My Top Tech Gadgets of 2024!

[@garynagle3093]

The mini pcs are fantastic for budget minded people. Retro games all the way. The nas looks great. Definitely need the home stored security video using one of these

[@stemlator]

Mini PCs with N100 CPUs are having a moment right now. They're a more powerful alternative to the Raspberry Pi for not much more money. I ordered a GMKtek G3 with the N100.

[@MartinPaoloni]

The GMKtec Nucbox G3 is so cool. Maybe not the "best" but it's dirt cheap and it even has Intel 2.5G ethernet! I just got 3 and I'm building a Proxmox HA cluster. 🙂

[@stemlator]

I ordered a G3 a week ago waiting patiently for it to come in. I'm going to experiment with making it a whole home DVR for my parents as their local fiber provider will no longer offer TV service after June 2025.

[@WiseAcres-i4d]

Are you trying to take over the world ?

[@drwigglechin]

Meta Ray-Bans would be my top choice, super fun to use and they keep getting new features

[@biglevian]

I kinda miss the Mac mini on the list. Especially the base model now offering 16gb making it just a great deal and so much better than the last 4 years. Also the new form factor just being so much smaller and finally giving you front ports

[@gdot1803]

Steam Deck Oled, which I bought this year, is my winner. It single handedly made me enjoy playing video games again. Valve have done it: they've managed to make PC gaming feel console like and pick up and play, and they've legitimised Linux gaming. And we're only getting started: SteamOS 3 public release, SteamOS and Steam Input certified devices, Steam Controller 2, Valve Deckard VR, Valve Home Console. They've got a lot of stuff in the works; exciting times ahead.

[@LonSeidman]

Steam Deck is such a great device - I still have my LCD one and play a lot more games lately. The pick up and play aspect is a game changer.

[@gdot1803]

@@LonSeidman Yes, it really is. The ability to sleep and resume your games means you can play big AAA games in small 5 minute long sessions. It lets you get on with your other responsibilities: e.g. got something that needs to be done urgently, but you're stuck in a 10 minute long cutscene in Red Dead 2 (or whatever)? Just hit the power button to sleep and resume playing later. It's fantastic. Or when watching live TV and the ad-break comes on, just press the power button to resume playing your game until it's over. It's like the ultimate couch-buddy.

[@PwnageBlock]

Not a very exciting year for tech personally, but I did finally pick up a Steam Deck and it's been awesome! Also got the Pro 2 with hall effect sticks to replace my first Pro 2 which is now a backup/multiplayer controller. Honestly, I think it's better than their Ultimate controller. Also got a few Olight flashlights that are pretty cool. Kind of weird pick for a tech gadget but it's crazy how cool a flashlight can be.

[@biglevian]

Yeah got one this year, too. Definitely my gaming pick for 2024.

[@davidtindell950]

thank you and happy holidays !!!!!

[@rafaeltorovip]

Excellent video. Thank you for all you do to keep us informed about new tech and everything else. Happy holidays. 🎉.

[@PaulMonk-k3b]

Hi Lon, I enjoy your videos. Regarding your comment of setting up a home video system without the need for cloud storage, this can be achieved with the Arlo system using an external storage device. A little tricky to set up as you need to run Open VPN or similar via your router to enable access when away from the home network. I have mine running well and no need for subscriptions even on their higher end cameras. I wonder if tailspace could also be used to access the arlo base station and the stored videos?

[@bryans8656]

Coincidentally, I've got that G3 GMKtec N100 computer and I dual boot Windows 11 and Linux Mint. Amazing little device.

[@stemlator]

I've got one on order myself. I know it comes with Windows 11 but I'm actually thinking about just running Debian, Linux Mint, or Arch on it as a home media server. Do you use it as a desktop or a server? Or both?

[@bryans8656]

@ I use it as a desktop. I upgraded it to 16GB RAM and 2x 256GB storage. It was an impulse buy but I enjoy playing around with it, mostly on Mint.

[@stemlator]

@@bryans8656 I ordered it with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. I figure it's enough for my needs especially using Linux but it's nice to know I can upgrade the RAM if necessary. I'll leave the onboard SSD as a boot drive and store my recordings externally.

[@jmr]

It's too expensive to watch Lon even when it's free. Videos like this might clean my wallet out.

[@PixelVogue]

Sandisk 8TB is $750!!....someone send me one for free lol

[@jmr]

@PixelVogue Can you imagine filling up that mini NAS he showed in a previous review? That would be $3K.

[@PixelVogue]

@@jmr Just like the rapper...Ludacris! lol

[@arthurwatts1680]

Lon, thank you for keeping the home fires burning on the Shield TV - all we need now is for NVIDIA to realise that it still has a fan base. I watched a review from someone else on YT and he was obsessed with the age of the tech inside the Shield - surely that's a plus given that it was seriously over-engineered on release. I guess everyone will end up with the Apple TV eventually but it's still great to see someone dusting off the Shield and taking it for a spin.

[@Technically_Techy]

Something to note about the pro2 is that it’s gyro capabilities aren’t 1 to 1 when an official pro controller so games like splatoon are basically unplayable bc that and the lag the game has when going threw the equip + button menu since the game is scanning for amiibos which the controller can’t do. The ultimate bt controller is the one to get for splatoon but it’s $70 and that’s all I’d use it for over the pro 2. Not really worth it for 99% of people.

[@CantankerousDave]

NASCompares didn't review that Healuck box very favorably.

[@markwilliamson9199]

I bought a G3, great for my wife's business!

[@stemlator]

I've got one on order. Looking forward to seeing what I can do with it as a home media server.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Love pixel 8a....but I feel like the OnePlus 12R probably beats it for budget phone of the year in the United States. You can find it for 399 but it starts with 256 GB. And it comes with an 80 watt charger in the box and is running 8g2, which out performs the pixel silicon by a pretty wide margin. Pixel has the better point shoot camera of course and gets an extra 3 years of updates which is no small matter but getting to waste the storage and being able to charge your phone in 30 minutes is pretty compelling.

[@takehirolol5962]

The Onn media players...those are rare to get.

[@avalagum7957]

That 8GB RAM (only 1 memory slot) GMKTek G3 is $159 - $13 coupon right now on amzn. I didn't know that NAS' are that expensive (almost $300). That Onn 4k pro is interesting if I can put ublock origin on it. Does it work in a pi-holed network?

[@teknerd]

is it difficult to migrate a synology dsk raid to unraid? or even possible?

[@revengec]

Unraid DRMs the software to your flash drive?

[@ElectricVRoom]

I miss my Boox Palma! I had to sell it to buy a gaming PC LOL

[@CEG3RD]

Do you have the 8 gig or the 16 version of the green GMKTec?

[@LonSeidman]

I have 16 gigs in mine.

[@CEG3RD]

@@LonSeidman Ah, OK. I think you are much happier with the 16. I tried this box a year ago and it was pretty good, but my feeling before returning is that it would be much better with 16 gigs and I don't think it was available. I would think as a general PC this would pretty nice with 16 if the fan isn't too annoying.

[@Poo0fi]

I tried searching and I looked at your review for the Onn 4K Pro but didn't find any info on the voltage on the power plug. I understand your channel mostly caters to the US and North America so this is not the kind of information you need to share on your reviews but it'd be great to know if the Onn 4K Pro is dual voltage 100V-240V and if it can be used outside of the US. Thanks!

[@LonSeidman]

I just looked at the one that came with mine and it does indeed support 240 volts

[@Poo0fi]

@@LonSeidman Thank you! Being dual voltage also means you can just take it with you when you travel and always have your streaming library with you!

[@jackal830]

Unraid: The "Commercial" solution that has no silent data corruption detection. Yes, "RAID" is not backup, but if you have silent data corruption you might not catch it before your backups fall out of retention. You can just keep backing up the corrupt file over and over again. Even if it just knew and told you a file was corrupt, that would be enough so you'd know to restore from backup, but nope, it'll just let it silently corrupt and be oblivious to it. And yes, it does happen.

[@ericB3444]

So the best gadget of the year is the pet rock plus with AI.

[@LonSeidman]

The pet rock AI is great until it becomes sentient. Be careful.

[@matthewblasdel]

how can I become a tester/reviewer ?

[@Phil-D83]

You get 3d printer yet?

[@MichaelSaamone]

If you're savvy why not just put Android on a mini PC

[@AAa-qd8hb]

The New Trump administration is my best top tech toy in 2024.

[@ericB3444]

That was a very undesirable selection. Should be in jail

[@mharrolle]

Hope you get everything you voted for.

[@ericB3444]

@ it’s not smart to vote in New York where I’m from. It makes no difference if I voted because I’m from New York.

[@jeffreyswanson2207]

You win the dumbest comment of 2024. Congrats.

[@ericB3444]

@@jeffreyswanson2207 his comment is not bad. He’s excited for this orange bad person.