Editors’ Picks: Digital Discoveries
Tuan Nguyen, editor-in-chief, and Jarred Walton, senior editor, reveal their latest tech loves
SAMSUNG MULTIXPRESS M5370LX
I’m crazy about technology. Being in this job, I get to play with all the latest gadgets, often before they hit the market. I’ve seen a lot of really cool things over the years, but one of the craziest I’ve experienced recently is being able to watch Netflix or stream my Plex media off my NAS on to… wait for it… my printer.
Yes, the printer I have can browse the web, using Google Chrome, and watch movies with a native Plex app.
I’ve been playing with Samsung’s M5370LX, which is a multifunction laser printer that’s meant for handling office duties. It’s got an automatic document feeder to handle scanning jobs, and is very fast at spitting out full sheets of text and images at 55 pages per minute. But then it’s got a huge 10.1-inch touchscreen on it that allows me to install apps. So I installed Chrome and Plex. I tried watching Houseof Cards from Netflix, and it’s great. And Plex lets me stream my media from my NAS. The printer handles both with no issues.
It’s utterly absurd I know, but there’s something so cool about being able to watch a movie on your printer. Despite this being so cool, there’s one thing left I need to try: installing the original Doom. Why? Because people have gotten Doom to run on their graphing calculators, and I’ll be damned if I can’t play Doom on my laser printer. $3,699, www.samsung.com
RAZER ORNATA CHROMA
I’m a massive fan of mechanical keyboards. They feel good to type on and have a visceral effect on my cold fingers. So imagine my surprise when Razer sent me its membrane Ornata Chroma keyboard, pitching that it would feel just as good as the expensive mechanicals I’ve been using. No way, I said.
I was wrong. I’ve been using the Ornata Chroma in place of my Das Keyboard 4 with MX Blue switches for several weeks, and I’m addicted. But the Ornata isn’t a complete membrane keyboard, it has what Razer calls mecha-membrane. The switches have a metal nub above the membrane switch that clicks as you press down on the keys. An obvious solution, but the effect is profound.
Describing the feel is difficult. It’s not quite like the Cherry MX switches I’m used to, and it’s not quite like a membrane either. Think of the key travel as a clear mechanical snap, with the softer landing of a membrane.
At first, using the Ornata Chroma felt strange. I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. When I switched back to my Cherry MX Blue keyboard, however, I missed the Ornata’s feel. That’s when I knew it had me hooked. If you can, find one at a local store and try it out for yourself. I think Razer has a winner. $99, www.razerzone.com