Joe Porletto

Joe became a Maker at the age of ten after piecing together a Sinclair ZX80 that his grandfather had given him. The bug bit him hard and he’s been tinkering, building, deconstructing and generally creating gadgetry mayhem ever since. Joe lives in Seattle with Addy, his rescue pitty, and Chino, his blind kitty.

TheNeat NeatWalk Walking Pad Treadmill review – Walk your way to a healthier you!

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REVIEW – In line with the slew of New Year’s resolutions I’ve committed to, I’ve begun adding regular physical activity to my daily routine. As challenging as this can be for a self-identified couch potato, I’ve already seen some very encouraging results. One new routine I’ve incorporated into my workday, which I actually enjoy, has […]

TheNeat NeatWalk Walking Pad Treadmill review – Walk your way to a healthier you! Read More

Hisense 65″ Class U6 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K Google TV review – Premium picture at a bargain price!

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REVIEW – With TV prices dropping in recent years and the technology somewhat plateaued, buying a new TV these days can quickly become overwhelming. It’s easy to get hit with “analysis paralysis” when researching features and trying to get the best deal. Fortunately, many mid-range TVs now offer a range of high-end features without high-end

Hisense 65″ Class U6 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K Google TV review – Premium picture at a bargain price! Read More

Midland GXT67 Pro GMRS 5-Watt Two-Way Radio review – Stay connected on the go!

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REVIEW – I’ve been a fan of Midland products since my dad first let me talk on the CB radio he had in his 1966 Volkswagen Beetle. I felt like I was a character in Smokey and the Bandit, asking truckers on the highway for a “radio check.” The thrill of handheld communication has stayed

Midland GXT67 Pro GMRS 5-Watt Two-Way Radio review – Stay connected on the go! Read More

Gerber Custom knife review – Get that personalized knife or multitool you’ve always dreamed of!

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REVIEW – I recently had the chance to try out Gerber Custom, a new tool on the Gerber Gear website that lets you design a customized knife or multi-tool that Gerber will then build and send to you. The design process was simple and fun, and I was impressed with the number of customization options

Gerber Custom knife review – Get that personalized knife or multitool you’ve always dreamed of! Read More

Flexispot E2Q Standard 4-leg Standing Desk review – Get up, stand up, stand up at your desk!

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REVIEW – Transitioning from a decades-old IKEA desk in the corner of my cramped apartment living room to a dedicated office in my new home has been a real game-changer. As I excitedly planned my new workspace, I knew finding the right desk would be crucial and that it was definitely time for a proper

Flexispot E2Q Standard 4-leg Standing Desk review – Get up, stand up, stand up at your desk! Read More

New York Comic Con 2024 video trip report – All the pop-culture you can handle!

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REVIEW – For many, fall marks the end of summer, the start of winter, or the lead-up to the holidays—but for me, it’s all about one thing: New York Comic Con. Every October, the Jacob K. Javits Center transforms into a haven for pop culture enthusiasts, comic book aficionados, cosplayers, and fans of all things

New York Comic Con 2024 video trip report – All the pop-culture you can handle! Read More

Botslab G980H dash cam review – Driving safety and 4K clarity all in one!

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REVIEW – With my niece and nephews all having reached driving age, I find myself increasingly worried about their safety on the roads. One piece of safety equipment that I’ve found to be essential these days is a really good dashcam. I’m still using the Road Angel Halo Pro Dashcam that I reviewed back in

Botslab G980H dash cam review – Driving safety and 4K clarity all in one! Read More

Tentsile Safari Stingray Tree Tent review – Defy gravity and embrace adventure!

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REVIEW – It’s rare when a new development in outdoor gear surprises or impresses me. Usually, unique entries to the market turn out to be more about gimmicks and less about usefulness and practicality. The Tentsile Safari Stingray Tree Tent, however, is one new product that definitely lives up to the hype. This inventive shelter

Tentsile Safari Stingray Tree Tent review – Defy gravity and embrace adventure! Read More

SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades review – Smart Shades for a Smart Home!

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REVIEW – Having finally realized my dream of home ownership—well, condo ownership actually—I now face the challenge of furnishing a space twice as large as any I’ve ever lived in. The first order of business is finding appropriate coverings for my new living room’s wonderful, huge windows. As a technophile, I hoped to incorporate any

SmartWings Motorized Light Filtering Roller Shades review – Smart Shades for a Smart Home! Read More

The James Brand TJB hatchet review – A stylish chopper for the sophisticated woodsman

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REVIEW – One principle I’ve always lived by is that, just like good socks and underwear, one can never have too many hatchets. With PNW weather uncharacteristically great this summer, my hatchet-using opportunities have increased significantly, so it’s time to add to the family. While I still love my Gerber Bushcraft Hatchet that I reviewed

The James Brand TJB hatchet review – A stylish chopper for the sophisticated woodsman Read More

Stoke Voltaics Nomad Cooking System review – Ditch the propane and cook off the grid!

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REVIEW – While I continually look for ways to simplify my overlanding gear, I’ve found that a lot of compromises need to be made. With limited space and payload, weight and portability are prime considerations for everything I bring along. Always complicating matters is the unknown quotient of food and cooking supplies. Cooking fuel, in

Stoke Voltaics Nomad Cooking System review – Ditch the propane and cook off the grid! Read More

PowerUrus 12V 100AH LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Rechargeable Battery review – A feature-packed battery with tons of uses!

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REVIEW – As I add more and more extraneous lights and accessories to my truck, powering them all efficiently becomes an issue. Right now, everything is powered by my main starter battery, which is fine to a point. The ultimate goal is to protect that starter battery at all costs and power everything else from

PowerUrus 12V 100AH LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Rechargeable Battery review – A feature-packed battery with tons of uses! Read More

HAOQI Cheetah Full Suspension Electric Bike review – A powerful fat-tire e-bike with maximum range!

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REVIEW – The part of Seattle where I live is home to all manners of cutting-edge personal transportation. At times, when I’m stuck in traffic, insulated in the little climate-controlled metallic cocoon of my beloved Toyota Tacoma, I watch all of the brave commuters zip by on their various wheeled contraptions with more than a

HAOQI Cheetah Full Suspension Electric Bike review – A powerful fat-tire e-bike with maximum range! Read More

Helinox Table Four and Café Chair review – Portable table and chairs set for fun!!!

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REVIEW – The more camping gear I research and acquire, the more I’m amazed at some of the latest space-saving innovations they showcase. Bringing larger items, like a table, along on a camping trip has always required some advanced Tetris-like packing skills. Since testing the Helinox Table Four and Café Chair, however, I can put

Helinox Table Four and Café Chair review – Portable table and chairs set for fun!!! Read More

Trelino Evo S Portable Composting Toilet review – This travel toilet is number one for number two (and number one)!

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REVIEW – Spending any significant amount of time living outdoors requires a lot of equipment, planning, and special considerations. One of the most important things to plan for is what’s known as “the bathroom situation.” Every time I invite someone along on an outdoor adventure lasting more than a day, the question I’m most asked

Trelino Evo S Portable Composting Toilet review – This travel toilet is number one for number two (and number one)! Read More

Gerber ComplEAT 6-Piece Cutting Board Set review – This meal prep kit is a cut above the rest!

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REVIEW – After years of dealing with soggy hamburgers and hot dogs, I finally decided to upgrade my camping cuisine. Now, when I’m enjoying the great outdoors, dinner is either a nice steak cooked over the campfire or some other simply prepared protein. While this cuts down on the amount of condiments and soggy rolls

Gerber ComplEAT 6-Piece Cutting Board Set review – This meal prep kit is a cut above the rest! Read More

CARLUEX PRO+ Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Adapter review – Add features to your boring car stereo!

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REVIEW – As much as I love my Toyota Tacoma, one thing that it’s lacking is a decent infotainment system. Most car manufacturers still seem to treat this vital part of a car’s configuration as an afterthought, and the older the car, the worse the experience. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have stepped up to

CARLUEX PRO+ Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto Adapter review – Add features to your boring car stereo! Read More

Keychron V1 Max wireless mechanical keyboard and M3 Mini wireless mouse Metal Edition review – Premium feature-packed peripherals for power users!

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REVIEW – Now that I’ve adapted to a hybrid work schedule—splitting my time between a home office and company campus—I’ve had to set up two full workstations. That means equipping two of everything, so I can remain effective in both settings. For me, the most crucial parts of my setup are my keyboard and mouse.

Keychron V1 Max wireless mechanical keyboard and M3 Mini wireless mouse Metal Edition review – Premium feature-packed peripherals for power users! Read More

Intel NUC 11 NUC11PAHi7 Panther Canyon Mini PC review – Big processing power in a small package!

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REVIEW – When it comes to electronics, smaller is always better. I like to think that the ability to pack supercomputing power into palm-sized devices is a trade-off for the grand promises of the past, like flying cars. Intel’s Next Unit of Compute (NUC) mini PC series is the perfect example of how useful small

Intel NUC 11 NUC11PAHi7 Panther Canyon Mini PC review – Big processing power in a small package! Read More

UGREEN Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock review – A powerful, versatile dock to max out your computer’s connectivity!

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REVIEW – Apple computers have a lot of advantages over PCs, but connectivity isn’t one of them. For literally decades, I was a dedicated Apple user, and as such, I was burned every time Apple decided to sunset another connection option. I still come across Firewire cables and adapters in random corners of my apartment.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock review – A powerful, versatile dock to max out your computer’s connectivity! Read More