Monday, November 13, 2006

Gayman. Toybook. Poor But Happy

And finally, ye olde desktoppe, being of the thirde in the generations of Pentium, hath croaketh.

And what lousy timing it was.

I knew it was time to replace my computer. I've had it for seven years, and the coming of XP way back when had already made it outdated as it was. The advent of dual-core simply ensured it was obsolete. Besides, you know your computer's expiring when it has to go for annual hospitalisation.

So yes, I've been gearing myself up to buy a new computer but I was holding out for the year-end promotions. No such luck, though. Last week, my PC decided not to start. At all. I turn on the power, the CPU energises, then... nothing. Not even the bloody initialisation screen which shows the processor and RAM details.

Don't ask me what happened. Since I was going to get a new computer anyway, I never bothered to send the old one in for a check. I think the motherboard or the processor gave out or something. Come to think of it, my computer gave up on the same day I had brought K's spanking new HP Pavillion over to my place to finish up some stuff Jon, Jaq and I had been working on... Maybe my computer had simply expired out of embarrassment.

So anyway, that was why I had to spend a whole week offline - my PC was down and I was busy shopping for a laptop. After looking around, getting opinions from friends (which ended being so varied it didn't help me very much), and of course, checking specs and prices, I finally settled for this baby:


Here's what made up my mind:

1. It's the best value-for-money notebook in the market right now. None of the other branded notebooks gave specs as good as this one for RM3000. I'd probably find cheaper deals next month but I really couldn't wait for that now, could I?

2. I got to upgrade the RAM to 1 GB for a pittance.

3. It's... so... PRETTY!!!

Okay, so #3 would have ensured my buying it even without the advantage of #2. And maybe even without the good sense of #1.

But I'm sure anyone would understand. After all, it really is lovely for a mid-range notebook (and lovelier than some of those costing twice as much).

So, Jay, NOW I can go sit in a cafe and bum off their wifi to update my blog :-)

20 Comments:

Anonymous said...

oOO... New toy, nice!

BTW my friend had a not-so-good experience with AMD processor, she later trade in the lap top and got 1 with Intel Pentium processor. Hope yours is OK.

Spot said...

That's exactly what i wanted to get. :) Then I decided I couldnt justify it (even though it's SO PRETTY and that shd be justification enuf), so i upgraded my digicam instead.

Hope you won't experience the heat issues that a lot of those who bought the V3010 did.

Jay said...

'tis the season for failing computers, it seems. Mine fell sick a couple of weeks ago and had to be sent away for repairs. Luckily I've also got a Mac (not to mention a bf with a spare laptop!) so my life was not completely ruined.

Don't even talk to me about dual-cores. It makes me ill that I haven't even finished paying off my laptop and it's already obsolete.

Anonymous said...

~~~~~~~~~geekchic

Yay! New toy!!!!!!!!!! PURTYYYY!!!! Me likes!!! *drools*

I debated on getting a compaq solely because they're the only ones who has AMD processors on their laptops (though dell has them now too) On the other hand, as much as I detest market-dominators, i have to admit that intel does have a better and stronger mobile chipset compared to AMD.

oh and spot, AMD cleared the heat issue a long time ago. No such issues anymore. :)

Anyway, the processor market is very interesting to watch. Unknown to many, it's actually AMD who came up first with a dual-core processor :)

Jay, when you think your laptop is obsolete, I'm about to tell you, weeshiong, your laptop will soon be obsolete too.

Intel will launch their quadprocessor chipset soon. But, the way they have made it quad is quite hilarious.

Nevermind, geek joke :P

Anonymous said...

Computers become obsolete almost the moment you buy them. You just have to buy the best one you can afford at the time, and enjoy the fact that it's so much better than your old one without worrying whether or not it's out of date. I mean, have some perspective - it's not like it's a pair of shoes or something :)

Sam said...

I was just about to tell you to bring your desktop and put a wireless on so you can get to use the wi-fi somehow. =P

Now with a laptop - much easier. No need to lug a huge desktop to Starbucks everytime. ROFL!

Will said...

Look, laptops will always be obsolete almost the moment you buy them. So just go for the prettiest ones, at least you'll still look cool bumming off wifi at Starbucks.

daniel henry said...

so jealous...! i only know how to use mac now... so convenient... seriously i think macs are for dummies...

savante said...

Ah, a laptop. yeah, get the cool pretty ones so that everyone will drool over their mochas.

Spot said...

geekchic - the heat issue with the V3010 (which is AMD based like WS's) is in relation tothe hard disk, not the processor. That's what was said via user feedback on Low Yat forums, anyway.

Agree with Will - get the pretty ones! At least it looks good all the way up till it croaks.

William said...

I didn't piss u off or something with my smoking comment did I?

"Bum off their wifi" :D

There was one time I was so desperate to check mail that I lugged my laptop to A&W to find that they don't have a free TMNET Hotspot account for me (after I had ordered something, crap). Then I hopped over to Coffee Bean hoping for free access, but I ended up subscribing to Airzed. So much for free.

daniel henry said...

aren't you suppose to be blogging more with the laptop now???

executorlouis said...

Yes, i have always thought HP notebooks look good, and perform well. I have had mine, a top end Pentium M which i bought for RM5200+ three years back, and its still serving me well. On the other spectrum are the IBM Thinkpads, which are boring and ugly.

Right now, i really wish i could get my hands on one of those pretty Macbooks. About time i discovered what the fuss about Macs is all about. =p

akihisa said...

Hey Wee Shiong!!

I know you'd go for looks if you have the chance. Hehe! However, I do have to say that laptop is one great looker. A great balance of looks and functionalty. Me jealous!!

*looking sadly at my ol' laptop*

drownedglass said...

JL:
Oh the AMD is OK, so far so good (touch wood)

Spot:
You're right. Compaq has had heat issues with their laptops not related to the processors. My office has an older model which can burn my palms after half an hour of use.

This new model however is better. It still gets a little warm though, compared to other brands, but definitely bearable (so far la)

Jay:
LOL. Now if only you had a spare bf to loan me as well :P

geekchic:
I went with AMD because most Intel machines feature 'Intel graphics accelerator', which is SO NOT a graphics card.

And yes, AMD was definitely the first to introduce dual-core... with their server processors if I'm not wrong. So they're the ones with more experience here.

And again, yes, I know about quadcore. I was even considering waiting for Vista (which now seems overhyped anyway). But as it turned out, I couldn't really wait for anything :(

Stephen:
Oh I'm pretty happy to have the excuse to finally replace my old PC. I've had it for 7 years! It was SO about time...

Sam:
OMG. Lug my CPU and 15" monitor to Starbucks? I'm not THAT big of a blogwhore, you know ;)

wingedman:
I wanna say this again... It's SOOO PREEEETTTTTEEEEEE! Haha. Shallow be me

danielhenry:
Show off! I'd get a Mac if I could afford one.

And if your day depends on my updating the blog... good luck! :P

savante:
Yes, as long as they don't drool over my laptop. It's not drip-proof after all.

William:
Erm. What smoking comment was I supposed to be pissed off about again?

What with all the different WiFi schemes, Starbucks really does seem to be the most popular place for it. I just wonder if I'll ever live to see KL become a city-wide wifi hotspot :)

executorlouis:
Yeah, HP notebooks look good and perform well. Unfortunately, mine is a Compaq, HP's cheaper cousin. Doubt it'll perform as well, but as least the casing is almost like the latest HP Pavillion V9000 series, which makes it (I'm saying it again) PRETTY PRETTY PREEEETTEEEE!

:D

akihisa:
OMG welcome back! Looks may not be everything but it sure is a lot of things. Hehe. I do have to maintain my monthly quota of shallowness, after all.

executorlouis said...

HP acquired Compaq some years back, and there was a time when they marketed their notebooks under the brand of HP Compaq, then came the internal HP reorganization cos their female CEO at that time made some bad decisions. Subsequently, executives decided to market Compaq on its own, but its still manufactured under HP auspices, that's why the materials and designs look so similar. Compaq were always the ones with laptop expertise, while HP should stay to their printers and other stuff, so rest assured, your laptop combines the best of both worlds. ;)

Anonymous said...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~geekchic
Almost all the products I work as a sideline are HP printer chips. So, yes, I'd say they are pretty good because they're so damn bloody demanding with the requirements and stringent test parameters! buy HP printers!!! MORE PROFIT SHARING FOR MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :)

William said...

Oh. nvm then. You gave me some crytic "asap" reply. :D. A little bit of WIFI here, a little there... It'll take ages for the holes to be patched up. Fixed line also not reliable, just got to wait.... patiently.

QUIK! said...

omg it's not a sony? then it's fugly! hmpf!

drownedglass said...

Louis:
Thanks for the reassurance :D

geekchic:
LOL. I'm not buying any printer yet but when I do, HP is definitely on the list :)

William:
Oh that, Was referring to a Kris D song la :P

quikfixed:
OMG? AT least I dunch need a laptop to make me look good >:/