Inside Our Test Room
Virelloboardtall started as a shared spreadsheet between four people tired of returning hardware that reviewed well and lived badly. The spreadsheet became a room, and the room became this site.
Why Lab Reports
A product catalogue tells you what exists. A lab report tells you what happened. Every page here follows the same order: the method first, so you can judge whether our test fits your use; then findings, including the ones that surprised us; and the verdict last, written only after the test log is closed.
We write for hobbyists and remote workers who would rather buy once. That means we name trade-offs plainly, say when a cheaper option is good enough, and say when the answer is “keep what you have”.
On the Bench
| Instrument | Used for | Rig |
|---|---|---|
| Class 2 sound level meter (A-weighted) | Typing noise at 50 cm, fan noise | Keyboards, Boards |
| Calibrite Display Plus HL with DisplayCAL | Gamut, Delta E, white point, luminance | Displays |
| Lux meter | Ambient and task lighting | Displays, Setups |
| Thermal camera | Board and case surface temperature | Boards |
| Plug-in power meter | Idle and load power at the wall | Boards, Displays |
| Dial indicator on magnetic base | Desk wobble at height | Setups |
The Testers
Mara Okonjo
Technical writer, around 9,000 words a week on whatever board she is testing.
Tomasz Wierzba
Embedded developer who runs his home network on the boards he reviews.
Elif Arslan
Photo retoucher with strong opinions about matte coatings.
Daniel Reyes
Ergonomics consultant who has assembled more desk frames than he can count.
Independence Rules
- Most hardware is bought at retail with our own money.
- Loaned units are disclosed in the report and returned when testing ends.
- No manufacturer reviews, approves or sees a verdict before publication.
- We do not currently use affiliate links or sponsored placements.
- When a product changes after a firmware update or a hardware revision, we retest and date the update.
Found an error? Tell the lab. Corrections are noted at the end of the affected report.