Lenovo ThinkPad X220 unboxed

Thanks to the guys at Lenovo Australia, my boss got a new notebook last week, the new Lenovo ThinkPad X220 with Sandy Bridge, I think this is the first few in the country, I get to play with it for a bit, so I thought I try to post my first unbox.

Lenovo really did a great job on this one, very speedy and powerful, the specs for the one we got are:

• Intel Core i7-2620 Provessor
• 4GB DDR3-1333MHz memory
• 2 X USB 2.0 and 1 X USB3.0
• 160 GB SSD hard disk
• WLAN N
• WWAN (for 3G)
• 12.5" screen
• Intel integrated HD Graphic
• HD web cam

Here's the picture I took while I opened the box:

It came in with a large box...

The box contact the notebook and couple of other items

It came with 1 X USB modem (I don't think anyone still use this but you never know I guess) as well as a PCI Express security card reader

Here's the modem

and the card reader

Left side

Right side, and you can see the blue USB 3.0

from the top

Here's a shot of the Windows 7 performance index, check out the HDD score!!

After I finished the system rebuild (it came with Windows 7 Professional 64bit pre-loaded, but we needed 32 bit for some of our internal used software), I tested the SSD boot, and it's fast, from turning it on to Windows loaded, only took 20 seconds (see the video below)

This unit is really fast (thanks to the SSD and the Core-i7) however, I'm having problem finding the driver for the USB 3.0. I tried the Lenovo support, and they got every driver but the USB 3.0, I guess this is still new to the country so they have not yet put it up there, but given there are not that many USB 3 device out there, my boss should be ok with that (guess I'll find out on Monday :) )

So here it is guys, let me know what you think of my first "unbox" post, and I'll update if you want any further infor...

Tablets

Saw this a few weeks ago at work when the Acer rep coming to show off the new tablet line up for the Acer, sadly only for a very short time as the tablet was took by the marketing department. but once I put my hands on it, I loved it.

Over the Easter long weekend, I went into The Good Guys and had a chance to play a bit longer, and found myself love it even more!!!

I've since been doing research online, there are mixed reviews, with most of them points out the biggest flaw is the weight and the glossy screen, which, personally, I think they are flaws, but not he death of the product. What I also find is that everyone is compare this with iPad 2, this really show that Apple has planted a mark on everyone's head.

A few people asked me why I'm looking at the Android system not the Apple, in terms of price, they are not much different, with some of the Android offering even more expensive (Motorola Xom) the Apple's iPad. I think, personally, I choose Android because of it's openness in the OS, don't get me wrong, I do think Apple's product are very well build and they do set the benchmark very high for everyone to follow, but I must say I find Apple (or just Steve Jobs) are just a bit arrogant for my liking.

As a consumer, I feel that wither a product is successful is based on customer, and how well they market and position the product, and Apple did a great job on this, let's face it, tablet computer are not new ideas from Apple, they've been around for a while now, but no one was able to build a system like Apple and successfully made it a must have for all, regardless you are Apple fans or not, and made all other PC maker (even non-PC maker, like Viewsonic) wish they had come out with such a product first.

Going cable

Finally!!! Got my internet back, and Optus upgraded my internet from ADSL2+ to cable yea!!!!

SteelSeries World of Warcraft Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse

Thanks to the nice people at SteelSeries, I got a new World of Warcraft Cataclysm MMO Gaming Mouse to play with for the pass few months, and thanks to this mouse, I started to play WoW again...

I've been using this mouse for a few months now, I find this mouse is very responsive, and with the mouse driver you can customise all 14 buttons with in-game micro or any action bar actions. However, I must say, the only issue with it is it's too big to hold in my hand, which makes it less then ideal for day-to-day general use, then again it is a "gaming mouse" and it has to put 14 buttons on this thing, I guess somethings got to give.

All in all, I must said, this is a great gaming mouse, but if you are look for a mouse for day-to-day and only for little of gaming, then this mouse may not be what you want, although I have heard that there will be a smaller edition of this mouse, but no date has been set for the release.

Here's some photo of the mouse

Something for the older generations..

I've been tasked to upgrade the work ERP server cluster from 5 VAX servers to 7 VAX servers. (That's right you've read right, VAX server, and for those of do not know what VAX server is, here's the Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAX)

We are using VAX 7840 a newer generaion of the VAX system, and the ERP system is build in BASIC language. Before I join this company, I've only heard about them in classroom, never thought I'll see one in my life, but here I am, working with it each day.

Moving home.... lost internet.... going mad...

I've just move home, cause I need a bigger home as my second child will come to this world soon. All is good but I've lost internet for a week, ONE WEEK!!! NOOOOOOO!

I never know how much I use internet at home until now. Luckily I still got my VirginMobile prepaid mobile broadband, so I quickly recharge the account so I'm still connected to the world.

It's a good deal, the VirginMobile, I paid AUD 15$ for 300 MB of data, not a lot I know, but it's enough to keep me going until the good people from Optus come to connect me back.....

I just realise that I first created this blog back in 2008..... and I never remember to post until now. Well, I'll have to make some time to do this more often.

Gift from Microsoft....

I attended a MS partner connect roadshow last month, and they are kind enough to send me some free gift... Office 2010 Home and Business edition, just what I needed.

Only if the good people at Microsoft would also give me a free copy of Windows 7 as well....

one can always dream about it right?