I’ve been trying to use the Paypal merchant service.  The Add To Cart Button.  It was so simple and all the transaction was handled by Paypal.  But it lacks of feature where buyers cannot choose the quantity of the item.  Buyers only can choose how many quantity they want when they want to check out at Paypal cart where Paypal will list all the item and buyers can alter the quantity before clicking the PAY NOW button.

Using this simple solution also lacks of tracking.  We do not know how much sales for today for example.  We need to manually find the top seller and other.

For small business with limited of item, this solution is great.  But for a growing number of product.  The Paypal Add To Cart Button is just not enough.

Stay with me for later post whether I have find a good solution for this.

I have been falling in love with WordPress Content Management System(CMS) since my first year in blogging arena.  It was and still is a very user friendly CMS to develop a self hosted blog.  It just not “friendly” to user but also very friendly to Google bots.  They have been quite a good friend that if you notice, when you do a search using Google search engine, if the result is a blog, 99% of it would be made of WordPress CMS.

I’ve been trying to use Joomla last time but it overwhelmed me with its slow loading even on admin interface, and there’s such things as module, etc which is not user friendly at all.  But indeed, Joomla have more advance feature than WordPress.  But the learning curve is hard and boring compare to WordPress which is “direct to the point”.

There’s other CMS called Drupal.  This CMS is light.  Fast loading.  Because it was “empty”.  The basic default function will not be enough to run a lively blog.  You need to install or code yourself a nods to add more functionality.  This CMS is considered a kits compare to WordPress which is Ready To Run.

So today me and my friend decided to setup an E-commerce website for out future business which will be based on printing and design services.  Let’s see if I can develop an E-commerce website using a WordPress CMS.

This is suppose to be posted in my other blog, WPThemestudio.com but it is down, offline and I don’t want to lose the inspiration and post this here.  Nevermind, I will post something more details there later.

Detecting The Problems

First, we want a website to be functioning as a webstore.  This webstore will display the picture, prices, and brief description about the product.  It will use paypal shopping cart feature so we do not need a hassle to write a program for the shopping cart.  It will have flat rate shipping to all country, or fixed shipping price to supported country.  Payment will be processed by paypal.

Can I do It?

I think yes.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of my friends who celebrate Chinese New Year a Happy Chinese New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Hello.  So I am today want to touch about writing a blog post for your blog.  About sometimes ago I have been setting up many blogs.  I end up with about 47 domains which more than half is undeveloped. Some blog is about a niche which I do not even know in depth and does not have the passion to dig deep into it.  Somethings like, cosmetic, cooking, health related niche and what soever…  They end up as a dead blog!  Dead blog mean a blog that does not updated with latest blog post in a long time.  The worst parts is we losing money to buy the domain name and the hosting rental.  Instead of making the blogs become our assets, we change them into a liability.  You don’t want that to happen to you, don’t you?  Well, I’ve been there and I think I don’t want ever again to setting up a blog which is not in my field of interest.

Creating a New Blog?

A blog type website are easily created nowadays.  When we goes back in time where even simple designed blog need at least html knowledge to develop, nowadays it’s sufficient just to know how to use a computer and internet browser.  Even kids in the kindergarten know how to surf the internet don’t they?

There are so many free blog service that been offers free of charge.  Two of the best I want to point out is Blogger by Google and WordPress.  Creating a blog with Blogger or Blogspot the other name is just as easy as several clicks and then there you are with your own subdomain given by Blogger.  Then you can post about any legal topic on it.  Make it as a diaries, how to tutorials, or just a random thought.  Same goes with WordPress.  There are two type of WordPress blog, one is the free service hosted by the WordPress.com and the other one is giving out the free WordPress script which powered the WordPress.com.  Better.  This blog itself is powered by WordPress script that is written in PHP programming language.  Yes, it is a self hosted blog.

While creating a free blog is good for a starting, I was starting with Blogger as well but it is good and far better to have your own domain name.  It’s like branding yourself, branding your thought and of course it shows the authority and the level of interest you put on it.  It shows you are serious about what are you talking about.  Not just that cheap talk on a free blog service.

Discover Your Passion

I have a hard time discovering my own true passion last time.  I just have way too many interest in various of fields.  I like reviewing movies, I like playing games, I like to watch anime and read manga, I like to blog, yes, and I like to invent things.  But discovering which one will last long is important so that this “hobby” will not wasting your time and money.

I then found out that I rarely watch any movies because I was busy working and developing my own online business.  Even thought I have a good gaming rig from my Ipod Touch, where all great Iphone game is there, I barely able have time to WAST MY TIME PLAYING GAMES.  I’m not a kid anymore.  I need to build up my career.  Well, that’s what I said to myself when there’s a whispers to update my mobile gaming blog.  Then I found my true passion.  I don’t care if I am actually wasting money on it, or wasting time on it.  I always believe it will give me the satisfaction I want and I believe that it will also bring me a good business as times goes by.  I am not forcing myself to do it.  Other people are hardly enough to distract me from it.  Yes, finally I found it.  That’s how to identify what your true passion are.

Beware though, sometimes there are something that I called a “seasonal passion” where the case you really so into it this time just like you’re find your true passion.  But as you go alone with it.  You lose the passion and disappointment occur.  No one can share your findings, your joys.  This sometimes because of influence of other people.  For example, you be friend with someone who likes to go for wave surfing or skate boarding.  Then you indeed have than passion on the highest level of your adrenalin!  But then your friend move away and you alone.  Dang!  You lose your interest on it.

Write In Accurate Fact

When there something doubtful in my mind about what I am writing, I will search for it in the internet.  Usually I go for a Wikipedia.  I love that website so much.   But some of my friend say it not accurate or fake facts.  I don’t really believe that though, because the scientific facts that I am very sure I am right was stated there the same way I am sure it should.

Blogging For Money

When I met new friends and when I said I am making money with blogs.  Their eyes shines and they want to learn more about it.  Well, I am open to teach people about what I know.  But when it is MONEY was your first priority, you will never ever make a good quality blog.  You will always think about money.  And they think it’s just like a quick rich scheme that will bring them money overnight.  There are 70% of new bloggers will quit blogging after being disappointed that they not generating enough money to “quit their daily job”.  While the rest 30% obviously write for passion.

Almost all new blogger who think about “make money online” will quit not even reach one year from the time of their blog first published.

This blog, PANGERAN.ORG was established in the year of 2007.  Actually it was an old blog with a lot of posts!  A good post and a junk post.  I may never write a pillar post everytime but just to keep it updated.  And for some unknown reason, this blog was HACKED THREE TIMES in its life time that I lost all the posts before because I did not make any back ups.  So far I have around 800++ 404 page error stats in my Google Webmasters tools that still trying to accessing my old blog post.  I take life easy.  People try to bring me down, I will try to rise again and again.  Now I will try to do some back up at least once a month to avoid this things happen again in the future but I don’t hope this to happen again.  Please crackers, you can spend your time on cracking games and softwares, leave my blog alone.

It’s Not Wrong To Monetize Your Blog

Some people who blog for passion think they will pissed of their readers when they put ads on their blog like those Yahoo ads, Google Adsense ads, etc.  But the concept is not to trick your readers to click on those ads but give them a good browsing experience.  For example, I after become a blogger I am not an ads blind surfer and of course I try as much as I could not to click on those ads because I know I was  expecting to be sold if I do so.  But sometimes the ads were really what I am looking for.  For example when I was trying to find about price and review for my dream laptop an Alienware M11x.  There’s ads that promoting sales about this, reviews and yes the price and specification.

It’s about GIVING A GOOD BROWSING EXPERIENCE while at the same time making your blog alive.  It’s good to have a blog which can sponsor itself a domain renewal fee and the hosting rental.  And it is a blessed day if actually you can make a living just with your blog.  That was my goal but so far I still can’t up to that level, unless your blog is a blogshop like most of my commentators.  Some selling used tires, laptop briefcase.  Yeah, that’s nice I may finds a good 11″ netbook briefcase later.  But I just not sure what a used tire being use for? Haha…

Blog Design

Your blog design somehow affect your love to your blog.  It’s just like having a beautiful girlfriend.  I may spend more time with her when I like to see her.  I think same goes with our blog.  If we like the design, something soothing to our eyes and what we can always brag about in front of other people about how good our blog design.  But again it’s about content and not the design.  Neat and clean blog design should be sufficient.

Did I Hear Search Engine Optimization?

Yes I am a big fan for search engine optimization.  I know content is king, but SEO is the queen.  A kingdom lack of a queen is a kingdom of a doom.  Haha… Joking.  But the concept is like that.  It must go side by side.  No content, then SEO is useless… No SEO, the content is undiscoverable.  They can run, but not on the optimum level, that’s why it called OPTIMIZATION or OPTIMISATION on British English standard that Malaysian use.

I just do some basic SEO and I will try as best as possible not to use any so called black hat technique to SEO my blogs.

What I do so far were already posted in a category called Blogging for Beginner.  But there’s advance technique like using a social networking service and linking technique that requires more works like using Squidoo, Hub pages, and those free bloging service like Blogger and Wordpress.  Just don’t spend more than 50% of your effort on SEO.  It should be balance with other task.

Okay, last but not least please come always to my blog.  I am welcoming your comments and let’s have a good discussion.  For those who have not yet subscribe to PANGERAN.ORG, please do so and you will get updates notified to you via email or your RSS reader.

Best regards,

Pangeran Wiguan

The headline seem to be long, but that’s what I want to write about today.  I am based in Malaysia, but almost all profitable affiliate programs are based in United States, Canada and Europe.  For big company like Google, they do accept associates from all over the world and pay them in US dollars.  For lower currency rate like Malaysia, this is a good deal.

Amazon Associates Program

Amazon.com Associates

Amazon Associates program is an affiliate program for Amazon.com.  They will pay you some amount of commission when people buy things listed in the Amazon.com through your website.  That’s how all internet affiliate programs works.  Last time I submit my application to join Amazon Associates program but I was rejected.  I am using this website, PANGERAN.ORG to apply.  So I think it’s because I am based in Malaysia.  But yesterday, I try again also using this website I was accepted.  Actually it’s not because I am based in Malaysia.  In my theory there’s several standard you must meet before get accepted.

The Standard Your Website Must Have Before Being Accepted Into Amazon Associates

1. Your blog must have visitors from United States.  This is the very important point, because Amazon sells physical product which based in United States and rarely people from outside United State buy things from there.
2. Your blog must have doing reviews for physical products.  Example of the product, maybe an electric guitar, laptop, netbook, mobile phone or even Romba the robot vacuum cleaner.
3. Even though I think this is not really important for being accepted, but traffics plays a very important role for income generation.  But still the best thing to do is you must comply with “give your visitors a good browsing experience”.  I do hate websites that blast ads suddenly in pop-ups or something like that.  Hey, remind me if I do that. LoL
4. Have a good neat and clean design is one factor that might make you being accepted into the program.  Just like an outfit you wear when you apply for a job.  Do you think you can convince your future employer if you come to the interview wearing a jeans and tee shirt while applying for executive job?  I don’t think so.  So do same for the blog.

How It Works

Payment

There are three option to get reward for your effort.

1. Amazon Gift Certificate
2. Direct Deposit
3. Check

Amazon gift certificate is for you to purchase things from Amazon itself.  Whether you can use it for your own purpose or you can sell it to other people who wants it.  But I am not sure if this against Amazon policies.

Amazon encourage their associates to choose Direct Deposit payment method.  But too bad, this option only available if you have a bank account inside United States.

Payment by check will be charged $15.00 processing fee.  But to associates which based outside United States, this processing fee are waived because they cannot opt-in for Direct Deposit payment method even they want to.

Where To Apply?

You will not find the link in Amazon main website.  But it’s located on Amazon sub domain.

https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

Good luck.

In my last post My Dream Computer Come True: Alienware M11x, I was aiming for Alienware M11x for my next PRIMARY computer.  While waiting for M11x to be released soon, on Q2 of 2010 which would be around May I would like to buy one cheap best netbook.  So I browse around the internet looking for one. When Alienware M11x are released, I will let my sister have this netbook and her old laptop will be retired or given away to charity or sell for low price. Let’s find out the best cheapest netbook available on 2010 market.

Alienware M11x

Windows 7 Ultimate Review

I am quite a tech enthusiast. So I would like my netbook to be equipped with latest best operation system available which for me is Windows 7, and to be specific Windows 7 Ultimate.  I’ve been using Windows Vista Home Basic all this while, never been with XP.  My sister’s laptop were using Windows XP Professional before I reformatted it and installed a Windows 7 Ultimate.  Obviously and as expected it ran faster than Vista in terms of loading time, softwares utilizations and etc.  But what surprise me, the loading time were faster compared to when my sister’s laptop were on Windows XP.  Maybe because it still new you said, not so many data? You are wrong.  My sister is only a heavy web surfer. She never install fancy softwares or games. The only things she saved on her computer is her university assignments, photos, movies, and mp3s. Even with all those files restored to that laptop, I still find Windows 7 Ultimate boot up time is faster than Windows XP and the software loading time is faster as well.

Windows 7 System Requirements

This informations were obtained from Windows 7 official website. (Windows 7 System Requirements, accessed on 9.22am, 15 Jan 2010)

Most netbooks on the market shares the same specifications.  They are using;

• Intel Atom (1.3GHz – 1.66GHz)
• RAM 1Gb – 2Gb
• Intel Mobile Media or integrated video card.
• 160Gb – 250Gb of Hard Disc Drive Capacity

Most netbooks only capable to run 32 bits operating system.  While most still shipped with Windows XP, Dell have offered their Dell Mini with Windows 7 Starter Edition.  Windows 7 Starter Edition limits user to only be able to open three applications/softwares at one time, and rumors said you cannot change the background of your desktop.  This totally limit the personal touch of the netbook.  Good news however, you can upgrade on your own to better unlimited operating system.  One of them is Ubuntu which is a Linux based operating system.  Google are also on their way to produce an Android operating system for netbook.  But I still fancy an operating system from Microsoft that is Windows 7 Ultimate.

Because all netbooks comes with these similar specification, what are the best way to choose them now? For me they are price, support and the drivers availability.  Dell have offer the cheapest netbook so far, if you buy online the price is only RM999.00 or equivalent to USD $298 only which is lower than my budget $300-$400. It comes in various color and fortunately my favorite color, white is on their list. It pre-installed with Windows 7 Starter Edition which I will never use anyway.  I will upgrade it into Windows 7 Ultimate version just for my own satisfaction.

But by adding another RM300.00 or USD$89.00 you will get a better graphic card and larger hard disc drive capacity and better threading Intel Atom processor at same clocking frequency.  Let see the differences between the Dell netbooks.  I choose Dell brand names because they offers the cheapest netbooks in the netbook market.  The lists below are only list out the differences betwwen Dell’s netbook.

Dell Inspiron Mini 10v (T510121MY)

• Intel Atom N280 (1.66 GHz)
• 160Gb of hard drive capacity.
• Intel GMA 950
• Price open at RM999.00 or USD$298.74

Dell Inspiron Mini 10v(T510121MY)

• Intel Atom N280 (1.66 GHz)
• 250Gb of hard drive capacity.
• Intel GMA 950
• Price open at RM1,199.00 or USD$358.56

Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (T510149MY)

• Intel Atom N450 (1.66 GHz)
• 250Gb of hard drive capacity.
• Intel GMA X4500MHD
• Price open at RM1,299.00 or USD$388.46

These information were obtained from Dell Malaysia official website. (Dell Inspiron Mini 10v Netbook, Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Netbook, accessed on 11.29 am, 18 January 2010)

If you slightly see, there are no big differences other than the model number of the processors and the graphic/video cards, and yeah the hard drive capacity.  But actually there are.  First let’s see the processor.  All of them are having the same clocking frequency processor that are clocking at 1.66 GHz.  N280 is on stepping C0 which mean on version 3.0 of this model.  While N450 is on stepping A0 which is on their version 1.0 of this model.  If I am not misunderstood, N450 support 64 bits operating system while N280 just support 32 bits operating system.  N450 are capable to run on 64 bits computing which mean you can install Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bits, but you need to upgrade your RAM to 2Gb.

Now let’s see the graphics/video card.  I am not expert in this field but definitely the Intel  GMA X4500MHD is the latest version than Intel GMA 950.  Intel GMA X4500MHD are capable to play high definitions movie and also blue rays DVD quality movie.  While for gaming issue… lol who thought to play games on netbook, this might be an important issues.

Intel GMA 950

Notebookcheck- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950

(Notebookcheck – Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950, accessed on 2.19pm, 18 Jan 2010)

These are the games that playable using Intel GMA 950 graphics/video card.

Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family - Game playability on Microsoft Windows XP

(Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family, accessed on 2.25pm, 18 Jan 2010)

Intel GMA X4500MHD

Notebookcheck- Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (GMA X4500MHD)

(Notebookcheck – Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD (GMA X4500MHD), accessed on 2.37pm, 18 Jan 2010)

While from Intel official website, they don’t have support for this graphics/video card.  If the support for this card is available, the name of the model will be hyper linked.

Intel GMA X4500MHD

(Locating supports for Intel graphics technologies, accessed on 2.42pm, 18 Jan 2010)

Comparing the hardware specifications of these two graphics/video card, obviously Intel GMA X4500MHD outrank Intel GMA 950 by half.  This make Intel GMA X4500MHD versus Intel GMA 950 comes with expected result, which Intel GMA X4500MHD win easily.  But when we are talking about gaming, sadly all Intel graphics/video cards play games for Windows on a crap rate.  I mean the same age games with their release.  They can of course play old released games pretty well.  But, netbook doesn’t mean for gaming anyway, exception to Alienware M11x.

My Recomendation

I you plan to make one of these netbook as your primary “companion”, I would like to recommends you to take Dell Inspiron Mini 10.  But if you are in my situation where want the cheapest netbook yet reliable for your temporary companion before the Alienware M11x launch in May you may take the 160Gb hard drive capacity Dell Inspiron Mini 10v.

If you like this post, please subscribe to my PANGERAN.ORG feed or my email news letter. Please also share this post with your friends via facebook, twitter or other social networking websites.

Alienware have been producing high performance computer for computer gaming market.  Their computers design are also very “alien” look compare to existing design from other brand names.  They sell super computer at reasonable high price.  Their most successful products were their portable gaming laptop Alienware M15x and Alienware M17x.  Playing a computer games now with desktop is just an outdated fashion.

M15x represent a 15″ laptop while M17x represent a 17″ laptop.  So now can you guess how big is M11x?

At the moment I am using Compaq Presario V3000 series.  It was, it is a good laptop so far since I use it four years ago.  I bought it on 2007, and it still considerable a high end specification laptop even if you compare to new laptop nowadays. Last year(2009), I was thinking to get myself a new laptop. Well, this old laptop need to be retired or I would sell it or donate it to charity.  There will be a lot of people will make a good use of it especially children.

So I ask an opinion from my friend, Eugene from euTech.  He is enthusiast in computers and IT gadgets that people always refer to when deciding to buy such items.  I was asking, what laptop is good.  I want the following specifications.

• Small 10″ or something between that.
• Able to play games such as Star Craft 2, etc.
• Battery last longer than 3 hour. (My Compaq laptop only last 15 minutes on battery even on power saving mode!)
• Powerful

And can you guess what was his answer to me?  He said, “There is no such thing exist.  You cannot get best thing from both world, you need to sacrifice one over another”.  Well, that was a very true situation at that moment.  Then he recommends me an Acer Timeline series which quite powerful, thin and battery claimed to be last long around 8 hours.

I was muted.  I really want a super small super laptop which I can bring anywhere.  Let me tell you, I always bring my laptop anywhere.  Yes, I’m that kind of person. LoL

But I did not buy any laptop even until now.  Because of hesitating and my budgets were drained by other things.

But then one sunny morning, Eugene buzz me with a shocking news.  My dream laptop were produced by Alienware at the cost less than USD$1,000.00! Well, if it was converted to Malaysian Ringgit, it will be around RM3,3800.00.  That is affordable price for me. I plan to get one even though it is not yet released in Malaysia. LoL

Now let’s see the divine beauty of Alienware M11x

This pictures were taken from engadget.

Being just 11″, I can have an online experience almost everywhere now… with a wireless broadband connection of course.

Commercial Video

So what do you think about this little tiny laptop? Appealing? So do I.

p/s: Please subscribe to PANGERAN.ORG.

Feed and Feedburner are friends.
If you try to separate them, then your blogging life will be miserable.

Feed Infographic

Feed and Feedburner are blogging tools.
Without them, you will not have loyal readers or returning visitors.

Feed being published and then being “burned” by Feedburner. (Obviously the name.)

Feed is original no extra interactivity.
Feedburner add many extra interactivity into your original feed and even offer email subscription.

This is not comparison.
No feed, then no feedburner.
But no feedburner, there will always feed.

Some people are too afraid to give away their emails, they subscribe to feed using feed reader.

Some people hates feed reader and prefer reading emails, we have email subscription by feedburner. It’s like we’re having an email list without the need to subscribe to paid services like aweber…

We can put Google Adsense ads into the feed burner.

To view your blog feed, the url format is like this… http://pangeran.org/feed/
To go to feedburner, go here https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=feedburner&continue=http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/myfeeds

Login to your Google Account before doing so.

This is one of posts in Blogging For Beginner

So how was your last 2009? Do you achieve your goals, or creating something great? Last year was a great days for me, but I hope that this years is even better. I plan to established my own offline business and also my own online business this years. But what kind of business, I’m still thinking what will works best for me. I would want to choose the best thing for me, the thing that I really passionate in it so I have all the commitments that I don’t feel burdened doing it.

Comic Strip

This year will be a very busy year for me. I decide to less play games, less watch tv, and do work more so when the age of 26 I am rich enough to have an almost autopilot online or offline business. When that time arrive, it’s the time to enjoy this life. It’s the time to play as hard as I could, to watch movies as much as I could, traveling and go for site seeing to other country… and the most important thing is to provide stable financial status for my future family. Yes, I plan to get married obviously… Who doesn’t?

I have established many blogs since the year of 2007.  Although these blog is still alive and online now, it’s rarely updated and most of it are not 100% completed. This show how poor I am in managing and focusing my times and effort to build them. While they are online and does not generate any income, these blogs and websites have become my liabilities. I am having a hard time until now whether to “terminate” the blog or keep it alive. While like this blog, PANGERAN.ORG will never be terminate because its my personal blog and I don’t really care if its generate an income or not, but its a good thing if it can pay the domain names and web hosting for itself. But a lot of other people suggest me to park the domains in sedo or Google Adsense for Domain.  Some suggesting me to sell it. I am still thinking…

Counting Assets and Liability

Since last year my friend and I were planning to establish a company based on printing industry.  I’ve making a proposal to ask for jump start funding but it was rejected by SME bank which suppose to help us. But I never give up, I make a new proposal and this time with some guide from professional in this field and try to submit it to government agencies where I hope it will be accepted and a new beginning will happen in my career. Beside that, I also plan to get into China wholesale industry. Yeah, my mind have too much for business idea. Ironic, I am taking engineering course, maybe I should change course to make use of my “talent” in business. I am still thinking…

2010

I do and always pray for my wish list(undisclosed) to become true, and I hope that you all will have a good life in the year of 2010 onward.

May God Bless Us All.

Pangeran Wiguan

Happy New Year 2010!

May this new year unfold a beautiful life stories to us.