How to choose a dehydrator? Purchase guide

How to choose a dehydrator? Purchase guide

Welcome to our dehydrator buying guide. Designed to dry and store food better, this device is easy to use and simple to maintain. To choose the right dehydrator, several elements must be taken into account, such as the drying capacity and the electrical power of the appliance.
Buying guide: the dehydrator The dehydrator is an electrical device that evaporates moisture from food to increase shelf life. The hot air circulates in a closed receptacle, in which fruit, vegetables, aromatic herbs, or certain cooked dishes are placed. Let's discover below, the elements to choose the right dehydrator: The operation of a dehydrator Choose an efficient dehydrator A vertical or horizontal dehydrator? Cleaning a dehydrator
The operation of a dehydrator The dehydrator is an easy to use device. The different models are either vertical or horizontal. They are composed of several elements: The cage: this element is a large receptacle where the various trays, ventilation and the heating element are stored. The more airtight it is, the more effective it will be. The trays: they allow food to be put in to dehydrate the products. Ventilation: composed of a fan, it sends a current of air which circulates in the heating, then in the different trays. Heating: composed of an electrical resistance, it heats the air coming from the fan. The control panel: it usually contains the switch, the thermostat and the timer. As soon as you plug the dehydrator into an electrical outlet, you can put the different foods in the trays. Then just set the temperature with the thermostat and the drying time with the timer. The resistor then starts to heat and the fan sends air. The air circulates around the resistance and heats up to the temperature defined by the thermostat. This hot air rises in the various trays and dries the food, evaporating the moisture present in the latter. Depending on the water content of the products, the dehydration process can last more or less long
Choose an efficient dehydrator The choice of an efficient dehydrator is based on several criteria such as drying capacity and electrical power. The models are made up of several trays varying from 5 to 9 for the most complete dehydrators. A tray usually represents a type of food. Some models are equipped with height-adjustable trays for placing larger items. Regarding the power of the dehydrator, it varies between 200 and 600 watts depending on the device. The vertical models are generally smaller and have less power, while the horizontal dehydrators are larger and approach the 500-600 watts. A vertical or horizontal dehydrator? The dehydrator is available in two formats, the vertical model and the horizontal model. Regarding the vertical dehydrator, it has different trays which are positioned one above the other. This arrangement requires changing the place of each tray to benefit from uniform drying of food. Its main advantage is that it is more compact than horizontal devices and that it is possible to add several levels of trays to increase the dehydration capacity of the device. They are suitable for occasional use. Horizontal dehydrators have a higher drying capacity. The ventilation and resistance are located on the back of the device. This arrangement allows more homogeneous dehydration of the food, without having to change the arrangement during the cycle. However, their size is more imposing. They are suitable for regular and professional use.
Cleaning a dehydrator Like its use, cleaning and maintaining a dehydrator is very simple. After each use, you must switch off the appliance and allow the various trays to cool. These are cleaned after each drying cycle. We recommend that you leave each tray to soak in clear water for an hour. Then just rub gently with a non-abrasive sponge and washing up liquid. It is not recommended to clean the elements in the dishwasher. The main support of the dehydrator can be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth to remove the remaining residue. Do not put water on the electrical parts or in the device's cage. For more information on dehydrators, we invite you to read our ranking of the best dehydrators. You will find there the advantages and criteria of purchase of these models. The 7 best vacuum machines of 2020 Welcome to our ranking of the 7 best vacuum machines. We carried out this comparison according to several technical criteria, opinions and value for money. The vacuum machine is a device that has many advantages including better preservation of food (hygiene, duration, etc.).

What is the MacBook Pro Touch Bar 13 worth? [Test]

What is the MacBook Pro Touch Bar 13 worth? [Test]

Welcome to our review and review of the latest MacBook Pro Touche Bar laptop from Apple. Marketed since summer 2019, this laptop exists in 2 screen sizes, the 16 inch model and the 13.3 inch model that we are testing. Available in 2 colors (silver and space gray), this new MacBook Pro Touch Bar is available from 1,349 euros. The price varies depending on the storage capacity, the size of the screen, the processor and the RAM. Discover the test of this new Apple MacBook Pro Touch Bar 13 inch laptop.
This new MacBook Pro Touch Bar is the flagship model of the Apple brand. Some notable developments are present and will delight fans of the apple brand.
The big news is the presence of the Touch Bar. This long OLED screen runs the entire length of the computer. This touch screen, as an extension of the keyboard, offers many features: The Fn commands, The shortcuts present depending on the application open on the main screen (for example on a word processor, you will have keys for formatting such as bold, italics, colors, or even adding emoticons ). Comfort settings like brightness, sound, mute, or quick access to Siri. Navigation functions for playing a video, and other options to discover. The Touch Bar screen provides real convenience for the daily use of this computer. The OLED screen turns off when the user does not need it. On its right, you will find the Touch ID button which unlocks the computer using your fingerprints. It is also used when you have a registered password or online payment to make. It works very well, even better than the Touch ID present on the latest iPhone. On the keyboard side, this new MacBook Pro Touch Bar has a butterfly keyboard, offering better use. Although the grip can be troublesome at first, for users of a normal keyboard, the feeling quickly becomes pleasant. The advantage of this keyboard lies in the thin membrane present under each key. It prevents the keys from getting stuck. The size of the keys and their arrangement on the keyboard offer a very pleasant and fluid use. Side Touch Pad (or TrackPad for Apple fans), its surface is larger than on previous models. The sensitivity is excellent. Combined with the macOS operating software, it offers one of the best fluidities for carrying out your various actions. It’s a real pleasure to use the Touch Bar, Touch ID, keyboard or TrackPad.
Concernant les dimensions de cet ordinateur, le MacBook Pro Touch Bar possède un châssis en une seule pièce, similaire aux précédents modèles. L’épaisseur de 1,49cm permet de le présenter en modèle ultrabook. Bien qu’il ne soit pas le plus fin du marché, cette épaisseur est honorable. Le poids de cet appareil est 1,37 kg, ce qui en fait un ordinateur portable très léger à transporter. La surface conçue en aluminium offre un des plus beaux design, dignes de Apple. On ne relève aucun défaut sur la surface lisse. La finition est très belle.
A good autonomy of 10h The autonomy of the MacBook Pro Touch Bar is surprising. In normal use, the computer exceeds 10 hours of autonomy. It can be used very well without charger, with normal brightness throughout the day, for outdoor trips, teleworking or in an amphitheater. It is one of the market leaders with performances up to 11 hours of autonomy in low light. Regarding recharging, this model comes with a light charger of 280g with a power of 61W. It recharges the 58W lithium polymer battery in less than 2 hours when using the computer. A quality 13 ″ retina screen This MacBook Pro Touch Bar has a 13-inch (or 16-inch on the upper range) retina screen (high-resolution LCD). With a screen resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels and the presence of True One technology, Apple delivers a model with good results. The screen of this MacBook Pro is equipped with the retina which offers the most advanced LCD screen on the market. The IPS panel has good performance with: Good brightness at almost 500 cd / m², offering good use even outdoors, Contrasts and very deep blacks, Respect for the colors displayed on the screen, True One technology that adjusts the heat of the screen according to the brightness of the space where the computer is located. Bringing better visual comfort, this function can be deactivated. In summary, the screen offered by Apple on this MacBook Pro Touch Bar is very good, with good color transmission and superior visual comfort. MacBook Pro Touch Bar 13 MacBook Pro consisting of a retina screen A high performance computer Equipped with at least the 1.4 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, this MacBook Pro is perfectly suited for intensive use. The RAM of at least 8GB and the SSD hard drive of 128GB (the most economical version), ensures good use of this laptop, even with software consuming a lot of energy. The device is capable of operating its macOS operating system without constraint. However, we recommend the 256GB version at least when you want to use some professional and heavy applications. The 128 GB gram input model could show its limits in installing software like the Adobe Suite. MacBook Pro Touch Bar 13
Good quality sound The positioning of the speakers on each side of the keyboard provides better sound reproduction. It’s even nice to have the speakers on this part of the computer. The sound is very good for a low to medium volume. The restitution is qualitative on a limited volume. Like a majority of laptops, the sound quality becomes worse with very high volume sound. The distortion of the sound quickly becomes annoying. The MacBook Pro Touch Bar has a 3.5mm headphone jack. The reproduced sound is faithful with good listening power. The listening experience is very pleasant, even with a loud sound. On the Siri side, the presence of the 3 microphones allows good playback on the computer. What about connectivity In addition to the headphone jack mentioned just above, the MacBook Pro Touch Bar has 2 USB-C ports (at least). One is more reserved for charging the computer, while the second is reserved for accommodating a suitable Apple wire or accessory. It can be noted that it is a bit limited in terms of ports. We would have appreciated some additional ports or an accessory delivered with the MacBook. For a USB, HDMI and USB-C adapter, you will have to pay an additional 75 euros. Finally, in terms of wireless connectivity, this computer is made up of Bluetooth 5.0 technology, one of the best on the market. The connection is good and fast between the different connected devices. On Wi-Fi, it is equipped with the 802.11.ac model offering very rapid exchange between wireless networks.
This new MacBook Pro Touch Bar in 13 inch version offers high performance equipment for everyday and professional use. In terms of design and ergonomics, there is nothing to complain about, this computer is very well designed with innovative features, for better quality of work. On power and autonomy, this MacBook Pro reacts very well with good performance even with greedy software. Regarding sound quality, it is ideal for professional use and normal listening music. At maximum power, it is preferable to connect it to a Bluetooth speaker. The debatable point lies in the wired connection with the presence of 2 USB-C ports on the entry-level versions. In summary, the MacBook Pro Touch Bar is a small nugget, worthy of the quality of Apple products. Even at a high price, this computer offers very good performance, superior quality of comfort, and a long service life. We do not regret our purchase! THE POSITIVE POINTS Touch Bar screen 10h autonomy Flawless design Quality retina screen A light and autonomous model THE NEGATIVE POINTS Limited connectivity Delivered without accessories Its carried to the maximum

BOM s'apprête à construire un nouveau radar météorologique Cullulleraine de 5 millions de dollars pour desservir le nord-ouest de Victoria

BOM s'apprête à construire un nouveau radar météorologique Cullulleraine de 5 millions de dollars pour desservir le nord-ouest de Victoria


Les agriculteurs de l'extrême nord-ouest de Victoria et du sud de la Nouvelle-Galles du Sud pourront bientôt accéder aux données d'une installation météorologique de pointe qui sera construite à Cullulleraine, à 45 kilomètres à l'ouest de Mildura.

Le Bureau de météorologie a signé un bail de site pour le nouveau bâtiment et prévoit de le mettre en service au début de l'année prochaine. Le ministre fédéral de l'Environnement, Sussan Ley, a annoncé aujourd'hui plusieurs milliards de dollars du gouvernement, affirmant que le nouveau radar fournira les services météorologiques les plus récents de la région. "Les améliorations technologiques incluent la capacité Doppler et la technologie bipolaire, ce qui signifie que nous pouvons mesurer non seulement où se trouvent les particules dans le ciel, mais aussi à quelle vitesse elles se déplacent et quel type de particules elles sont susceptibles d'être", a déclaré Mme Ley. "Nous voulons les meilleures informations météorologiques possibles pour nos agriculteurs et tous ceux qui dépendent du radar et de la météo. Et beaucoup de gens aussi." Améliorer le service Le météorologue victorien principal du Bureau de météorologie, Andrew Tupper, a déclaré que le nouveau radar sera une grande amélioration par rapport à l'ancienne installation de l'aéroport de Mildura.

Roy Horn Of Siegfried et Roy décèdent de COVID-19 à 75 ans

Roy Horn Of Siegfried et Roy décèdent de COVID-19 à 75 ans



Le magicien et dresseur d'animaux Roy Horn, du légendaire duo de Las Vegas Siegfied et Roy, est décédé vendredi des complications liées au COVID-19. Horn a été testé positif la semaine dernière. Il avait 75 ans. "Le monde a perdu l'un des grands de la magie, mais j'ai perdu mon meilleur ami", a déclaré Siegfried Fischbacher à propos de son partenaire dans un communiqué. "Roy a été un combattant toute sa vie, y compris pendant ces derniers jours. Je remercie sincèrement l'équipe de médecins, d'infirmières et de personnel de l'Hôpital Mountain View qui a travaillé héroïquement contre ce virus insidieux qui a finalement tué Roy." Roy Horn est né en Allemagne en 1944. Lui et Siegfried ont commencé leur numéro à Las Vegas en 1967. En 1989, ils ont commencé une course de 14 ans au Mirage Resort exécutant des illusions avec des animaux exotiques, faisant disparaître et réapparaître des tigres, des lions et même des éléphants. . En octobre 2003, Roy Horn jouait avec un tigre blanc de 400 livres nommé Mantecore lorsque le grand chat l'a attrapé par la gorge devant un public stupéfait et l'a traîné hors de la scène. Horn a subi un accident vasculaire cérébral et une paralysie.
Le département américain de l'Agriculture a enquêté sur l'incident et a produit un rapport de 233 pages. Mais cela n'a pas déterminé pourquoi le tigre a agi comme il l'a fait. Comme le porte-parole de l'USDA, Jim Rogers, a déclaré à Steve Inskeep de NPR en 2005, "Nous essayons de comprendre pourquoi les animaux dans cette situation peuvent allumer un dresseur ... Il y a eu des cas dans le passé où c'était quelque chose d'aussi simple que quelqu'un qui tournait le dos un animal ou changer un costume sans permettre à l'animal de se familiariser avec lui. Dans ce cas, je ne crois pas qu'il y ait une raison pour laquelle nous avons décidé que l'animal se retournait contre M. Horn. " Horn a survécu et s'est partiellement rétabli, revenant sur scène avec le même chat pour une performance en 2010. Il a insisté sur le fait que le tigre réagissait au coup et agissait pour le sauver et non l'inverse. Une déclaration du publiciste du duo indique que Roy a fait référence à Mantecore comme "ma bouée de sauvetage". Vendredi, Siegfried Fischbacher a déclaré: "Toute la vie de Roy a été de défier les probabilités".

Andre Harrell, Music Executive Who Discovered Sean ‘Puffy’ Combs, Dies at 59

Andre Harrell, un vétéran de la musique, plus connu sous le nom de fondateur d'Uptown Records, où Sean "Puffy" Combs a fait ses débuts dans l'entreprise, qui a ensuite dirigé Motown Records, est décédé. Il avait 59 ans. La cause du décès n'est pas encore claire. DJ D-Nice a révélé la triste nouvelle en tournant sur Instagram Live pour sa populaire série Club Quarantine vendredi soir (8 mai). La variété n'a pas encore reçu de mot officiel, bien que des sources aient confirmé le décès de Harrell. Originaire de New York, Harrell a commencé sa carrière dans la musique en tant qu'artiste, la moitié du premier duo de rap Dr. Jeckyll et Mr. Hyde, dont le single "Genius Rap" a été un succès mineur en 1981. En 1983, Harrell a fait équipe avec Russell Simmons, le fondateur de Def Jam Records, et a eu l'une de ses premières expériences dans l'entreprise en tant que vice-président et plus tard directeur général du label.

Père MC. Harrell a également signé l'adolescente Mary J. Blige à la fin des années 80, bien que sa carrière au sein du label n'ait pas complètement décollé avant le début des années 90, avec l'aide de l'ancien stagiaire entreprenant de Harrell, Sean "Puffy" Combs, qui fut rapidement élevé à une position A & R à Uptown. Le concert A&R de Combs lui a permis de découvrir la cassette de démonstration d'un rappeur nommé Christopher Wallace, alias Notorious B.I.G. Comme le raconte l'histoire, Diddy a été licencié d'Uptown en 1993, après quoi il a lancé Bad Boy Records et a rapidement signé Wallace pour un accord avec son propre label. Harrell trouverait plus tard une maison pour Uptown au MCA où il a développé simultanément plusieurs projets dans le cinéma et la télévision dans les années 1990, y compris le film et la bande originale "Strictly Business". En 1995, il a dirigé Motown Records en tant que président et chef de la direction pendant une courte période peu de temps après l’acquisition du label par PolyGram.

Harrell et Combs sont restés des amis et des associés de longue date et Harrell a été vice-président de Revolt, le réseau musical multiplateforme de Combs, et producteur de son émission-débat «State of the Culture». Pionnier du hip-hop et du R&B et du divertissement noir en général, servant de producteur exécutif de la série "New York Undercover", Harrell a pu être vu lors de nombreux événements sur le tapis rouge sur les deux côtes. Il apparaît dans le documentaire de 2017 de Diddy «Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Story» et, selon IMDB, avait travaillé sur une mini-série télévisée sur Uptown qui était en phase de développement chez BET. La mini-série en trois parties intitulée «Uptown» avait Harrell à bord en tant que producteur exécutif et devait sortir sur les ondes en 2020.

The 10 best televisions PROMOS (2020)

The 10 best televisions PROMOS (2020)


Are you looking for a television? The 2020 home appliance promotions offer a lot. But what are the best discounts to get? Here is a ranking of the 10 best TV promotions available. We have put them together in a table accompanied by our advice. → The best TV promotions are at?

Which TV promos to choose? 



Pending the French Days and the 2020 summer sales, Electroguide offers you, throughout the year 2020, a selection of the best promotions found (in each product category), in terms of quality and price. Good promotions to all. Televisions today have different picture definitions: HDTV, Full HD, and 4K UHD. We have mainly chosen here 4K UHD models and little Full HD. There is almost no more 3D LED TV, and this technology is bound to disappear, as long as it is not used. We therefore do not advise you to take 3D, you will pay more for your TV and you will get bored very quickly after 2 or 3 tries.
For information, we have indicated screen sizes in. (inches) in the table, for those who did not understand, as well as the 4K mentions for image definition in 4K Ultra HD, and curve for televisions with a curved screen. The best promotional offer for this selection of television is the POLAROID brand television. The model ((4K Ultra HD inches at 349 euros is probably the best value for money on the market today for this medium size. For lovers of very beautiful television with the Sony brand (its 55 inch TV sold at 999 €). You get optimal picture quality and a 4K Ultra HD screen here, the rendering is impressive.
Finally, an interesting TV promotion of a television with a curved screen is that of the Samsung brand (the Samsung model ue49nu7372kxxc 49 inches sold at 499 €), which offers a 4k curve screen not too expensive. Please note, the prices and models indicated are only valid online. You will not find the same promotional offers in store, nor the same choice, it will be more limited and the promotions less interesting. If you want more information on the technical choices for a television, we invite you to consult our guide: "How to choose a television?". You will find many tips and recommendations.

NOUVEAUTÉS CIGARETTE ELECTRONIQUE 2020

The 7 best cigarettes

Welcome to our comparison of the 7 best electronic cigarettes. Better to vape than smoke. We have therefore established a classification of e-cigarettes according to brands, technical criteria, and the opinions of consumers and users. You will see below that 2 brands stand out from the lot.
Explanation of classification This comparison of brands and models of electronic cigarette already allows you to get an idea of ​​the market and this vaping sector both booming and innovating. Today, two brands mainly dominate the vapers market: the SMOKE brand and the VAPORESSO brand. By choosing one of these two brands, you will be almost certain not to be mistaken in your choice of e-cigarette. But if we were to advise you on a particular brand and type, we would recommend the Original vaporesso Revenger. Coupled with a good e-liquid, this Tank type kit is equipped with a battery, a resistance, and a tank. Beyond being a pretty object, it is one of the best e-cigarette technologies to date.

Choosing the best e-cigarette? 

Choosing the right electronic cigarette is not easy, and the ranking given above is only a doorway into your search. Original Vaporesso Revenger You will need to carefully analyze all the brands and types they make before purchasing. Strictly speaking, there is no better e-cigarette, the best electronic cigarette will be the one that suits you best. The TANK models (with a large charger at the end) are the most advanced, but the small models are more pleasant for vaping. The best electronic cigarette should also be bought with the best e-liquid. In the same way, you will have to test several brands and several tastes. In any case, it is a good step forward, and despite the debates on the subject, we can reasonably think that the electronic cigarette is much less dangerous than a conventional cigarette

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Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) Review

Introduction

Samsung's 2016 A-series is truly something. Retaining the slightly less-rounded rectangular shape of the 2015 A-series (compared to the flagship S-series), the new handsets have adopted a more gracious, sophisticated glass design. What's more, Samsung has added some additional size variations to choose from, the biggest of which being the Galaxy A9 – a 6" behemoth that impresses with both size and posture.

At a price ranging from $450 to $500, the Galaxy A9 is easier to acquire than Samsung's top-shelf Galaxy S7 edge, yet most consumers will probably have a difficult time finding the spots where the corner-cutting has been done. If you happen to love large... no, HUGE screens, this may be the phablet you've always wanted.

Design

Some say, with a somewhat negative connotation, that metal has become the new plastic when it comes to phone design. If you happen to second this view, then I'd assume you are going to like the Galaxy A9, with its elegant glass exterior. Yes, it'll be easier to crack; yes, it'll attract more fingerprints, but it sure as hell looks and feels fancy!

The design of the Samsung Galaxy A9 is among its main selling points: you can get it in three different colors: white, gold and 'pink gold', with the latter two having a black front. All three options are quite attractive. The metal side frame is colored appropriately for the three variations, and I'm pleased to say the company has excercised enough care so as to smooth out all the edges, making for a phone that feels genuinely good in the hand.

'Solid' and 'substantial' are two words I would definitely use to describe the Galaxy A9. The phone doesn't feel flimsy or plasticky like the Xiaomi Mi5, for example, but nice and solid – it makes you feel confident that it's not going to fall apart easily. And then, having in mind the imposing dimensions and scale-tipping weight of 7.05 oz (200 g), the A9 sure is substantial enough – so much so that it easily outweighs other big and heavy handsets like the iPhone 6s Plus (6.77 oz | 192 g) and the Galaxy Note 5 (6.03 oz | 171 g). However, considering there's a massive, 6" display mounted on the Galaxy A9, such figures are definitely to be expected.

Also worthy of note: as it's become the norm for recent higher-end Samsung handsets, the buttons (home, volume, power) are all clicky and easy to press, with a nicely defined tacticle feedback.

The Galaxy A9, being a higher-tier handset, comes with a fingerprint scanner built into its home button, just like the S7 or Note 5. The scanner also works in a similar fashion: it's mostly quick and responsive, though its accuracy tends to go south the more careless the user becomes with their finger positioning.

One feature the Galaxy A9 does lack, compared to Samsung's 2016 flagships, the S7 and S7 edge, is water-resistance. This is one area where we can say a corner has been cut in order to keep the price of the phone more accessible.

he Fujifilm X-Pro2 is a fantastic camera, but it's not for me

I've been looking forward to the X-Pro2, Fujifilm's flagship mirrorless camera, ever since switching over to the X Series 18 months ago. To understand why, you need to know a little about me. I've only really been taking cameras seriously for seven years. My first came in 2009, a slightly battered old Nikon D40. Three years, three Nikons (I upgraded twice) and three additional lenses (35mm, 40mm and 50mm fixed) later, I was tired of lugging around a giant camera, and even more tired of the small selection of good lenses available in my price range. I then tried out a mirrorless Sony camera, but Sony's lens selection at the time was pitiful if you weren't willing to spend big money.

It wasn't until an old colleague of mine showed me the Fujifilm X100T, a compact camera with a 35mm-equivalent fixed lens and an innovative viewfinder that's both electronic and optical, that I knew what I wanted. Within weeks I'd thrown my Sony in a drawer and bought an entry-level X-M1 and a pair of lenses to give Fujifilm a shot.

After an extremely successful trial run at CES 2015, I was convinced. All that was left to do was upgrade from the entry-level body to a model that did everything I wanted it to. I decided on an X-Pro1 -- despite a colleague advising me against it -- because it had the same viewfinder tech as the X100T I'd fallen in love with. The problem was, rumors suggested that a sequel, the X-Pro2, was just around the corner. So I waited.

And waited.

Fujifilm wouldn't announce the camera until January this year, and I didn't get a chance to touch one until last month. After all this time, was it worth the wait? On paper, the answer looked like a resounding yes: The X-Pro2 has an all-new third-generation X-Trans sensor, which ups the resolution considerably over the rest of the X Series, and a fresh image-processing unit (the "X-Processor Pro"). That means a 24.3-megapixel resolution and a native ISO limit of 12,800, a big upgrade from the previous cameras' 16.3-megapixel and ISO 6,400 limits. There's also an improved autofocusing system with phase detection -- not entirely new for the X Series, but new for the X-Pro.

Gallery: Fujifilm X-Pro2 sample images | 14 Photos

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But before we really get into what the X-Pro2 is, let's quickly cover what it's not. The X-Pro2 is not a compact mirrorless camera. At 445g (0.98 pounds), it's only 10g (a third of an ounce) lighter than the D3100 I tossed aside four years ago. The X-Pro2 is also not a DSLR replacement. The company's X-T10 and X-T1 fill that niche, and the X-Pro2 is closer in shape to the Nikon SP and Leica M3 rangefinders popular in the '50s and '60s. Finally, the X-Pro 2 is not cheap. It's $1,700, which puts it in the same price range as Nikon's and Canon's ultra-high-end APS-C DSLRs like the 7D and D500, or, closer to home, Sony's superb full-frame mirrorless A7 II. None of these cameras are directly comparable to the X-Pro2, though, and that's because of Fujifilm's unique viewfinder.

Like the X-Pro1, and the X100T that sold me on Fujifilm in the first place, the X-Pro2 has a hybrid viewfinder that takes the best aspects of optical rangefinders and electronic viewfinders and mashes them into a single unit positioned in the top-left corner of the camera. In optical mode, it gives you a wide field of view and projects more information on top of it. Rather than showing you what your lens is seeing and its focus, you'll instead have a white box indicating the area your lens will cover. For a more practical example: If you have a zoom lens, this box changes sizes depending on what focal length you've chosen. Above and below this view you'll find the usual information you'd expect from a viewfinder. This is customizable, but I have it set to show shutter speed, aperture, ISO, exposure and battery.

Looking through the viewfinder, you see guidelines showing you framing, and an EVF preview of your finished shot in the corner.

The limitations of an optical viewfinder -- namely, not being able to see what you're focusing on -- are mitigated by a tiny electronic viewfinder that sits in the corner of the optical window. This can either show you the whole frame (like you'd see on a regular EVF) or a tight crop of what you're focusing on. The setup is a modern-day take on the rangefinding concept -- using two separate image guides to take a single photo -- and I relied on it fairly often when using my favorite Fujinon lens (a 35mm f/1.4). With a telephoto, though, you're going to feel limited, because the boxed-in area will be tiny. Because of this, when shooting with a zoom lens I ended up flicking the lever on the front of the X-Pro2 and turning the optical viewfinder into a full-blown EVF.

The regular EVF is nothing to write home about. At 0.48 inches and 2.36 million dots, it's bested by cheaper cameras from other companies and even Fujifilm itself. It's definitely solid, and it provides some vital flexibility to make up for the optical view's shortcomings. As explained, it's great for shooting with telephoto lenses. That's not something I do often, but even so, I found the EVF useful for navigating menus and viewing photos when shooting at night (i.e., when I didn't want the LCD on the back lighting my face like a Christmas tree). Likewise, the main LCD -- a 3-inch panel with 1.62 millions dots -- is good enough, but it's fixed in place. When the X-T, X-M and X-A series all offer tilting LCDs, you have to question why the X-Pro2 doesn't have one.

Shot at f/4.0, ISO 12,800, with a 18-55mm f/2.8-4.0 lens. A high-res shot can be found here.

One of these three themes -- fantastic, flexible and good enough -- can be applied to every facet of the X-Pro2. The new image sensor and processor are fantastic, with great JPG handling, color reproduction (aided by Fujifilm's "film simulation," which lets you choose from various processing options), and usable images even at ISO levels as high as 12,800. Fujifilm provided me with an 18-55mm zoom lens (f/2.8–4.0 with optical image stabilization), which has been around for a few years. It's remarkably sharp around 27–40mm -- far more so than your typical kit lens -- but as you'd expect suffers at the extremes of its range with softness and distortion. I ended up leaving it at home for the majority of my testing, mostly because I'm used to shooting at fixed focal lengths.

When I paired the X-Pro2 with lenses I'm familiar with, I was very pleased with the results, if not with the ease with which they were acquired. There are a pair of dials atop the camera, one a basic exposure (to ±3) control, the other a dual ISO/shutter speed control. The latter is very unintuitive -- I literally couldn't explain how it's supposed to work despite having used it extensively. On the front and back of the camera are wheels whose functions change depending on what mode you're in -- shutter, aperture ISO, etc. -- which I only really used for fine-grain control of shutter speed, as my lenses all have aperture dials. Elsewhere you'll find dedicated mechanical buttons for auto-exposure lock, autofocus lock and a three-point switch for jumping between autofocus modes. There's also a tiny joystick by the LCD on the back of the camera that lets you set a focal point with ease. It's great, and every Fujifilm camera from now on needs to have it.

The X-Pro2 handles well, and with the kit lens, or smaller lenses like the 27mm or 35mm fixed, it's very easy to maneuver and hold steady. Put a larger lens on it, though, and it suffers; the grip is a little too shallow for supporting the weight of a 55–200mm zoom, for example.

The offending/offensive dial.

Despite a vast range of physical controls at my disposal, I found the X-Pro2 lacking. The problem really is that ISO/shutter dial. The X-T10 (Fujifilm's DSLR-like camera) breaks out shutter speeds and ISO into two separate dials, as do countless other cameras. Why the company's flagship does not is a mystery. Luckily, the X-Pro2 has three customizable auto ISO settings, so I set them up in reasonably tight increments (200–800, 800–3,200, 3,200–12,800, respectively) and jumped between them on the fly using the Fn button. That suits my current shooting style (I typically use manual mode with limited auto ISO as a safety net), but it's still nowhere near as quick or intuitive as it should be. What I was hoping for from the X-Pro2 was granular mechanical control over every facet of the camera. What I got instead was an irritating compromise.

Speaking of, one major pain point for Fujifilm cameras has been video. I specifically have a cheap Canon DSLR just to shoot the one or two things I need to per year, because Fujifilm's video is so poor. While no one is buying an X-Pro2 for its video capability, I'm happy to report that it can actually shoot passable video now, at 1080p and 60fps. One for the "good enough" column, for sure.

Autofocus, another spotty area for the X Series, is vastly improved over previous Fujifilm cameras. The original X-Pro had precisely zero phase-detection pixels. That's something that's been rectified by more recent models, but the X-Pro2 has by far the most phase-detection pixels of any X Series camera, covering roughly 40 percent of the frame. That leads to a big real-world improvement in terms of both speed and accuracy, although it should be pointed out that the actual pace of focusing will depend on the lens you have in front of that sensor.

After a couple of weeks of shooting, I've taken some beautiful shots. In case my origin story didn't clue you in, I am very much an amateur. My framing can be poor, my depth of field too narrow, my shutter speed too slow. No camera will fix that. What I can say is that the photos I've taken with the X-Pro2 have been better than the photos I've taken with other Fujifilm cameras. And I've had a lot of fun shooting them. I probably shouldn't be advising you to visit a competing website, but I'd recommend checking out Sam Byford's sample gallery over at The Verge. He's a far better photographer than I am (and, not coincidentally, the aforementioned colleague who introduced me to the X Series in the first place).

Shot at f/4.5, ISO 2000, with a 35mm f/1.4 lens. A high-res shot can be found here.

As great a time as I've had with it, I've come to the realization that the X-Pro2 is not what I want from a camera. And that sucks, especially after a year of waiting for it. Of course, I can't ignore the leaps forward it offers. Increased resolution without a dip in pixel-by-pixel quality, a native and usable ISO 12,800, improved autofocus, better JPEG rendering, a new film simulation mode (Acros, a black-and-white film, was used to capture the shot above), the new hybrid viewfinder -- these are all worthy and welcome improvements. But they're stuck inside a body that doesn't work that well as an everyday interchangeable-lens camera. That viewfinder, as flexible as it is, is much better suited to the company's fixed-lens offerings. The company's fantastic lens selection handles better attached to the DLSR-like X-T1 and X-T10.

But this sensor and processor will come to other Fujifilm cameras. And they'll be much, much better for it. As much fun as it's been to shoot with, and even though it's one of the best-performing cameras I've ever used, I'm not too sad to be saying goodbye to the X-Pro2. I am sad, though, to be stuck waiting again, this time for a refresh to another Fujifilm camera -- for, I guess, the "X-T2."

Corsair Lapdog review

A largely solitary activity, PC gaming has never convincingly blended in with the household's most social environment: the living room. That could be set to change following lapboards such as the Razer Turret, Roccat Sova and now the Corsair Lapdog, which aim to replicate the feeling of using a desk while you're kicking back on the couch.

Thanks to Steam Machines, small-yet-mighty gaming PCs and even the falling cost of large 4K TVs, lapboards are about to make an honest play for the living room.

Corsair's Lapdog is the most hardcore of the lot. It even lets you use your own Corsair-branded mechanical K65 or K70 mechanical keyboard with it, unlike its rivals, along with the wired or wireless mouse of your choice.

The unit connects to your computer through USB, rather than wirelessly, eliminating any latency worries. That's great news for hardcore gamers, but does it make the Lapdog an impractical option?

Out now priced at £110 (around US$160, or AUS$224), the Lapdog is also being offered as part of a bundle with Corsair's non-RGB, K70 mechanical keyboard that's available with with Cherry's MX Blue or Red switches for £190 (around $277, or AUS$386).

Doing so cuts £30 (around $40 or AUS$61) from the total cost of picking them up separately.

Dog's dinner

The Lapdog is the biggest lapboard yet by a wide margin. If it were an actual canine, it would be one of those slobbery Great Danes that make you disappear into the couch when it lays across you.

The unit is also extremely sharp, both in looks and construction. The first time I went to pick it up without looking, I was given a centimeter-long cut in my finger that bled for a few hours. Guess what my next move was? That's right: I sanded it down, sanded it good.

Setting up the Lapdog was a frustrating experience the first time around, largely due to my own catalog of errors rather than anything to do with the unit's design. The first step is to remove the long backplate that covers the wires, which is done using a supplied allen key.

My keyboard, Corsair's tenkeyless K65 that uses Cherry's Rapidfire MX Switch, slotted in nicely; though strangely enough the first time I attempted this seemingly simple maneuver, the keyboard refused to cooperate.

No matter how hard I pressed it down, the rear of the K65 was raised too high, preventing the wire cover from screwing back on. Had I inserted it the wrong way? Or was it just a tight fit? As it happened, I'd accidentally left the K65's two elevation feet sticking out. Yes, I felt a bit stupid.

With the keyboard eventually tucked in, the K65's thick, braided USB cable snaked into the wiring compartment and connected to a vacant internal USB port. One tip here is to plug the cable into the USB port first and then feed the wire into the empty compartment, using the supplied cable ties to prevent it from springing back up again.

After screwing the various plates back on, all that's left is to feed the Lapdog's long USB cable to your computer. That cable is particularly conspicuous due to its thickness and length.

It doesn't look tidy and creates something of a trip hazard unless you tuck it under a carpet. So, if you're living with people who don't like cables lying around then you're going to have to find a way of hiding it out of view. One that involves duct tape, preferably.

The Lapdog requires power for its external USB 3.0 ports to work. As such, it comes with a charge plug that's on the end of a cable long enough to stretch to a nearby wall outlet. Those USB ports can be used for anything from charging smartphones to connecting USB mice, headphones or other accessories; even wireless ones, if they come with a receiver.

Prize performer

I used the Lapdog over the course of a week in my living room, which isn't exactly primed for PC gaming. My 32-inch TV is raised a good seven feet up the wall, which causes the occasional bout of neck pain after prolonged periods of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends.

But, I didn't experience any pain using the Lapdog itself, bleeding finger aside. Despite being made from the same grade-A aluminum as Corsair's flagship keyboards, the Lapdog never feels heavy on the lap.

That's partly thanks to the memory foam cushion that magnetically latches onto the underside of the Lapdog, which absorbs the weight of the keyboard and lapboard rested upon it.

My only criticism of the memory foam cushion is that the bump on the underside is located in the center, which suggests that it should sit in-between your legs.

I find that doing this positions the keyboard too far to the left, resulting in an awkward, testing movement in my shoulders when it comes to typing.

Shifting the Lapdog slightly further to the left to position the keyboard directly in front of me (and stretching my right arm a little further toward the mouse) makes for a much more comfortable typing position, although this moves the bump directly over my left knee.

That isn't a huge problem, but, for a right-handed lapboard, it feels like the bump should have been positioned slightly further to the left. You can use the Lapboard without the foam bit, but I prefer it connected – bump and all.

Aiming at enemies and selecting units feels just as natural and smooth as it does when sat at a desk, although the mouse slips occasionally when I lean back on the couch due to the mouse pad's plastic, non-grip surface. Finding a sticky mouse mat with a textured surface might be one way to solve that.

I would suggest that Corsair make the mouse mat magnetic, like Razer has with its Turret lapboard. But, that would require the purchasing of a dedicated magnetic mouse.

Using your own kit is a huge part of the attraction here. Besides, my techradar colleague Kevin Lee didn't find Razer's magnetic approach all that convincing in his review of that product anyway.

We liked

The Lapdog is a well-built animal that comes the closest to providing a desk-like experience while kicking back on the couch. Being able to use a full-sized mechanical keyboard and gaming mouse is a real boon for both gaming and productivity work, and for the first time you could realistically swap your bedroom chair for the couch for all of your gaming and work activities.

Corsair has designed the Lapdog so that you can use its successive mechanical keyboards with it, so you won't have to buy a new lapboard each time. And, thanks to the three powered external USB 3.0 ports, you can chop and change USB peripherals as you wish. The Lapdog is a great big hound but won't hurt your knees, thanks to its generous-sized foam cushion, even if you have to shift it around a bit to find the ideal position.

We disliked

There's no escaping the fact that it's massive – almost unbearably so. It may not cause any physical pain due to its cushioned underside, but shaving a few inches from the Lapdog's thickness and length would go a long way to improving its overall comfort level.

Setting it up isn't difficult once you know what you're doing, but there's still a lot of fiddling around with screws and messing with wires and cable ties. If you're going to be switching between your bedroom desk and the living room couch frequently, then buying two keyboards is the only way to prevent a headache.

There's no left-handed option either, so tough luck there. And if you share a living room with others, you'd better hope they aren't fussy about tidiness, as that long snaking USB cable isn't the easiest to hide out of view.

Final verdict

Compromise is at the heart of the Lapdog experience. It's not the most convenient lapboard out there, but if you're looking to replicate the feeling of using a keyboard and mouse on a desk while you're sat on the couch then nothing else comes close.

The real draw is being able to use Corsair's mechanical keyboards with the lapboard, which makes lengthy casual and competitive play in the living room an honestly feasible option for the first time.