Foray into IT Land

Recently, my life (other than work that is), has been one long foray into IT land... and even as I speak now, I have decided to go into the Internet to find out why my USB ports have suddenly decided to go mad on me...

Recent gadget acquisitions:

1. Got myself the new Nokia e72... well, it is still less than a month old, so I guess we can call it a new gadget
2. Got myself the Western Digital Hard Disk Drive - My Passport Essential (Ultra-portable Hard Drive) 500gb
3. Got myself a Antivirus scan (ESET - some taiwan brand I think), and yes, I know this doesn't quite count as a gadget, but please indulge ...

I am extremely excited about this... however, one thing I realized when I came back was... darn, seems like the two usb ports that are front facing, have decided to die and go to paradise. So I am only left with USB ports (think there are 6, and I have used up 5 for permanent setups, so I only 1 spare) at the back of the CPU, which is darn difficult to reach...

Damn.. does this mean a change in CPU casing is in order? Anyway... I reinstalled my DVD Driver, in the valiant attempt to try and convince myself that this will resolve the issue of my DVD writer not being able to write anything.. I know, for those of you to whom I have mentioned this, I was responsible for spoiling it in the first place. I was trying to tinker around with the configurations, so that I can try and do a screen capture of a video image (you will be surprised at how tough that is)... Anyway.. iTunes is currently slugging it out while I try to burn a music cd out. If I am successful, the CD will go into my sister's car. CD in the making now.. by the end of this entry, I would be able to update on success.

And in my bid to resolve the USB issue (the two front facing dead points), which has been plagueing me for sometime, I resorted to reinstalling all drivers, down to updating my motherboard. No go. So that is a dead end and I pronounced them officially dead.

As part of the clean up, I had also, uninstalled the old window mobile apps which I didn't realized were still lingering around when I have sold my Samsung Omnia ages ago. I also uninstalled my Micosoft Active Sync (used for Windows Mobile), and reinstalled all my Nokia software...

Next, I installed my new Antivirus, that went smoothly. Followed by the checking through of my new 500 gb external drive. that went well too. So all sounds good.

AND... to conclude the entire saga, I called my darling m1, to request for a change in my data plan, as the contract would end 20 March. Going for the "iPhone data plan"... and with that, I also received the $50 bill offset which when I lost my phone, they had committed to giving to me out of goodwill, if I indicate that I am not going to cancel my contract with them.... We will see and check that it is reflected in my bill next month.

If only the letter announcing my bonus had been given earlier, I would have known how much I can blow at the IT show today... as it is... total damage for the 2 items I had purchased, a non staggering amount of $162. That and a $16 thrown in to purchase a casing for my darling e72 (comes with a free screen protector, which I only intend to utlize when the current Nokia default sticker dies on me). Do you not agree that I have displayed an amazing amount of restraint?

I even considered getting the Canon S90, when I don't even take photos... such was the lure of being near sooo many gadgets at supposedly low prices.... and a netbook... the sony vaio mini at $2500 was so so so tempting! I was also eyeing Sonic speakers... speaking of which, I really should up my RAM... current 2GB of RAM is pathetic in today's context.

Update: Driver reinstallation for my DVD rom was a success! Managed to cut a CD of old sappy english love songs for my sister and since this is such a happy moment, I am sharing my sappy love song playlist (Please don't judge me):

1. It Might Be You
2. Yesterday Once more
3. Careless Whisper
4. Seperate Lives
5. Right Here Waiting
6. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You
7. Hard To Say I'm Sorry
8. Lost In Your Eyes
9. Foolish Beat
10. Hero
11. When You Say Nothing At All
12. Africa
13. Don't Know Much
14. You're In Love
15. Earth Song
16. Stay
17. Man In The Mirror

News Flash: And in the midst of the burning of CD, and me typing in this blog entry... a HUMONGOUS roach was in my room. My bro and I spend a good 45 mins "rearranging" our rooms, to the point of flipping beds to get that bugger. Phew... got her (in case you didn't know, only female roaches fly)... else.. HOW TO SLEEP???

Anyway.. tmr's grand plan is.. go for a low impact cardio session, plus some cardio in the gym, then head for work, followed by dinner at my godma's place. Life is good...

iphone

The funny blogger interface doesn't allow my nokia to post entries, And only allows me to post in 'edit HTML' mode.

Anyway, bought the 3GS, white, 16gb... Not enough space ah... >< there's some regret, but I really cannot afford the 32gb, can't bear to spend this kind of money... Nvm, I will get used to limited space I am sure... :)

Can't post a super long entry... So happy new year all!!

My Nepal updates are in photo format on FB.., lazy to do a double post, so check it out there n leave coments k?? Laterz...

Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000

Went and bought myself the new Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop 1000. It was a shitty process and through no fault of the retailer. I had gone in, zoomed in for an affordable keyboard that allows for soft keys that doesn't go (clack clack clack), and which would allow for a more comfortable typing (with sufficient spring), so I can expand less energy trying to type.

The instruction on the box had stated that (and it came with a warning ok!) that I was supposed to install the program BEFORE I plug in the wires. So being the high compliance person I am, I installe the program before plugging in the wireless modem that would "talk" to my keyboard and mouse.

Mouse was working fine, but keyboard typed out gibberish. It was a very frustrating night, as I tried to figure out what was wrong. Changed settings in my PC, rebooted, uninstalled, reinstalled, I couldn't get the keyboard to work.

Next step, maybe it's just my PC.. So I used my mom's laptop and installed program, plugged it in, same old same old. Mouse working, keyboard types out rubbish.

And so, the very next day, I had to make another trip down to Sim Lim.. that's transport funds down the drain.. v v irritating. And when I was there, the lady tried out the keyboard on two sepearate PCs, and what do you know, it bloody works!!!

So I was checking the PC settings, etc, and it was exactly the same! So I was a little cheesed off, and I was asking the lady all sorts of questions, to try and idenitfy what was wrong.

And the conclusion? You don't need to install the bloody software!! Just plug and play. WTF?!! Why put about 2/3 warnings telling the user to install a software, that would just screw up the system, and to add a warning to INSTALL THE SOFTWARE BEFORE PLUGGING IN?

Sigh.. so I made my misearable way back, uninstalled everying, and plugged in the wireless and it worked. I am typing out my experience, for those who need help and encounter the same problem, I hope this helps. ><

Omnia Skin - Bodyguardz

Oh! My friend just told me she has placed it into the post! :) Woo hoo!! So it should be in this coming week (I think)... and she didn't want me to pay her back for postage ><... nvm.. she gets a treat when she next visits us bk in SIN. :). So I spent US$29 in total.

It's a good protector for gadgets... BodyGuardz... I am currently using it for my iPod Classic. V satisfied with it. :) Will post more once I get the film and start using it. ;)

Post Edit:
Bah, it was good, but as usual, which is the problem with most protectors I think, the edges sorta stick out, so it wasn't the slick "finish" that I would have really wanted.

That and there are still some bubbles inside... well, it's supposed to disappear according to the instruction, so I shall be patient.. mebbe instead of 24 hours, it actually requires 48 hours. Anyhow, I recall most of the bubbles dd disappear from my ipod after a few days.. so I shall exercise patience... :P