Busy, busy, busy!

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I've been busy dabbling with my Eee, installing and un-installing software. Today, I've installed Windows XP after I've tried, the pre-installed Xandros and Ubuntu gutsy.

All of the OS (Operating system) are good. But, finally after I can't get the Eee web cam and wireless to work with Ubuntu I then decided, what the heck, to try installing Win XP next. Well, today, after installing it, I tried playing some videos and music from the Usb. Also tried the files from my Ipod and it work's great too. Even, the webcam works again. I haven't yet tried if the wifi work. That's important as that's one of the reason I decided to buy the Eee. I wanted the ability to bring along the Eee to places and surf the net where I can get wifi.

I actually wanted to use Ubuntu on the Eee and keep it but, after weeks of trying to make the web cam and wifi work, I finally decided to try XP. I'll see if XP is stable enough on the Eee. I've already installed some of the software that I already used on my main pc. I just make sure I installed the basic software that I needed as the Eee only have 4Gb SSD space. One thing good is that Asus has included 3 usb and one SD, SDHC compatible slot on the Eee. So, you can always add more space. I have a couple of unused Usb drive and SD cards I already used to bring along with my Eee.

Using Xandros and Ubuntu, the battery works okay. When I bring it to work and played with it, the battery last till I reach home. I don't know if XP battery management could do that. Each of this OS has their ad and dis-advantage. For me XP only brings familiarity. And of course don't forget the viruses. With Xandros and Ubuntu, I don't really have to worry about that. It was fun and interesting to use them. I've learned a lot about Linux through using them. Let's just see if I'll be finally be keeping the XP as the main OS on the Eee pc.

Anyway, the Eee pc is not the only thing I've been dabbling with. Since, I've got my new Tv and Home theater system, I've tried a lot of stuff on them. For example, my Tv now come with and SD card slot. So, I can always insert an SD card and watch photos on it. My home theater also comes with a single USB slot. With it, I can just insert my USB drive and watch mp4 videos, mp3s and watch jpeg pictures at the same time. So, since I like taking photos and short video clips on my mobile phone, now I can just transfer the files to my usb drive and watch it on Tv with surround sound!

Freaking cool!

I also tried listening to the music on my Eee pc by connecting a two way jack to the home theater and it was nice and loud. So, the Eee pc now becomes my multimedia portal. Also, when I played the old game Doom the sound effects was fantastic!

I'm thinking of buying a cable that I can use to connect my Eee pc to the Tv. I'll go buy it when I'm not lazy.

Next, my Xbox. The Xbox is also a cool multimedia player. Since, it also got a USB port. I now can connect my Ipod and play the songs and watch pictures at the same time on the Tv. A nice way to watch your family photos together with your family.

Of course the games graphics was super fantastic. I tried downloading a couple of demos via the ethernet port on the Xbox to it's Hard drive. It works well and I've already used up most of the space on it. You can actually buy any new games and installed it on the Xbox hard drive but I haven't tried that yet. Not sure if I want to. I prefer buying the disk as I'm afraid that if the hard drive failed or anything there goes my downloaded games!

So, I pretty much busy myself playing with my new toys. Hehe.

Well, my readers. The New Year's coming and here we are again. I think I've already posted the same story last Dec 06. It's like we are going in a circle. Here, we are again at the starting point. Again, here we are at the end of the year and it's time to look back and ponder what we did this year.

So, what resolution did you make last year 06 , for this year 07, did you follow it through?

I know I had an interesting and busy year. So much happened since January earlier in the year. I guess things happened and sometime we have no control over the circumstances.

I already know what I want to do next year. First and foremost, I'm planning my financial budget for 2008. A couple of things or rather renovations I needed to do for my house and of course, a few gadgets I still haven't bought yet. I'm still waiting for the iPhone, although, I don't think I'll be buying it next year. I don't like it that you can't take videos on the iPhone. As, I like taking videos and pictures with my mobile phone. It's easier and quicker without me having to carry around a digital cam. Although, I'm actually thinking of buying one. Not sure when that'll be.

That's about it. Like I've said before, right now, I'm kind of in a semi-retire state. I finished paying my house loan and beside paying the monthly bills, I don't really have any other outstanding debts. Ahhh.. it's great to be out of debt. Life since so carefree. Nowadays, I sometime, even find myself bored as I don't really have any worries to worry about?

I guess I have to find ways to entertain myself...

Lucky for me, I still have the internet and the vast knowledge it holds will keep me busy. I'm always thirsty for the latest news and information on just about everything. It helps keep my brain active. Or, I might find myself sitting on a chair facing the walls everyday.

Keeping a blog is really a great outlet for me to paint my views on life in general. I've always been a thinker. I think about stuff all the time. About life, death, the human nature etc. Now, I can think it out loud and share it to the world. Sweet.

Okay, I know I can always get out and have fun. But, I don't really go out much any more. I'm just too lazy to go out even to a picnic or fishing or whatever. I'm not interested in those stuff. I'll rather laze around on my back watching Tv.

I don't why. It's just that the older I get, the lazier I become?

Anyway, the way I see if you really wants to relax why hassle yourself going through crowded airports and customs. Fighting through queues and squeezing your way in the malls?

I've have always hated going to crowded places. I like to stay in a nice quiet place where there's no other human. Preferably, at the beach but anywhere quiet is HEAVEN!

Okay then, that's about all I've got to say on today's post. I know, it's been a couple of days since my last post. Like, I said. I've been busy and maybe lazy. Well, the New years coming so you can't blame me right?

Next week, will finally be 2008. Here's wishing you all a glorious and profitable New Year and for me too!

Good day, good night, stay healthy, stay happy and see you next year!

WeeeeeeeeeeeeeeAaaaaaaaahhoOoooooooooooooooooooooo !!!

Cheers, peace out.

Good bye 2007!!

A Happy Year end 2007 for me FREE Xbox 360!

Hi yer, everyone!

That's a pic of my nephew, Isyra.

So, guess what? The year coming to an end and I've got a couple of things that I had craved for.

Since last month, Nov & Dec I've been busy shopping for stuff that I had wanted for some time. Mainly, the Asus Eee pc which you can see my nephew playing with on the bus ride home. Cool eh?

I brought it to work almost every day. Just to play around with it and see how robust the Eee pc is. So far, so good. I must say it's really portable and light and most of all fun to play with.


Anyway, yesterday, I went to Funan IT mall to collect my free Xbox 360, which I got because I re-contract with Starhub, my Internet access provider. I thought it will be a synch as I've done it before. But, things get a little rough. First, when I was suppose to alight from the bus at a bus-stop, the driver didn't stop and I had to walk about 1km back to Funan from Suntec!

Then when I reach the 4th floor, of Funan, guess what? There were literally 100s of people waiting before me!

To make matters worse, when I press the queue button I was no. 1937 and the Starhub service staff were only serving at the no.1569. Oh, my God. I had to wait for almost 3hrs (300 people)straight, standing like a nincompoop waiting for my turn.

But, it was well worth it, I tell you. A guy I was talking to, offered to actually help me to cut queue and go with him (his no. 1815) in the pretext that I authorized him to get the Xbox on my behalf.

Hehe, lucky me. Pity the no.2000+ soul!

Imagine, how ecstatic I was when I finally got the Xbox in my hand. I would have jump for joy right there if not for the many people still waiting around me.

Well, 1 down 2 to go. Today, Sunday, my new Panasonic 32 inch 1080p Tv + a Philips Home theatre set was delivered to me. I'm happy I didn't have to queue up again. This time, I just have to wait for the delivery man. And, come they did at around 4pm.

They ask me if I wanted to set it up myself or let them do it for me. I thought that it shouldn't be that hard, since I just have to follow the color code of the wiring.

Well, as you can see from the pictures, it was total chaos!

It was kind of fun to UN-box the stuff though.

The thrill of cutting the scotch tapes, tearing the plastic wrappers etc. Setting it all up almost took me the whole day. But, as I said, it's all worth it. I haven't done this for like eons!

That's why I wanted to get myself a new Tv+Home theatre+Xbox. I don't think I would be buying anything for a while. Well, at least 'till the New Year?

I had some problem setting it all up initially. The Video won't show, there were no sound coming out of the speakers and I can't play the included games with the Xbox I got. I think there's some cable missing too!





By evening, I manage to make it all work. Phew! Even decided to take a bath first before I relax and enjoy watching my nephew playing Forza motorsport on my new Tv. I must say, the graphics look superb!

Or, maybe, it's just my first time watching an Xbox game on an 32" Lcd Tv. No matter, I'm pretty satisfied!
I told my other two nephews on the phone about it and they are already asking me what other games I have.

I'll be getting all the top Xbox games soon. But, the games are pretty expensive, I must say. It's almost $74 for just one simple game!




Heck, I need to work overtime just to get another controller. I guess, you have to spend money just to have the latest hot games.


Hot console need hot games!

Hot rod dude. The sound effects, 3d smooth graphics and game play. That's the order of the day for games nowadays.

It surely beat the old Playstation that I had before it was fried by me.

I just can't wait to buy Halo, Bioshock etc. I haven't like played a first-shooter games like these for some time now. So, this new console are really exciting to me.



Check it out. I took some photos of the Forza Motorsport game.

I think the wide flat screen tv really makes the game looks beautiful.


Right now, though, I just want to relax and enjoy it. I'm done for the year and I've got what I wanted. Next year, will be a different matter and I'm not sure what I'll be getting. I do have some ideas. We'll see.

Well, that's it from me. As it is, it's already 11.35 pm and I'm getting a good well-deserved rest!

My legs are still a little strained by the walking and standing waiting in line yesterday.



Good night and have a Merry Christmas + Happy New Year!

Okay, I know it's a little early but hey, it would be soon right?

Chow!

Yes! My very own Asus Eee pc - Unboxed!

Yes! Yes! Yes! Finally! My very own Asus Eee Pc! Just got it today and been playing with it. Testing out all pre-installed software, games, SD cards etc. Way cool and wayyyYy cuuuuttteeee freaking SMALL laptop! Check out my own video on Youtube!
Maybe, when I'm not lazy I'll put up more clips for now, Click the play button to watch the clips!

Eee pc Reviews + hacks

As I'm interested in the Eee pc and the pre-installed Xandros (strip down version) Linux, I've been reading up on linux and hacks for the Eee. It seems interesting to me and the instructions is pretty simple. Well, most of it anyway.

If you do a search on Google or Yahoo or whatever your favorite search engine is you'll find a whole lot of links. I found a link reviewing the Eee pc which includes a couple of hacks you can do or try. Click the link below to read up >>

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/eee-pc-review.ars/1

And guess what? Finally, after 2 weeks of waiting, tomorrow I'll be going out to meet my supplier to get my very own Asus Eee pc!

WahooooooooEeeeeee!

I'm so excited. I wish I can go and meet him right now. But, it's already 11 pm at night. So, we decided to meet tomorrow around 12 in the afternoon. I think he thought of us meeting at Sitex but, I'm a little eager to get that Eee and play with it. I've read up on so many ways to hack the system that I'll be spending the whole Sunday meddling with the thing.

First thing first, I'll check if I can surf with my broadband. Next, I'll try if I can find any wifi near my area and try to get connected. I think, I'll be bringing it to work on Monday to try and get connected using the in-built wifi. There's so much I want to do!

It will be great if I can take a few days off from work and stay at home to test the Eee. I can do that, but I won't. Heh. Pretty tempting.

Okay, then. Can't wait for tomorrow. I don't think I can sleep! Too freaking excited!

If all goes well, maybe I'll post some pics or videos or whatever. There's so many Youtube videos demo about the Eee pc. Thought, I'll do something different. I've already got some plan. We'll see.

So, till tomorrow!