Categories
Ramblings

More on Intel Processor Pricing

Continue from my previous post, i found also the pricing for intel processors

Intel Processor Price list

Intel Price List

From the price list above, we can see the price for both core duo and core 2 duo processors.

T2300 (1.66G) same price as T2400 (1.83G) also same for T5600 (1.83G) = USD241

T2500 (2G) same price for T7200 (2G, but with extra 2MB L2 cache) = usd 294

The rest see for yourself… My point is, why is it so? Why dell, compaq and acer selling core 2 duo notebook much higher than core duo notebook, while the prices are the same for processors with same speed but different generation? Is this a normal practice in pc industry?

Gimme my core 2 duo, suckers!

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Categories
Ramblings

HP Notebook Processor Upgrade Finding

While looking for the definition of ‘mishandling’ from hp website, i found the Maintenance and service guide document for my notebook.

My notebook being a tiny-winy celeron m 1.5GHz processor is a sucker for battery juice. It do not have speed-step technology not like its big brothers, such as pentium m, core duo and core 2 duo.

From the service guide, I found that the processor is upgradeable with the following processors

Intel Pentium M 745 (1.8-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 373053-001
Intel Pentium M 735 (1.7-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 373052-001
Intel Pentium M 725 (1.6-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 367771-001
Intel Pentium M 715 (1.5-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 383431-001
Intel Pentium M 715A (1.5-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 380690-001
Intel Celeron M 370 (1.5-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 383876-001
Intel Celeron M 360 (1.4-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 380033-001
Intel Celeron M 350 (1.3-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB
380032-001
Intel Celeron M 320 (1.3-GHz) with 400-MHz FSB 394734-001

Feeling itchy handed, I thought why dont I upgrade to a Pentium M processor, if the price is reasonable.

Guess what I found on HP Partsurfer site?

Pentium M 715 for USD 600
725 for USD 700
745 for USD 1150|?!?!

Hello, crazy ar? for USD  1150 I can buy a nice entry level core 2 duo notebook already..better go find 1 in pasar malam (night market)

siao eh..

http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/main?sel_flg=partinfo&template=main&cpric=&psrchmode=&partsrch=373053-001&submit.x=1&submit.y=7

Categories
Ramblings

Call from HP Service Center Regarding My Notebook

Awaken by a phone call this morning around 10am. Call from HP service center. First asking for my gf’s address (the notebook is bought under her name,as well as the warranty).

What’s the problem, you afraid I stole the notebook, then got problem and I send back to HP for repair? What kind of stupid thief you think would do that? Use some brain.

Ok, back to the story, after telling the girl that my gf is outstation now, she then start to ask me whats wrong with the notebook. C’mon, it was written clearly on the repair report. You cannot read ar? duh!

Anyway, after telling her that the notebook cannot be on, by battery or by ac adaptor, she straight away proceed to tell me that they suspect its motherboard spoilt.

Wait a minute..something fishy here, how come suddenly you become so smart, 1 second after hearing the problem, can straight away got the brain suspecting the motherboard ar, why not the Internal DC-DC converter, Internal AC adapter, Processor board or System board*.

*The parts name are taken from HP M2000 series notebook maintenance and Service Guide.

What makes me really blur and angry is she said if they believe it was my fault (the exact word she used is “mishandling”), then the 2 years extended warranty that I bought along with the notebook will not cover for the cost of the problem.

Come on! I get it now, first she acted dumb saying don’t know what is the problem with the notebook (which was written cleary of the service form), hoping that I was not technically sound enough to know the cause, then she can acted dumb on me giving all kind of shitty excuses.

Then after hearing me stated cleary whats wrong with the notebook, using BIG words like ‘power supply’, ‘ac adaptor’ and ‘power indicator’ (alright, not exactly big words here ;), she then threatening me saying ‘we suspect its your fault, you purposely ‘mishandling’ the notebook, we ain’t going to repair for you for free, muah hahhahah! (last part added by me, of course).

Excuse ME?! ‘Mishandling’? I was using the notebook one minute before,afterwards I close the lid when I went to a meeting, which lasts for half an hour, when I came back, it was totally unable to on,you call that mishandling? BTW, I totally cannot find the definition of ‘mishandling’ on HP website, it was not in their “Limited Warranty and Technical Support” in file c00318165.pdf and “Compaq Hardwre and Software Guide Compaq Notebook Series Document Part Number 383110-001 383111-001″  in file c00563764.pdfC00400869.pdf (previous number was meant for M2000 series, mine is M2200 series)

Which bring to my conclusion that their motto is “customer always wrong”, if the cost of repair is beyond their profit, they will use any excuse to blame the users, to avoid the repair cost at all cost (no pun intented)

Really frust!

Categories
Hardware

Easy Screen Resolution Comparison

Something to refer to when comparing screen resolution.

Wow, I never know that the difference between XGA and SXGA is THAT big.

Clevo M57U versus ASUS Z71V Notebook LCD Screen Testing

Legit Reviews – Building Your Own Intel Core Duo Gaming Notebook – Screen Quality:

Categories
Funny

Pair your PSP with a PS2 Controller?

PSP fans, here is how you can mod a PS2 controller with your PSP.

A nice idea but then you can’t put your PSP in your pocket anymore… hmm.. the price to pay for bragging?

http://www.acidmods.com/forum/index.php?topic=2321.msg25984#msg25984

Categories
Ramblings

Human Sized Gundam Replica

:HY2M HYPER HYBRID MODEL 1/12 RX-78-2 GUNDAM

Gundam fans will die for this kind of stuff..It is a really good addition to Gundam fans collection.

Unfortunately the price is 332 381 Japanese yen = 2 831.90764 US$

MARU Family

Categories
Software

Migrating from Windown XP to Windows Vista?

Microsoft has been so nice to its user knowing that migrating from Windows XP to Windows Vista is not an easy task.

Thats why they come out with Windows Easy Transfer. Basically it is a tool to make your work easier to transfer/copy your files, photos, music, email, settings, and more to your new Windows Vista based PC.

Windows Easy Transfer supports the following operating systems:
1) Windows XP SP2 to Windows Vista
2) Windows Vista to Windows Vista

Windows Easy Transfer supports transfers via any one of the following methods:
1) USB Easy Transfer Cable
2) Network connection
3) Removable media (such as a USB flash drive or external hard disk)
4) CD or DVD

Download details: Windows Easy Transfer for Windows XP:

Categories
Software

For network admin: Windows Vista Hardware Assessment

If you are a network administrator, you will need this tool to help you assess all the pc in your network whether they are capable to be upgraded to windows vista.

from Microsoft website:

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment is a tool that will find computers on a network and perform a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). Through use of the detailed inventory data, the tool will assess and report whether the computers can run Windows Vista, where to find drivers for devices on the computers, and provide recommendations for hardware upgrades, where appropriate.

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool does not require the deployment of agent software on the computers being inventoried and assessed. It provides a secure, quick, and easy way to determine which computers, in a networked environment, are Windows Vista ready.

Download details: Windows Vista Hardware Assessment:

Categories
Ramblings

Lenovo recalling battery for its notebooks

Lenovo Has Exploding Battery Problem, Announces Recall | Gear Digest:

If you are using any R60, R60e, T60, T60p, Z60m, Z61e, Z61m and Z61p series notebooks and using the 9-cell battery packs with the part number FRU P/N 92P1131, your notebook battery may explode.

While you wait for your replacement battery you switch off your machine, remove the battery and only operate it on AC power, and customers shouldn’t use any battery packs not provided by Lenovo or one of their resellers

For USA  Users – A battery recall site

International users: find their support number here

Categories
Ramblings

Sent My Notebook To Repair

Sorry for not updating a frequent as usual. My notebook suddenly cannot be started and was sent to HP service center for repair.

I am using one of the two spare desktop pc. Yes, I am a nerd and I have  3 computers with me, one notebook and two pc.

Unfortunately, only one pc is working now, as the other pc, an AMD duron 750 is in the state of no return, intermittently shut down and having problem starting up most of the time.

The working pc, an Intel P3 866 is working with only 256MB of RAM. it barely start Windows XP and alot of harddisk page file swapping happen in the background.

I have to slowly install the software that I need one by one. Just for record, here is the software list:

filezilla
storm player
firefox
ultraedit
win rar
thunder download
teleport
wamp
avg antivirus
zonealarm
snagit
msn
utorrent
adaware
search n destroy
goodkeyword
portableapps
winzip
dbpoweramp

To avoid similar problem of wasting time to reinstall all the software needed, I plan to put the software and utilities in a 4GB USB flash drive, using portable apps mobile software interface. hmm.. perhaps 4GB isn’t enough, a 2.5′ external notebook harddisk with 60GB space perhaps.

Cost of cheapest 4GB USB flash drive – Kingston Data traveller 2.0: RM105
Maxtor 60GB 2.5′ notebook harddisk -RM 175

From price/space ration wise, 2.5′ harddisk provides most bang for money, as well as speed wise, but usb flash drive does provide more mobility being smaller and no need for extra usb cable. decision.. decision..

Perhaps I’ll get both 😉