidently” being clicked everytime by my ring-finger. But then I thought, I just need to accustom to it

I have not see the wild-side of Sensei, therefore I opened up the driver profile, but what I got was “though” customization. Eventough Sensei provide the presetting from Counterstrike and Starcraft Masters, the setting of this mouse is much less user-friendly.

It would be a waste when you play a game in 400 dpi, so I changed it into 11400 dpi. Don’t be surprised since this Sensei is equipped with 32 bit processor equal to Pentium 75, which able to double the 5700dpi. Make a bit tuning on Windows Acceleration by putting it on the Second bar, you can controlling the mouse nicely and un-wild running around. Running smoothly in the highest dpi without any jitter and skipping with having the Hard-surface mouse like Steelseries 4HD.

Gold Plated USB cable is a must for Gaming Gear

As I said before, this is a very sophisticated mouse every sell. The Steelseries team names this features EXACT. For examples we have Angel Snapping for drawing a straight line, Exactlift to adjust your lift-distance, Exactaim to slow-down the movement customade to your hand movement too, Excataccel the opposite side of Exactaim that make mouse moving faster, and Exactsense that give us the freedom to choose dpi from 1 to 5700 (you can put it 1, 358 or 5699 dpi).

It is great isn’t it? When you go to the Gamenet, you Noneed to have your driver, you just need to turn your mouse around and make a tweak on the LCD so that adjustable to your gamenet computer. For Macro user, you will have lots of fun with this mouse because of its complexity and the number of buttons.

On the numbers of test on Mousepad 4HD, there has been a bit scratch on Sensei’s Mousefeet; therefore you need to prepare yourself for extra money to change the Mousefeet. The hardsurface will “eat” your Sensei’s Mousefeet even faster, so I tried using the SteelSeries QCK mass Soft Surface. I felt the changing on its lift-distance everytime I lifted the mouse. So I went to Exactlift and made it smaller to 3%, but it still have problem. This brings to the decaying of its Speed-performance and Accuracy.

Overall, it performs very good. Smoothly aimed but not slow and un-responsive. It is nicely designed for 3 different types of grabbing and ambidextrous. For those who have either small or big hands, will found no problem. In my opinion, may be this is the most advanced mouse every sold at this moment.

Pros :
- Most Sophisticated mouse, macro, light, custom name it!
- Very comfortable with PLAM, CLAW or FINGER grabber.
- Ambidextrous, easy to use for left-handed.

- You don’t need any driver when you play in the gamenet, just turn Sensei around and do the setting from the LCD.

Cons :
- Very complicated
- For button 6 and 7 on the right side is very annoying (for right-handed user)
- You will feel the heat after using it too long.
- No Weight Adjustment