Results tagged “gadgets” from VANTAN.ORG

I was invited to the launch of the new HP Pavilion dv2 Series Entertainment Notebook PC at Supperclub. Make that two notebooks actually, one in black and one in white. Which do you prefer?

White.

Black.

Backlit keyboard.

Separate Blu-Ray DVD recorder - just like the MacBook Air.

Lots of cool HP software. You can now write Chinese characters and some other Asian scripts and manage your media files, wherever they’re stored. I feel that because Apple included its iLife software with its operating system, it raised the bar and Microsoft took a while to fill the gap.

You can also manage your photos. Looks like HP’s answer to Apple’s iPhoto.

More details on the website.

As a business student who’s learnt some things about customer segmentation, I’d like to see if more girls buy the white model and more guys buy the black model. Of course, the hardcore guy gamers will want a more powerful notebook.

I actually think this will be popular among female students, because it is slim, not too heavy, and parents won’t complain about the extremely affordable price. Especially in difficult economic times like this.

Can you guess how much this costs? (don’t peek… scroll down if you want the answer)

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In the middle of class today (yes, I had full day class on a Sunday), I took out my MacBook Pro. Soon after that, a Taiwanese classmate sitting at my table extended her hand and shook mine, enthusiastically. She thanked me for supporting Taiwanese components as I had so many gadgets (I had an iPhone and a camera beside me). She also told me that she had been responsible for this particular screen component in my MacBook Pro.

I told her that I bought this particular MacBook Pro for its screen. I had in fact requested for the glossy screen model but the Apple Store had given me the matte one by mistake, and I had gone back just to return it for the glossy one.

Later I showed her this photo, just to give her an idea of how much I supported the industry over the years:

I love making people happy.

In any case, R made me happy too. Another classmate thought my screen was dirty. That’s because I put a rubber protector over my keyboard and whenever I closed the MacBook Pro, it would smear my glossy screen. I gave up rubbing away the smear marks because the next time I closed the MacBook Pro, the screen would be blurred up again. However, since someone noticed my smudgy screen, I decided to give it a wipe tonight. But the screen cloths I bought previously were not very effective and I would spend a lot of energy and time rubbing the rubber marks away.

Then I met R for dinner and he gave me a gift. A ducky that wipes screens. See exhibit below. I’m now looking into a super shiny, glossy and very clean screen as I’m typing this post.

R makes me happy :)

Asus has its Eee PC. Apple has its MacBook Air. And now, HP has its very own subnotebook, the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC. (hmm, comparatively speaking, it’s a mouthful!)

This is a list of all the extra applications and accessories I’ve added to my MacBook Pro (glossy) since I purchased it. I will update it as I go along. If you have any more suggestions, do post a comment!

Software

1. iWork, because I think Keynote’s presentations look better than Powerpoint’s. (installed)
2. FlickrExport, because it’s neater to upload photos directly from iPhoto. It uploads the photos according to the names I’ve given it, and not the default numeric names given by the camera. I previously didn’t have to pay for it but I guess it’s worthwhile supporting good software. (installed trial version, planning to pay for full version)
3. Firefox 3 beta, because it already rocks on the PC and looks even better on the Mac, taking on the metallic look that Safari has but with added features. No serious bugs encountered yet. Check out the predictive address input feature, and zoom in on text and images at the same time. Bookmarking is also smarter. (installed)
4. Adobe Photoshop. I may transfer my old Photoshop licence from my G5 PowerMac to this laptop, as I forsee myself editing and uploading more photos on the MacBook Pro. (planning to install)
5. Macromedia Studio. Likewise, I expect to do all my web stuff on this MacBook Pro, so I’ll remove it from my G5 PowerMac. (installed it, thinking of upgrading to the 2008 version)
6. Logic Studio. While it’s currently on my G5 PowerMac, Logic can only open if you have the USB token inserted. I think it is nifty, because that means you could have Logic running on different Macs (e.g. one at the big studio, one at the home studio) and still keep usage down to one machine at a time. (planning to install) (installed)
7. Second Life. Even though none of my friends seem to be using it anymore, I like to log in and take my Avatar for a spin, because this MacBook Pro’s graphics card rocks!
8. Microsoft Office for Mac Despite having iWork, I still have an extra home user licence for Office 2004, and after drooling over Kevin’s review Update: I have upgraded to the 2008 version!
9. Facebook Exporter for iPhoto I wondered if there was such a program, Googled and found it! It is so handy. It can even tag people in each photo you want to upload. And it’s free.
10. Senuti, which transfers music files on your iPod back into your Mac. When my hard drive containing countless music files crashed, I was in despair as that meant I’d have to re-rip all my audio CDs. Now it’s restored, complete with all the track info including the ratings and number of times played. Also free.
11. Evernote, a handy tool that helps you store your ideas, notes, doodles etc. Thanks to Kevin for the link.
12. Dropbox, a user-friendly interface for keeping shared folders between different systems. Works between PCs and Macs. Thanks to Kevin and Coleman for the link.
13. Newsgator, popular feed reader for the Mac. Just in case I get tired of the web-based Google Reader.

Hardware and other accessories

1. iSkin Protouch keyboard protector, because dirt, eyelashes and other little pieces of grit tend to get stuck in between the keys.
2. Speck SeeThru red hardshell case. It’s been catching people’s eyes and some even think the MacBook Pros now come in different colours! Heh.
3. MobileGear USB hub and card reader. This is an old gadget I bought two SXSWs ago but as the MacBook Pro only comes with 2 USB ports, I have to extend it. What’s cool about it is that it is entirely white and glows different colours when plugged in.
4. iPhone. For mobile synchronisation purposes. OK, I just had to rub that one in :)
5. ExpressCard reader that can be inserted into my MacBook Pro slot, so I don’t have to lug around a USB hub when I’m out of the house or office. Anyone have recommendations? (planning to get)
6. *Backup. * Once my credit cards recuperate from the consecutive purchases of an iPhone and MacBook Pro, I will get an external hard disk as backup.
7. Screen protector that doubles up as a matte display. This is for when I go outdoors, so that the screen doesn’t shine so much. Even now, the reflection isn’t too bad. I’ve seen it worse on other laptops. Anyone know a good brand?

My little Ixus 50 was purchased just over 2 years ago, as recorded on this blog. It served its purpose well. Its diminuitive size and fast startup time allowed it to take numerous candid shots that I would not have been able to capture with a conspicious, clunky SLR.

The little Ixus took thousands of photographs until it was haplessly drowned in a bowl of Chinese tea last Friday, in Tuscany.

It did not give up that easily. It rested in intensive care by the window sill for two days. I hoped that the water inside would dry up by then. After a few attempts to turn it on, the camera lens responded and the screen was lit, but the controls were stuck. I turned it off then tried to turn it back on to make the lens retract. It did not respond, even with a second battery inserted into it.

You can say it died with its eye wide open. The least I could do, after all the abuse I subjected it to for the past 2 years, such as shoving it into my pants pockets, was to give it a proper funeral.

Rest in peace, little fella.

Update: I bought his successor at Changi Airport. It's a Panasonic Lumix DMC FX-55. It feels different but it's pretty intelligent. Hope I'll love using it as much as my little Ixus.

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Listen to this podcast episode of me talking about my latest gadget acquisition, XTreme Mac's Micromemo for 5th generation iPods. This episode was recorded, naturally, on the Micromemo, then downloaded to my Mac and converted to mp3 (128kbps).

Apart from compression, no editing was done, so please excuse my 'ums' as it was 2am and I was nearly brain-dead trying to remember what I had to say without a script. I'll work on my speaking technique.

Tell me what you think of the recording quality, the podcast itself, whether you've tried other gadgets, and so forth.

(Background info: In a previous post, I contemplated choosing between this model and other models by rival brands Belkin and Griffin.)

The history of the VanPod royal family has been a tumultuous one.

The first VanPod was established in 2004. Its reign lasted over a year until it died, of premature old age. A detailed autopsy was performed and captured in photographs.

Its successor VanPod II had the extra ability to display photographs. However, this didn't mean a thing after a scandal in the Hardware Ministry, which rendered the entire Administration useless. The perpetrators were unable to be identified, even after a thorough AppleCentre Orchard inquiry. VanPod II was duly returned to its Maker while a search for a new leader took place.

After a few weeks of political uncertainty, a replacement, VanPod III, was installed. It contained the same characteristics as its immediate predecessor. It performed its duties faithfully, until September 2006 when it started to display signs of mental instability - namely, an unhappy face.

As news broke in the kingdom, citizens questioned the ability of VanPod III to perform its duties. Members of the main opposition party proposed a new leader for election - a broader-minded model with the magical ability to display moving images with sound. Its supporters said it also had 'more drive' and thus had a greater capacity for ruling the kingdom.

The second largest opposition party nominated a more slight candidate who could appear in costumes of various colours, namely silver, pink, blue, green and black.

As debate raged hotly among Parliament members, VanPod III underwent medical treatment by the royal family doctor and was cured. Snap elections were held, and VanPod III was restored to power.

All was well until this October morning, when VanPod kept skipping tracks without producing any sounds. The unhappy demeanour was once again displayed, and this time the illness could not be cured by the royal family doctor, who declared that VanPod III was no longer tractable. Listening to VanPod III's heart, a small, regular thudding sound was heard. Its heart was alive, but its brain was dead.

VanPod III was rushed to AppleCentre Orchard for treatment this afternoon. Attempts to revive its unhappy body were futile. The diagnosis? Another failure in the Hardware Ministry.

However, as VanPod III was still covered by life insurance, the Centre was obliged to provide a replacement. As news broke, a bloodless coup took place as army generals stormed the VanPod family palace and dissolved Parliament. Citizens, already used to the frequent political instability, posed for photographs beside uniformed guards.

The two main opposition parties continued the clamour for a brand new leader which was not directly descended from the makes of VanPod II and III, as they seemed to display "genetic deficiencies".

The parties have been organising protest marches, chanting statements such as "Videos!" and "Colours!" respectively. Even with the arrival of VanPod III's direct successor, which is estimated in the next 2-3 weeks, there are questions as to whether the new King's reign will be short-lived as well.

Meanwhile, compact discs have returned to fashion in the kingdom of Van.

New Segway models - the i2 and the x2.

New Nikon D80 digital SLR camera. A 10.2 megapixel CCD can be very tempting.

Sony launches mylo, a 'new pocket-sized communicator'. Hmm doesn't that sound like a nice cup of hot chocolate?