OS Ground

Personal branding and apology

Drew — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:53:59 +0000

First of all, I would like to say sorry, this blog was suppose to be an operating systems related blog, but it ends up to be some kind of internet related blog. Some of my friends asked me why I don’t post any tips and tricks and etc about operating systems. Well my friends, tips and tricks of ANY operating systems are now fully packed available around the internet, just Google, Yahoo!, Ask, MSN it and you’ll get tons that you couldn’t finish. To be frank, due to the paid post I’ve been writing and the keywords were all around the life, insurance, credit card and etc has gotten me here today. Let’s put it this way now, this is a blog ON operating systems, there you go, sound much more to do than sticking with operating systems only

Done my apology and my explanation, allow me to continue the main topic Very quick, personal branding. I’ve been following with Fakesteve blog and Chedet (Former Malaysia Prime Minister blog) for sometimes, and they have a good branding of themselves. But I would say Fakesteve would champion all the way on personal branding. As most people know that Fakesteve isn’t the real Steve Jobs, but I don’t want to care first, doesn’t matter he is or he isn’t, the branding and getting the most out from the blog is very successful.

This guy (Let’s say it’s someone else) has a very clear mind and understanding of Steve Jobs. Along the way, all the entries made were consistent, the pride and the arrogance are all over the blog. From the first day I clicked into this blog, it already has Google Adsense there, after a period, Amazon was in then blah blah blah, all in. And I predicted that this guy behind the blog must have something wanted to do with this blog. Look into the most recent entry, he is writing a book now, costing? Heh, don’t mention.

Now you think the book is can’t sell? First, Steve Jobs has been storming the computer industry since 2002 (As I know, correct me if I’m wrong) after the come back on 1997. “Apple Mac” became something that is so familiar few years back, then came iPhone that storming the whole mobile phone industry. If you’re still wondering what could you do to make some traffic (Read: TRAFFIC ok?) from your blog, “Steve Jobs” could be a keyword you can choose

Corporate Web

Drew — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:02:44 +0000

Since a year ago, I’m working as a freelance web master for a small company in town. It was also my first time joining the force of real life project. The small company (Let’s call it as ABC) has quite some web with them, mostly are blog driven web.

So every time there is an update ABC company will give me something to update their corporate web ONLY, the rest of the web will update by themself. Since those are blog driven, it’s easy for them to update. But there was a question though, the messy information flowing around each web, be it a blog or a corporate web.

According to my experience on webing on the internet, this is fine but technically for a corporate it’s making a mess though. There I get a sudden urge of using a CMS system, Wordpress I would say. Why? The ease of plugins and integration of other scripts are the point.

I believe, by using this CMS driven for a frequent update company, not only will it save my time, it is also good for them on long run (Remember, I’m just a freelancer for them). Next meeting I will bring this matter up.

HP Pavilion Desktop

Drew — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:29:37 +0000

Recently mom bought a new desktop for my younger sister who needing some computer work for her studies. So we went to some computer store, our budget was low though, RM2000 (USD600), and we spotted this HP Pavilion G3300 series is on the promotion…

Spec:
Intel Pentium Dual Core 1.80GHz
512MB RAM
160GB HDD

Price tagged at only RM1788 (USD552) sound like a good deal for my sister as she only online and do some Office Word process, we ordered it and arrive only at night, the initial promise in the noon was delayed. Anyway, since it comes with Windows Vista Starter, and the memory was only 512MB, imagine how slow everything was? So waiting the right time, this afternoon, I took some times and bought a Windows XP SP3 DVD, erased the whole partition and on with Windows XP and running so smooth now

Previously when I was with the slow motion Windows Vista, I checked around the internet to make sure that it was cause by the hardware configuration (Low RAM), who knows maybe some softwares that cause it, and I find out that even HP support recommend me to upgrade my RAM, and I was fucking pissed, honestly. If you know it’s not going to work so well, why bother built Windows Vista on it? Either the planner is a dumbass or he/she just want to fool their consumers.

Dell Inspiron 530

Drew — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:14:34 +0000

Recently I’m toying with my girl friend new desktop, the all new Dell Inspiron 530. Although it’s run on dual core processor, but it is enough for a XP to run so smooth. Gosh, I’m sooooo being pampered here, feeling like baby bedding every night. Internet, mine. New desktop, mine. Nonetheless FOOD!

This desktop installed a SmartRAM which monitor the whole RAM process and clean it up if needed or manually. I’ve checked it out by open both Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and some tabbed FireFox, 1GB RAM that built in this desktop really have some trouble to run them, it’s the same, depending how much work load I gave to the applications I’ve opened, the more work I put on either one, consumed a lot of RAM, especially if I take some times adjusting in Photoshop.

On the other hand, I do see the improvement Microsoft put on Service Pack 3 update. The secure and the speed is so satisfying As for Vista, let me check it out next time, and spend more time on it.

Blogger Or Not

Drew — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:10:25 +0000

There was this same question flowing around the internet and also from my fellow friends about blogging on blogspot or get a domain and host themselves, which is better? My idea as for now, get a domain host in blogspot, end story!

Really! I mean why taking so much hassle working on your own when there is actually a giant (Google) helping you to keep your blogspot blog? Yes, I regret for not doing this, so now I have to keep backup my blog entries and comments and keep my eyes on my hoster for not down timed on me then I need to beware of hackers.

Why? It’s not all bad to use blogspot, they are well maintained, give you full freedom to change the theme, and everything you need as a blogger, to make you smile a little, they allow pictures and videos upload also, you don’t need to buy an expensive host with more spaces.

Hosting Wordpress (Or any other blog script) only to make you look professional, but if you’re just trying to blog for fun or even for money, honestly, get a domain, blogspot is fine, real fine for all that.

HTML and XHTML

Drew — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:10:23 +0000

This few days I’ve been coding a few Wordpress theme. It wasn’t as easy as before though. Well, I used to code a web using html only, table is my strength, nothing else matter. But this few days, I was code using xhtml and css, as a beginner, I’m still struggling to survive.

Anyway, this entry will be sharing my experience on coding website. If you feel bored talking about html, time to go to YouTube or somewhere else.

So, when I was on html a year back, table was one of the thing I can remember, the structure were all fixed in all browsers, I don’t need to test browsers, because they will be the same, and they are easier to code as well. I don’t know what is the exact problem that make people don’t wanna use table anymore. Some said it will slow down the loading time, some said it’s not professional enough. I have no idea since when coding become so professional.

Like it or not, I then started to learn xhtml and css. It wasn’t that hard and it’s definitely not easy. However, I started to use one table tag only and the rest is css. Until recently my girl friend said she would love to have her own designed theme amd blah blah blah, I manage to code it out in the end of the day, but it takes more time to code though. Previously when I first encounter xHTML and CSS, I don’t need diet pill and I’m already thin like shit because it took me nights to finish only ONE website, and it wasn’t a Wordpress them by the way.

And now we have this crazy idea of develop a blog, tutor about how to code Wordpress in the easiest way and releasing free Wordpress theme as well

YouTube On TV

Drew — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:44:21 +0000

Still remember Apple TV? Have you got yourself this latest entertainment gadget, put it beside your home theatre and LCD TV?

At the moment, Apple TV plays movies, TV shows, music, photos, and podcasts only. But come mid-June, Apple TV will provide the link-up to YouTube’s hugh video catalogue. Basically, you will be able to search and play YouTube videos on your big screen! Isn’t that awesome?! Apple TV was first launched in September last year, alongside the launch of the fifth generation video iPods. Some time ago, Apple revealed that it is offering a new Apple TV unit with a 160 gigabyte hard drive. This model will have four times the storage capabilities of previous models. It can roughly store up to 200 hours of video, 25,000 photos and 36,000 songs, or a combination of the three.

Simply awesome. By then, I think we won’t need Astro anymore. Haha… save on the increasing monthly Astro subscription fees!

Intel Don’t Want Vista

Drew — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:01:52 +0000

Haha! This would be one of the greatest news and evidence to Microsoft that their latest operating system, Windows Vista is nothing but a light ostrich feathers.

“This isn’t a matter of dissing Microsoft, but Intel information technology staff just found no compelling case for adopting Vista,”

Vista is just a cover for Windows XP like all the users said. As for me, I don’t have much experience with Vista yet, just a day or two, and I probably didn’t really explore the whole Vista itself, but I did tested the eye-candy graphic Vista has and the smoothness comparing it with Windows XP. However, I believe that Windows XP is more user friendly though, especially the window explorer. In Vista, they tried to built everything in the sidebar like Mac OSX Leopard, which is… Stupid. Let’s just stick with Windows XP first and see what Window 7 can do.

P/S: January 2010 is the launching of Windows 7 as they stated. Let’s see how much longer they need to launch one operating system again

Online Passport Photo Generator

Drew — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:28:43 +0000

All you need is just a photo of yourself, a printer and an internet connection. With only that, you can easily convert any of your digital picture into a valid passport size photograph.

Getting a passport photo shot can be a daunting task, especially when you are trying to apply for visas to enter a foreign country. The dimensions of a legal passport photograph often vary according to the country. This tool (well, website) helps in taking care of the size requirement very easily.

You pick a country and then select whether you need the photo for a visa, passport or applying for a citizenship. Then upload the digital photo, crop and you immediately get a printable strip of 6-8 photographs for free.

Spice Up Your Powerpoint Presentation

Drew — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:25:59 +0000

Presentations are meant to be presentable, fun and interesting. Apart from using the appropriate colours, fonts and theme, why not try putting some eye candy to your presentations?

Here’s a collection of 100 free presentable pictures and icons that can help you liven up your presentations. The background of all objects is transparent and can be used on any colored background. Each object can be changed in size, rotated, increased or decreased in opacity, fitted with shadows or even overlapped with one another to create extra effects. Keynote Objects are compatible with Keynote, iWeb, Pages, Microsoft PowerPoint and Word. Download them all here.

Macbook Air Competitor

Drew — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:53:12 +0000

Here come another competitor to compete with Macbook Air. The Toshiba Portege R500

Now here are the list that you might be interested to compare both of them…

As you can see, you’re getting a smaller package, both lighter and smaller, but giving a bit of processing power. For many the on-board DVD drive will be a big selling point, as it can be really inconvenient to either carry around an optical drive, or go without. Nowadays, laptop market is like weight benches, the longer period they appear the smaller they are. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, and the ultra-portable form factor suits you, 2008 is going to be an interesting year!

Fake PayPal Site

Drew — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 03:40:35 +0000

I was almost scammed off by this almost real PayPal site. The email was sent like this:

My first reaction was panicked, because all my online revenue was from PayPal, so if my PayPal got limited I’m death soon. On the other hand, I looked into the name they called me was totally wrong though. Remember, PayPal NEVER use “Dear PayPal account holder”, they have our information and our name on their database. Anyway, this scammer was clever enough to use almost the exact same URL address…

http://www.paypal.com-o.us

See! How clever this is, anyway, I’m not fooled by this

Logitech V470 Review

Drew — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:57:48 +0000

Well, first and foremost, I didn’t test it on PC, so no PC type of review Sorry, but it’s a big hassle to install the driver, looks for a bluetooth adapter and etc. So I’ll just make it short on my Macbook only.

Anyway, my Macbook now looking cleaner without all the annoying wires, there are only the magnetic plug nothing else. The mouse works on normal surface only by the way, this laser mouse doesn’t work on glossy surface, I was with glass surface on the table but it doesn’t work, so I have to pull another mousepad for it.
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As I mentioned on my previous post that this mouse works so fast and fine with the Macbook, so my setting is way low, I can’t actually set it on the first one only, as it resulting not moving at all. Well, have to get use to it sooner or later, it’s just unlike the normal optical mouse nor my previous 3D mouse though.

Most of all, my Macbook has lesser plug at the moment, I still have an external keyboard My table gonna look just have had it Phentermine pill, slimming down with all the wires I’m loving this wireless technology of course! My Sony Ericsson P990i always bluetooth pairing with my Macbook whenever I transfer stuff in between them too.

Bluetooth Laser Mouse

Drew — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:49:12 +0000

Recently my girl friend bought this bluetooth mouse for me This Logitech V470 bluetooth mouse is just sweet! Luckily there was this white color one instead of the ugly blue. It’s totally match my Macbook.

Anyway, due to the reason that it is laser base, so the motion is way faster than when I’m using normal optical mouse or even the previous 3D mouse. Will post more about the review soon, so far I’m with PC instead Anyway, this mouse only costed USD50 (RM160), according to my research on Malaysia market, they’re selling this at a sky high RM190+ price, still worth my flight deals to Indonesia here!

New Look

Drew — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:13:51 +0000

It’s been sometimes I’m playing with Wordpress theme. Got to love how it coded and how it become something I wanted. Now, this is the new template I coded myself I have a few more template that hand coded from scratch. Anyhow, it seems like I have a new plan on my next blog

Currently I’m transforming all my blog into my own template first Just so I can get enough portfolio on my next blog