Saturday, September 23, 2006
Since I was young, my parents have always taught me that I should always drink warm water whenever I'm not feeling well (i.e. cough, flu, etc.). Recently I got a terrible gum ulcer and it sure hurt bad!
I faithfully consumed warm water far almost a week and there was no improvement at all, if not worst. After this I started to drink cold water. The ulcer was gone in two days...
I am not a doctor, so I'm not sure how well this works. Give it a shot!
Friday, August 11, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
I had the flu recently and I found out an interesting remedy to blocked nose - LAUGHTER! (It's gotta be genuine though, I did not fake it).
Give it a try and post your comments. Do you agree or disagree with me?
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
I've found a site which has some really cool wallpapers. It is really hard to find wallpapers that impress me but this one really does it. It is more orientated for guys...
Link: http://gcn.perso.ch/images/Girls/index.html
http://www.cnet.com.au/laptops/laptops/0,39035649,40059621,00.htm
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/review.php?reviewId=1423
There are many specification possibilities for the A6J, but the one I am having has the following specs:
Intel Core Duo 2.0GHz (T2500)
1024MB DDR2 RAM100GB HDD
ATI Mobility X1600 512MB RAM (Hyper memory)
DVD Super Multi Drive
15.4” Widescreen WXGA (1280x800)
Wireless IEEE 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth
Integrated Webcam and Mic
Card Reader: SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO
DESIGN
It has a simple and elegant design, nothing fancy. Below the keyboard are some playback buttons which will allow you to enable the Audio CD playing function without turning on the computer. There are buttons to play/pause, stop and change tracks.
One problem is that there is no external volume control. Adjusting the volume requires a button combination of the Function key and F11/F12, so we can forget about listening to CD’s with the lid down. Another reason why you would want your screen up is that when the music is playing, heat is being generated. A suggestion to this is to keep the volume at max and control it using external speakers. In the upper right of the keyboard are some buttons. In order, these are the power scheme chooser, email program, web browser, enable/disable touchpad, power button.
KEYBOARD
The keyboard is pretty much standard for notebooks. However, instead of the Control (Ctrl) key, the Function (Fn) key is located at the far left of the keyboard. This will take some getting used to because on conventional keyboards, the Ctrl key is at the far left. Not a very good move IMHO.
The feel of the keyboard isn’t exactly comfortable when compared to other notebooks (i.e. Fujitsu, which feels soft and effortless). I’d say that the keys are a little stiff and cheap. Also, the spacing between the keys and the ‘base’ is quite noticeable because when you have a key pressed and when your fingers move to the next key (e.g. from “j” to “u”), in some instances my finger got stuck/wedged under the next key.
For precautionary measures, you might want to make sure your hands are clean and oil free because heavy use of the keyboard will wear off its coating. The WASD keys and a portion of the keyboard are already shiny with use.
BUILT IN WEBCAM & MIC
There is a built-in webcam and microphone on top of the monitor. The camera quality is not very impressive, but it is good enough for video conversations. It works best for indoor use, which I will demonstrate in the following shots. It has a mediocre auto-brightness control, so pictures outdoor will look white. Here are the examples:
The microphone works very well. I tested it with Sound Recorder and I was surprised that it still could pick up some sound waves even though I stood around 6ft away. A downside to this is it will pick up any background noises with ease. (Note: for the microphone to work properly, you will have to disable the mic volume and line in volume in the Realtek Audio Manager and use Windows Volume Manager instead).
PERFORMANCE
With Intel’s Core Duo, I was able to run quite a number of applications at the same time. I could download things and play games at the same time; I could have 4-5 Internet Explorer windows on without any problems. I did experience some lag when it comes to DVD related programs, i.e. burning, copying data, reading, etc.
GRAPHICS
With ATI’s Mobility X1600 256MB, I was able to play a majority of games with almost full settings. You may be able to max everything out except Anti Aliasing, which is acceptable for me. I can play Need for Speed Underground 2 at 1280x800 with everything up except AA and V-sync. I turned off motion blur as well to get a few extra frame rates in. Other games that I could run without a problem included Half Life 2: Episode One (1024x600). For a notebook, this graphic card is really impressive.
ATI’s control panel also has an option for Power Play, this option lets you determine how much power is used for games when the notebook is running on batteries. The default is full performance when on AC power, and balanced performance when on batteries. For me, I disable Power Play because I find playing games a bad experience as there will be a noticeable lag. With a full charge, I was able to play Need for Speed Underground 2 for approximately 1hr 30min. Depending on the game, the time span could vary.
BATTERY LIFE
This brings me to the battery life, it is not very flattering when compared to other notebooks which are capable of running up to 3.5hours. At full charge, this notebook can only last around 2.5hours. To increase battery life, you can dim or turn off the monitor (yes, A6J has that option), or put it in Battery Saving mode, which reduces your performance; however, I don’t notice any noticeable improvement in battery life.
HEAT GENERATION
It’d be best to use the A6J in a ventilated or air-conditioned place because it does generate a lot of heat with use. Take this extreme case, I was in the car outside Starbucks using the internet (before we got broadband), I was sweating away and the windows fogged up. There is an air ‘exhaust’ on the back of the laptop and it will really blow out hot air especially when you are playing graphically intense games, which is a good thing, as it gets rid of the heat inside.
SOUND QUALITY
I am not too happy with the sounds. The sound is loud for some file formats and then barely audible for others i.e. DVD playback it is extremely soft. You are not able to hear anything if you are in a living room. The notebook speakers are not very good because at higher levels it will sound scratchy and get a little distorted. Plug in a pair of good headphones or some good speakers (i.e. like me, the 2.1 Altec Lansing speakers) and the quality is superb.
OTHER STUFF
There are other bonuses included in the A6J. The integrated card reader makes it simple to transfer pictures from your digital camera/phone without any wires. You can sync your Bluetooth capable mobile with the PC. Power4Gear gives you multiple schemes, including a battery saving function. You can even connect the laptop to a TV using an S-Video cable or DVI-port.
WEIGHT
Weighing at 2.8kg (including the battery), the A6J is not a featherweight. Put it in a bag with all the accessories i.e. power adaptor, your backup cd’s, etc. it will be quite a chore to lug it around. But that is the price to pay when you’ve got a notebook with such high specs. To be fair, it is considered relatively light when compared to other desktop replacement notebooks, which can go up to 3.6kg.
CONCLUSION
To conclude this, I am happy with this laptop because it is powerful enough for my needs. I am a PC gamer and the graphic card performs satisfactorily. I do understand it is not able to play graphic intensive games, i.e. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, at full graphic settings, but at least I am given the option to do so. I hope this helped you in your decision in purchasing the Asus A6J. If you need to know anything else, please feel free to leave questions/comments. I will answer the best I can. Cheers!
Friday, June 09, 2006
A talanted girl that I know, Sarah See, added something to this picture. I think it is rather well done, despite its simplicity...
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Toby, our dog, passed her Pre-Novice MKA trials! She was tested on various things such as:
- Heel on lead
- Stand Stay
- Recall
- Sit Stay (30sec)
- Down Stay (1min)
Here's a link to the score breakdown, and the MKA website, if you are interested. My exhibitor number is 15: http://mka.org.my/sport_results02.htm
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Only one more mini lightsaber to go and my collection will be complete. I will have the lightsaber for each character in Star Wars. Actually there are different variations for each hilt design in each episode, so I went with the best looking one. Wednesday, March 08, 2006
This is from the Master Replicas newsletter...
"For 2006, Master Replicas currently has 7 categories of products:
Elite Editions (EE)
Limited Editions (LE)
Collectors Editions (CE)
Signature Editions (SE)
Studio Scale
Force FX (FX)
Scaled Replicas (minis)
We'd like to clarify the difference between the Elite Edition, Limited Edition, and Collectors Edition. Here's a quick summary:
Elite Edition (EE) - Available to Collector's Society members only and will be constructed from the most premium materials available.
Limited Edition (LE) - Available through http://www.masterreplicas.com/ and will have a numbered plaque with an edition size cap. It has the same construction as the current Limited Editions. Select International Distributor partners will be provided with a very small quantity of the Limited Editions to help reduce some of the international shipping costs.
Collectors Edition (CE) - In response to our customer requests for a less expensive/ "costuming"/more youth accessible prop replica. Available through our retail partners and will be unlimited. Collectors Edition replicas will uphold the high quality appearance but will use slightly different materials so that they can be priced lower.
There has been a lot of concern regarding the new Limited Edition/Collectors Edition strategy. Here are some key things to know regarding why we have a new Limited Edition/ Collectors Edition strategy:
- When the Limited Edition version of an item sells out, then it will be gone for good. Through the Collectors Edition, new collectors will be able to still collect popular character's prop replicas for many years to come, long after the Limited Editions have sold out.
- Collector's with a Limited Edition will have a collectible that's part of a capped edition run. We hope to keep the edition runs for the 2006 products tighter than 2005 and hope that this will help maintain and improve the value of the Limited Edition replicas.
We hope that this will help clarify the new Limited Edition/Collectors Edition strategy for 2006, and provide our customers with the greatest amount of choice when purchasing their favorite prop replica."
Anyway, when I do decide to get one, my first target would be the Obi Wan lightsaber used in The Phantom Menace (or) Attack of the Clones. The difference is barely noticeable, so either one would be good. Here's a picture of the hilt. This is NOT the CE though and if I'm not mistaken, it is the Elite Edition, which uses premium materials in construction.
I've got to wait about two weeks for the other minis, namely the Obi Wan, Darth Vader, and Mace Windu, to arrive. Longer still for the Qui-Gon Jinn lightsaber because that one is a new release. But anyway, I'll post a few photographs to give you an idea of how the sabers will look.
Obi Wan - Revenge of the Sith
Darth Vader - Revenge of the Sith
Mace Windu - Attack of the Clones
Qui-Gon - The Phantom Menace
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
After a few days, I finally decided to indulge myself and get the Master Replicas Mini Lightsaber (.45 Scale). I plan to get ten of them and here's what I have in mind:
1. Anakin ROTS (bought)
2. Obi Wan ROTS (ordered)
3. Darth Vader ROTS (ordered)
4. Count Dooku ROTS (ordered)
5. Master Yoda ROTS(bought)
6. Darth Sidious ROTS (bought)
7. Mace Windu AOTC (ordered)
8. Darth Maul TPM (bought)
9. Luke Skywalker ROTJ (ordered)
10. Qui-Gon Jinn TPM (ordered)
ROTS = Revenge of the Sith
AOTC = Attack of the Clones
TPM = The Phantom Menace
ROTJ = Return of the Jedi
So I currently have four of them at the moment. When I see the pictures of the mini scaled ones on the internet, I thought the size was pathetic. But after I got my hands on them, I take it back, I think they are awesome. The quality is good, it feels solid and very heavy for something so small. And I got all this at a price of $399 for all ten.
One reason I decided to go for the minis is because they are 
cheaper than the full scaled replicas (which cost $375 each!). The cheaper Collector Editions (CE's) are also full scale replicas, but is cheaper ($199) so that the more common folk will get their chance to collect these stuff. But the material used in CE's are not as good in quality as the Limited Editions (LE) and the Mini.
For all you know, I might even start a collection of Collector Edition Lightsabers! Just a thought...
Thursday, February 09, 2006
I'm not one to write a lot on blogs, but I'm doing so now because I can't sleep and it's 1:30 in the morning. This time I will tell you about this AWESOME site that I stumbled across - NOBLE COLLECTION. All the while I thought Masterreplicas (http://www.masterreplicas.com) was cool because it made replicas for big hits i.e. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and the latest Chronicles of Narnia. How wrong I was to assume MR was the only one.
This company makes LOTS of cool stuff. These categories include Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Batman, swords, daggers, jewellery, sculptures and so much more. You'll have to see it to believe it. I'll post a few pictures to give you readers an idea of how cool the products of Noble Collection are. But a warning - those stuff will cost you.
LORD OF THE RINGS
The One Ring - 18k Gold
The Crown of Elessar (Aragorn)
Narsil (Aragorn's Sword)
HARRY POTTER
The Time Turner
Tri-wizard Cup
Gold Plated Gryffindor Ring (also available for other houses)
Harry Potter's Wand (available for other characters too!)
BATMAN BEGINS
Miniature Batman Cowl
Gliding Sculpt
Friday, December 02, 2005
Damn, my exams are just a few days away. But no worries, I'll just put my effort into the finals and immediately after that is PARTAY with the PRINCE!!
The official site is : http://princeofpersiagame.com/
Friday, November 25, 2005
Whoo!First I bought NFS: Most Wanted on the PS2 and my first thought was "Damn, the graphics look terrible!" But soon, I was absorbed into the gameplay and (surprisingly) I got used to the graphics and it did not really bother me. Until now...
I got myself the PC version of NFS:MW and with 1GB of RAM and the Sapphire X800Pro equipped, I could max out all the graphical settings, except for Anti-aliasing (which was down by half). The frame rates I got was an average of 25-30 per second. And the game looks GORGEOUS!!
Pictures speak louder than words, so here you go. These screenshots are from the game itself. I really am impressed on how good games look these days...
For RM99, I got this wireless controller that can be used for the PC and the Playstation (PS and PS2). For the price, I think it is a very good buy compared to the Fountech Airstyle Wireless PS2 controllers I purchased sometime in April, which cost RM120 and malfunctions quite often (pissed off).
PROS
- Works up to 20 feet (approximate)
- Strong vibration
- Turbo and Macro function
- Same shape & layout as a PS2 controller
CONS
- Analog stick responds like the D-pad i.e. when you tilt it to the right, it responds gradually from the centre to the right instead of an immediate right. (I hope I make sense).
- Prolonged use made me feel like my hands were still vibrating even after I stopped playing.
Conclusion: If you want a wireless controller but you have a tight budget, this one is good enough. Everything works perfectly well, except for the analog stick response.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
As of now, I've set aside a number of PS2 games. These games include those I have already finished and those I've tried and have no interest to continue. The number of games in these two categories is SIXTY! One-third of the games were given to me by Jerry (my uncle) and the rest were bought, usually out of impulse. Think of all the money that went in, especially for those that I have played only a moment. It is such a waste and I'm feeling regretful now.
Therefore, I am striving to be selective in the games that I purchase from today onwards. So before purchasing a title, I will:
- Check and see that the game is highly rated.
- Make sure I truly like it.
- Not rely solely on the opinion of others and judge for myself.
- Read a review of the game in well-known websites i.e. Gamespot or IGN.
- Try it out and make sure its good.
Of all the games I own for the PS2, there are only a few titles that I have thoroughly enjoyed so far, and these are:
- Burnout Revenge
- Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 (latest DBZ:Tenkachi sucks)
- FIFA Street
- Final Fantasy X
- Final Fantasy X-2
- God of War
- Lego Star Wars (perfect for family)
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted
- Prince of Persia (since Sands of Time)
- Shadow of the Colossus
- Tekken 5
Other games for PC (and other consoles) that I strongly recommend are:
- Black & White 2
- F.E.A.R. (Best FPS ever!)
- Star Wars: Jedi Outcast
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Star Wars: Republic Commando
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
From left: Anakin Skywalker, Darth Maul, Emperor's Red Guard, Darth Vader, Pregnant Padme, Random Jedi (Luke??), and Master Plo-Koon.
Needless to say, I was there and even purchased the ORIGINAL DVD. 2-DVDs for RM70 wasn't so bad, PLUS the fact that I had a free (big) poster and many other goodies too from the quiz that was held. Staff from Canon were there to take photographs and print it there and then.
Before I left, the roadshow staff mistook me for the press (possibly because I was holding those bulky-type cameras) and told me "Please come in and join us for refreshments." I thought "Wow! This is so cool." and made my way in. Then I saw the room where the refreshments was served and saw all the people in their costumes and other staff, so I knew it was a mistake.
To end it all - Darth Vader RULES!
Saturday, November 05, 2005
The MR (Masterreplicas) Pre-toy Fair 2005 have revealed the new FX Sabers for the year 2006 - Darth Maul (Episode 1) and Obi Wan (Episode 3). The following links will show photographs of the lightsabers and also numerous and various products that has already been, or has yet to be released:
http://www.rebelscum.com/gallery/mr-pretoyfair-05/
http://photos.sirstevesguide.com/showgallery.php?cat=4433
Here is a picture of the Obi Wan FX from Revenge of the Sith. The neck is fatter than the original prop because it is not possible to incorporate the slim neck and still ensure the durability of the product:
"You guys KNEW it was gonna have that obnoxious neck! I don't like it any more than you do...believe me. However, until we can defy the laws of physics, we can't put a one-inch blade into a half-inch neck. Since this is a semi-mass item, we HAVE to make sure it follows numerous federal and international guidelines for safety. If we make the necks too thin, they could break when little Johnny whacks the willies out of his sister and we would then get in trouble.Bad JuJu. Everyone screamed about the neck when the Luke ROTJ came out, but we sold so many that we had to put them back into production after we retired them. I guess people got over it."
And here is a picture of the Darth Maul FX, which looks very good and true to the movie hilt:
So far, these are only prototypes and will be released next year. There will be changes for the better (hopefully). I'm not too sure how true this is, but the Darth Maul is scheduled to be released in February 2006 and the Obi Wan FX is scheduled to be released in May 2006. Releasing is one thing, ordering and receiving it is another - which will probably take around 2-3 months.
Once again, do take a look at the links and see the various toys available. There will be various products from the Star Wars series including Jedi Robes. There are also stuff from X-men as well. Cheers!
Sunday, October 16, 2005
I have not been writing for a while for a number of reasons. I find myself pre-occupied with other things i.e. college, video/computer games, etc. I also downloaded the sheet music for "Flight of the Bumblebee" and I'm working on that. It's 5-pages long and only 1 minute in length. It'll take months to play properly for someone like me.
I have cancelled my order for the Luke FX Return of the Jedi version. Simply because it costs a 
http://fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=939.0
http://fx-sabers.com/forum/index.php?topic=934.0
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
The lovable, feisty, and heroic droid Interactive R2-D2 has been one of everyone's favorite characters from the Star Wars saga. The 15-inch Interactive R2-D2 Interactive Astromech Droid is packed with all the spunk and charm that made it famous. He demonstrates emotion, obeys your commands, plays games, and even has a retractable arm that holds a 12-ounce beverage!
If you would like to see R2D2 in action, as recorded by a fan/collector, click on the following links to download zipped files of the video recordings. There are three videos to download:
Video No. 1: http://www.ou-online.com/images/recreation/sw_r2d2_mov01.zip
Video No. 2: http://www.ou-online.com/images/recreation/sw_r2d2_mov02.zip
Video No. 3: http://www.ou-online.com/images/recreation/sw_r2d2_mov03.zip
Note: video 1 and video 2 are not working. Probably due to ou-online.com not hosting the files anymore.
The Luke Return of the Jedi FX Saber is available to order in Ultimate Toys. I'll be getting it for sure. It costs RM680 and will ship in November/December. It is a very limited item and will only be produced once. It is not even sold on the Masterreplicas.com website. You can find out more about it on the Ultimatetoys website.
No photographs are available at the moment. But here is a sample of what it looks like. It is actually the blue lightsaber but with some tweaked camera settings. I think they look beautiful. Will post interesting stuff when I see it.
