Showing posts with label Lenovo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lenovo. Show all posts

PC Gaming Show 2022 + Workspace Suggestions!

 


I thought it would be cool to drop a little segment in the spirit of the PC Gaming Show 2022 to focus on wireless tech + peripherals for those of you who like to move freely around your office or studio. I know that some of you enjoy your keyboards & mice, while others... just have keyboards & mice that aren't as... eye-catching. You don't need these things, but... having a picture-worthy setup doesn't hurt either, and believe it or not, it's well within reach for quite a few PC owners.

There are people like... fashion designers who need a wireless keyboard setup because... remaining in one place doesn't allow for as much productivity. Measurements have to be taken, the tablet is used almost as often and you can do without the keyboard & mouse wires.

If you have a white desk or a work table that you utilize as a desktop as well, a keyboard & mouse of the same color doesn't hurt if you like to coordinate. Duo's like the Lenovo 510 Wireless Combo come to mind. They're clean, and only require one USB port to control both peripherals.

I definitely have to add audio to the mix, because... audio is definitely a huge part of my life + the lives of so many of you.

The option to cut the cord is nothing new... although some of you prefer cords because of the sound quality, but... there are options that deliver just as well without the cord.

The 1More EVO Earbuds deliver HiFi Sound, have 6 mics, 28hours of playtime, and the quality sound is undeniable (I actually have some on right now). To stick with the color theme, you can get these headphones in white (with gold trim). You can go into the office and not only have these headphones connected to your phone, but they can also connect to your computer's Bluetooth without skipping a beat (you don't have to disconnect your phone, both can be connected).


To maintain the theme of an all-white desk space, definitely grab a white qi wireless charger. There are definitely lower-priced wireless headphones out there like the Philips T1207's that are said to have an 18-hour playtime + IPX4 water resistance. They might not have all the bells and whistles, but... (ay) they're less than $40. If you have the money to spring for some speakers... there are some solid bluetooth bookshelf speakers out there like the Audioengine A2+.

If you're going to get a new mouse, might as well get a new mouse pad... especially for an all-white setup. I could warn against a white mousepad because it could get dirty quick... but the same can be said about a white mouse & keyboard (but there is a keyboard and mouse setup here that have gone without issue. I wouldn't go jumping on them after eating some Cheetos, but... yeah... no issues here.

Gotta have a game controller on deck... so definitely grab a white wireless Xbox controller + a stand... or a drawer to keep it out of the way when you aren't gaming to your heart's content.

Another thing that makes sense... is a white office chair, but... out of the options at the link, I don't have any recommendations (preferences vary). I do recommend getting the best chair that works for you, and if you're on the taller or larger side... keep the weight limit in mind. There are larger chairs with increased weight limits, but even with that... some only go up so high, so I'd recommend replacing the office chair cylinder lift. This could actually save you a crap load of money if you need a chair with an increased weight limit and/or height. If you wonder why your chair goes down after you've adjusted it... this is the reason and it shouldn't take much to replace it versus throwing a perfectly good chair out.

By the way, if you are constantly moving around and find yourself moving your office chair from your desk to the work tables, I do recommend getting a stool on wheels. Some have backs on them, some have a saddle design, but either way... I recommend one without a back on it if you aren't going to put it to use and don't plan to utilize it as a desk chair as well. You can just sit regardless of its position and get your grind on.

Going back to drawing tablets, Xencelabs newest edition is their white medium pen tablet bundle. The working space is grey, but... there could be a reason behind it (especially when you consider the constant stroking of the stylus). We also had the pleasure of reviewing this bundle... which got a 5 out of 5 for being a damn good entry for the company in this competitive space.

Check out our full review... here.

They're veterans in the industry who stepped away from well-known brands like Wacom to create their company. I wasn't a fan of tablets without screens until I used this one... the way the tablet is structured works well for drawing and doesn't have that annoying wrist drop-off. We have other tablets without screens, but they're just annoying to me, so this was a pleasant surprise. I use this tablet just as much as I do the Wacom Cintiq, and the price is right. If you prefer a screened drawing tablet... definitely consider a Wacom, and to maintain the white theme (to an extent)... you may want to go with the more affordable Wacom One that connects to your PC, Mac, and... (certain) Android devices.

At the end of the day... you don't have to have all-white everything or... all-white anything, but if you're in the mood to switch it up, explore your options and consider what works best for you. There is definitely a ton of motivation out there but always try and aim towards your needs first... and then consider the wants afterward.






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Lenovo Q24i-10... Reviewed!

The first thing I noticed about the Lenovo Q24i-10 is how nice it looked, and I was going to write an article merely eyeing it down... but I figured it would be great to actually review it. Before that, check out this little unboxing... that I believed had enough light at the time.



Build: In a nutshell, the build quality of this monitor feels good. The base is a useful + sturdy metal base and... delivers a combined weight of 9.92lbs with the monitor attached. Other than that particular section where you connect the base on the monitor, it's nice and flat... and would look nice on a dual mount. As seen in the unboxing video... you can sit a keyboard right on the mount and make use of that space. This really comes in handy for those desks that lack the space like some of the wall-mounted desks (that I'd be terrified to put anything on).

The monitor is adjustable by tilting it at the desired angle (-5° / 22°) in the top part of the stand. You can't do the same near the base of the stand... from what I see (I'm reaching out to Lenovo for a solution). If it's not adjustable (which isn't displayed anywhere I've looked) that's a missed opportunity to allow for height adjustment... because right now my monitors are staggard.

The monitor also includes a Kensington Lock, a near edgeless display, an HDMI, VGA (which should've been at least a DVI or a Displayport), and an audio out (3.5mm). Also, one thing that I really really like about this monitor is the unique feature they have for cable management. I love tech, but wires annoy me... so to have the little hook on the stand is a very nice touch.
By the way, the Lenovo Q24i-10 comes with a 1 year warranty with an A+ Energy Rating.


Visuals: As far as visuals go... I've used these monitors to game, edit video, images, watched videos, and all that good stuff. Out of the box, the monitor's refresh rate is 60Hz, but... you can increase it to 75Hz for an even smoother picture. If you don't know... the refresh rate is the number of times your monitor updates with new images each second. 60Hz delivers 60FPS... which isn't exactly 120Hz or higher, but it hasn't skipped a beat.

You have Standard, Game, Web, Movie, and Picture Modes... which deliver different brightness options but I will probably stick with the standard. I rarely ever use anything outside of the power button.
This monitor also features the AMD FreeSync Technology, which is an adaptive synchronization tech for (liquid-crystal) displays that support various refresh rates to avoid tearing + reducing the risk of stuttering. To get this certification, a monitor goes through a process to ensure the monitor delivers a tear-free, low latency experience.


The rest of the specs are as follows:

Resolution 1920 x 1080 (FHD)
LED Backlight
75Hz - 50Hz Refresh Rate
Monitor Size 23.8-inch
Brightness: 250 cd/㎡
16:9 Aspect Ratio
YCbCr444 Color Format
Standard dynamic range (SDR) color space.
Response Time 4ms (Extreme Mode), 6ms (Normal Mode)
Panel Type: In-Plane-Switching
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
16.7 Million Color Support
Eye Care Support


Audio: You have an audio out (3.5mm) on the Lenovo Q24i-10 monitor... which is a nice touch if you want to connect speakers or headphones + you also have 2 x 3W speakers under the hood. I'd definitely recommend using your third-party speakers or a headset because the on-board audio is... subpar at best.
If you need the speakers... they're a nice little addition for audio playback, but that's about it. They try to give you some sorta oomph for what it's worth, but the lows are shy in comparison to the highs and... you really have to crank the volume to hear the audio (I had to turn the monitor up 90+% and my standard PC volume up 90+% to hear it on a decent low). A decent low would be the volume you can hear that's acceptable to parents or your significant other so that it doesn't interrupt anything they're trying to hear, but I wouldn't use this monitor for movie night.

I would've paid a little more for better audio... but Lenovo could've made the Lenovo Soundbar compatible as well. Then again, I probably wouldn't use it anyway and would've opted for a more adjustable stand.


Price: Price wise you can get the Lenovo Q24i-10 for... $189.99. If you can get it on sale... don't hesitate, unless you find one with better specs. I did some research and $200 is usually the threshold before you find the specs really start to rise (in the resolution + refresh rate department). When it comes to monitors under $200 or those in the lower $200s I found this the most appealing option... which is why I have two. Thought about the curved monitor, love the features, but I'm just not ready to shell out the coins for that. 



Build 4 (I can't give it a 5 if I can't line up the monitors)

Visuals 5

Audio 2

Price 5

4 out of 5 Cool Points