ThundBook | Technology Resource Book

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Review - It's Amazing!

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 02:19:43 +0000

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 has undergone a significant transformation in its latest iteration for 2024. Departing from the chassis used for the previous G16, which was essentially a carryover from the 2022 M16 model limited to NVIDIA RTX 4060 or 4070 configurations, the new Zephyrus G16 breaks the mold by offering configurations up to the formidable RTX 4090. This leap not only marks a significant upgrade in potential graphical prowess but also showcases ASUS’s commitment to pushing the envelope in gaming laptop design and performance.

Design and Build

The Legion 7i: A Blend of Style and Performance

Design and Handling: A Close Call ...

M1 MacBook Air Honest Review in 2024! STILL Worth Buying?

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 22:22:24 +0000

The M1 MacBook Air, released in 2020, marked a significant turning point in the laptop industry. With its revolutionary design and performance, it became an instant hit. However, as we move into 2024 and with the advent of the M3 MacBooks, the question arises: Is the M1 MacBook Air still a good purchase? Last year, my answer would have been a resounding yes, but things have changed. Let’s delve into why I believe the M1 MacBook Air may no longer be the best choice for consumers this year.

...

MOST POWERFUL MacBook vs PC Laptop (RIP Windows?)

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:37:39 +0000

The world of high-performance laptops has always been a battlefield, and in 2024, the competition is more intense than ever. In this detailed review, we compare the most powerful MacBook, the M3 Max MacBook Pro, with one of the top Windows laptops, the Lenovo Legion 9i.

Introduction: The Ultimate Showdown

The M3 Max MacBook Pro, Apple’s mightiest laptop, is pitted against the high-caliber Lenovo Legion 9i. This comparison is more than just about...

Apple MacBook Air 15 (base) - A Long Term User Review

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 05:15:02 +0000

Switching to MacBook Air 15

After a year and eight months of extensive use, I’m transitioning from the 2021 MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip, my primary workhorse, to the new 15-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip. This might raise questions, especially considering the potential performance downgrade from the M1 Pro to the M2 base model.

However, with my editing setup now shifted to the Mac Studio with the M2 Ultra...

Mac vs Windows in 2024? The Truth that Shocked us..

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 05:47:44 +0000

Choosing between a Windows laptop and a MacBook can be a daunting decision, as both offer unique advantages and drawbacks. However, the landscape of computing has evolved significantly, especially since Apple began manufacturing its own chips. This move has spurred Windows laptops to enhance their offerings, making the competition fiercer than ever.

Budget Considerations

For those on a tight budget, particularly around the $300 mark, Apple doesn’t offer a competing product. Focusing on more powerful machines, Windows laptops like the Lenovo, equipped with an i9 processor and...

The Razer Blade 16 (2023) Review

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:47:51 +0000

Say Hello to the Razer Blade 16

The Razer Blade 16, newly released for 2023, is a testament to the ever-evolving landscape of gaming laptops. Equipped with Intel’s latest 13th-gen Raptor Lake CPU and Nvidia’s new 40 series GPU, this laptop is poised to redefine expectations in the 16-inch gaming laptop market. Initially previewed at CES, we now have the opportunity to put the Razer Blade 16 through its paces in our studio. Razer has incorporated significant user feedback from the previous Blade 15 iteration, resulting in a machine that’s not just more powerful but also packed with innovative...

Lenovo Legion 9i vs Razer Blade 16 - The Easy Choice!

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 04:03:33 +0000

Among premium gaming laptops, the Razer Blade 16 and Lenovo Legion 9i are two of the top 16-inch choices available. Both of these laptops are powerhouses, equipped with the impressive RTX 4090, and are ideal for those seeking a desktop replacement in a more portable form. While their high price tags reflect their top-tier status, they cater to a specific audience that values power and portability over cost. Let’s delve into the specifics of each to see how they stack up against each other.

Price...

Run Windows Games on Mac Apple Game Porting Toolkit&Whisky

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 02:40:55 +0000

Welcome back to 4DDiG, where we bring you the latest in tech developments. At WWDC 2023, Apple made a significant announcement that piqued the interest of gamers: the introduction of the Game Porting Toolkit. This innovation opens up a new world of possibilities, allowing Windows games to run on Apple silicon Macs. Today, we’re focusing on how to play popular games like “Elden Ring” on a Mac using Whisky, a tool built on CrossOver and the Apple Game Porting Toolkit.

Getting Started with Whisky

Whisky simplifies the...

iPhone 15 Buyer's Guide - DON'T Make These 10 Mistakes!

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 04:46:22 +0000

The release of the iPhone 15 lineup brings a blend of familiarity and innovation, with models like the regular iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max. Despite their similarities to last year’s models, the devil is in the details, and understanding these nuances is key to making the right purchase. Here’s a guide to avoid 10 common purchasing mistakes and some tailored advice to help you choose the best iPhone 15 model for your needs.

#1. Don’t Overlook the Regular Models for Design

The new...

M3 MacBook Pro Review - Space Black

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 03:56:32 +0000

After spending a few days with the new space black M3 MacBook Pro, I’m ready to dive into the details of this decked-out machine. With an M3 Max chip, a whopping 128 GB of RAM, and a fresh color option, this MacBook Pro is turning heads.

The New Hue: More Than Meets the Eye

The first thing I did after unboxing was to test the much-touted fingerprint resistance of the new space black color. It’s more of a dark gray than a true black, but it’s impressive how resistant...

YOU Should Buy the M1 MacBook Pro 16 in 2023, And Here's Why!

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 04:00:51 +0000

As the year winds down, many of us start scouting for the best family purchases or deals to make the most of our budgets. If you’re in the market for a laptop that delivers exceptional value, the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16 is a choice you won’t regret. Despite the buzz around the newer M2s and the upcoming M3s, the M1 Max MacBook Pro 16, which I’ve used since 2021, remains the pinnacle of powerful computing devices. It’s the benchmark against which I measure all pro computers, akin to...

FINALLY, the RTX 4070 Makes Sense! Razer Blade 14 (2023) Review

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 01:25:46 +0000

Razer’s Blade 14 and Nvidia’s RTX 4070: A Perfect Match?

Nvidia’s RTX 4070 laptop graphics have been underwhelming this year. However, in Razer’s Blade 14, they might just find their perfect match. Here’s why.

The 4070 graphics hit a voltage limit between 90 to 100 watts, making it ideal for compact laptops.
The Blade 14’s performance is comparable to larger 16 or 17-inch gaming laptops with the same 4070 graphics.

To illustrate, consider the 3DMark Timespy benchmark. When both GPUs are running at 100 watts, the RTX 4070 outperforms the top-tier laptop GPU from the previous generation,...

Is the cheapest 16 inch MacBook Pro really 'Pro'?

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 09:49:39 +0000

With the introduction of the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, the base model looks better than ever, but is it actually good for Pros?

The new base model 16-inch MacBook Pro looks like a very interesting device for one major reason, the base model MacBook Pro has always been somewhat problematic for me, the 15 inch model has never really been that well rounded in its least expensive configuration, previous models had 2GB of VRAM in 2016 and 2017, that was like not quite enough. Even in 2018 and 2019, when the base models had 4GB of VRAM, the default graphics...

16 Inch MacBook Pro - Fixed!

Sat, 16 Nov 2019 08:07:17 +0000

Apple finally launched the 16 inch MacBook Pro officially, it’s been rumored forever, it’s been on so many people’s which list for the entire year and finally brought it out, and it is something special. The actual screen size, the bigger 16-inch screen is probably the least interesting thing to me, there is so much more stuff going on that it is I think is really cool.

But I got to say, this 16 inch MacBook Pro feels the first device Apple launched in a really long time, I feel they actually cared about what users wanted, they actually cared...

MSI PS63 Modern - GTX 1650 + 10 Hour Battery!

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 21:39:45 +0000

What’s up guys, this is the MSI PS 63, it’s a pretty unique laptop in the way its balances performance and portability.

Overview

So it’s a thin and light 15 inch laptop, it’s running a low-power quad-core CPU with a GTX 1650 so the performance is kind of middle of the bunch between an ultrabook and a full-on gaming laptop, and it’s also got a big beefy 82 watt-hour battery inside rated for 16 hours battery life, and I feel like for a lot of people this is the perfect balance between...

The Ultimate used MacBook buyers guide for 2019!

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 09:13:09 +0000

One thing that I would definitely recommend when you're shopping on eBay: Figure out the computer that you want to buy first, and then search for it.
If your budget is closer to $1,000, you can get a mid-2015 15-inch MacBook Pro that's going to be very capable. The CPU performance in this can outperform the Touch Bar MacBook Pros from 2016 and 2017.
If we're looking at $300 or $200, a MacBook Air is going to give you good value. You will get a lighter device than a...

Review: iPad 2019 (7th generation)

Sat, 19 Oct 2019 23:25:45 +0000

Paper specs don't really tell the whole story. At the end of the day, it's not a bunch of numbers on a piece of paper but the experience you have using the products.

So far I'm not impressed with the drawing performance with the Sidecar feature. The second screen in performance is fantastic, but the actual drawing performance is kind of lacking.

iOS pulls most of its system resources to the open apps and away from background processes, making the app that you're using at any given time quick...

But Can Your iPhone 11 Do THIS?!! - The NEW Galaxy Fold

Mon, 14 Oct 2019 02:30:58 +0000

I'm not a huge mobile gamer, but after playing a few games on this phone it's a very different experience to play on such a large screen. I would even consider it to be a better gaming experience than a lot of tablets.

The Galaxy Fold is very capable of multitasking but I think the issue comes with constant manipulating the windows and panels.

Quite often I feel like people want to see this fail, people want to see Samsung crash and burn on a product like this. Are...

2019 Razer Blade Pro - The Best 17-inch Gaming Laptop!

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 21:50:25 +0000

Today we’ll be talking about the new 2019 Razor Blade Pro. The previous one came out in 2017 and started out at $3700 with the GTX 1080 which was insane. This 2019 Razer Blade Pro starts at a more reasonable price at $2500 with the RTX 2060, so it’s a lot easier to get into especially if you don’t need the RTX 2080.

Build Quality

Just like the Razer Blade 15 and Razer Blade Stealth, this is one of the best build Windows laptops right now. It’s super rigid so there’s...

2019 MacBook Air Review - The Best Mac.. for some

Sat, 05 Oct 2019 20:23:51 +0000

Even Apple’s butterfly keyboard is still equipped on this MacBook Air, out of 30 MacBooks we’ve tested only the original 2015 12” Retina had the issue.

PCMag showed that it ran for 20 hours in their battery life test, that’s about an hour and a half longer than the MacBook Pro, and completely wiping the floor with other popular Windows laptops.

This MacBook Air is for people who just need a basic, reliable and premium laptop such as students, writers or programmers.

We’ve been using Apple’s new 2019...

Top 15 BEST Smartphones of 2019 (Mid Year)

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 23:27:53 +0000

I think a big part of the problem is that the company literally named the Galaxy S10 5G as if it was just the Galaxy S10 with a 5G modem. I think a better way to describe it would be “the S10 Ultimate”.

Huawei P30 is not a bad phone, but for not much more money the Mate 20 Pro from last year is a better deal.

All you need to do is take a look at the Huawei Mate 20 Pro’s spec sheet, you will see that it's...

iPhone 11 Review - A Better, Faster, Cheaper iPhone XR

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 20:22:13 +0000

iPhone 11 on Geekbench 5 yielded a roughly 20% improvement on the single-core testing, and a more substantial 40% improvement on the multi-core testing compare to the iPhone XR.

iPhone 11 has the same processor as the iPhone 11 Pro.

The iPhone 11 is extremely capable and far better than the iPhone XR. It's better, faster, and cheaper than ever before.

This is the Apple Insider review of a brand new iPhone 11.

The iPhone 11 is essentially a newer version of the iPhone XR, and it’s better...

The RTX Razer Blade (2019)

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 02:57:52 +0000

Last year, I crowned the new 15-inch Razer Blade as being one of the best gaming laptops you can get in that premium segment. It’s been updated this year with some new RTX hardware and other nice features.

Thermal

Older generations of Razer Blades have often had issues with thermals. The company is very focused on making the devices thin and nice looking, which makes it harder to cool down properly. I was worried that the new RTX GPUs will run a little bit hotter, but actually, even their top of the line 2080 Max-Q runs at acceptable temperatures....

The Top 5 Bluetooth Headphones Under $100

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 05:18:37 +0000

Most headphones in this price range are giving you battery life anywhere between 20 to 40 hours, the Edifier w830bt in my testing gave me 88 hours.

The TaoTronics BH046 (Soundsurge 46) ANC actually dethroned the Anker Space NC in active noise canceling, and the Anker Space NC had the #1 spot for me for the longest time.

“I have a fond memory of the Mpow H10’s deep active noise-canceling. When I first tried them out. When I'm in my office there's machinery going on in the background, there...

iPad Pro vs 2019 MacBooks - No Laptop Needed?

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 04:33:28 +0000

The majority of people have no idea that with the new iPadOS, an iPad can now finally replace a laptop.

The iPad Pro score higher in both single-core & multi-core task performance, as well as the graphics performance test.

The new iPadOS adds a bunch of computer-like features like updated multitasking, new gestures, automatic desktop mode in Safari, and a huge advantage is having access to the iOS app store.

“…and we call it the IPad. And what this device does is extraordinary. It’s unbelievably great, way...

My Top 5 Favorite Bluetooth Headphones 2.0

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 18:34:55 +0000

It’s been a while since I let you guys know which headphones I’ve been enjoying lately especially Bluetooth headphones, so these are my top five favorite Bluetooth headphones…

1. Bowers & Wilkins PX

Bowers & Wilkins PX

The best-looking pair of headphones on this list. Bowers & Wilkins make some really classy looking headphones.

Over-ear design with spacious ear cups. However, they aren’t the most comfortable because they are a bit of a...

Before You Buy the iPhone 11 Pro...

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 00:21:34 +0000

Note: This original video was published before the 2019 Apple Event, in this article “iPhone 11” are referring to the whole 2019 iPhone line-up including iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.

I wanted to share some thoughts with you guys about this phone before Apple’s marketing hit too hard…

The iPhone 11 was one of the most heavily leaked phones we saw in 2019, we knew there’s going to be:

Three phones: a normal one, a big one, a cheaper one.

Same screens

Same form factor as last year’s and the year before that

Lightning port

Plus...

10 Tips for Buying a Laptop

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 03:04:12 +0000

The truth is, buying a new laptop isn’t easy. There are so many things to consider, it can get a bit confusing. I’m going to walk you through 10 things that you need to know to choose the perfect laptop.

1. Pick Your OS

Do you prefer using Windows, Mac OS, or Chrome OS? There’s no right or wrong answer and it’s usually best to stick with what you know.

Windows is by far the most common platform, so you’ve got the greatest range of laptops to choose from.

macOS is obviously exclusive...