Category: Entertainment

Are These The Best Earbuds for Working Out?

There is a phenomenon going down with the culture in our youths today. It seems the younger people have ditched the self-destructive and human deprecative behaviors of adolescent debauchery and replaced it with working out.

Yes, I have said it before and that won’t stop me from saying it again, the gym is the hot new bar or club scene of the 21rst century. These young misguided adults have ditched the drugs, booze, and promiscuous dancing for the gym.

Now instead of getting the hot new designer clothes and dancing the night away, one dawns on their finest spandex, water bottle, and sneaker, in the wee early hours of the day. As weird as it sounds, it’s the new world we live in. There is still one constant though… Music.

They all are still listening to music at the gym. Music, radiating from little tiny buds stuck in everyone’s ears, helping to keep this new health generation motivated and achieving. I know this took me a while to get here, but let’s talk about the best earbuds for working out, shall we?

Earbuds at the gym are crucial, they are not only the peripheral sense that interacts with all of your smart gym tech, but they pump the music to keep you on that elliptical for just one more song.

Plus you need the best pair to look cool, this is the new club scene after all. Like everything these days, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for aesthetics. These are the top 5 best sounding and best-looking earbuds for working out.

Bose SoundSport Truly Free Wireless Sport Headphones

Bose, of course, Bose, would be number one. They are the most elegant and fantastic sounding earbuds on the planet. These beautiful little buds just screw into place right in your ear. This will form a snug fit in all ears, just adjust the sound for the perfect earbud. Rocking the company’s highest-quality speakers, the sound is incendiary. They give up t0 five hours of play time with each charge.

If that is not enough for your workout, the case can give you an additional charge of 10 hours. Inspired sweat-resistant headphones with the Bose Connect app’s “find my buds” feature, there is no risk of damage or loss.

Jabra ELITE ACTIVE 65T

Number 2 should be Jabra’s motto. Never better than Bose, but demolish everyone else. They are the Mack Robinson of earbuds. These completely wireless headphones have a waterproof coating. They also sport an astonishing call drop rate, next to zero.

Plus smart features like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, or Google Assistant. Got to stay connected when you want to disconnect and run right? Five hours of battery life, but with the jabra, you can go 15 before needing to charge up your carrying case.

Skullcandy METHOD WIRELESS IN-EAR HEADPHONES

Skullcandy slips into the 3 holes here for its quality and for separating itself from the pack. Individuality, you want to be unique at the gym. Skull candy packs the hardware to a flexible collar leaving your buds light AF. To make this list they have to be sweat- and water-resistant headphones. Light, great, flexible and different, not to mention cheap. $39.99, a magnificent bargain.

Powerbeats 3

Yeah, as expected beats make an appearance in the top 3. Monster and Dr. Dre have some terrific sound equipment, like the Powerbeats3. You never need to worry about these guys Shifting or moving at the gym. The universal ear hooks keep them right in place, and comfortable. 12 hours of battery life, That will last me a month of gym time. I know, I should spend more time at the gym.

Aftershokz

Bone conduction? It transfers sound via vibration of your cheekbones. That means nothing goes in or on your ear. You can hear your surroundings and the music at the same time with no blockage. Imagine being able to hear the music at the gym and have a conversation too, music to my ears.

The sound is different but terrific, it’s not like it is playing but rather being produced in your head. Truly amazing distraction free headsets, comfortable and easy to use. These tend to stay on after the gym.

Honorable Mention: AirPods

As a full fledge apple fan geek, I must mention the Airpods. While they were not designed for working out, their weight acts as a terrific counterbalance. This keeps these insanely light buds in place through almost any workout, while remaining totally comfortable.

They are not the best sounding option on the list but hold no liability.

January 24, 2019
Top Timeshare Destinations You Should be Looking At

Time-sharing is one of the most wonderful things to ever happen to America’s middle class. TimeShare gives you the option to own a beautiful piece of property in your favorite vacation spot for a fraction of the cost. How do they do this? It is a simple idea, take one glorious property in a destination spot, divide said property into the 52 weeks a year and sell each one to the hard working people of America for an affordable and attractive price. Just purchase a 1/52nd share of a unit, a room, suite of rooms, condo, or villa. Then stay there for a week each year.

Then a few decades after this magnificent invention, the timeshare industry evolved into a multi-faceted, consumer-focused product that offers much more than just a week per year at your favorite resort. Timeshare evolved into vacation clubs. This gives you perks, flexibility and discounts along with your week a year in the paradise of your choice. Now the paradise of your choice can change each year with the vacation club model.

You won’t only get great ownership accommodations in any given destination, the benefits add up. Real benefits, like extra rewards and free timeshare exchange, or discounts on airfare, travel, and admission to area attractions. Life just keeps getting better.

Am I starting to sound like a Timeshare salesperson? I’ll stop, just know timeshare and vacation clubs are a great way to maximize your vacations on a budget, add to your investment portfolio, and treat yourself to a great time. Now that you are on board let us look at the 5 best timeshare destination spots in the country.

All of Florida

Timeshare was meant for Florida, and Florida is prime for timeshare. It’s a match made in fanny pack heaven. Florida timeshares can provide a vacation for everyone. Want to take your kids on yearly trips to Walt Disney World and Universal Studios? Just simply want to relax on soft white sand for a west coast Florida sunset? Maybe a warm weather dive into debauchery and easy living is your get-away. Daytona Beach to Naples or all the way down to the Keys, Florida has your vacation ready. Plus it’s cheap.

With 4 major US cities, airports and cruise ports galore, Florida is a hot spot for paradise seekers. Let’s talk about the golfing, yeah Florida has that too. All the golf you can handle in Florida. Pack your clubs to hit some of the state’s best and most-cherished courses. Legendary courses, such as the Seminole Golf Course, TPC Sawgrass, The Concession Golf Course, The Bear’s Club. Excited yet? Then try out the entire city of Palm Coast, with 5 award-winning, Pro designed, immaculate courses including The breathtaking Jack Nicklaus-designed Ocean Course of Hammock Dunes.

Timeshare in Hawaii

Hawaii timeshare resorts are the essence of luxury, boasting spectacular ocean views, and beachfront access. Illustrious restaurants, spas, tennis courts, golf courses and inspiring views at every resort. Hawaii has several islands, each with its own adventure and sights. The Big Island is famous for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Want to vacation in a volcano? Hike a coffee plantation? Black sand beaches? Not to mention vibrant cities like Honolulu. Ohau has countless parks, botanical gardens, and museums to keep your itinerary full. That’s just the first island.

Kaanapali Beach on Maui is quickly turning in to the spot for beachside luxury. Boasting the best selection of posh timeshare, spas, and exclusive resorts. A little tip… try a lomilomi massage.

Colorado

I’m talking about a little place where the beer flows like wine, and the women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano… I’m talking about a little place called Aspen, or any of Colorado for that matter. If you like Endless blue sky, lush emerald green forests and astonishing mountains Colorado could be your timeshare spot. You can’t tell me you never wanted to own a hot tub and a ski resort in Colorado. You got downhill skiing or fly fishing. All I hear is my blood pressure lowering.

Las Vegas

Vegas Baby Vegas… The timeshare king of the world. In Vegas, all the players show up. From the Cliffs at Peace Canyon, Club de Soleil, or Diamond Resorts Polo Towers Suites. Even Elare, Grandview of Las Vegas and the Hilton’s Flamingo and Paradise are up waiting for you. Put on your finest silk suit and walk in like you own the place because you do.

Myrtle Beach

From North, Central or South Myrtle Beach including Murrell’s Inlet, you have an array of Myrtle Beach timeshare ownership and vacation rental opportunities. Resorts located on the oceanfront, on the Intracoastal Waterway or situated on an award-winning golf course, add in anything you could want in a resort. It’s like Florida, but without the trash.

January 15, 2019
Selecting the Best Seating for Your Home Theater

So you have finally succeeded in the crowning achievement of mankind: your very own home theater.

I mean, everyone loves watching a great movie on a big screen with a phenomenal speaker system – but few would complain about losing the sticky floors, uncomfortable seats, and kids with smartphones (unless they’re your own kids). Good thing that’s not the world you live in any more, you have your own theater.

You have set it up the JVC DLA-X590R 4k projector, the Stewart StudioTek 130 screen, and the state of the art balanced sounds of ELAC Debut 5.1 System. You even have the vintage popcorn cart in the corner, matched with the vintage framed movie posters hung with care all around your 800 sq feet of glory. Building the home theater of your dreams doesn’t necessarily mean just assembling a massive theater system – you need to make sure you don’t forget the most important feature.

The home theater seating.

If you’re watching movies in your home theater whilst sitting on folding chairs, you failed. The most important choice you’ll make is finding the best big screen TV for you, but a close second is choosing the ideal home theater seating.

Home theater seating is important because you want to be able to kick back and be comfortable when you’re enjoying your movies and TV shows, and having the perfect home theater set up can let you do just that.

First Things First

Measure your current space before you go shopping, and determine how much room you have to work with. Home theater seating is usually large and bulky so that you can have a spacious feeling when seated. Measure your room and walking area that will be needed around your seating. Allow for at least a 18”-24”minimum aisle in the front and in the back of your seating.

Determine how many people you want to accommodate: If you have a large space to accommodate a large amount of people, theater seating with aisles will be a good idea. If your room is smaller, this doesn’t mean you can’t have home theater seating.

An intimate setting of 2-4 chairs arranged around the room would be a viable option for a smaller home theater. Either way, make this decision before choosing your seating so you don’t waste time, money, and your back while trying to move the furniture around!

Amenities, Spare No Expense

Decide what amenities you’d like, and know that home theater seating has a variety of amenities to choose from! Some of these include storage areas to hold remote controls and miscellaneous items, and chairs that have areas for beverages are convenient, which help guests relax and enjoy themselves.

Recliner chairs can take you from a sitting upright position to a reclining position in an instant. Theater seating can be intermixed to form a variety of seating arrangements. Ottomans or foot stools are perfect for placing feet on and for kids that want to share in on the movie watching!

LED lighting is a great way to improve aesthetics, and the best part is that they are really inexpensive. Plus it helps when you can see your cup holder in the dark. In other words, make sure you spring for the LED lighting.

My Recommendation

I recommend the Seatcraft Diamante home theater seating with brown top grain leather; power recline, row of 2… it’s glorious! The Seatcraft is a traditional collection with motion functions. Generously scaled, the Seatcraft features a set-back roll arm accented with a nail-head trim. The scale is emphasized by divided t-back cushions that rest on the top of the arms and full chaise-style seating with generous padding.

Offering luxurious comfort and support, the Diamante blends the comfort of motion seating with classic styling. A commanding collection, the Diamante complements any classic or modern interior. The Diamante collection is available with either a power toggle switch or manual latch that lets you operate the reclining function and change angles with ease. Its grand scale and charming design details make the Diamante a perfect choice for your home theater interiors. See the above picture to fall in love.

The Final Home Theater Seating Thought

What you need is a chair worthy of its own audience, one that will welcome you to enjoy the most luxurious seating ever, built with the most exceptional leathers. A loveseat that comes in a prestigious leather upholstery, a high grade, quality leather to complement the construction of your chair.

If that wasn’t enough, cool gel foam layers are weaved through, yielding one of the most masterfully crafted chairs yet, making it the finest home theater sectional on the world market today. That is what your shopping goal should be!

January 8, 2019
Affordable Ways to See a Broadway Show

Who doesn’t love a great live show? The songs, dance, pageantry and costumes are so very amazing, and we all love a good, or even average musical. Getting all dressed up and walking down 7th ave can be a glorious experience. There’s no shortage of enticing Broadway or Off-Broadway shows these days, but the steady rise in ticket prices has made it harder for theater lovers to take advantage of what New York stages have to offer. Broadway tickets aren’t necessarily cheap, but when you compare them to other forms of live entertainment, they are very clearly a bargain.

The prices may seem daunting and unreasonable, and may even discourage you from attempting to see an acclaimed play. Don’t fear! Discount Broadway tickets are everywhere, and modern technology makes it easier than ever to find cheap seats. From lotteries to apps, let me teach you how to find the most affordable ways to see a Broadway show.

Lotteries

You know how a lottery works already; you submit your name and pray that it gets drawn. There are two types of lotteries: in-person and digital. For in-person lotteries, you show up about two hours before the start of the show and put your name in a bucket. If your name is drawn and you’re present, you then claim your tickets. It’s that simple. Digital lotteries are offered by the shows themselves or via an app.

A digital lottery is your best chance to see the very popular “Hamilton” for cheap, like $10 tickets kind of cheap. Also “Hamilton” just made it even easier to see, as the show recently began offering double the number of $10 seats for each performance. I found Show-score.com keeps an updated list of digital lotteries. Try your luck, and let us know in the comments below if you happen to win!

Broadway Roulette

One of the newest ways to get cheap Broadway tickets is through Broadway Roulette. This is an easy way to get a last-minute deal, but you must be open and flexible to what you are seeing. You and your child pick the day and time and describe to the team at Broadway Roulette what kind of shows you like and don’t like.

On the morning of the show, Broadway Roulette lets you know what you are seeing. The beauty is that all tickets are just $49 to 59 and picking up tickets is simple.

Same-day Broadway Discount tickets?

Last minute? Want to catch a show before you leave NYC? Try this: there are three TKTS Booths. Two in Manhattan (one in Times Square and another downtown near the South Street Seaport) and one in Brooklyn that offer discount Broadway tickets. Matinee tickets are available the day before at the downtown and Brooklyn locations, but same-day tickets are available at the Times Square booth.

Pick Cheap Broadway Tickets Without Reducing The View

Of course the best seats in the house are the most expensive, because everyone wants to be located center orchestra. But these are never the cheapest – most Broadway shows are actually charging extra for them, making them much more expensive that a regular orchestra seat. The cheap Broadway ticket solution is to choose the seats that are in the transition area (i.e. the $110 seats that are located next to the $250 seats).

All that is required is a little bit of study of the seating map; some shows will even show you a map of the pricing . Ticket brokers do this everyday to get the cheapest tickets in the best location so that they can resell them for a higher amount.

Try Off-Broadway

New York City is home to some of the best non-Broadway options in the world, and there are theater companies dedicated to working for children and families. Check out and consider joining theaters such as the New Victory Theater and the Vital Theatre Company for discount Broadway ticket options.

Note: any off-Broadway production in NYC is still better than your hometown’s best theater. Don’t let the stigma stop you from catching a surprisingly brilliant show.

Rush Lines and Standing Room Only

Rush lines shows generally release day-of-performance tickets as soon as the box office opens. Prices vary by production, but if you’re willing to wake up early and stand in line at the theater, tickets can be under $50 each. Not too bad. You can also try standing room only. Typically, when a Broadway show is sold out, the box office sells discounted standing room “seats”. These standing positions are usually located at the back of the orchestra.

The Final Thought

There is always a way to get into whatever show you want to see. The question is how much do you want to see this show, and how far are you willing to work towards procuring a ticket? Priorities people! Let everyone fight over Hamilton and Aladdin tickets, while you go see Beautiful, or Dear Evan Hansen.

December 31, 2018
Educational Trips that Won’t Bore the Kids

Kids are on Christmas break and are getting bored. What to do to entertain and enrich their little lives? Educational trips. Whether they’re a history buff or a drama queen, an animal lover or a budding chef, enriching travel experiences adds a learning component for a vacation truly worth remembering. Help your little ones gain new insights and new interests by embarking on these ten best children’s educational trips in the United States.

Washington, D.C.

When it comes to American history, our nation’s capital has it all. You can’t stop learning brilliant and exciting things about everything in D.C. It is almost like Aristotle himself designed a city. With D.C.’s bounty of museums and monuments, it is an obvious choice for an educational family vacation, especially with the Smithsonian Museums and the popular National Museum of Natural History. These are as good as it gets for knowledge-building with little ones. As my little one said on our way to the Air and Space Smithsonian… “Ain’t no air in space!”

From memorials, to the Capitol building, Arlington, and the museums, it will blow your children’s minds. You can even take a short day trip to Williamsburg for the colonial experience. Step into the 18th century at Colonial Williamsburg and sign up for the Continental Army, play colonial games, attend a grand ball, or even meet some of our Founding Fathers in person. The boulders of Gettysburg’s Devil’s Den, which once served as a battlefield site for sharpshooters now also double as a natural playground for visitors. There’s even a living-history museum full of buildings dating back to the 17th century and lively volunteers who reenact what life was really like in the era. No better educational trip than on to D.C.

Plus, each year on select dates from late May to late August, kids can go with a parent to the National Museum of American History for a sleepover with the Smithsonian Sleepovers program. Imagine having a PJ party while doing crafts, projects, catching an IMAX film, and sleeping under Phoenix the whale in the Ocean Hall. Guests can also take part in solving a mystery or becoming a presidential candidate! Just bring along a sleeping bag, a toothbrush and a keen sense of adventure.

National Parks

The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Parks are at the top of the list to visit with your kids. The natural wonders of both are too fantastic to miss and should be seen first by young eyes. Adventures riding donkeys to the base of the Grand Canyon can be treacherous and frightening. At the same time can be enlightening as you take in the enormity of the space. Yellowstone is an amazing sight to behold.

There are over 10,000 geothermal features and over 300 geysers including Old Faithful. Take a tour or teach your kids about the earth’s crust and how volcanoes work as you explore the park’s wildlife.

San Diego Zoo

Home to over 3,700 rare and endangered species, the San Diego Zoo is a world-class interactive wildlife park for animals. From Amur leopards, Chinese alligators, and the ever-favorite African animals to endangered species such as giant pandas, Malayan tigers, and the Mang Mountain Viper. The San Diego Zoo has an impressive collection of wildlife.

Not only does this zoo have an amazing array of animals, they also have dozens of activities and programs for children and adults. Sign up for early mornings with the pandas, have breakfast with the koalas, or take a private VIP tour of the park and even see off-exhibit areas.

Kennedy Space Center

Orlando is the kid fun capital of the world. It is home to Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney World. Never-ending theme parks and elaborate attractions.While all that fun is great, educational fun is even better. For this, Orlando gives you the Kennedy Space Center. Like dinosaurs, space is a natural fascination for children young and old. It only makes sense for those with the inclination to visit the best space centers in the country. Kennedy Space Center is located near Orlando, Florida.

It is open for tours, lectures, exhibits, and displays, with interactive hands-on activities for kids with an added interest. Kennedy Space & Rocket Center is home to one of the largest collections of rockets and space memorabilia in the world as well as the famous Space Camp.

Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the U.S. launch site that has been used for every NASA human space flight since December 1968. The main Visitor Center is an expansive complex that resembles a modern-day amusement park.

It’s attractions feature an Early Space Exploration exhibit, Rocket Garden, children’s playspace, 2 IMAX shows, an Astronaut Hall of Fame and Astronaut Memorial, the popular (with the younger set) Angry Birds hands-on exhibit, multiple cafes, gift shops, and much more. A bus tour will take you outside the Visitor Center to catch views of the legendary launch pads and up to the Apollo/ Saturn V center.

If you time your trip right , you could even see one of the greatest sights a kid can ever see – a rocket being launched into space. Truly a bucket-list worthy sight!

December 31, 2018
This is Why You Need a Directional Microphone

Some microphones are designed to hear equally in all directions (omnidirectional), and some are designed to be more sensitive in certain directions. Directional microphones can be a big advantage when such a microphone is used in a hearing aid or in an Assistive Listening Device (ALD), because it can be used to enhance some sound that you need to hear. A directional microphone picks up sound from specific directions.

Directional microphones allow you to focus on picking up sounds from very small pathways directly in front of listeners. The use of a directional microphone is more advantageous than using a traditional omnidirectional microphone in a lot of situations. The most advanced directionality comes from using multiple microphones. With two or three microphones, the directionality is improved because the shorter distance between microphones allows them to be hyper-selective about which sounds to cancel and which sounds to concentrate on.

Today, we are going to take a look at the directional microphone and some of the best on the market.

As mentioned, directional microphones pick up sound primarily from one end of the device. The most common type of directional mic is called “cardioid” for the upside down heart-shaped pickup pattern. This type of mic favors sound from the front, while still picking up some sound on the sides. Virtually no sound is received at the back of the microphone. This type of pickup pattern helps to reject background noise and accentuate the sounds you want to record, whether that is a voice, music or sound effects.

There are two main variations of the cardioid design, the super-cardioid and hyper-cardioid. Each has a progressively narrow sweet spot while rejecting more sound from the sides of the mic. The ultimate in directionality is the shotgun microphone. These mics are extremely sensitive towards the front with small bumps of pickup to the side and rear. This means you can either pick up sound from further away or better isolate the sound close up. Because they’re so sensitive, they also tend to pick up more handling noise. That’s why you’ll often see them mounted in some type of shock absorbing device.

Best Hyper-Cardioid: AKG C1000s Multipatter

AKG C1000s is an inexpensive all-around mic with a switchable cardioid / hypercardioid pattern. It has a signature bright sound that creates an illusion of higher fidelity but also helps to clear up the sound in a live environment. Definitely not the highest quality mic, but if used correctly it can produce very decent results for instruments and female vocals. For videographers, it isn’t recommended. There are simply no viable mics at this price range, so don’t even hope for a cheap booming solution. This mic requires a bit of patience to set up – positioning will play a crucial role in getting a good sound out of it.

Most of the small diaphragm mics available on the market have a flat frequency response, so they sound more or less similar. However, the AKG C1000s does not sound like the rest. It is much brighter and creates a richer more vibrant sound that sounds more expensive. It is extremely useful for live performances. This mic clears the little things up and efficiently cuts through where flatter mics don’t.

Best Super-Cardioid: Shure Beta 58A

Super-cardioid microphones use an even tighter pickup area at the head of the mic, quickly taper to reject sound from the sides and have a very small lobe of sensitivity near the rear of the mic.This makes them great for the studio and for live performances. Shure Beta 58A is a great performance supercardioid mic, capable of delivering nice and clean vocals without killing your budget.

Adequately bright but unobtrusive in character, it will do a great job of clearing up vocals while keeping the over complicated surrounding sounds. It has a linear response throughout the entire vocal range, which is especially appreciated by versatile singers. The Shure Beta 58a is very easy to work with, both for singer and sound engineer alike. It is also quite durable and definitely a great buy.

Best Shotgun Microphone: Sennheiser MKE 600

This microphone is a fantastic quality, 10” short-range shotgun. Although considered an entry model, which is available at rather modest price, it can deliver a professional sounding performance! Moreover, I’d say this mic is probably the best raw performer in its range. This is not only about the quality but also about the design.

The Sennheiser MKE 6000 also performs great in both close and open areas without relying on post EQ. It is reasonably flat and while peaking in the upper range with a slight 2-3 dB boost it gives just about enough presence not to sound lame. It seems, Sennheiser took best of both mics for their MKE 600, and then improved it even further.

When it comes to short shotguns, Sennheiser MKE 600 is the deal. Of course, it is more expensive than other entry-level models, but you get a superior performance. This mic is such a great deal that every videographer should definitely consider having it in their equipment bag.

December 12, 2018
VR Gaming Laptop Deals

I have a top of the line power computer with a 40 inch monitor at home. What good does that really do me when Im not home. When you need a powerful rig you can take with you, there’s no substitute for a VR gaming laptop.

Gaming laptops come in all shapes and sizes, for different needs and budgets. Some come with full-size Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics cards, while others go for the more efficient Max-Q designs that enable thinner chassis and quieter fans. While many gaming laptops come with 1080p display, some opt for 4K models.This holiday season there are a number of sales, let look at some of the best VR gaming laptops.

Evaluating VR Laptops

There are a few key components you want to evaluate for your VR laptop. Here is a quick break down.

Processor:- You will use this VR ready laptops for gaming or photo/video editing work so it must have a powerful processor to handle your heavy task. So I suggest you go for latest Gen i7 processor, below all the laptops have latest 7th Gen i7 processor.

RAM:- To handle high-end games and also to handle your intense gaming session I suggest you go with at least 16GB of RAM. To give you a smooth experience without slowing down your machine while you are playing games or doing heavy multitasking laptop wants that much RAM if it is more than 16GB then it’s good.

Dedicated Graphic Card:- For any VR Ready laptops required a high capacity dedicated graphics card to provide you a great gaming or visual experience.

Storage:- If you are buying this VR ready laptop for a gaming, photo/video editing work or anything else its depends upon your work how much storage space you want.

Cooling System:- A cooling system helps to keep the laptop cool in a long session while you are working, doing heavy multitasking work or intense gaming session. This cooling system helps you in a several ways like it saves your system from overheating, protects expensive components of laptop and helps to avoid surprise shutdowns or any lags issue.

Dell’s Alienware 17

The Alienware 17 (starting at about $1,479) comes equipped with up to an NVIDIA GTX 1080 with 8GB of GDDR5 VRAM, which is pretty much bananas. The GTX 1080 is near the very top of the NVIDIA line and will have no problem running your Rift or Vive. The 17.3-inch display is available in 1080p, 1440p, and 4K configurations, each costing a bit more than the last. Each display does look beautiful, so if you’re looking to save some bucks, here’s where you can get away with it without affecting your VR experience — you won’t be looking at the screen much anyway.

If you’re into overclocking, the 7th-generation Intel Core i7-7820HK quad-core processor can be boosted up to a 4.4GHz clock speed; again, keep in mind this crazy performance is coming from a laptop. With up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a big solid-state drive (SSD), you’re sure to have a great VR gaming experience with the Alienware 17 VR gaming laptop. Its big, and may be a lot to handle in the coach section of an airplane. There is always the 15 inch model as well.

MSI GE62VR Apache Pro VR Ready Gaming Laptop

As we all know MSI is one of the well-known brands for gaming and without MSI laptops gaming laptop buying guide is incomplete so here is MSI GE62VR Apache Pro. If we talk about its internals then it has include 7th Gen Intel Core i7-7700HQ quad core processor which provides you a faster performance. This MSI laptop paired with 16GB of RAM and houses with 128GB of SSD + 1TB of HDD drive. For a better visual experience, it has dedicated 6GB of graphic card from NVIDIA’s Geforce GTX 1060. The laptop has got 15.6 inches full HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution.

It’s SteelSeries, Dragon Center and other gaming features which are integrated well with your VR gear so it will give you an amazing gaming experience. It’s Cooler Boost technology helps your system to stay cool, so it will maximise the performance of your VR gaming laptop while you are playing an extreme gaming.

Razer Blade 15 VR Gaming Laptop

Last buy not least is my favorite VR gaming laptop. The Razer Blade 15. The standard Razer Blade has been redesigned, now with a 15.6-inch display and new hardware inside. There are a few configurations to choose from, but for about $2,130 you can grab an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H CPU, 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a NVIDIA GTX 1060 Max-Q GPU. Want more power? Go with up to a GTX 1070 Max-Q GPU to push it over the edge. With all models, you’ll get for ports HDMI, USB-C, and three USB-A 3.1, perfect for connecting VR.

November 30, 2018
Nintendo Switch: First 20 Months in Perspective

The Nintendo Switch was released in March of 2017. In the intervening 20 months it has revitalized a struggling Nintendo and reignited interest in the company’s most exciting properties. Recently, Nintendo showed off that they have sold 8.2 million Switch units in the US alone. That’s… that’s absolutely crazy. Let’s get into it.

Nintendo Switch First 20 Months Retrospective

The Numbers

8.2 million is one of those numbers that is so big it’s hard to wrap one’s head around. However, for comparison’s sake, the Switch has sold nearly as many units in 20 months as the PlayStation 2. In the five days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, the Switch put up better numbers than the Wii did in a similar period.

Also, keep in mind that the system hasn’t even crossed its second holiday season yet. This is just the wind-up to the biggest sales season of the year.

What This Means

This means that the Nintendo Switch is on track to sell similar unit numbers to some of the most successful home consoles of all time. With numbers like this, it could even post lifetime sales rivaling the PS2 and even the Wii.

That’s nothing but good news for Switch owners. Nintendo was looking pretty lackluster from 2012 when the Wii U was released until the launch of the Switch. There were even some speculating that the Switch was going to end up being a massive failure and spell doom for the company. Some people even suggested the Switch would be Nintendo’s Dreamcast: overly ambitious and destined to bankrupt the company.

The Road Ahead

Switch owners have a lot of great things to look forward to. In just one week, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate hits the system. This is sure to cause another huge jump in sales for the company as fans of the juggernaut series rush out to buy systems.

Down the line, 2019 is a huge year for the system. Fire Emblem, Yoshi and Animal Crossing have all been confirmed to release before year’s end. There is speculation that Metroid Prime 4 might land before the year is out, and Game Freak confirmed that the next Pokemon main series entry would be releasing in 2019.

In short, the future for Nintendo is bright. Time to buy some shades.

November 29, 2018
Sega Dreamcast Classic: Could it be Coming Soon?

The Sega Dreamcast Classic has just turned 20. The short-lived but influential console has a small yet iconic lineup of games. We’d love to see the system revived in the form of a Classic Mini system like the NES Classic. Could the Sega Dreamcast Classic be around the corner?

Sega Dreamcast Classic

Polygon

Coming Soon?

As of this writing, Sega doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans for a Sega Dreamcast Classic. That doesn’t stop us from speculating what could make one a huge success, though. Released in 1998 originally, the ill-fated Dreamcast is a symbol of a different era of gaming. What could make a Classic Dreamcast an awesome time-capsule from the late 90’s?

Must-Have Games

The Dreamcast was home to some of the coolest games of the 90’s. Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, Shenmue, Soul Calibur, and Skies of Arcadia are the obvious inclusions. There are also deep cuts from the library like Canon Spike and Project Justice that would be awesome inclusions.

Crazy Taxi, Power Stone and Jet Set Radio are also major fan-favorites of the system that are surefire inclusions in any Classic console. One game in particular strikes us as an interesting opportunity for Sega: Phantasy Star Online.

Bring Back Online

The Dreamcast was the first home console with built-in internet functionality. Precious few games used this functionality, chief among them being Phantasy Star Online. If Sega opts to make a Dreamcast Classic, we urge them to make the internet functionality work and include Phantasy Star with the system.

It only makes sense for Sega to be the first to make a classic system with online capabilities. After all, they were originally the first to market with it in the late 90’s!

How Likely is it?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Sega has any immediate plans for reviving the ill-fated and much-beloved Dreamcast. The company has made a point of porting many of the classic Dreamcast library to other systems, including Steam.

That doesn’t mean we can’t dream, though. Thinking back to the Dreamcast, it signaled the end of an era. Sega’s constant ambition and drive to innovate ended up spelling its doom. But man, were those some awesome games.

November 27, 2018
PlayStation Classic Review: How Does it Stack Up?

Sony, following in Nintendo’s footsteps, has released their PlayStation Classic system. Does it live up to the hype surrounding it, or are these old games better off left forgotten? We’ll tell you in today’s PlayStation Classic review. Let’s travel back to the 90’s!

PlayStation Classic Review

Sony

The Emulation

Firstly, the emulation on display here is excellent. The games on the system are all emulated perfectly as they existed back in the mid-to-late-90’s. That’s certainly an achievement in and of itself, but it does raise a few questions. If this is exactly the ways these games should look, aren’t they all a bit ugly?

The transition to 3D was rough for a lot of games. Ugly polygonal models and blurry backgrounds were the rule of the day. Many of these games have aged like milk, both graphically and in terms of gameplay. After twenty years or more, many of these are almost unplayable by modern standards.

The Games

The game selection is incredibly hit-and-miss. There are some notable (and amazing) inclusions, like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil. There are also glaring omissions, like Castelvania: Symphony of the Night and Twisted Metal II.

Unusual inclusions like Jumping Flash, Wild Arms and Intelligent Qube make the lack of Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot downright puzzling. The PlayStation had an incredible roster of exclusive games, so not having them available on this love letter to the 90’s is nearly criminal.

For every Oddworld and Tekken on the system there is another frustrating exclusion. No Silent Hill or Tony Hawk on a PlayStation throwback system? It’s hard to justify the $100 price tag with this selection of games.

The Console

The console itself is a perfect mini replica of the PlayStation. Likewise, the controller is exactly as you remember it. Sadly, it’s not a DualShock controller, which makes 3D games like Metal Gear Solid a pain to navigate. There are thankfully two controllers for local multiplayer, what little is available in this game selection.

Bottom Line

Overall, this is really a system only for diehard collectors. If you really want to play Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid again (without analog sticks) then knock yourself out. However, there are plenty of ways to do that without spending $100.

November 27, 2018