Clipped Wings

So, apparently my school requires a notebook which I already have, my Hp Pavilion dv1000. However, Republic Poly also requires windows vista enterprise to be able to run on our notebooks. Now that is an issue for me, my notebook claims to be Windows Vista capable. 

Now here's the catch, it has been tested that in order for Vista to run smoothly even without all the nitty gritty features like aero, a computer must have at least 2GB or RAM (random access memory) and at least a duo core processor. So technically speaking, my current notebook isn't able to run it without all the latencies. 

I went down to school for enrollment, and god please transfer me into school of business or engineering, I don't want to stay in arts and design. 

The current notebooks offered by the school vendors didn't go down to well with me. There is Lenovo, Acer and Fujitsu. However being a fussy computer user I am, my requirements are something much higher end which the school vendors unfortunately did not have.

1) It must have at least a Core 2 processor with a min of 2,4GHz

2) A dedicated GPU with 256MB of memory

3) Minimum 14 inches of screen and maximum 16 inches, anything above is too big

4) Be of good and solid built with no flex or whatsoever during common usage

5) Portability is not an issue but the specifications of the notebook should be worth its weight

I wanted to get the Lenovo T400 from school. However, reviews from experts concluded the notebook has lots of flex in it, and the built is not as good as the old IBM series. For A

cer, I was kind of worried about issues of overheating and BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death), I don't really want that to happen when I'm in a middle of an exam. And finally Fujitsu hasn't really convince me to go over to their side with their fancy models but user impracticality. But of course all these are my personal opinions, and I believed if I'm going to spend about 2000 bucks on something, I should have a say.

Then, came the IT Fair 2009 at Suntec City, on the very day of my enrollment at school. So I headed down to the fair after my enrollment to do some walking around and

 reconnaissance for my notebook. I collected many brouchers and 

walked around the booths of the many different vendors. 

Initially, I decided on this particular Asus notebook, $1799, with a P8600 processor 2.4GHz, with a ATI Radeon HD 4570 512mb GPU and 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 13.3 inch screen. Sounded good enough, until I saw how small a 13.3 inch screen was. I thought to myself, what good is a dedicated graphic card when I could barely read the words on the screen. And for the love of god, many of Asus models are currently not available locally, due to shipping issues. And the earliest I can get my hands on my notebook would be at least a month from now. That sucks, I didn't have a month. 

So I didn't get anything on the first day of the IT fair, and the crowd was killing me though, I left with the brochures and whatever information I could remember in my head. I decided to narrow down my choices to a few notebooks from HP, Toshiba and Dell.

On the second day of the fair, After doing intensive research online and asking for opinions on what would be a bang for the buck, I decided on the newly released Dell XPS 16 notebook at $2199 SGD. 

On top of that I bought a Logitech MX518 Gaming mouse at a pretty cheap price tag of 38 bucks. And lastly new Sony ear pieces with deep bass for my music, 25 bucks.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8600 2.40GHz

Windows Vista Home Premium (Doesn't matter, I'll be getting Vista Enterprise from school)

4GB DDR 3 SDRAM

500GB Hard Disk

16" WXGA RGB LED Display with Anti Glare

512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3670 Graphics Card

5.1 Surround Sound with sub woofer

Back lit Keyboard

Free 4GB thumb drive 

Free McAfee 15 months (15 months?! I'll be better off using my free AVG anti virus)

The one unique feature of this notebook would be its 16' LED Display. Traditional notebooks have had LCD screens but not LED ones. The XPS 16 would be one of its first to implement a LED screen into the notebook, this translates to brighter and well defined colours. And with this technology, whatever colours you see in real life is what you get on screen. 

There was an option for the high definition 1080p display at an additional 200 bucks, but I opted for the 720p which comes with my basic set since i'm fine with it.

I'm pretty happy with the fact that it came with the DDR 3 memory instead of the current mainstream DDR 2 memory sticks. DDR 3 performs way much faster and consumes 30% less energy than the DDR 2, this means faster performance and a longer battery life. 

And yes, the back lit keyboard is definately cool. Not many brands carry notebooks with that kind of keyboards. 

Reviewers have noted the XPS 16 being very glossy on the outside as well as the inside, and i'm not looking forward to that fact though. I have a slight bit of sweaty palms and that means, lots of fingerprints during usage. And the 9 cell battery option hasn't arrive in Singapore yet, but its currently available in the US. With the 6 cell, current tests done by users shows a battery life of under 2 hours. Needless to say, that really sucks. I'll try to get my hands on a 9 cell battery once its available locally.

Well having said so much, I'm pretty excited and waiting for it. I haven't received my notebook yet, pre-ordered mine from Dell's booth at the fair, as its a new release, there are not many sets around in Singapore. Mine's due next week when the new shipment arrives, and I shall do up a review here when it comes.

After knowing a little more about her, I realised what a total loser I was. She's no where near your typical PRC, speaks and carries herself very very well. Currently having her university attachment at the Thai royal consulate in Guangzhou, she works as a translator there. Did I even mention she isn't even a Chinese citizen? She has dual citizenship from Thailand and Hongkong, born to a Thai Indian mother and Chinese father. Basically the kind of girl where you can bring home to meet your parents. 

For some weird reason, she find me cute, and I find that revolting. I mean, goodness! If that is meant to be a joke, it's no where close to being funny at all. She did told me she likes me, and wanted to be with me. but I didn't gave her a definative reply yet. Hell, am I even good enough for her? I might even be the person to ruin her future if she stick around with me. She's such a nice and caring girl, a rare find I would say, I do like her alot though but long distance relationships are hard to maintain. And who knows, she might meet someone who hits on her. I'm a guy and I know our modus operandi when it comes to hitting on girls. With experience, it seldom fails. 

If there's one flaw I can find in her, it would be her lack of humour, too serious! Haha